Kerbey Lane Cafe

02/08/2008 Posted by jacksinaussie

Food is ok,just ok sometimes,I grew up with this place and it has declined so much.The thing that gets me is when I first came in after moving back to Austin,I was all gunned up to eat and show off the local eatery,well blah the place smelled like pine-sol and pee.We made jokes just thinking something must have happened,Ha this place really does smell like pine-sol and pee,for a year the smell has not changed.The staff is friendly but your food takes forever even when your the only one in the joint,and its all dried out when it gets to you,lay back on the doobs guys,you might get more tips.

Pros: Its 24 hrs

Cons: smells

11/05/2007 Posted by cityflashpacker

This is our second visit to a Kerbey Lane Cafe and our first time at this location. We were disappointed both times, but let me write about our visit at this particular location. We arrived after 10 pm and were seated promptly. The server took our orders and that was about the extent of their good service. I don't know if the server was untrained, inattentive or both. When our drinks were delivered, I asked for straws, and she brought back only 1 and gave it to my SO. We ordered an appetizer and the entrees at the same time. We were hungry and you would think that she would bring out the hummus first. But no, everything was brought out all at the same time. The hummus was good, but the pita bread could be better. I asked again for a straw and though she acknowledged my request, she never came back with one. My chicken tortilla soup was about the only thing that was good. I ordered the special and it was supposed to come with fresh baked bread. I asked the server what kind of bread it was, and she didn't know and said she would find out. I said that's ok I'll just go ahead and order it anyway. But she never brought out the bread (she didn't charge me either for the bread so that was good at least.) My SO's turkey panini was really greasy and had too much spread on the inside that he scraped it off the bread. The casear salad was ok. It took forever for her to bring us our check. She looked like she was punching something on the POS system and needed help from someone else. When we got the check, we didn't risk paying with a credit card lest we be kept there for another 15 minutes. We just left cash and went. The table next to us left after 10 minutes of being seated because no one came to their table to take their orders. Not sure if we'd give it another chance. It was a bad experience that we even thought of just hitting the IHOP the next time we needed a meal late at night.

Pros: Open 24 hours

Cons: Bad service

08/10/2007 Posted by emsmwhite

I suppose I was expecting something spectacular in dining at Kerbey Lane for the very first time. While I lived in and visit Austin regularly, I never made it 'til this past Monday. We were seated quick enough, but, of course, we got there at about 1130pm, so I wasn't too worried. Our server was nice enough, as servers go, too, but she wasn't all that attentive. I had the migas, which, while they looked a little questionable, ended up being pretty solid. The place is super loud, though, even at 1130 or 12 at night, the crosses hanging everywhere are slightly unnerving, and the wait staff seems a little, well... untrained, maybe. As I stated, the waitress was nice, but she only came for a drink order, food order, and someone else delivered our food. Getting a refill was out of the question, and hot sauce for my migas wasn't happening either. I'd probably go back if someone else was heading there, but it CERTAINLY doesn't live up to its hype.

Pros: Migas with black beans, I guess?

Cons: Loud, average to below average all around.

08/05/2007 Posted by mamaross

I ate at this location of Kerbey Lane for the first time today and was not impressed. When we arrived we were told that the wait should be around 25 minutes. We went to the bar and ordered drinks and an appetizer while we waited. Neither of us wore a watch, so we weren't aware of just how long we'd been waiting, but it began to seem like it was taking a very long time and others who had arrived after us were being seated. So, after an hour wait I went to the front counter to check on the status of our table and saw that our names had been checked off the list and they were about 15 groups past us. I asked why we hadn't been paged or called and was told they had a new pager system (which doesn't explain why they didn't bother to call out our names as they had for other parties in the bar area). We finally sat down and ordered. The food was a little slow in coming but we were ravenous by that point which probably made us slightly less patient. The fish tacos I ordered were extremely bland, and my companion's Caesar salad was similarly tasteless and uninspiring. Once we finished, I looked around for the server and saw her lingering in the corner with a drink. Shortly thereafter, she disappeared. I was frustrated that she hadn't even bothered to check in with us since delivering our food. I couldn't stand to wait any longer so I went to the front hostess stand and asked for help in getting my check. Their response regarding our server was, "Oh, she just went to smoke." OK...so I'm supposed to just chill out and wait for her to finish hanging out in the back, leisurely puffing away. I told her I had already waited an hour for the table and needed the check now, so she finally had another server print it and bring it to us. Needless to say, the whole experience was extremely frustrating and I won't be a repeat customer at this location.

