this was such a cute cafe with great service and food! the atmosphere was very nice, and all the servers were kind and accommodating. i got the BLT which was rly good, and my friend got a chicken burger. our server recommended us the key lime pie and it was also delicious! i'll definitely come again. read more

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Probably the best place I've ever been, I constantly try to sleep in the back and wake up to the smell of the grill. Very psychedelic! read more

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The breakfast tacos are delicious!! Also their salsa is so good! I normally don't like chunky salsa but theirs is amazing!!! The employees are also sweet. I ordered breakfast tacos with avocado and some of the avocado was black so I pointed it out and they brought me a plate of just avocado slices! Honestly, only order breakfast tacos! Nothing else, just breakfast tacos. You won't regret it! read more

Had tickets to Bass Hall so wanted dinner somewhere near campus. Agreed to meet friend at this cafe at six pm. I got there first and sign on door says closed at four pm summer hours. Called friend and agreed to meet at Cactus Cafe but there are no parking spots available without parking permit. I've gotten a ticket on campus when classes were not in session and I still had Arkansas plates. Substantial fine was reduced when I plead my case but not substantially. I was still pissed. There was no sign where I parked but no matter. Anyway, I paid $18 for a sandwich chips and muffin. Drink was extra. Bass Hall is off my list of venues now. One and done. I had hoped for an avocado BLT at RRC but alas. No second chance for them either. Hope you enjoy this review more than I enjoyed my evening. Oh, and it was 100 degrees and my phone got hot and shut off and I couldn't find a place to plug it in. I'm sure my night could have been saved if the cafe had not closed early. A pox on Red River Cafe. Arghhh. read more

Honestly, how hard is it to mess up breakfast? My boyfriend and I went there to try something new, and when we walked in we were completely charmed by the small Texas town vibe of the place. However, the charm faded fast. The service was really terrible... was the waitress high? I asked her if she could also bring me water, since she only brought some to my boyfriend, and she just gave me a blank stare before she came to and said, "oh, yeah, water, sure." Then we got the food. I ordered a California omelet with fruit and hashbrowns. The omelet was bad because of the poor quality ingredients, but it wasn't cooked poorly or anything. The hashbrowns on the other hand were soggy on one side and fried into one solid crispy mass on the other. I don't know how it's possible to make hashbrowns so gross, but my boyfriend and I both couldn't finish ours. The nasty knock-off brand ketchup did nothing to help. The only reason I gave this place more than one star is the charming atmosphere. Everything else was honestly garbage. I hope they make some changes, because it really does have a ton of potential. read more

Really freaking love this place! Nicest staff and really homey vibes. Super good food at a cheap price, especially if you're looking for a chill brunch spot for pancakes and coffee with some friends. It's great for me on a college budget and I would definitely recommend !! read more

Food was underwhelming. It was decent but really nothing special. I don't include service into review ratings but on a side note our waiter was pretty awful. read more

This is clearly a local dive diner that is the epitome of hit-or-miss, and we had a major miss. The place is shabby in that old diner way - it's been around for awhile, so fair enough. When we came in on a Sunday morning, it was crowded, but reasonably so for a weekend. We waited 20 minutes (literally, we clocked it) just to get drinks and menus. After that we had to physically go and fetch a waitress to take our order, who was pretty brusque and annoyed with us. They seemed very busy and understaffed. The food came out and was just okay...I mean, it's decent enough food for when you don't want to cook at home and also don't want to pay a lot of money. The menu isn't very friendly to those with any allergies or sensitivities, but what can you expect for cheap? We got no drink refills, no syrup brought to us, and negligent service in general, despite the place clearing out. We walked up to the counter several times just for water refills and extra napkin requests. At the end of the meal, I was too frustrated to even want to come back and duke it out for some of their more noteworthy items. There are just too many other good, cheap, and healthy places to choose from. read more

This place is a long time fave. Free range beef, omelets anytime, and lots of traditional diner fare. And dogs allowed on the covered patio!!! read more

It was a sad day when I realized that had I fallen out of love with RRC. I will always cherish the precious memories walking through the park to our favorite little cafe on a Sunday morning to enjoy the cute patio and traditional breakfast/lunch fare. I really dig the ambiance of this place. Very old school diner feel with local art on the walls. The food is pretty basic (and cheap), nothing flashy here. I often feel if I were less hungover/lazy that I could have made the dish myself, but alas in that condition I leave the work to the pros. The downside is the owner/management. He is a mean little man and treats his employees with such disrespect; (in front of patrons no less!) it's no wonder I never see the same servers there. A friend of mine considered applying for a job there once upon a time but was talked out of it by our server. I feel guilty giving such an evil man business so I'll stick to making my own pancakes or hitting up another cafe. Sad times. read more

