Proud Mary Coffee — Restaurant in Austin

I came twice here last week. Once on Sunday for dine in around 1:00 and again on Wednesday around 11:00.

Sunday was packed and busy. The venue is bright and modern. I bought the San Roque espresso which was expertly dialed in. A syrupy texture and not too heavy on the body, but also sweet, stone fruity and complex. I also got a kimchi Ruben with hot sauce which was mouth watering, experimental, balanced with Asian, Western, umami, spicy, creamy, crunchy and soft textures and flavours. It may have made me fall in love with Rubens again. The fries were crisp, hot and perfectly salted. It was like eating fries from McDonald’s as a child but so much better. The hot sauce was creamy and unique. I would buy this hot sauce for my home if I could. Halfway through eating though I realised I didn’t have a napkin, and I couldn’t get the attention of one of the servers, so I just went to the bathroom. I did notice that the people around me had napkins, so I think they forgot to give that and cutlery to me. Once they did check up with me, they did give me some.

Afterwards I ordered a flat white, and after a while the server came back and said she forgot what I ordered, which I reminded her of… both moments with the servers— with the napkins and the flat white— were honestly really small, especially considering how busy they were. I am curious though if there was a way to iron out those wrinkles… The servers made me overall feel seen, taken care of and gave good eye contact with me which I appreciated since I came alone.

The flat white was superb. Bright and fruity with caramel flavours. Perfectly aerated. I felt like I was back in Australia.

Side note: the table water that they give you tastes amazing. When a cafe or restaurant gives you great water, that shows how much they care about the details.

On Wednesday, I went with some of my friends to buy beans along with take out coffees and pastries. I got another flat white, Costa Rica El Monte San Roque beans and a carrot cake. The flat white tasted more nutty, but still sweet and had a lovely body to it. The host who helped me get beans was very knowledgeable and kind. I’ve been using the Costa Rica for my pour overs at home and am always amazed by its unique and complex flavours. The carrot cake was innovative with a carrot purée in the centre and cream cheese icing and was a delicious compliment to my flatty… our drinks came out in a timely fashion and we left on very positive notes.

Would highly recommend to anyone who loves good...

I came across this place from Instagram, and I had high expectations. It was really nice, and I went with two other people for brunch. The food and specialty tea was okay, and especially for the price, the portion wasn’t the best. I didn’t mind and enjoyed the atmosphere and aesthetic of the place.

When it was time to settle the bill, we wanted it to split three ways, but our server told us it wasn’t possible since the billing would be done electronically in front of us and that we would have to take three individual cards from us. I was a bit skeptical when I saw my total being that of $43 after tax and tip when I only ordered a specialty tea and their noodle dish (which totaled to be around $26). After all my friends and I paid, we weren’t given an itemized receipt at all, even though I am familiar with the POS system they used, and it gives you the option to receive a receipt. None of us after tipping saw that prompt. After sitting for a while talking about the prices amongst ourselves, I asked for a receipt. It took our server a good five minutes or so to come back to us and tell us that they couldn’t print out the receipt and voided the transaction that was charged on our account. That was fine, but I knew full well that they could have printed the receipt. I knew they charged us wrong and didn’t want to take accountability for it. Who voids a transaction because they couldn’t print out of the receipt? I asked him if I could see what we ordered and have a breakdown of our bill before paying. Our server split the bill in front of me, and that was when the amount that I initially calculated was correct. I still didn’t get a receipt. Overall, the service wasn’t the best and I was very upset at how it was handled. I didn’t tip and was going to in cash. Our server was a bit rude and told me I should have tipped considering that it was an in-dining establishment and service industry. Understandable, but don’t talk to me about service when my friends and I were being watched to tip instead of the courtesy to look away, and I was going to tip in cash but didn’t follow through...

UPDATED REVIEW

Went back with my coffee buddy to give Proud Mary another try. Got a few small baked goods, pour over flight and espresso flight.

+Cool that flights are an option

-Pay $30 for no explanation of what you’re getting with the pour overs. When I asked, was only told “it’s a lot of coffee”. Turns out you don’t get to pick which beans to try.

-Pour over is served in thin glass cups. Meaning you have about 2 minutes to really enjoy the coffee before it gets cold.

didn’t enjoy one the pour overs at all. Which is really annoying for the price

Probably won’t be running it back again. Still not into the restaurant style. Coffee is good not great. Pricing and attitude is way to high.

Pretty good spot. Very interested what becomes of it as they fine tune their offerings.

Good: atmosphere coffee is delicious Incredible coffee selection Unique foods

Bad: Cannot bring dogs inside! (Change the google tag) Food is overpriced

Our experience was interesting, it shouldn’t be called “Proud Mary Coffee” since you are taken care of the way you are at a restaurant: host takes you to table, order items and a server waits on you. So we walked in with backpacks and books ready to chill and work, but it’s not a coffee shop to do that at….

Host, asked if we could sit outside since we brought our dog, and sat as us temporarily at another table where two people were already seated at until they got a table for two cleaned….that was awkward.

Ordered the Hot Chocolate French Toast….which is really caramel. Should be called Caramel French Toast. Misnamed.

Also ordered the BBQ Prawn Toast…which has nothing to do with BBQ and is mostly generic potato salad. The dish needs more to justify the $18 price tag. And it was served in a bowl which made cutting the very hard toast difficult.

Again, not a totally bad experience. Really enjoyed my cap. Aspen the waitress was very kind and hospitable. But still seems like they need to find their footing as...