Great diner. Stopped in for a quick bite and realized this was my third time in the space. When I come to Austin this is stop one. Right next to Cuvée coffee. I have tried to have breakfast somewhere else. It doesn't work. Food is always fresh hot and good, the cooks look to see if you are happy the answer is yes. The service is top NOTCH you really feel at home. Every time I come into the space the two owners are always so nice and the servers have w to be family cause they are just as fabulous. This is my favorite Austin Breakfast stop. See y'all soon! I'm the chick with the mini hot sauces in my bag (FYI) lmao
We spend every morning breakfast here during our visit for the MotoGP week. It's amazing place. Goos people, good service, good food, all i expect from this kind of place. Thanks again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Barbara Mullen
There are limited vegan options.The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.Make at least a soup/salad combo that's vegan that would be much better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Donald L.
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.
Michael R.
Nice local cafe with tasty food and reasonably quick service. BUT with politically opinionated staff that butts into tabletop conversations with patrons. Yeah, I won't be back.
Art
Excellent spot for breakfast or Brunch. It’s a small restaurant so the wait times might be long on the weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew Lee
I was single dadding on Saturday of Easter weekend. We had just finished up an Easter Egg hunt with my son’s classmate’s family with 3 kids. We decided to swing by Counter Cafe for a traditional diner breakfast menu. I’ll fully concede that our kids were bursting at the seams, making a lot of noise, spilling water, etc. A couple tables quickly wrapped up their meal and left. What I found strange was that our waiter really didn’t stay on top of our table to get us processed and out the door. Maybe they wanted to get other customers to turn over. Either way, we were waiting quite a bit to get our orders in, for coffee, and for drink refills. That said, I enjoyed their Counter Burger, and my son loved his chocolate chip pancake (the other kids got jealous) and eggs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Counter Burger and Fries
Jeremy Shafton
Coffee not hot, fries not hot, server was aloof, but still food was decent. Woman next to me had plastic in her food, right after they gave her my bill. Next table over got the wrong food.
Exceptional brunch here on a random Saturday. The salsa verde was flawlessly spicy, just enough of a slow build burn to enjoy and enhance every new bite. The hand made sausage patties were ?. Friendly staff and strong coffee, and good prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Joe's Special
Martin Oisterschek
Best breakfast place in East Austin. Very quiet and great food. Small but cozy outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John M.
Probably one of my oldest bookmarks on the list, and we wanted to try a new spot and this was a solid visit for us...Really loved the old school diner vibes... but...the Service definitely lacked that nostalgic feel as we were greeted and seated with a solid 10 minutes passing before we were acknowledged....and only by the employee who just punched in for his shift...I'm assuming it was his section, yet there were others that could have least taken a drink order...something...again his service wasn't all that hot either...coffee and 2 waters to start...forgot the waters...wife asked for "our" waters...brought hers...then I had to ask the same...Wife went out on a limb and ordered her first ever French Toast, which was delish...not sure if was the bread or the batter but the flavor was amazing...fruit was really fresh...ordered a single biscuit and gravy (bad photo) and yet a plain biscuit with butter and jam hit the table..wifes scrambled egg were cooked to perfection...I went with the Counter Benedict and it was pretty good....one egg was over and the other was perfect...pastrami was new for me and it went well with the runny egg. Breakfast potatoes were just right....We both agreed on the bacon...top notch all the way....Over all a decent visit...Staff needs to focus on what customers are asking for....write it down if need be...as for a return visit, chances are good for a shot at lunch, as the menu looks tasty.
