poppa rollo's
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Poppa Rollo's Pizza

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A Waco landmark since 1959, Poppa Rollo's offers a fun, retro dining experience with iconic, loaded pizzas and a family-friendly arcade.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
poppa rollo's

Poppa Rollo's Pizza

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A Waco landmark since 1959, Poppa Rollo's offers a fun, retro dining experience with iconic, loaded pizzas and a family-friendly arcade.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The best Pizza joint in state by far, It's really good."

TIP

Extra Cheese Trick

Order extra cheese to help keep toppings securely in place on your pizza.

Off-Peak Visits

Dine during off-peak hours to avoid potential service delays and enjoy a more relaxed experience.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 11AM

Cuisine

Italian, Pizza

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(254) 776-6776

Address

703 N Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76710, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Nostalgic Atmosphere & Arcade Fun

Nostalgic Atmosphere & Arcade Fun

Step back in time with old-fashioned decor, classic cartoons, and arcade games. A true family-friendly experience!

Where to eat if you’re visiting Baylor/Waco (and what to order) — updated for 2024The Best Things to do in Waco, Texas
Iconic, Loaded Pizzas

Iconic, Loaded Pizzas

Pizzas piled high with generous toppings and quality ingredients. A Waco staple since 1959!

Where to eat if you’re visiting Baylor/Waco (and what to order) — updated for 2024Google Review
Gluten-Free & Vegan Options

Gluten-Free & Vegan Options

Accommodating a variety of dietary needs with delicious gluten-free crust and vegan cheese.

Eating Gluten Free in WacoGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Extra Cheese Trick

Order extra cheese to help keep toppings securely in place on your pizza.

Off-Peak Visits

Dine during off-peak hours to avoid potential service delays and enjoy a more relaxed experience.

Seating Variety

Explore different seating areas, from the game room to quieter spots, to find your ideal ambiance.

Wing Recommendation

Don't miss the wings, described as crispy, juicy, and available in various flavors.

Tips

from all over the internet

Extra Cheese Trick

Order extra cheese to help keep toppings securely in place on your pizza.

Off-Peak Visits

Dine during off-peak hours to avoid potential service delays and enjoy a more relaxed experience.

Seating Variety

Explore different seating areas, from the game room to quieter spots, to find your ideal ambiance.

Wing Recommendation

Don't miss the wings, described as crispy, juicy, and available in various flavors.

Sit in the Bar

For potentially better service, consider sitting in the bar area.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Poppa Rollo's Pizza is a beloved Waco institution, celebrated for its uniquely decorated, family-friendly atmosphere and pizzas piled high with toppings. While many rave about the nostalgic ambiance and generous portions, some diners have noted a decline in food quality and service consistency in recent years. The restaurant's commitment to offering gluten-free and vegan options is also a significant draw for a broader customer base.

"I ordered through DoorDash. The pizza arrived cold and late but, was still divine. They have vegan cheese, which is such a bonus! Vegan options are fairly small in Waco, TX. We will be ordering from Poppa Rollos again. We will either eat in the restaurant or pick up next time. 3 different pizzas, all mini size. Which is 4 small pieces. We got a build your own with pizza sauce, cheese on top and mozzarella. My daughter loved it. We also ordered a Hawaiian pizza with pineapple. I loved the flavor of this pizza. The pineapple was delicious. Not small, flacid pieces but, nice and fresh tasting. Finally, we ordered a build your own with vegan cheese, pineapple, mushrooms, red onions and bell peppers. We were impressed by the quality of both the mushrooms and pineapple. The mushrooms were not soggy but fresh tasting and good size pieces. 👌 Thank you, again for considering your vegan and lactose intolerant customers."

Melissa De Peal

"For a place that raves to have the best pizza in town, I found it to be somewhat lacking. The pizza sauce was good, but the toppings were like straight out of a can. The dough reminded me of what we would get from a DYI pizza box at the grocery store.

The service was as if they were busy even though they were not.

