I've been going to Waterloo Rib for years. Today, my sister took me because I did her taxes and she's getting a nice tax refund. Up front, I wanted to express why I'm giving this review a 5-star rating. It was entirely because of the Manager Betsy and of course the flavor of these ribs we had. I don't want to put this restaurant down or nit-pick the issues both my sister and I had. I wouldn't think that would be right of me and to the restaurant. Let's just say, we had issues and Betsy, God bless her, she took care of business and made everything right and even went beyond what we expected. Personal service is foremost what's important at any eating establishment, along with the quality of the food. The ribs and pesto pasta was to die for, and that's why I keep coming back. The three serves that were there attending to us, need better training. The food is always great and I will go back. read more

Dined with friends. It had been 14 years since we've been here as we had moved a distance away. We were anxiously awaiting to be seated. First off, don't ever take someone else's buzzer! What a mistake! A person who didn't wanna wait any longer gave us their buzzer. After we got seated, we handed our buzzer in. To my husband, surprise, the hostess was extremely, extremely rude and replied to him. We don't do that here!!!! Our waitress was extremely pleasant and professional! We ordered the chicken and rib combo, the ribs were just ok but the chicken was dry. For the price overall, we expected much more. I can't say that it left a good lasting impression on us. Our waitress gave us a couple of extra ribs in our to go containers. That was very kind of her. Unfortunately, we won't be dining here again. read more

Have eaten at the Waterloo a few times and took family and friends to enjoy the offerings. Special this day was 16 ounce boneless ribeye (cooked to order) and scampi tandem! Everyone ordered the same thing! That was a first! But just worthy of the drive to enjoy to the fullest Service fast and outstanding! Ambiance is very loud as people are enjoying. Not a quiet place but drinks and food are outstanding! A must try if you like great drinks and a steak! Check the menu.. it doesn't lie read more

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The food here is top notch! This local small business is well known throughout the central valley. Rightfully so! Their barbecue sauce is sold in local stores too! But you can grab a bottle while you're here to take home. I had the Ribeye steak and shrimp scampi special (check my photos). Steak was delicious and portions are very generous! Atmosphere is casual country dining. Currently decorated for the holidays so very nice touch! This is the kinda place you can where jeans and a t-shirt or a fancy dress, you will fit in either way! The service is impeccable and left nothing to be desired. They take care of you from start to finish. The place is always busy so parking may be the only challenge but you know it's good when it's always packed! Support this local small business and enjoy an amazing one of a kind meal! read more

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So delicious! We each enjoyed a good salad to start. Husband had spaghetti with regular tomato sauce. He's coming back for that. I had shrimp with vegetables (just right). Spumoni ice cream to share. Drove in Sunday from Galt , and we're going back again. Everyone was so nice and helpful. Even brought him some glasses because he forgot his. Thank you read more

Been trying to get here to eat but I've literally checked every time they were closed (Monday and Tuesdays) lol Went today and had mimosa , iced tea and today's special was steak sandwich w/ garlic sauce and baked potato. The service was good and kept checking to see if we needed anything . Had water brought to the table immediately (which I always appreciate) The place is pretty big , tables are good for big families and nice view of pictures and sports memorabilia throughout. For a French dip sandwich w/ baked potato and my sandwich (mentioned earlier) w/ a drink (vodka and soda) it all was $95 before tip for 2. Considering today's times this is our new normal. If your passing by w/ family it's a nice place to come to eat , parking lot is always full when opened so plan it in as I made sure to arrive at opening time and by time I left it was filling fast. read more

Waterloo CA - Special for day $34.95 for a steak sandwich and baked potato - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

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Came here for the first time to try it out because food does look good but came and was very disappointed! Food was not good pasta was very salty and dry steak was not what I expected save your money and go somewhere else it way too over priced for it not to be good thought it was gonna be a top line of steak but it wasn't! Better steaks at Texas Roadhouse rib we're the only thing good read more

Waterloo CA - Ribs and pesto pasta and steak with mushrooms and pesto pasta - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

