This place was recommended from a friend so I kept it in my back pocket for a casual brunch day. Connected to El Mason they offer a decent amount of parking which is much appreciated but let's do talk about the food. I was in the mood for breakfast tacos so landed on the bacon & egg ones. They offer a little bit of everything from classics like chilaquiles to new favorites like the Mexican burger. The best thing that stood out to me was the fresh conchas that are made fresh daily so I had to get one. The strawberry flavored one was an excellent choice and pairs great with a cup of coffee. Service is quick and friendly all at a reasonable price. Highly recommend stopping in for breakfast next time you're in the south Lamar area. read more

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My boyfriend and I were looking to try a new breakfast spot and in our search came across Penelope's Cafe. We are so happy we found this lovely restaurant! We were greeted by lovely and friendly staff that seated us right away. For parking you can park next door at El Meson and prior to being seated they have an iPad where you can enter your license plate for complimentary parking. Don't forget or you might get towed. We started with a Golden Hour Latte and a Lemongrass Blue Tea. Both were good, but the Golden Hour Latte...OMG is so delicious! I'm ordering this every single time from now on. For food we shared a Bacon Egg and Cheese Taco and the Chilaquiles Verdes with Brisket. We also asked for extra salsa which they brought plenty of. The red salsa has a great flavor to it. We were so impressed by the generous portions and flavor. Just wow the brisket is so tender and they serve plenty. Between the two of us we couldn't finish everything. We asked for a Togo box and the owner came back with a box with an extra salsa and a few more potatoes. I really appreciated the sweet gesture to include a little extra for us. It's the little things :) the restaurant is very colorful and inviting. I felt right at home. On top of the wonderful food and staff their prices are quite reasonable. I think we just found our new favorite breakfast spot. I'll be coming back very soon and often! read more

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Stopped in on a quiet Tuesday morning and instantly loved the cozy vibe: cute barista setup, calm atmosphere, and fresh pastries out. I tried the Golden Hour Latte hot and iced. It was a little bitter at first, but once I added sugar it hit perfectly. For food, I got the Croissant French Toast and it was honestly amazing, super soft, buttery, melts in your mouth, and not heavy like regular French toast. I'd 100% order it again. Bacon was a little overdone but still good. My boyfriend ordered the potato, egg, and cheese tacos and was pleasantly surprised that they came with onions and peppers too. We finished with the banana bread, which was a bit pricey and had a lot of walnut, but still really delicious with a cake-like texture. Overall, I'd definitely come back and can't wait to try more of the menu. read more

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Great food! Authentic Mexican restaurant with a slight modern twist to it. Our server was great, he recommended us a latte that had house made syrup. Very delicious! Lastly the ambiance was great here, architecture was beautiful inside. 10/10 will come again. read more

Penelope's Cafe - Chilaquiles and Croissant French toast - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The golden hour latte was so good! One of the best I've had! Not turmeric, butter- Golden butter, brown sugar and miso, amazing! The breakfast tacos were big & filling. Two was more than enough, and the tortillas... made in house, of course! The corn tortillas are superb, the salsa is fresh and Marisela and her staff are so friendly and warm! Gotta grab something sweet to go- my new favorite neighborhood spot! Check out how cute her ceramic ware is!! read more

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The experience was horrible, for starters when we ordered our drinks our 3 cokes were super flat so we let our waiter know and we just settled for water , our chilaquiles were also very salty and the eggs were very overcooked. When leaving , they wanted to charge us the 3 cokes that we sent back after taking a sip of them and they also charged us an extra $17 just for being a party over 4. Everything was very overpriced for the quality of food they present. I expressed to the manager upon leaving that my experience was very unpleasant and he gave me a "who cares" attitude. I feel like my time and money was wasted here, I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Penelope's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Found this place while I was on a walk. The pancakes are amazing, definitely recommend trying them. The bacon and egg taco was good but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm from the RGV, so this taco coming from Austin wasn't too bad. The service was top notch but this could be because I was the only One in the building. Lovely music and atmosphere, great spot to check out for brunch. read more

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I went for breakfast last week, and things started a bit off, from the parking... That wasn't a big deal though, just a little frustrating. Only one side of the building is their lot and they do have a validation code inside, but you don't learn that until you walk in. The real dilemma was that 1) I found a hair in my water. I told them and they kindly replaced it. And 2) I stepped on a roach on accident and then noticed it wiggling by my foot. I told the server about it and she was very embarrassed, but she was also afraid of it so, I PICKED IT UP FOR HER with my napkin! They didn't give me a discount or comp my food, they only removed the cheapest item. It turned my stomach that I had picked up the roach, so I did not even enjoy my meal. Not the best customer service, in my opinion. The manager was there and she didn't even come to talk to me herself. Terrible experience. The food was okay, I had the chorizo hash and it felt like it needed less onions. Not the most delicious thing. read more

Really nice place I love it food is good service is nice ambiance is cool I can recommend it to all my family and friends

2.5... The croissant french toast was amazing, but the pancakes were not even as good as ones I could make at home with a mix, and the "berry compote" was four razor-thin slices of strawberry on top (which costs an extra $1.50). Drip coffee was very tasty, $4 and of course had free refills, but we had to ask for four refills because the mugs were so tiny, and each of us asked for a different milk, and only received one (neither type we asked for). I asked for eggs on the side and also received bacon; the bacon that I did not want nor eat also cost extra. Overall, not great, not planning to go back. read more

Penelope's is a wonderful addition to S. Lamar for breakfast, coffees, and lunch. I have been several times and each time I tried something new and was never disappointed. And don't get me started on their in house bakery goods- Absolutely out of this world and paired with one of their coffees just hits right! Also recently found out they are now offering a lunch time HH which is great should you want to enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail with your lunch. The space is bright and inviting and the service is friendly and top notch. Highly recommend Penelope's Cafe. read more

Amazing service, great coffee, fresh food, best French toast I've ever had. Charming atmosphere and great prices. Will definitely be coming back read more

The staff questioned us "if we did not like the food because it was a lot of waste". Our bill was $95 for two people, the only waste was our money. Food was horrible and service just as bad read more

It is a super nice restaurant and they have free food samples which is different . It would be a great place for a football game or soccer game on their outside patio. The service was great and the food was very well perp . read more

Penelope's Cafe - An area set aside for free samples , very appreciated - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Filled with the kindest people and the best concha ever! so so lovely. So happy to have places like Penelope's

Service was okay not as bad with only have one drink. Felt like i was getting rushed out the restaurant, constantly being watched. I think needs a new manager. He felt very entitled and didn't feel welcoming read more

Service was amazing. Food and coffee super yummy. Really fast in and out in 30 for dine in. read more

Penelope's Cafe - Concha croissant French toast - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ambiance, food, and service is fantastic. Penelope's is a must! Don't miss out! I love the lunch and dinner restaurant, El Meson, too!

A little late but I was there Friday morning with my grandmother and mother and Sergio was so sweet and polite. He gave us recommendations for the drinks and food, he talked to us about the dishes, coffee and he was so sweet to help my grandmother move to the table. Thank you definitely coming back!!! read more