The impeccable craftsmanship of Butcher’s Cellar has found another home in an elevated sports bar, The Hilltop Tavern. Located next door to Chefs Alejandro Najar and Alyssa Osinga’s first venture in Waco, Hilltop was created as a nod to Najar’s roots.
“I grew up in the bar food scene,” he said. “My family owns a bar in Ohio, so I’ve always gravitated towards wings and mozzarella sticks and stuff like that.”
Najar competed on season 21 of “Hell’s Kitchen,” placing third in the competition. After his run on the show, he joined Blue Door Café and Bakery in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio as executive chef. He was working as a private chef in New York City when Matt and Tiffany Fatheree reached out with the opportunity to open a sophisticated steakhouse in Waco. The Butcher’s Cellar opened on May 17, 2024. On August 1, 2025, the new venture, Hilltop Tavern, was announced and officially opened on December 1, 2025. Najar serves as executive chef for both restaurants.
Osinga, who competed alongside Najar on season 21 and placed 13th, serves as the chef de cuisine. With experience in restaurants in New York and Chicago, Illinois, she pushes culinary boundaries alongside Najar.
The pair’s culinary prowess is on proud display at Butcher’s Cellar, and Hilltop Tavern takes the edge off, building a more casual scene where Shucked Oysters and Mushroom Truffle Pasta are replaced with the classics like wings and mozzarella sticks — with a twist, because even fried cheese isn’t simple around here.
The lineup of starters can be daunting. With so much to choose from, you can’t go wrong, no matter what you decide on. Our tasting, of course, included Najar’s favorite, the House Made Mozz Stick, a breaded mozzarella stick of epic proportions. This cheesy behemoth requires a fork and knife, but that doesn’t take away from the massive cheese pull that’s social media-worthy.
You can ditch the fork and knife for the next dish, the Smoked & Fried Chicken Wings, made in a smoky, mild Tavern Buffalo Sauce that’s topped with herbs and complemented with a side of bleu cheese for dipping. The pickled veggies offered a tangy yet sweet reprieve.
Our second smoked dish was the Pork Belly Burnt Ends, a rich and savory dish that’s full of barbecue flavor. This dinner-only specialty comes topped with jalapeno, fried onion, chives and coleslaw for an array of flavor that goes beyond the smokiness of the pits.
The Pizza Empanada is a unique appetizer for the table, and Najar admitted it’s tied for his favorite item on the menu.
“As soon as we knew we were opening up a sports bar, I was like, ‘How do we make homemade Hot Pockets or pizza rolls?’” said Najar.
With three flaky encrusted handhelds filled with a creamy mozzarella, pepperoni and marinara, the Pizza Empanada perfectly blends savory richness without heaviness so that you’re ready for the main dish.
Nothing is more classic than a burger, and the Double Smash Burger comes in three variations. We sampled the Tavern Smash, layered with beer caramelized onion, dijonnaise (a mayo and Dijon mustard combo), pickles, lettuce and American cheese on a sesame seed bun. The pickle flavor is the most noticeable of this combination and has a bit of sweetness to it.
The Rodeo Smash is loaded with barbecue sauce, dijonnaise, American cheese, French’s fried onions and jalapenos. I preferred this burger, the flavors coming together for a sweet and spicy mix with a crunch from the onions.
On the side, the Crispy Tallow Fries are fully crisp, as if they have a breading, giving a tavern flavor to them. Sweet Potato Fries are available as a substitution, offering a delightfully sweet alternative to the salty richness of the tallow fries.
One of the standout dishes of the evening was the Pork Steak, a shoulder cut of pork that tastes like a rack of ribs without the fat and the bone. Coated in the tavern’s signature barbecue sauce that has made its appearance throughout the tasting, this cut is topped with jalapeno peppers and chives that balance the smoky sweetness of the sauce. Tender, hearty and juicy, it’s a dish you’ve
gotta try!
For those avoiding red meat, the 1/2 Smoked Chicken is a 24-hour brined, pit smoked 1/2 chicken that adds a house seasoning to the barbecue sauce. The smoked chicken doesn’t lose any of the juicy flavor beneath the crispy skin.
And if all of these mains sound too heavy for a dinner, don’t fret. Hilltop offers salads that pack just as much deliciousness as any entrée. The Taco Salad is served in a crispy shell that is light and airy for this classic yet refreshing option. With beef, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, shredded cheese, red onion and topped with a fiesta ranch, all the flavor is packed into this easy to enjoy meal.
Of course, the food is only half the experience. On tap is a diverse range of draft beers and local craft brews and expertly crafted cocktails are also ready to order with your meal. TVs line the walls alongside old-world sports decor so that you won’t miss a game in this warm and inviting atmosphere that welcomes the entire family.
“Hilltop is a great watering hole neighborhood bar for everybody,” said Najar. “This is a great spot for your family. There’s plenty of TVs, college football is here. We’re going to continue to keep pushing the family-focus and have fun for them.”
