Migas were awesome, did a few days in town and by far best breakfast.
(5)
Michael Z.
Overall, I like Kerbey Lane Cafe. My customer service experience, however, at the university/Guadalupe location has been pretty mediocre by the server on one occasion and by the location of my table today. Today, my server was attentive and pretty prompt; professional. My table location however was near an order terminal and side office or closet. There was consistently a crowd of servers within an arm's length and the conversations varied from being short-staffed and upset about that to other subjects that are not appropriate around your customers. I work in the service industry as a manager, so I get that employees, myself included, will always have opinions on the synergy, or lack there of, about their workplace. Where to express such concerns is best suited in a place removed from the customer's presence. Additionally, if employees are not happy then what does that say about the quality of my food and the way it was handled? Back to the first issue, I believe that one table in the corner near the server station and that looks into the prep area is poorly placed and would be best if relocated or removed. Regardless of both of these recent experiences, I'll be back for the food.
(3)
Butch B.
The food is expensive and isn't very good. But the people who work here sure are cool and funky. They're not like all those lame other people; they're into music and stuff. I hear one of them has the first NWA record on vinyl; I wanna bone that guy.
(2)
Lauren P.
Only come here drunk and/or for the queso, which is WONDERFUL. The food is meh and don't expect refills. That's all folks!
(3)
Autumn B.
The service and food were so disappointing that it compelled me to write a review. Our waiter gave us mediocre service without a smile and no enthusiasm. He definitely came off as if he didn't want to be working there and that always makes for a sub-par dining experience. The food was also nothing to write home about. We got gingerbread pancakes, pumpkin pancakes and miga tacos. They only offered fake maple syrup, not real maple syrup, which is a huge fail for a place that is supposed to serve good breakfast. I would not recommend this place for breakfast.
(2)
Brian V.
I can't say much for the food in its entirety because I have been obsessed with their pancakes. This place has completely destroyed all IHOPs and Denny's (not that I liked them much anyways) into oblivion for me. They have a few varieties of pancakes such as your buttermilk or rocky road (I am not a big chocolate guy by any means, but these are very yummy), but the cinnamon roll pancakes are the ones to get! Kerbey Lane special with cinnamon roll pancakes is where it's at! It's always right down the street from campus so it makes a good place to swing by with friends during a study break and have some good breakfast. Staff has been ok at its worst and excellent at its best. You can't go wrong with pancakes at this location, it's a sure thing.
(4)
Alan S.
Still after all this time, can't get breakfast food right. I sent complaint to their Corp email. No response. Danger to eat under cooked pork sausage. They obliviously don't care
(1)
Melanie D.
"Dude, Kerbey Queso sounds SOO good right now" "OMG, YOU'RE SO RIGHT. You're a genius!!!" Basically how most of my trips to Kerbey happens. Like everyone says, their queso is the bomb.com . It's a little pricey, but how can anyone look at melted cheese in its face and tell it no? My mind tells me "$8.25 for cheese?! YOU'RE CRAZY" But the heart wants what it wants. I can see why veg heads would love the menu--there are LOTS of vegetarian options. However, despite my love for their queso and the fact that it's open 24 hours, everything else that I've had was, dare I say, pretty lack-luster. The service is always pretty slow, and my servers never seemed too happy to be there. But, I could understand having to deal with the college crowd at 3 in the morning. I'd hate it too. On one occasion, I had decided to get the Fish Tacos. It was pretty meh. The rice is rather flavorless, and mine was really cold. I also tried David's enchiladas. Again, I would consider this mediocre tex-mex at best. Then, I decided to opt for a breakfast plate. I got the Denver omelet. The rest of my table was served, and I was left waiting another 10 minutes for my food. My food was ok. To sum it up, I only come here because my drunk friends drag me here, and I'm promised queso.
(3)
Jonah B.
Great that its 24 hours. Great that its free WiFi. Great pancakes of the week - I have had two iterations of them. The first were Elvis pancakes (peanut butter, banana, bacon), the second were cinnamon bun (pancakes that look like cinnamon buns and probably have like 30000 grams of sugar). Both were fantastic.
(4)
Steven A.
The pancakes I got last nite were literally the WORST ones I have ever eaten. They had NO taste! Disks of tasteless gluten...and WAY overpriced. Everyone elses food was sub par as well and it took forever to get our food. Late nite dining in Austin has many choices, steer clear of this place!
(1)
Steven R.
What can I say, it's Kerbey Lane. Had the fajita steak salad and it was pretty good. I felt like it could have used some more meat, and I asked for avocado on the side which I never received. That said, it's food, and it's 24/7. Enough siad.
(3)
Jesse L.
Went for Thanksgiving Day game TCU vs Texas. Got the gumbo which was pretty good. Would go again if in town.
(4)
Sophia L.
Great cafe in Austin! The staff was nice and food (needless to say it's more important) was one of the greatest one of all cafe I'd been to so far. Especially pancakes and quesedillas are super delicious! You should go to this cafe if you're going to visit Austin!
(5)
Jason T.
Ok, so I have been to the re-done Kerby on Guadalupe twice now. The first time I wasn't terribly thrilled when they brought out my breakfast and there was bacon on the plate. Well, actually it was on the eggs. I had specifically asked for no bacon. The fix they offered was the helper pulling it off with their hands at the table. Double bleh. No thanks. We were in the neighborhood this morning and thought we would give Kerby a shot at redemption. Should have just stayed in the car and headed to Mi Madres which is what we ended up doing. There was no wait at all, got seated within seconds of walking in the door. Then we sat for at least 5 minutes, no one even came to ask us for a drink order, nothing. I guess that this is a new trend at Kerby. Well, I for one do not like it one bit. Definitely won't be coming back
(2)
Crystal A.
I have been in here the last two weeks cause my friend moved central and we eat out alot. Every time I went I never got good service and half the time I would get home to find stuff missing from my order. I have had to go back up there once and got to tired to go get my missing food the second time. Once the server didn't give me back my change and said it was for "my benefit". I just had a bad experience again and all I got was an english muffin, it had green stuff on it that looked like avocado. I didn't eat it cause I was afraid it had been cross contaminated. I have lived in Austin all my life and have been going to Kerbey Lane for a while but this is by far the most terrible one, this location gives the company a bad name. I will not be going back to this location again!
(1)
Betsy H.
I can't help it. I'm a true fan. I lead those not from here TOO here. Too some, well, damn good pancakes (honestly, there's not a more fitting description.) It's as though the forks on the table WANT you to order one. Or seven. You know, whatever fills you up and makes you all happy inside. So far, the very best I've had is that crazy-good Cinnamon Roll Pancake. What in THE world! Hello goodness on a plate! And served to me! Whom do I thank for such a grand offering? Hmmm...well, since I don't know I'll simple send a positive review out into the world and hope he-or-she-who-created-pancake-bliss will stumble upon another well-fed customers ramblings. And thank you, person out there, who changes the pancake options for us! I adore this, as variety, well, you know, IS the spice of life. I do most enjoy the Apple Whole Wheat, Pumpkin, and Gingerbread pancakes, as well. The omelets were a bit small, which might be my only half-complaint. So, yes. An almost 5 star review calls for pancake or breakfast searchers out there to STOP, GO, and EAT.
(4)
Megan J.
Came here for breakfast today, first time since the remodel. So disappointing! The service was so so but the food was awful. We both got the breakfast platter with over medium eggs and the gf cinnamon apple pancakes. Our eggs were way over cooked. No runny yolks at all! And the pancakes were just super funky. Also, it looks a lot cleaner, but it's just as dirty as it was before. Needless to say, I'll be sticking with the omlettry or magnolias and not returning to kerby.
(2)
Annette C.
Just recently my boyfriend and I have begun to recognize Kerbey Lane as a viable option for food. Our first couple of months here, we tried it out, but I was underwhelmed. I think I just wasn't ordering the right things though. I had always liked their queso (I don't think it's amazing, but it's good), but I found their chips to be disappointingly underwhelming, the soup when I had it was a bit watery, and the tacos were blah. Since we've been trying it out again, we've been making better choices! The migas tacos are good, the chicken sandwich is awesome, great sweet potato fries, and so far every entree we've had was DELICIOUS, surprisingly so. I had underestimated this place, and it's really nice to know that there's a decent restaurant available 24 hours. Go Austin! As for the service, we've actually never gone when it was crazy packed, so I don't know about that, but the service isn't good regardless. We've been doing take-out, which is painless. Just remember who took your order.
(3)
Sarah M.
I order from here probably 5 nights a week. As a bartender, the last thing I want to do at 4am is cook (or eat Jack In The Box). The food quality/consistency is up and down, but people like Shane, who takes care of me on a regular basis, take up the slack! Shane, you are the best! Thank you.
(4)
Solomon W.
Note to self: Stay away from their $6 rock at 4 in the morning. Oh did I say rock? I meant the veggie burger. Burnt to a crisp, it crumbled like a fragile, fragile rock. You pathetic thing, you.
(1)
Alex R.
This run-of-the-mill diner has the air of a place that is basically doing the bare minimum. I go there (very occasionally) for one reason: the convenience of it being near UT -- and thus near my house. It's somewhat of a dive (one of the reviewers likened it to the feel of a fluorescent-lit mosquito trap, which is pretty accurate) with mediocre food and small portions for the prices they charge. My "side order" of avocado consisted of four lil' slices, my friend's "seasonal fruit medley" really delivered the goods with a few mealy apple and pear slices... BUT, I should disclose that I'm coming from the perspective of someone who likes to eat healthy. When you're drunk at 2 a.m., you can maybe appreciate its greasier food: pancake stacks, french toast, etc. I'm guessing that that type of meal is probably its specialty. At least, that's the only reason I can fathom for why it's always so packed (?). I also have to give props to the friendly wait-staff, who have always been pretty good and attentive. They can't be faulted for what's on the menu - and for that reason, I would rate this place at two-and-a-half stars (if I could award half-stars, that is).
(2)
Jordan H.
Oh Kerbey Lane. My late night mecca of deliciousness. If there is anything that I miss about living in Austin, it's definitely Kerbey Lane. Back when I was in college, my weeks where finals, capstones, and theses were due, my days would usually go as follows: Class until 5pm, student work until 10pm, scoot on over to a 24 hour coffee place for an all night study bender, find the place crowded, go to Kerbey Lane instead. I've never had to deal with a wait at any of the Kerbey Lane locations - but then again I've never been earlier than 9pm. Kerbey Lane is exactly what I envision the manifestation of Austin to be - unique, local, quirky, and oh so delicious. Their menu has practically everything on it, from killer breakfast options to super scrumptious lunch and dinner selections. More often than not I do breakfast for dinner (or whenever I feel like) at Kerbey Lane. Their migas are the best I've ever had, and I love love LOVE their pancake flavor selection. Apple wheat is usually my favorite. But during the fall months I absolutely obsessed with there pumpkin pancakes, which are so good that they even sell the mix by the box so you can go home and make some yourself! Their sides are also semi-healthy and a little different than the average fries and macaroni fair restaurants, which include some veggie medleys and some tasty red potatoes. Also if you want to spring for something big and expensive their pork chops are really good, too. I find the prices very reasonable, and everything I've tried here is delicious. The ambiance is perfect for that late night study session or a place for young twenty-somethings to hang out, although the other locations like Lamar St and the original Kerbey Lane are just as great for older people too. And since they're open 24 hours a day, IHOP and Denny's can pretty much kiss my you-know-what. There's no beating the originality and deliciousness of Kerbey Lane. Whenever I'm in Austin, I'll always make a trip to one of their three locations, because being in Austin isn't complete without a meal from this wonderful restaurant.
(5)
Ira G.
The Kerbey Lane next to the UT campus is convenient in terms of location and hours, but it does have some things that should really be improved on. Firstly, its cleanliness is questionable. One time I went there and there was a cockroach on the roof, right above a long table where people were eating. When they told the waiter, the waiter came with a long broom and tried brushing the cockroach off, while spilling dust specks in the air and inevitably, onto the table full of food. That made me wonder how many other cockroaches are hiding around in there. Secondly, the waiters there will demand a tip. I was in a group of three, and after we had walked out of the restaurant, our waitress came storming out and asked us why she hadn't received a tip. First of all, chasing your customers as they leave in itself is rude. After we talked with her, she said, "Next time, if you don't have money, don't come out!" and stormed back into the restaurant. These two things alone are enough to make me think twice before going back to Kerbey Lane, even if they have a convenient location/hours.
(1)
Precious W.
The food was fine, I do like their breakfast sausage and it was well-cooked. No complaints there. I just don't feel like the breakfast experience was worth the $10 bill I departed with upon leaving. A couple things: 1. There was no host/hostess when I entered, and since I was just popping in for breakfast I went ahead to the counter. Several servers walked back and forth without even acknowledging me, then finally someone asked if I had been helped. I guess diners at the counter are second class. 2. When I did finally get my order taken, I asked for a few things a la carte. I was told there was a breakfast plate that included some of those items and a few others, and I politely declined, saying that I did not want those other items. I tried to clarify exactly what it was that I wanted, and was again told about the combo deal, with an attitude that suggested that I must be stupid to turn down the plate of food that I don't want to eat. I was less than impressed with this interaction. 3. While I was waiting for my food, another diner sat down at the counter and was ignored for several minutes until she asked someone if anyone was helping at the counter. The server in front of us didn't even turn around, but said over his shoulder, "Yes, someone will be with you in a minute." Then he paused, and then said, "well, not really, but someone will help you." This prompted the other diner to leave, and I don't blame her. 4. I waited patiently for several minutes after I had clearly finished my food until someone spoke to me again and I was able to ask for my bill. So the bottom line is, don't expect prompt, polite service, especially at the counter. To be fair, it seemed more that the staff was unclear about who was responsible for serving customers at the counter, not that they were completely indifferent, but it still makes for a less than ideal experience.
(2)
Lorrie M.
This is truly a one stop shop for all things comfort food. It's got unbeatable menu choices, great prices and even better hours to suit all of your grubbing needs in the middle of the night or middle of the morning. The location is convenient, has a parking lot and can hold a large size party of almost any number of people it seems like. The wait staff is friendly and patient when they see that you are clearly inept to make up your mind when the menu options range from breakfast to country fried steak. The water glasses are huge and so are the juices. You really do feel like you get your money's worth here especially when the entree platters start showing up on the table. With just five of us, we probably ended up taking up a whole long table fit for six people with all of our plates, side orders, etc. I got a buffalo taco, not bad, but not the best. I didn't want anything else at 2 am in the morning but friends got eggs and some breakfast platters which looked appetizing. Recommended as a late night eatery. It's just during the day you could probably find better things that are open hence 3 stars for now.
(3)
Katelyn D.
The food is average here but it's the service that gives this place a two star rating. I have waited for over 2 hours for my food to come out when there was hardly anyone there & it was a simple order. Pancakes, bacon & eggs, nothing to wait that long for. Then when the food came out they got the order wrong. But I just ate it bc I wasn't gonna wait another hour for the next dish to be brought out. Then it took us over an hr to get our check after I had asked the waiter for it. The service is just extremely SLOW. If my friends ever want to go they practically have to force me to go in there.
(2)
Kimberly L.
Had to come back to Kerbey Lane after my first visit a few months ago, and this one was closest to the hotel. Plus, it was kinda neat to show off some Longhorn pride to an out of town visitor. The food was good...very good! I just had the biscuits and gravy with eggs because I wanted to save room for the Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake. OMG. That cake. *cough* Anywho, the biscuits were big and fluffy and the gravy was good, although a smidge bland, but that's what pepper is for, right? The eggs were cooked right and NOT runny-yay! The service was fine. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't crap. It was about 11am on a Monday, and they were busy-ish. But we got seated right away and our server was there fairly quickly. Sadly there were a TON of flies buzzing around and they sat us in a little alcove that was super warm from the sun beating through the windows. Blech. So all in all a good place to eat, I just think I might bring some sunscreen and a flyswatter if I come back to this location!
(3)
Amber C.
This place by far has the BEST VEGAN PANCAKES EVER!!! I practically licked my plate the food here was fantastic! My husband and I both got the Vegan Breakfast Platter that had the pancake of the day being the Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes, I Swear they were Peach Cinnamon (pieces of peaches and the flavor) I asked them because they do have that flavor but she said she thought they were Pumpkin, either way they were INCREDIBLE! I loved the tofu scramble also and their own made soy sausage. The platter size was just right but I would have loved to have more pancakes :) It was packed but we seemed to get a seat pretty quick. I have more information and pictures on my blog livealittlesunshine.blog…
(4)
Gloria C.
It feels more active than the Anderson location--even with most of the students gone for the holidays. The remodel might have been a good choice to stand out on the drag, but I got the feeling that I was entering a giant candy wrapper, and would not automatically associate it with much on the menu--especially if I had never eaten at any location before. It previously had more of an earthy-granola outward appearance. The TVs at the location were a nice touch so everybody had something to do while eating. I ordered something 'fast' rather than one of my usual menu items--and was pleased with how good it actually tasted. The servers were attentive to my needs, even proactively offering to make sure I had the right kind of cheese on my veggie burger and if I really did not want coffee to go because It was so cold outside. I'm not sure how regularly I will get the chance to visit this specific location, but people in the neighborhood do need to get the chance to drop by.
(3)
Monica T.
On my various visits to Austin, I've found myself at Kerbey Lane several times. I've always enjoyed it, but have never been blown away. I appreciate that they have a large menu that hits a lot of areas of cuisine and they try to throw on some stuff off the beaten path. The ingredients are fresh, I can dig that. However, I always get the feeling that they're spread too thin. Maybe if they focused a little bit or scaled things down, something would wow me. The same thing goes for the service. The servers always seem very nice, but give off the vibe that they have just a few too many tables, or that they'd really rather not be dealing with my group of nine New Yorkers right now. Don't get me wrong, Kerbey Lane is definitely good. I just feel that for the price I should be getting just a little bit more if they want to be exceptional.
(3)
Lady R.
Just amazing as well! Kerbey Lane Cafe has REALLY changed. I feel like it's not even the same restaurant anymore. It's wonderfully clean, we waited a whole 10 seconds to be seated, there is more seating, clean bathrooms (even can use your foot to open the bathroom), I would recommend their pancakes (they have specials of the day vegan and fun flavors like lemon raspberry though I wasn't a fan of lemon raspberry), burgers are very good, sweet potato fries are a must!, Kerbey Queso (drooling just thinking about it), tacos are amazing... I think pretty much everything I have had here was really good. I love that it right there on the drag with it's own parking lot. There is also this cute 'bar' area so if you are single and going alone, there you do so you don't take up a whole table. Great place and if you are hungry near campus and want to sit down, come here! They aren't the fastest at serving you, but you get good food! Love it!
(5)
Valerie L.
Yelp is a place to vent, right? I've been here multiple times over the past few years and have always had a relatively good experience - until now. Can anyone explain to me why it took my friends and I over an hour to get our food? Or why the neighboring table, an even larger group, got their food first despite being seated after us? Most importantly, why did the restaurant do nothing about it? A long wait is one thing, and I can understand if a restaurant is understaffed. I'm not going to go apeshit over that. What really puts me over the edge is that even after we spoke to the manager, nothing happened. No apology, no complimentary food, nothing. Our waitress pretty much treated us with indifference the entire time. And she halfheartedly apologized for the long wait and said they only had one cook in the kitchen. She threw a bunch of straws on our table, couldn't break a smile, never filled my water, and didn't bother to ask if we wanted anything for dessert. Just placed our check on the table and walked away. What if I wanted some carrot cake, huh? I NEVER complain to management, but today is what I call "Be Less Passive Tuesday" so I had to let her know that we had waited over an hour already. Our food came out soon after, but still, that was it. My hippy burger was good as usual. I'm usually pleased with my food at Kerbey, so that's not why I'm complaining at all. I am really racking my mind as to why three hippy burgers and an omelette would take over an hour, whereas a group of five or six girls can get all their food in nearly half that amount of time. I know I could just brush it off, but like I said, it's Be Less Passive Tuesday. And Kerbey, you really did us wrong.
(1)
Andrew H.
This place was a staple in college and I think it should remain that way. IT has a great vibe like many of the local 'Kerbey' locations, but it is definitely the most crowded- probably because it's so convenient if you're a UT student. The only reason I don;t give it 5 stars is the wait time and the customer service. Here's the breakdown: Taste: 10 stars- Get the Kerbey Queso! Atmosphere: 8 stars Price: 8 stars Wait time: 1 star Friendliness: 3 stars If you've never been there before, give their gingerbread pancakes, house fries and queso for a try! Thanks for the memories, Kerbey!
(4)
Ashleigh D.
I really like that it's open 24 hours and located on the drag. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I got the hummus dip with pita bread and the hummus tasted watered down and had no flavor.
(3)
Nicole P.
Actually, despite asserting otherwise in my last review, I am going to try and stop coming to *this particular* Kerbey. With the exception of one particular server who has since moved on to manage at one of the south locations, the service has gotten worse and worse here. The last straw was a couple of weeks ago. I had a friend in town, and we stopped at this Kerbey for lunch because it was on our way. Even though the restaurant was mostly empty, it took 5 minutes for anyone to acknowledge the party of 3 before us, and another couple of minutes for us to get seated. I asked for a chile relleno (yeah, I'm on a kick), but without the vegan chorizo and with some chicken, and was assured that this would be totally fine. My friend ordered some bacon wrapped pesto chicken (which they were, for once, not out of). About 30 minutes went by. The table that was seated right before us got their food in about 10 minutes, but we were left waiting. I put our empty water glasses on the edge of the table, and they were ignored. No large groups came in during this time. The restaurant remained mostly empty. After we asked about our food, an apology was offered, and "oh," says the waitress, "I forgot to tell you, when I put the order in, they said the rellenos are pre-made and just dropped in the fryer, but I'm having them just put your chicken on top, is that okay?" No. It's not okay. Not only did I specifically want meat, I also want to avoid processed soy-based fake meat. Had she "remembered" to mention this to me when she first learned about it, this would not have been an issue, but making me wait 30 minutes and THEN have to order something else that I now have to wait even longer for? Totally not okay. If this was the first time I'd had awful service at this location, I would have accepted the offer of free dessert and not complained. At this point, though, I'm really just done. If I wanted to wait forever for my food to not come out the way I had hoped, I'd be cooking at home and saving a lot of cash.
(1)
Zeke T.
I always come to this place when I come down to Austin. The Food is okay and the service was pretty but why four stars you ask? Well I ask myself the same question. It just seems like a place you can always relay on after your drunken fiasco that is not fast food. To me, this place has become monumental social environment. and there is nothing wrong with that.
(4)
Chris O.
Great queso with guac, best I had in town. Tasty sandwich too, and their breakfast food is very good. Good service as well.
(4)
Autumn C.
When I think of kerbey lane I think of heaven...and really good eggs. Plus, Forrest is the best server ever. Oh, and Victoria.
