Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try the food. A friend and I went for brunch and people were coming in and out so I was holding the door open for them while also attempting to put our name on the waitlist when a middle aged male employee rudely yelled at me to shut the door. We left immediately. I get that it's a million degrees outside but that doesn't warrant treating potential patrons or anyone disrespectfully. read more

Didn't expect for them to ask us to leave as soon as we were done with our meal. Definitely dont recommend this if you want to catch up with friends. I understand people are waiting to be seated but so did we read more

Disappointing. I used to love the hanger steak and eggs breakfast but the hanger steak has been downsized to a flat iron steak. I know beef has gone sky high in price so I don't have a problem with the increased price, just the distinctly inferior steak. I came in hungry and left hungry. I though perhaps it was on me but I looked at the menu online and it still says "hanger steak." The review is upgraded from one to two stars because my server Steve was sympathetic, in agreement this item is not what it used to be. Without my asking he took 20% off the bill. I would have preferred to pay full price and enjoyed what I remember, but all I can take away is I wont' go back and make the same mistake again. read more

Me and my family went on a whim for my birthday this Monday! We got seated very quickly and it was an overall very nice and clean space. We laughed because the person who sat us down asked if we'd like a minute to look at the menu. We said yes then had a little discussion about something else as we got settles. It quite literally felt like 1 minute later he came back and asked if we knew what we wanted. Luckily, we did and we joked about how he literally meant one minute and was counting down the seconds in the back As for the food, I got the Joe's Special then later fruit and granola. Overall, it was pretty decent food. I didn't get entirely filled up with my plate that's why we order the fruit and granola after. It was rather bland. I expected more from the breakfast potatoes that went with my meal. Bland but not bad is my experience. Still, it was a nice and homey space that made me feel comfortable. Wasn't a bad experience at all! read more

Counter Cafe East - Joe's Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

I hope I went there on a bad day but my experience was pretty unsatisfying. I ordered the fried chicken biscuit with fries. What came out was a tiny biscuit with chicken that barely filled it up....for $11. This had better be the best damn biscuit and fried chicken I've ever had. Sadly, it was not. Mediocre biscuit with chicken that was nothing special. Add to that the fries were made in oil that was way too low in temperature....I could still taste the oil. I would've had a much better meal at Whataburger at half the price. The 2nd star is for friendliness and attentiveness of the server. read more

This is a show stopper for anyone passing thru ATX, needing a great start to a travel day or vacation. Menu selection has a warm selection and mix of breakfast and lunch choices that do not disappoint. Our family stopped by twice during our 7 day vacation to enjoy the friendly service and welcoming smiles. Has indoor table and counter seating with outdoor table for the perfect spring mornings or summer evenings. read more

For me, Sunday breakfast is a leisurely affair. We arrived at about 9am and we were seated on the patio. From the very start our server Regina was in way too big of a hurry, we felt rushed every inch of the way. Our guest check was delivered minutes after our food arrived. Later when I ordered additional beverages Regina was visibly annoyed. Before I finished my coffee the host stopped by to inform us that there was a long line of people waiting to get in but that we should take our time. What? We were there for about an hour and we were about ready to leave anyway. I dropped a couple of choice expletives on the host (which I probably shouldn't have done) I was just very irritated after having been rushed from the beginning. It pissed me off to no end to basically get kicked out after spending $60 on breakfast for three people. An hour is not excessive. If there is a time limit that should be made clear in advance. Needless to say I won't be going back. I read more

It was the typical, unseasoned, bland overpriced wypipo food for me. It was the lack of originality for me. It was the waiting for over 45 mins. to be seated for me. It was the waiter (probably named Blake or Satchel or some shit) and his lack of enthusiasm for me. It was the having to be seated on a hot ass patio after waiting on a hot ass bench for 45 mins. for me. It was the bathroom being located outside in the back (yes, a door in the BACK.. OUTSIDE) for me. It was the bland unsweetened lemonade for me. Like, how do you fck up lemonade? White people really don't season shit, do they!? Like damn. No, sir. I don't like it. read more

