Husband told me about the food said i had to try it so we went on 8/12/2012 for lunch it took them 20 minutes to take our order they were not real busy we ordered a burrito with beans,chicken,cheese, and guacamole with chips a hot sauce. Okay the hot sauce tasted like caned tomatoes that had been chopped up no taste what so ever but tomato and about 30 minutes later when they finally brought us our food they left the beans off my burrito. They finally came buy and refiled my husbands drink but then later mine needed a refill didn't happen. The chicken in the burrito had no taste to it in fact it tasted like the chicken had been cooked the day before and then reheated it was tough and the guacamole was just smashed up avocados no taste at all. So after we finished our lunch we went to check out i went to the truck and my husband paid it took right around 10 minutes to pay the bill he was the only one in line. I say they need to learn how to use their time and work on the food its amazing what a little seasoning will do to your food. Sorry won't be going back.
Earlier in the summer, my wife brought home one of the best burgers I've tasted since moving to Waco. She told me it was a place she stumbled upon while on her way to another eatery. When I asked the name, she excitedly said Papa Bears. She wanted to take me there for breakfast the next weekend, unfortunately we had to wait a few more weeks. Eventually we went back and had breakfast. The staff was nice and made us feel as if we were "old regulars" there. My wife had a breakfast burrito and I had the breakfast sandwich. The portion was huge, especially for the amount of money we spent. Both of these meals were beyond tasty. In fact, the food was so good, we decided to go there the next day for an early dinner. We were heartbroken to drive up and see that they close at 2pm (we missed it by an hour).
Barbeque...well that elicits all kinds of varying opinions. And not to be outdone, I am quite verbal about my taste in the art of slow smoking a hunk of meat!
My first preference, after 20 years in the area, is sadly 30 some miles to the west in Clifton...However, we don't get there often and the price of gas makes it a 'just gotta have or I'll die' trip out of it. So, a few years ago I discovered Papa Bears. It is a definite second for me!
Today I 'dined' (explanation of surroundings to follow food review) on Papa's friday (every Friday, ONLY on Friday) special...smoked brisket, sausage and RIBS!!! This was accompanied by a mound of his house-made mashed tater salad, and a small bowl of house-made pinto beans. All for $6.50! The rib (1 large) was yummy and not over smoked, the brisket was the same and the sausage had a good kick of spice...maybe a bit too much for the timid palate.
They serve you a seperate bowl of his BBQ sauce for drizzlin', dippin' or downright drownin'! All of it comparable, and maybe a bit better than the chain on I-35, without the larger cost.
It is a dive at most, simple old laminate top tables and cheap chairs. Food is served on older melamine ovals with real forks and knives, Decor is truckstop, meet yer buddy for lunch kinda place and Papa, will call you by name if you come often enough.
He also caters and we have used his services at our offices...it is always good. Have had his smoked chicken, turkey and THE best prime rib to ever grace a smoker, yummo!
If you do go on a friday for lunch, get there early as today, the brisket ran out by 1pm. We got the last, ha, ha!
