Treff’s Bar and Grill

Well, I hate to knock a business while there down but maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. I perform in a successful band in Austin, Tx. I tried like hell to get a gig at Treff’s in Waco. I started with facebook messaging the venue to no avail. Then I looked for booking information on their website with none to be found. Then I sent several friends of mine that live in the Waco area to try to find info on how to get a band to perform there with no one giving them information what so ever. So then I called the venue but the booking guy was never there. I informed them that we know quite a few people of drinking age in Waco that would come see us play but they told us to call back later. So finally, I drove up to Waco with a press packet, walked into Treff’s and the bartender said the booking guy would be back in a few hours, so then I left and came back and to no avail, he was not coming back that evening. I left the press packet there and even followed up with a phone call. Never heard anything. Now, granted, he might not have been into the band but when you do not even have a booking # or email and you center your business the fact you advertise yourself as a live music venue, you have failed before you have even gotten out the gate. I hear a lot of venues in Waco are like that. It’s a shame, because you have a University that have college aged student especially 21 and up that come all the way to Austin or drive to Dallas for entertainment and you should have plenty of options in your own down. Don’t let someone from Austin or Dallas come there and show you how it’s done. Keep your business locally owned and operated with a little extra hustle and it will take you so much further in life. Just an opinion.

Treff;s has closed. According to an article in the Waco Tribune Herald, it was due to a downturn in business, and lack of supervision by the owner.

Drinks are Cheap & Strong just the way I like it! Downstairs is pretty chill. Upstairs is also chill but Very Smokey. Don’t worry though, your buzz will kick in waaaayyyyy before you start to cough and notice it.
Hit Up $ 2 U-​Call-​It Night! Upstairs usually has a DJ.

A little bit of a hood bar but an okay place to hang out. more of a young (baylor) crowd here

Super smoky atmosphere. I can’t wait until TX passes laws banning smoking in public, but this is one of the smokiest bars I’ve ever been to. Upstairs is just as bad as downstairs. The next morning my clothes are still stinking, gross.
The good news is drinks are cheap, and on $ 2 drink nights, you can’t overspend your drinking budget if you tried.

Thursday nights are the only nights to go to Treffs. Russell is awesome as piano man and everyone you have met at Baylor is singing along loudly before they leave at about 12:30 to migrate to Scruffy’s. If you aren’t a Baylor student, other nights might be okay, but I’d avoid it for the most part unless you want to drink alone or want to get in a fight.
The bartenders are strictly business for the most part, so don’t expect anything special or drinks that are delicious.

Giving Treff’s 4 stars based solely on THURSDAY NIGHT with Russell (aka piano man).
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you are missing out. Get there before 10 on a Thursday to snag a booth up front. Yes, this means pre-​gaming early.
$ 5 (bring cash!!!) to get upstairs for piano man on Thurs.

I only go to Treffs during the summer for Piano Man. Good drinks, a little too crowded for my taste, but to each their own.

I am gonna review this place on my experiences there from many years ago and judging from the other 2 reviews maybe this place has taken a nosedive but I surely hope not.
Treffs had great drink specials, especially there $ 2 you call its that if I am remembering correctly was on Thursday, but I could be mistaken on the date.
This place always had an odd vibe though and I think it was because the 1^st floor had a diner vibe while the upstairs was more of a dive bar complete with some really crappy cover band but whatever I never cared about the music it was all about the drinks and the crowd.
Now as for Lara saying there isnt food that may be a new thing but back in the day Treff’s had one of the best Mushroom Swiss burgers on the planet. Hopefully they did not remove the kitchen and become just a full blown bar because that would kill part of the things I liked about the downstairs area.
All in all I really enjoyed Treff’s and I wish them all the success in the world but these reviews are kind of unsettling for a fan of the place.

I can’t comment on what Treff’s is like in the late evenings when it is busy, but I’ve been here 3 or 4 times on Sunday evenings for the Waco Pub Church meetings, and I love the atmosphere and the vibe of the place, at least the 2^nd floor area. Waco has so few bars that don’t seem terribly shadey… I think Treff’s is a winner.
Wish there was some food… why do they call themselves a «grill» if there are no food menus?

I wanted to like this place, and I did when they first opened, now it’s too busy, the drinks aren’t any good, when you can actually get a turn to order. Sometimes there’s a cover for a crappy band too.