By Pablo Gonzales | Assistant News Editor
Tucked away between Lake Air Drive and Valley Mills Drive is one of Waco’s best kept secrets: Harold Waite’s Pancake and Steak House.
I stumbled upon this gem when I accidentally took a wrong turn on my way to Target. Hidden behind Uncle Dan’s BBQ, I noticed the Texas-sized mural on the side of the building and I asked myself why I had never heard of this place before.
I looked it up online and found that they didn’t have a website. I asked my friends if anyone had heard of the place before, and no one had. Surprisingly, Harold Waite’s is quite unpopular among Baylor students simply because very few people know that it exists.
From the outside, the restaurant looks like a simple store-front business. Upon entry, you are immediately taken back in time. The wood paneling and the simple pictures that adorn the walls give the restaurant a down-home family feel. I sat down for breakfast and noticed that the people seated around me were all Wacoans, without any ties to Baylor. It felt like I was in a completely different world far from what I was familiar with in the Baylor bubble.
Harold Waite’s is about taking breakfast back to the basic staples. As I read the menu, I noticed the lack of breakfast options. There were the classic eggs, bacon, sausage and ham. Additionally, there was pancakes, omelets and waffles go, but that was it. There was also a lunch menu that had ample choices such as hamburgers and chicken fried steak, for which they are well-known.
I ordered the #2, egg and bacon combination with pancakes. The food came quickly and was well presented. The pancakes were incredible. You could tell that the batter was made from scratch and they tasted like they came straight from your grandmother’s kitchen. The eggs were fluffy, rich and not too salty. The bacon was warm and crisp to perfection. The decadent flavors all complemented each other.
The environment of the restaurant made the food even better. Though the food came quickly, time moves much slower at Harold Waite’s. People take their time to enjoy their food and their conversation.
Waco has many great options for breakfast. What Harold Waite’s brings to the table of options is its impeccable customer service, one-of-a-kind atmosphere and incredible food at a reasonable price. Waco has so many hidden gems that are often looked over by Baylor students. If you choose to add Harold Waite’s to your Baylor bucket list, you will not be disappointed.
