08/02/09

25 year record

by utex1983

I have been eating here since college in the early 80's. I visit Austin two or three times a year with my students and have never been disappointed with either the staff or the food. Since the cost is so reasonable, cash only should not present a problem. The gingerbread pancakes are so much better than Kerbey Lane and need only a little syrup because they are so sweet. Okay, so it is a hippie dive, but this conservative loves it and if you want the true Austin experience, this is your spot. Give it a try.

• Pros: Large servings/Great Prices
• Cons: Cleanliness

02/03/09

Hands down best pancakes I've ever eaten

by shaft28

Ok, so the place looks like a dump and just does not look like it could be clean but man oh man are the pancakes delicious. I don't know what magic they use but they have nailed the perfect breakfast pancake.

Alt Rock staff is always surprisingly friendly although overworked, they do a brisk business so expect a wait.

Just watch your kids as the wait area flows into the busy parking lot.

Excellent breakfast everytime we go.

01/23/09

Huge Disappointment

by thelonestarcritic

Do you look forward to a hot homemade breakfast? Do you appreciate a clean restaurant? Do you LIKE to pay a fee to use your credit card?

Atmosphere is one thing, dirt is another. For instance, take a minute to look up--are there clumps of dirt clinging to the fan blades? And take a peek into the kitchen as you pass by...This was the first 'flag' on my recent visit here. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, and they were hugely disappointing. The scrambled eggs were laying in a puddle of watery liquid, the black beans tasted as if they were poured directly from a can on to the plate, as were the tasteless canned diced tomatoes with jalapenos (likely source of the puddle) that were heated and then poured over the eggs...no seasoning whatsoever, nothing 'fresh' on the plate. The 'side' of potatoes looked as if the dirt on the skins had not been scrubbed off before cooking and were mostly under baked.

The final frustration was at the check out, they do not take any form of payment other than cash. If you didn't realize this, you now have one option--their 'ATM' gadget which is duct taped to a stand next to the register. There is a $1.50 fee to use the machine (which appears to be owned by the restaurant, so the fee is theirs!) Seems to be a scam here...why not accept debit cards then??

It all adds up to a very bad taste.

06/08/08

EGGCELLENT

by SweaterTime

Although there is a bit of a wait, I promise it will be worth the while. While the omelets are very good, but the pancakes are the best i've had in Austin. The prices are reasonable, and not too expensive. The only downside to the Omelettry is the waiting. You'll wait to get a table and You'll wait to get your food. The waitstaff was extremely friendly, but I guess they should be since it takes so long to get the food to the table.

01/16/08

decent but cold

by dudeg

Food is really good, but service is slow and it is ALWAYS freezing inside. Be prepared.

Still, it is a funky hipster/slacker hangout, so you get what you ought to expect, as such.

09/13/07

Avoid the Omlettes

by arascooter

This establishment either needs to change their name or take omlettes off the menu. Omelettes served "open-face" lying ontop of filling. Oh and the eggs are way over cooked (heat too high, eggs overbeaten). Stick with the daily-fresh-made soups and sandwiches. Expect bored, annoyed waitstaff (you would be too if your hippy patrons weren't tipping well or at all) and long wait on weekends. Hey, this place is an institution---if you don't like it, go to I-HOP, you sell-out.......

• Pros: Austin institution and inde-film set for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
• Cons: Tough eggs, unconventional omlettes

07/08/07

Any adult supervision?

by mrjones1235

Edible food.

"Hey-man-what's-the-hurry" hippie customer service. Plan on getting up and refilling your own drinks.

Actually saw people rolling their own cigarettes and SMOKING in the kitchen. (Grey-haired pony-tailed older man, cracking eggs).

Maybe the hea-lth de- pa-rtment needs a phone call?

Seems like a restaurant in which there is,as one reviewer said, a lack of adult supervision.

12/22/06

Bad service good oatmeal

by notsohappy2

Very Bad Service with very good oatmeal( if you can get then to serve it). Honestly, if you side a bowl of oatmeal arround the counter for 30 min because you can't put a bagel in a toaster and then feel like it's ok to blame your customer for pointing out your over site. Oh, and seem to have a list of ready made excuses to fling out rather than offer any sort of mea culpa ??? Free Coffee ??? Honesty ???

So after reading some of your other reviews on this site I can see why when a customer points your mistake that your fist responce is to say they are not in the "Christmas spirit".... I think that is going a bit too far. Is there any adult supervision over there ??? Just disappointing... Obviously, I won't be back.

Going to Magnolia's instead.....

11/13/06

Feels like campus

by cleveinaustin

very casual breakfast joint, student and neighborhood crowd, and very popular on the weekends. great Omlettes (go figure) are well worth the wait. have been several times... normally get the Spanish omlette with fruit, and have never been disappointed.

07/08/06

new location in Brookline - wasting parents money

by nhanks576

Just got back from new location on Washington St in Brookline, MA. Eggs over-cooked, bacon under-cooked (despite asking for well done), pancake overcooked. Stay away! Oh, did I mention that the A/C was inadequate (even though it was only 75 degrees outside). Mom and Dad better get up here from Austin and protect their investment, before it's too late.

• Pros: none
• Cons: food