Big Al’s Down The Hatch

Took a detour from Dallas to SA to check out this restaurant that I had been hearing about for years. We were not disappointed. The town of Waxahachie is charming, and Big Als is located on the square right across from the courthouse. Loved the eclectic decor inside. We ordered a cheeseburger and waffles and chicken. Delicious, perfectly cooked burger, the chicken and waffles were the best I've ever had. Tender perfectly cooked chicken and yummy waffles. It was Father's Day, and they were having a tell your best dad joke day. Great place, perfect location, delicious food, excellent service, would definitely detour again to visit.

Food is disgusting here. Pizza doesn't have any pizza sauce BTW. The lemon pepper are a dry rub and they more like a wet sand texture. Gross first and last time here.

We were excited for our first visit here but agreed it was our first & last. The food was fantastic but the service was not. The prices on the menu are not what you get charged. Server told us the daily special price & we were charged a dollar more, appetizer was charged a dollar more than the menu stated and we were charged extra for a "to-go" box. Also we were told after the fact,when we got the bill that that was the cash only price. If we wanted to use a card to add 4.5 % more! Granted, all these extra charges were small but they add up. The server wasn't very personable. She was offended when we asked about the price discrepancies. As far as the cost of the special her response was "I said, I THINK,"... in my opinion she should know, not guess. Very little interaction considering we told her it was our first visit. Idk maybe they don't want repeat business. We did leave a tip (a lot smaller than we typically tip) but that should go to the cook because the food was amazing and the portions were great!

Don’t believe the haters… the beer is cold and the food is good… my son and I went today and shared brisket cheese fries and a pizza, both really good… With a beer, soda and $10 tip (because y’all are leaving at least $10 bucks right?) it was $50 bucks. Fries reminded me of wing-stop, cheese was really flavorful and the brisket was really darn good… Soft crust pizza was really good, don’t even care it wasn’t really cut… They gave me a knife Karen… I figured it out, still 10/10 really…. But IDK if I can ask for “Big Al’s Balls” with a straight face, especially when he could probably hear me ordering…

Went for lunch. We had the sloppy Joe with sweet potato fries & bone in wings with onion rings. All very flavorful! Staff was very friendly! Cool atmosphere! Would definitely go back! Highly recommend.

My wife and I were looking for a place to eat on the way home from staying in Dallas for New Years Eve. We came across Big Al's Down The Hatch on Google Maps and decided to check it out. We did not know until we were there that we realized the connection to The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show. We walked in and did not really know what to do, so we just chose a table and sat down. Shortly after, a young woman came and got our drink order. We soon noticed that she was the only server working. Even in the busyness, she did an amazing job with a great attitude. I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries, and my wife had the Big Al's burger and added mushrooms with sweet potato fries. My pull pork was average. My wife really liked the burger. We really like the place and the outstanding serving from the young lady. HEY BIG AL MACK You should really recognize and reward this young lady serving on New Years Day around 14:00.

Dont waste your time or money. Abi was very rude to us and ruined our special family outing. Will not be going back. Food was decent at best. Asked for well done chicken wings and she couldnt even make sure I got that properly, amongst other things. I dont even want to talk about the cleanliness of the restroom or attitudes of the rest of the staff. Football Weekend Atmosphere is probably the best thing about this place. They also bake a 20% tip into the bill and was definitely did not receive 20% worth of service.

We got rained out of scarborough fair and didnt get the chance to eat there, but as we drove around waxahatchie most of the places were closed. (Memorial day) we found big Al's and went in for a bite and some drinks. The set up is really cool, very homey but spacious at the same time. We were greeted promptly and the 2 gals taking care of us were very sweet. We decided to indulge in food we usually don't eat (hey, we're on vacation, why not? Lol), so we ordered quite a lot. Everything was very tasty. The chips had a bit too much salt, and the wings didnt have much sauce but those are super easy fixes. They had music trivia which was pretty loud but we enjoyed attempting to answer the questions. Karaoke was afterward. *forgot to get picture of the wings -sloppy Joe with mac n cheese -burger with fries -sweet potato fries -giant soft pretzel -chips queso and salsa -boneless wings

Well is Halloween and I didn't expect much. Fridays they have fish fry which is good. It's nugget but pretty good for a quick bite and watch some sports. They have live music(DJ) and they do play a wide range of music. Came down for a quick drink and I enjoyed it all. Drinks food and music. The service at the bar was good. I think the young lady must have missed me at the table but it was Halloween. Y'all be safe out there!