(5)
Gayle S.
If it's 2am on the drag, you don't have a lot of choice. Kerbey Lane it is. If you are able to go elsewhere, do so. The food is ok, but the service is notoriously rotten. Especially if you're a woman eating alone at the counter.
(2)
Bruce J.
I hit this place up after a Halloween party and had heard rave reviews about the queso. It lived up to the hype but the chips were slightly stale. All I ordered was the queso which made for a perfect 3 AM snack. Our table agreed that it was probably overpriced but it was as good as advertised!
(4)
Patrick L.
I posted this on this on the wrong kerbey lane but it belongs here.... LOL KERBEY LANE, what a freshmen death trap. I don't know why but EVERYONE who first starts attending UT, loves Kerbey Lane. It's like OMFG "KERBEY QUESO", combining queso and guac, who else would have thought of that. God, after 4 years of attending UT, I can honestly say Kerbey Lane sucks balls. When I was a more inexperienced Austinite, Kerbey used to be our stop after a sloppy night at the clubs. However, we all soon came to the sad realization that besides the Kerbey Queso, there was absolutely no reason to come to this craphole. I've been ordering this turkey panini about 5 times in a row. The first time, the sauce on it tasted a little bit like soap I absolutely couldn't believe it, I thought the waiter was messing with me rubbing soap on my sandwich. So next time I came to Kerbey Lane, I was like F it, I'm gonna order that damn sandwich again. IT TASTED LIKE SOAP AGAIN. So I ordered it one more time, just to make sure I wasn't crazy, its a SOAP TASTING DRESSING. Wow! I've ordered it a few more times to show my friends the soap tasting sandwich. I've had other breakfasts here for a whopping $10-$12, seriously? $3 for sunny-side or scrambled eggs? It cost me a whopping $2 for a dozen of eggs at HEB. Oh I want a stack of pancakes, that'll be $7-$9 bucks. I guess it's a freshmen hurdle to overcome, to realize this place is absolute trash.
(2)
Anna S.
Kerbey Lane is open 24/7, so I usually come here when all my favorite restaurants around campus are closed. The place serves delicious veggie burgers, cheese burgers, chicken sandwiches, and breakfast items. I would stray away from the turkey avocado sandwich and roast beef sandwich. The former because the turkey is very dry, and the latter because the roast beef is disgusting. Other than that, the place is affordable and great for small or medium sized groups, or with one other person.
(3)
Kimberly K.
It is freeeezing. Could you make it less cold?* No. Could you put some blueberries and some strawberries in the same pancake?* No. Could you put chocolate chips in the pancake?* Not today... just the special. How about real butter instead of margarine? No, margarine is better for you. No, my dear, it is just cheaper to put on the table. and it stinks. and it makes the pancakes stink... why have i never noticed this before today? Camel's Back meet Straw. Thanks for keeping the 3rd Coast coffee filled. *perhaps unreasonable requests... but MARGARINE, come on... that is so stinky, plasticky wrong. (ALSO, just for scorekeeping, the scrambled eggs have varied wildly in my last 3 visits from slightly runny to overcooked to slightly moist. Bacon has been consistently chewy and oily - not crisp at all. Pancakes - of course - are stellar but I am boycotting the stinky margarine. The coffee is bottomless but unlike sexy leather chaps, it is mediocre.)
(2)
Annette A.
Whenever I'm in need of migas, Kerbey Lane comes to mind. They are absolutely delicious here. I will eat them for any meal, oh I want some right now! I've always had great service here, never a bad experience. The Kerbey Queso is also a must have, great drunk food at 3 AM :) I wish it wasn't so damn popular that I had to wait among the bajillion sorority and fraternity kids on Saturday/Sunday mornings, but alas I will because I can walk here. And I just love you Kerbey so much!
(4)
Shannon R.
Editing to say that an employee told me the OJ is indeed local and that local is defined as within 100 miles. Glad to hear this, and I hope their food quality improves to where it once was. SR We went there at 7:30 Sunday morning - we were headed to Texas French Bread and as we passed Kerbey Lane we thought we'd see if it could best Texas French Bread. I like Kerbey Lane for its business model and its (apparently past) practice of having their own gardens. Sadly for me, I felt like i was eating at Denny's. I give it 3 stars instead of 2 because of the service and because my kids loved their dishes - and because I suppose they lived up to their website mission of being a "local, friendly and relaxed place with affordable homemade meals." It definitely did not compare in the slightest to Texas French Bread or Monument Cafe, both of which serve food that tastes awesome. Service: We were seated immediately - naturally most sane people are still asleep at that hour. Our service was fine, a 4 star. Server was pleasant and got our order right, no problems there. Decor: The interior looked fairly grimy but that might have been the pocks in the tile floor and the overall brown background color. There was neat artwork on the walls and a great set of windows to people-watch on the drag. There were 4-5 flies buzzing around our area, which was annoying. The women's bathroom was dark and dingy although they have a cool funky faucet. Food: I got an omelet, which was fine but a little greasy. Others at our table got an omelet (he thought his was delicious), pancakes (they thought they were good), and breakfast tacos (also thought they were good). The hot chocolate was of the ihop quality - tasted like powdered or syrup from a machine. I asked the waiter if the eggs were pastured eggs or regular and he said regular. I asked if they still had gardens at any of their locations and he had no idea. He did say that all of their food was local and I wonder if that is really true if not even the eggs were pastured or notable; eggs are perhaps the easiest thing to get in good quality and large quantities. And how is chocolate local? As a gardener who has had citrus orchards elsewhere and has looked into growing them here, I also doubt that there are enough oranges grown locally to provide for local orange juice. I think that claim is a stretch. I really was hoping to have a great experience and add this Kerbey Lane location to my favorites, and am disappointed at having to give it a blah review, but it didn't deserve anything better.
(3)
Javier E.
I've been to this Kerbey Lane three times. The first time I was drunk and I had a so-so experience. It was Saturday night/Sunday morning, so it was packed with students and loud sorority girls. I was a bit annoyed. The service seemed rushed and a bit negligent but I understand, it was nuts that night. Second time I went, I had breakfast. The food is so delicious but the customer service is just horrendous--every, single, time. We had this girl who seemed to have gotten the job based on her sense of fashion rather than her performance. She was distracted, seemed annoyed by us, at one point I thought she was either drunk or high. Upon leaving I had to look for her to give us the tab. I could have just walked out--I should've!!! Third time, I took my friends there for the first time. We chose Kerbey's over Conan's Pizza--bad move! I had a really bad experience when it came to our service. The hostess sat us (six people) in a booth where four fit comfortably, cornered in the back of the restaurant. It's okay, my friends and I didn't mind. The food was great. I always come back only for the Kerbey queso (the best!!), despite being a little overpriced. Our server was so rude with us, my friends and I kept pointing it out. I tried cooling things off by asking him suggestions but he kept giving us a cold shoulder. We ran out of chips and an employee just walks by and literally throws some chips at us. It was unreal. It was nice of him to give us more chips but c'mon--be nice. The food is really good but each time I go to that particular location the service just kills the whole experience. My suggestion, try another Kerbey Lane location.
(2)
Amanda C.
Had lunch here yesterday for probably the 4th time- in all of my experiences (except one where I was with a big party and had a surly server) the service has been good and quick; the food is good to above average diner food. I would stick with breakfast because breakfast is the best meal ever and they make some yummy omelettes (the Californian for example) and have healthier sides too- like a modest fruit portion or black beans. 2$ mimosas; special pancakes that change. 24 hours and average prices. My friends tell me the burgers and quesadillas are good too! Really busy on weekends for brunch so expect to wait, during the week it's more of a wham bam thank you mam situation.
(4)
Cansu B.
Really good queso!! Unfortunately, the service was rather poor. Our waiter was confused and didn't realize that we were in his section. We ended up switching waiters a few times. My water was never filled. There was a long time between waiter "check ups" on us. Besides terrible service, the food was wonderful! Disclaimer: I came right after a longhorn football game, right before the crowds came. This may be the reason the service was bad.
(3)
Meg W.
I come to Austin often and I always make it a point to go to Kerbey Lane for breakfast before heading home. I fall in love with Eggs Francisco (without bacon) every time I eat here and I can't bring myself to try anything else because it is so damn good. The service at this location has always been great, although I've noticed if we don't get there before 8 a.m., the wait is ridiculous at every location. I can see why though: this place is an Austin gem and something that should not be missed for a first-timer in Austin.
(5)
David B.
Long wait but they sat us in the time frame they promised. I had the fried green tomato BLT
(4)
Jeanette H.
I have mixed feelings about Kerbey Lane. The food is GREAT but the service is not so great! The morning staff seems to be not enthusiastic and provide poor service. I have been in the evening and had accurate and quick service. Kerbey Lane needs to work on its morning staff. If those folks don't like there job then they should fake it or get another job because providing poor service and bad food is only hurting Kerbey Lane's image. I can't write this review without mentioning the nightmare that they call a parking lot!! Its a danger zone and there is only one entrance/exit and not a lot of room to turn around. That being said the apple whole wheat pancakes are probably my favorite!! I would also recommend the omelettes as well.
(3)
Ricardo G.
Very crowed, good place to go for meeting people. Service is good.
(4)
Ben R.
Kerbey Lane has great diner food and lots of vegetarian options. The sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce are the perfect combination of sweet, savory and spicy. I love that they have Iced Toddy on the menu (and it's pretty decent). This place is very popular with the college kids though, so be prepared to wait for a table at dinner time.
(4)
Tricia C.
Another Austin staple...gotta love the Kerbey Queso, the blueberry and the gingerbread pancakes, the omelettes, the hot cocoa, and the Greek chicken (I don't think that last one is a staple, but I ordered it pretty frequently). Due to the high volume of customers, waits can get REALLY long, and service isn't always very attentive (not always their fault, I've had some REALLY overworked servers). I think everyone and their mom has probably already been here, but if not, then get your butt in and eat something! Ideally at a non-peak time, if there is one.
(4)
Elben S.
The bastard child of the original Kerbey Lane, Kerbey Lane: UT Campus is a staple of University of Texas life. Some declare Kerbey Lane as overrated. Perhaps this is true, but what better place to get fresh, specialty pancakes or a filling diner plate at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning? From Tex-Mex to breakfast plates to fusion Mediterranean, Kerbey Lane presents a rare melting pot of various cultures and identities. The service is sometimes slow, especially on late weekend nights, but the staff always displays a cheery mood. That's hard to do, and I respect them for that. The atmosphere is that of a diner, fitting for a university joint. If you're looking for a fancier vibe, visit the original Kerbey Lane on Kerbey Lane. Go here for the food, but also enjoy your experience. You'll be back, perhaps at 3 a.m. in the morning.
(3)
Victor E.
I never been to this location and my first thought where am I going to park. Luckily since school is over, there were plenty of parking to park. The services was really good and the waitress came by to check on the group. I order french toast since I have been craving for a while and bacon. All over the food and the services was good. I usually don't go to this area because it is hard to park, specially when school is in session. will go there again to that location? maybe. it all depend of the time and day.
(4)
Melissa d. J.
I must echo the sentiment that Kerbey Lane Cafe is one of those places you go back to over and over again--either for convenience or for the hope that their eclectic menu will somehow, someday live up to its potential. Though it never really does. Meh. Given, I am not really much of a breakfast person. I consider myself a pretty damn good cook, and breakfast is by FAR the easiest thing to make. But to be perfectly honest, I will choose sleep over breakfast any day of the week. So I rarely order breakfast items...though I have bought the pumpkin pancake mix to make at home when I have a craving. I have tried multiple things on the menu, but all of them have been a disappointment for me, save for: --turkey and avocado quesadillas --California enchiladas And yet somehow, I keep going back. I think it's due to the fact that it's the only place on the Drag with half-decent parking space, and during your hour lunch break, you really can't waste time searching for a parking spot. Being originally from San Antonio, I must admit I wish we had something remotely like Kerbey Lane over there...I mean, the only 24-hour joints we have are Jim's and IHOP...I'd like to see more variety in their menu like Kerbey Lane has.
(3)
Jenny K.
if i were a UT student, i would gain the freshmen30 (not 15). paris texas platter -- migas con queso and french toast the migas is kinda like a egg, diced tomato, tortilla chips scramble. get it with the queso. the queso sauce is a bit extra...think it's 75 cents but worth it. YUM-MY!! =) french toast was just your standard. i wish i could eat the migas con queso in CA!!! maybe i'll just have to search for recipes and make my own. i'd have migas con queso on corn tortilla daily if my waistline permitted.
(4)
Jennifer I.
Queso to die for!
(4)
Shannon M.
After taking a 5 year break, we were reminded of why we don't eat at Kerbey Lane. Eggs were ice cold. Pancakes tasted like coconut and were drt. My kid who loves pancakes didn't like them nor did my friend. Wilted kale on what looked like a recycled orange. Rice that tasted like it was instant and not real. Lack of coffee refills. And let's not forget the flies.....
(1)
Salman M.
Went for breakfast, wasn't disappointed. Pretty amazing pancakes. The order took some time but it was worth it. On the other hand the service wasn't very brilliant
(4)
Andrew S.
I've been to this location multiple times during my first year at UT. You'll probably end up eating here if you're hungry late at night, and you're not feelin' Jack in the Box or Whataburger. I've had numerous items off the menu. Kerbey queso is a must have, it's usually the only thing I get. The Queso has changed a bit after the remodeling, but it's still delicious. What makes the queso special is the guac inside, it's like a little hidden gem that really defines and sets this queso apart from other quesos. In addition to queso, I've had some of the enchilada plates from the menu. Their enchiladas aren't bad, but they're not amazing either. I'm not a fan of the black beans that come with the enchilada plates. The rice is meh as well. The burgers are a good menu item. They're cooked pretty well, and I've never been disappointed with my burger at Kerbey Lane. They have a lot of other offerings, including the usual breakfast items, vegetarian options, and other random options (like hummus). I really like the remodeling, gives this diner a really modern feel. Service is good as well, I was once treated rudely by this one waiter because me and my friends were waiting for a few more friends to arrive, but after I complained about his rudenes, I was given some chips and queso for free, so I came out happy.
(3)
Lini W.
I got the Vegan breakfast platter and it was DELISH. The pancakes were soooo good. The only thing that was annoying was the breakfast tofu scramble was a tiny portion. But it tasted really good!
(4)
Daniel S.
Get the migas with ranchero or salsa verde! Also, you can never go wrong with their fluffy pancackes. The staff is generally friendly and courteous. Once, they completely forgot about our table (we were lost in conversation), but they compensated for the delay. Expect long waiting times late at night.
(4)
Wayne N.
Kerbey Lane was really good the first time I came here, but since then the euphora has worn off. The pancakes are awesome every time and probably the reason why I give them all the stars; I definitely recommend the gingerbread ones. Kerbey queso was alright, kinda cold when it was brought out to us, but I did like the large scoop of guacomole. My omelet was nothing special, which was somewhat disappointing. It was pretty saddening to have to add salt and pepper to my eggs just to make them palatable. Its open 24/7 I think so you can have breakfast whenever you want. Nice service too.
(3)
Johnny S.
One word: Kerbey Queso! In the mantra of maintaining Austin "weird," Kerbey Lane is truly one of the last bastions which connects current Austin to it's earlier-and-more-weird roots. The waitstaff here was rocking Buddy-Holly eyeware, body piercings, & purple hair long ago when most of the hipsters newcomers were still diaper-wearing whippersnappers!! Locals, natives, & anyone else who has lived in the city more than 10 years will still argue over which place is more authentically Austin -- Kerbey Lane or Magnolia Cafe. Personally, the debate doesn't matter much to me because I love them both equally! Both places portray that mystique we try to describe to outsiders as what is essential Austin, TX. Out of all the locations in the city, I still prefer this one to the others mainly because of the eye candy. The flavors all taste the same, but this one tends to have cuter guys (or girls ... if you're into that). Like others have noted, parking sucks. But it's difficult to park anywhere withing a 5-block radius of campus. Worse case is you have to park a few blocks away & walk over, while admiring all the cute college guys (or girls, or whatever) as you meander over for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or post-clubbing pancakes.
(4)
Heidi G.
We were advised to go here just for the Queso, which was fabulous! Guac, black beans, cheese, sooooo good. Not only that but our meals were delicious as well. I got their seasonal steak arepas which was so tasty, different and fresh. My friend got the pesto bacon chicken which was great but maybe a little salty for my liking. The service was adequate and would have been great had our server not been too busy. He was friendly when he had time though! Other cool thing was that it was just recently remodeled and now it is this new trendy looking cafe as opposed to the apparently old dumpy place that it used to be. Wonderful place! Definitely go!
(4)
Michael G.
I love Kerbey Lane Cafe! I don't eat there as often as I used to since I live in the 'burbs these days, but I thoroughly enjoy every meal that I eat at KLC. Some of my favorites include Kerbey queso (of course), chipotle cream pasta, and the mocha java float. Their side salads are always very fresh, and I really enjoy the seasonal items too. I'm not a big breakfast person, but last month I tried the lemon poppyseed pancakes and thought they were awesome. Yes, sometimes the waiters can be pricks and patrons can be smelly, but I think it's worth it in the end. I only wish there was a location in the RR area.
(5)
Tiffany V.
Oh, Kerbey. What would my college experience be without your delicious Kerbey queso? Late night studying done, what to do? It's a clear consensus we should all go grab some Kerbey. Though Kerbey is not my absolute most favorite place to eat, it has provided me with good memories and decent food. I had to eat through the menu to finally figure out that the Eggs Francisco were heaven sent. An english muffin topped with eggs, tomato, avocado, bacon, and finally drenched in queso, is just divine. Substitute your sides for the short stack of buttermilk pancakes and you've got yourself a treat. Don't go for the gingerbread pancakes, I've tried them multiple times and have struggled to finish them every time, just stick with the good ol' buttermilk. And of course, you can't go wrong with the Kerbey queso. Order it and split it amongst your party, you won't regret it. I docked off a star for their price, it's not the cheapest thing on the block, especially when the majority of people that come in are college students. They are open 24/7, so if you come in late in the night, you'll most likely encounter some loud drunk students who stumbled in after a party. Another star was docked off because I remember the queso being a good decent size and now they serve less of it in a sad, small bowl. Boooo. I came back in the summer to visit and found that Kerbey Lane had a COMPLETELY new look. In my opinion, I liked the old layout better, felt cozy, rustic, and just had that overall "Austin-y diner" feel. The new Kerbey looks like a cross between something from the Jetsons and a cafeteria. The only upside is that they got new furniture and all these new lights and also still accept Bevo bucks.
(3)
Rachael L.
We were scouting out Good diner-style breakfast and we were satisfied at Kerbey's. yummy greek yogurt with granola and strawberries, good scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, coffee. Waitstaff seemed very overwhelmed and on what seemed like a normal busy- not cray busy- late morning. That was a little distracting, but luckily we did not require much of our server. (Although it was a little annoying to have to ask for coffee refills multiple times). Overall, a decent visit.
(4)
Charlie S.
Been going to Kerbey lane for some time but never reviewed. I really like the vegan options they have especially migas, pancakes, and the veggie burger. I changed diets about two years ago and having places to go that provide something similar to what I used to eat helps a lot. Service can sometimes be spotty but overall a good place to eat and a great place for breakfast.
(4)
Leslie H.
I have yet to find a time where I have enjoyed a Kerbey Lane Cafe experience. Why do I keep going back? It's usually not my choice. Why does service here suck so bad? They're on a campus with tons of students, many of whom are dying to find a job, yet Kerbey Lane Cafe continues to hire the slowest, lackluster employees I've ever experienced. I went today with a coworker and ordered the two eggs with biscuits and gravy. My gravy was lukewarm (if that) when I got it, and didn't even pour out of the bowl onto the biscuits. I had to plop it out with a knife and spread it around. After eating one biscuit, I asked the waitress if she could pop it into the microwave, because by that point the gravy was cold. Once I got it back, it was nice and hot and tasted like gravy! I should have done that to begin with, especially since our waitress was MIA most of the time and you never knew when she was going to come back. I will try very hard not to go back to Kerbey Lane Cafe, as they are undeserving of my money.
(1)
Sanket K.
1st star - Open 24 hours a-day. I can't tell you how many times I've stumbled in here around 3am to get a good bite to eat. It's worth the wait. 2nd star - Pancakes. They are fluffy, they have a great variety with a special nightly. I'm not the hugest pancake fan as they are just too filling (all pancakes not just the ones here) but KL's pancakes are some of the best in Austin. 3rd star - If you have skimmed through the other reviews and have not seen 2/3 of these words: "Kerbey" "Cowboy" and "Queso", I advise you to skip those reviews. This is perhaps my favorite appetizer in all of Austin. It's just sooo good. I used to order just the queso for takeout back in my college days. I have not had queso as good as this anywhere else. 4th star - See above. 5th star - See above. Yeah it's unfair to give multiple stars for the queso but it's just that good. My mouth waters for it right now.
(5)
Heidi L.
The last time I ate here I remember thinking that this place is better then I remembered but not a place I would eat at unless nothing else is open. I tend to avoid the Kerbey on campus. It's almost always crowded, service is terrible, and the food isn't as good compared to other Kerbeys. My friend and I came here at 3 am to get our grub on. We ordered the Kerbey queso, which came out nice and thick. The last time we ordered it, it was thin (yuck). I ordered the Moroccan stew. I was disappointed in the lack of meat in my dish especially for the price. I should have gotten the pancakes since they never disappoint.
(3)
Shannon A.
Well I don't know what to say other than what a great stop for a late night drink and work session. I came into Kerby, completely remodeled by the way, just wanting a beer and some free wifi to get some work done. That is exactly what I got long with some black beans and really friendly service from my waiter Cory. It was also really fun watching all the cray crays walking by on the drag. Great place to eat, drink, work, and people watch! Thanks Cory for the drinks!
(5)
Tricia O.
I gave Kerbey Lane one star because: 1. The parking situation is really grim and people get nasty. We got in arguments with people standing in the spots so cars couldn't park there... BOO 2. While I was telling the host how many people were in my party, some random guy walked by and PUT HIS FINGER IN MY MOUTH and ran away - so we left, and didn't eat here. I gave it a second star since I didn't actually get to eat anything since I was so disgusted by the finger/mouth business. Who does that?
(2)
Darcy D.
Love love love Kerbey Lane. Their Kerbey Queso just can't be beat! While they are known more for their breakfast foods (always so many unique pancakes!), I am a big fan of the California Enchiladas (Avocado, cheese, tomatoes, and olives smothered in a delicious sour cream sauce, served with black beans and rice). Great place to come after a night out drinking and you're over by campus and you don't want Whataburger or Pluckers!
(4)
Roel R.
Eggs Benedict are delicious service is ok great breakfast at any time of day.
(4)
Roberto F.
