Nancy's Sky Garden (@Lakeline Mall Dr) — Restaurant in Austin

Update: Mr. Won Lee reached out and we had a nice talk and he was kind enough to apologize and I explained why I was hesitant to go inside. We will def eat here again. I hope they will be comfortable handing someone their food at the door if there is staff available to do so. :)

Orig review Tl;dr: You must go inside to pick up your order even though you've ordered and tipped and paid online and servers are serving tables outside. They will not bring your food to the front door even if you are standing right there making eye contact.

I'm so sad to write this. I have eaten at Nancy's for almost 9 years. I was thrilled to see they had online ordering available so we ordered ahead. I parked in a space labeled "Curbside pickup B1" and called when we arrived.

When I called, the person on the phone told me to come inside. (Mind you, I have a couple of respiratory conditions so it's not possible for me to go inside ANY restaurants right now.) This was at 2pm on a Monday, they were not busy. And there were patrons seated in their outdoor seating area that a server was going in and out tending to.

I thought he couldn't understand me, so I went to their open front door with my mask on. I called again and said that I was at the door, and waved in a friendly way, and asked about my order. He held up my receipt and said that I had to come inside. I said, "I'm sorry I can't come inside," (because there were several tables of UNmasked people eating inside), and now he held the phone down while I was on it and walked towards the door, without my food. He told me again, rudely this time, "You have to come inside." I started to say, "I'm sorry, I have asthma," but he wouldn't listen. Now people are turning around to gawk at me because the man is yelling at me. Again, there are people sitting outside and a server IS coming out to them.

The table for pickups was a few feet inside the door, ok. But he was not bringing my food to this table. He seemed like he wanted me to walk inside, to the back of the restaurant where he waved my receipt at me. My order was paid for, and TIPPED, ($44 total!) but he was refusing to hand it to me at the front door. I was almost in tears now. The server kindly saw me and put the food on the front table. I held my breath and grabbed it. If I hadn't already paid, I would have refused the pick up because he was so rude.

Really, this is not ok. For all he knew I could have had COVID symptoms so that's why I didn't want to come in. And considering that the sever was walking in and out for other patrons and I was standing right there, at their door, I'm at a loss as to why it was mandatory for me to come inside. Idk that we can eat here again after this terrible experience. I want to do what I can to support local, but not if it's like this.

The food was excellent, as always. But customer service was...

I wasn’t sure what to expect before coming here, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I visited on a Friday afternoon to grab a meal and get some work done. The staff greeted me warmly, I picked up a menu, and found a comfortable spot with an outlet. At the time, there was only one other guest, so it was quiet and easy to settle in.

With the help of the gentleman at the counter, I built a signature plate with teriyaki tofu, sweet potato noodles, rainbow salad, almond ginger and peanut soy dressings, plus a bowl of cauliflower soup. My total was \$23 including gratuity.

The food came out quickly and the portions were much larger than expected. Everything tasted fresh, homemade in the best way, and full of flavor while still feeling light. The sweet potato noodles had a nice bounce and the tofu was perfectly cooked without being fried. The cauliflower soup was hot, flavorful, and smooth without being too thin. Both dressings worked really well together.

The service was attentive without being intrusive. My server checked in once and walked by again later to make sure I had everything I needed, which I appreciated.

The environment was ideal for getting some work done while enjoying my meal slowly. By the time I left, several groups had arrived, the atmosphere was cheerful, and I noticed a steady stream of to-go orders being picked up. Clearly this place is loved.

It’s not fancy, but it’s friendly, fresh, and satisfying. I left full but not heavy, took half my plate home for delicious leftovers, and felt the price was fair for the generous portions.

Friendly staff, good fresh food, fast service, and a welcoming atmosphere—what more could you ask for?...

First of all, Nancy's Sky Garden really lives up to the Garden claim; it's beautifully flush with plants inside and out. Second, the food is INCREDIBLE! The portions are phenomenal, every ingredient is fresh and delicious, and it's incredibly satisfying for a good price. Bonus, each meal is GORGEOUS. Beautiful presentation.

I've attached photos of multiple meals from separate visits. One is the Avocado Prism Roll with fresh fruit - incredibly beautiful and fresh, and very filling!

The other is a signature plate with Grilled Salmon, Baked Sweet Potato, Fresh Vegetables, and Peanut Soy Sauce. This salmon is the BEST salmon I've ever had - it was honestly a bit of a religious experience for me! On rare occasions, something tastes so good that I remember the taste and the texture forever, and this salmon absolutely made the list!

The last entree was a similar plate my partner ate - Teriyaki Tofu with Purple Rice, Fresh Vegetables, and Tahini Sauce. This one was also very good. The sauce was gray and unassuming, but delicious! And let's talk about the avocado we both added on for $2 - nowhere else I've gone and added avocado on for an upcharge has given me a portion this generous and this fresh. Wow!

The folks working here are incredibly kind and patient and appreciative of folks appreciating their hard work. Please stop by and support this small business. Let your dollars support the high standards they set - and consistently meet - for your health and culinary experience in these...