Cafe 290 Manor — Restaurant in Manor

Once again, Cafe 290 made my day with a delicious and filling meal. I can't ever leave without taking a slice of their homemade pie or cake home. When I'm in the area, even if I'm not hungry, I swing by to pick up pie or cake to go. Last weekend I was in Austin for a work event that ended very late in the evening. I was dead tired, skipped dinner and went straight to my hotel to sleep. The next morning I stopped by Cafe 290 to refuel before my hour long drive home. Not surprising for a Sunday morning to see the parking lot full. I was famished and knew the food would be worth a wait. Luckily, I got the last open parking spot available. When I walked in, as always, I was promptly greeted and seated. Almost every table was full so my luck continued with getting seated right away. While my server was very busy she was very attentive. I ordered a 'build your own' omelette with grits (I skipped the side of bread offered). In a matter of 10 minutes my meal was served. I normally add butter to my grits, not this time! They were absolutely perfect, best grits I've ever had at a restaurant. The omelette was stuffed with everything I asked for, they don't skimp y'all! I normally have to ask for a to go box when I go out to eat, I left with a clean plate it was so delicious. I don't recall my servers name but I've eaten here many times and all the servers are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. My meal ended with another bit of luck, I got the last piece of key lime pie, my favorite. Thanks to all of the gals and guys who keep Cafe 290 running like a well oiled machine. This is my favorite diner, I promise I will be...

ATTENTION NOT HOMEMADE OR MADE FROM SCRATCH LIKE THEY CLAIM!!

Greeted,seated,and drink orders were immediate. Orders were taken then as our waitress walked away she asked if we wanted rolls or cornbread, being our first time there we were unaware it was free to all, so we said no. It was not busy, we were the only order in and it took a hot minute to get our subpar food in intervals. I mean I got my meal, 4 mins later 1 of my son's plates came, then 4-5mins later my other 2 sons' plates came, then a few mins later my husband's came. He ordered Chuck's special chicken with queso, no tomatoes, no scallions, add bacon bits. It was smothered with the most watered down cheese sauce with a pinch of tomato and scallions right there in the middle of the chicken, no where else in the queso with very little bacon bits. When we questioned it the waitress said it comes pre-made with it in it. But yet the scallions were crisp? Whatever... So he starts to eat his chicken and it's rubbery, and you could tell it was either baked or left over from an earlier rush, maybe, but was the worst chicken fried chicken he's EVER had. Then when we went to pay we realized they charged us 1.99 instead of 99cents for avocado for each of my kids burgers and instead if immediately fixing it they wanted to justify it because the waitress misrang the amount for a salad's avocado add on price for the larger amount instead of the burger...

There’s a special place in my heart for places that serve breakfast all day, which is what I always order when I come here. Service is always friendly & good, prices are cheap. it’s 1 of the rare places that actually serve vegetarian cream gravy (biscuits & gravy), & it’s 1 of my favorites! Their biscuits are phenomenal! Soft, fluffy while still being dense enough to be a biscuit. Another thing I really appreciate is that they use gourmet coffee instead of trashy diner coffee. They also have a coffee club where you can buy a mug and bring it with you and get cheap refills.

I really only have 2 complaints, 1 being specific to me being a vegetarian. A meat eater may not even notice this- the hash browns, which are usually really good, today tasted like they were cooked with meat. Maybe because I ate here during lunch time? A very greasy smoky meat taste. It’s bad enough to make me never order them again.

The other thing, which I think everyone can relate to, is the fact that the ventilation is so bad, you smell like food ALL DAY. That’s a big pet peeve of mine, I don’t want to smell like a restaurant all day. I even sat in the front against the window, but it still managed to really soak in.

A little piece of history for you- this bldg used to be located in Bastrop at Camp Swift, & used to be the barracks...