I ordered the Steel Cut Oats with Fruit and it VERY disappointing. Watery, flavorless, and for 6 WHOLE dollars i'd rather spend it somewhere else. sorry :( My friend got the tacos, and they were good! read more

Everyone was so attentive and helped with my grandmother that had walker, accommodating to the first degree. Food was amazing

We came here after dropping someone off to the airport and thought it was early enough it wouldn't be much of a wait. But the hordes have flocked to this place so we got on the waiting list for us and the baby and was told it would be 20 mins or so. Another couple with a baby came after us and put their names down - foreshadowing. So we were hanging out in the benches outside it was a nice enough day people watching. Enjoying water and coffee and watching other people get seated. I look inside and saw the couple and the baby were not there anymore. I asked my husband to go in and check and apparently they seated them before us...who does this? Some chick named Veronica, nice values you got there so glad you procreated. Anyways they made it right as quickly as possible and seated us next, the kid at the front was very apologetic and sincere. The space is cool, our waiter was nice and a little socially awkward so I gave him kudos for trying. Our food was ok that was what kind of bummed me out...I got the crab cake Benedict and it wasn't that good. I usually will get this when I used to brunch every week and the consistency of the cake was a bit loose and the flavors were good but the biscuit was overdone and it was very hard on the bottom and not buttery flaky soft goodness. I got some vegan quinoa porridge for the baby. Oh my god what a fail - the quinoa was hard and seemed not fully cooked so I wasn't going to give her any of that but the fruit was good she enjoyed but it was a waste of $9. What she enjoyed the most was the tiny diced pieces of potato in my dish. We did not feel extremely welcomed here with our baby with the staff and the clientele so it's a sign of growing up I guess she's gotta go where we go so we shall not be going back here. It's a great place to go if you're in your younger 20s though sans baby. read more

Everything was Amazing!!!!!! The food was great, great portions and great flavor. Regarding service, it was so on point we had to c o me back the following day to make sure that it was not a fluke. Believe it or not, it wasn't. You have an awesome team there that compliment each other. Well done!!!! read more

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Great biscuits and gravy. The gravy is loaded with sausage and has a deep warm and slightly sweet flavor. The home fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside mixed with a small amount of sauteed onions. They do not carry white sugar... so coffee sweeter options are raw sugar and stevia. Hub had chicken biscuit. He asked for a side of syrup and we were charged $2 on the bill for it, but server never mentioned the extra charge. It was nice to sit at the counter and watch our food being cooked snd prepared. The restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall, but it was delicious. read more

One of the best burgers we've ever had! Perfectly cooked to order. The brunch options were also really good.

The best breakfast in Austin. Fresh, real food. Delicious! Tried the chilaquiles and it was a party in my mouth! Amazing!

"Come on man it's cold out here, let me put the blanket on you, keep you warm." Our waiter was great and watching him drape a blanket over my 6'3'' 220ish lbs brother really made my day. "We use some chocolate powder in our chocolate milk, so I can't in good conscience recommend it." The second awesome thing our waiter did. Really great start to the morning. Honesty and sincerity. Blueberry pancakes were delightful. Syrup, gravy (from the biscuits), and some pancake... what a delightful sweet and savory bite that was. Unlimited blueberries! Well sort of. Obviously, it is impossible to have never-ending blueberries but please... enough with the judging. The gravy was so good. A little spicy great bite of sausage and perfectly creamy. The biscuit wasn't the best but the gravy surely made up for any lacking in the biscuit area. Breakfast tacos... probably a pass honestly. I wish we would have tried some more stuff but we were in a bit of a pickly pinch (a Texas phrase believe me...). They were alright I guess but the glory belongs to pancakes and gravy. THE VERDICT: I am glad that we went here. Best breakfast that we had in our time in Austin. I know this place is known more for its BBQ and everything. It was refreshing to have a nice ol' fashioned breakfast. If you are looking for breakfast come here because the wait staff is great and the blankets you can drape over your shoulders... just so peachy. read more

Counter Cafe East - Breakfast tacos. Biscuits and gravy. Blue-b pancake. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

