04/25/09

I Freakin Love This Place!!

by partyinmytummy

I eat in and take out here alot. I started eating here about 4 years ago and this is the only cafe I consistantly keep coming back to. The food is presented very well every time, the service is prompt and friendly, and the cheesecake is my favorite. When I go to pay the bill, usually "grandma" is there waiting to collect your ticket and your money, she is a very sweet and charming woman, making your exit to this cafe memorable, handing out quarters for the little ones to get a piece of bubblegum out of their big gumball machine. I love it!!

• Pros: Great 1st impression, Nice staff. & who doesnt know Grandma
• Cons: They close at 3pm on the weekends

03/31/09

Hipster Hangout

by RealTalk

Cafe Java is a very casual, unassuming atmosphere with amazingly savory cuisine. Every dish I've tried imparts a homecooked feel--nothing comes across prepared and packaged. I've been here repeatedly for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a consistently positive experience.

• Pros: Example: best croissants in town
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

12/05/08

Good Fast Metro Diner in N. Austin

by leapea82

The metro diner you have been looking for in North Austin. Seat yourself, order and eat within a few minutes. great staff serving great breakfast in an insanely efficient manner.

• Pros: Great short order cook food

10/17/08

Neighborhood treasure in north central Austin

by Nanotechie

While Austin has lots of great little casual eateries in town ( The Omelettry, Zocolo's, etc), very few are to be found up north. This is one of them. We love the breakfasts (not just for breakfast!) and the dinner specials are great. I'm not sure if Herosmurf had a bad experience, but we've been coming here in the evenings almost weekly for over a year and always look forward to seeing the friendly staff and trying the recommended specials. Come as you are - summer shorts or just getting home from the office.

For dinner we love the tomato basil soup (on Fridays) which rivals any in town (Andiamo's is great also!) and the meatloaf (on Mondays) which is on par with that from Moonshine. We really know Austin food, and Cafe Java is a favorite spot for us for comfort, food, and convenience.

We have always found the staff to be very accommodating, and they will go out of their way to let us know if the specials are still available or not. But it's true: if they have one you want, get there early or risk missing out - unless you call ahead!

• Pros: Consistency, service, breakfasts
• Cons: parking can be a problem at lunch

09/11/08

Best breakfast - Worst dinner

by herosmurf

Cafe Java is one of those places that can make pancakes that are sublime. Breakfast is great. They have a wonderful breakfast staff. It's kind of an earthy-crunchy environment, but everything is done quickly and efficiently and it's absolutely delicious. The bacon comes out just right. The eggs are cooked exactly as you asked for them. The pancakes don't do that obnoxious super-absorbent syrup thing that lots of restaurants get wrong. They do a very good breakfast.

Then, something changes at night. The restaurant becomes bad. I think whoever cooks in the evening there should probably be fired. It reminds me of Hell's Kitchen. I've gone in just a couple of times in the evening for dinner, and each time my food ended up in my napkin because it was appalling. Nasty wilted lettuce. Flavors that just make you wonder how old the food is and whether or not you got something that somebody else sent back. Just bad!!! You would have to pay me to try dinner there again.

01/30/08

my favorite restaurant

by cartaufalous

Why does everyone say the coffee at Cafe Java is so good? Except for the "iced toddie", the coffee at Java tends to be mediocre. It doesn't compare with Starbucks. In fact, if the food were not so wonderful, I probably wouldn't come here every day.

Avoid coming between noon and 1pm; it is often very crowded. Order anything on the menu that sounds good to you; everything will be rather better than you expect. Except the coffee!

• Pros: The food is unusually good.
• Cons: Service can be slow, especially during the lunch rush.

01/25/08

It's Like Eating With Family

by screamish

Cafe Java is a fabulous little restaurant basically hidden in North Austin. Hands down they have the most awesome coffee and breakfast - OMG the hashbrowns are THE BEST in Austin!! Everything is very affordable, and always yummy.

These are great reasons to eat a Cafe Java, but the main reason that I love this place so much is that it is truly a neighborhood business, and when I eat there I feel cozy, like eating at home (but with better hashbrowns) :-) It family owned and operated, and in the 8 years I have been visiting CJ these are the things I notice about them: Consistency, Low Staff Turnover, Great Food, Fun Atmosphere, Supports Local Artists, LOTS of Regulars!!

I am sorry for the person who gave them 1 star for running out of specials. I feel like this person is narrow minded, and misses the point. The reason they run out is because the specials are so awesome! If they never ran out, then they wouldn't be very "special" would they. My advice is to get there early and quit whining.

• Pros: Hashbrowns (great breakfast), Coffee and Value
• Cons: Can get very busy around 10am on weekends, and after church on Sunday

07/10/07

Great coffee AND breakfast

by mujerboricua

Finding a place that has good coffee and a great breakfast is pretty rare. Cafe Java is a gem because it offers both. Sadly we don't live near it anymore but it hasn't stopped us from trekking up north for a good meal! Sometimes there's a wait but it goes right quick so don't get put off if you see people waiting to be seated.

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: Nothing, really.

Cozy, north Austin neighborhood spot serves affordable homestyle meals and supports local culinary artisans.

by Contributor

In Short
The charming setting and staff make you think you're in a friend's kitchen. Local art covers the walls above booths and table/counter seating. Employees know the regulars, who include families, couples and students from nearby ACC. Buttermilk pancakes are infused with subtle cinnamon. Migas overflow with chips and cheddar cheese. Several salads are available, as is low-calorie honey mustard dressing. The tuna melt with egg, celery, onion and Swiss cheese is on hearty grain bread.

04/29/06

The specials are a hoax

by keepaustinweird_90

We had ordered their pancake specials and told the waiter to bring it at the end of our meal. Then when we wanted our order he comes up and tells us that they no longer have it. We were disappointed but let it go.

The next time they had that special we took our whole family to have it. Again they told us they had it and behold the same thing happened all over again.

So much for that. We have been going there for the last ten years but not any more.

So if want to go there then that is fine but if you see anything you like on the specials board, you might as well forget it. It is for display only or some kind of a gimmick. Just a way to get people in and since you are there anyway, you'll end up eating something else.