There are two things that you will always find at Kerbey Lane: A waiting time and great food. As mentioned in my previous review this place is constantly busy but for good reason. I always go for the pancakes here for breakfast and I never leave disappointed. If you can't find parking there's a perfect street near the 7-11, San Antonio St.. I love Austin int the fact that you don't have to pay meter's on Sunday.
(4)
Cain R.
One morning, during SXSW, I stopped in here with my brother for a little nourishment and break away from all the food trucks. Though it was a weekend -- I think -- and busy, our wait wasn't that long and our waiter was pretty cool. The wi-fi was pretty great and helpful too because I had already burned through my data plan at that point. And as for the food? I ordered a Paris, Texas, which is french toast with migas. Migas, outside of my mom's, is usually hit-or-miss out in the world but these migas were probably the best one's I have had so far. Well, the best one I've gotten at a restaurant. And I'm Mexican from Texas, so that compliment has to count for something, right? But I was hungover so . . .
(5)
Lauren H.
were in austin last weekend for the george strait concert and the hotel concierge sent us here for our hungover brunch. amazing!!! 2 of us got the eggs francisco (?) a mash of everything delicious - queso, eggs, avocado, tomato, english muffin. i had the california omelet with avocado, tomatoes, & salsa (nixed the olives) and we got some pumpkin french toast for the table. they had everything our hearts could have desired that morning - including dos equis, and the local right next door to continue our fantastic start to our day. we will be back!
(5)
Carlos G.
VEGAN PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They also have lot of veggie options on the menu and they're open all day, every day.
(5)
Mathew P.
Diners, I love them and live by them. My lady and I hunt for them. Whenever we enter a new city or place that we have never been it's one of the first things we search for. She found this place on her first trip to Austin but at a different location, so we decided to go for breakfast on our recent weekend trip to see the bats. (we chose this one due to proximity of where we stayed) The portions were huge. I couldn't even finish my food, but in a good way. I Had the Paris Texas which was a order of french toast and Migas. I don't eat meat and am used to NYC diners so i expected it to not be totally filling without the meat toppings for my miga's, and small portions that i am used to in NY. that being the case I ordered a side of home fries as well... Let me tell you they do not joke around, I will try to post a pic on here later. The food was excellent. My french toast was a little dry but it was made up for with the fine service and coffee. I had never experienced a Miga before but was very excited to indulge my curiosity. I had the basic egg with green salsa and corn tortilla's. Everything tasted great. the potato's were just the way I liked them as well. (to warn you i like them crispy and a bit burnt without grease) Overall a great experience and a decent atmosphere. Congrats Kerbey you are my first 5 star in TX. PS... the "soysauge" was the first fake sausage i liked the flavor of...
(5)
Mel G.
This campus location has probably seen its handful of absolutely crazy shite in its day. I remember they offered a 10% discount for patrons who came in sporting a mullet (very respectable offer, if I do say so myself). Like a few other places on the Drag, it's nice to see some continuity, and Kerbey Lane has been there like an old friend.
(5)
Rachel S.
Kerbey Queso. Pumpkin pancakes. Lemon poppyseed pancakes. What keeps me coming back. My worst issue is the service here. Every time I come here, I am constantly having to ask for my water to be refilled. It doesn't matter if it's busy, empty, you're sitting at the bar, or in the tiny corner of the second room. I always end up sliding my clearly empty cup of ice to the edge of the table multiple times, making eye contact with them with my empty water obnoxiously visible. Also, lemme tell ya. Some of them employees have got some sass. Yeah, I saw that eye roll. And really, this girl needs water! I don't appreciate how you make me feel bad for nicely asking for a refill.
(3)
Drew Z.
Doesn't have as much history as the original but still has lots of good food and good prices. Parking as with most of the rest of Austin is a mess. There is a parking lot that always seems to have cars idling in the parking lot waiting and hoping someone leaves because there is no other place to park. The pancakes are very good and popular. They have various flavors but the buttermilk are the most popular even though their buttermilk has a somewhat different flavor, it is good and will quickly grow on you. Oh, I almost forgot. Their Kerbey Queso is amazing and I would recommend it even with breakfast. Mmmm. Good.
(5)
Ethan J.
The pancakes here are delicious and I don't even like pancakes that much. If it's your first time trying out one of the Kerby Lane's MAKE SURE YOU GET PANCAKES. The pancake specials are almost always really good, but you can't go wrong with the plain buttermilk. Eggs francisco is another good choice, and the vegan food is surprisingly good, and as a non-vegan I even enjoy it. The queso is decent, but go to Torchy's if you want some really amazing queso. The service is hit or miss, but it's usually good enough.
(5)
Shari S.
I have never had anything from the menu that impressed me. It's average, but nothing really stands out. The items on the seasonal menu have usually been better and I wish that some of them would replace items on the permanent menu. I do like their queso, but cannot justify coming here for the queso alone. If you'd like pancakes and queso at the same time though I'd recommend giving it a shot.
(3)
Tonya R.
As good as I remember even though the menu has changed. The Harvest Omelette was wholesome goodness. The San Francisco eggs were cheesy goodness. Crisp bacon and avocado elevated to heavenly. The cocoa banana pancakes were divine. Chocolaty while still light. Staff managed the crowd without breaking a sweat.
(5)
Gita N.
lots of delish vegan options
(5)
Ron E.
Truly care about customers. Unique dishes and great service. An Austin original that keeps delivering what we love.
(5)
Stephen H.
I hate the renovation. HATE. From the outside, it looks like a fence was thrown onto the building by a tornado. And on the inside, the previous charm has been replaced with sad green paint and really bad lighting design. The place feels so sterile now. That said, the food is the same, homey and comforting. I always end up getting the migas. And the waitstaff is still too quirky to pay you proper attention. Honestly, I much prefer Magnolia's to Kerby Lane, but this location will always be popular and nothing I say here will change that.
(2)
Lillian H.
I've been going to Kerbey Lane for years and the food has always tasted delicious and fresh. I'm docking 1 star for service, which can be a hit or miss. Their parking lot is also tiny, so you may need to park somewhere else. I usually order the Egg Francisco and pancakes. You can't go wrong with their pancakes.
(4)
Kristen D.
First place I ate at when I moved to Austin 5 years ago, and I'm still going back several times a month; There's something to be said for that. The vegan pancake flavors have increased dramatically, and I actually feel like my forever-ago complaint was heard and acted on. A multitude of stars for that. I also like how the servers at UT have become more knowledgable about vegan food, letting me know which tortillas aren't vegan for my tofu migas, and switching the hippie burger to grilled instead of fried so it wouldn't be floating next to a piece of bacon in the fryer. Considerate! Now my wish is for Kerbey to have a plain vegan buttermilk style pancake on the daily menu for when I'm not feelin' the rotating flavor. Anything to ensure I have a constant flow of vegan pancakes into my life, right? I have priorities, people.
(5)
Martin G.
I have been to Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe a few times. Each time the service was prompt and the experience was great. The menu options also match the high paced student lifestyle. I would recommend Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe to fellow students.
(5)
Paul S.
I really wish I could give three stars, but when you get cheated on ingredients... it's hard to brush it off. our server was great, caitlynn seemed genuinely happy to be our server. she should get 5 stars. our food was ok, the fried green tomato BLT read better on the menu than what it delivered. I had the tomato pie and the toms were not the best this summer tom season has to offer and it was mostly feta and olives.... the crust was soggy. I ate it all with no real complaints. the older two kids loved the chicken enchiladas with verde (green) sauce. they know enchiladas so when they approve, they must be good. my caesar salad... was swimming in dressing. easily 2 or 3x the amount necessary for a salad. it was really a bit gross. what really bothered me was the PB&J from the kid's menu. I noticed the 3 y.o. boy was really going to town on it. he refused french fries and that never happens. we knew he liked PB&J, figured the PB has some nutritional value and J just sort of sweetened it up.... I had a closer look, NO PB! none! it was just two slices of bread and gobs of grape jelly. if they ran out of PB, they should have let us know before serving it. I'd have felt OK w/ three stars if it weren't for the PB cheat.
Ate here and also at s. Lamar. Think of it as a 24 Dennys or ihop with much better service and healthier vegan/vegetarian food choices if you have a hipster gluten free friend in your group. At the s lamar location the vegan queso was way spicy.. tasty but it was above flaming cheeto hot. Had their breakfast quesadilla w vegan chorizo which was yums with more texmex like spices. Also tried their breakfast platter which included their tofu scramble ...which was wayyyyy too effen hot. Couldn't even swallow that lava scramble. The waiter was kind enough to comp that meal without asking so props for customer service. The blueberry pancakes were as expected.. not the most tender pancakes I've had but the downside was that they were served with fake maple syrup and margarine. U have organic ketchup but not real butter ccmmonn... the sweet potato fries and aoili i enjoyed much more than their vegan queso. The fries werent the best I've had but they looked homemade plus it had some tasty crack seasoning on it.. also had their tofu scramble which had potatoes shrooms green chili's and cheese on it. Being super hungry it was nomnom and hit the spot. Overall decent veggie friendly foods open 24/7 with friendly happy waiters and waitresses that dont seem like they hate their jobs... ill be bachhh.
(4)
Benjamin T.
Been here every time I visit Austin! Favorite breakfast in town. Getting the Egg Francisco today. Should be good!
(4)
Grace S.
A bit on the pricey side for being near a college campus, but I think the food is pretty worth it. The service is also consistently good. The best part about it is that it's pretty much 24/7, so it's convenient for when you need good food when you're doing late night studying. I don't have much to say about their pancakes (I'm not picky at all), but some of my friends say that the pancakes are over-rated, if you're coming here for pancakes.
(4)
Tony H.
Man this place looks snazzy since the remodel. I liked the old, but like the new as well. Other than the hippy/gothic kinda feel to the staff, this place was pretty darn good. Everyone that we interacted with was nice, and the service was pretty quick. The Migas rocked. But the Peanut Butter, banana, nutella pancakes blew my mind. Wowzers! Those puppies are to die for. Do yourself a favor, and run over to Kerbey lane and just get these pancakes if they still have them. SOOOOO good!
(4)
Kaelynn H.
The service I have had has always been very good. Very up-beat staff who are ready to assist you and are fast paced. The food is always good and decently priced. I love how they have vegan options (even their pancakes!) which I would argue to be sometime better than the non-vegan ones. Overall, I love going their with friends or family for happy breakfasts. :)
(4)
Madeline A.
Vegan pancakes are TO DIE. Favorites: Pumpkin, Apple Wheat, Chocolate Mint (sounds gross, but I swear...). Bonus-- they always supply a generous heaping of vegan butter. Ohh goodness. Anddd the Vegan Espresso Peanut Butter Cake is super duper good. So good that this one time, it became my dinner. No regrets!
(4)
John N.
Just a quick little update regarding the renovated place we call Kerbey Lane. The place looks nicer.. yet still dirty. I could clearly see food on the floor. Yay for me bringing my sister here only to have her be let down a little... There was another little let down when she noticed she just stepped on a fork. Staff overall appear friendly and attentive. My waiter appeared.. well.. more like he did not appear. I don't know why. He had someone else bring out our food and he wasn't all that busy, but nonetheless he was nice and did a good job overall. Food: I'm leaving that out of this update since there aren't any changes to the main menu. Of course you have a mini seasonal menu that changes from season to season.
(3)
Leslie M.
A local favorite place. I went with a friend for breakfast. Our server Cory recommended the Chicken Verde Omelet. Fantastic choice. A little spicy, but that's what I like. The pancake specialty of the day was cinnamon roll pancakes. To die for..... I hope they have them again when I come back!
(5)
Alexandra R.
Do not let this summer pass you by without popping in to KLC to eat some or all of their special tomato menu items. They are fresh and fantastic. I went for lunch and inhaled the Ahogada sandwich - a dreamy combination of pork carnitas (direct from Richardson Farms) on grilled sourdough (viva the panini press) with mashed avocado, grilled red onions, and just floating on a dreamy bed of a tomato-lime jus. The menu directs one to eat this with a knife and fork, but if you act quickly, you can go hand-held and scoop the sandwich into the jus as you go. Or you can not be a caveman and use the knife and fork. Do not skimp on the tomato jus - it is tangy and acidic and slaps your tastebuds with summery, tomato-y goodness. I opted for sweet potato fries for my side, and the Heinz I dunked them in was almost candy-like in its sweetness compared to the tart jus that came with the Ahogada. As always, one of the best parts of visiting KLC - any KLC - if the friendly service. My server chatted with me about other seasonal sandwiches that have dropped off the menu - au revoir, bahn mi, see you on the other side. I reiterate: get thee to a Kerbey and eat something, anything, off the summer tomato menu. It is just that good. Forget about Heinz for a minute and let a real tomato slap you in the mouth.
(4)
Ted W.
I recently was in St. David's Hospital for a few days. The food was not the typical mystery meat with a side of jello. You could actually order food from their cafe whenever you wanted and it was pretty good. One of the meals I had was a breakfast biscuit sandwich with gravy. It made me think of a meal I had recently at Kerbey Lane which also was composed mostly of biscuits and gravy. The hospital gravy was good. Not great, but not bad. The Kerbey Lane gravy tasted like elementary school paste but the texture and flavor was worse. I couldn't believe how bad it was. It was horrid. It was a disgrace. It was also embarrassing because I always tell people that Kerbey Lane is a good place to eat but this experience made me think back and realize that Kerbey Lane has been gradually getting worse and worse over the years. I will still eat there but I am giving them one star mainly to hopefully get their attention. I hate to say it but Kerbey Lane is now worse than hospital food.
(1)
Gypsy J.
I think this place is ok, especially if you are not trying to eat healthy. I only found one item on the the menu that was vegan, and it was rather boring. It was the tofu scramble, and while it SAID it came with veggies in it, Im not sure I saw any...Also the plates were really not pretty, including my friend's omelette. It came with fruit, that was really just a few slices of apple and pear. Also, the waitstaff leaves much to be desired, but I guess that's to be expected in an Austin hipster area. Both times I went I had guys who didnt smile. The first guy was at least a good waiter, but the 2nd guy was awful. Good coffee tho, and the vegan pancakes were pretty slamming. So I cant say it was all bad ;)
(3)
Chris C.
After many times of visiting this Kerbey, we have enjoyed every experience. That staff is top notch. At times we are lucky enough to sit at the counter and enjoy the conversation of the wait staff and today, unknown to us, had a conversation with the manager that made our day. The waitress we had was very helpful. After today, this is an Austin gem to us and you can see why they are expanding so much.
(5)
El B.
Stale chips, lukewarm queso, soggy fish tacos, unpleasant server. Also, while I like the idea of the Kerbey Queso, it's really not that great. I may be dating myself here, but I remember when there was only one of these places. It was good. Also, I'm pretty sure hipsters didn't exist at that point, so the most annoying clientele were the occasional large(ish) party of aging hippie ladies loudly discussing organic laundry detergent, homeopathy, and whether or not whatever they ordered is macrobiotic. And they really weren't all that annoying.
(2)
Jimmy H.
Really good service, easy on my wallet, forrest our server is awesome, I highly recommend coming here for anyone looking for good food and a fun time
(5)
Caron L.
When I crave queso and gingerbread pancakes, there is nowhere else I would rather go. The Kerbey's queso is out of control wonderful, I mean who doesn't want guacamole with their queso. The pancakes are all wonderful but I have a special place for the gingerbread. Now that I no longer in Texas, I makes this a first stop when I am back in Austin.
(5)
Mike T.
Three stars is average here. Minus one for customer disservice that hasn't been rectified Ever!!!! Sane as it was 6 years ago, Conveniently HORRID!!! Location is the only real reason you're still running. Vegan options ? At a fast food diner, way to diversify. Why not stand out for your great service and delicious food. Well that's because SOBER people learn from poor college errors and head to Mags. I'd give you one star just based on wait times during non busy hours. But you deserving one more for.....for........for....well I prove myself wrong. Oops that's now 1 measley star. At least some people can potentially get a badge from your poor ratings. See some good can come from your failures. Good that's out of the way. Food here is relative. Relative to your current BaC and lack of other options. I dont go to these "establishments" anymore. Praise be to Jebus.
(1)
Amber S.
Sat here for five minutes while the two guy waiters chatted by a computer and then stared at us. Some times having coffee in the morning is important, but apparently making customers wait around is more important here. No service was given here- no menu, greeting, settings, etc .... The restaurant formerly known as Friendly's provides faster service than this wannabe spot.
(1)
Cherry M.
Super great food! I love it so much! Definitely get the queso and pancakes. I love how creative they are! I hate the remodel though. Sometimes the service isn't great either, but I always come here.
(4)
Linda S.
Good food. Loved that they had gluten-free options. Liked the ambiance. Server was a bit distracted. But overall good experience.
(4)
Rachael C.
I am SO sad and disappointed with what Kerby has done to this store. This has always been my favorite location, filled with many kid memories and late-night meals with friends. I hadn't been back in a while, and come to discover they totally remodeled to look like the new Kerby on S Lamar. It's a travesty. It doesn't even feel like a Kerby Lane anymore with it's sterile metal chairs and diner-style open floor plan. I expect this kind of atmosphere from a P Terry's. It is now totally devoid of charm and that fun, funky Austin feel that made Kerby Lane one of my favorite gems. To give them credit, the food is still the same (thank god), but that's about it. Even the employees look way more "cleaned up." I talked to a couple of waiters about it and they all said everyone is really sad about the change. Are they doing this to all the locations now? I hope not. Looks like from now on I'll stick to the original location on Kerby Lane.
(3)
Jorge C.
Stopped in for dinner tonight when a friend from New England announced that he was being detoured here for the night. It was short notice, but I picked him up from his hotel and we headed over to the cafe. The young lady who greeted us at the front was great. Outgoing personality and a warm smile go a long way. Out server was friendly enough, but he definitely seemed to be disappointed that we weren't a four top of female UT students. The food was good, not amazing, but solid diner fare. I'm a breakfast guy, and while my toast was overdone, the bacon, potatoes and eggs made up for it. I'd come back if I was in the area and craving breakfast.
(3)
Nando R.
It's an okay place if you're looking for somewhere open 24-hours in West Campus that's not fast food. Food is really, really average. I've been here around 5 times. I didn't have any bad meals per say (maybe once I did), but I don't leave with a feeling of satisfaction like I do in other restaurants. I just leave... indifferent... with a feeling of "meh". 2/5, would come here again just b/c there's not too many 24-hour, non fast-food options in West Campus. But if you have a car, 24-diner's meals are way better quality.
(2)
Jeffrey V.
Good service, nice and basic place. Decent prices. The food's a bit on the bland side though. Okay for a quick basic meal drop in.
(3)
Erin G.
We were yelled at by our server, RYAN. Yelled at. Had a coffee cup yanked from my friends hand. And our server made my friend cry, at her birthday party. I hope that corporate reads this review. I've never given a restaurant a one star review. Where to even begin? Let me preface this- I'm a server at a Brewhouse in Austin, and can't imagine dishing out what our server did. We had been down to 6th street for a 21st birthday party. Our server, RYAN, was great at first. Was on his way to earning a 20-30% tip from a table of 8. He even modified a sandwich for my picky ass, I was super grateful. My friend, S, was with us for her 21st birthday. Out of the 8 of us, she was the only one who was intoxicated. We were all sober. S said she needed to go to the bathroom. E and I took her, in a group, as any girls would. Our server, did I mention his name is RYAN, stopped us. Grabbed E's arm. (Battery, anyone? He's lucky we didn't call the cops.) Said we couldn't go in to the bathroom, that if she threw up it would be a biohazard and nobody wanted to clean it up. Okay, I get that. She wasn't hammered. She was buzzed. So E and I talked to him to figure out if he was serious. He told us that we would have to go outside, in 35° weather, to throw up in the trash can. I told him that if there was a mess, I would be happy to help clean, that I understood where he was coming from, but we needed to use the restroom, regardless. We were paying customers for crying out loud. RYAN got upset at this point and told us to get out of the restaurant. Get out. GET OUT. Not please leave, but, "You need to get out now." He even had the balls to tell us that he would have our food boxed so we could get out. Not leave, always get out. S, who is mortified at this point, since RYAN has been yelling that we're too drunk to stay, (which we weren't,) started to cry and walked back to our table, where RYAN yanks our half finished appetizer from the table and starts clearing dishes. May I point out that S hasn't thrown up, anywhere? Doesn't need help walking, hasn't fallen. A, who has a coffee cup in her hand, states that she wants to speak to the manager and that she's leaving without paying. E states that she'll pay for our appetizer, but that she wants to see a manager. RYAN yanks the coffee cup from A's hand and when she asked what he was doing, he got in her face and yelled that she wasn't paying for it so she couldn't finish it. Okay. I was unhappy up until this point. Now I'm furious. I couldn't believe the gall that RYAN had. He spat at all of us that his manager would be over soon. Chris, the manager, was incredibly helpful. Offered us free meals, wanted to make it right. He seemed mortified that his server had acted the way he did. We declined even having the food we had ordered boxed for free, we wanted to leave. S had practically run from the restaurant and was now crying in the car. I can't understand how he could possibly keep his job. I hope that Kerbey lane fires him. Coming from a server, I would hope that his spot at the restaurant goes to someone who will be respectful to guests who are incredibly cooperative. He was mean. He wasn't rude. RYAN was mean.
(1)
Blair A.
Kerbey Lane is another one of those eclectic 24/7 joints Austin is known for. It doesn't matter when you roll in (be it 3 am or 1 pm), you'll likely consistently get crap service. BUT if you know this going in, and properly prepare yourself, your experience should be just fine. I'm a carb-a-holic so the pancakes at Kerbey are always my "go to" item. Be it gingerbread, blueberry, buttermilk or their special pumpkin pancakes in autumn or lemon poppyseed pancakes in summer, you can NEVER go wrong with the pancakes! These babies are as big as the plate they serve you on and your eyes will definitely be bigger than your stomach! You also can't go wrong with the Kerbey Queso: yum yum queso topped with a huge dollop of guacamole and pico. They made a smart decision a few years ago and stopped serving crappy chips that took away from the flavor of the queso. I suppose enough of us (*cough*) complained about how horrible the tortilla chips were that they finally changed them to some pretty good ones! Also, right now Kerbey is in the midst of its "summer menu" and they have a gem on the menu you HAVE to try: Fried Green Tomato BLT. The staple is, obviously Fried Green Tomatoes, topped with a thick slice of prosciutto and lettuce smashed between either whole wheat or sour dough toast that is smattered with herb mayo. IT'S CRAZY GOOD!!! Try it, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Annalise P.
Good not great food option near UT campus. The place is crawling with students at all points of time and it's almost like they've dumbed down the plates for students palettes because even though the menu is a bit diverse the food isn't popping with flavor. Eh, but if you've got a craving for sweet potato fries at 3:00 am (I can't be the only one who suffers from this, can I?) you really can't go wrong by stopping by here.
(3)
Bibiano L.
