My husband and I are seeing if we should make Cafe 290 "Our Spot" since we love diners and it's…read morereasonably close to our house. We've been twice for lunch, but yesterday we spontaneously decided to break routine and go out for breakfast. We're still off of our diets after vacation in Paris, and we both secretly wanted to extend vacation (and indulgent food) one more day before facing work and healthy habits on Monday. Normally we get eggs for breakfast at other diners, but this time we were thinking alike, and decided to get the thing most unlike what we regularly eat - waffles topped with bananas, chocolate chips, and peanut butter, with chicken on the side. Sugar free syrup was an option, thankfully, because I have to reign it in somewhere. The waffle wasn't quite as crispy as I like, but with all those toppings it would be hard for it to be bad! However, the chicken tenders were the surprise hit of the meal! They were moist and the breading was light and crispy. There were quite a few people there on a Sunday morning, and some seemed to be regulars. I'd like to find something on the menu that wows me so that we become regulars too, but so far it's coming in at just satisfactory. Since we don't allow ourselves many treat meals, the calories really have to be worth it to keep coming back. We'll give it a few more tries. Our servers were extremely friendly. I want to love this place! We'll try a few more times and see what the verdict is!

I am not originally from Texas, where I come from Cafe and Diner style Restaurants are all over. No…read morechain restaurants, no corporate bs, just good ole mom and pop home cooking. Now it's been many years since I've been home but it's a craving that is always there and hard to fill. Cafe 290 does just that! Great home cooked meals, typical Diner sized portions (very large) and breakfast at any time of the day! Let's be honest, it's never the wrong time for breakfast! It feels like you are sitting in your home kitchen, the staff are very nice, and the atmosphere is typical Texas Diner, and there is nothing wrong with that! Few pictures, and good ole classic cheeseburger! 1lb of meat... good luck, taste great but sheesh, it's hefty, the quesadilla is 10/10 with chicken, idk why it just bangs every time! And the very classic egg omelette! Get the diced potatoes, it's all divine! LASTLY and probably most important! THEY HAVE HOMEMADE CAKE AND PIE by the slice. It's expensive, listen to me here, it's worth the price, massive slices and fresh every day and THEY ARE INCREDIBLE!

Phoebe's Diner is such a classic! The best tasting comfort food with a twist that you'll find. I've…read moreeaten the chicken and biscuit twice now because of their Uber Eats BOGO deal - it's just too good to pass up! I always order a side of garlic aioli to dip the potatoes in. It's sooo good. I've only gone during lunch time before the rush so everything has been on time. Everyone is so friendly too. You need to try it!! Also, large parking lot on site (huge plus)!

Not quite the place we expected. With all the good reviews, we expected something a little better…read more Don't get me wrong the food was good just not what we are used to. The migas were more like a veggie omelette. Again good but not what we wanted. The masa balls were a bit undercooked, at least for our tastes. We also had Phoebe's Benedict. We asked for over hard eggs and they came out crispy. The ham was almost as thick as the bread. The ambiance was a little ruined for us when we were sat right next to another table just a foot away from us. That's ok if it was crowded but there were plenty of open tables and staff. The service was good. The food came out fast. Just not quite what we like.

Would have been on time but stopped to read board with lunch special on it …read more Was less then 2 min late for Lunch special and was not allowed to get it .

Cute spot for country cookin'! We've passed Lucy's multiple times when in Elgin, and even got a…read moreslice of cake to-go, but never really ate here. This weekend we went out to Elgin for their music festival, and dinner beforehand. There were so many items on the menu I wanted to get, but I went with my gut and got the Club Sandwich. It was kind of small, but that's a good thing, because while I like clubs, they're usually too big for me. Everything else about it was just perfect. If you like bacon, you might be a little disappointed, because the bacon was scant. On the side I chose onion rings since the only options were those or two types of fries. I tried a few nibbles of those, but they were easy to leave behind. I wanted to save room for dessert! All the desserts looked good, and their meringue pies appeared to be most popular, but I chose the Italian Wedding Cake. It was soooooo much better than the carrot cake I tried a few months ago, but maybe I'm just overly picky about my carrot cakes. This cake was huge and moist, and a real treat! My husband's burger seemed fine. Not too much to tell about it. We're definitely going to have to be back!

