Carpenter's Diner — Restaurant in Waterloo

A Review for Carpenters: Come for the Food, Stay for the Hallway Supervision

Eating at Carpenters is like stepping into a delicious episode of Kitchen Confidential. The adventure begins in the narrow bathroom hallway, where you wait in line so close to the action you could probably yell, “Behind!” and not even get weird looks. It's all part of the charm—and trust me, it’s absolutely worth it.

Now let’s talk food, because that’s where Carpenters really shines. The sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich? A masterpiece. It’s like breakfast gave you a hug and whispered, “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.” It’s so good, you’ll want to give it a standing ovation, but you can’t because you’re too busy licking your fingers.

And then there’s the half order of biscuits and gravy. Let me tell you, “half order” is the understatement of the century. That plate could feed a small city—or at least a hungry family reunion. It’s a glorious, gravy-covered mountain of happiness, and climbing it is the best decision you’ll make all day.

The servers? Absolute all-stars. Matt greeted me like an old friend, even though we’d just met. I think he may have psychic powers because my coffee never got below half-full. And Kelsey... Total rock star. If Carpenters had a Hall of Fame, her picture would be front and center, right next to a shrine to that sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich.

Carpenters isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience. Come hungry, bring a sense of humor, and be ready to supervise the kitchen while you wait. You’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your next trip down...

I had an absolutely wonderful Mother’s Day breakfast at Carpenter’s Diner in Waterloo! From the moment we walked in, the team made us feel special—I even received a beautiful flower as a sweet surprise. Service was incredibly fast and friendly, which is always a win when you’ve got a hungry toddler in tow.

We ordered the Everything Omelet, French Toast, Pancakes, and Sausage—all of it was fantastic. The pancakes were so soft and fluffy that my little one couldn’t stop eating them, and the sausage was packed with great flavor. The French toast was perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside—truly amazing. Everything arrived hot and fresh, and the clean bathrooms were an added bonus (my only tiny suggestion would be to consider installing a changing table for families with babies).

All in all, Carpenter’s Diner exceeded our expectations. Delicious food, speedy service, and thoughtful touches made our Mother’s Day breakfast unforgettable. We’ll...

We didn't really get the full experience because we had to leave. Here's why we left.

We parked out front and were immediately accosted by a dog that was tied to the lamppost. Obviously this is not the fault of the business, but still was not a great start to the visit.

We were seated at a table that was covered in syrup, so we had to clean it ourselves. A man was sitting on the corner watching videos on his phone with the volume up full blast. Another man was at the breakfast counter yelling obscenities loudly enough for the entire restaurant to hear. He was LOUD and completely obnoxious.

The staff did nothing to stop this behavior, so we got up to leave, quietly. As we were walking out a young woman who had been sitting at the table next to us loudly said, "BYE!!!"

Needless to say we...