The food is reasonably priced, and usually good. Pizza's especially. I used to love going for the alfredo sauce, but last time I went it wasn't on the menu. Now THAT was awesome! They "had" the best alfredo sauce I'd ever eaten. No more. Service is usually pretty bad, no refills on tea and drinks. And parking? Fugettaboutit! And no, you cannot park at the restaurant next door.
If you love the real deal, then Baris Restaurant is for you. The stromboli is to die for, and the pizza is excellent too. We lived in Waco for several years, but we had to move for work. We still go to Waco a few times a year. When we go, we always have to stop at Baris. We wish that we lived closer so we could eat there more often! The owner and staff are very friendly and polite. Try their food. You won't be sorry!
When I eat at Baris, I often come away with just a general "okay" feeling. It's certainly not great, but I'm never unhappy with what I order, except the chicken marsala- I'm not sure what went wrong there, but it had no flavor at all.
They've done a good job bringing out kid dishes before the main meal when requested. Although, I do wish their dining room was a bit larger. I often feel that having a high chair makes for an awkward experience for other guests, servers, and our family.
We had guests in from out of town and they were hungry for pizza. We suggested Baris and were not disappointed. The pizza has a wonderful thin crust with crisp bottom and just the right amount of cheese, sauce and toppings. It is always a great value and has the local touch and character that no chain could ever duplicate.
Baris' pink sauce is the long lost nectar of the gods--a substance so creamy and delectable that it could make just about anything edible. Okay, so maybe not anything per se, but it might stand a chance against the evils of, say, celery. Rumored to be Baris' take on vodka sauce, it's one of my favorite substances in the universe.
Every town needs a Baris--an inexpensive Italian-American eatery full of cheesy goodness. Like many other Waco favorites, it's probably not the most authentic representation of Italian cuisine. They're very heavy on the sauce with their pastas and I've even heard that the delicious spicy tomato house vinaigrette is more Albanian than Italian. Who cares? It tastes good, plus the extra sauce on everything means that there's something to dip those terrific fluffy rolls in.
I have a hard time tearing myself away from the tortellini pink, but when I do, it's all been far better than the prices on the menu would suggest. They definitely make one of the better pizzas in town. Baris shines for quality cheap eats, and it's worth dealing with their cramped nightmare of a parking lot to eat there.
I love Baris! It's incredibly tasty and the food is always good. This small Italian place is where you should go if looking for some pasta. My favorite is their calzone. This large puff pasty-thing is full of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and little balls of sausage. I was introduced to this twelve years ago and still love it. When my friends come to town, I always bring them here. My friend who makes her own alfredo sauce from scratch, actually preferes Baris chicken alfredo over her mom's. It's that goo. The only down side is trying to find a parking spot. Good luck with that. They also have daily lunch specials. But remember, they are closed on Mondays.
Baris is seriously a landmark in Waco. I know the original one is kinda old and dingy looking, but it has so much character. I love the food and I'm not afraid to try new things on the menu because I know I'll like it.
The service can be iffy sometimes when there's a rush, but eventually someone always notices and fixes it.
Ms. Mary is always there too, which is fun. It's nice to see familiar faces when you eat out. She makes things personable.
the place where cheap pizza, sponge-detail painted walls, and hilarious placemats come to join hands and skip
Baris holds a dear, tender place in my heart. As a freshman, my posse and I would always go to Baris on Sunday nights since all the dining halls were closed. If I was feeling rich, I spent a whopping $11 on the Chicken Cacciatore (which, as a frugal spender, I ate half of and saved the rest for later) and an iced tea. If I was low in funds, I spent $4 on two slices of cheese pizzas and the aforementioned ice tea. DANG! Little ones, that's what you call legit.
We were always waited on by Aurora/Vanessa, and she became part of the routine of our weekly ritual. She eventually said such famous things such as "making bad decisions" in the greatest of contexts. She refilled our drinks with rapidity and ease. Mary, the owner, came over and talked to us in her raspy voice and told us we were beautiful. Ahhh...(begin relapse into nostalgia).
So here's the summary: Baris is above and beyond delicious, especially considering the price. Everything is quite good, and I always crave it when I stay away for awhile. I love this place. Eat here.
My husband and I had eaten here a couple times and everything was good. The LAST time we ate there we were seated at a booth and promptly ignored by every member of the waitstaff for 30 min or so. We finally gave up. Now we prefer the Hewitt location (Mama Baris)... same good food but much better service.