I had the vegan banana nut pancakes and they were delicious. The Orange Spritzer was refreshing. The servers are really friendly and it's always packed with loud students. Need to go back and try some more stuff actually.
(4)
Jim T.
Excellent food, casual vibe, across street from UT What's not to love?
(5)
Scott G.
The campus Kerbey kicks ass. Their remodel is pretty sweet, and the staff are always fun. The food is consistently quick and good, and I firmly believe that there is crack in the coffee. Also, Kerbey Queso is an Austin institution. The last time I went was at breakfast on a Friday with a couple of friends, and we were pretty pumped about some french toast, bacon, and coffee. I guess we were really excitable because at the end of the meal, they dropped off a check with no balance. Apparently they do nice things for customers sometimes, and buying your meal is one of those things! Saweet! Be sure to tip your server if this ever happens to you! See you soon, Miss Kerbey. You sassy girl.
(5)
Daniel L.
My first time here was as a freshman in college. Many (don't ask how many) years later to the day today nothing much has changed: gingerbread pancakes for the gold star sticker meal that is quick, cheap, and fantastic. Quite unlike the Houston dichotomy where the "other ones" are usually better than the original (e.g. BB's and Niko-Niko's) I found it quite easy to give the original Kerbey Lane five stars, but this location four stars. But even at four stars, it is an awesome place to eat, see, and be seen. The parking lot is a dead end, just to save you that thirty seconds of trying to exit from the rear (hehe) and having to back up and go back out the entrance onto Guadalupe. Unlike the original KLC which is larger, more spacious, and more "unique" in the Austin way - I find this one inside to be much more of a Cafe Brazil (if anyone from Dallas is reading this) or traditional diner cookie cutter mold. The booths are nice and spacious. Everything is clean of course. The waiters are business-first and not so chit-chatty but that is fine since they refill drinks rapidly without needing to hear your life story. And the food comes out quite quickly. I think the location two feet off campus explains how easy it is to distinguish this location from big poppa - and the large number of students with bookbags and books out on the table further underline the point if you come around the lunch hour. I would always be willing to come here. Every time a gingerbread pancake is plopped on a plate an angel get its wings. They have other things on the menu but I really don't see the need to try them. Pancakes at any time of the day are appropriate whether it is a hot date, a meal with your parents, or a business meeting: pancakes will do mighty fine.
(3)
Sean H.
Always a good meal. Dependable. Clean. Good variety. Just had the gluten free gingerbread pancakes, which were excellent. My wife is a big fan of the place too.
(4)
Amanda M.
Yum. Super duper yummy. Kerby Lane is a great spot for weekend brunching it up. The service was good, the wait wasn't too long, the price was right and all of the food was tasty. Simple enough.
(5)
Matthew C.
Food was delicious- especially the pumpkin pancakes and chicken verde omelette. Our waiter Conner was awesome!
(4)
T F.
Used to visit Kerby Lane on 183 in the 90's and loved it. But this is my 2nd visit to this location in recent years and yep..it just is not the same. Food was OK. But it just is not what is used to be. Or maybe my standards have changed..either way. Biscuits cold. Migas Ok.. Everything just OK
(2)
Julie S.
Awe really only 3 stars!?!! Before heading to crazy SXSW, my bud and I stopped in here for breakfast. The parking situation sucks though, the lot was small. I had park kinda far and walk by the construction guys that were perving ewww...damn it I shouldn't have worn that short dress =P The wait for a table was not long at all, sat in the nook by the window. They had so many delicious options for breakfast, but I wanted something hearty that can last me all afternoon, so went ahead and ordered a mushroom omelet & potatoes, all good portions of food. Yum inexpensive breakfast joint! Must go!
(4)
Lesley W.
Here's the thing: Being a former UT student, and living in Austin for six years...I've been to Kerbey Lane and had the full range of experiences. 4 stars is my overall impression from coming here possibly over 100 times (oh my... I think that just might be true!). Reasons you may go to Kerbey Lane: You are hungry and it's an odd time of night, you're vegan, you're gluten free, you're vegetarian, you go to UT, your friend goes to UT, you went to a frat party, your family is in town, etc. etc. I'm not a huge fan of the remodel, but it's nice enough. The prices have gone up just like everywhere else. Oh well! Quit your cryin and just eat some pancakes! Pancakes are typically no-fail. Get the special ones: Lemon Poppy Seed, Pumpkin, etc. I've never been a fan of the enchiladas, they are kinda puny in my opinion but have a nice flavor. And seriously - how can I not love a place that has vegan queso? Be still my beating heart! They do still have some of the best regular cheese queso in Austin. You may sit next to drunk college kids. You may have to wait too long. But, I'd say it's worth the possibility! Or, try one of their other locations - they are typically less crowded & less drunkenly filled. I'm a huge fan of the original.
(4)
Kelvin P.
Kerbey Lane has been remodeled since I came here in college. Eating here on a late night (3am), I was pleasantly surprised that the food was still better than IHOP.
(4)
Audrey E.
Fall menu must have: Pear and bacon grilled cheese with aged white cheddar. Holy shit! That is all! Had it twice this week. I hate queso personally but all my friends rave about theirs so if you like queso this is your spot. A longtime longhorn favorite. Myself included.
(4)
Aj A.
On man is tomorrow too soon to come back? Delicious tofu sandwich a d vegan cheese fries. They're beyond vegetarian friendly, I'm not used to having SO many choices!
(5)
Ivan V.
I routinely get kerby queso at 3 am when im drunk haha. And its amazing. Other then that. When you go there i feel like its a bit overpriced for what you get
(3)
Whitnee R.
If you live anywhere around the Austin area and have yet to hear of Kerbey Lane, then you may just live underneath a rock. If you have heard of it, it was probably from customers raving about their Kerbey Queso. Let's just cut to the chase and say that the real gem here is their green chili cheese fries, which are heavenly in all forms of the word. My one complaint about Kerbey Lane (and especially at the Guadalupe location) is they are seriously lacking with the consistency of the food they serve. You can order a meal one night and order the exact same the next, but be warned that it will probably look and taste noticeably different. I ordered the green chili nachos once and they were absolutely amazing. A couple of nights later, they came out cold and were cooked completely different. But, what's to expect from a 24 hour restaurant? I like Kerbey Lane for many reasons, the main one being that there aren't TOO many places for a starving vegetarian during the late hours of the night. Their variety of food is also another plus, because whether you're feeling Tex-Mex, breakfast, or American classics, they've got you covered. If you've yet to try it, do so as soon as you can.
(4)
Christine C.
UGGGGGHHHH. So. Annoyed. My first clue should've been the person who seated us, as she threw the menus on the table and didn't even bother talking/making eye contact with us or anything. Okay, I get it, you have tats, you think you're bad ass, aaand you can't be bothered to be civil. Not my problem if you hate your life. In fact, all the waitstaff seemed pissy today. Idk what their problem was, but they definitely ruined the experience. Additionally, it took 45-50 minutes to complete an order of tacos. Tacos!!! Good thing we got the Kerbey Queso, otherwise we totally would've had nothing to eat. Btw, that queso is $8 and some change. The waitress came by and said on one occasion "Sorry it's slow, you had a big party in front of you." Really? For real? What "big party?" Stupid. There was no "big party." Then she didn't refill our drinks. We sat right next to the soda fountain and watched as she kept pouring herself something to drink. Blatent. Finally at the 46-47 minute mark, I was seriously trying to convince my friend to get up and go. That's when the waitress brought the food out. I even told her we were fixing to leave. Then she said "Oh, it took a long time because it's pork." That might've been a fine excuse if we weren't seated next to the kitchen and saw other tacos being served. Starve and then lie to me? I guess that "big party" story wasn't going to stick. Jesus H. Christ. I then asked: Can I get a refill? Waitress: We're out of tea. Me:(Stifles expletive) ...Just...just get me something. (Seriously, an hour of chips and salsa on one glass of tea? Sorry, I guess I shoudl've changed my order to "water." Oh wait. That's what my friend had and she couldn't get a refill either). Bitch Waitress then decided to, you guessed it, bitch about us to a coworker. She didn't even have the decency to whine about her crappiness away from us. She got a 9 cent tip for our $35 meal (queso, one tea, two orders of tacos, and the worst service I've ever had.) And that was only because I wasn't willing to wait around another hour for my change. Call it a gift. I wanted to GTFO before punching out a damn hipster. Fuck. One hour in Austin and this is what I get. I called the manager on the way back, I was fuming so bad I couldn't even make it to my hotel room. She did nothing to allay my concerns, and just kept repeating "Yeah, not every experience when you eat out will be good; I'll take care of it on my end. Yeah, I'll take care of it on my end. Uh-huh, yeah, I'll take care of it on my end." When I got home and saw the slew of comments people have been leaving about the crappy service, it has become readily apparent that really, honestly, no one here gives a shit. I noticed that the other people complaining about the service are Asian. I'm only half (I'm usually just lumped together with generic brownies) but my dining partner is clearly 100% Asian. Charges of racism abound? Why Hell yes, I will go there.
(1)
Karen F.
the watermelon gazpacho I had in Aug was delicious. The sweet fresh tomato and watermelon combination was very refreshing. I visited late afternoon and service was excellent, dining solo. parking lot included. easy entry and exit if you are going in the 'right' direction. This is the UT area, so expect many co-eds. I can imagine parents with their UT students like to frequent this location. one of the few 24/7 establishments with long-standing good reputation in Austin.
(4)
Tiffanie L.
Wow. I just came back from experiencing the worst service... ever. The one itsy bitsy little star that I'm giving Kerbey is solely due to the fact that my Hippie Burger was delicious. The veggie patty was really flavorful and the homefries that came on the side were sooo good. My plate was wiped clean, but this isn't why I decided to write a review. I never really understood what people meant when they said they had "awful service." Was your water not completely full all the time? Did you get a dirty knife? Or are you just really anal about everything? Spoon up your butt? Ha. But I understand now. It all started when our waitress practically threw the straws (that we had requested) at us. There was nooo gentle placement of the straws on our table. I didn't know that I did anything wrong by asking for some straws. Geez. We got into the restaurant at 6pm and ordered, and another group of girls had sat down right next to us about 15 minutes after we had walked in. Thirty minutes later, we were all just sitting and talking when we noticed that the group of girls next to us were all getting their food. This puts us at 45 minutes of wait time for you math-challenged. My friend and I got up to talk to the manager, but she didn't apologize for the wait or give us anything to compensate for the HOUR that we waited. No free chips. No free dessert. The Kerbey Queso that the girls next to us got looked pretty good. How about some of that? Nada. Our table waited for an hour to get our 3 Hippie Burgers and our 1 Baked Potato Omelette. Seriously. How long does it take to heat up a veggie patty and cook a few eggs!?!? The waitress apologized for the delay and said that there was only cook. Only one cook at dinner time? Huh. The waitress never asked us if we wanted any dessert or anything before she brought us our check. I was actually in the mood for some of that Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake, but no... No shortcake for me. It was probably cause we asked for the straws. You may think you're hearing this story for the second time, and you're right. Valerie L., the witty journalist that she is, tells the story better, but I just had to say my piece. Oh, and there's flies. Big ones.
(1)
Marie-Elena B.
Awesome breakfast. I loved their fall menu!
(4)
Rick G.
They just remodeled this location, and it looks great. Everything is bright and shiny clean, and there's much more seating available. A group of my lab mates and I ate a late lunch/early dinner there around 6PM. It may have been my imagination, but it seemed the staff was better looking, too. The food was great as was the service. I had my favorite tomato pie, and others had a variety of things. Someone ordered the chili-cheese fries, and they looked frighteningly good.
(4)
Michael B.
04/28/13 I had Davids Enchiladas. They were really good. The portion size was fairly smaller then I'd hope but it was ok. Waiter took a little longer than expected but still friendly. I think her name was Victoria & she forgot our Queso appetizer. But she did bring it out immediately! Awesome place, will return!
(4)
Hieu P.
The lemon poppy-seed pancake was in all honesty the best pancake I've ever had, it's just a shame I didn't order it. I got the Kerbey Scramble which was yummy, but not the same level of deliciousness that my friend was presented with. Two scrambled eggs with some mushrooms, cheese, and peppers. It was OK, but nothing out of this world. That's right, I'm basing my whole review on what my friend got. Also, the coffee was apparently amazing as he had four cups, which then kept him up all day and night. AND I GOT SOME BEEF TO PICK WITH AUSTIN. Why is your tap water so shitty? Smells like the sea and tastes like fish bath water. Totally gross, worst water I've had in America bar none [it was like this everywhere in the city].
(4)
Bryan H.
Vegan Queso was amazing! Not a fan of their veggie burger but love their pancakes and Kirby scramble. Wait staff was good and attentive.
(5)
Heather G.
We went to kerbey lane cafe last night because it's the closest place to our house that's open late. He ordered a burger and I got the pancakes. My food was ok that's why I'm giving them two stars. My husband's burger had tiny bits of bone in it. He was spitting out tiny pieces of bones all night and now he is having issues. He didn't alert me to this issue until we were in the car otherwise I would have said something to our waiter. Now I think Husband needs to see a dentist.
(2)
Samantha L.
Props for being open 24 hours and tolerating drunk children. Sucks the service suffers because of that though. I honestly don't blame them. I have to say, though, dropping a scoop of guacamole into the queso is genius.
(2)
Lily P.
Absolute yes. We had a party of 4 at 1-2am. They let us have the kids coloring sheets, and we had great fun while waiting for a table. The waitress let us know what was special about this place - queso and pancakes. Oh god was the queso amazing... we devoured that thing heartily while singing praise. And then my special pancake - the beignet! Sweetness overload, which is how I liked it! No syrup or butter needed (not that I didn't oblige anyway ;) ). Thanks for continuing to impress, Kerbey Lane!
(5)
Alex D.
Loud atmosphere but its expected as its the late night bite of all of UT. If you don't get the Kerbey Queso...I don't know why you went to Kerbey lane because the mix of guac, pico de gaillo, and queso is all you really need. Basic but delicious and always will be every single time. Entres were the blackened fish tacos and the Pachola burger, both of which were lacking a little flavour but in general alright. Not to-die-for but hits the spot when you're hangry. Texture if the burger felt like it was blended meat and the tacos didn't have a powerful fish taste but ingredients were fresh. Service was great! It was our servers first day and he was nervous but he did a great job at getting our orders, recommending dishes, checking in every now and then, and making sure our wait isn't the norm and they were exceptional at making up for it. Environment is loud and bright, not ideal for a date but nice for groups of 4-8 because if their booths or corners.
(4)
Elyse L.
So, originally our plan was to eat at Franklin's. We had friends from out of town staying with us, and since we haven't been yet either, we figured it would be something fun that we could all experience together. We got there at 9am on a Friday morning and knew to expect a line, but the one we saw was much more daunting than we planned. We didn't think we had a chance in hell for brisket to still be available by the time we got inside, so we threw down the white flag and headed here instead. I have to admit I was a tad relieved as it was warm out and I was absolutely starving. We walked into their sweet air conditioned space and I was surprised to see how modern it is compared to the other two locations I've been to. Plenty of parking here as well which I loved, especially being downtown. Their pancake special of the day was apple pie, and we got two for the table so we could all try it. Their pancakes never disappoint. They also have free wifi and morning drinks such as their $2 mimosa. (They are mostly champagne, yay! So proceed with caution) My husband got the fried chicken eggs benedict and our friends got the breakfast tacos and the Eggs Francisco. Lots of mmmm's all around. I got the breakfast platter per usual which comes with two half sized pancakes of your choice, eggs, and bacon. Everything was delicious. As much as we were looking forward to that glorious bbq, I think we were all secretly relieved we didn't have to wait 5 hours to eat. And this way our friends could still say they ate somewhere you can only find in Austin! Win win.
(4)
Sarah J.
Two words: Avocado enchiladas. With rice! This may or may not spell Ayuervedic disaster in regards to the 'food combining' concept....but...ya have to live a little, right? Man, that dish is good. Totally worth it. Best dish I've ever had at a 24/7 diner.
(4)
Elle G.
Pancakes are delicious, but the fry game is decidedly weak (both potato & sweet potato). While the burger and sandwich were hot and crisp, the fries were literally cold and soggy for both of us. The fries were half of the dishes we ordered (i.e. worth ~$5 per dish), so that was quite disappointing. Other than that, we came at an off peak time and the food came out really fast. Oh and this is really random but my menu had coffee in it. I opened it and drops of coffee rolled down the menu into the table. Probably a one off experience with the coffee though. I recommend you order queso and pancakes and open your menu with caution.
(2)
Jennifer M.
I've been to this location many times, and always for breakfast. Being on the drag, there is typically a lot of students, packed house, and no parking. I've always parked on Hume Pl or 26th and walk over. The service is always ok, some days better than others, but friendly and happy place to get some breakfast. They have all the classics on the menu, with some unique items, likes Eggs Francisco, a delicious sandwich smothered in queso. I thoroughly enjoy their omlettes and pancakes, with seasonal and pumpkin-everything options. Mimosas are $2 or $12 for a carafe, which is a nice price. Overall, I feel like this Austin tradition is delicious and great for breakfast, but they have raised their prices and I'm usually spending ~$15-20/person. Parking and wait time also can be a pain. I'm sure I'll be back, though.
(3)
Alyssa C.
This is "that place". The one you go to when you're being annoyingly indecisive about all the food options Austin presents. We come here more often than any place just because of the simplicity. We love dining out but also try to keep a pretty clean paleo diet so we try to avoid daily tacos and bunless burgers get old. We love the amount of options here, and love the seasonal menu. Recently we've tried the Mediterranean chicken plate, the pesto bacon chicken, and the Cobb salad. The Cobb is now our "go-to" healthy dining out meal. One thing I recommend (which goes completely against all that health talk above): Kerby Queso.
(5)
Terri J.
I love Kerbey Lane...no matter which location one visits, the food & service is consistent.... They're almost always open (check to verify holiday hours because not all locations are open). It's yummy anytime, but it's such great middle of the night spot for the munchies. We stopped at this location before a show at Bass Concert Hall. For a spot so close to campus, the parking is great! Of course, the food was awesome. My friend had a hamburger & fries. I tried the seasonal pumpkin pancakes with a side of the most perfectly crisp bacon everrrrrrr. Yummy!!! The server recommended the mint pie for dessert - described it like Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. So we caved. OMG...it was so good! De-lightful, De-licious, De-lovely.
(5)
Lorrie G.
Breakfast is definitely Kerbey's strong point. I had the pancakes cinnamon styled (like a cinnabon), eggs, and sausage. The pancakes STOLE the show, they were so sweet and somehow the chef managed to get the nice icing baked into the top of the pancake. It was great! I've been here twice, once for breakfast, once for lunch, and breakfast is definitely the winner.
(4)
Myia B.
The wait wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be...though the line was super long - lots of people perched along the sidewalk. The service was horrible; our server's name was Yalimar and she barely made an attempt to hide the fact that she hates her job and found us to be quite annoying for coming in to pay for food and service. I'm the nicest guest ever...I *genuinely* smile and engage. I customize my orders on the front end so I rarely need anything during my meal...overall I'm a pretty darn good customer. I was this way with Yalimar and so were my cousins, so I didn't get the rudeness. Food: average. I ordered the crispy chicken Benedict (12.50) with bell peppers and onions (+.65), and a side of hollandaise (+3). Topped it off with a mimosa ($2). I was trying to recreate Jonathon's Oak Cliff "The Kure" but it fell way short. I probably wouldn't venture back to Kerbey's unless others wanted to. Extensive menu...lots of options. Give it a whirl, you might like it.
(3)
Pamela P.
Ordered the chilaquiles (asked for no onion, eggs over medium and potatoes instead of black beans). This was probably one of the best breakfasts I've had in a very long time. I totally recommend it.
(5)
Jenna C.
So this is one of those places where you go when you're a) not in a hurry, b) not expecting stellar service, and c) looking for something simple, but still tasty. The special was beignet pancakes, so we had an order of that. I got an omelette with sausage, avocado, kalamata olives, and tomatoes. It was all good - the beignet pancakes were an interesting concept, but pulled off nicely. The food was hot, good, and would have earned this place four stars, had it not been for the service. To be fair, while the service was fairly slow, it was crowded. Our server, while trying hard, seemed just a bit frazzled and was obviously covering more tables than she should have been. Our food took nearly 30 minutes to be dropped, which seemed like it was an excessive amount of time, given a family of five sat next to us, ordered, received food, and paid the check before we were even halfway done. It was also a bit of a rush after we were done - I understand there was a bit of a wait, but there's also the golden rule of "Don't rush the check." I try to give the benefit of the doubt, having been in her situation myself, but when she was standing around at the register chit chatting, it does not bode well for my confidence in the efficiency of the place. Otherwise, it was a nice place to go after sleeping in a bit - laid back vibe, young, hip. Just don't be in a rush if you go.
(3)
Marina R.
I'm not a huge breakfast fan but I went here anyways. I got the shepherd pie and it lacked taste and just looked gross over all. The crust was mashed potatoes and just tasted funny all around. I also got a side of fried green tomatoes and I don't understand how you can screw up fried green tomatoes so bad. The green tomatoes themselves lacked taste (no sour at all) and the breading was awful. The sauce that came along with it was orange and had no real taste. I don't understand how food can have no taste but kerbey lane mastered that art. My boyfriend had eggs, pancakes, sausage and bacon. The eggs looked super fake, as if they were in a bag and heated up in the microwave. The pancakes were just super gross. My boyfriend said he liked it but only ate 1/4 of his plate, mmh. Anyways i won't be back. I guess I'll just have to find another 24/7 diner here in Austin.
(1)
Nicole E.
It's Kerbey Lane - what else do I have to say?! I had the fried green tomato benedict this time around (usually I get a french toast) and was not disappointed. My chai was delicious, the crowd small (the secret is to go on a weekend after school has let out). While I haven't been to this location before I'm a huge fan of Kerbey Lane and will return to any one of the many locations in the future.
(5)
Jessica E.
I used to really love this place, but the quality has gone down as the prices have gone up. The pancake dishes are pretty good, but their killer dish USED to be the kerby queso - I am sad to say that is no more. Every time I have been there in the past year, the price has gotten higher and the queso has become more watery. I keep hoping that the next time I go back the queso will be great again, but it is not so. I think that Magnolia Cafe is a better option, or even iHOP, because for these prices the quality needs to be improved. Yes, they are open 24 hours, so if you go in the middle of the night be prepared to see lots of drunk college kids!
(2)
Kyle L.
