80 Years of Family, Tradition & Texas BBQ
Since 1946, Tony DeMaria’s Bar-B-Que has been serving Waco, Texas, with generations of family tradition and authentic barbecue. What began as a grocery store and meat market founded by Tony DeMaria Jr. grew into a local barbecue staple when Tony began feeding the road crews building Interstate 35 through Waco in the 1950s.
Over the years, the business remained a family affair, with Tony’s wife, Lillie, and their four children all contributing to its legacy. In 1995, Geoff DeMaria moved the restaurant to its current home at 1000 Elm Street. In 2021, Geoff retired and passed the torch to Blake, the fourth generation carrying on the family’s barbecue tradition.
Today, Tony DeMaria’s Bar-B-Que continues to serve the same beloved barbecue recipe that started it all. From classic brisket on butcher paper to fully loaded baked potatoes, double-decker sandwiches, scratch-made barbecue chicken, and our signature Deluxe Sandwich, the menu offers something for everyone.
Whether you're a construction worker grabbing lunch, a family meeting for a meal, or a friend settling in to watch the game, everyone has a seat at our table. Enjoy an affordable barbecue experience, friendly hospitality, and our shaded patio beneath two beautiful oak trees—the perfect place for lunch, a cold beer, and football.
Eighty years later, our recipe remains the same, our doors are open to everyone, and our family tradition lives on.
About us
Since 1946, Tony DeMaria’s Bar-B-Que has been serving Waco, Texas, with generations of family tradition and authentic barbecue. What began as a grocery store and meat market founded by Tony DeMaria Jr. grew into a local barbecue staple when Tony began feeding the road crews building Interstate 35 through Waco in the 1950s.