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My experience here was incredible. The highlight of my evening was the service. Our server Guadalupe was extremely professional, patient, knowledgeable, and welcoming. I enjoyed the grilled salmon with a baked potato and a house salad. The salmon was easily one of the best I have ever had in my entire life! Compliments to the chef. The restaurant is very energetic, vibrant, and the perfect atmosphere for a night out with friends. If you come here, you must try the homemade desserts. Compliments to the pastry chef as well! I am not a fan of pecan pie at all, truthfully, I ordered it so I could take it home to my mother. However, after trying, one bite, I was extremely impressed and almost finished the whole pie. Thank you to the entire staff for the incredible experience. I was thoroughly impressed with everything, and I look forward to returning in the future. With gratitude, Vanessa read more

The staff is so accommodating, the food was amazing all around, and my family left so satisfied & full. Highly recommend you get some quality BBQ here!!! read more

What a gem! I am sad I have been in the area for 2 years and just finding it! They don't have French fries which was a little bummer cause I love a fry to snack on while drinking but the clams were out of this world. read more

I love Waterloo!! Best ribs hands down. Portions are huge! Staff is very friendly and very attentive. It was a vibe! read more

Waterloo CA - The famous ribs and pesto pasta - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

Food is absolutely delicious! If you live ribs your will love there's! Let's not forget about that fresh made pesto pasta! Customer service is amazing! Fast and kind. The ambience gives a country Wild West saloon! I am all for it! Also they have plenty of space! read more

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Hey there Party People If you are looking for food that will knock you out with atmosphere that will bring you that "Everybody knows you name...CHEERS" vibe then Waterloo is the spot for you. We were having a family celebration so my Brother-in-law suggested this place it was everything he said it would be Started with Beef tips cooked to perfection with a BBQ sauce made in house with the owners secret recipe. It was so good I could have drank the bottle. It had a very distinct flavor that hit all the notes without being too sweet. Moving on to the main course I had the Spicy Cajun Chicken sandwich. Finally a restaurant that actually knows what the word "Spicy" means. All I can say is it was awesome and the chicken was nice and moist. Hubby had the Waterloo Special with was 1/2 rack of ribs and chicken. The rub on the ribs was so good you didn't need to put any sauce on them but why wouldn't you. Hubby did say that the chicken was a touch dry but still tasted great. The unique thing about Restaurant is the fact that it's a BBQ joint that makes handmade pasta daily with a famous Pesto sauce. Being Italian myself I know what a good pesto should taste like and this was definitely it. What meal is complete without Dessert. We had a Peanut Butter Chocolate pie. Decadent and delicious everything a dessert should be. It was the final nail that put us all in a food Coma. If you are in the area it would be a crime to miss this place. Be kind to one another read more

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I have always wanted to go here. We passed by it all the time when heading to the lakes to go camping. We were coming back from a good friend's wedding and decided to stop in for lunch. We were greeted by a very friendly staff that receipted us so we could watch the football game. Thank you very much. The food was fantastic. Come with great sides. I had the potato salad. It was excellent also had the rib lunch, which came with five ribs very good. read more

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went here for andy's bday!! let's jump right on. ribs had great flavor and bbq sauce was so delish. my ribs had very little meat and were pretty tough but everyone else seemed to fall off the bones. the pesto was delish and super creamy. super flavorful. the spaghetti was also really great. i actually prefer the linguine noodles over spaghetti noddles. the steaks were all cooked perfectly. they were ordered medium and medium rare and both were cooked exactly to our liking. we got them topped with some mushroom sauce and it was amazing. really made the steak. the chicken is brushed with the same bbq as the ribs and again. so so good and lots of meat on the chicken. the kids meal options are either ribs or chicken with the same adult side options so the couple different pastas or a baked potato and also comes with a starter too! such a great price for kids meals for all it comes with. do the starters we got salads and both of the different soup options. i'm not sure what kind of soup is the one pictured but it was really good and the bread tasted so great dipped into the broth. the salad was a pretty basic salad but it was dense which i appreciate. beans in salad are top tier. i can't stand when salads are just lettuce, cucumber, tomato, etc. i like more density to my salad lol. bread was nice and soft but of course served with cold butter. if the bread was warm it would be great but spreading cold butters on cold bread is never the move and so frustrating. andy got a bread pudding for dessert and it was good. very sweet but the warm bread pudding with cold vanilla ice cream was so yummy. warm gooey dessert with cold ice cream is always an elite combo. it was addicting. we were so full but couldn't put it down. read more

Waterloo CA - steak and spaghetti - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

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Great food , ambience and entertainment! We love going here when we are in the area !