The Dutch Baby is perfect every time and that delicious thick, perfectly cooked bacon cannot be…read morefound anywhere else in Austin!

Family friendly cafe Huge menu of breakfast and brunch…read moreitems. I had the Rigo, a type of eggs Benedict with potato pancakes, very good. Several hearty kids meals available. Our server was brand new and did a great job. Busiest on weekend mornings Waitlist for reservations

I actually thought this place was pretty tasty! Its a local fast food joint which makes sandwiches…read moreand other comfort food. I was probably the youngest person there for lunch by about 30 years, but older people know their Breakfasts and Lunch. I always go with the Spicy Burger which has the perfect amount of spice and meaty goodness. Add a side of fries and you got a good lunch. I also like that the place has a toppings bar including their own spicy ketchup and spicy ranch. Very cool! Like I mentioned, this is a pretty standard local fast food joint, but something I could certainly see on DDD. They make solid burgers so thats a good start for a great meal! I have already been happy here!

This place was suggested to us by a local so I was looking forward to lunch. We walked in and its a…read moreplace that you order at the counter which is fine. We ordered a Rueban and Hamburger. I was craving a salad, but when you looked at the salad bar it was not something you would want to eat. Not eye appealing at all. We went around the corner to sit down, tables were dirty and the benches were torn. Even if it is clean it did not appear that way, which makes me question the cleanliness of the kitchen. Our food was delivered to the table. The utensils are plastic and the meals were served in plastic baskets. The food was tasty and again, the gentleman that took our order was great. But the condition of the restaurant is most likely why I won't return.

We're spending the summer in McDade for a work assignment, and after working all day in the HOT…read moreTexas sun... who's cooking? Not us. Let's start with the basics... Easy to find. Plenty of parking. Cool little atmosphere. Now here's the plot twist... It's attached to a gas station. Before you clutch your pearls and drive on by... DON'T. Some of the best food comes from places your GPS forgot to brag about. The menu is HUGE, and they even had a daily special posted. Our table tackled: Tortilla Burger (whatever the official name is... I'd order it again!) Philly Cheesesteak & Fries Shrimp Po' Boy Orleans Pasta Fried Mac & Cheese Balls Everything came out hot, fresh, and in portions big enough to make tomorrow's lunch jealous. Now... let's talk onion rings. LORT. Hand-breaded. Golden. Crunchy. And about the size of a toddler's bracelet. Order them. Just trust me. The shrimp on the Po' Boy? Big, juicy, perfectly cooked, and definitely hand-breaded--not those little frozen shrimp trying to fool anybody. A few more reasons we'll be back: Breakfast served ALL DAY. BYOB. Karaoke nights (check the sign inside for dates). ‍‍‍ Plenty of room for large groups. And a special shout-out to our sweet server, Nicole. She was attentive, kind, and one of those people who genuinely enjoys taking care of her customers. She absolutely made our visit even better. TW'S REAL PANTS RATING: -- 5 out of 5 Real Pants As a full-time camper and proud naturist... I don't put on real pants for just anybody. This place earned 'em. We'll definitely be back.