This place couldn't even hold up to the 2.5 stars they get on here lol. By far the worst meal that I and the folks I went with have had in a long time. Should I explain in detail the freezer trash and canned food we just ate? Good god I don't have the time. The prices are a joke and I don't know what's worse, the wings we ate or the raiders we came to watch on MNF. You'd think a place that has a the real estate of "Big Al's" could thrive easily with some half decent management, a simple quality menu and a solid environment. It was a Cowboys MNF game and it was an embarrassment in there lol. Been here 3 times and this is the last straw, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this place folded up soon and goes down the proverbial hatch. Hopefully someone else comes in and revives this sad corner of downtown Waxahachie, it has the potential but that's all it has currently.

Didn't eat here just going by a YouTube review. The guy could've raised your review but you were so rude and threatened him

Nothing has changed a year later- We made the mistake of popping in during the Waxahachie Christmas parade because we needed a quick bite while waiting for our son's float to get closer. It was busy but the bartender kept up and even offered to serve us at one of the high tops. She was great!! We ordered the Al's balls which were fine but barely warm inside. We decided to split a burger - it was gross. It was clearly a frozen patty that was actually spongey. Again, the fries were a limp, greasy mass and we didn't dare try one. I am honestly not trying to hate on this place, but WTH!? How can you mess up fries??? They need serious help in that kitchen. We fortunately had time to run to Prime next door for a small app. I noticed that their Wagyu burger was only a few dollars more than the one at Al's.

The charges were ridiculous! Ordered the big pretzel and the cheese cup was half full. Definitely not enough for the size of pretzel. I asked for another cup. Waitress never told me that she would add $2.50 to the bill. Never have I ever had a restaurant charge for a to go box!! That should have been disclosed when asking for one! But all the extra charges were added to the final bill. Final bill with all charges was $54.00. 2 sodas, a pretzel, quesadilla and chips and salsa. If the food was outstanding and we were notified of the added fees could be worth it but definitely not. Won't be back and beware of hidden fees!

The owner was so incredibly rude. Do not eat here unless you want to be disrespected for no reason whatsoever. This is not how you treat customers. I'll be surprised if this restaurant remains open another year.

Terrible food bbq was dry...worse customer service...Never again...can't treat customers with so much disrespect and expect a decent review.

Just awful service was terrible food was over seasoned and cooked and was overpriced couldn't even finish my food because it was so salty.

My family decided to meet here for a birthday celebration on a Saturday afternoon. This place has a prime location on the Waxahachie town square and looks upon the courthouse. The ambiance is that of a comfortable sports bar. Plenty of TV and sports, but they are not so loud that we could not enjoy our family get-together. Our waitress was super nice and efficient. She checked back often to see how we were. The food is standard bar fare: cheese fries, wings, pizza, burgers, etc. Our cheese sticks were hot and really tasty. The pretzel we ordered was hot, buttery, and ENORMOUS. I shared an order of cheese fries with my guy. The fries were hand cut and good. My mom really enjoyed her brisket quesadilla. For what this place is, you can expect cold beer, hot, filling food, and good atmosphere. If you are seeking something fancy-pants, look elsewhere. We had a really nice time and even got to meet Big Al. We'll certainly be back.

Full disclosure. I don't drink so I can't speak to the strength of their pour. It's sports bar food so chill. . I also really like the multiple screens and a bunch of photos and memorabilia through the place. It was a light crowd at the time I went for karaoke but it may have picked up later in the night. They play a lot of country music as well. I will check them out again and you should too. PK

Stopped by for the first time to celebrate our anniversary had a nice crowd wasn't aware of the karaoke night it was nice the music was great and the service was great and the food was delicious , we had a great time

We came by Saturday night to get a few drinks, it was karaoke night. Staff was friendly and the vibes were good. Decent prices as well.

The food was delicious and our server was very attentive. Fans of the Kidd Kraddick morning show will enjoy some decor and photos referencing other things in Big Al's life; the day we were visiting the restaurant happened to be displaying a "Happy birthday Blake Shelton" banner outside. One issue we did run into was two of the beers my husband originally tried to order were out of stock.

New to Waxahachie and this place is a gem. The staff were extremely friendly and the food was made with love. We met Al who came around and shook everyone's hand and thanked them for the business. We will definitely be back.