You just can't beat the ambience at the Waterloo, we had seven in our party and were able to get right in. This is a great place if you have a large group to bring them for dinner. We all ordered the ribs, baked potato, hot bread, and a cocktail was made for a fantastic meal. The service was fantastic and you just can't beat the ambience. Highly recommend. read more

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food was decent overall, especially the steak, which was cooked well and flavorful. The atmosphere was nice and what you'd expect from a steakhouse. Service was okay not bad, but not especially attentive or memorable. We weren't treated poorly, but there were moments where things felt a bit slow and impersonal. Overall, it's an average experience. Worth a visit if you're nearby or craving a steak, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for. read more

I would not visit again the food was just not good. Although they are very big hearty portions there was almost no taste to the pastas or other dishes, not even salt. The bbq's were okay in terms of flavor but on the dry and tough side, making unenjoyable. While the restaurant theme is very fun the food is just a no go for me and my family considering the price point of each entree. read more

Waterloo CA - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

Waterloo is not the largest city, but damn the restaurants they have here are great. I came here for the ribs and ended up getting a NY Steak 16oz Special cooked to my preference. the service is friendly and the patrons are friendly. read more

Excellent food and service! Ribs and pesto pasta going home with me today Awesome flavors. Locals spot worth trying when you're in the area! Sit in a tractor saddle at the bar, fun ! read more

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Oh my how I am craving the chicken noodle soup from Waterloo. I haven't been lucky enough to be here when they have it but I'll be back to try again. I think the chicken noodle soup is the best I've ever had. You won't be disappointed! I also love the ribs and pesto pasta. I believe the noodles are homemade. Maybe the same noodles are used in the soup.... Just a thought. Anyways the ribs are tender, always tender and juicy. The bbq sauce is their own sauce which is great. This is yet another thing I feel is the best I've had. It's not like any other sauce anywhere. It's even sold in the grocery stores. I'm sure you've seen it. Anyways I really want to try some of the daily specials I've seen advertised on Facebook periodically but I can't get here those days. There options offered that aren't on the menu and Sapir really good. The service is always great and the ambiance is always comfortable. It can be a place to go to for a nice meal out or a place to go dressed comfortable. This place is versatile. I look forward to my next visit. I hope for chicken noodle soup. If I'm lucky enough to be there when it's available then I'll be buying a quart to go, like I always do. read more

You know the place has to be good when it's in the middle of nowhere and you're 12th in line on the waiting list on a Saturday night. Easy to get to, from 99 exit onto 88 like you're going to Lockford and it's directly across the street from German Guys. The Hubbs is a big ribs fan and one of his coworkers told him you have to try this place out. Menu is short and everything appears homemade, we knew we wanted to try their ribs and had planned on getting different entrées since it was our first time there, but everyone around us ordered ribs. We were seated near the kitchen and nearly every plate that came out had ribs and the pesto pasta or the Waterloo special with ribs, grilled chicken and pesto pasta. We had a When in Rome moment and we both ordered the Waterloo special. There's no children's menu; however, they do accommodate kids by offering smaller portions at a discounted price. I was hoping to order garlic bread for the Babes, but it wasn't available. The waitress suggested buttered pasta which is a pile of fresh pasta topped with Parmesan for a very reasonable price of $5.95 The Hubbs usually orders a salad with his meals but the only dressing options are their homemade ranch and Italian. My picky eater opted for the soup because he doesn't like either dressings. The soup option was only minestrone which he picked at and I ended up eating. Both the Hubbs and the Babes loved the fresh bread with good butter. When our entrées came out, they're not beautifully plated - no parsley or sliced fruit garnish, just a pile of hot food. Right down to the brown vinyl tablecloth, this is not about pretty, this is about Grubin and boy did we grub! The Waterloo special comes with grilled chicken, which is a quarter piece with the thigh and drum stick attached , ribs, and an additional side. I went with the pesto pasta and the Hubbs had a baked potato with butter only - just how he likes it! From the photos on Yelp, I knew it was going to be more of a creamy pesto and it was. It's more on the mild side and tasted very creamy and salty. The noodles appear homemade and are soft and fluffy rather than al dente. Both the chicken and the ribs are cooked on an hot grill and the meat is moist with the exterior slightly charred. There's no hint of smoke, but what is the true stand out is their amazing barbecue sauce. Their barbecue sauce is so good. You could pour it over an old leather shoe and it would be amazing. We were literally the last guests seated, and the last guests there to leave and the Hubbs baked potato was still fluffy. I looked over and the Hubbs had a pool of barbecue sauce in the middle of his plate. Was it good? Looked over again to a unicorn moment, the Hubbs never finishes his food and there he was with only a pile of bones in front of him! Will we be back? Oh yes, we will with wet wipes! I missed having vegetables with my entrée and next time we go I'll inquire if that's an order option. I would suggest they also have a roll of paper towels at each table. At the suggestion of our waitress, we had the banana bread pudding. OMG huge portion of French bread pudding with two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate. So decadent and delicious! I told the Hubbs that it was worth the drive just for the dessert! Of course we took a bottle of BBQ sauce to go. Menu on the table lists it for $5.95 but we were charged $6.50 read more

