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    Red Herring Restaurant & Bar

    Coastal Inspired Elevated Dining

    What makes it fun

    Red Herring is found in Hotel Herringbone. Red Herring is in a gorgeous art deco space with beautiful design elements and a grand piano stage for live music. The menu at Red Herring is Mediterranean-inspired and also features a raw bar of seafood delights. Red Herring also takes great pride in their highly curated wine list and extensive craft cocktail program. Red Herring is a great place for a date with your sweetheart. The ambiance is romantic and sophisticated and the food and drinks are quite delicious.

    Google Reviews

    Red Herring Restaurant & Bar place picture
    Red Herring Restaurant & Bar

    4.5

    Based on 386 reviews

    Jacob Tinajero profile picture
    Jacob Tinajero

    3 weeks ago

    i came w/ my best friend and the food/drinks were so good, definitely a vibe. really recommend the sweet potato gnocchi!! so perfect for a date night!! not to mention Jenn, she was absolutely incredible and so sweet + the other staff. it was our first time here, but they were very helpful. 10 out of 10. thankyou sm Jenn once again!!

    Andra Parsons profile picture
    Andra Parsons

    4 weeks ago

    As a small business owner, we had the most amazing time with Sean and Tate as our bartenders!!!! The bar manager Matthew was so nice and they were all so attentive! If ever you need a great atmosphere and good people this is the place to be!

    Jaime Kruzel-Thomas profile picture
    Jaime Kruzel-Thomas

    4 weeks ago

    A hidden gem. Such great atmosphere, service and food. A must stop for foodies while in Waco!

    Phillip profile picture
    Phillip

    4 weeks ago

    We had a wonderful time and Dillon did such a great job of caring for us. Thanks, we will be back!

    William Washburn profile picture
    William Washburn

    4 weeks ago

    Jedediah Adams profile picture
    Jedediah Adams

    2 months ago

    Chris Erickson profile picture
    Chris Erickson

    2 months ago

    Makenzie Clawson profile picture
    Makenzie Clawson

    2 months ago

    Absolutely wonderful night spent at the Red Herring. The food was spectacular and very well priced. They had hands down the best cocktails I’ve ever had! My server Scotty was diligent and all his recommendations were spot on! If you’re in need of a place that offers eccentric decor, mood lighting, and a well rounded dining experience; I highly recommend the Red Herring for your night out

    Jordan Buckley profile picture
    Jordan Buckley

    2 months ago

    Tiramisu brownie sundae

    Stacy Spears profile picture
    Stacy Spears

    2 months ago

    The Red Herring was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The atmosphere immediately stood out to me—it feels unique, thoughtfully designed, and elevated without being stuffy or overdone. It has so much character, and you can tell a lot of care went into creating the overall experience. The service was excellent as well. Everyone we interacted with was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. We never felt rushed or overlooked, and the whole experience felt relaxed and well managed. What I appreciated most was the attention to detail. Everything—from the atmosphere to the service to the overall presentation—felt intentional and polished. It is one of those places that feels memorable rather than just another ordinary stop. The Red Herring has a really great balance of being special enough for a date night or celebration while still feeling comfortable and inviting. It never felt pretentious, just very well done. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere with great atmosphere, excellent service, and a little more personality than your typical place. We had such a good experience and would definitely come back. Five stars and highly recommend!

    Timmy Broad profile picture
    Timmy Broad

    2 years ago

    Absolutely incredible gem, in downtown Waco! The interior design of the restaurant is outstanding, a perfect environment for a great evening with a date, with friends or family. Living in Austin, we are used to an incomparable food scene, so we didn't expect to find such fantastic food in Waco, of all places. We had the wagyu prime rib, pork belly skewers and the bruschetta (ordered this a second time - it was that good). We also had two cocktails, very unique spins on some classics. All were absolutely fantastic and bursting across the flavor spectrum. If you're an Austinite, you know Red Ash Italia... Trust me, skip Red Ash in Austin and head to Waco for Red Herring. It's better, which I wouldn't have said were even possible. We will be back and are already planning a triple date night with two other couples from back home. Worth the drive? You decide, but I guarantee it is. 10 stars from me!

    Damaris Ramirez profile picture
    Damaris Ramirez

    2 years ago

    We visited this restaurant for my boyfriend’s birthday dinner and reserved the Chef’s Table, which was advertised on their website as an intimate dining experience featuring a curated menu with the chef personally explaining each course. Unfortunately, the actual experience did not match these expectations. Instead of a unique, curated menu, we were given regular menus to select our dishes, with only two glasses of Prosecco and a serving of scallops provided as part of the Chef’s Table experience. While the food was enjoyable and our server was exceptionally attentive, the discrepancy between the advertised experience and what was delivered was disappointing. If the Chef’s Table option cannot deliver the promised experience, the restaurant should reconsider promoting it in this way. These issues aside, the quality of the food and service is why we’re rating it four stars.