Early on a Sunday morning, one cook and a young waitress are attending to 3 elderly men at 3 separate tables. The virtual jukebox is playing some pedal steel driven, scratchy old country music from the 50s. Enter us..... We found the atmosphere quiet and pleasant and the art on the walls eclectic. The music just fit. The whole grain pancakes passes my wife's test which is quite rigorous. The OJ was fresh and sweet. And the coffee was good. I ordered their Eggs Montreal, some interesting take on Benedict with Swiss cheese and bacon. It was actually the fanciest thing on the menu (this place is pretty basic). It was tasty, though the Swiss and the hollandaise clashed a bit. Actually, the Swiss kicked the hollandaise's butt, but that's OK. Hash browns were crispy and tasty. I appreciated the fine shred. Time passes, and the old guys shuffle out. Some big boys in burnt orange show up as does another family with kids. The music changes. Ouch! It's some form of techno. Wow, not even a transition period. But how about that??? Client-adaptive music selection! Gotta love it. Remind me to wake up 30 minutes earlier next time.... Another experience: Lunch. I ordered a jalapeno cheeseburger with fries and it was as solid as any other burger joint in town, and possibly the best within a walking radius I've found. Worth remembering. RRC is a comfortable place. Greasy spoon meets art colony. Something that every neighborhood should have one of. read more

I know it's a diner. Still, I've been to many diners before that serve really good and tasty food, provide quick and efficient service and don't break the bank. We did get away with two lunch meals, one tea and one water, for $18 so that is decent but the two lunches we had were both low quality. Additionally, the place wasn't busy yet there was a large stack of dirty dishes and glasses covering about 1/4 of the counter space. Two waitstaff were working but had lots of time to chat with each other and movements sometimes appeared to be without purpose. Like one would walk this way and do something that appeared to be meaningless and the other did something similar. It wasn't horrible service but not attentive based on the number of customers in the cafe. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with fries. I think the bun was toasted but it tasted odd, like maybe it was toasted with old butter or something, not sure. The chicken was nothing at all special and there was lettuce/tomato/onion and a side of mayo. The sandwich was 'ok' at best but honestly, whatever made those buns taste the way they did, ruined it for me and even spearmint gum didn't help afterwards. My lunch partner had the lemon chicken with vegetables. It was subpar in taste and appearance. Both his chicken and mine looked too much like Sysco, super thin and usually not terribly tasty chicken. The overall appearance of the restaurant would get a C score from me. It just was "unkempt" overall. Kind of like you'd feel if someone you looked up to dropped by your house unexpectedly and it was not cleaned up enough for company. The bathroom was pretty gnarly too. The hand dryer in the mens restroom didn't want to stay on and the overall appearance of the bathroom was pretty bad. A good thorough cleaning with Lysol would be in order. Parking is also a challenge, much of the street parking is prohibited and there are only two parking spaces in front that we could see. I'm guessing that there are other things on the menu that other folks like. The day we came in though was not one we'd really care to repeat. I know, it's a diner. I know. But really, there are better in our opinion. read more

Well, you get what you pay for here; the food in inexpensive and average. That's not necessarily a bad thing; it's not like we always need 4-star dining experiences. My grilled ham and cheese was tasty, if basic (and something that could easily be replicated at home). The tomato bisque soup was surprisingly tasty. As others have noted, service is s-l-o-w even when the place is mostly empty. My server was sweet but seemed overwhelmed by her two tables and one person at the counter. However, once I was able to order my food arrived fast. read more

If you're looking for a cafe where they don't scrape food off of used plates in plain view or where the coffee doesn't always taste just a little burned, Red River Cafe might not be your bag. If you can overlook these types of quirks and concentrate on your company and completely laid back atmosphere with relatively tasty food, swing over to Medical Arts Street to enjoy a little corner of Austin I love. The waitstaff is always friendly and the food always hot. I usually get the bacon quickie, which is bacon mixed into scrambled eggs, served with a side of hash browns - the stringy kind, yum - and toast. It's always satisfying. The breakfast tacos are made-to-order and, while they don't rank up there with other cafes or taco trucks in town, they're pretty good. I highly recommend the blueberry and walnut pancakes. Soft and sweet with just the right amount of walnutty crunchiness. Red River Cafe has been my go-to breakfast cafe for a while now. It's less crowded than Magnolia or Kerbey Lane and there's a great covered patio where you can sit and enjoy your meal while watching the birds twit around in the nearby trees. Aside from Barton Springs Pool, the patio at Red River Cafe is my favorite spot in Austin to find my chi. read more