Okay so I have been here a couple times. Came here with a friend to get some late breakfast. We tried the location up near 38th but it was crazy crowded as I'm sure it is most Saturday afternoons. Surprisingly, the location over by campus wasn't too bad. Parking was a little on the full side but we were able to get a spot after a couple of mins waiting in the lot for someone to leave. In addition, we got a spot at the bar right when we walked in which was pretty awesome. I'm a big breakfast person and I have never been disappointed with the food since coming here. I ended up getting the platter which came with pancakes, fruit, bacon, sausage, and two eggs. The food was solid, can't complain there. Service here was great too. Server was super nice and very helpful. No complaints here. Overall this is a great place to get some quality breakfast. I will definitely be back soon!
(4)
Johnny B.
Wow. This place used to be awesome. Sadly, the rumors are true and the place has gone downhill. They actually served me inedible, burnt food carefully hidden under an egg. How could someone let that out of the kitchen?! The waitress was awesome but I can't help but be saddened someone in the kitchen thought they could put that kind of food out. C'mon Kirby!
(1)
Cassie A.
Came here by myself for breakfast pretty early. Service was good. I had the fried green tomato benedict. It was good, however I feel like the tomatoes could have been way thicker sliced - on the benedict it was mostly flavors of hollandaise and breading and I only tasted the tomato when I pulled it away and had it by itself. I really like how you got a choice of side - potatoes, fruit, beans, etc. I would definitely come back to this or another location when I am in Austin again.
(4)
Delia S.
Kerry Lane is firmly a mediocre experience, but it gets a bit of a pass for how "Austin" it is. Some days, the parts come together beautifully and sometimes they fall flat. I know this, but it doesn't stop me from going back for cheap mimosas, tasty pancakes, cowboy queso and some eggs Francisco. It's an austin staple and so what if she isn't the prettiest, youngest girl at the dance, she's still a good time and sometimes that's all you're looking for.
(4)
Debby K.
Skip IHOP please and go here!!!! All 7 of us were happy with our food and service. Pancakes ARE awesome, favorite with the kids. And they are big. This is a local favorite and a tourist goldmine!!!! Good vegan and vegetarian options as well.
(5)
Clara S.
This is an Austin-brunch all day-staple. Perfect for UT students when they're hungover or looking for something to eat at 2 in the morning. But be prepared to wait houuurs. This is not a place to go when you're in a rush. Service is not consistent- sometimes you'll get a really cool waiter/waitress, but sometimes they are really rushed and won't want to deal with the large drunk groups. Otherwise the food is great, and the menu is extensive. Great seasonal specials too! Definitely a place to try when you're in town.
(3)
Renee G.
This is my favorite place for late night projects. Lots of seating, hardly any electrical sockets though so go with a full battery if you're there to work on your laptop. Pancakes & queso are the bomb.
(4)
Audrey B.
I live near Cedar Park and have no problems making the drive to University to go to this specific Kerbey. The staff is quirky, fun, and unafraid to start comversations, and even friendships, with their customers. The food is always good, and they even have seasonal menus so the regulars can try different things now and then. Their own Kerbey queso constantly owns my late night cravings....so it's a good thing they are open 24/7!!
(5)
Henry L.
I come to Kerbey Lane Cafe for two reasons: their Kerbey Queso and their pancakes. I'm a big fan of Kerbey Queso and their use of white cheese. It's really the best queso I've ever had. It's bigger than it looks, and around 3 people can share it comfortably. The consistency is perfect as it flows and drips, but clings willingly to the chips. The taste is delicious but not too strong, so you pretty much won't get tired of the taste. It also comes with guacamole and pico de gallo. Need I say more? If you've been to Kerbey Lane and haven't tried the Kerbey Queso at least once, then you're doing it wrong. Their pancakes are on a whole new level. Compared to IHOP/Denny's pancakes, Kerbey Lane pancakes are large and thick, yet maintain a very fluffy consistency. A normal meal for me is sharing the Kerbey Queso and having a short stack (2 pancakes). Kerbey Lane also often switches out their special pancake flavors, so it's always exciting to see what new ones they have. Their original and their Cinnamon Roll pancakes are delicious, but might be a bit sweet for some. Today they had a Salted Chocolate Caramel Pancake, and I can really eat these all day if cavities and diabetes weren't an issue. So good! Many of their non-breakfast entrees and especially their seasonal entrees sounds really delicious, but sadly I haven't taken the opportunity to order them yet. To me, they're a big pricey for the quantity and for a one-person meal. Nevertheless, their menu is innovative and high quality, with dishes that aren't very commonly found in most restaurants. Beware of the Kerbey Lane food coma. I have been a (eager) victim almost every time I eat here!
(4)
Natasha P.
I told my parents to go to Kerbey Lane and try it out while they were in Austin. My mother asked the hostess to seat them at a booth, which they said they could not. The next party was seated at a booth, and my mother asked the server if they could move to an open, adjacent booth for her back. The server told her to "be happy and eat the food" as a response. She was very angry and left before they could eat. Will not be returning here.
(1)
Natalie C.
There is something on the menu for everyone, here. I've been several times post-renovation (it's a lot cleaner now!) and I've been quite happy. I feel like it's a good place to take out of towners, and people who may not be as adventurous. The queso is solid, the breakfast is solid, and I quite like some of their dishes like the pesto chicken. Great place for a group. Love that it's a 24 hour joint. It's an Austin staple.... what's not to like?
(4)
Colin S.
I rarely come to Kerbey Lane Cafe, which is somewhat surprising since I work only about a quarter mile away. This location underwent a major renovation last year into a much brighter, more spacious diner. I'd say it's cleaner too except the floor always seems a little sticky. Parking is still an absolute mess with only room for maybe two dozen cars in the little parking lot. You're probably going to have to grab a spot on the street somewhere, especially if visiting around lunchtime on the weekend. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table on Sunday. I'm not a huge fan of eating breakfast outside of normal breakfast times, so I usually get a sandwich, burger, or one of their entree dishes. The Portobello Panini is a particular favorite of mine although the mushroom can be a little tough sometimes and result in sandwich collapse. As much as I love sweet potato fries, I do not like them at Kerbey Lane. They're always soggy and limp and pale in comparison to other sweet potato fries around Austin. I just stick to the regular fries. The Kerbey Queso is delicious. It's everything that queso should be plus it has guacamole hiding underneath. Be warned that if you order it you're going to completely ruin your appetite, so plan accordingly.
(4)
Eric Z.
I ate here recently as a sort of consolation meal out after facing an unfortunately long line at Franklin's. My friends and I started off with the queso and chips, something I now realize was odd to order at 8:30 in the morning, but nonetheless, we all wanted it. The queso comes with a little bit of salsa too, but the salsa is mediocre. The queso was good though, not like, mind blowingly good, but "I'm hungry for queso" good. The chips themselves weren't anything special, I believe they were just from a bag. Our tray was nearly half bottom pieces (the broken up little pieces that are good for nothing that end up at the bottom of the bag), so we had asked for more chips, clearly not wanting the bottom pieces. Well we got more chips alright, but we got our bottom pieces back too. Gah. Time for real food. After much deliberation, I settled on the fried chicken biscuit. It's two biscuit halves, topped with a piece of fried chicken, gravy, and a poached egg. PERFECT. Hard to screw up such a classic. It also came with a side of onions - meh, didn't complement the main attraction well, and I didn't like the taste of these onions. Overall, the food was good, but the price was a little high for what I got. They also have a pancake of the day, which at the time, was cinnamon roll, which sounds amazing, right? Well, I was let down as it didn't really taste like much of a cinnamon roll so much as a regular pancake with a little cinnamon in the batter topped with powdered sugar. :( I'm told this place is a staple of the UT experience by some friends that attend, but I don't see what's so special about it. I'm glad I tried it, and I wasn't necessarily disappointed, but I don't anticipate coming back again.
(3)
Molly A.
Its extremely overrated. The food is good at best. What angers me the most is that the chocolate chip pancakes are just pancakes with chocolate on top, not in it. Kerbey is just nice because it's convenient when you come home drunk after downtown and it's one of the only things left open in west campus
(2)
Niraj P.
Very awesome diner. Decor is pretty cozy but modern and the staff is pretty friendly and they know the menu pretty well. Everyone enjoyed their food: pancakes are really fluffy and flavorful and the breakfast sides are made well. Portions are also very generous, so you get nice bang for your buck. Prices in general vary from cheap ($6ish for pancakes) to moderate ($10+ for a few items). I had their fried green tomatoes benedict, which was excellent! Their hollandaise was spot on!! While in the past I have found this place just okay, I can says pretty confidently that their breakfast/brunch is solid; maybe be a little more cautious when going for any other meal. I'll keep the review 5 stars because my most recent experience of having brunch was really good. Also, TONS of vegetarian options, so I'm extra pleased :)
(5)
Odie O.
It was an early Sunday Morning, I was with the kids down on the drag at about 7:30am. We had just dropped off their mom (Joy C.) and a friend for the 3M Half MArathon, and were headed to meet them at the finish line. Since we had several hours to go, I decided that we needed some morning grub. If you have ever been to Kerbey Lane, and at almost any location, you will get the sense that this is def a locals joint. It just feels like how a diner in Austin should feel like. Kids ordered pancakes and Fruit, I ordered the Cuban Eggs Benedict. Service was nice, and attentive, Everything came out in a timely manner. side note, Later on that day, I went to the 2nd annual Beer and Bacon fest, Kerbey Lane had a booth there, and I met the guy who came up with the recipe for the Breakfast item I had earlier in the day. Thanks Kerbey Lane, you guys ROCK!
(4)
Jessica F.
Eggs francisco, holy grail. English muffin topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, avocado, and queso. Hands down the best breakfast I've ever had. The gluten free pancakes were banana pecan and they were HUGE and equally tasty. My husband got the pancake special - the Elvis - with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon. He said they were the best pancakes he's ever had. You don't just come to this kind of cafe once. #addicted
(5)
Rachel A.
Aw, this place is kinda cute. Nice servers and consistent experience every time I come. I can appreciate that. I wasn't wowed by the queso or really anything else on the menu, but I dig the $2 mimosas at any time. Woohoo! We'll be back to this cute joint because of its proximity to campus!
(4)
Natalie R.
This is by far my favorite Kerbey Lane. Friendly staff, nice waiters who are attentive even if you just sit down for chips and queso. This cafe encompasses everything Austin is. It is fun, quirky, fast and friendly! I always come eat here when I can and I will continue to bring my service here. They have great food all around and I love their queso.
(4)
Crystal H.
When I move back to Houston from the summer, I shall miss Kerbey Lane's queso and their pancakes. And the migas. And the sweet potato fries. Those are the items that have stuck in my mind so far. The quinoa salad is boring, but it's hard to make a tasty quinoa salad anyway. Do not get the migas to go, because the tortilla chips will be soggy by the time you get home. And there is a small to go fee, and I feel like the portion is smaller.
(4)
Hannah K.
I know this place is best known for its breakfast and especially the pancakes, so I don't think I had the proper Kerbey Lane experience when I came here for dinner. The place is pretty small and casual, lots of sorority girls grouped around tables. I ordered the fish tacos and my boyfriend got the Greek lamb burger. The tacos were fine, I wanted something filling but not too heavy and they delivered. They came with rice and black beans. I guess "standard food" is the best way to describe them. The burger was very well cooked and pretty big. All in all, I regret not getting pancakes because I think they would have wowed me a lot more. I'll be back.
(3)
Carolyn N.
Meh. It's good for late night munchies.. And their queso is pretty good.
(2)
Angela W.
There are numerous Kerbey Lane Cafe locations within Austin, but the one on Guadalupe is a good place to get your breakfast fix. If you are craving any kind of breakfast meal, including breakfast tacos, this is a good place to go. Constantly packed with UT students around the clock, Kerbey Lane Cafe gives off this hipster feel with a splash of a good diner feeling. With breakfast foods as their specialty, there is a wide range to choose from like pancakes to waffles, breakfast tacos to smores pancakes. Honestly the pancake list is quite amazing and is probably a good choice to pick. I will recommend that everyone should at least try a short stack of pancakes. And to spice up that short stack, you should test out two different pancake flavors. Overall-the campus Kerbey Lane Cafe is a good choice.
(3)
Kirsten B.
This place is legendary but to be honest the food isn't that great. I go here and get Queso or breakfast tacos. That's it because nothing else is worth it for me. I'm not a huge breakfast person anyways. Oh well.
(3)
Raquel C.
If the service was as good as the food it would of gotten more stars. My compliments to the kitchen staff who i watched worked their asses off making food. i sat at the bar and had a pretty good view. My chicken pesto was delicious you guys! yall keep up the good work! . As for the servers, tisk tisk you guys suck. when i walked in i asked for a table for 1. "you can sit at the bar if you want" "ok, can i get a menu?" "there's one right there" (great, its a dirty menu that was just placed there, thanks) i sat at the bar, no one acknowledged me despite being right next to the POS system and also the couple next to me left. The service gets 2 stars but the food and kitchen staff gets 3.5.
(3)
Tom K.
Awesome staff, tons of pancake options. The whole menu was tasty with options for any type of eater. Super friendly staff made me overjoyed I would definitely go back.
(5)
Lauren A.
I'm not a big fan of the remodel or the new menu. The breakfast items are as good as ever, but after a while I get bored of getting Eggs Francisco or migas with queso every time. I used to be able to come here and order lots of tasty vegetarian entrees that weren't breakfast. Now there are almost none. To be fair, I don't really like paninis or things with feta, so that cuts out most of their veg entrees. I feel like Kerbey used to have some sort of portabello sandwich or bean tacos or something similar. The French toast used to come with a sliced strawberry. No longer. Also, get off my lawn. I'm cool with the bright green paint, but the new seating, vinyl paneling, and weird white bubbly window things make the restaurant feel sterile, not as cozy as it used to feel. The service is same as ever (friendly, good, underpaid). I guess I'm sad that Kerbey used to be my old standby for decent, inexpensive food, and I'm disappointed by how it's changed.
(3)
L G.
Sunday brunch. Ungodly slow. Food keeps coming out of the kitchen. Why not mine?? Yes! Gingerbread pancakes finally delivered to my table. They are delicious! Waiter Forest is working many, many tables. I think they just need more staff.
(1)
TJ L.
A young lady on the campus of UT sent us up the street to this great breakfast spot. Breakfast shouldn't be complicated and it isn't at Kerbey Lane. I was visiting with my girlfriend from California and we could not have been treated better. Wifi, pancakes, and eggs! Rainey and Rebecca treated us like royalty! We are looking forward to our next trip during football season.
(5)
Long Z.
Their specialty banana pancake is great. I ordered a short stack but I wished that I had ordered a tall stack. My girlfriend even tried to steal some pancake from mine.
(5)
Kellie N.
absolutely love Kerby's! I'm not a huge fan of breakfast food, but Kerby has some of the best blueberry pancakes and the cinnamon swirl you can add on the top for FREE makes them that much better. Eggs Francisco was delicious also.
(5)
Sahar M.
I am in LOVE with their pancakes. 5 stars for the pancakes. A couple of my friends love their queso. I've also had their enchiladas and sandwiches, which were pretty decent. I'm not sure if they still have their pumpkin mousse pie, but that was straight up heaven. The restaurant itself is average. Pretty good service. Great place to eat late night!
(5)
Catherine C.
Had their chicken enchiladas for my first time and I'm not sure if they were really good because I was starving, or because they just WERE. Service was a little rushed, I guess it's understandable since it's always packed. Definitely will go again, and also... Their queso is good, but not great.
(3)
Shannon C.
After many of my Austin friends kept mentioning Kerbey Lane, I finally made my way over. I was not disappointed. I love how comforting the food is; one of my personal favorites is the portabello panini with sweet potato fries. Both times I have gone, there hasn't been much of a wait, which has been nice. To be honest, I feel like this place is a little overhyped, but the food was definitely good, and I will definitely be back!
(4)
Winnie C.
*breakfast and queso review only I've been to Kerbey many many times and went pretty much every Friday for awhile my freshmen year. Pros: fantastic & large pancakes, open 24hrs, variety of options Cons: kinda pricey, long waits, slow service, inconsistent I haven't gotten much other than the Kerbey queso and their pancakes. I've gotten their omelets twice, and they're alright, pretty standard. The pancakes are my favorite thing about Kerbey and the reason why I go. Without them I would probably not go ever. Very fluffy and not oily. They have a different flavor of pancake and gluten free pancake every week. I've had the lemon poppyseed, which was topped with icing, amazing. The rocky road, very good with almonds, chocolate chips, and marshmallow goo on top. Both pumpkin and gingerbread, which were probably my least favorite of all I've tried. I love both pumpkin and gingerbread products, but their pancakes weren't that flavorful and kind of on the drier side. I've had their chocolate chip, original, and cinnamon roll as well. Without a doubt, cinnamon roll is their best pancake with chocolate chip as a close second. If cinnamon roll is offered GET IT. I cannot praise enough about it. Original had a good flavor as well, very simple and vanilla esque. The chocolate chips/squares/pieces they use in their pancakes are very good quality. Overall, the pancakes are priced decently because of the size. They're huge. Kerbey queso, honestly overrated in my opinion. I love the idea of guac and queso, but it's overpriced. 8.50 can buy me another meal somewhere. Not the best I've ever had either, queso wise. I've had it ~4 times, and don't get me wrong it's been very good every time, although slightly too cold. I prefer my queso warm. Would recommend it if you have a big group, then you could split the cost. Another note, the breakfast platter comes with two eggs and choice of meat or fruit. Their eggs and bacon are sometimes inconsistent. I've gotten rather over cooked eggs and bacon before. Service can be really slow, and sometimes the wait is ridiculous, because a lot of people do come here. It can be a long wait to seat groups, because your whole party needs to be here before you can be seated.
I went there once with some friends. Food was great, especially their queso dip/chips. Never thought a coffee shop would actually have foods... (I had friends who ran coffee shops elsewhere and they served food but not diner food). On the other hand the environment left a little to be desired. The floor is SLIPPERY in the restaurant itself. So anyone going in make sure you walk carefully because I've slipped a few times myself. This is only at the UT location, other locations do not have this problem. This issue needs to be addressed because someone could actually fall and they could end up suing the place. Can't blame them about the kitchen though... the place is so busy that it's hard enough to keep up.
(3)
Silly S.
came here last night for some late night grub and it was pretty busy. i got the chicken benedict which was mediocre. Upon finishing my meal i noticed a cockroach on the wall of the booth i was sitting in (it was about 1 foot away from my now empty plate). I pointed it out when the waitress came to grab my plates and she brutally smashed it and walked away nonchalantly. No thanks Kerbey Lane.
(1)
Michael K.
Wow! Here with the family (wife and 3 kids) after a long day looking at colleges and swimming at Barton Springs pool. We ordered the Eggs Francisco, Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes with Cinnamon Swirl added, and Crispy Chicken Benedict - all for dinner. Everybody was knocked out with the quality of food and combination of flavors. Most of us got the special pancake of the day, Raspberry Chiffon - Amazing!! Our server was friendly, fast and helpful. We will be back as soon as possible!
(5)
Fizza S.
I really don't know how I didn't end up here sooner but it definitely didn't disappoint! I ordered the French toast and it was soooo good... I'm not too big on breakfast food but I loved how it wasn't too sweet and just the perfect taste.. You can also choose to add on icecream to the French toast which sounded heavenly.. Their queso is a lot sweeter than at other places (I'm still loyal to taco deli queso) but I can see why people like it. Also put this together with them being open 24/7 and you can see why people frequent it so much. Perfect comfort food!
(4)
Mahesh B.
There are quite a few vegan options. I love their vegan pancakes and vegetarian enchiladas. Awesome place, always busy and best of all, all day breakfast platter.
(4)
Samantha Q.
To start off, my husband and I have been recommended by several of our friends to check out this place. This morning we had the time and went to check it out. Limited parking and there was a 30 min wait to be expected on a Sunday morning, nonetheless we were able to walk right in and sit at the bar. Our waitress was Sabrina and she was top notch. A person sitting beside me got the Kerbey Scramble and it looked so good I got it as well, it was hands down the best breakfast I have ever eaten at a restaurant. My husband got a platter with the Raspberry Chiffon pancakes and he LOVED them. We will 100% be back and be taking our family when they come into town next!
(5)
Jennyfer N.
To clarify, I've lived in Austin for 10 years and I've been going to Kerbey Lane for the entirety of that time. This was the first one I went to and I loved it before the remodel. Now, it looks so cookie cutter and unoriginal. I can barely stand to come to this location because of all the memories I had of the place are cheapened by the new design and the crappy service. Let's not beat around the bush. The service at all of these restaurants kind of...suck. It's an eclectic group of people that staff these establishments. Some are ornery, some are grumpy, some just don't care, and others resent your presence it seems. Honestly though, I come back for the food and this location, aside from the original, are the closest locations for me to get my pancake fix on (go local, don't go to IHOP). The last couple of times I have been here, one thing has been consistent outside of the food being good. The service sucks. Long wait times, long periods of time before you get your bill, negligent staff who do not refill the drinks, food left and no check in. It's just all sad really because these are such easy fixes. I can't support your whole local ideals, fresh food philosophy if I am deterred because it takes you forever to get any of said good food out or for me to have my bill paid. Get your act together or else I'm going to mistake you for an Asian owned and operated establishment. At least in those places, you get your food delivered more quickly albeit with gruffness.
(2)
Wendy K.
Oh man, I know this is an Austin must do but the breakfast was a terrible! The coffee was so bad we could not drink it and the waiter agreed!! At least he took them off the bill and offered us juice at no charge. The fruit is a joke. Rough cut and chunky pears and apples with an orange slice. We ordered egg white omelets and there was just nothing to them expect a lot of cooking spray or oil. I tried the biscuit which was way too dense and no jelly on the table, and we tried the special Benoit pancake which was way to sweet to eat. I left hungry! I am over the Kerbey Lane experience. Magnolia was better.
(3)
Lila R.
Have had a few bad experiences here lately. Some rude/inattentive wait staff. Also, every time i eat here i always look at my receipt and see about a million additional charges. It generally makes my whole experience end unpleasantly. They also changed the menu to remove a bunch of their entree salads, including my favorite one. Its just made it harder for me to eat healthier here.
(3)
david r.
Who would have thought a 24 hour cafe could serve up such delicious food? And with truly friendly, attentive service :-) Believe what they say about the fried avocado tacos.
(5)
Wes O.
Friendly service and a late night menu that works. Plenty of options. For me and two of my friends driving through town, it was a good place for me to meet with them and for dessert and caffeine. The apple pie a la mode was a pleasant surprise. Good ice cream, warm pie, and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon made for a good late dessert. Will be back to try more stuff...
(4)
Brendan C.