If you're looking for bold, unforgettable flavor--this place absolutely delivers…read more We started with the macaroni balls, and they were HUGE. Crispy on the outside, golden and crunchy, with a cheesy, gooey center that tasted like true homemade mac & cheese. Already off to a strong start. Then came the chicken and waffles... and let me just say: the chicken is a 1000/5. Perfectly crispy, well-seasoned breading with juicy, tender meat inside. Every bite was packed with flavor. The waffle was soft, fluffy, buttery, and cooked just right--paired perfectly with the chicken. I also tried the gumbo (added shrimp). The flavor was definitely there, rich and well-developed with a great consistency on the roux. For me personally, it was just a tad on the salty side--but honestly, not enough to take away from the overall experience. Even the cabbage was seasoned perfectly and cooked just right--nothing on the table was bland. This is one of those spots where you can taste the care in every dish. Flavor everywhere, no shortcuts. Five stars all the way. I'll definitely be back.

So many awesome things to say about this place! The menu had a great variety, and everything was…read morefresh and made with clean ingredients. The service was wonderful! Every staff member was kind, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming, and incredibly clean. I loved my experience at Dish Society and will definitely be coming back!

If you're into healthy options, clean environment, and a cool location, this place won't let you…read moredown! Stopped by for lunch after walking around the area. Food was on point.. fresh and tasty. The employees were friendly and did what needed to be done. Worth checking this place out!

We had brunch at Cafe Java recently. Parking was okay, the restaurant was spotlessly clean,…read moreincluding the unisex restrooms. As always, we had an excellent meal. I had the Breakfast Scrambler, a "carb buster". The omelet, as usual, was perfectly prepared. Our grandson had the "Big Java Melt" - again, a continued favorite. Lots of fresh hot coffee to wash it all down. I really like their bathrooms - clean, well stocked, completely functional. Yes, hope to continue meeting at Cafe Java for ever!

Always a favorite when I visit Austin! This time, we went…read moreagain, to visit this good old place and found it as booming as ever! They keep up their restaurant very busy, always filled with customers and good vibes, I like that! So we wrote our names in, 10-15 minute wait? No problem! And sat down to wait for a table. When we were seated, we looked at the current blackboard with their new specials, and the Reuben sandwich caught our eye! There were a couple other things that looked so good, but I went with a classic chicken fried steak for lunch. Both were great choices, but my steak did need some seasoning or salt... overall, we enjoyed our lunch there. The portion size is big and the variety of food is delicious. Still a favorite! Enjoy

I really enjoyed my meal at Counter Cafe! I got the Fried Chicken Biscuit with my choice side of…read moreBacon Flavored Collard Greens. The biscuit was tasty and the chicken was cooked perfectly. The honey butter was very yummy, but I wish it wasn't as cold or hard. I would have preferred for it to be on the sandwich However, a pro of it being on the side is that you can control how much you consume. Nevertheless, I still wish it wasn't warmer in temperature. The greens were good as well. Not my favorite, but enjoyable to eat. The people were so kind! There's a decent amount of parking available that surrounds the building. The ambiance is very fitting to its name. It's a comfy, neighborhood cafe. I look forward to going back!

Came in for my birthday brunch up from San Antonio. Let's start with the positives:…read more Service was excellent. Server was attentive and my coffee stayed filled (with a small caveat I'll speak to below). Atmosphere was simple. "Modern" diner experience. Music was low and not obnoxious, bell ringing behind the counter, the low hum of conversations. Lighting was nice. Food for the most part was also excellent (one caveat to this will be listed below). I had the Counter Benedict, wife had the biscuits and gravy, son had the breakfast taco. Breakfast potatoes were very good. Crisp, pillowy, and properly seasoned. Pastrami on the Benedict was very good. Poached eggs were well cooked and silky as expected. Flour tortilla in the breakfast taco was also good. Sausage in the gravy was slightly spicy and delicious. Now, the negatives: Coffee was lukewarm after my first cup. Coffee needs to be hot. One of the biscuits in my Benedict was overcooked and dry as a bone. The gravy for the biscuits and gravy is sweet for some reason. Normally I want more gravy, but when my wife couldn't finish her breakfast, I had 0 desire to eat it. Not sure why it's sweet but it's weird. Overall we liked it so we will be back. The prices are very reasonable for Austin, and they have Valentina as a hot sauce option (which is excellent).