Healthy Eats In Waco: Revival Eastside Eatery
It’s a little bit difficult to find healthy places to eat in Waco. There are lots of burger chains and pizza spots and breweries, but not so many salads and healthy bowls. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this awesome little spot in the Elm District of downtown Waco! Revival Eastside Eatery is an awesome breakfast and lunch spot that should be on your radar.
Community Focused, Fresh Food
The concept of Revival Eastside Eater is definitely community. They welcome you when you arrive, seating you and your party. Even though it is a sit-down restaurant where you’ll have a server (not a counter service spot), the servers are all community servers, which means you’ll interact with multiple people during your meal.
And they were all so kind! Seriously, everyone who works at this spot was so smiley and welcoming. It’s a small thing, but in the modern age of dining where experiences are often less personable, great hospitality is definitely noticed.
They also focus on locally-sourced food whenever possible. The burgers are made from 44 Farms beef, and the beer on tap is from local craft breweries. They do their best to source produce locally, too, but make sure to say “whenever possible” which means it’s hard to say if it’s actually local or not.
Healthy Food Mixed With Indulgent Options
I really love the lunch menu at Revival Eastside Eatery! It’s great whether you want to eat healthy or not, which makes it an excellent spot for a big group lunch where you have people with different dietary needs.
You can easily order a giant veggie-forward salad, add a lean protein on top, and pair it with a kombucha on tap.
Or you can get a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries and pair it with a craft beer.
When I was there most recently, I went with the Eve Salad (roasted sweet potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, apple, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, queso fresco, kale, and apple cider vinaigrette) and added grilled chicken (+ $5) for some protein. Delish.
Lots Of Biblical References On The Menu
Waco Texas is the home of Baylor University, which is a Christina school. So it’s no surprise that a lot of the restaurants and businesses reflect those biblical values.
In fact, Revival Eastside Eatery is actually in a building that used to be a church! It sat vacant for years before it was “revived” into this restaurant, hence the name.
Ok, so this restaurant took the “church” theme and ran with it! Pretty much every name on the menu is a reference to something in the Bible. A bit cheesy, sure, but it works!
A few examples:
Old Pestoment Sandwich: Chicken, tomatoes, pesto, balsamic reduction, arugula, and shaved parmesan on ciabatta bread served with French fries.
Garden of Eating Salad: Corn relish (grilled corn, red onion, cilantro, serrano pepper), grape tomatoes, cucumber, queso fresco, and baby kale with lime vinaigrette.
Mount Olive Sandwich: Pepperoni, salami, bib lettuce, red onion, tomato, pesto aioli, olive tapenade, and provolone on ciabatta bread.
Golden Calf Burger: 44 Farms beef patty, caramelized balsamic onions, whipped herb goat cheese, lemon garlic aioli, and arugula on a brioche bun served with French fries.
A Few More Things To Know About Revival Eastside Eatery
Parking: plenty of free street parking in front, or you can go to the back of the building where they have a free dedicated parking lot.
Hours: this is a lunch only restaurant! They close just after lunch every day (around 3 pm), so don’t come here expecting dinner. The doors will be closed.
Family-friendly restaurant: they have lots of space, plenty of tables, and high chairs for little ones. If you’re looking for some good kid-friendly dining in Waco, come to Revival Eastside Eatery! They even have a dedicated kids menu.
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheAustinThings.com!
Related:
My Shockingly Bad Meal At Brasserie At Hotel 1928, Chip And Joanna’s New Waco Restaurant
I’ve walked through Chip and Joanna Gaines’s newest (and biggest!) makeover project a few times. Hotel 1928 is a gorgeous historic building situated on a busy street corner in downtown Waco, TX. (Busy for Waco…let’s be honest. This is still…
Read More
Review of Milk Bottle Cookies in Waco
The storefront alone is enough to draw you in. Milk Bottle Cookies in Waco Texas is a downtown bakery that’s in a quaint building with exposed brick and big, old, beautiful windows. It looks kind of trendy in that farmhouse/chic…
Read More
Pinewood Coffee Bar: The Best Coffee In Waco
Pinewood Coffee Bar has quickly become my favorite Waco coffee shop. I adore this place. To be honest, from online searches and Google images, I had low expectations..it kind of looks like it could either be really cool, or really…
Read More