I've been here so many times since I live near campus. The menu is a wide and diverse selection from American to Tex-Mex, but the staples here are the Kerbey Queso and the pancakes. The pancakes are huge and filling, and the queso is delicious - pricey, but delicious. This is a 24/7 cafe that seems to be always busy, and for good reason. In my opinion, this place serves the best food on the drag; easy to determine since most of the restaurants on the drag are horrible. Other than pancakes and queso, I would suggest the sandwiches which are pretty good, David's Enchilada's if you're up for super-filling Tex-Mex, and the huge omelets if you're in for some breakfast food. The food is seasoned pretty well, and the portions are generally large enough to be filling. The burgers are decent, the fries are a bit disappointing, so I'd substitute those for some other sides if I were you. I usually get the pancakes to go even if I'm stuffed, because the pancakes are great microwaved; just make sure to drown them in some syrup before you take your leave. If you've already been here quite a few times, you'll know that they have a seasonal items menu that they come out with almost semesterly to try to keep things fresh for those who come back often. I'd give some of those items a shot, and hope you ordered well! Happy Eating!
(3)
Alexandra W.
This place gets 2 stars because of a few major factors: 1) It is not as good as the other Kirbey Lane locations. The original location just has better food, better ambiance and better service. 2) The remodel made is feel less cozy and more "we're hip and young and students give us your money". 3) This is a problem at all the Kirbey Lane locations. They changed their menu so that it is no longer as veggie-friendly as they used to be, raised their prices and reduced the portions! That's not cool. Their veggie-chorizo quesadilla used to be a great deal, and now it is half the size, the same price and no longer comes with free chips and salsa cause it's on the breakfast menu. Like I said, not cool. I give the Kirbey Lane on Kirbey Lane 3 stars, but this one annoys me, so 2 for you.
(2)
Joel D.
Food is always awesome. I had the chicken fried chicken. Wowzers. The seating needs to be fixed though. I had a lot of trouble enjoying my meal while the person in the booth behind me constantly pressed agains the back of the seat, and against my back.
(4)
Aaron G.
So this place is always open, and the wait staff has been friendly enough. Last time we sat in a booth where I could see the floor of the kitchen. ACK! the floor looked like a crime scene. My friend and I both had gluten-free pancakes... which seemed to stay with us until 9pm! Both of us skipped lunch, and then for supper we chatted and realized we both still felt like there was a lead brick in our stomaches. My friend's fries where cold. They promptly replaced them though, and where very apologetic and polite about it. Though they offer gluten-free things, they do have the warning that there is still the possibility of cross contamination with flour. I suspect these pancakes are cooked on the same part of the grittle the glutenous ones are, and with that said if you have a serious allergy, please follow the advice on the menu and avoid them! Everything about the coffee is piping hot and delicious. I know Kirby Lane is an Austin thing that everyone revers, but for me this place is just a bunch if hipsters serving "ok" food. The amount of arm sleeve tattoos and piercing in the waitstaff's head doesn't make the food any better, or appetising.
(2)
Steve C.
Service is great. Art/ambiance is awesome, and the food is fantastic. Recommend pancakes, queso, and the Eggs Francisco.
(5)
Rose R.
Always have terrible service and the food is overpriced. Girl decides to flirt with me and sits I front of me... Very income table. Oh and on top of that messes up the whole order. Could be a glitch but 4th time here and always horrible experience...
(1)
Scott L.
A highly touted Austin staple, this location feels more industrial with a remodel from a lovely wood cabin feel on my last visit to a more industrial turquoise vinyl, plastic frog green and ugly white tile look. Yet it still sits right off campus so the clientele provides an interesting mix of gruff laborers, think out loud homeless, think out loud yuppies and cute students. The original location on 38th Street was our goto 24 spot back in college, for pancakes and studying with vegetarian options and a hip crowd. This location seems more ordinary, but the waitress was friendly and solicitous, a rarity now in an Austin sea of beautiful 20 something service industry workers and the meals are affordable, in the $10 range, and reasonably healthy.
(3)
DeAnnica T.
Maybe I didn't order the correct thing but I didn't enjoy my meal at all. We were seated quickly but over all we left disappointed.
(2)
David G.
Kerbey lane had it's hits and misses. The major fail was the crappiest tortillas I have ever eaten. They were actually stale. I had the Cochinita Pibil which is pork roasted in a achiote pepper...and the dam thing was still flavorless...and really really greasy. Their pumpkin pancakes on the other hand were the bomb. Tasted like warm pumpkin bread. Loved the whipped butter but what is with the log cabin like fake syrup? If you are nearby and are hungry I would try the pancakes but I would not go out of my way to eat here and I would stay away from their Mexican monstrosities.
(3)
Poojee S.
They are amazing!! Open whenever you want to eat (always!) Never had better packages. Love their experiments with the vegan pancakes! My favorite - portobello panini! The fresh pesto, the succulent portobello are to die for. Simple and tasteful, it always makes me feel good :) The noise level is a tad high. But, who needs words to communicate when the food on your plate says 'Awesome!'
(4)
Jimmy N.
When you walk into Kerbey, you see a diner similar to one you would see in a movie. I've been here multiple times, but I'm not super ecstatic about the food here. It is good, but I feel like you can get a much better deal elsewhere. All of the food here is really expensive for the amount of food that you get. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes the last time I went here, and it was good! But it was also pretty expensive for pancakes. I also really like the Turkey and Avocado Sandwich. The service here is pretty normal, not awful and not amazing. Going to Kerbey Lane Cafe is a pretty great place if you want to get a midnight snack near campus. I definitely recommend Kerbey Lane Cafe. TL;DR: Appearance: 6/10 Food: 8/10 Service: 6/10 Price: $7 for pancakes; $10-13 for a meal Recommendations: Buttermilk pancakes and Turkey Avocado Sandwich Side note: If you are willing to drive, I personally think that Magnolia Cafe is a much better option.
(3)
Sophia T.
The service at this location is never very good because it's all college kids working overnight, and I really don't have a problem with lame service at a 24/7 place but the food just keeps getting worse. Did you know that you have to specify real eggs or they will feed you non-eggs (I don't even want to know the ingredients)?! My boyfriend ordered off their seasonal menu, some fried chicken with tomatoes thing which disappointed him. My Kerby Scramble didn't taste like much of anything and the side of fruit was tiny compared to the huge mound of tasteless home-fries which were my other side. The queso was runny and lumpy- usually it's a viable alternative to Mag-Mud (Magnolias' cafe queso). The chips do taste like they come from a bag, and it's hard to find bad corn chips in Austin. We had come here specifically for pie for my boyfriend, and ordered the apple. It tasted like a grocery store previously- frozen pie, my boyfriend hated it and he is hard to disappoint when it comes to dessert. To save the meal I ordered strawberry cheese cake which was EVEN WORSE. It didn't taste like cheesecake at all, or it was dyed red and had for sure been taken out of a box. They didn't even try to disguise it with whipped cream. I have been coming here for years for midnight meals and I guess I have to switch entirely to Magnolias or suffer another disappointing- and expensive for the quality- night! Magnolias never fails for sure.
(1)
M S.
The food here is to die for good! The mimosa is a little small. Over all great local spot
(4)
Julia S.
Read about this place on yelp and decided to try it out! Such a good decision! Was looking for a great place for breakfast and I found it. Loved the Migas and cheap mimosas!! Definitely recommend for breakfast.
(4)
Joe M.
Just had a great breakfast here . I ate the gluten free pancakes with a avocado omelet. They also had gluten free bread. It was perfect. Service was good and it was a great location. Lots of room
(4)
Rosy H.
Yes, the Kerbey queso is amazing, but what I love most about Kerbey Cafe is the breakfast food. The pumpkin pancakes were some of the best I've ever had, and the French toast hardly requires any maple syrup, just because they have the perfect amount of sweetness. I don't blame it for being an Austin favorite, and, in typical Austin fashion, parking was terrible, and the wait was awful, but worth it for the really great food.
(4)
Theresa N.
Wow, I got not one, but two emails from Colton which ran the gamut to apologizing for the shoddy service to scolding for 'passing judgement on everyone'. WTF Colton, I'm reviewing, which means I do judge my experience...and my experience would happen to include people that serve me in a restaurant. It is MY review and I can complement AND write about anything disappointing that happens. If you don't want meh reviews, don't render meh services. Anyway, I will never return not because of how much KL has changed, it's because Colton is an a-hole.
(3)
Yajaira Z.
It was dirty especially the restroom smelled horrible and we were seated near it. The food wasn't as great as I remembered.
(2)
Joshua L.
RECAP: the tip I left last night -- "my party of 10 was waiting at least 15 minutes after being told "5 minutes", then I look over to see a table for 10 completely set with cutlery AND water... I ask the incompetent host if that's our table, and he says yes, but we need to "wait for our server to be ready". after spending about 15 seconds attempting to comprehend how much sense that does NOT make, I ask if we can just sit and look at the menu while we wait... unacceptable customer service. I sure hope the food is better." The food was actually OK, which is really the only reason this review gets 2 stars instead of one. I'm not really going to talk about the food, but I got blueberry pancakes that were a little too well-done on one side. To add to my disappointments early on in the service, our waiter re-filled everyone's water ONCE, and conveniently filled up everyone's water EXCEPT for mine. What? I was in the middle of the table, and our waiter filled up everyone else's water, looked around, then left. Again, what? Additionally, he messed up almost half of the orders, either forgetting to bring something or bringing out something wrong. This may not be entirely his fault, but since we didn't deal directly with the cooks, I don't know where else to put the blame. I am also still left clueless as to how our host could be so inconsiderate and incompetent in asking us to continue waiting in the lobby while our table was set and the water had beaten us there. He also had no idea how to count to 11, which was the number of people in our party, and counted to 10 instead and gave us that many menus and chairs, leaving us to scavenge for an extra chair and menu. To top it off, our table was situated literally right in front of the door, so that every time someone came in, the temperature at our table plummeted about 10 degrees for a few seconds. It truly makes me sad to update a review and not have an improved experience, especially since I know the owners/managers use Yelp to gather input and respond to their customers. To the owners/managers, I'm sorry that I am putting this burden of such criticism on you, but I would legitimately be interested in having a discussion with you about the competency of your hosts. If I weren't with a large group of friends, I probably would have outright left because the person that's supposed to be the face of the business and the first person we interact with was so incompetent.
(2)
Jan E.
Kerbey Lane is a favorite for breakfast. Often crazy busy. Today for breakfast on a Monday morning not so much. They are known for (not necessarily in this order) 1) pancakes, 2) being open 24/7, being in Austin. Try the specials.
(4)
Vidhi S.
The queso and David's Enchilada's are amazing. Veggie options available!
(5)
Talib A.
The service can be pretty lazy, as can the food itself. I guess it has upswings, but generally every time I came here in college and after I kind of regretted it. Queso is good, it just isn't really that great overall compared to other diners in town. The Kerbey lane on Kerbey ln street is far far superior. If your looking for a campus diner, head over to Starseeds near Dean Keaton which is also not perfect, but not nearly as bland as this place.
(2)
D C.
The food here is amazing. This is not diner food. I got the tacos pastor. I was hesitant to get tacos at a diner. But they were amazing. My husband got something on their fall menu. Oh my goodness both items were great. The coffee was really good. We also got hummus and pita bread. The hummus was awesome. There is a lot of things to chose from. But nothing is typical. It all has better ingredients than what you would normally find at a diner. I love the ambience. There is art work all over the place from local artist. It's very clean. The servers seem so happy to work there which is always a good sign. They were singing and dancing. The music rocks too. I heard Janis Joplin there. Our server had only been there for 2 days and he was such a sweetheart. He was very attentive. I wish I got his name. He just moved to Austin from Seattle. There is not one bad thing I can say about this place. I wish I lived closer. I live in San Antonio. We don't have funky diners with non traditional diner items on the menu.
(5)
D M.
Wow. I cannot believe the difference in service I received. It might have been because the my servers were new and in training, but they were very attentive and even gave me a refill on my soda to go! Awesome. I tried the jambalaya this time from the tomato summer menu. It was different from what I am used to. I had never tried it before, but I liked it! $15 for one person is a bit pricey for me, but I will be back.
(4)
Dawn D.
Great atmosphere, food and service. The orange spice gluten free pancakes were unlike any pancake I've ever had.
(5)
Hayley M.
Food here is just awesome. When I am in Austin, this is where I love to eat :):):)
(5)
Marie M.
If you're in Austin, you have to give this place a try! $2 mimosas and delicious omelets! The service is wonderful and its in a good location. Unique, yummy and trendy. Request Severiano as your server. He's the best.
(5)
Mackenzie O.
I cannot resist the urge to order the Kerbey Queso every time I come here. The secret guac in the middle is delish. Also, the David's enchiladas are fantastic. Staff is super nice and chill. Love the atmosphere here!
(5)
Tom N.
Tons of reviews already, so here's my short take Came here late after catching a show. Great place for pancakes. Ate a special, beignet pancakes. Basically a regular pancake with powdered sugar. Drowned it in syrup, ate a side of bacon, and had a bottle of Shiner with it. Try doing that at IHOP or Denny's.
(4)
Medvedi P.
Sorry for 1 star but the food was really bad, the latte tasted like they have run a keurig cup the second time and mixed it with half cold milk. The house fries were crunchy in the middle and our waiter was just tired I guess. Yeah...
(1)
Albert K.
The quintessential Austin Diner, anyone that's ever lived on campus can attest that Kerbey Lane is an awesome place to start your day, or end your night. Their menu offers a great variety of tex-mex inspired dishes, as well as most diner staples. A lot of my friends love the migas here, but in my mind, Kerbey Lane will always be associated with awesome pancakes! Late night or early morning, their hearty Denver omelet with a side of pancakes always hits the spot for me. I only stop at this location nowadays when walking down memory lane, but in case you're not familiar with the area, this location will be full of college kids, so adjust your expectations accordingly. They've renovated since I was a student, it's far less divey than back then, but the great atmosphere remained intact.
(4)
Phillip E.
I recently had a rad experience at this Kerbey Lane that I simply can't keep to myself. Early one Saturday morning, I came in with a friend for coffee and a short stack. The waiter (Forrest?) commented on my Baylor cap and mentioned he was from Waco. We had a funny conversation and he was helpful in taking our orders. A few minutes later he asked if we were in a hurry. We said no, and he said that they accidentally burnt my pancakes, and they want to make a new batch. This was no problem to me because it really wasn't that long of a wait. I get the pancakes, enjoy them, and then Forrest comes back and says that because they re-did the pancakes and because of our Waco connection, the tab would be taken care of. Shocked, I thanked him immensely. How awesome is that? Moral of the story: Go to this Kerbey Lane Cafe because the service is excellent. And, come on, good pancakes and good coffee.
(4)
Savannah S.
Been here a few times and the food is very good. Love the Chilaquiles, the natural sausage too, and the Queso is very good. I wasn't impressed by the biscuits and gravy I have to say, but everything else yes. Service is always very nice as well.
(4)
Yanlin C.
Crispy Chicken Egg Benedict is the best!!!!
(4)
Emma J.
Always good for a late night sobering meal.
(4)
Lauren I.
Meh....that's all I really have to say about this Kerbey...I came here regularly as I went through my studies at UT and I always remember being excited to go and then being slightly disappointed when I left. I just went back tonight after a victorious night of skeeball with my teammate. We were craving some nostalgic kerbey queso...*sigh* What the h*ll happened to this place??? It used to be dirty hipster chic...which sort of went with the place. Meh food, with meh service ...but not...it's just so..sterile....so "look-how-cool-and-futuristic-and-hip-we-are".... I was not digging it. But yes, overall....this place has gone even farther downhill than it was when I went to UT just a few years ago. And I swear they've made the queso smaller (which is bull considering the price has gone up!). Fools! I'll be back, but it'll only be out of sheer convenience/late night... PS. And this may just be my unpopular opinion...but their pancakes are bleck....I'd almost rather have IHOP pancakes :O *SCANDAL!*
(2)
Monica S.
This our late night place to go to. Enjoy the food. And usually we get really good service. Like the atmosphere and breakfast foods. Can't forget the kerbey Queso- good stuff! Would totally recommend and/or take a friend there to grab a coffee and some pancakes.
(4)
Tasha C.
Let me start by saying that the ONLY reason I went to this location is because I had some friends in town attending an event on campus. It was easier for me to go to them than the other way around. The location by me on William Cannon has food that is equally good but WAY better service on multiple levels. The only good experience we had (besides the company of each other) was the food and the fact that our coffee cups stayed full (but not because of our waitress). After being told that we couldn't be seated until our whole party arrived (my toddler and I arrived early), they sat a small group of people who were meeting other people that were clearly already seated. Nice. Strike one. When we did get seated, they put us in the path of the drafty winter air as people came and left. I requested a different table and they told us to wear our jackets. Awesome. Strike two. Cue the waitress who clearly hates her job and was wearing a cardigan that she was holding closed with her arms crossed, so you couldn't even see her apron or name tag indicating that she was in fact our waitress as she just stared at us. To top it off, she looked at my child like a pile of dirt. I could already see where this was going. Not quite a strike three... but getting there. As predicted, after we got our check, we didn't see our waitress for about 20 minutes. I guess she assumed we were all leaving cash? By the way, you can only keep a toddler entertained for so long when there's no more food on the table. We had to get the hostess to track her down, which she did very reluctantly. Seriously? The place was now PACKED and they're not even interested to clear a table so someone else can be seated? Strike three. I'm done. We paid and we left. I generally leave more than 20% when I have my daughter with me but not this time. I also try to help clean up her mess a bit but I didn't do that either. Why should I help a waitress who clearly didn't want to help me? There's a reason why actors make better waiters and I won't be returning to this location for a while. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that this place has frequent rotation in staff according to the other reviews.
(2)
Claudia G.
This was by far best breakfast in Austin. Must try pumpkin Paris platter. Pumpkin French toast was the bomb!
(5)
Orlando S.
First off, aside from the queso I've never had anything other than breakfast items. That being said. Went in last night for some late night eats. The queso was cold and the chips were crushed. Cinnamon Roll pancakes were fantastic. I subbed a biscuit for the fruit just to taste one and it was a little hard. The sausage was a little dry as well. The scrambled eggs and bacon were good. I tasted my friends Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast and it was delicious and the service was solid. Add a star for the 12.00 carafe of mimosas.
(4)
Amanda M.
Personally, I'm a Magnolia Cafe girl, so this is why this place gets 4 stars... suckas!!! But it's still very good and open 24/7, yippie! I have to give it major props for splitting checks so nicely (see pic) because Magnolia Cafe DOESN'T SPLIT CHECKS! SHAME ON YOU! This review was not meant to hate on Magnolia, actually quite the opposite, maybe I'm gonna become a Kerbey Lane-r. Just kidding. I'll stop talking to myself now. Anyway we came around here close to 11 p.m. and I was full but wanted to order something anyway. My brain was actually in control instead of my stomach (strange) so I ordered something light... Allies Vegan Sandwich! Which was quite good. I could have made it, yes, but do I have spinach, sprouts, or avocado in my kitchen? no. So I'd say it was worth my money. The bread was super crispy and it was just very very good and light. I was a vegan for a dinner! Just kidding I had queso, it was yummy too. haha! But this is where Magnolia wins... Mag Mud comes in a MUCH larger bowl for about two dollars less with salsa ($7.50 vs. $9.50). And when you're a serious queso fan, that means a lot. Our waitress was very good at whispering but she managed to bring us everything we needed! So the service was great. Also I love Magnolias pancakes, but this place looks like it can serve up some mean ones, so I'll try that next time :)
(4)
Kimberly G.
Stopped by for brunch before we went back home to Dallas. The place was super packed and the wait was around half an hour. Food was good, was priced decently, and I'm a big fan of breakfast, so this place was one of my favs while in Austin.
(4)
Jonathan K.
The Guadalupe location is an overrated and overpriced icon. Apathetic waiters galore, the color lime green attacking your eyes, and more often than not, the smell of mop water and bleach lingers with the mix of subpar breakfast food. That'll be $12 please! People who continue to go here are under the facade of convenience and trendiness Kerbey Lane has relied on.
The best thing about Kerbey Lane has to be the sweet potato fries! They are absolutely amazing and I can eat them all day. When ever you go you must order the "Kerbey Queso." Its a delicious starter that should not be missed! I always get the Chicken Pesto Panini, it has yet to fail my taste buds and I! Kerbey Lane is also open 24 hours, so its perfect for a late night dinner!
(4)
Kelly R.
The Eggs Francisco plate is pretty bomb, but I was pretty unimpressed with the fruit on the side. We didn't try any other sides, but I'm guessing it'd be safer to go with something like the home fries. We also ordered a Kerbey Lane Combo platter, which was fine but not too impressive. The apple whole wheat pancakes weren't my favorite, but hey, it's a good deal, and everything tastes better after 2 AM.
(3)
George L.
Back again to have some awesome pancakes. Summer menu this trip so I'll be ordering the Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast platter. The meal was quite good this time around and there were no surprises. I think I'll probably try the pancakes next time just to be able to compare.
(4)
Jordan J.
I was so happy this morning. It must have been because its friday but the staff was super great today (I've been in before when the staff hasn't been so great). Jordan my waitress was so sweet and when I told her I didn't like the watermelon gazpacho special she brought me a new soup the chicken tortilla for free and it was super good! My coffee cup was never empty and my eggs Francisco was nice and cheesy and hot and yummy. Great service today and good food
(4)
Kristina L.
I always like to come here when I'm in Austin. Im a huge brunch fan so this place makes brunch a little special for me. This trip I ordered a Turkey Avocado Sandwich with sweet potato fries. The fries and the possible "aioli" sauce were awesome. The sandwich was just a little boring to me considering they do a lot of cool stuff with their other menu items. Just lettuce, meat, avocado and tomato. That day a new employee was being trained and he seemed to be pretty good. Way to pick-em Kerbey Ln! Looking for brunch, come here.
(4)
Steve B.
Kerbey Queso was pretty awesome. Had french toast with eggs and sausage. Decent breakfast dinner food. I would say slightly above average dinner food. Staff was very nice, and courteous though!
(3)
Darae C.
This was the first place my friend took me when I got off the plane for my trip to Austin. I was a little bummed we weren't going for BBQ or Mexican, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The eatery was very busy both times I went (Sunday morning and Thursday around noon) so the service was a bit slow, but the food did not disappoint. Tons of the dishes I saw come out looked good and I saw many finished plates leaving. The portions were priced fairly and the place was a mashup of a college hangout and a family diner. I had a Southwestern steak salad for lunch one day and the sausage gravy with biscuits for brunch. My steak salad was FANTASTIC. Biscuit dish was meh, but that's mostly because they used bacon gravy and not sausage gravy. All around solid place and I would for sure be back for in the future.
(4)
Jasmine B.