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Came here on a Saturday afternoon. Was able to get a table for three right away. We all ordered the ribs and pesto lunch plate. We also asked for an order of garlic bread to share. The garlic bread was good, it came in six slices. Had a nice crunch and good flavor. The ribs and pesto was a pretty large serving size for lunch. Six ribs that fell off the bone. The sauce was unique, a little sweet and a little salty. You could tell the pasta was homemade, it wasn't al dente, more soft. The pesto was unique as well, kinda creamy, and a little too salty for my taste, but someone else asked for more cheese. It was enough to feed me for two full meals. We asked what the dessert choices were since they usually change and are homemade. We shared a slice of pumpkin cheesecake that was light and fluffy. The crust was nice and thick and it came with a maple leaf shaped cookie on top. The restaurant is pretty big with a lot of pictures and sports memorabilia on the walls showing the history of famous visitors. It came out to $82.75 before tip. read more

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I would honestly give this place 3.5 stars if I could. I really liked the atmosphere and decor inside. I thought it was a bit over priced when overlooking over the menu in my opinion. I ordered the classic ribs and pesto. Ribs were very good and had a fire bbq sauce. I thought the pesto was okay I think it just tasted different than most pestos I've had or was missing something. Our waiter was very attentive and nice. I would go back here again just I was really looking forward to the pesto which was kind of a disappointment. read more

The menu is very limited with specials listed and when you go to order it are told they don't have that special. The service was sub par to say the least. We had around 4 different servers jumping all around and we were placed in the back and forgotten about. The food was okay but not for the price you pay. At around 40 per person I better leave with the best food I've ever had. Spaghetti was awful tasted like pace picante and Parmesan as a sauce. The Ribs were extremely fatty and the bbq sauce wasn't really saucy it was more like a bbq balsamic glaze. Overall not a great experience. read more

My wife and I have been coming here for a couple of years now, and it's become our favorite place to celebrate birthdays, enjoy a date night, or bring friends along for a great meal. On our most recent visit, I ordered the steak topped with mushrooms and a side of pesto pasta. The steak? Smoky, flavorful, and always cooked just right--these folks know what they're doing on the grill. And the pesto pasta? Creamy, rich, and packed with flavor in every bite. It's one of those dishes you think about long after the meal's over. Pair it all with a cold pint of Lagunitas, and you've got yourself the perfect night out. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already. Consistently great food, relaxed vibe, and a place that feels like home every time we visit. read more

Waterloo CA - Steak and Pesto - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

Great food excellent service we also enjoy when we dine here highly recommend and if your a Giants fan you'll love it even more

We had steak and scampi it was delish. The steak was cooked perfectly and so was the shrimp scampi. The service was fantastic very friendly and attentive checked on us frequently always smiling. The place is very comfortable homey feeling clean and well organized! read more

Food was amazing they serve really good portions. It does get pretty busy and may take a little bit till someone serves you but that's normal in every busy restaurant. Ambiance was pretty chill and welcoming. Definitely 10/10 will be coming back again! read more

