Austin Diner — Restaurant in Austin

Monday 11 AM, not many patrons in the Diner. We're visiting from Florida and I chose this place based on the one "$" (indicating decent prices) and the relatively decent overall rating. Wife and I ordered coffee and hers had a bug in it. I think it was a baby roach and she things it was a maggot (idk) either way we assume it was in the cup before the coffee was poured but I tell the waitress I don't want my coffee, which I haven't touched and the wife would like a fresh pot brewed. I request water. A bit later our food comes, still no new coffee or water. Maybe 10 mins go by, wife and I are done with our food and the kids are still eating. We ask again and finally she brings me water and says the coffee is brewing. I've never seen a pot take this long to brew, anyway. She brings me coffee as well, note I told them I didn't want coffee and she charged us anyway for my coffee and brought it to me. I never had a sip of the first cup based on the bug in my wife's cup, and I only drank a few sips of the second one because we didn't want to appear to be troublesome customers by sending it back. The food looked great, the kids enjoyed their french toast and pancakes. I had a deluxe breakfast taco and a special breakfast taco. I did not think they were good and the guac had a LOT of salt. The wife enjoyed her food but I tasted the pancakes and thought they were odd. Anyway, I referenced the price because I didn't think they were worthy of a single "$" on the price indicator. The kids jucies were very small and we were charged $3 a piece! I was charged for coffee I didn't want, but was brought anyway. The waitress paid little attention to us but seemed to be running around frantic despite few customers being in the Diner. We said thank you for everything, she never said you're welcome or anything at all after we thanked her. On the plus side, kids and wife liked their food. Another negative is that the booth we sat in had terrible broken seats. Some of the seat had springs and other parts seemed to be broken. Kinda run down. I think they're supposed to look retro but should still be comfortable. There was a jukebox decoration at our seat that looked like it hadn't been cleaned since the place opened. Just kind of an overall odd/not good experience and definitely didn't think it warranted a $50 bill. I don't know who likes to eat food without a drink, in a broken seat. This was just our experience. I did tip 10% which I thought was incredibly generous in this instance. For reference, been tipping over 20 this whole trip. Read other reviews and you will see some people do enjoy their visit, but I wouldn't...

When I entered this throwback diner I could have sworn I saw Zack morris and his gang exiting the place.

Pulling up to this strip mall, I was disheartened because there was a line bigger than Zack’s cell phone. But as I got closer I learned that the line was for a Korean restaurant next door to the diner note to self return to that location!

I however was angling for some eggs and a place to read without being bumped into every few moments.

The moment I walked in I knew this was what I was looking for. Doubtless my uncle Vinny frequented a place just like this in New York. Down there was the checkered tile floor, up there was a drawing of a bull staring at three eggs, and right over there was a beautiful young woman who swept me into a daydream.

The music was of the sort my mom called bubblegum pop. The coffee was ceramic served and piping hot. Noise was sufficiently abuzz to remind me I’m not alone but not so loud as to cause this old guy to squeeze his brows.

My generic egg and bacon breakfast came just as the song “tequila” came on the speakers. The food was of the sort not to be easily ruined. They did not ruin a thing. Eggs were properly eggy and bacon was perfectly cooked with the slightest crunch.

Most importantly, I didn’t feel rushed. I could finish my chapter and leave without considering the long impatient line of patrons eyeing my seat.

Definitely will be back. And who knows, maybe you’ll see me reading a novel somewhere...

Sadly my first impression of this place is less than ideal. Firstly i wasn't greeted at the door by the hostess, who, upon seeing me enter, took a menu and started walking (did not even give any directions to folow her) towards the back of the restaurant. Then im presented a table in the back, right next to the restrooms, when there were plenty of other seats/tables for one person. Hence, I sat at the bar.

Upon waiting for my food, i noticed a family of 3 walk in and seat themselves. This was likely the smarter choice, over abiding by the sign saying to wait to be served.

While my order was slightly wrong (served me bacon instead of ham and eggs), they had the right one made just in case. I ordered the french toast, with a side of ham and an additional side of two eggs. everything was made well, and tasted great. Also, from where I sat, at the bar, i could see directly into the kitchen, and onow that they put everything into making the meal. The portion size is great, and the coffee was nice.

Aside from the food being good, Jackie, the other waitress, is amazing. While she wasn't my server, It was night and day how she treated her guests, how hard she worked, and how she made sure everyone had their beverages topped up.

Overall, a decent place. Accepts cash, and has a (at the time)...