We stopped here to grab a bite to eat headed out of town. The restaurant was clean and smelled good. Amanda was very attentive and kept our drinks full. We both had the grilled cheese with bacon he had sweet tea I had a coke.. the grilled cheese was loaded with bacon and brought down from the heavens to our table . The fries are fresh cut and deliciousness. My coke was great..:: crispy perfectly mixed..../ we will be back

Today me and my husband and children had the pleasure of going to Big Al's today! We went around 1'o'clock this afternoon . Not only as soon as we walked in we were greeted. We got to pick within the open tables where we wanted. Our waitress was very sweet, and professional. Our appetizer , and food was literally on point! The food was hot, fresh, and definitely had the flavor. The atmosphere is just very clean,nice, and comfortable. Plenty of TV's i had a good time.

food is ok at best, you can get much better for cheaper at just about any other place in the area. service was terrible, full of rude people, even Big Al came up to my table to berate me for next to no reason, seemed like he was very angry and seems to be a common theme with the man. would not recommend this at all, unless you don't mind being talked down to with some of the worst grammar i've heard.

We just left this place ( 6:30 pm, Sunday October 13th ) and the service sucked !! For starters , they brought us out a cold spinach & artichoke dip and then after that we had been waiting for like 35 minutes and no food -so I get up and ask our waitress on the status of our food and she had the nerve to tell me " I DON'T KNOW "-- like is she 12?? Who says that ?!! I turned to the kitchen and told her - "look you got plates just sitting there ." Eventually they bring out my salad , and my chicken was cold , no surprise !!! Anyhow , then they managed to bring out my kids order, not warm as well , and still my husbands wings were no where in sight , she told us another 7 minutes for those , 10 minutes passed and no wings . My husband gets up and asks for refund. She didn't give my husband the attitude she gave me , maybe by then she realized how rude she was to me . Anyhow , at least she provided the refund for my cold protein and husband's wings . Will not be returning.

I had reservations about this restaurant due to the poor quality of the photographs on Yelp. But I'm definitely glad I joined my family on Sunday, Funday. Our waitress was phenomenal (I don't remember her name), but her hair was black & blonde. Everything was delicious, fresh, hot, and reasonably priced. I ordered a pizza with a Tokyo iced tea, and my lady ordered a chicken quesadilla. It is truly a cool environment with plenty of televisions to enjoy any game.

Great experience. Service was good and friendly. Ordered regular cheese burgers, cheese fries and fried pickles. Excellent not sure why everyone is upset about the food but it was good. Bar atmosphere was good some watching the game, others just eating dinner. Overall a good experience. Definitely going again.

This was our second time going. The first time was great. Today we went around 3pm and there was only 1 other table and a regular at the bar. We order a margarita and it honestly tasted like straight mix. We also order some wings and fries which were super good but our waiter only came around when Big Al was present. Majority of the time our waiter spent talking with coworkers and the regular.

We wanted to try this place for a while and finally found ourselves in the area. It's a cool place but there is a weird side room that is attached and not decorated or painted at all. It looks like it's used for live music or was an old shop, but it kills the overall vibe cause it's painted bright white bare walls next to typical sports bar style. The food was great. I got wings and my table tried the chicken sandwich, the pretzel and the salad. The service was a little slow but they were busy and it seemed like they were understaffed a little. The kitchen also looked really small so maybe that's a bottleneck for them. Either way I would try it again.

Went in the afternoon only two customers were there and atmosphere was dull. The food is overpriced and the menu has changed from what they have on yelp. Ordered a regular burger with fries (soggy and over salted) added cheese to it plus and order of chicken quesadillas they were mid...plus an appetizer.... 5 regular degular cheese sticks were $9.75 and didn't really justify price. Total order was $50

I love the vibe of Big Al's, drinks were great...staff was awesome but my food was super greasy as soon as it came out of the kitchen like soaking wet with grease. I still tried my brisket sandwich and the meat was actually really good, but the dish as a whole could use a lot more love for the price being charged. I liked the fact that the owner did interact with the patrons, showing that he is present in the establishment and I can appreciate that! If we're back in the Waxahachie area, I would love to give the food here another try!

Very fun place. Locals add to the friendly atmosphere with lots of singing. Beer selection is plentiful. Loved the fries.

Great Spot for a quick bite I stopped in after work food was good and service was great!!! I had the lemon pepper wings and fries.

Met my parents here for lunch and a day of shopping around the square. The weekend lunch is brunch so we had the chicken and waffles. A big THICK waffle, tenders, a huge side of fries, for $15. Waffle and fries were clearly house made, and tenders were freshly breaded and fried in house. It came with a side of spicy mayo that reminded me of a spicy version of canes sauce. Really good food and a good price. Our waiter was really attentive, and he had a great personality. We got there right around noon and there were people at the bar, and a few big tables with family's as well. The building is old but not dirty. We walked by the kitchen on the way to the restroom and it was very clean and even the cooks said hi to us. I think at night it's very my h the party spot. Sports bar and Karaoke. Cute little outside area as well. Would definitely come again.