Lunch while dropping off our daughter at UT. Wow! Very reasonable prices. We ordered British Burger, avocado BLT, and grilled cheese w/ tomato & bacon. Two orders of fries was just enough for 4 people. All was delicious. Service was quick and friendly. We will be back!! read more

Red River Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

Let's face it. You're not going to have an amazing meal at Red River Cafe. This is a run-of-the-mill diner with run-of-the-mill diner food at run-of-the-mill prices. I've sampled items from their burgers to their pancakes, and I find that I'm always satisfied but never blown away. That said, Red River Cafe definitely has its charms. They make a great BLT, and their French fries are consistently very good. The seating is plentiful and diverse. Each booth has a corresponding outlet, which is great if you're looking to get some work done. There is a TV screen constantly playing classic Hollywood movies, which adds an element of charm to an otherwise standard environment. Of course, when the weather is nice, you can take advantage of the outdoor patio (which also has some outlets). I also love many of the waiters here. They are very friendly, and they know how to have a good time during downtime. I also like the owner: he's a character, and he has ensured that I get a meal even when I've arrived right before closing. Speaking of which: their summer hours are typically different than their usual hours. Bottom line: if you need a cup of coffee, a place to study, or some inexpensive food to cure that hangover from the night before, Red River Cafe is a good choice. read more

Hesitant to give 2 stars simply because the food could be a smidge more flavorful (maybe if I had used pepper), but the timely service and inexpensive prices were, well, something. To counterattack my own accusation of the food quality, it was good - especially if you think of something your uncle might whip up one Monday morning: I had poached eggs on a muffin with cantaloupe slices on the side. If you knew how to poach an egg you could probably make this yourself. In other words, food is what you would expect: nothing out-of-this-universe awesome. Just okay. Although my guy had but one nerve in his facial muscles to express emotion (apathetic new waiter-in-training), he was quick and attentive when I needed it. The owner Charlie's been serving for 20+ yrs, and he was friendly in a godfather, be-quick-about-it kind of way, if that makes any sense. He asked me if I wanted to tip on my credit card in front of my waiter, then slapped the change on the counter for him. Unexpected directness, but gave me a laugh nonetheless. read more

This is my wife and I's favorite place for breakfast in Austin. It's quirky, the service is uneven, but the food is no better anywhere else, neither is the atmosphere. Don't come here if you have a large group or want to get in and out in 30 minutes like a Denny's. Come here if you want a leisurely breakfast in a very Austin-like place. Best things here: 1) Pancakes 2) Breakfast Tacos 3) Fresh fruit as a sideeee read more

Went here for breakfast last week and I was really pleased at this little gem that I didn't discover until after my time at UT (unfortunately). Came with a group, 7 people total, and our service was very timely and the food came out quickly. I ordered pancakes, bacon, and eggs and they were really good, especially for how inexpensive they were. I really liked the small and humble atmosphere. I will be coming back. read more

Just got back from here. I was reluctant to go, but a friend urged me that we could get some school work done and she could have a good meal while we're at it. I got there early and just had coffee for about 30 minutes before she showed. There was a good, steady stream of folks on a Sunday morning--a mix of locals whom the servers knew by first name, hung over students, and first-timers. The coffee was hot and plentiful. I just had an order of fries which were good, and my friend had a breakfast of scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, an english muffin, and homefries. I thought the servers were extremely friendly, especially considering we stayed for 5 hours doing work and ordered very little on the whole. A good place for diner-quality food. I'll return! read more

Really friendly staff, great price for the food quality. I do wish they would not charge extra for an "included" side, or update their menu to reflect how they actually will ring up the ticket. read more

The waiters are kind and attend to your needs. If you're looking for a simple breakfast place, you've found it. I wouldn't expect anything luxurious. This cafe is great if you're looking to eat near campus and want something to fill you up. Overall, I would definitely come back again. read more