The place was bustling with energy on a Friday night, and for good reason! The ribs and chicken were absolutely delicious--tender, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their signature sauce. The drinks were spot on, and the fresh, warm bread was a nice touch. Great food, great vibe--definitely worth the visit! read more

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The Waterloo is always a great time. I've been feasting there for 30 plus years....Steamers and delicious bread with lots of butter, A great seat at the bar, makes for an all round good place to go when you want to eat great, exceptional service and I love the walls ! See you again good friend read more

Waterloo CA - Guinness forever - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

I have been to this restaurant many times prior to today, but this time there was an odd, slightly unpleasant smell as we entered and never really lessened over the course of the visit. The Waterloo has had the same menu for quite some time and is very popular. However, the food today was a little "off". The complimentary garlic bread was very tough and tasted as if it had been reheated numerous times. The smoked chicken was very flavorful but a little on the dry side. Side salad was very fresh and crisp and the pesto pasta was delicious as usual. Hoping the visit today was just a one off and the next time will be back to perfection as usual. read more

Food and service are always good. Can't resist their to die for ribs. We get one with delicious Pesto and one with Porato Salad and share. What a treat read more

I first discovered Waterloo on Instagram, and a couple of days ago, when it came time to pick a lunch spot, us gym girlies decided to give it a try. The food did not disappoint! Kellie, the bartender, crafted an absolutely scrumptious Peach Cadillac Margarita. But the real showstopper? The bread pudding. One bite and I knew I'd be back. And sure enough--today I returned just for the bread pudding to-go. read more

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If you need a larger space for celebrations, Waterloo is a decent choice for your gathering. They have a spaces inside depending on the size of your group and outdoor seating as well. I wouldn't recommend outdoor with the summer heat. You also get the traffic flying by on hwy 88. We had three tables worth of people and we started at a slow time (4pm on a Thursday), so the service was fast and the servers were nice. They accommodated space for gifts and flowers since the restaurant wasn't full. Since some menu items are only for certain days, I ordered the scampi with pesto. It was a lot of food and dinner came with a salad and bread basket for the table. I definitely took some home because I couldn't finish. They have a full service bar and when you're in a large group it's sometimes nice to be able to quickly order and pay from the bar. The servers were quick with drink orders as well. Overall the food isn't bad. I wish I could've ordered the Calamari, but that's only available on Friday if I remember correctly. Item availability is indicated on the menu. They have different options if you go for lunch vs. dinner, so be sure to check that ahead of time if you would prefer the lunch menu. read more

Waterloo CA - Scampi with Pesto - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

Amazing. Services was great. Food just as good. Decent prices. Clean restaurant. We come here when driving through. read more

Waterloo CA - Chicken and pesto - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California

When Gayle and I drive to the Bay Area from Genoa (NV), we have 3 main routes, depending on where we're going: 1. US50 then I-80 at Sacramento, followed by I-680 into Walnut Creek. 2. Highway 88 and then through the Delta to Concord. 3. Highway 88 towards Stockton, then I5/205/580 into Livermore then SFO. When we take Option 3, we always keep in mind the possibility of Lunch or Dinner (depending whether we're coming in or going back) at the Waterloo. Their hours haven't always matched with ours, and we've been known to try to time (and route) or trips accordingly. The Waterloo is the kind of place that should have been featured on the old "Road Food" (Jane and Michael Stern) series or Diners Drive Ins and Dives in present day. I'd call it down home friendly, with a fun Western community vibe. Last week we stopped in for Lunch after travelling from SFO (on a flight from Vancouver). I had their special club sandwich with the signature pesto, while Gayle relished her ribs order (again with pesto). That plus draft Guinness for me, wine for me, and great service made for a well played rest stop on the way home. And if you're a SF Giants Fan? Humm Baby! read more

Dined in one a Sunday for lunch, no wait time but they do not seat you until your whole party has arrived I ordered the Waterloo special, chicken ribs and pesto. That is never a miss! My husband ordered the lunch special (steak sandwich) it was a bit on the dry side. Service was great, the waitress was attentive. Food and drinks did not take long to arrive at our table read more

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Thursday love the fettuccine , those steaks are delicious too. Great dish nice ambiance too. read more

Waterloo CA - Seafood fettuccine - Barbeque Near Me - Stockton, California