Pros: Good nachos and Bloody Mary

Cons: Horrendous service and lackluster entrees

02/11/2007 Posted by quantumsparrow

As a regular to Kerbey Lane(s), I can tell you that this one is my favorite. Where the one near campus is usually too loud and busy later at night, this one is a bit quieter and the service is better. I haven't had any problems with slow service, personally, though I'm not usually in a hurry to leave when I'm there. The few times I've gone around the time when bars get out, it *is* extraordinarily packed. Food-wise, their cheese enchiladas are pretty inconsistant sometimes, though usually tasty (and I keep getting them, so what does that tell you?), as well as the filling in the turkey and avocado quesadillas. The pancakes are ALWAYS good, along with the sweet potato fries, which are seriously the only kind of fries I can stand to eat anymore. Those things are good! They also are very willing to make substitutions on most meals (like corn tortillas instead of flour, etc.), and have a vegan menu (or things that they can make vegan), unlike the other Kerbeys.

Pros: Flexible ingredients, "veganizable," good prices, laid-back

Cons: inconsistent food quality

09/17/2006 Posted by acb2003

I gave them a chance. I wanted to like KL. In fact I love the queso, despite it costing ALMOST $8 A BOWL! And no, there are no precious medals included in the delicious concoction. I've tried it three times and I'm officially done. A few things you can count on EVERY TIME: Slow slow slow in every respect, from the moment you arrive until you can finally track down your server to pay. Rude and unmotivated staff at hostess stand and servers. To describe the food as mediocre is usually correct and sometimes an overstatement. This place is a joke and survives solely on the reputation of their queso and being open all hours. There are far too many excellent places in Austin to enjoy to waste your money here.

Pros: Queso, Parking

Cons: Poor service, Unacceptable waits, Food is mediocre

08/29/2006 Posted by lukner

If you like breakfast Austin-style (migas, etc.), wacky seasonal breakfast items (Pumpkin pancakes during Halloween, etc.), or just plain traditional eggs & bacon, this is a great place to eat breakfast any time. Yes, the service is very slow, so allow plenty of time. However, the food is great and your friends can't escape for at least an hour.

Pros: Excellent food & selection that's uniquely Austin

Cons: Service is very slow

08/11/2006 Posted by firehawkchick

We go to Kerbey Lane on Lamar often and were in the neighborhood of this location and checked it out. The last time we went will be well, our last time. The waitress cared so very little about her job and our existence that other tables with other servers were looking at us with pity. It was embarrassing. She kept dropping menus, she gave us SO much attitude every time she came to the table and then the bill came... first the itemized bill, then the bill you sign. There were only two of us, and she added her own gratuity. I asked her to bring the itemized bill back (which had been sitting in water from our glasses) and she brought a fresh (and dry) copy that reflected the new bill we were to sign. Needless to say, there was some seriously questionable behaviour going on here. I've been in touch with management. If you go, the food is fantastic. The service is awful, so order everything you need at once. Keep an eye on your bill!

Pros: Fantastic food, large portions for those eaters in your family, awesome coffee

Cons: Terrible service, late-night waits take longer due to service staff's laziness to clean tables off for new customers

05/11/2006 Posted by skipjames

I was not impressed with this place at all. The other Kerby Lanes is way better. The service at this place just plain sucked, and the Food wasn't all that. Enough said!

03/28/2006 Posted by p0o0o0h

I've been to Magnolia's, Omelletry and I still love the buttermilk pancakes at Kerbey Lane. The service is usually slow as the place is always packed when I go (11-12 at night) but the pancakes will make it worth your while! Do note that the pancakes are larger than normal so even their half size is still bigger than other restaurants.