I came here for a Sunday brunch, and I have to say I was quite pleased with my dining experience here. [Food] Pancakes are delicious here! They're fluffy, and the portion size is HUGE. I got a blueberry pancake which cost $7, and it filled up to two people. Pork Chop and Eggs is pretty good as well. But the pork chop is a bit on the drier side. Grapefruit juice is pretty sour, but a couple drops of honey would do. [Service] Our waiter was polite and welcoming. He regularly checked up on us and filled our water cups. Despite coming here for a Sunday brunch, there was no wait at all. We were able to get a table right away. As for the parking, there is a free parking lot available in front of the restaurant. Parking is not an issue. [Ambience] Casual atmosphere. Perfect place to grab brunch with your friends. The outdoor seating area is the place to be when the weather is nice. If you're looking for a casual brunch restaurant with reasonably priced food, this is your place. And I highly recommend the pancakes! read more

Counter Cafe East - Pork Chop and Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The chicken burger I had there was really good. The service was ok. My waiter seemed a little dry and stand offish. It definitely gave diner vibes for sure. read more

In Austin for the weekend, this place popped up on google for good brunch, it seemed like they had some southern options so that's why I picked it. I'm already regretting it because we've wasted 30 minutes of our day getting here, 30 minutes waiting to get a table, 15 minutes waiting for our server to take our order, and another 30 minutes for our food to arrive. The waiting area has no shade. The coffee and water service in the waiting area was out of mugs, water, cream and coffee. Multiple people brought this to the staffs attention only to be ignored until a pretty young woman asked. We were seated at the counter. Our server was overwhelmed and made sure to tell us that he had three other tables and would be slow with us. It was frustrating watching the kitchen working their butts off preparing food only to have it sit on the counter getting cold while the wait staff tried to get their shit together. We watched the cooks eating with their fingers from the food they were cooking. My chicken biscuit was served cool and the biscuit was chewy and thick. The chicken meat was kinda grey and I wasn't a big fan of the unflavorful breading that was rock hard. Breakfast potatoes were good. My friend had a pancake that was burnt and stodgy. Also both of our meals had random pieces of collard green stuck to them. Also, they charge for refills on iced coffee which is super lame. Having finished eating, we are now waiting for our check, which I'm sure will take another 15-20 minutes... read more

Counter Cafe East - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

So friendly, lovely outside tables and so many choices of fabulous dishes!! The fresh orange juice was incredible as well as the mimosa. Vegan choices, too!! read more

For the pricing, I rather eat elsewhere to be honest. Definitely ruined my experience from the moment I walked in.

This is my second time here. Both times the food has been good, but the service is not up to par at all. Maybe because it's a popular place and there are a lot of customers? The waitress we had was not only rude to us, but the customer next to me. He waited patiently to make an order and when he asked the waitress she rudely said to him that she had other tables she needed to get to. Just know that if you come here you will more than likely have a good meal, but the service you'll receive is poor based on my experiences thus far. read more

The Counter Cafe East VIOLATES COVID19 policies and procedures! The seat you at a medium size table and MAKE you Share it with other Patrons. This is UNACCEPTABLE in every way, if a restaurant CANNOT accommodate the amount of people being served in compliance with the COVID19 policies then they should be FINED and or CLOSED. Just another restaurant out to make money while failing to comply with state and city mandates. I don't want to sit with some woman that has a cough. Obviously the lack of caring is enough reason to NEVER COME back here again. read more

Counter Cafe was delicious! I stayed on the healthy track and ordered fruit with granola. YUM. Hubby got the French toast. I ate some of his and it was amazing! Great food, great service., Great place! read more

My go-to brunch spot in Austin Tx! Great servings. Amazing Hot cakes/ Steak/ Eggs/ mimosas. I am sure that Whatever you decide to order will exceed your expectations! Great service as well read more

I was in search of a great burger and came across Counter Cafe East. Lets just say, I was not disappointed! I met a coworker here for lunch on a Thursday and the place was relatively full. We were seated within 5-10 minutes. They had an avocado burger special on the wall so I knew I had to have it. The burger was incredible! Perfectly cooked throughout, placed between a toasted bun that stayed in tack through the entire meal. The french fries were nice and crispy and the service was attentive for the entire meal. I definitely want to come back and try a few other dishes. read more

