Tony DeMaria’s BBQ in Waco: A Review
I love a really old, iconic spot in any city! When I was doing research for the best BBQ places in Waco, I kept hearing about Tony DeMaria’s in downtown Waco and knew I had to try it. It’s one of the oldest barbecue restaurants in Waco, and it’s still thriving.
A History Of Tony DeMaria’s
Tony DeMaria was the son of an Italian immigrant. His dad came to the States in 1888 when he was just 14 years old! He’s part of an iconic Waco BBQ family, too. His uncle was Jasper who opened Jasper’s BBQ, another very famous barbecue restaurant here in Waco.
Tony actually started this place as a meat store and market, and he would smoke meat and sell it to construction workers who were building I-35 through Waco. (And yes, that interstate has definitely had multiple re-dos since the 1940s.)
It’s still family-owned, which is very cool. That’s a pretty rare feat to have lasted 8+ decades without selling out.
The restaurant location moved just down the street from the original location, but it’s still the same family recipe.
Tony DeMaria’s Restaurant
It’s a small one-story restaurant with a big wooden deck out front and a small smoker in the back. When you park in the (free) parking lot, you’ll immediately get delicious wafts of smoked pecan drifting into your car.
Walk into the restaurant and head straight to the counter to order. This restaurant is only open for lunch (starting at 9 am!), and it gets busiest around 12:00. Normal for a lunch spot…duh.
When I stopped by for the first time just after the lunch rush, I was able to place my order, find a seat, and then receive my order within less than 5 minutes. About 50% of the tables were full on a weekday afternoon.
What To Order At Tony DeMaria’s
I always recommend getting the sliced brisket when you’re dining at a BBQ restaurant for the first time. It’s one of the truest tells of the quality of a restaurant.
I ordered a large plate, which comes with meat + 2 sides. The brisket was good! The fatty cuts of brisket were soft and flavorful, although not quite as melt-in-your-mouth and perfectly smoked as some of the best BBQ joints in Texas. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I would also be pretty surprised to see this place end up on Texas Monthly’s 50 Best list.
I also ordered a little bit of sausage to taste, which was awesome. Next time I’m ordering one of those epic sandwiches, though.
For sides, go for the creamed corn (they’ll let you know it’s the first one to typically sell out on the menu), and then the potato salad. The beans were my least favorite side I tried.
There aren’t many restaurants remaining from the mid-1900s, and those that are open sometimes phone it in and rely on their history alone. But Tony DeMaria’s is not only family owned, but they’re also still putting care into their smoked meats and calling in a really steady line of regular customers, which is a true testament to the quality of their BBQ.
WEBSITE | 1000 Elm Ave, Waco, TX 76704, United States