Phoebe's Downtown — Restaurant in Austin

I take my Grandma here after church almost every Sunday, and I’m typically impressed by the food, especially the savory foods. However, one issue has happened repeatedly across the staff on different days which I struggle to understand for a brunch spot in downtown Austin. When I ask for Maple syrup I’m given high fructose corn syrup. I’m polite and not going to cause a ruckus about this in the store, especially right after church, and I understand that sometimes people make mistakes, but now this has happened across multiple weekends here consistently. So here’s today’s example: When I ordered a single pancake as a side as I asked my waitress if they had Maple Syrup. She looked at me like I was crazy and said of course. So I said thanks and asked for some with the pancake. A different waitress brought the syrup and it looked like corn syrup to me, so I stopped her, and I asked if she could go back and confirm that it was maple syrup. She said alright, went back, and said that it was in fact maple syrup… it was not. I went ahead with my meal, and at the end asked again if the waitress with the check, the original one that told me they had maple syrup, could go and check on if it was maple syrup. She told me that they did not have maple syrup. It was of course corn syrup.

Look, this is a small thing and a first world problem. But it’s also a large thing. I go to restaurants because I love seeing people passionate about their craft, passionate about cooking. If you’re a barista, I expect you to know what a cappuccino is. If you’re a bartender, I expect you to know how to make an old fashioned. If you’re a waitress at a brunch spot in downtown Austin… you should know what maple syrup is… And if I’m spending almost 50 dollars on a brunch for my Grandma on Mother’s Day, if you don’t have maple syrup, that’s fine. Just don’t tell me that you do, and save me the money so I can get something else or save...

Our recent visit to Phoebe’s Diner in Downtown Austin was nothing short of amazing, thanks to the incredible service provided by Jannah. We were a large group of 7, including several kids with wild and unique orders, and Jannah handled it all with grace, patience, and a genuine smile.

From the moment we sat down, Jannah made us feel right at home. She navigated our many requests and demands flawlessly, ensuring that everyone (even the pickiest among us) was happy and well taken care of. It’s not easy to manage a table with kids who want everything from pancakes without syrup to “extra crispy” bacon and adults who are indecisive about their coffee choices, but Jannah did it effortlessly. Her attention to detail was impeccable, and her warm, friendly demeanor made our dining experience memorable.

What truly stood out was how Jannah went the extra mile to make everyone feel comfortable. My girlfriend’s mom only speaks Spanish, and Jannah immediately switched languages to communicate with her, making her feel especially welcomed and included. This small yet thoughtful gesture meant the world to us and showcased how much she genuinely cares about her guests.

And of course, the food was fantastic—perfectly cooked dishes bursting with flavor that reminded us why Phoebe's is a gem in Austin. But it was Jannah's exceptional service that truly made our day. She took what could have been a chaotic dining experience and turned it into a fun, smooth, and enjoyable meal for everyone at the table.

If you’re heading to Phoebe’s Diner, make sure to ask for Jannah—you won’t be disappointed. She’s a star, and we’ll definitely be back because of her. Thank you, Jannah, for making our visit...

Having loved phoebe's when we visited last year, we tried the downtown location on this visit.

The drink was great. I forget which one, but it was gin, lemon, strawberry, and bitters. Was light and refreshing.

Started with slab bacon and red eye biscuits. Bacon is perfect. Was cooked exactly as I love it; crispy in places with fat rendered and it bends and cracks without breaking. Great smoked flavor to it.

Red eye biscuits were... interesting. I don't think I would order them again, but we did finish them completely. Biscuits themselves are a little dense, not a fluffy crumbling biscuit. The gravy, a brown gravy with coffee grounds had a unique flavor that I was unable to place.

Shrimp and grits are of course a 13 out of 7; perfect.

Hashbrown casserole is so so. Cheesy potatoes really without much ado about it.

Pancakes are good, but small for their price; slightly larger than silver dollar, but not a typical dinner plate size like most diners. 1.50 each to add strawberries and chocolate chips, and for such small pancakes the price is more than it needs to be. For dinner plate pancakes, that price makes sense. However, strawberries were divine and delish.

Coffee is a local Austin roaster which I also found to be average. Not great coffee. But not bad either.

Leland, our server was awesome. Quick, efficient,...