    Heather Bb profile picture
    Heather Bb

    2 years ago

    Beautiful restaurant, great food and drinks, and waitress was wonderful!!! This is so different from the usual Waco restaurant. Highly recommend!!!

    Jennifer Perkins profile picture
    Jennifer Perkins

    2 years ago

    Absolutely fantastic experience at Red Herring! As major foodies from Houston, we can confidently say this was some of the best food we’ve ever had. The flavors were exquisite, and every dish was perfectly executed. The wine selection was top-notch, offering a great variety to complement the meal. James, our server, was outstanding—attentive, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable. The vibe was spot-on, with a wonderful atmosphere that made for a perfect evening. The location couldn’t be better. Highly recommend Red Herring to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience! Five stars all the way!

    Tamara Culver profile picture
    Tamara Culver

    2 years ago

    The hostess, Mallory, was so welcoming and helpful! We loved the food and atmosphere, too!

    natalie barnes profile picture
    natalie barnes

    2 years ago

    Matthew and Nathan really helped me out!! Loves them. Bye

    Kishan Singh profile picture
    Kishan Singh

    2 years ago

    Heather Dirksen profile picture
    Heather Dirksen

    2 years ago

    Brian was an amazing bartender! The food was absolutely delicious. We’ll be back.

    Andrew E profile picture
    Andrew E

    2 years ago

    Please don't listen to negative reviewers. When someone says "my tartare was cold and undercooked", you understand why excellent restaurants like Red Herring struggle in Waco. This is without a doubt the best upscale restaurant in Waco. The ambience, design, and decor alone put this place at the top. The only negative I have is that it sometimes felt like it was trying to bite off more than it could chew. Don't get me wrong, everything was still good but not everything we ate was excellent. There are lots of great restaurants in Waco but this is the closest thing we have to actual fine dining. Really happy it's here.

    Nichole Olson profile picture
    Nichole Olson

    2 years ago

    This has become my very first stop anytime I am in town! The food is always delicious, the servers are nothing but nice and efficient, and the drinks always hit. Plus, don’t get me started on the ambiance this place has to offer. I could bring a book and curl up in one of their booths for hours. The manager, Jeremy, I believe, was so accommodating when I had to make a last minute reservation for some of my friends. If you haven’t eaten here, you’re missing out!

    Jon Mark Buckner profile picture
    Jon Mark Buckner

    2 years ago

    A little pricey but well worth it!

    Ashley Z profile picture
    Ashley Z

    2 years ago

    A Must Eat Place in Waco!!! Super delicious food and the atmosphere is great too. You can tell the owner’s dedication to this restaurant. Everything is great except the bread for beef tartare was burnt.

    Kenneth Beck profile picture
    Kenneth Beck

    2 years ago

    Had a great meal with friends tonight at Red Herring. They are new to Waco and the menu is very unique. The ambience is amazing and our server, Stevie, made the experience even better. Will definitely be back again soon!

    Griffin Horton profile picture
    Griffin Horton

    2 years ago

    Brandi Newton profile picture
    Brandi Newton

    2 years ago

    My husband surprised me on our date night to this delightful establishment. I absolutely loved the experience and cuisine. Ambiance was great for Waco. Mediterranean style cuisine. Tapas style ..all dishes are meant to be shared. Well prepared and a treat for the palate. Will definitely dine in again as a local.

    Eric Guel profile picture
    Eric Guel

    2 years ago

    This is, hands down, the best restaurant in Waco. It’s basically a high quality Austin restaurant in downtown Waco. The atmosphere is unreal and the food is unbelievably good. I mean gourmet. The best of the best. We’ll be frequent guests at Red Herring. Oh, they also make the best Old Fashioned cocktails I’ve ever had.

    Ian Carroll profile picture
    Ian Carroll

    3 years ago

    Beautiful restaurant, reminded us of a mix of old and new. The decor and atmosphere were classic and tasteful. The food was delicious, high end, something you'd find in down town Austin. The service was great, shout-out to James at the bar. We'll definitely be back! Highly recommend!

    Dan Rettinger profile picture
    Dan Rettinger

    3 years ago

    My wife and I enjoyed the soft-opening night here at Red Herring. When you first walk in it feels like you are transported to an Austin, Texas modern 70s restaurant. One of the higher end restaurants in Waco, this is a great place for family dinners, celebrations, or a classy date spot. There is a good variety of tapas, seafood, and cocktails. Everything feels well thought out from the leather upholstery, the chandeliers, to the tiling with plants wrapped around them. Congrats to the Red Herring team and welcome to Waco!

    Location

    Not Available

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    • Monday

      5:00 pm - 12:00 am

    • Tuesday

      N/A

    • Wednesday

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    • Thursday

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    • Friday

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    • Saturday

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    • Sunday

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      • October 30, 2026 7:52 am local time

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