Street Dog Cafe — Restaurant in Waco

I was so excited to see a restaurant was reopening in the space Lula Jane's occupied, as it was one of my favorite restaurants and locations. I know Street Dog has not been open long, so I debated even writing a review. However, it was such a disappointing experience that I really wanted to provide feedback and share. I got the baked oatmeal, and honestly had a hard time eating it. It was so dry and stodgy, and I thought the flavor was a little off because of the amount of cinnamon. We sat on the patio, which ended up being really difficult as the wooden picnic benches were so close that someone else's dog kept coming under our table, and their child was kicking me in the back. I love kids and dogs, but the benches were much too crowded together. Additionally, the raw wood of the picnic bench was broken and splintering on the bench, and my little boy got splinters in his leg from it. The service was also very chaotic, as a person who took our order said they would bring the food out to us on the patio, but then when a girl brought our coffee, she asked us to go wait inside for the food. So I did. While I was inside waiting for the food, someone took food out to the patio. I think the staff just needs to get in a rhythm and be on the same page, but it was very difficult to enjoy the experience as it was so chaotic. Just a note for other people that might be attending with children- there are no high chairs. As the restaurant was full of families with children, I think this is important to know. Hopefully some of these issues will be worked out, because I think this location has a...

We stopped by Street Dog Cafe on our way through Waco and tried a taco and a cranberry orange scone. Both were really good. The food was high quality, super fresh, and the portions were generous. The scone was especially delicious. It was flaky, flavorful, and clearly made with care.

The service was phenomenal. The girl who took my order was incredibly patient and kind. She took her time with me and made the whole experience feel very welcoming. At one point, we thought our order was wrong (it wasn’t), and they were quick to address it without any hesitation. I was very impressed.

The only downside for me was the coffee. They use Merit beans, which a lot of people like, but I personally find them a bit bitter and sour. If you’re someone who enjoys Merit coffee, you’ll probably be just fine. We also asked for honey in our iced coffee, but it wasn’t mixed into the hot espresso before being iced, so the honey didn’t dissolve.

Still, if you like Merit coffee or just want really good food and kind, attentive service, I absolutely recommend giving this...

The sticky bun... It took me on a journey back to my parents house. Waking up in the morning and smelling the sweet aroma of cinnamon and caramel wafting through the air as I walk down the stairs to the dining room.

I knew what was waiting on the dining room table long before my foot ever took the final step onto the first floor of the house... a sticky bun covered in delightfully melted caramel to the perfect color and texture, chewy, but not tough, sugary, but not overwhelming.

Cinnamon delicately spread within each layer of the bun, revealed with each bite. It's difficult to recreate my mom's sticky bun (although she graciously gifted me her 50+ year old recipe, even my attempts are in vain at times), but Street Dog Cafe has gotten dangerously close.

While the Street Dog Cafe sticky bun isn't visibly covered in caramel like my mom's were, the same caramel taste is present and undeniable. The flavor was simply remarkable, delighting my taste buds with each bite, from the first to the very last morsel. Trust me, you don't want to miss...