Renegade Cafe — Restaurant in Rock Springs

The Renegade Café on Elk Street

The Renegade Café on Elk Street wasn’t just a diner. Sure, the neon buzzed red against the morning frost, and the smell of bacon and coffee curled through the door like any small-town café. But the locals knew it had a legend, and that legend had a name: Lori.

Lori wasn’t just a waitress—she was the guardian of the place, the kind of folk-hero who could carry three plates in one hand, refill your cup without asking, and still catch every detail in the room. She knew which trucker liked his eggs runny, which lineman needed an extra slice of toast before a long shift, and which weary traveler had a story worth hearing. But above all, she was known for one thing: the secret drawer.

It started with a single offhand comment. I told her, half-serious, half-joking, “Pancakes just aren’t right without peanut butter.” Most waitresses would have laughed, shrugged, maybe brought an extra pad of butter. Not Lori. She narrowed her eyes like she was weighing something important, then whispered, “I’ll keep one here for you.”

And so she did. Beneath the counter, tucked away where no menu listed it, a jar of peanut butter rested like contraband in its hidden drawer. To the unknowing, it was just storage. But to those of us who’d seen Lori pull it out with a wink, it was almost holy—a secret ritual, pancakes crowned with peanut butter melting into syrup, a breakfast only the chosen knew.

Word spread, of course, not through signs or menus, but through whispers. “Lori’s got a drawer,” people would say, like she was guarding buried treasure. Newcomers didn’t always believe it, but regulars swore by it. Some claimed it wasn’t just peanut butter in that jar, but the spirit of the café itself—Lori’s way of proving that in a world of passing faces, she never forgot you.

And so the legend grew. On Elk Street, surrounded by the dust of trucks and the clatter of work boots, the Renegade Café became more than a stop for breakfast. It became a place where Lori reigned, folk-hero of flapjacks, keeper of the secret drawer, the one who knew that sometimes home was as simple as pancakes, syrup, and a spoonful of peanut butter set aside...

I’ve been coming to The Renegades restaurant for the last 10 years now. I would like to mention that all the food I’ve had, has been very good. Nothing bad really ever at all. The reasons why I come are not for the food though, I choose to come to this restaurant for the exquisite service!! There is a few waitresses that have worked here over the years that not only gives me the best service of anywhere in town; they have gone out of their way to make my meal experience the best in town! I’ve seen a loyal service staff taught these standards to several other co workers in young, strong women who not only strive at the job as well, but also find their own enjoyment and standards in trying to make an everyday living and battling everyday educations! I’ve seen a young man travel half way around the world to also find income, peace, and livelihood just from a little hard work from the loyalty giving to this great customer service. However I would like to mention why I’m making this review in the first place. I’ve had the great opportunity to make friends with some of these. Loyal and good friends as well and they truly are the most wonderful people I’ve happen to meet in my adult life!! As much enjoyment I’ve gotten from this place, I’ve seen within the last few years a HORRIBLE SERVICE IN MANAGMENT! I’ve seen these employees humiliated, disrespect, and put on full display in front of paying customers such as myself, and others who care about the member of this respectful service team!! As a customer I could never approach someone’s manager to discuss how they have been treated; especially in such disrespectful ways!! It’s disgusting, it’s embarrassing, and so humiliating to see. I have grown to love and befriend these people and for such a great restaurants I hope I see a little bit more common respect for such loyal people who also care about the good business and people...

This place was the most DISGUSTING food we ever had !! My wife and I ordered egg rolls which were the only things that were good actually.

We wife ordered the crab rangoons which lacked any kind of flavor with the cream cheese filling. No sweetness no nothing.

She also ordered the combination Lo Mien which was half warm and half cold veggies. She had to add soy sauce just to get any kind of seasoning on it.

Now mind you they served the egg rolls first. Then we waited 20 min for her crab rangoons. Then she gets her Lo Mein served 5 minutes later. I'm still waiting for my meal which was the hamburger steak. She gets half way thru and then my wanna be hamburger steak comes.

We travel.all over the US and eat out alot. One of my favorite and pretty much only dishes I eat is hamburger steaks.

When this reached me it was a thin flat piece of meat with just a few slices of onion and has brown gravy on it.

I took one bite and had a salty taste to it. I thought ok I can handle this. Then I get about 3 more bites in and it hits me. COMPLETE SALT and having crunch in my mouth from the salt. I could not continue at all.

We called the server over and let her know about the salt and I can't eat anymore of it. She went to the back of the kitchen and the cook three his arms up and got a attitude about his lousy cooking. She consulted with her other servers and came back over and said since I took bites out of it they would only take 6.00 off the meal. No apologies for anything. I'm easy to please but this hamburger steak was inedible from the point I stopped eating it. My wife tried it and spit it out becaus of the salt granules in and or on it.

So that's how they treat you as a customer if you get terrible food and can't finish it. STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO...