Tony Demaria's BBQ

Location: 1000 Elm Street, Waco, TX 76704
755-8888
http://www.tonysbarbque.com/

Hours: M-F, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 6/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 9/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10

Recommended Items: The “Order, Mixed” (brisket and sausage); Beef Ribs

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s): Go somewhere else!

Review:

Tony Demaria’s BBQ has been a fixture on Elm Street in East Waco since 1946, and with good reason. Geoff DeMaria, the owner, is faithfully carrying on the tradition that his father, Tony DeMaria, Jr., started, and thankfully for Waco restaurant patrons, that doesn’t look to change any time soon. DeMaria’s has a serving line that extends to the door on most days from around 11:30 a.m. on, and if you want to make sure you get something to eat, it’s best to get there early, because they stop serving when the meat runs out.

The menu offers your basic barbecue essentials, including brisket, sausage, bologna, and on Wednesday, all-you-care-to-eat ribs. The brisket and sausage, in particular, are excellent choices. The steady choice of most patrons is the “Order”, which gets you around ½ lb of meat on butcher paper with bread, pickles, onions, and peppers. On Wednesdays, of course, the ribs are hard to pass up, as the meat essentially falls off of the bone. The groan from those still in line is audible when they announce, “Folks, we are now out of ribs!”, which tells you just how good they are. For those that enjoy sides, barbecue plates are available, and the potato salad, beans, and cole slaw are all delicious. The barbecue sauce is vinegar-based and is very flavorful. For the more adventurous, the “hot” sauce is excellent as well and adds an extra kick to the meat.

For many, however, the distinguishing feature at DeMaria’s that sets it apart from just about every other barbecue joint in town is what they affectionately refer to as the “gravy”. This concoction, which is essentially brisket drippings with some spices added, makes the meal complete. Simply wrap your meat in a slice of white bread, dip it in the gravy, and you will experience a little taste of barbecue heaven.

The wait staff are friendly and will accommodate special requests for additional items once diners are seated at the table. They regularly patrol the tables asking if more bread is needed, engage in conversation with the patrons, and generally make the dining experience more pleasurable.

Tony Demaria’s is a unique restaurant in that you will find folks from all walks of life dining there on any given day. You will see movers and shakers in one corner, and construction workers in another. With the picnic bench and folding table seating, you will often see such diverse folks sitting together at the same table, enjoying the thing that brings them together – a love for great barbecue.

While the menu is fairly simple and the building itself is unassuming, Tony DeMaria’s BBQ is the best barbecue joint in Waco, bar none. Anyone who isn’t there on a regular basis simply can’t be considered a serious barbecue fan.