Rick B.
Google
The Holy Grail Is Real—and It’s Got Fries on the Side
Revival Eastside Eatery | Waco, TX | 5 Stars
They call it the Holy Grail, and after one bite, I understood why. This burger didn’t come to play—it came to preach. Juicy, flavorful, anchored by peppery arugula and creamy cheese, hugged between what I’m certain is a toasted brioche bun. Not too thick. Not too soft. Just enough to remind you: balance is holy.
But the Holy Grail doesn’t walk alone. It comes with Holy Grail Fries, crisped at the edges, golden through the middle, salted just right. If I have one suggestion for Revival, it’s this: leave the ketchup packets to the drive-thrus. These fries deserve a ramekin. Dignify the dip.
Now the dessert—this one surprised me. A mint chocolate chip mousse so light and airy, it nearly floated off the spoon. Drizzled with chocolate, sprinkled with Oreo crumbles, and topped with a mint Oreo, it was exactly the kind of portion and flavor a good meal deserves to end on. Sweet, cool, elegant, and restrained.
My drink of choice: a chilled Maine Root soda, full-bodied and smooth. It paired with everything like it had rehearsed for the role.
But this isn’t just about the food. Revival tells a story. Danielle and Travis Young didn’t grow up in restaurants. Danielle is a Baylor-educated clinical psychologist. Travis was in education. One night in 2017, they couldn’t find a local spot that was both fresh and soulful. So they asked a bold question: How hard could it be to open a restaurant?
Hard.
But they did it anyway.
They found a long-abandoned church building on Elm Avenue and turned it into Revival. Not just in name, but in spirit. The menu leans into biblical wordplay—the Holy Grail burger, the Weight of Glory sandwich, the Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Garden of Eating salad. It’s cheeky, sure. But it’s also reverent.
The inside is rustic-modern: exposed brick, real wood, soft light. It feels honest, grounded, and warm. Ordering is done at the table, with QR codes and friendly, present staff who seem genuinely glad to be there. It’s not performative. It’s personal.
The outside patio is an open invitation—picnic tables under wide skies, next to a vibrant mural that welcomes you to East Waco like a hometown chorus. Revival didn’t just move in. It rooted. It respected the neighborhood, listened to the stories, and answered with presence.
And that’s why this isn’t just another burger joint.
It’s a declaration.
Revival doesn’t beg for attention. It earns it—bite by bite, story by story.
From the Golden Calf burger to the mousse that tastes like a whispered hallelujah, this is a restaurant that remembers why people gather around food in the first place.
Five stars. No notes.
Come hungry—and come ready to call it by name: The Holy Grail.