waco hippodrome theatre

I remember going here as a kid, and all of the amazing shows I've seen. It brings back such wonderful memories. The new owners have poured a lot of money and effort into revamping the place. They changed so little, that it seems to have the same nostalgic visual appeal of when I was a child. The movie/dining experience is definitely something Waco has been needing. I've gone three times since their re-opening and each time have ordered the chicken strips, as that is my only dish I enjoy while eating out (yeah, exciting, I know). All of my friends have gotten hamburgers and salads, and they've been good, but do NOT order the chicken strips. They are always wet with grease, mostly inedible, but once I was able to soak them with napkins to eat a few bites....I had to wait for the server to return after about an hour, with grease soaked fingers...They knew I was mad and offered to bring me more food. Thanks, but no thanks. Like I said, stick to a burger or salad.

I loved the setting and had high expectations for the meal. It wasn't bad but needs to come up some to match the unique setting. Burgers were on the dry side and could have been seasoned more.

The Waco Hippodrome Theatre is celebrating it's 101st birthday today ( 7 Feb 15) ! While attending a week long conference in Waco; locals repeatedly told us to go downtown and check out the "new" Hippodrome. A fine, old theatre that was recently totally refurbished and brought back to life as a restaurant/movie theatre. Keeping the elegant Old World styling in the dining room and bar; they feature a brand new fine dining menu. The "movie theatre" part of the restaurant where you can eat and drink while watching current first run movies, old classics and often live concerts is comfortable and quite unique. The menu here is more relaxed but still delicious.One of the most notable things about this establishment is how friendly, helpful, and well-trained all the staff were; from the greeter at the front doors to the bartenders and even the owners ! I wish we had something like this near my home but I know if I'm ever travelling near Waco again; I will be stopping by the Hippodrome.

I will come back any day & every day for the house fries with blue cheese... Yum! They have a decent selection of vegetarian choices. And don't forget the Mac & Cheese!

Went here with friends and we decided to order lunch. We were not expecting much since after all this is a movie theater and were thinking something along the lines or pre-cooked and processed food. Were we surprised! Everything we ordered was freshly prepared and seasoned just right. Their pizza is really outstanding. Their "french fries" are actually thick slices or potato that is crisp outside and yet soft on the inside with a delicious flavor. It was easily handicap-accessibles as one of our party was using a walker and she had no issues at all getting set up and comfortable. The theater has been renovated and is really beautiful. Give yourself a break this weekend and head tos Austin Avenue in Waco, Texas for some outstanding food in a wonderful setting and take in a movie as well. I will definitely return often!

I just went to eat dinner and was expecting something a bit nicer, but it was fine. The tables and chairs just don't fit with the "old theater looking over down town vibe" but the service was good. The food was good and the drinks were reasonably priced. My favorite was the side of macaroni and cheese. Oh my goodness it was good. I also shared the nachos because they were a very large portion. Everything was fresh and well done!

This is a historic theatre that has been beautifully restored and offers a variety of spaces for dining (the chef is fantastic!), movies, live theatre, comedy, music and even an outdoor patio screen for watching sports, etc. You can see first-run movies, classics, comedy, etc. all while eating great food from the unique southern-inspired menu. It's like nowhere else I've ever been and it's an absolute gem!

My wife and I were in Waco this past weekend and we had lunch at the newly renovated Hippodrome Theatre. Wow! This 100 year old facility has been completely redone in a first class way. We did not attend one of the two theatres for a movie - only time for lunch. Amazing! Sat in the beautiful dining room on the 2nd floor overlooking downtown. My wife and I both had burgers with an appetizer. Not the normal burgers. In fact, the combinations of ingredients will make you think twice. But, trust the staff (and the new chef from Nashville who created these things!) and go for it. The best burgers, fries, sides ever! Everything is made from scratch! Nothing frozen. All seemed fresh from the farm. Prices were very reasonable. So, if you're traveling I-35 between DFW & Austin, you gotta stop! Eat some amazing food AND take a quick tour of this 100 year old gem of a theatre!

Recently renovated turn- of- the century theater with a restaurant, bar and 2 screens for first- run and classic movies where you can dine while watching the flicks. We went 2 months after the grand re-opening hoping the bugs would be all worked out. They weren't. The temperature in the theater was a chilly and uncomfortable 65 or so. We were told by the waitress it was either hot or cold in there when we asked if they could adjust the temp. The furniture in the theater is basically heavily padded folding chairs ( no armrests) that make watching a 2 hour movie something of a squirm fest when you are trying to get comfy to watch the movie. The wait staff seemed inexperienced and under manned. My biggest problem was with the quality of the sound. Way too over modulated and bass heavy... making understanding the dialogue and enjoying the movie difficult. The bright spot for us was the food. We both loved the hamburgers. So I wouldn't recommend seeing a movie there till they fix the temp in the theater and get the issues with the sound worked out. I would, however, recommend the restaurant and bar.

We have eaten at the restaruant a couple of times. This week we attended a screening of Casa Blanca and ate during the movie. It was quite a fun evening. It was a full house and their were some issues but I am sure they will figure it out! We will certainly go back!

We went to the Hippodrome for the first time to see "The Hobbit." It was a nice change of pace from the typical theater. The Hippodrome is historic and beautiful, and made watching the movie more fun. You can order from the restaurant and bar if you get there 30 minutes early, which we did. You can also buy your tickets on-line. We had pizza and veggie tacos, which were really good, as well as beer and wine. Their web site shows a number of classic movies, new releases, comedy acts, and free football games in coming weeks. My only complaints are that the chairs were just standard restaurant type chairs and not very comfortable for long movies, and there were no low lights to help you eat, so after the movie starts you have to eat in almost total darkness. We couldn't see our plate, much less our food. Other movie theatres offering dinner that we have been to in Texas, have low blue lights on an edge of the table so you can at least find your plate during the movie. I suggest they add these types of lights soon. Next time we will order from the bar, and maybe just get popcorn because of this problem. But it was fun.

The Waco Hippodrome is a classic architectural feature in downtown Waco and its renovations are stunning. It is now multipurpose and usually features 2 films and will on occasion feature live performances. It operates similarly to an Alamo Drafthouse where food is served during the movie, which is a great time saver. the food is standard fare with clever titles for meals that are mainstream. The service is still variable. Most of my friends have had their meal delivered within 20 minutes of ordering. I have waited twice for over an hour (and it's not because of my order, these were very standard items). the acoustics of the amphitheatre space make the sound from the film a little difficult to hear. Still it's a treat and worth a visit.

My wife and I had a great time at the Waco Hippodrome last night! I want to commend the new owners for their work to modernize the old theater while still keeping it classy. The food was excellent and I loved watching "Home Alone" on the silver screen again! It really put me in the Christmas Spirit! If you're in Waco and looking for a cool place to watch a movie or just hang out, there's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for here!