Bubba's 33 — Restaurant in Waco

Bubba’s 33 is exactly what it sets out to be—a casual, sports-heavy bar and grill where neon lights meet the glow of 20-some-odd TVs playing everything from basketball to baseball highlights. It’s the kind of place where you grab a drink, watch the game, and dig into some hearty, well-seasoned fare. At least, that’s the hope.

The Experience

I sat at the bar, where Quinn (Q-U-I-N), my server, took good care of me. She was pleasant, efficient, and kept the drinks coming. The atmosphere? Think Texas Roadhouse but with even more televisions. Bubba’s 33 is owned by the same folks, and it carries that same high-energy, casual-dining feel—loud, sports-heavy, and geared toward a crowd that likes a little grit with their beer.

The Drink: Watermelon Margarita

Let’s start with the house margarita. I went for the watermelon margarita, a drink that, on paper, promises a refreshing mix of sweet and tart, tequila-forward but balanced with citrus. In reality? It was just okay. The rim of salt was a nice touch, the presentation was solid, but the flavor leaned a little too much on the artificial side. It wasn’t offensive, but it wasn’t something I’d rush back to order again.

The Meal: Seasoned Salmon with Rice and Steamed Broccoli

The seasoned salmon arrived with a lime wedge perched on top, resting on a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli. The first impression? It looked great. A well-spiced crust on the outside, a nice sear—so far, so good. But then I took a bite.

Salmon, when cooked well, should have a delicate flake, a bit of silkiness in the center, and just enough crispness on the outside to make each bite interesting. This salmon, unfortunately, was overcooked. While the seasoning was on point, that internal moisture—what makes salmon so irresistible—was missing. It was dry, which is the one thing you never want a salmon fillet to be.

The rice? A surprising highlight. It was flavorful, not clumpy, and had just enough seasoning to hold its own. A solid base. The broccoli, on the other hand, was fine but not as tender as I would have liked—a little more time steaming would have softened it up just right.

Final Verdict

Would I go back? Maybe, but Bubba’s 33 wouldn’t be at the top of my list. There’s nothing egregiously bad about it, but it didn’t leave me wanting more, either. It’s a spot that does bar food well, but if you’re hoping for a perfectly cooked piece of salmon or a standout margarita, you might want to temper expectations.

Rating: (4/5) • Atmosphere: Lively, sports-heavy, and exactly what you’d expect from a bar owned by Texas Roadhouse. • Service: Quinn was great—friendly, efficient, and on top of things. • Food: Well-seasoned but let down by execution. Salmon was overcooked, broccoli was under-steamed, but the rice was solid. • Drinks: The margarita was okay but nothing memorable.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a casual, sports-heavy bar with decent food, Bubba’s 33 will do the trick. Just don’t expect to...

Went for veterans day for a free veteran meal with my family, drove all the way from killeen just to eat there. My wife ordered a cold brew to go and we needed to go boxes as well so the waitress went and got the boxes and made the cold brew as well as bringing the receipt which did not have the cold brew on it. So my wife tries the cold brew by taking 2 or 3 small sips which she did not like and when the waitress returned to take my card she asked if she liked the cold brew and my wife responded saying no she didn't like it, the waitress acknowledged that my wife didn't like it and proceeded to take my card and pay the bill. Once the waitress returned she handed me my receipt for payment and card and walked away. I look at the receipt and notice a completely different total than the receipt that was taken prior to payment. I look closer and notice she added the cold brew without telling me or bringing me a new receipt with the cold brew for me to see prior to payment. So at this point I'm really irritated because she added it without my knowledge and swiped my card on top of adding it knowing my wife didn't like it. I ask for a manager and instead the waitress comes and says she added it because we still had the drink that hadn't been touched since first telling her it was not good and didn't like it. So then she says hang on she's gonna get a manager, the manager was just as useless as the waitress because she came out with an attitude that I was wrong and the waitress was right before she even heard me speak. I explained that it was not over being charged the price of the drink that I was upset about it was about the principle that she added money to my bill and swiped my card for a different total prior to me knowing my bill had increased. Also having the audacity of charging someone for an item that they told you they didn't like is just ridiculous! It just really shows you how much they don't care for their customers when they charge you behind your back and then make you pay for stuff you don't like when you don't eat or drink it! We have been repeat customers for a very long time but this was something that really disturbed us and completely changes our outlook on this place. I would advise staying away if you are thinking of going and finding a different location if possible or just a completely different restaurant...

This place was amazing! I will be honest we took 4 generations of wome. To celebrate two birthdays! The only complaint i have was it was so loud between music, other customers' echo on the concrete floors and my aunts hard of hearing. Ages were 77-9. My son also hates loud areas due to sensory issues. Having said all that as I walked to the family bathrooms it was consideredably more quiet in different areas. I will be back and I will ask for a specific table area, even if I have to wait!!! Because the food was that good! Honestly the best garlic knots I have ever had. People i live always order them at restaurants i always find the. Hard, dry and flavorless, but these were the exact opposite! Fluffy, flavorful and delicious! We were all hungry and all hoped to get something that didn't disappoint. We wanted to try almost all of it. We went with Philly cheese steak, fried shrimp platter, kids pizza, and shrimp bo poy! I will start with the sandwiches. They were both amazing! Maybe the best Philly i have ever had. I asked for extra mushrooms because usually I'm disappointed by the ratio in a Philly of fulling to bread. They gave me extra mushrooms and it was great. But next time I wouldn't ask because it was perfect the way they serve it. The Po boy was one of the best I have ever outside of Louisiana and the beaches of Destin Florida restaurants. The fried shrimp platter was delicious too. The kids pizza was like out of an actual pizzeria in NYC but kid's size! I saw pizzas on other tables and they looked good too. Our server though was the best! Isaiah! (Saturday after 6p.m. 2/15/2025) We never waited for anything. He was cheerful, helpful and fun with out being too much. Super nice and patient with us too as we asked questions and made up our minds. I have never wroten a review for a place this long that should tell you alone how much I loved it and we will be back. Unfortunately there isn't one in Austin area so I will have to go when I visit Waco! Also, as a reference 4 people, 4 drinks, 2 alcohol drinks, app, and 3 meals and a kids meal $85. Which these days is a steak and you never get...