Isaias Medina
The food was good. The eggs Benedict had a good flavor just the sauce tasted a little to tangy, other than that the pancakes were great and the potatoes were nice and crisp
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Monólo Cacavantes
Be careful ?️?️ They charge you the tip on their own. They don't even ask you and the tables are very stacked together, you literally have breakfast with strangersVegetarian options: Very slow service
Great diner. Stopped in for a quick bite and realized this was my third time in the space. When I come to Austin this is stop one. Right next to Cuvée coffee. I have tried to have breakfast somewhere else. It doesn't work. Food is always fresh hot and good, the cooks look to see if you are happy the answer is yes. The service is top NOTCH you really feel at home. Every time I come into the space the two owners are always so nice and the servers have w to be family cause they are just as fabulous. This is my favorite Austin Breakfast stop. See y'all soon! I'm the chick with the mini hot sauces in my bag (FYI) lmao
Great spot, great food. Service was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Organic Blueberry Pancake, Counter Crab Cakes, Crab Cake Benedict, Joe's Special
Great food and friendly staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Joe's Special, Burger
We spend every morning breakfast here during our visit for the MotoGP week. It's amazing place. Goos people, good service, good food, all i expect from this kind of place. Thanks again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There are limited vegan options.The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.Make at least a soup/salad combo that's vegan that would be much better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
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.
Nice local cafe with tasty food and reasonably quick service. BUT with politically opinionated staff that butts into tabletop conversations with patrons. Yeah, I won't be back.
Excellent spot for breakfast or Brunch. It’s a small restaurant so the wait times might be long on the weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was single dadding on Saturday of Easter weekend. We had just finished up an Easter Egg hunt with my son’s classmate’s family with 3 kids. We decided to swing by Counter Cafe for a traditional diner breakfast menu. I’ll fully concede that our kids were bursting at the seams, making a lot of noise, spilling water, etc. A couple tables quickly wrapped up their meal and left. What I found strange was that our waiter really didn’t stay on top of our table to get us processed and out the door. Maybe they wanted to get other customers to turn over. Either way, we were waiting quite a bit to get our orders in, for coffee, and for drink refills. That said, I enjoyed their Counter Burger, and my son loved his chocolate chip pancake (the other kids got jealous) and eggs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Counter Burger and Fries
Coffee not hot, fries not hot, server was aloof, but still food was decent. Woman next to me had plastic in her food, right after they gave her my bill. Next table over got the wrong food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Exceptional brunch here on a random Saturday. The salsa verde was flawlessly spicy, just enough of a slow build burn to enjoy and enhance every new bite. The hand made sausage patties were ?. Friendly staff and strong coffee, and good prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Joe's Special
Best breakfast place in East Austin. Very quiet and great food. Small but cozy outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Probably one of my oldest bookmarks on the list, and we wanted to try a new spot and this was a solid visit for us...Really loved the old school diner vibes... but...the Service definitely lacked that nostalgic feel as we were greeted and seated with a solid 10 minutes passing before we were acknowledged....and only by the employee who just punched in for his shift...I'm assuming it was his section, yet there were others that could have least taken a drink order...something...again his service wasn't all that hot either...coffee and 2 waters to start...forgot the waters...wife asked for "our" waters...brought hers...then I had to ask the same...Wife went out on a limb and ordered her first ever French Toast, which was delish...not sure if was the bread or the batter but the flavor was amazing...fruit was really fresh...ordered a single biscuit and gravy (bad photo) and yet a plain biscuit with butter and jam hit the table..wifes scrambled egg were cooked to perfection...I went with the Counter Benedict and it was pretty good....one egg was over and the other was perfect...pastrami was new for me and it went well with the runny egg. Breakfast potatoes were just right....We both agreed on the bacon...top notch all the way....Over all a decent visit...Staff needs to focus on what customers are asking for....write it down if need be...as for a return visit, chances are good for a shot at lunch, as the menu looks tasty.
The food was good. The eggs Benedict had a good flavor just the sauce tasted a little to tangy, other than that the pancakes were great and the potatoes were nice and crisp
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Be careful ?️?️ They charge you the tip on their own. They don't even ask you and the tables are very stacked together, you literally have breakfast with strangersVegetarian options: Very slow service
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Pimiento