Hidden Gem! I have pass by the location several times but tonight I wanted to go eat some southern food and participate in Karaoke. Well it looked liked I walked into the perfect spot. Because we arrived so late they only had enough to fix one plate of fish. Once the plate arrived to the table it was enough to share with 2-3 people. We had several rounds of their green tea shots that prepared us to get on stage and sing a couple of songs. The energy in the room was AWESOME! We had an opportunity to meet Big Al ( who was genuinely nice)! He has created a perfect place to sit back and relax after a long week.

My husband and I was in Waxahachie for a Staycation. I always check out Yelp for places to try. We decided to check Big Al's out. From the moment we walked in the door we was greeted with that southern hospitality. Everyone was nice and numerous waitresses checked on us while we were there. We had the BEST waitress to help us, "Kaylie"! She was awesome and recommended different drinks & food to try. We was lucky to come on Fish Friday! Everything we ordered was delicious! Drinks was good, the ambiance was good, and the food was full of flavor! You know you are at a good restaurant when the locals are eating there. We will definitely be back here when passing through! (Side note) We didn't realize this is owned by a DFW well known radio star! We found out when we was walking out and asked who was the gentleman in all of the pictures are.

First time I have been here. Made it a point to stop in on my way back to San Antonio and I loved it. The wings were great and the fries were awesome too! The atmosphere was great! Karaoke was fun and the whole place got into it. I would highly recommend!!!

I came across this place headed to the ice cream shop across the street. Stopped in for a quick afternoon snack. The menu has limited pescatarian options in my opinion which is fine it's the south! I ordered a few appetizers. The pretzel is huge and it arrived quick, soft and hot just how I like it. The mozzarella sticks were pretty delish as well $8.00. I ordered the Artichoke dip and it quick as well. There were a ton of chips in comparison to the dip but I was full by the end so no sweat. My only only gripe is the self serve mimosa bar. I'm not fan of that at all!

We've attempted to attend the Wednesday event a couple times several months ago and were severely disappointed that the jazz band was not playing. Each time we asked about the "Nitty Gritty Jazz Band" playing the servers were extremely unhelpful, misleading, and would not give information as to when the band would be back and seem to suggest that they'd be back soon. We contacted the band through instagram and discovered that the owner/manager of Big Al's had cancelled them, despite all the work and effort they put into promoting, providing a community service and helping to bring something unique to Waxahachie. They relayed that Big Al's had backed out on their deal rather unscrupulously and without warning, despite great reviews and interest from the locals and to the disappointment of some of the staff. They also reported that they were already being far under paid and were doing it for the community and the love of the music and to help start the Waxahachie Tradition Jazz and swing dance scene. It's extremely sad that a local restaurant and business owner cannot treat local musicians with respect and would destroy something the community really enjoyed and needs...and not support LOCAL business and LOCAL musicians. The service was extremely poor when we went back, despite it being absolutely dead on a Wednesday without a band. The food was below par and extremely overly greasy. We won't be back to Big Al's as we cannot support a business that doesn't support local musicians, doesn't honor agreements with local business, and not supporting LOCAL music and musicians in its home town. Truly heartbreaking and a waste of our time and $.

Beer was cold, service was good, staff were nice and attentive to us. We ordered burgers and some beers along with cheese fries and fried pickles. Everything was good with down home feel on the square.

My wife and i stopped in here to catch her bears game . They have plenty of TVs so i didn't have to be bothered with that game though lol. A nice spot family and locally owned in downtown waxahachie. The nachos are a great appetizer and can feed plenty. I'll be back here for sure

Sorry Big Al, but your restaurant is simply TERRIBLE. The service is non-existent. Big Al was actually sitting at the bar when Hubby and I took our seats at the tall top table. The waitress came by to get our order before we even sat down... since we have never been here before, we asked to see the menu. That was the last time we saw her. Al ended up getting us our drinks, and more than 15 minutes later took our order. My sloppy Joe came on Texas toast with fries and Hubby's brisket sandwich also had fries. The fries were so disgusting and soaked in oil. I actually pointed it out to Al when he came to clear our table, but he simply shrugged and said sorry. Terrible service and even worst food. Try somewhere else if you find yourself hungry in Downtown Waxahachie.

Not again. Not in this lifetime. Horrible service and bland food. Looked like the type of place we'd like, too.

So much fun! Live music, tasty bar food and drinks! I love the vibe and atmosphere. Staff was great and very helpful. Surprised my guy with friends and family for a birthday celebration.

