Date night in Waco doesn’t look like it did just a few short years ago. With an emergence of destination dining-level restaurants, choosing where to go on the odd occasion of dressing up, leaving the kids (or cares) at home and indulging in a fine dining experience can be almost impossible.
Add to the table, Waco’s newest craze: tasting dinners.
These special, one-night-only menus are an opportunity not only for diners to experience something uniquely special, but for the chefs to play with the possibilities in their kitchens. Each of the restaurants listed host monthly dinners so if you miss one, keep an eye out for the next upcoming dinner by following their socials and our event calendar.
So for your next night out on the town, try something new. It may be an evening you can’t stop talking about.
This blog is sponsored by Casa do Brasil.
Susana Balbo Wine Dinner
Casa do Brasil
1001 Webster Ave.
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Spend an evening with Argentina’s finest with this four-course dinner paired with wines from Susana Balbo, Argentina’s first enologist and one of the country’s most influential winemakers. Discover the beauty of the Mendoza wine region alongside the carefully crafted Brazilian dishes and rodízio-style service of-all-you-can-eat steaks.
On the Menu:
First Course
Seared scallop, butternut squash puree, brown butter & sage beurre blanc, micro green
+ Signature White Blend
Second Course
Salad with arugula, red wine poached pear, walnuts, bleu cheese mousse
+ Signature Malbec
Third Course
Unlimited from the Rodízio — picanha, fraldinha, New Zealand lamp chops, SRF Wagyu New York strip — with family sides — mac & cheese, balsamic brussels sprouts
+ Brioso
Fourth Course
Maple panna cotta with bourbon poached pear, candied pecans, micro basil
+ ‘Nosotros’ Single Vineyard Nómade
Tickets are $99 per guest + tax & gratuity.
Chef’s Wine Dinner
Blaine’s Restaurant & Wine Shoppe
1101 Richland Drive
September 10, 6:30 p.m.
Take a culinary journey to South America with Chef Blaine and his team who will craft authentic flavors paired with wines from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Tickets are $85 + tax & gratuity.
Craft Cocktails Chef’s Dinner
Pignetti’s
401 S Third Street
September 17, 6:30 p.m.
Pignetti’s is welcoming Eran Castillo from Trinity River Distillery for a five-course chef’s dinner, paired with craft cocktails featuring a variety of spirits. Known for all natural Texas grains, the unique and proud flavors of Trinity River will be complemented by Pignetti’s renowned Italian dishes.
On the Menu:
Reception
Roasted Beet Tartare on Endive
Whipped tahini, preserved lemon, caper, toasted Marcona almond, dill & mint
First Course
Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio
Crispy caper, pistachio, basil, Pignetti’s olive oil blend, balsamic, bacon mascarpone, clover honey & sourdough
Second Course
“All of Me” Carrot Pasta
Carrot button pasta, roasted rainbow carrots, carrot-top pesto, whipped dill chèvre, candied carrot ribbons & hazelnuts
Third Course
Baharat Beef Tenderloin Roasted cauliflower, green herb sauce, crispy chickpeas, pomegranate, sumac & charred scallion
Fourth Course
Roasted Butternut Squash Brownie Cheesecake
Black pepper–sugared blackberries
Tickets are $85 per person.
September Tequila Dinner
Jorge’s Cantina
4225 Franklin Avenue
September, 24, 6 p.m.
Every month, Jorge’s invites diners to slow down and experience something special. A curated tequila lineup featuring El Tequileño Tequila is expertly paired with a three-course chef-driven menu for an evening of discovering your new favorite tequila. Taste, eat, sip and learn all in one dinner.
Tickets are $65 + tax & gratuity.
Oktoberfest Wine Pairing
The Olive Branch
215 S Second Street
September 24, 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate the season of Oktoberfest at The Olive Branch with a curated menu highlighting the tastes of Germany. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with a regional wine, lederhosen not required.
On the Menu:
First Course
Bavarian potato stack
+ Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Dry
Second Course
Garlic butter mussels and sourdough
+ Szigeti, Brut Gruner Veltliner
Third Course
Pork schnitzel slider and red apple poppyseed slaw
+ Schloss Gobelsburg Cistercien Rose
Fourth Course
Herb crusted lamb tenderloin and braised red cabbage
+ Dr. Burklin-Wolf Dry Rouge
Cheese Course
Pretzel bites with beer cheese queso
+ Donnhoff Riesling Klamm Kabinett
Course Six
German chocolate macaroon
+ P.J. Valckenberg, Rheinhessen Dornfelder
Tickets are $80 per person.
Happy Hour Pizza on the Patio
Di Campli’s Italian Ristorante
6500 Woodway Drive, Suite 121
September 25, 4 p.m.
Special guests Gianlucca Ventani and Natalia Fabrizzi will be dining on Di Campli’s patio for happy hour with specialty chef-made pizzas. Experience Ethica wines and unique flavors at this event showcasing five new pizzas at Waco’s favorite Italian restaurant.
Tickets are $37 + plus tax & gratuity. Reserve by emailing jennifer@dicamplis.com.