I have no intention of returning. I'm sure they are not the best in town."

Tim Enright

"So my husband went to wake up to go to home zone to look for a sound furniture when we asked the people there.Where was the best place to eat pizza?They said Papa rolo's, so we were like back.That's where we're gonna go eat for lunch.😛 so when we pull up the bsit in a little parking lot. But they have different art on the building. They have pictures from the movie 300, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin all eating pizza lol too funny. To add to it, they have the little rascals, the three stooges and sten and oliver from laura and hardy stained on the windows on the outside of the building. Very nostalgic invented the whole building😊 my type of place, so when you walk in the inside, everything is decorated so authentic. From the little horse that you could ride on when you were little used to b.
E in front of grocery stores back in the day that you would put a quarter in and be ye hawing lol.🤠 They had a bumblegum machine on top of a Blast the Gollie pinball machine🤯 They also had games i saw 2 basketball hoop games.There was another pinball machine game and some other games to the left , but they were a lot of people sitting on that side. But a lot of stuff to keep you busy while you wait and after you eat. 😉 That was one side you could sit on the other side where we sat had the T. V that played 3 stooges the whole time. 🤣 Those guys didn't have any lick of sense🤣They also have an upstairs loft area where you can eat, and there's like little games for I would say from 2 to 5 year olds to play with and keep busy while you wait on your pizza. Also, all over the building, they have different vintage signs and sands and pictures of art. But the coolest thing I thought was. We had to go to the restroom to wash our hands, and you have to walk down this little hall. And then there's this brick wall that you have to push, and then it goes into a hole. Another other freaking big room. I was like, wow. 🤯 So when we went in, there was probably a birthday party🥳 going on, but that room was huge also. Connected to that was the bathrooms, but this place had little hidden gems everywhere you turned around.😀 So before we got to where the bathroom was, Isaac, our server, got our drinks. I ordered a pink lemonade, and my husband got a Sprite, and they were on the table when we returned. When we came back, he told us a little bit about the pizza and the about the history of Poppa Roll's and that he thought not just because he were there that they had the best pizza but like I told him we heard that also at the furniture store. 🙌 He also try to offer us some wings.But we weren't in the mood for wings.We really just wanted to taste the pizza.But he said the wings are also good.They're not small.They're big so we will probably try those the next time we come in☺️ We ordered our pizza that had everything on it. I think it was called the works, and please forgive me. I took a picture of the menu, but I forgot to take the picture of that one freaking page🤦‍♀️
I did take pictures of the pizza and man.😋 Let me tell you when that pizza came out. It looked so good. One thing I really liked about the pizza was that it wasn't very saucy because some pizza places put a lot of red sauce or tomato sauce on the pizza.😵‍💫 I do have to say it is one of the best pizzas I've ever had in my life. 😋 So kudos to you, Papa Rollo's.Ya'll have the number one title🏆🏅🎉🎊 Thank you, Isaac, for being a great server until next time✌️🫶🍕"

Jarion Allen

What People Like

Nostalgic, fun atmosphere with arcade games
Pizzas loaded with generous toppings
Gluten-free and vegan options available

What People Dislike

Inconsistent service
Declined pizza quality/skimpy toppings
Food arriving cold

Frequently Asked Questions

Poppa Rollo's is known for its nostalgic, old-fashioned decor, arcade games, and classic cartoons playing, creating a unique, family-friendly atmosphere. Their pizzas are also celebrated for being generously topped.

Where to eat if you’re visiting Baylor/Waco (and what to order) — updated for 2024The Best Things to do in Waco, Texas

Yes, Poppa Rollo's offers a good gluten-free pizza crust option, catering to those with dietary restrictions.

Eating Gluten Free in WacoGoogle Review

Yes, they have vegan cheese available, which is a great bonus for vegan diners in Waco.

Google Review

Popular items include their loaded pizzas like 'The Works,' as well as mozzarella sticks, nachos, and their wings.