I really prefer this place for breakfast than for lunch. The chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes (separately) are delicious and huge. The butter is warm and...buttery. The coffee is fresh and the sides of meats or fruit are great.  For lunch, the pimento grilled cheese is a bit of a hot mess, and not in a good way. The bread gets too limp to hold the oozy pimento cheese, making it soggy and spilling out the side as soon as you handle it in any way, before you even take a bite. The limp lettuce served with it gets soggy instantly and the red onions are way harsh, Tai, and hit you in the mouth when you're expecting a sharp cheese balance. I need to go ahead and try some more lunch stuff, but if trying to be healthy there are not many options. Burgers, sammies and more...but a few sad salads and chicken breasts are your fate if you're trying to avoid the griddle.  Located near some new offices on the East Side, this place can get a bit busy on weekdays after 12 noon on the dot, but if you arrive a little before that, you'll most likely get a table. read more

I mean I don't what to say, it was 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon and a not great biscuit. This was their early bird special for $9. Im glad I didn't order anything more expensive. Went on a Friday morning and service was also not great. read more

Super cute spot I hit for breakfast. Got some good coffee and the fried chicken biscuit with a side of gravy. Deconstructed my sandwich so I had some chicken solo then made myself biscuits and gravy. Chicken was fried to juicy crispy perfection (though could've used a touch more seasoning) and the gravy was on point. Also a great fruit cup. Definitely a great spot, would come back and try more. read more

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On my way back from the airport I decided to finally stop at this newish location of one of the most Austin-y of Austin breakfast places. Definitely a good call on my part because the meal I ordered, Joe's Special, was a special kind of hash that spoke to my special taste buds. Scrambled eggs, stacked on 9-grain toast, breakfast potatoes, fresh spinach, parmesan, and a bit of sausage (full disclosure, you could add fresh spinach to almost anything and you're going to get my attention). The rest of the menu looked great, but for future visits my special taste buds will be sticking to Joe's Special. FYI: this is a diner and is bright and open, but has very limited seating. I recommend a weekday morning. Cheers! read more

Counter Cafe East - Joe's Special: a special kind of hash - eggs, stacked on 9-grain toast, potatoes, fresh spinach, parmesan, and a bit of sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

So it's popular, we were lucky, 2 seats opened up at the bar in about 5 minutes, though there was a large party of peeps waiting for about 20 mins, can't blame them, that's a lot of people. Our server was 5/5! He didn't let our cups get empty, quickly brought our food, and bill. However it evens out to about 4 stars overall. Our food was 3/5. It want bad, it just wasn't anything to rave about. She had eggs Benedict and I had breakfast tacos. If you want great service this is your destination. read more

Counter Cafe East - Eggs Benedict and breakfast tacos, the corn tortilla kept falling apart couldn't hold it together. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

Phenomenal food. The wait was generally quick. We went back 3 days in a row and food was very consistent. Bottomless coffee helps as well!

I moved nearby and have made this my go to diner spot. Been here several times and this place is consistent- which is hard to come by. Servers are friendly. The food is a step above typical diner fare. I recommend the steak and eggs (they'll even swap the biscuit for veggies if you're doing keto, although the biscuit is delicious if you're not) and the eggs your way. There's nothing worse than soggy potatoes but this place always cooks theirs perfectly crispy. If going to brunch, be prepared to wait and definitely try their mimosas- they offer orange, mango, and watermelon (my fave) and they all taste freshly squeezed. As others have said- the crab cakes are just ok. read more

Super quick and attentive service from the host and server. The bread is gluten free and from and local bakery. It is one of the best (and largest) gluten free breads I've ever had and wish I bought a whole loaf. The portion size was decently sized and priced but no sides. read more

Counter Cafe East - Gluten Free Egg Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

Quality food and service are such a good combination. Always good to see employees who want to be at work with a smile. Ate twice this week staying on east 6th street. Highly recommend breakfast here. Pancakes are huge and delicious if you've earned the carbs. read more