As a recently-graduated student, this Kerbey Lane location is my home-base Kerbey, something every Austin resident should have. When I don't know what I want or where to go, Kerbey Lane has me covered and I have always loved their quality, local ingredients and evolving menu. My favorite thing to get is -- SURPRISE! -- the queso. It is the best I have ever had, will have, or hope to have in the future. If there is better queso, I don't want it. I get the queso at breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or drinks. It doesn't matter. There is always time for this queso. So, if Kerbey Lane is such a stand-by and Austin must-have/treasure, why am I only giving four stars? Well, let's talk about it. Kerbey Lane changed their prices last year, and I find myself going there less and less because, honestly, it just isn't a great value anymore. The queso itself is $8, and for chips and dip, that is a little high. It was always a little more expensive than other queso -- because it is the best queso in town, but I find myself more reluctant to chill here with friends for a snack. Also, the rest of the menu is also more expensive. Most of the more complex entrees price for closer to $20. Again, I'm not saying these prices can't be justified, but eating at Kerbey used to be a great value and it isn't anymore. That's a disappointment. But, the real reason my opinion of Kerbey has been downgraded from "amazing" to "pretty good" is because the vibe isn't the same anymore. They changed the decor in all locations to this off-kitsch, 60's chic, aluminum and green motif that feels sort of yuppy duppy and no longer part of the quintessential shabby-chic essence that Austinities crave. It just feels weird eating in your sweatpants here, and it used to be the kind of place where that happened all the time and I supported that. Casual Austin slacker for life, baby. But the food is great and it probably always will be! Come here for a great meal made with real, wholesome ingredients.
(4)
A P.
I'll start by saying expect to wait a little while for seating and for food but trust me when I say it is worth the wait. It's understandable why this place is always packed. People know good food when they find it. We had the Migas with a chipotle sauce and the Kirbey Lane Combo with blueberry pancakes. The Migas was excellent with just a hint of spicyness. The outstanding food item would be the blueberry pancakes. I don't recall ever having pancakes that were more light, fluffy, mouth watering and tasty. I highly recommend eating here. I know i will definitely be back!
(5)
Ryan B.
I don't understand how people cannot enjoy Kerbey. It's close to campus. I can roll out of bed and get Kerbey queso at 3 am or pancakes at 2 pm. It fits into the campus lifestyle. Don't come here expecting fine dining. I will give them props for the remodeling though. Before the remodeling, everything always felt sticky and uncleanly. Now it has a pretty fresh updated look, but the same 24 hour service. I always grab the Breakfast Platter in the mornings. Why not? It's 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and some bacon for 5.75. C'mon.. that wont break the bank anywhere. Bonus points if you try the gingerbread pancakes. Always a genius decision. I can't see myself ever turning my back on Kerbey. It's a part of campus in my opinion. The only negative is the parking. They need like 10 more spaces. It's so packed every time I head over there.
(5)
Adam P.
Really good! Really fresh! Good service! Vibrant atmosphere. Vegan-friendly menu. Highly recommend. My only recommendation is add turkey bacon and sausage to the menu.
(5)
Omar A.
I've been coming here for over 5 years now, always new people working, new managers, and lots of douche bags. #1 douche bag ( taller white guy long nasty beard, and really long stinky hair ). This guy seated my party of 6, I came in a little later on a sat night, this guy approaches me and says HEY! YOU CANT SIT HERE. I said dude these are my friends, I just grabbed a chair. He said NO! YOU NEED TO WAIT... I Said wait? They'll be done by the time I'm in the next session, that makes no sense. HIS DOUCHE BAG RESPONSE.... YOU HAVE 2 OPTIONS : EITHER YOU LEAVE OR I CALL THE COPS... I was like call the cops for what? hahaha DOUCHE BAG!!! My friend tells me to leave and take our $$$ else where. Later that night, my group told me how bad of an attitude this DICK HEAD had that whole night and how he was real moody and rude. I go in a week later with a friend, sit down order, chit chat, I see douche bag with nasty beard IN THE KITCHEN ON TOP OF YOUR PLATES FOLKS... I don't say anything ( maybe he had a bad night whatever) Next thing you know, this guy goes to the front of the place meets 2 cops shakes hands with them fist pound it with the other guy ( I Guess he gives them favors ) and this NASTY LONG BEARD DOUCHE BAG comes to my table and tells me I need to leave with the cops next to him. The cops ask for my ID write down my info and says ( if you come within a year you will be arrested with dwi ) HAHAHAHAHA DWI? for sitting at kerbey lane really? I say ok grab my phone keys and leave the place. POINT IS... YOU LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER... ONCE I FIND OUT THIS EMPLOYEES NAME I WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GET HIM OUTTA THERE. THE MANAGERS SHOULD OF WALKED UP.... ASKED ME WHAT IS UP AND WHAT THE DEAL IS.... THE COPS SHOULD OF TOOK MY SIDE OF THE STORY.. BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER I GUESS HE DOES THE COPS FAVORS ;) Kerbey check your employees, tell them to shave or trim their nasty hippie long hair, we don't want that shit in our food, plus it looks very unprofessional. MAGNOLIA HERE WE COME!
(1)
Victoria W.
After a long night and not having many options to grab a snack, I decided it was finally time to try Kerbey Lane's Queso! My friends tell me it's the best they've ever had, so I've be meaning to try it. It was pretty pricey. I did not expect to be spending so much on my late night snack. But the queso was delicious. It had guacamole on top of it and peppers in it too. The chips paired with it were fresh! Probably not going to be a regular snack for me, but it was worth trying!
(3)
Karmelo N.
Best drunk eats in Austin, TX.
(5)
Lola L.
This is my second time visiting a Kerby Lane location and it was totally worth it. I actually ordered to go bc this location isn't dog friendly. I ordered their delicious vanilla pancakes that I had been craving. And as I was thinking all I needed was butter! Lol Awesome pancakes!!!
(5)
Atul M.
Amazing food.. Had Rocky Road pancakes.. amazing brunch menu.. Love it! Will come again!
(5)
Elijah L.
Its difficult to find a good brunch in this town that won't leave my wallet drained, and Kerby on the Drag definitely fits the profile. Food is always great, staff is nice and attentive, and they have football on so I can get my fix while grubbing down.
(5)
Andrew D.
By some standards I am a stickler for service. I have an expectation that servers at least pretend to give a shit because, after all, they are getting paid to do it. The notion that simply showing me my seat, scribbling down my order and bringing it to me is sufficient enough to land them a 15-20% tip is absurd. For that service the standard $2-3/hr (TX) rate is sufficient compensation. Kerbey lane offers little in the areas of ambiance or service. However, if i may polish a turd for the moment, KL does have some satisfying breakfast fare. You can't go wrong with an omelet, scramble, or some variation of pan-fried carcass. Perhaps this cafe is more suitable at 2 am for those with a penchant for cirrhosis, but those days have passed me by. I don't want a ho-hum servant to fetch me my food. I want a person with good customer service skills. What I'm saying is I want a genuine actor: a person who can pretend to care. They don't have to genuinely care because after all, for many of us if we weren't paid we wouldn't care about our jobs either.
(2)
Lora T.
Oooooh Kerbey. Kerbey, Kerbey, Kerbey. You never let me down by serving an awesome array of good food (¡¡¡pancakes!!!), are reasonably priced, and always open. A solid place in my Austin "comfort food" list. May my love for thee never weaken.
(5)
Andrew C.
I really like the recent remodeling at this location. It has made the restaurant much more comfortable that it was previously. While the food is occasionally inconsistent, for the most part Kerbey is a great, cheap, crowd pleasing choice. Any time I have family in town I bring them to Kerbey as it it offers traditional fair for them as well as a huge amount of vegan options for me. If you are vegan and looking for an easy reference make sure to ask for the vegan menu. Some of my favorites include the vegan breakfast tacos, pancakes, homefries, hippie burger, portabella fajitas, and its also cool that chips and salsa are complimentary if you order fajitas or enchiladas. Good work Kerbey Lane, you're not my favorite location but you're pretty convenient.
(4)
Cris G.
I've been in Austin for two decades now and have done my time at Kerby Lane. I'm excited to see them expand across town. The menu usually has good choices that aren't your typical fare. I gave this location only three stars because it was not terribly appealing. It felt kind of dirty. That normally doesn't bother me, but this time it did. We showed up on a Sunday morning at 11am and I couldn't believe we only waited 10 minutes. The line was insane by noon, so just remember students have to sleep off the night before and you're in. I was surprised how many families were there, since this is at campus. One disappointment: I asked for some bacon. The guy told me bacon was .50. I said for how many strips? He said, "I'll bring you 4". Sounds good. Then these four anemic strips of fat showed up. I was okay with that. Those four pitiful strips were $2.69! Whoa, now that's not okay. I'll pay that for bacon, but it better be a lot higher quality than that.
(3)
John C.
You don't realize this is a 24 hour diner from it's outward appearance. When you see the menu, the choices are what you would expect to find at a diner either. They have some interesting twists on some items like many Austin restaurants. When we visited this past June I opted for a burger while my wife chose a club sandwich. I thought the burger was pretty tasty but I will stop well short of calling it the best burger I ever ate. The fries seemed to be fresh cut and were crunchy, crispy, and golden as they should be. My wife thought there was too much turkey and ended up removing most of it but she does that no matter where she orders a sandwich. Here are some things you may expect from a 24 hour diner. The service was a bit slow and the place was less than half full on a Tuesday at mid-morning. We also noticed flies buzzing around and landing on our table which wasn't the cleanest. My wife remarked that the Ladies Restroom was not very clean and a little run down. Overall the food was probably above-average for a diner but the low marks for service and cleanliness make this place only average.
(3)
Leanne H.
I love Kerbey Lane's salads. I know this may not be what most people come here for, but when I get a craving for a really good salad, KLC is my go to. My favorite salad here is the Berkeley. Full of delicious veggies, fruits, garbanzo beans, olives, and mozzarella (?) cheese. This salad is filling and worthy of its name (at least says my CA native bf). The last time I came here, the Berkeley was not on the menu! I asked the waitress why it was gone, and she said the chefs took it off the menu. She lamented with me, and put in an order for the Berkeley salad anyways - a guess to prove to the chefs this salad is wanted, and people are not ok with it being taken off the menu. Made my day! Can't say much about the other food here, I only come when craving a salad, and apparently the queso is amazing, but queso and my stomach are not friends.
(4)
Mary L.
I'm surprised by how many reviews are at completely different ends of the spectrum. I came here with a friend one day for lunch. Our service was very quick, prompt, and attentive. We shared the Cowboy queso which rocked my world to the core. I'm from Virginia so the thought of a dish with guacamole, black beans and white queso on top NEVER crossed my mind. Well, good job Texas, because this stuff was liquid goodness. I couldn't stop eating it and the portion was huge. In retrospect, I would have been happy eating just this. I also got a Hippy burger which is a burger with a veggie patty and I thought it was pretty good. I could only eat half of it because I inhaled most of the cowboy queso. For some reason, the burger actually tasted better the day after... at room temp. Does this make me a frat boy? Ha! Anyway, I thought both the service and food were great. I highly recommend the Cowboy queso if you haven't tried it yet. If I ever find myself back in the area, I will definitely come back here!
(4)
Shanon H.
All food at Kerbey Lane is awesome!!!!
(4)
Ernest G.
I love this place! From their food to the service, you cannot go wrong here. Their pancakes have never let me down, I seriously try a new variety every chance I get. I have loved every item of food I've had there with the exception of Pedro's Pasta (I believe that is the name). It is disgusting and I would never recommend it to anyone. They added this a few years back after they removed the pesto penne pasta, big mistake. It is so oily and the flavors do not blend well IMHO. This is a 24 hour joint right by the heavily student occupied West Campus neighborhood, if you show up past 9pm on a weekend expect drunk kids and their normal antics. That being said, the staff here is amazing. They have literally never let me down. In particular Justin is a savior among men. He is extremely friendly and a conversationalist. He has been my server on a number of occasions and under various situations but his service has never let me down. From drunken queso runs to late night study sessions, Justin has had me covered. I went in one night around midnight because I still had to study for a few more hours and Justin did not let my coffee cup run empty. He is seriously one of my favorite waiters I have ever encountered and that says a lot considering one of my biggest pet peeves is bad service.
(5)
Allison F.
I was never a big fan of Kerbey Lane, but I went 'cos a few of my friends love this place and would sucker me into going with them. The food is mediocre. Service is not bad. The only thing I can really praise is the queso, which is made with white cheese. The last time I was in there, my waitress was not so great. I went in around 6am, and it was the end of her shift. She rushed me to pay since she was about to get off, and she said she would not ignore me, but she pretty much did after I paid her. On the other hand, the late night servers are pretty top notch. You gotta give them cred for handling all the obnoxious, drunken students who stumble in after being down at 6th St. all night.
(3)
Anne S.
This place reminds me of a Northern California breakfast hot-spot, Hobee's. It's laid-back, basic, honest, and good. Nothing mind-blowing, but you don't feel like you're being robbed blind, either. I almost got the gingerbread pancakes, then chickened out at the last minute (fearing a sugary stomachache) and ordered the apple-whole-wheat pancakes. When my plate arrived, I was convinced that they'd read my mind and brought me the gingerbread pancakes anyway. There were no apples anywhere! Finally, I found two tiny bits of apple in the bottom pancake. Hm, okay. The flavor was predominantly honey-wheat, which was still good, just not anything amazing. I liked that they had interesting options for pancakes, though, and I'll try the gingerbread ones if I ever make it back to Kerbey Lane someday. My two friends had the American Breakfast, which came with scrambled eggs that they weren't crazy about. I can't eat eggs, so I didn't taste them and can't give you my own opinion. However, my one friend raved about the home fries, and the other loved her grapefruit and English muffin. Overall, Kerbey Lane is good deal for a decent, just-like-momma-used-to-make-style breakfast. Well, I only wish my momma made gingerbread pancakes. ha!
(3)
Zach C.
Since 2002 I've been making questionable decisions in Austin and back then my HQ was a couch in an apartment on San Gabriel. Kerby Lane was always the final stop before going face down into that disgusting couch. Piles of bacon, home fries and toast always were the best way to soak up the booze at 4:44am. This story starts with the good ol Hole in the Wall and ends with a bacon sandwich and queso. Hole in the Wall is a dangerous place for me in the first place, with rivers of Lonestar flowing like the mighty Nile. Throw in 6 of my Alaskan drinking buddies in the mix and it's a whole different kind of party. Needless to say, we got hamboned. As the bar was closing we made a unanimous decision that Kerby Lane would be the next stop because it is almost next door. I have always loved the greasy goodness at Kerby no matter how gassy it makes me for the next 1-15 days after. I kept it simple and ordered the goods for a bacon sandwich. Always a good choice in my mind, the bacon was cooked perfectly and it was just what I needed. The table ordered a queso and I swear I blinked and it was gonzo. The waitstaff always seems to be on point and being able to deal with drunks at all hours of the morning is a skill worthy of some kind of medal. This is definitely a place a will keep hitting up when I find myself stumbling around the campus area.
(4)
Sharon T.
1. Service was definitely a single star! 2. We waited an hour for our food with no logical explanation (a single cook at dinnertime? the fact that every table around us had received their food, including 6 girls who had orders that included REAL beef burgers, not veggie burgers?). 2. I can't decide if our waitress felt like she had to be pleasant to us or was just kind of carefree in throwing our straws on the table but it was a bit insulting and she didn't come by our table much 3. We were harassed by a huge fly at the window and I pretty much lost my appetite after I killed it 4. No compensation at all for waiting an hour, even after 2 of my friends went to the hostess to speak to the manager about it, who also did not seem to console my friends, not to mention us 5. The waitress did, however, apologize for the wait and thanked us for waiting 4. If their hippie burgers and cowboy queso weren't so freaking good, I would never come back. Last semester I had great service, but maybe I'll stick with the other Kerbey. Unless I were starving at 5 am near campus with no food
(1)
Rachel W.
Oh Kerbey Lane how I miss you!! One of my favorite places in Austin, I've been going since I was a kid. Some of the best breakfast ever! Their pancakes and omlettes are so good! This particular location is cool because it's on the drag...so I usually end up here at 3am after a night of binge drinking! This location can get a little rowdy, so if you want a more family place and not a college one, try the one on South Lamar instead.
(4)
Victoria D.
best queso!
(4)
Jawad C.
Ah, Keybey Lane on the drag. So many fond memories at this place, yet so many terrible ones. I won't bother going into a description on this place, it's undoubtedly one of the more popular places on Guadalupe, and anyone who has been around UT at all has either been to it or at least seen it. I might as well skimp on this review and describe my own personal experiences. First, the bad. Good god, this place has shit service. I've been here maybe 10 times or so and I'd guess pretty much every time we'd have less than satisfactory service. It might be because this place is just so damn crowded ever hour of the day, but come on, hire more staff or SOMETHING. A certain instance I order a chai tea from our waitress for the beginning of my meal. 10 minutes later, still no tea, still no waitress. OK so let's order our food, and order that tea again. 15 minutes later, we have the food, but no tea. By the time I finish my meal, our waitress shows up: "Oh sorry, here you go". .... Fuck that, I don't even want it anymore. But seriously, besides that, Kerbey Lane can still house some good food. In particular their breakfast menu. You can get a breakfast platter, which includes some pancakes, egg, sausage, and some other stuff for 6 bucks or so. This place is known for their pancakes anyway - try some out. They've also recently had a seasonal lunch menu, which includes some pretty unique sandwiches I found to be pretty tasty. Anything else on their menu is pretty hit or miss. I particularly enjoyed their burgers and chicken sandwiches, as well as the mahi tacos. At any rate, their menu is a fairly large offering, so there's something for everyone in there. In sum, I've had a good experience at Kerbey Lane with my friends at 3 am while we were stoned. Any time else, not really. I'll still give Kerbey Lane a 3 for their great breakfast menu.
(3)
Emily S.
I have been going to Kerbey Lane Cafe for at least 5 years now. 5 years ago it would have gotten 5 stars easily! It was very "Austin", welcoming, and the waiters/waitress were so helpful and nice. Although the menu has not changed the quality of food certainly has! I got my usual: 2 eggs, 2 buttermilk pancakes, 2 sausage patties, and a small cup of tortilla soup. Now, the first thing they bring out is the soup. I can already tell it doesn't look right. I take a bite, and it tastes more salty than the ocean! (no exaggeration, seriously!) I took 2 bites and the salt made me so sick I didn't eat for another 20 minutes. I told the waiter and he looked at me like I'm crazy (very annoying!) So I said "Tell the cook this is so salty I've lost my appetite" and he goes on to tell me it's comes frozen in a package. EW! So I continue to the eggs. I got over-easy they were not done the egg white around the yolk was still translucent. So I sent those back too! Once again he looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about... The sausage patties weren't very good but tolerable. And the buttermilk pancakes were still very good but not as good as they once were. So if you're going there for great food.. ihop is better and cheaper!! That brings me to my next complaint. They have recently done some remodeling and relocating.. Whoever made that decision was crazy!! It went from a very nice, welcoming, and Austin family owned kind of feeling to a bad retro very corporate kind of place. I am sad to say I'm not going back to Kerbey Lane for a very long time. Which is sad to say because it used to be my favorite cafe!
(1)
Angela M.
PANCAKES. So many delicious flavors. And in such huge amounts! Yesterday's special was the cinnamon and peaches. Delicious. Slightly dry, but plenty of syrup to make up for that. Quick service (on a Tuesday morning at 8:30), lots of refills and attention.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Let me justify my 2 star rating: Food gets 5 stars.....service gets 2. And here's why... This is a popular breakfast place in Austin so it was packed at 10 am on a Sat morning. I get it. We were told the wait would be 30 mins. I accepted it. After sitting on a little bench for 1 hour and 10 mins I started to wonder if they had forgotten about us. They had. Not wanting to seem inconsiderate or rude, when the 30 min wait was up I thought maybe we should just wait a little longer. They were busy after all...and we were sitting right up front so they could see us sitting there waiting...how would they forget us? Plus, we had one of those little buzzer coasters...and it hadn't gone off yet. Soooo we waited and waited and waited. When I saw a family get seated that had come in long after us, that's when I started to worry. So I sent the boyfriend up to ask. He came back to tell me they had skipped us on the list by "accident" and showed that we had already been seated....hmmm. Something was fishy and it wasn't the fish on the menu. Then why did my buzzer never go off? Hmmm? After we busted them, we were seated immediately but never told sorry. Then we got to wait some more for our waiter. He never showed up. Instead we got a random busboy...he took our order and then we never saw him again. Ugh. Our food finally came out and WOW it was amazing. Pumpkin pancakes are a MUST try. Bacon was delish, sausage was great and I was happy. Until I noticed that everyone else that ordered pumpkin pancakes got some special butter...where was mine? So I had to waitttttt some more to ask for butter. When I did our waiter looked put out. Well excuseeee me mister! Finally got the butter....but never got a refill on my coffee. Bitch bitch bitch....I'm done. I felt like I was on some weird TV show here....like Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out and say "HA! We gotcha!".....but it never happened. I got shitty service and great food. NOT the combo I enjoy. However, maybe I'll try them again when they aren't so busy. I hope they don't skip me on the wait list again. Grrrrrrr!
(2)
Daniel Levis K.
3 stars for taste and atmosphere, plus 1 for trying with the vegetarian options. 1) Kerbey is not dinner-date material. However, their diner look was welcoming and perfect for grabbing a quick bite with friends. 2) Scanty appetizer choices. 4 kinds of queso is not 4 different appetizers. 3) Food was fresh tasting, despite being mostly fried diner food. Sweet potato fries were the best I've had yet. The queso was good too, though the chips tasted stale or like they'd been sitting under a heat lamp for too long--my one major disappointment here. 4) All that said, I appreciated the homemade veggie patty (basically a black bean patty, though no Gardenburger here) and homemade veggie chorizo. Touches like these separate Kerbey Lane from places like Magnolia Cafe as truly veggie-friendly instead of merely veggie tolerated. 5) Open 24 hours!
(4)
Wendy W.
Thanksgiving morning. Only place open. May as well break our decade long absence from patronizing this place. Seated at invisible table. Had to get up to find a waiter. Was told our MIA waiter had been in the bathroom (UMMM...OVERSHARE, anyone?) Scrambled eggs were ok. Bacon was good. Pancakes were ok. Hot tea was Lipton's, but ok. Biscuits are dense and not recommended. Ended up with 3 different waiters. No hard feelings. Won't be returning.
(2)
Jessie H.
I've been here so many times for late night eats, and overall it's been pretty good. But be aware, if you come super late, sometimes the server may get a little rude, especially if you're a teenager. Some of the servers are super cool. Don't get me wrong. Most of them are laid back. But one of them was just so rude. I could not stand it. I came with a group of friends around 3-4 and some of them already ate and wanted to just come along. There were 7-8 of us and 6 ate, so gratuity was included. This guy asked my friends what they wanted to eat and they said "Oh, we already ate," point to the people who ate. He moves over to the rest of the table and asks "So who's ordering food?" in the ugliest tone. Later I overheard him asking at a table next to us, "So are y'all ordering real food tonight?" Seriously? My sister had a question about the menu and he had the nerve to say "Why didn't you do your studying?" Not only that but he never once came by to ask us for anything unless I flagged him down. Just the typical taking orders, bringing out food, and bringing out checks. One of my friends just ordered dessert and it didn't come out with the other food so towards the end I asked him, "Where's his dessert?" And the server says "Why didn't you say anything?" I'm sorry, but I would assume that a server would ask the customers when they would like dessert. I was so upset with this guy. He's lucky he got gratuity because I wouldn't have tipped him 17%. Ugh. But besides from that one time experience with bad service, the food was pretty good. I like the Kerbey queso! I think everyone does. (;
(3)
ariela r.
