Phoebe's Diner — Restaurant in Austin

I went with some friends who came in from out of town to eat here. The parking situation was ridiculous, with some seriously rude people with nasty attitudes driving around in the parking lot like they were going to die if they didn't get a space. There were two big problems that soured what should have been a great meal. Three of us ordered the same meal - Fried Chicken and Grits. I'm guessing the kitchen was not paying attention when they cooked my food. We received one dish first, and it looked really good. The second two plates came out and my chicken was significantly lighter than my companions' plates. I didn't think anything of it until I bit into it and I noticed it was extremely fatty. At first, I thought maybe they left the skin on the chicken and it just didn't render since it was thick. I put a piece aside on a plate and ate another bite and realized it was almost completely raw. Our waitress, who was really awesome and deserves 5 stars, took care of getting me a replacement meal. She made a joke that the manager wanted to punch someone about this happening. Notably the manager never came to see us. If she had cared enough to be annoyed, she should have come to talk to us. Especially since the kitchen also, somehow they managed to totally overlook a note for a serious shellfish allergy at the table as well, and fried potatoes in the same fryer as the crab cakes. So two of us ended up with remakes. Honestly I was almost afraid to eat anything there after that. The meal was mostly comped but I'm sitting here dreading the fact that I could end up sick from food poisoning anywhere in the next 3 to 5 days. At least I know why, if I do get sick. However, someone should have been doing more than just sending the waitress to apologize and comping the check. Food poisoning can kill people, folks. As much as I want to like the restaurant, and I really did enjoy the Bananas Foster French Toast that replaced my chicken, I'm going to have a really hard time trusting anything served at Phoebe's. If they are busy, and you have allergies or are immune compromised, you could end up in trouble...

Phoebe’s Diner is a fantastic gem nestled in my local neighborhood of Gracy Farms. They’ve really nailed the 50s diner vibe, but with a fun twist on American classics that keeps things fresh and exciting. Even on a busy weekend, we managed to snag a seat without too much wait—there’s plenty of parking, which is always a plus.

The place itself is clean, welcoming, and has a great atmosphere. They’ve got some cool merch and decor, especially if you’re an Austin FC soccer fan, which adds to the local charm. I also loved that they have Yellowbird Sauce on each table—it’s a small touch that goes a long way for hot sauce lovers like me.

Now, let’s talk food. We started with the Brisket Benny, which came with a side of grits. The dish is a hearty combination of chopped BBQ brisket, piled on top of buttermilk biscuits, with over-easy eggs, hollandaise sauce, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce. The brisket was tender and full of flavor, and the rich hollandaise and BBQ sauce added a nice balance of creaminess and tang. The tater tots were perfectly crispy, making for a great pairing with the rich and savory Benny.

Next up was the Fried Chicken Biscuit. Originally served as a biscuit, we asked them to modify it into a sandwich, and they happily obliged—great service right there! The fried chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside while still juicy on the inside, paired with a buttermilk biscuit, smoked cheddar, and over-easy eggs.

And then there was the Bananas Foster French Toast. Let me just say, this was the star of the show. It had a banana bread base, which made it extra rich and indulgent. Topped with bourbon caramel, whipped cream, sliced bananas, and pecans, it was almost too good to finish—but of course, we had to take the rest home. This dish alone is worth the visit.

Overall, Phoebe’s Diner delivers a top-notch brunch experience with a touch of Austin flair. The service was A-class, and the food exceeded expectations. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, it’s definitely a spot to add to your brunch rotation....

If You Have Sensory Issues, Pick Somewhere Else

I came here on a Sunday for breakfast with my boyfriend. It was a very lively setting and the staff was super friendly. We made a reservation to avoid a long wait. Our waitress was nice, but only came to the table three times - to take the order, bring drinks, and deliver the food - however it was a very busy time for the restaurant. The place was packed.

I ordered Phoebe's Benedict and he had the Migas and added the Green Chorizo, which was supposed to be chorizo with spices.

In terms of the Benedict, there was a lot of biscuit on the bottom, one egg on the top, and two slices of very dry pork (like, difficult to cut with a knife dry). The hollendaise sauce was interesting in consistency, but tasted more like sour cream. Overall, the dish in itself wasn't all that savory - the flavors were unbalanced and didn't sit well on the utensils. The potato hash... think of shredded hash potatoes mixed with tomato sauce in terms of the flavor. I know for a fact that it was some type of cheese because there was smokiness to the dish, but even with added pepper and salt, it was squishy in the texture and lacking in flavor. Overall, it missed the mark. My boyfriend who isn't picky and will try anything, tried some and said, "Yeah, I don't like that either."

As far as the Migas go, he said they were very bland in flavor, the eggs were over cooked, and the dish itself was heartburn inducing. The green chorizo did not add anything to the dish other than the color itself. They also came with something that looked and tasted like a hush puppy (?), but more bland.

There is the possibility that we just didn't order the right things, but if someone were to ask me if I thought it was a spot worth checking out, my answer...