I think I was a dog in another life. My sense of smell is just WAY too keen. It gets in the way, big time. Smell was the first thing I noticed about this place and I am sad to say it smelled like a nursing home. I couldn't figure out why either. Didn't spot any old people or bed pans anywhere, it just had a stench that I could not get out of my head. Needless to say I didn't enjoy the food very much. It was very average, maybe even mediocre. The good news? Well, the wait staff is SUPER friendly and the prices are cheap. read more

After four years in Syracuse, NY, where there's no lack of diners and small hole-in-the-wall American food cafes, my old college roommate and I decided Red River Cafe was worth a visit. The employees were chipper, which I appreciated, but was thrown off by, as this is not necessarily a quality you would ordinarily find in an Upstate NY joint. The service was prompt...two points for Red River. Unfortunately though, the food was dull. I got the grilled cheese & tomato which was a bit too greasy; my dining date got the veggie sandwich, which she reported was, "Good, but not filling and sort of dry." My Diet Coke was flat and the cleanliness of the water glasses was questionable, but I suppose that's part of the not-always-accurate stereotype of a greasy spoon. Nevertheless, the tab was cheap and the menu has a nice variety for such a small place. Note: Red River can be hard to find...it's sort of tucked away. If you're on Red River, veer right onto Medical Arts right after the 32nd Street light. If you're on Dean Keeton, take a left if you're coming FROM campus and a right if you're heading TOWARD campus. read more

Unclean - I've seen cleaner truck stop bathrooms and they watered down their soap to the point where it barely made suds... not a good way to save money. Disappointing - I went in for breakfast tacos and they didn't have corn tortillas. So, I settled for an omelet and hash browns. The hash browns were under cooked and soggy instead of crispy like they should be. This place opens and closes at different times than what they say on their website. Overall, a really poor place for breakfast. read more

Came to this place for breakfast, left full and satisfied. Staff was nice and attentive. The service was super fast and food was delicious, especially the home fries. I don't know of another breakfast place this good for the price you pay. Will definitely be returning. read more

Red River Cafe - Eggs Montreal and the French toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow. All I can say, is that since sitting down on this beautiful patio surrounded by lush greenery, I was greeted by a server with a twinkle in his eye and hop in his step. The owner even took the time to come out and greet us with genuine interest. The buffalo chicken sandwich that I ordered came out beyond expectation. The chicken had a flaky, crispy breading and tender, moist inside. The taste was hot and rich, and the home style potatoes that accompanied my main delicacy were crispy and bursting with flavor. I cannot wait to return for another incredible dish for a very reasonable price. read more

I can't really write anything creative. It's better than Denny's, but its not great. The only reason I've been (and gone back) is that it's within walking distance of my place. Service has always been so so, food was exactly what you'd expect after walking in the door- nothing more, nothing less. Orange juice was fresh though! Then again, I'm not big on breakfast, but I think I'd rather drive to Hyde Park bar and grill. read more

My husband had a 10 am flight to catch, so we went here for breakfast this morning because we wanted to try something new. We were here at 8:30, so business was slow but steady. There was one server who did not serve refills on coffee or water. My husband liked his eggs and sausage fine. My breakfast taco was okay, I guess, but the potatoes inside were really really greasy hash browns, like the ones at Waffle House. They were pretty gross inside the taco... but if you like those kind of hash browns, why not? We both ate for $13, paying at the counter, where our server directly asked us if we wanted to leave a tip- that was kind of awkward as well. Music was good, ambiance was that of a greasy spoon off a remote highway somewhere, complete with multiple friendly, hat-tipping gentlemen regulars. The art on the walls was really beautiful. I'd maybe go again if someone else suggested it, and just order something else. read more

It's like every other breakfast joint out there. Solid, because you can't screw up eggs and bacon and French toast and pancakes. This is also the site of the cheapest Eggs Benedict pretty much ever. It still goes for like $6, the price of a Sourdough Jack combo. This restaurant doles out the best values in the city, with the only thing approaching $10 a plate being the chopped steak (don't get it). This is perfect student food, and perfect geriatric deals. Denny's grand slam deals have nothing on this. Don't ever change, RRC. Dig the art for sale on the walls, too. read more

Alert: snobby waitress works here. Listen, me and my dude love coming here for breakfast on Sundays. The food has never been disappointing, but one of the waitresses needs a serious reality check. Unfortunately, every time we come here she ends up being our waitress and she's just plain rude. I am a generous tipper, but today she got nothin'. We will continue eating here because we love the food and the price, but I will just request a different waitress. read more

