Red Herring Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Waco

I travel a lot and eat out all the time, but I rarely write reviews. Red Herring in Waco is that rare exception – this place is truly something special. From the moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere was warm, intimate, and inviting. It feels like a hidden gem tucked away in the city, with cozy lighting and a stylish, comfortable vibe that immediately put me at ease. By the end of the night, I knew I had to share this experience.

I started with a wine recommendation and was blown away by a super dry Greek red wine they suggested. Bold yet smooth, it paired beautifully with the food. I was seriously impressed and kept raving about it all night; it set the tone for the rest of the meal in the best way.

Our first dish was a half-dozen oysters on the half shell from the Northeast, and they were fantastic. Briny, ultra-fresh, and served with a blackberry mignonette (a vinaigrette-style sauce) that was tart and perfectly balanced – not sweet at all. That little blackberry twist in the mignonette was genius. It cut through the saltiness of the oysters just right, making each slurp bright and delicious. I’ve had a lot of oysters in my travels, but these stood out.

Next up were the pork belly skewers, and let me tell you, they completely changed my mind about pork belly. I usually avoid pork belly because it can be too fatty for my taste, but Red Herring’s preparation was a game-changer. They came out thinly sliced and grilled to caramelized perfection – slightly crispy on the edges, with a smoky-sweet char. Each bite melted in my mouth. I found myself reaching for the last piece, stunned that I was loving pork belly of all things! These skewers alone would be reason enough for me to come back.

We also tried the bruschetta with burrata, and it was next-level delicious. Picture creamy, rich burrata cheese spread over crispy grilled bread, topped with super fresh seasonal toppings (ours had ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic). The combination of the creamy burrata and the tangy, juicy tomatoes was heavenly. It’s a familiar dish, but done with such quality ingredients and care that it felt brand new. Honestly, I could have eaten an entire plate of that bruschetta by myself.

Our final dish was the Hamachi crudo, which arrived looking like a work of art. It’s essentially sashimi-style yellowtail, and it came with accents of mandarin orange, a hint of truffle, and oregano. The flavors were beautifully balanced – light, fresh, citrusy, and not overly sweet. The delicate slices of Hamachi practically melted on the tongue, and the subtle zing of orange with that earthy truffle undertone made each bite sing. After the richer dishes earlier, this was the perfect refreshing note to end on. It left our palates cleansed and happy.

Aside from the amazing food and drink, I have to give a special shoutout to our bartender, Hayden. He was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about everything, from the wine to the menu. You can tell he loves what he does. Hayden talked us through the dishes, made spot-on recommendations (that Greek red wine pairing – wow!), and his enthusiasm was infectious. He really elevated the whole experience for us. It felt like we had our own personal guide making sure we tasted the very best of what Red Herring has to offer.

By the end of the evening, I was glowing with happiness (and maybe a bit of that wine!). The combination of the cozy atmosphere, exceptional food, and top-notch service made this one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Red Herring is the kind of place you almost don’t want to tell others about because it feels like your own secret find – but they absolutely deserve the praise. For a traveler who almost never leaves reviews, consider this one a love letter to a new favorite. If you’re in Waco and looking for a phenomenal meal with a vibe to match, do yourself a favor and check out Red Herring. I know I’ll be back next time...

I called the restaurant around 6:00p.m. in order to find out whether there was a wait, and the hostess relayed to me that there was not one. I arrived around 6:50p.m. and the restaurant was not busy. There were many tables that were open. The hostess asked me where I desired to be seated, and I stated in the main dining room because the restaurant was not busy. Note: I dine-out alone, therefore, I do not like to take up a full table, especially when a restaurant is spinning on its axis crazily, but this time I chose to be seated in the main area. I was presented with several menus by the hostess, which I perused. I looked around to take in the ambience of the space, for I have only eaten at Red Herring once, and that was in '24 around April time-frame. I ate at the bar, and I can attest that the food was delicious, and the staff were respectful and attentive. I was well-pleased. This time around, I did not gain an experience, for no one came to greet me, nor did anyone look in my direction. I sat for well over 12 minutes, and received not a peep. I politely stood-up and walked to the door, and the hostess stated rather then asking that no one came to my table, and I replied with a "no". Her ridiculous reply was "I'm sorry." I was affronted by the remark, for I expected better, even from a school room Miss. I decidedly turned around, and asked to speak to her manager. Now, my understanding was that the general manager was out, but the assistant was available. Well, I watched her go and speak to a lady, whom I assumed was the assistant manager, and that lady looked at me and simply walked off. From that point, I dismissed the entire idea of speaking to anyone, for I would not waste more of my valuable time. Mind you, time is precious and valuable to everyone. I smiled instead, and walked away, for there are far better establishments to dine at in Dallas and Austin. P.S. The Monarch Restaurant in Dallas is a fine choice. It is always a nice drive going there. There are...

A friend chose this restaurant for her birthday dinner. I absolutely loved the place! The ambiance is fantastic! It's really classy and beautiful inside. I love the curved booths. The centerpiece bar is amazing. In the back, they have a new setup for an oyster bar? The birthday girl got a complimentary glass of prosecco! Our waiter was very friendly and admittedly not a sommelier, although he made some recommendations. I took his recommendation and ordered the paperback romance cocktail. It's so good!!! The menu is a little different than most restaurant menus. It is built to have sharable tapas dishes, and then you can pick your main entrée. Everyone picked different items. The guys were disappointed in the portion sizes, so keep that in mind, not the typical massive serving portions. This is much more of a European style portion size. They describe it as Mediterranean, but I would consider it more of an eclectic menu. There are a couple of very Mediterranean foods like the kofta and hummus and the chicken skewers, but there are also Italian influenced dishes like the foccacia and the cacio e pepe (both dishes were incredible and I highly recommend). The pork ribs are a little more American, and I would say if you're looking for a larger portion of food, it's huge and filling. If you don't like smokey foods, I would not recommend the chicken skewers or the kofta, but I personally liked it. The desserts offered all sound very good. Birthday girl picked the chocolate mousse with huckleberry. It was so good! It's perfectly sweet and a smooth texture. I would absolutely order it again! Overall it's a more expensive restaurant, but the quality of the food, the experience and location is worth it. I would HIGHLY recommend for a date night, especially on a Wednesday or Thursday when they have a pianist playing on the babygrand piano in the center of the dining area! I will definitely be back! This is the perfect spot for a...