Counter Cafe East - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

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All around impressed with this spot, the service, the setting, and definitely the food and drink. I was here with a group of eight on New Years Eve morning around 10:30 and so it was understandably a busy time. However, the staff was able to get us a table set up in about 20 minutes. And that said, it was a lovely day so it was no problem to sit outside for a few minutes while they got ready. Considering the size of the group, we were handled well and both food and drink came to us quickly. While I didn't order a drink myself, I did get to try some of the specialty brunch drinks and most enjoyed the Paloma that someone ordered. For food, I got the Counter Benedict and was totally satisfied with everything on my plate. Definitely a good hearty lunch spot. read more

Lack of Management and Terrible Service with a side of internalized racism, gaslighting and mansplaining. My service was absolutely disrespectful and terrible. This was my second visit to the Counter Cafe and it will be my last. Once seated we attempted to order Mimosas while we made our food selections. We were told we'd have to order food first so, we ordered coffee and tea. The waiter disappeared for 20 mins. and finally returned with our coffee and tea order. As we attempted to place our food orders he seemed to be rushing us and annoyed that we dared have specifications for our food. My friend ordered steak and eggs. I ordered a crab cake, hash browns, a Baby cake and sautéed spinach. The waiter then disappears again for another 20-30 mins. There were no drink refills and no table checks hence our Mimosas were never ordered. When he does reappear he drops the crab cake on the table in front of me and unloads the rest of our order shy of the baby cake(pancake) I immediately see that my sautéed spinach was raw and wilted. I gave it back to him and stated that I did not want it because it was not cooked. He begins(Gaslight #1) to explain that it was sautéed, just not very sautéed. I repeated my No thank you and asked about my baby cake. He continues to discuss my spinach order saying "oh, you don't want the spinach anymore because the crab cake came with salad, right?" I simply repeated that I did not want the spinach and again ask about the missing baby cake. He says it's coming. 20 more mins. later I go to find him to inform him that I would no longer need the baby cake because my friend had already finished her meal. When we get back to the table he again drops another plate in front of me and says "May as well eat it so it doesn't go to waste." and walks away. At this point I ask another waiter for a manager. He tells me there is no management, only an owner who was not there and there was no way for me to contact them about my service because they were not allowed to give out contact information for management. I was also told that sometimes pancakes take time there because they may not have had an available burner and their pancakes take longer to cook. I calmly explained that I had at that point been waiting an hour for one pancake. He then says "well we can just take the pancake off your bill." From the moment we were seated assumptions were made as to what we deserved and how we would behave based on internalized and overt racist ideas and stereotypes of the monolithic Black woman. I didn't ask for or expect anything to be removed from my bill, but that assumption was made. What I did expect was that as a paying patron I would receive competent and good service or at the very least good food. To add further insult to injury the steak was tough and overcooked, the crab cake was very blah, as stated above my spinach was uncooked and WE NEVER GOT OUR MIMOSAS!!! I have attempted to reach the management/owner via their email address and social media. Because the number listed online goes straight to a voicemail recording, I also left a message to no avail. I woke up that Sunday excited to go have a lovely breakfast and instead receive racial trauma and micro aggressive attacks. Given I never heard from their management and was gaslit by the other waitstaff I spoke with, it is evident that this is just the culture of the place. That culture being "oh, Black women..." So, Black women be ware or take a man or non black person with you to ensure they are motivated to handle you with care, courtesy and consideration as is the standard of good customer service. There was ONE bright spot and that was the older gentleman who seated us. He was kind and the only person who offered us basic respect and courtesy. He earned the one star the Counter Cafe can get from this disappointed and mistreated patron. read more

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Literally just left there and I was not happy with the service, we asked the waiter for Mango Mimosas and he brought me a grapefruit mimosa and my best friend an OJ we both told him once he returned that we asked for Mango and he got an attitude with us to the point we asked for our check for the mimosas and left and didn't even bother eating there read more

A wonderful place! The atmosphere was great, food was delicious, and the staff was friendly and eager to chat. Will definitely be returning

This place is amazing. We came her two days in a row on our trip and both times were not disappointed. I got the counter porridge and the fruit yogurt and granola and both were amazing. My husband got the breakfast tacos and a hot cake. He was very happy. The second day we sat at the counter and watched how kind employees were to each other and it made me happy. Highly recommend read more