Blast Off

Rocket Cafe
305 S Robinson Drive
Waco, TX 76706
(254) 662-0720



Tried a new place today, again with my father. We have been meaning to eat here for a couple of months, just never really got around to it till now. Boy have we been missing out.
He learned about it while working at the post office, a few of his co-workers ate there for lunch. Heard that they were regularly busy and crowded (packed) during lunch, with good food.
From the outside it looks fairly small, but once inside it’s a lot larger and ample seating. When you first walk in, to your right there is sign with the daily specials. You can tell the regulars, cause when they first walk in the first thing they do is stand there to read it. I didn’t notice it till I sat down. Today’s special was Roast Beef with brown gravy, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. Or Roast beef served “open face”, which is roast beef laid on layer or toast and either a side of fries or mashed potatoes “smothered” with gravy.

After reading the special I ordered my drink… they didn’t have sweet tea… so Dr. Pepper it is. Picked up the menu, glanced over it, they have burgers, chicken fried steak/chicken, BLTs, etc etc. I had already made up my mind, I wanted the special.

She asked me if I wanted the regular style or “open face,“ I wasn’t sure if I could handle the “open face” after a night of drinking, but Ill definitely order it next time. So I ordered the Roast beef with two sides of corn (no green beans), mashed potatoes and corn bread. My father ordered their BLT with fries.

When it came, which wasn’t a very long wait, I first tried the corn. The corn wasn’t anything special, tasted like canned. The mashed potatoes were very good, good texture and flavor and they weren’t dry… I should’ve ordered two orders of mashed potatoes instead of corn. The corn bread was a small square, but it was very good and had a nice sweet flavor. Wish I could’ve gotten a bigger cut of it, Ill ask for more next time. The Roast beef was very good. I was able to cut the meat with a fork, it was juicy, the gravy sauce complimented it very well, the overall flavor was very good. It also went very well with the mashed potatoes. I finished my entire plate, and I wasn’t even that hungry.

My father also really enjoyed his BLT and I snagged a few of his fries, I loved the fries.
So all in all it was a great lunch. I will definitely be going back to try the Roast beef “open face” and to try other items on their menu including their breakfast menu. I highly recommend this place if you are in the area.

(addition)
---Ive come back here several more times for lunch, with my dad, and even got up early one day to try their breakfast. Ive always gotten something off their daily special menu, except for the breakfast where I got flap jacks, poached eggs and hash browns. For their lunch specials Ive gotten their chicken fried steak, their Philly cheese steak, and a few other items.

I really enjoyed their Philly. It doesn’t have a lot of steak in it, but where it lacks is quantity it makes up in freshness and flavor. Along with some of their sweet potato fries and some gravy…. It’s a pretty awesome meal and for only like $6. My dad really likes their Chicken fried steak, I think its alright. I will say its always been tender and of nice size, Im just not a fan of the seasoning in the batter.

The atmosphere is always great there, with great service and the regular customers that are just as friendly. Its deff worth the extra drive out to Robinson to give them a try.

Awesome Mashed Potatoes

CLOSED

Tommy B’s
900 North Valley Mills Drive
Waco, TX 76710-4754
(254) 772-3399

Part II

So after trying their breakfast and enjoying it, I figured Id try their an item on their lunch menu. I try the chicken fried steak at every place I can because it’s a southern main stay (almost surprised it doesn’t show up in one of the southern flags) and who can say no to a great chicken fried steak. So… I went with the Classic Chicken Fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn, toast and white gravy with a big ole glass of sweet tea- now I could’ve gotten 2 other sides, but I think these two fit the role best.

The first thing I tried was the corn, which seemed like your run of the mill canned corn with pepper added to it. Maybe it was just the way they prepared it, but I doubt it. [I feel that if you are going to serve plain or creamed corn, that you should use fresh or even frozen, not canned.] Next was the mashed potatoes, these were by far the best mashed potatoes I have had in a long time… the best I have ever had outside my home. They were made from scratch, they were creamy, not at all dry (didn’t need any gravy), with a bit of garlic flavor. If you like mashed potatoes, you should definitely try these. Last but not least was the chicken fried steak. Tender meet (only a chewy bit or two), good flavor, and a flaky crust… probably the second best Chicken fried steak I have had in the Waco region.

So next time you are in the area, stop by give their mashed potatoes and chicken fried a try, it’s a good and filling meal and for only 7.99 or… currently on sale 6.99.
I think next time I will try their chicken tenders.

Tommy B's

CLOSED



Tommy B’s
900 North Valley Mills Drive
Waco, TX 76710-4754
(254) 772-3399



I enjoy a big breakfast as much as the next guy, but I being a college student also enjoy sleeping in on days I don’t have work, which tends to deprive me of a real breakfast. Today I actually got up early enough to get some, so I decided to try our new Tommy B’s.

They serve breakfast all day at Tommy’s and have a pretty decent menu for lunch as well, that seemed fairly priced. I have to go back some time to try a few things on their lunch menu. But today I wanted breakfast.

I ordered their “Tommy B’s Favorite” which consists of- 2 eggs cooked your way, hash browns, bacon/sausage/ham, pancake/toast/biscuit. I specifically ordered- 2 eggs poached, bacon, has browns, pancakes (1) and one extra pancake. I was rather disappointed that the original order only came with one pancake and not two, like other places I’ve eaten at, and the cost ($1.49) of the extra pancake was kind of ridiculous. I had just mowed my lawn and I was hungry, other wise I wouldn’t have ordered the extra.

The food is brought out to you, like most places, and is on two plates- one for the pancakes and one for the other dishes. The first thing I noticed was the smell of the pancakes, they have a rather sweet aroma. Second I noticed their texture and thickness, looked very nice. The bacon was well crisped, the eggs poached in a poacher, and the has browns are shredded and layered out nicely. The first thing I tried were the eggs, to see how well they were cooked before they cooled down. They were a little more done than they like, but that’s probably because I didn’t specify how runny I wanted them… but none the less they were good. Second I tried the pancakes, I figured since they smelled sweet, they would have slightly sweet flavor and I was right. The pancakes were fluffy, yet kind of creamy melt in your mouth. They were pretty good. The bacon was your run of the mill bacon, but it was cooked nicely, not chewy and not burnt. I love hash browns, any style (sin onions), and these were fairly good. I don’t think they were freshly shaven, probably frozen, but if cooked and seasoned right they should be fine… and these were.

I ate pretty much every single bit, except a cut or two of the pancakes.
Besides good food, the place has a very nice atmosphere created by a nice and friendly staff as well as a wide variety of customers.
Over all I enjoyed it, and will most surely go back to try breakfast again as well as other items on their menu.