Although this place is not the most conventional restaurant, it has true character. The wait staff seem like real people and treat you as such. The grilled cheese with avocado, tomato and/or bacon is phenomenal. As are the pancakes.. and the key lime pie.. and the breakfast tacos.. and it's BYOB However, If you are expecting a conventional restaurant, or you are extremely uptight, you should definitely steer clear. read more

TLDR: Something non-chain, cute, and special, that won't hurt the bank, while still retaining the full restaurant experience. The service was quick and accommodating, the atmosphere is old-school diner, with a covered patio seating area that I imagine will be very nice in the fall and spring. The menu actually offers quite a variety, with all your diner staples like chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads, but they also do tacos, breakfast tacos, and other tex-mex items. We got nachos, a burger, and a chipotle chicken sandwich, and everything was good (save for the chicken meat being a little tough, but this could have been a one-off). All in all, and especially to the tune of about $6 per entree item, this place offers a good way to get a restaurant, authentic-feeling eating-out experience without having to dress up or hurt your checking account. read more

Red River Cafe is terribly inconsistent in the quality of its food. The service is always pleasant, however - my waitress apologized and quickly replaced my water when I pointed out the floating black things in it. My coffee mug was also dirty. My friend ordered the combination but her eggs were undercooked and ran white. My migas were tasteless and cold. The hashbrowns were crunchy and tasted like old grease. I have eaten here on several occasions over the past years and this was by far my worst visit. I doubt I will be going back. read more

I've been coming here on occasion for breakfast for over twenty years. Always a tasty way to start your morning. Lunch on the other hand needs a lot of improvement. I ordered the chicken fried steak. I was pretty surprised that mashed potatoes weren't offered as a side. No problem, fries and black beans. Those were blandly decent. The chicken fried steak itself was decent as well. The cream gravy however was straight up rancid. Old oil and too much flour. Hands down the worst I've ever had. read more

It's a diner folks, and they do it pretty well. I come here for breakfast pretty often. Two eggs, over easy, wheat toast, bacon and hash browns. It's delicious. The wait staff is super friendly and laid back. I have definitely waited awhile for various things (coffee, food, check) here, but it's never on purpose and I think that goes along with a diner. I don't come here for atmosphere (although it's not bad, lovely porch), I come here for food that I don't want to cook at home because making hash is a pain in the ass. And there are all those dishes. My last thought is important. Get the key lime pie. It's amazing. read more

I love finding great "hole-in-the-walls"! I had breakfast for lunch - a pancake, scrambled eggs and 2 sausage patties. Very good!! My son had a Red River burger and said it was great! read more

Quiet cafe with simple consistent honest food. Priced reasonably. Clean. Wifi available. Take out available which is good for those nights you don't want to cook not pay $20 for a meal. Also, you know it's good when the local senior citizens come for brunch. read more

Red River Cafe - French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Moved to Red River recently and have been here a couple of times. Their Patty Melt is surprisingly exceptional. I would say I liked it more than Whataburger. I think they do a pretty good job of selecting their bread. The rest of the food is alright. The meat could use a little flavoring, but it's cooked right and you can just sprinkle some ketchup and salt and have a great breakfast. At this price range, it's the least you can do. It's a cute place to get brunch with a friend, waitresses are really nice too. read more

This place ranks number one on most terrible places to eat in Austin, Tx. Actually, this place is the only one on my current list of awful restaurants as I've never had such a terrible experience elsewhere. The wait staff was unfriendly at best, unable to even conjur a smile. The restaurant itself was a mere 60 degrees, 1 degree warmer than the outdoors. My breakfast date and I were freezing. The worst part about the entire experience was the atrocious food. The food, unpleasing to the eye and extraordinarily greasy with no flavor, coupled with the its high price was enough to make me not only refuse returning to Red River cafe, but also to warrant the desire to open my mouth and warn all. Upon leaving, I noticed the cashier/waitress/busser cleaning off the dirty plates in the front of the restaurant. From there, the contaminated plates crossed over to the kitchen and ended up in the Chef's hands to pass along to the back (where I can only assume there to be a dishwasher). I would rather not watch food waste be discarded so unsanitarily in front of me while eating. I will recommend other breakfast joints above this one any time, and will definitely steer patrons clear as well. read more