Drive on Over 4 of the Best Pizza Joints Near Waco, TX – University Kia Blog10 Best Chicken Wings in Waco: A Finger-Lickin' GuideGoogle Review

It's advisable to visit during off-peak hours to potentially avoid service delays and ensure a more relaxed dining experience.

Yes, the restaurant offers a variety of seating options, including a game room and potentially quieter areas.

Poppa Rollo's has been a Waco tradition since 1959, with a history tied to the local pizza scene in Waco.

Italian – Visit Waco, TXThe Best Things to do in Waco, Texas

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Where to eat if you’re visiting Baylor/Waco (and what to order) — updated for 2024

Poppa Rollo’s — Yes, the pizza at Poppa Rollo’s is iconic for Waco, but it’s the throwback environment that reels us in, again and again. The building is replete with video games, a carnival atmosphere, vaudevillian cartoons on a large projection screen, and the most alluring part of the ambience — secret passageways between areas of the restaurant. Add the most overloaded pizzas you could ever hope for to this entertaining and authentic environment, and you can see why so many grads still head to Poppa Rollo’s upon their return to Waco.

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Drive on Over 4 of the Best Pizza Joints Near Waco, TX – University Kia Blog

Valley Mills Drive is a fabulous place to grab a tasty slice, some delicious appetizers, and salads large enough to share. Some top starter menu items include perfectly fried mozzarella sticks, nachos, and focaccia. Pizzas include The Works, a loaded pie full of thickly-sliced pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage, and tons of vegetables, or Straight Tomato with plenty of thickly sliced tomatoes, romano and parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of herbs.

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Since we’ve moved on to lunch, and specifically pizza, it is worth mentioning that Poppa Rollos (a long time local favorite at 703 N. Valley Mills) offers a good gluten-free version, and both Slow Rise Slice House (7608 Woodway Dr.), and 900 Degrees Pizzeria (315 S. University Parks) have cauliflower crusts which are keto friendly as well as being gluten-free.

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10 Best Chicken Wings in Waco: A Finger-Lickin' Guide

As a chicken wing enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Poppa Rollo’s Pizza has some of the best wings in Waco. Their wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and come in a variety of flavors. My personal favorite is the garlic parmesan, but they also have classic buffalo, honey BBQ, and spicy garlic.

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The pizza is absolutely delicious and I'm beyond grateful for their inclusion of gluten free and vegan options. The service has for the most part been friendly, but there have been two instances where it was pretty disappointing. The first instance occurred when my mom called and made a reservation for homecoming weekend.

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Italian – Visit Waco, TX

In 1964, while a student at Baylor University, Roland Duty got a job working at Pepe’s Pizza in Waco, Texas. The business was owned by Col. E.M.Stinson. After several years the business sold to John Diebolt. While attending school part time, Mr.Duty purchased two of the Pepe’s Pizza locations.

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Poppa Rollo’s Pizza: Since 1959, Poppa Rollo’s has been serving their homemade pizza in the Waco area. Combining pizza with their family-friendly games and arcade makes this restaurant a fun family night. Not only is their pizza delicious, but they have beer specials throughout the week.

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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (139 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Italian, Pizza- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 703 N Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76710-4848- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like: Coat drives near Waco

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Poppa Rollos: Poppa Rollos is a local, family-owned restaurant, that proudly serves the greater Waco area the very best homemade pizza. Their great food, unique atmosphere, family-friendly arcade and shows, and the overall dining experience is why they’re a Waco tradition since 1969.

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I knew the odds were not in my favor in Waco, but I decided to give Poppa Rollos a try. They were voted “best pizza in Waco” for several years in a row and also seems to be the only place that had a gluten free option in town.

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There are a myriad of reasons I’m impressed with Poppa Rollo’s. Family friendly environment, arcade games, a cold beverage for the adults, and the list goes on. This is a reader favorite as well!

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Why we love it: A local, family-owned restaurant serving homemade pizza in a unique atmosphere, offering family-friendly arcades and shows, and the overall dining experience.

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