Vine & Shaker
Di Campli’s Italian Ristorante
6500 Woodway Drive, Suite 121
September 29, 6 p.m.
Waco’s favorite Italian restaurant invites guests to taste the flavors of Veneto, Piemonte, Tuscany and Sicily at this special wine and cocktail dinner. Diners who attend will have first access to Di Campli’s holiday drop preorder of their House Limoncello, so get your reservation now.
Tickets are $90 + tax & gratuity. Reserve by emailing jennifer@dicamplis.com.
Wagyu & Wine
Pignetti’s
401 S Third Street
October 1, 6:30 p.m.
James Watkins from Paul Hobbs Winery to their Wagyu & Wine dinner. Five wines will accompany five courses, crafted around Wagyu beef. This beef, famous for its buttery texture, will be accented by carefully selected wines
On the Menu:
First Course
Grilled shrimp with Wagyu bone marrow butter and toast
+ 2021 Hillick & Hobbs | Estate Dry Riesling | Seneca Lake, New York
Second Course
Iceberg Wedge topped with Wagyu bacon, heirloom tomatoes and blue cheese
+ 2023 Paul Hobbs | Chardonnay | Russian River Valley
Third Course
Crusted Wagyu beef carpaccio, crispy capers, arugula and parmesan-reggiano
+ 2023 Paul Hobbs | Pinot Noir | Russian River Valley
Fourth Course
Wagyu NY Strip with fondant potatoes and black garlic butter
+ 2022 Paul Hobbs | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville
Fifth Course
White chocolate bread pudding
+ 2023 Bramare | Malbec | Luján De Cuyo
Tickets are $95 per person.
Speakeasy Soiree
AC Hotel Waco Downtown
600 Mary Avenue
October 9 & 10, 7 p.m.
Slip into an evening of jazz, cocktails and secrets at the AC Hotel Waco Downtown. Dress in your best 1920s attire and give the password at the secret location that’s revealed the morning of the event and enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live jazz. This evening is 21+.
General admission is $10 and VIP is $50 and includes a cocktail and parking pass.
Harvest & Vine
Segovia Wine Bar
300 S Sixth Street, Suite F
October 13, 6:30 p.m.
Chef Armando brings the tastes of fall this October with Portuguese-inspired dishes. Welcome the autumn season with these carefully crafted tastings, paired with wine from Waco’s favorite wine bar.
Tickets are $65 + tax & gratuity.
Dinner and wine pairing is $95 + tax & gratuity.
Wine Dinner
Opal’s Oysters
228 S Eighth Street, Suite B
October 21, 6 p.m.
Enjoy a coastal-inspired evening paired with the exceptional tastes of Southern France with wines from Chateau Beaucastel and the Perrin Family. Guest speaker Emanual LeMoine, export director for Perrin Family, will take diners on a guided tasting experience alongside the culinary expertise of Opal’s Oysters in the patio garden.
Tickets are $150 per person + tax.
A Night to Die For
AC Hotel Waco Downtown
600 Mary Avenue
October 30, 7 p.m.
It’s prom night but there’s a mystery afoot at this murder mystery dinner. Travel back to the 80s to this whodunit event hosted by Rhonda Mendez of Hammer & Stain and unravel the clues to discover the culprit. Each ticket includes a souvenir flask, three-course dinner and a desert table with a chocolate fountain.
Tickets are $70 per person.
Fork & Flick
AC Hotel Waco Downtown
600 Mary Avenue
November 28, 6 p.m.
Delight in the holiday classic, “Elf” and enjoy an interactive dining experience that follows along the film. You’ll enjoy holiday treats dressed in your coziest pajamas and wrapped in a blanket in this evening of Christmas cheer.
On the Menu:
Cookies and milk
Red and white fruit skewer with a peppermint drink
Cotton candy “cotton balls”
Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread, syrup, and soda
Funnel cake breakfast “spaghetti”
Hot chocolate or coffee with candy canes
A festive Mailroom drink — with an optional spike for guests 21+
Tickets are $30 per guest, $100 for a family of 4.
Thursday Steak Night
J.S. Barnett’s Whisky House
420 Franklin Avenue
Thursdays, 5 p.m.
Make Thursday night your evening for fine dining. Barnett’s hosts steak night, with a complete filet dinner, one whiskey pour and half-price bottles of wine to complete the meal.
Reservations are required. Dinner is $35.
Upcoming
The Butcher’s Cellar
13701 Woodway Drive
October
The Butcher’s Cellar crafted an intimate, thoughtfully curated dining experience for their September wine dinner of the finest ingredients to showcase the talented chefs of the kitchen. Every course is made to tell a story so be sure to check their website for the next wine dinner in October.
Fox & Co. Bakery
601 Franklin Avenue
Winter/Spring
Fox & Co. Bakery launched their first tasting this fall to a crowd of excited tasters. Their next tasting is officially planned for February, but with enough hype, they may even give Waco a winter tasting this November. Be sure to follow their socials for more updates.
This blog is sponsored by Casa do Brasil.
