The Brasserie at Hotel 1928 — Restaurant in Waco

Get yourself a call-ahead!!!

I’ve been watching and waiting for this to open and this team DELIVERED! We went on day 1 which is always risky with restaurants but this team was so well-prepared it didn’t feel like day 1 other than the collective excitement and pride of their team which was just delightful!

Atmosphere: Enchanting. To me, prettiest place in Waco/best vibes because not only is the restaurant beautiful but the greater context is a treat as you can also wander the hotel, replete with details like a Larry McMurtry’s typewriter (author of Lonesome Dove) and find a drink on the menu called “Lonesome Dove”. Wandering the halls will be a joy for long-time Wacoans as they peruse the many historic downtown Waco photos that adorn the walls. Cozy chairs and inviting nooks with mood lighting to lose track of time with friends, a book or a game of chess are at every turn.

Food: Wow. I got the 1928 Burger medium well and it was so flavorful and didn’t need anything. The bun was fresh and soft. Our hand cut fries were initially overdone as in the photo but the manager, Taylor “Munsch”, made it right very quickly and brought us not only the fries done right but also some pastries to make amends. We got the coffee cake and the croissant. Y’all. I’ve said this for years but I haven’t found anyone who does a croissant quite like the ones I’ve had in France but this was darn close! It was warm and fresh and had the crisp, necessarily mess-making exterior and soft layers on the inside. The moist coffee cake was also served warm with a gooey crumble with tart berries on top. A treat!

Service: Our server, Atyssa, was great and knowledgeable about the food. Thank you to whomever trained the Brasserie team and had the wisdom to have them taste everything they are serving such that when I asked Atyssa what she liked, she could actually speak with conviction about all the food!! Well done!! The manager, Taylor, who helped us was also friendly and wonderful and asked for feedback.

Conclusion: I am thrilled. I’m so impressed and excited by what the Magnolia team in partnership with AJ Capital have created. It’s a beautiful tribute to Waco and captures the heart of hospitality and excellence. I’m so proud to show it off...

This review is going to be long and critical because at this price point I hold a restaurant to a higher standard. Plus it’s new and they might care about my 2¢

This restaurant has good bones but could make some small changes that would make a huge difference.

Food: I don’t understand what some people are saying about the food. It’s solid by any standard. The Korean wings were decent and we enjoyed the pickled cucumbers that came with them. Our party of 7 tried everything off the entree menu except the burger and it was all good. Chicken fried steak was HUGE. The pork chop undoubtedly stole the show. Truly spectacular and better than the steak dare I say. We did not order dessert.

Service: The hostess was very sweet and accommodating (Blonde). I witnessed her quite gracefully turn away a group in front of us because they weren’t taking walk-ins. So shoutout that chick. Our waitress Kianna rocked. She was knowledgeable on all menu items we asked about, kind, and punctual. Only small service mistakes like the food runners forgetting sharing plates and some lemons we requested were a little late to come out. However these are rather forgettable and I’m being critical.

Atmosphere/Facilities: There’s no denying the interior design is top notch. Well done by the Magnolia team. BUT (big but), if we’re spending fancy money and dining in a fancy setting can we PLEASE not play 70’s hits. Don’t get me wrong they’re all bangers and I love Cat Stevens but COME ON. It brings the vibe down 2 tax brackets…Next. The bathrooms. Looked nice but there’s a gaping gap in the stall doors. Lame. This place is far too nice to not have paper towels or linens. Joanna, if you’re reading this, we don’t want blow dryers. Makes me feel like I’m at a quick trip. I don’t care if it’s a Dyson. Probably the most egregious offense was that three of the stalls in the women’s room didn’t have toilet paper. That’s bad. Lastly our table was wobbly.

All in all this place has potential to be superb and I’d say it’s good but slightly disappointing at this price range. Just some small changes need to happen. I’d definitely come back to check out the rooftop and the cocktails. Their take on the old fashion looked yum. But overall...

Went for dinner for the first time here with my wife and MIL. Here is my honest review of this establishment. Our first impression was how great the atmosphere was. The whole place is styled very nicely, and it feels very homey, cozy, an a little classy too.

I was surprised when my wife asked if she could substitute mashed potatoes for the fries that came with the steak and fries, and we were told by the waitress that the chef absolutely refuses to do any substitutions. Apparently he spent a lot of time designing the menu to give certain experiences and doesn't want the customer to ruin that or something. I understand that to some extent, but to be completely honest, that is the first time in my whole life that I have been told that we cant make a substitution for a side. I experienced having an extra charge for exchanging a side, but have never been told flat-out no. That came off a little pretentious to me, but we just moved on and ordered the salmon.

My salmon was cooked fine and the glaze was good, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. The rice pilaf severely under-seasoned; I am not sure there was even any salt on it. That being said the brussels sprouts stole the show. They were cooked to perfection and had a delicious salty-sweet soy sauce-based seasoning, so delicious!

We also ordered drinks, and unfortunately, we didn't receive them until after we had gotten our food and pretty much completely finished out meal. The restaurant was not particularly busy that night so I wasn't sure why it took so long. Our waitress was not particularly attentive, she didn't come to check on us for a long time so we weren't able to ask her about our late drinks for a long time. We also ran out of water very quickly and didn't have a chance to ask for refills until were basically done with our meal.

Overall, the food and service need some improvement, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Was my plate worth the 30-something dollars I spent on it? Ehh, probably not, but I think I may come back just for those...