Good spot for a quick bite, but definitely more lively on a game night! Our server was great! We got wings and the soft pretzel! Both were pretty good!

We really enjoy the bar....all drinks are great. Love the ambiance. We have only had the chips and hot sauce but was excellent. We. She sure we visit there when we come to Waxahachie!

ordered a beer that came out in a plastic cup! ordered artichoke dip that came out in a styrafoam bowl which was microwaved! will not be back

My wife and I have never been to Big Al's (we just moved to Waxahachie). The place is clean and looks like it's fun and can get busy. Our waitress was awesome. My wife got a hamburger and cut fries, which were great. I got the chicken fried steak, which is why I'm giving the 3-star. The breading was great and the gravy very good. The steak was very tough as though it had never been tenderized, and I had to pull a piece I was chewing to break it apart. The mashed potatoes were barely warm and the green beans had absolutely no flavor; no ham or bacon, or even onions. We'll be back for sure, but I won't be getting that CFS again. Great atmosphere and I can't wait to come back during the evening so we can sit outside.

Very disappointed tonight. Staff was more concerned in taking food away while me and my wife were still eating. Came back with the bill and didn't even ask if we wanted a second drink. We were having a good time with the rest of the place for trivia night. Been here many times since moving to Texas a year ago and really may never go back. I've talked with the owner at times when being there and great guy but staff doesn't seem to want to work.

Divey, yes, but a nice, clean place with nice people. Some folk might even call it "quaint." On the road for hours, hungry, and the wife wants to stop somewhere nice. Two interesting high-brow joints were on the square. One closed on Mondays? Strike one. The other shuttered and vacant? Stee-rike two! One swing left. The dive bar across the street? Why not? The next swing put the ball through the glass at Al's. It was a low traffic Monday night, but service was great, the menu interesting (different from copy posted on both Yelp and the website) and the food was as good as any pub lunch I've had anywhere.  The burger was great. The fries were great. But, big spenders will go for the chicken fried pork ribs (really...you want to try them.) In two words: kitchen genius. Bar tested and bar fly approved, the ribs are a sliced, quarter-plus rack of fall-off-the-bone tender pork in a perfectly crisp floured crust. Add barbecue sauce and cream gravy for dipping and it's even better. And dessert options were fun. I was a passer-through, but...yep, I'd come back! Four stars? As bars go, it's high on my list.

Asked for extra crispy and they burnt the wings. Brisket was dry and all fat. Waitress was not attentive even with only having two tables. Nice venue though.

Our server, Cheyenne (spelling?), was very friendly and did a nice job taking care of us! She deserved a 5! We were driving through town trying to find a place to eat with a patio, and this fit the bill. Hubby and I shared the chicken fried steak and a salad. The food was good portion sizes and was basic bar food. I think this is more of a neighborhood hang out place and less focused on the menu, but I could be wrong....

The food and the service was very good. The pork chop was cooked perfectly and I loved the toast with my dinner. We would have given a five star review until I saw we were charged for our to go boxes. That just killed everything.

Tried to eat here twice now! First time sat at a table for twenty minutes and no service! Walked out! Yesterday tried to eat there and the sign says seat yourself and when I tried to I was told I couldn't sit where I chose! That's twice a higher power has stopped me from eating here or maybe they just suck! The place looks dirty and there doesn't seem to be management. I'm sure it will close because of the lack of service.

The food was cold and the service was very slow and bad we will never go back ...................................

We (2 kids and myself) made trip down to Waxahachie to try some new places, this being one of them. We walked in and no one said a thing to us, so we found ourselves a seat (we did hear them tell people after us to sit anywhere they wanted). The table was very wobbly but we made due. On the weekend, lunch is actually brunch, so very limited. They had to show me the real menu for the sides choices but they were out of corn already (it was noon). All 3 of us decided to just get burgers and fries and each of us got a soft drink. While waiting on the food, I went to the restroom. Feels like you're going into the kitchen and the floor is super sticky. The women's bathroom looked ok until I sat down and the entire toilet moved away from the wall. It needs some repairs and soon. The food came quickly and looked good for the most part. I did notice that the top bun of one of my kids looked burnt but she didn't complain. The bottom bun of my burger was burnt, but I don't eat much bread and just ate the patty. The taste was just ok. The kids ate but not very well. This place might be super fun at night and for adults, but during the day it's not. I did see other families there, so I thought it would be kid friendly. It ended up being super expensive for mediocre food. And when I say super expensive, I mean 3 burgers and fries, plus 3 sodas, we're $55 at lunch. For the food to not be exceptional, the place looking and feeling like a dump, the entire experience was just a let down.