I wish I could give this place 2 1/2 stars.. I got the breakfast platter (vegan) the tofu scramble was good but they give you such a teeny portion of it and the sausage was not good at all. The pancakes however, I liked a lot. strawberry with walnuts..although the strawberry looked like dried raspberries..the waiter assured us it was strawberry though, whichever it was, the pancakes were very tasty. I also got chai(asked for it hot and got it barely warm) however hot or cold..the chai was horrible and undrinkable. I might go back for pancakes again but that'd be all.
(3)
Gwen V.
Love the queso, but that's about it. Breakfast is OK. I prefer waffles over pancakes, so I guess I'm kind of missing the point of Kerbey, but friends were craving Buttermilk pancakes the other day and just could not get over some odd gingerbread-y taste to them. They were sorely disappointed. Blueberry pancake replacement was quite nice though. Anytime I get an entree, I am underwhelmed. Mahi mahi tacos are OK, but not anything I ever crave. Stick to the queso (especially at any time after 2am, drunk is a flavor that should not go underappreciated), and you'll be fine. Service is notoriously bad at this location. Other locations are somewhat better and the Kerbey on Kerbey has a nice atmosphere.
(2)
Oscar the Death Cat B.
A 30 minute wait to get seated for lunch - on a weekday - and a "seasonal" menu? This shabby little place must be a lot more classy than it looks!! Or so I thought.... Part of the reason we waited so long is that they accidentally purged us from their wait list. When we finally did get led to our table, I saw that almost every other table in the restaurant had ordered a breakfast dish w/ pancakes. Did I get the hint when it was time to order? No, dopey me, instead I fell for a couple of items on their "autumn" menu, the duck nachos and pulled pork tacos. When done right, pulled pork and duck can be outsanding, but they certainly should never be dry and/or chewy, and unfortunately both dishes were. Worse yet, the duck nachos were bathed in some super-hot sauce, a fate that might be appropriate for a crap-quality meat or poultry, but why in the world would you want to drown the flavor of duck like that?? On a positive note, I was lucky to get a few bites of someone else's pancakes and they were good. Queso was tasty too. Service was poky and the parking lot, though better than nothing, was inadequate, I HATE having to stalk departing diners just to get a spot. I'll bet this place looks and tastes a lot more appealing at 3 AM after a night of drinking.
(2)
Christine H.
Wow. WOW. I have never had veggie chorizo the way they do it here. I'm salivating at the thought of them. Okay, so backing up. Came here with my boyfriend for lunch on a Monday holiday and were seated almost immediately. The menu is extensive and VERY vegetarian-friendly. I've honestly never been to a restaurant with such a huge variety of both veggie and meaty choices. Super-plus. I got a quesadilla with veggie chorizo and my bf got a pear+bacon panini with a side of home fries. Portions were HUGE--we both have really big appetites, but we each only finished about half of our food. I'm sure the unlimited chips and salsa played a role. There were a couple pieces of soggy chips in our basket...odd. Our water glasses were kept full, and my bf's root beer was refilled without him asking. Our server was super super nice. After lunch, we needed to walk around to digest, so we asked her about nearby parks (being the tourists that we are). She drew us a map on our takeout box. :D
(4)
Melanie K.
I love migas, often outside of traditional breakfast hours, so I was drawn in by the fact that Kerbey serves breakfast around the clock. The famous queso takes my favorite dish to another level (top 5 in Austin perhaps), but it seems chincey for them to charge a dollar for a drizzle of cheese atop a $7 plate. A lot of the breakfast items come with rice on the side where one would expect potatoes, but you can sub homefries. The menu is expansive and diverse, which makes this a pretty safe place to take just about anyone. Parking here is soo much better than the original location. The tradeoff is that the interior is much less cute and sort of plain.
(4)
Snicker D.
Officially my favorite location. Only good things happen at this Kerbey. So back to this location I go with a friend after picking him up from work. He wants pancakes and suggests IHOP. I offer to pay if we can dodge IHOP and go to Kerbey. When he didn't order pancakes, I saw what was really going on. It was worth it. The chai was great, as was our server. I wish I could remember her name. She was there when we needed her, but still let us have our space. I always appreciate that type of service. Okay, random rant before getting to the food: The main thing that keeps me coming back to certain places, or certain locations of certain places, is manners. Sometimes things are going to go wrong, it more depends on how you handle it. Something I really enjoy about this location, is that people have manners here. An example: There was this guy sweeping, I'm sure it was part of his side-work before he had to leave. He was sweeping all around us but not being noisy or obnoxious about it. Just quietly sweeping. He seemed to wait until there was nothing left except the area where we were, then said "excuse me" then apologized and explained that he had to get where we were. We lifted our legs up so he could get under the table we were at and he said "I really didn't want to do this, but I just can't help myself!" as he was sweeping. Hilarious! We were cracking up so hard. Of course, if he would have been a dick about it this review would be a bit different. Seriously though, apologize, explain, make a joke. It's not that hard. Don't be a dick. Gold star and a brownie for the dude sweeping at Kerbey! I pretty much dealt with almost the same exact thing earlier today, but without the person saying "sorry" or "excuse me" or anything. It makes the world of difference! If you're going to work in the service industry, have some manners!! Now back to the food... Got the chai, it was awesome! Woo-hoo! Got the queso, it was awesome because it's the queso at Kerbey and it never fails to fill and satisfy. I then decide to step out of my nom-norm, and because I was feeling like a fatty, got the Cobb Salad. Don't get the Cobb Salad if you're feeling like a fatty, it's deliciously misleading. I ordered it with Blue Cheese dressing. Rich and heavenly. It came with bacon* that was cooked perfectly. The leafy greens were fresh, not wilted at all. The egg* was cooked perfectly as well. The whole thing was huge! I ate it all... After the plates were cleared, our server came back and asked us if we wanted to try some chocolate cake. After the week I just had, there was no way I was leaving without some cake first. I would marry this woman for introducing me to this cake. This was the best cake I've had since my great-grandma went into assisted living. It had the kind of icing that's thick, but not spread on too thick, with layers of more icing in the middle. I want to say it was a three tier too. The cake itself was fluffy, but not dry. I can't remember if I asked for ice-cream, or if it came with it. She said cake and I really didn't say a whole lot except "YES!" The only thing I would change was that it comes with Strawberries and I'm allergic. They looked quite fresh though, and like I said, I didn't ask any questions. I just gave my friend the side with strawberries. I was going to share anyway. It's been a terrible week, and Kerbey, especially the cake, made up for it.
(5)
Joshua B.
Overrated. The only times I go to kerbey lane is at 2:30 in the morning drunk with friends, which usually happens to be the same time everyone else has the same idea. The queso is pretty legit, but I've never eaten anything here that blew me away.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Kerbey Lane was fair. With most of the egg dishes, egg whites were available for 65 cents more and tofu scramble could be subbed for 75 cents. Not a bad deal, considering I'm used to paying up to $1.50 to substitute egg whites. I went with the Kerbey Scramble, substituting tofu scramble for the eggs. Oops... I'd noticed that the tofu in another dish was mixed with nutritional yeast (eww!!) and didn't realize that would be in my tofu scramble as well. The consistency was weird and gummy. I needed my beloved Tapatio for this one, but the only hot sauce on hand was Tabasco. Grossed out by the tofu/yeast scramble, I focused on the breakfast potatoes (very good) and whole wheat toast, making for a very carb-y meal.
(2)
Molly F.
The service here is spotty and sometimes unprofessional. I've had a wait person slam down someone else's food in front of me, shout "bam!" a la Emeril, and leave before I could say "this isn't my chicken!" At brunch, I've had my coffee arrive well after I finished eating my food. For dessert, I've been served cold cake straight from the fridge. So why do I keep coming back? Vegan pancakes. Where else besides Kerbey Lane can I get vegan pancakes at 2AM. Or any time, really? I appreciate that they have a vegan menu and can serve me something more interesting than hummus (though they have that, too.) Beyond the pancakes, it's a restaurant where I can eat with my family who eat healthy, my family who can't eat onions or anything spicy, and even my family who will only eat burgers. Kerbey Lane is pretty good at everything, but great at very little. And sometimes that's just what I need.
(3)
Sarah S.
It's not that difficult to make a breakfast taco. Now, I'm not expecting everything to be up to Whole Foods standards, but still - tortilla + potatoes + tofu = not that hard. Kerbey literally had the WORST breakfast tacos I've ever had. The only plus is that this is still the only late night (i.e. 3am) place with a vegan menu.
(2)
kelly m.
No trip to Austin is complete without breakfast (or sometimes forth meal) at Kerbey Lane!! Think of classic diner casual crossed with hippie (mostly) vegetarian friendly fare, and you'll understand why it's a local favorite. I almost always order off the seasonal menu or get the pancakes special. I also love the sandwhich selections (especially the turkey avocado) with sweet potato fries. Last time I was here I tried the tres leches. This did not include all three of the leches-- the cake was dry, rather than soaked in the sweet milk (the milk was on the plate instead). This was kind of a disappointment, because I brought some non-Texan friends, who hadn't experienced the deliciousness of tres leches cake before. The parking lot at the location on the drag can be a bit of a nightmare, so we parked further down the street and walked a few blocks.
(4)
Naomi H.
Gross. I got the Chipotle Grilled Cheese, one of the menu's "favorites". The cheese wasn't melted, the sandwich was cold, the onions were way too thick. The fries were okay. The queso was thick and globby and made me wonder what was in it. Not impressed with this place, considering all the hype I heard about it.
(1)
Megan M.
There is only one thing I come to Kerbey for and it's their pancakes. Kerbey is a 'go big or go home' meal for me as I always get the Kerbey scramble with a short stack. I love their seasonal pancakes (pumpkin and lemon poppyseed) as well as their blueberry pancakes. They have some crazy flavors occasionally too, like s'more pancakes. Their monster size also tends to keep me full until dinner.
(4)
Matt H.
Great restaurant. Manager took the time to serve me after his scheduled time since it was busy.
(5)
Andrew V.
My friends and I came here on a Sunday for brunch, and booooyyy was it packed! The guac-queso here is well worth the 30minutes wait though. It was an amazing mix which even surprised my Mexican gf of the combination. The queso is very rich in flavor, you could practically taste the milk of Mexico. Yum. The prime let down is while drooling for the gingerbread pancake that I've read so tastily of, was sold out?!? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!? I hope to try it some day..
(4)
Sarah S.
So the parking here is terrible. I was meeting a group of 9 other people here for lunch the other day. I think we had a total of 4 cars. Do you know how long it took us to wait for spots to open? Oiy!! Once we were in, we were seated right away. We had a table waiting for us. But the waitress was less than pleased to have us there. We weren't a difficult group to deal with. And the tip was already worked into the bill....so what's the problem?? As for the food, I ordered the chicken quesadillas, which came with sour cream and pico de gallo. I thought it was pretty tasty and a pretty big portion size. I wish it came with guacamole though...that would make it better! No one at the table had any complaints about the food, and we were all quite happy with what we ordered. I thought it was a bit strange to get such a frosty reception from the waitress though. I hear the pumpkin pancakes are really tasty, so I think I'll go back and give them a try :-)
(3)
ashley g.
The servers are all tremendous!!! Especially after you eat here enough and they get to know you! My fav. dishes are pesto cream pasta, chicken tortilla soup and the flavored pancakes! I just had the pumpkin pancakes yesterday and they are awesome!!! I hate how some pumpkin food creations are more spice than pumpkin, so these are the opposite- hence why I LOVE them!!! It's like someone scooped out all the pumpkin goo, mixed it in with batter and POOF! So soft and fluffy! Udder greatness!!! The only complaint is that it is so loud in the restaurant!!! All the drunk college kids that swarm the place after bar closing make it less enjoyable :( Overall, thank you Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe!
(4)
Tim P.
Ok. I don't know anyone that thinks it is a great idea to go to Kerbey Lane at 7:30pm. It's not one of those places. 2 am? BRING IT ON! :) I enjoy Kerbey Lane and think the food is def goodness after having fun around town (with alcohol that is...). I had a good Breakfast Burrito and French Toast. MMMM.... Very yummy! It also has a special place in my heart as the first time I visited this location the waiter gave me his phone number on the check.... LOL.. so that makes it a classic in my mind. :)
(3)
clayton m.
Beer is kinda pricy. Mahi mahi tacos a lil on the burnt side. Cowboy queso and service was great though. I might give this place a 2nd chance, although I might try a something a lil less ambitious and maybe a different location.
(3)
anne marie j.
Our family loves coming here. We try to get something different every time we go. The kids love seeing what the pancake of the day will be. We started going all the way north (we are in South Austin) because it's bigger and there never is a wait. The omelets are always great. My favorite pancake is the white chocolate. Super Yummy! You don't get nickel and dimed like at the chains and the food is, well, you can't even compare.
(4)
Robert S.
The food quality at this location is better than other Kerbey Lane locations in town. And that says a lot. I'm willing to give a restaurant multiple chance, so I've eaten at this Kerbey Lane for breakfast, lunch, a late night snack, and while wasted from a night out. The food is rather bland, and ridiculously overpriced for the low quality you receive. Sometimes, the eggs are runny, or the pancakes haven't cooked all the way through. The salsas are almost like water. And most side orders seem to have come right out of a can and onto my plate. Why this place is popular? I don't know, but considering it was in Austin, it doesn't surprise me.
(1)
Aly J.
First off, the queso is amazing. Sometimes I find excuses to go out to eat with friends JUST so I can get some of that cheesy goodness. My favorite thing about Kerbey is that it has food for everyone! I'm vegetarian and most of my friends are not, but Kerbey has plenty of veggie fare without being exclusively vegetarian, so all of us can be happy. They have little seasonal menus to go with the regular menu. Usually the seasonal food is really interesting! Last year I tried to butternut squash french toast and it was absolutely perfect. I can NOT wait until it comes back. All the food I've ever had here has been consistently good. I don't really care for the rice that comes with the enchiladas (it's always crazy dry), but that can easily be substituted for something better. Service is pretty hit or miss. I've only had one waiter who was outright rude, but I was with a guy who was being rude first, so that's understandable. Just don't go to Kerbey if you're in a rush or have a god-complex and feel the need to be pampered, and the service should be perfectly satisfactory.
(4)
Davonne H.
Two words....blackberry pancakes! It's their pancake special right now and it's delicious. Otherwise a better kerbey experience this past saturday. Good wait staff, not much of a wait, and blackberry pancakes.
(4)
Dena F.
It was Saturday...the Saturday of the rescheduled Arkansas game. Can I pick a time to take a vacation or what. We were walking down Guadalupe playing our game of slug-everytime-you-see-a-girl-in-cowboyboots-&-Âorange shirt-&-short skirt (similar to slug bug.) Both of us had seriously bruised arms so we decided to take a break and grab lunch. I wish we'd gone for breakfast...the morning menu looked way better than the lunch food. Both of us had sandwiches. They were good. I'd go there again. Atmosphere was great, service was great, food should have been great too!
(3)
Kristin D.
After moving to Austin in 2009 Kerbey Lane quickly became my stop for comfort food. They have enough variety to satisfy my adventurous friends and they change their menu seasonally which I think is nice. They change their pancakes of the day too and have vegan food so I can actually go to a "normal" restaurant with my vegan friends. I'm a plain Jane and order the same thing every time. Even the waiters are beginning to remember my order. My food is always consistent and I like it that way. Occasionally I'll get a mishap where I they give me an avocado burger instead of a bacon cheeseburger or they forgot the cheese or bacon, but they are quick to fix it and apologize. Most of the time the take something off my bill too. Most of the staff is nice. There are a couple of people I'd prefer not to have: the moody girl who used to be the hostess and the tall guy who talks to softly you can barely hear him. There are also people I love to serve me. The guy with the labret piercing is my favorite. If you go in between the hours of 11pm and 3am any day of the week expect a wait. Sunday morning until 4pm is usually busy as well.
(4)
D D.
I've been many times over the past 8 years I've lived here. I've accepted the price raises for "local, organic" ingredients, the downgrade from experienced, seasoned servers and mgmt to typical bored hipster, college kid staff, etc. Those working at Kerbey tonight were the most incompetent, ragtag team I have ever had to deal with there. The initial server was confused when I asked for pie, even after I pointed to it, he responded with "what?!' repeatedly instead of up-selling a dessert. I order a house salad, to which I am told there "is no house salad"? Ok kid, I'm drunk, give me the closest thing. The manager was curt, frazzled, had no idea what customer service resembled, and only got concerned when I pissily filled out a comment card. I have never written an internet review of any restaurant. Ever. Being in the service industry, I am prone to believe most of the people reviewing where they eat are the same hard to please cows your local cafe staff loves to hate. The shit storm of service I received tonight hasn't made me rethink that outlook, but the boys and girls of late night dining should remember that folks are way more apt to note bad experiences than good ones. If this is the new face of Kerbey I will never go back, and I will tell everyone I know to not go back as well. I dont give a fuck if theres a dairy out back from where my queso is sourced: If it takes 45 minutes and dealing with your ass clown servers to get said delicious queso, I just dont want it. Make your staff act like adults and conduct themselves in a manner that gains you business. Kerbey campus has clearly gone down hill. The queso is still the best on the city, but I'll bite the bullet and just go to Magnolia, or jesus, maybe even Starseeds, next time.
(1)
Sue L.
Oh no!!!!!!! What did you do with the decor? The new floor plan is an improvement but what was a funky unique Austin diner is now sterile and corporate. Did you hire the decorator from Cafe Express? The food's the same which is good, but how can I enjoy it sitting in my metal chair surrounded by bare white walls with retina-burning lime green accents? How? I can only pray the don't wreck the original Kerbey Lane with this *improved* look. It's dreadful.
(3)
Bert B.
Great all around Coffee was good Portions a plenty Spicy chipotle sauce Really great service Gave us a tip about where to get a half price oil change
(5)
Sarah J.
My husband and our two kids (age 2 and 5) stopped in to Kerbey Lane tonight for dinner. I have to say, my expectations were basement-low. I think of it as a late-night option for drunk college kids or a ho-hum dinner option for poor grad students. But, we were hungry, no food at home, tired, and it was getting late (by kid standards). Luckily, we were VERY pleasantly surprised by the setting, the service, and the food. Our waitress was friendly and fast. The space was clean and bright. We got the basic burger with sweet potato fries, and both were truly delicious. We also got a seasonal dish that I think was called the "steak arepas" and it was really very tasty as well. Served with very flavorful black beans. The kids got totally standard kid fare. I like their chips and salsa. I would not hesitate to stop in to Kerbey Lane again. Families with kids: you will be fine to eat here. College kids don't mind if there's a rambunctious 2 yr old in the next booth.
(4)
Elizabeth E.
I really doubt the cleanliness of this restaurant. I ate here the past Sunday. While eating I watched a hostess kill a fly with a sugar jar on a table top, tried to clear the dead fly carcass from the table by smearing it along the table with the sugar dispenser used to kill the fly, then when the fly got caught in a joint of the table top disguised the dead fly by putting a menu on top of the carcass. She promptly returned with a party of 6 to sit at the table (without attempting to clean the table or sugar jar or remove the dead fly). My stomach was turned and I was unable to finish my meal knowing that that was the level of cleanliness embraced by this establishment. To make things worse when we got our ticket the waiter put a dirty leather case with the bill leaning onto my glass of water so I was no longer able to drink my water. He had the WHOLE table to place the bill. I'm not sure why he thought putting it on my water glass was appropriate.
(1)
Brad K.
This breakfast joint (well, it's open all day but you'll want to get breakfast) is one of the only reasons I will head to campus. The migas at this location rule, but I can't speak to much else. (Well, the coffee is service-able, but nothing to speak about). It's a student hangout so be prepared -- at this location -- for service to be a bit slow and the place to be a bit loud. There are worse things in the world, though. We always have a good time there. Lots of energy. And if you don't want to wait, there's counter seating. Which can be fun.
(3)
Kitt J.
Hi, elephant in the room! I'm Katya and I prefer Magnolia Cafe. With that out of the way, I can still say that I like Kerbey Lane. A lot of the same stuff, right down to the awesome gingerbread pancakes. So let's talk differences. It's really quite simple. The atmosphere is a little more generic at Kerbey Lane, and the place sometimes makes me feel dirty because of how badly the linoleum and wall coverings are peeling in certain places. The lighting reminds me of a backyard bug zapper, and the portions seem a bit skimpy lately, too. And I consistently get worse service at Kerbey Lane. On the plus side, Kerbey Lane has a much more extensive menu, a lot more seasonal stuff, and I prefer their desserts. For me, it comes down to the semi-creepy atmosphere that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, and the service, which can make me feel downright unwelcome. On good days, it's fine. But on bad ones, I could die of dehydration while waiting on my server to come around or choke to death while being pressured to scarf down my meal and leave. Overall, very mediocre. But, hey... that isn't a horrible thing. Just as much as mediocrity means "not great," it also means "not bad." It just depends on what matters to you.
(3)
TJ S.
Kerbey Lane is that place to go for 24 hr service! It's a very casual, cool place to eat. I only gave them 3 stars because the food is really traditional. There isn't really anything spectacular on the menu besides the Kerbey Queso dish (and even that is pricey). But on a more positive note, it's a great place to get an early or late breakfast, or even a nice place to go get lunch/dinner. If you want a standard place to eat on the Drag that's not overly expensive, and doesn't require a long wait, this is your place.
(3)
Edward P.
Yes, cheap and locavore type waffle house with a granola feel.
(5)
Vincent N.
I wish I could love Kerbey, but I can't. It seems they always burn my sausage or I just ending up having a sub-par breakfast experience. It's super when they have their pumpkin pancakes and you can have a nice hot coffee, especially during the winter months (or winter-ish months), but other than that, I just keep on trying, perhaps its futile. Wish I could dig.
(2)
Mary N.
It's 12 am, my friend and I got hungry and knowing that this is one of the few places that was still open we decided to eat here. Looking up the menu beforehand we knew what we wanted to order: fish tacos and the texas paris meal. They renovated the whole place and it looks weird. I liked the old style a lot better. We got there and waited for 10 minutes for the server to get our drinks. We told him we wanted to order right away because the service was slow. Usually the chips and salsa comes out before the meal but this time it came out with our meal. The new Kerbey sucks. The food was horrible! The fish tacos was not even edible. The fish looked like the fish sticks you buy from the store for cheap and they were overcooked and super hard. We had to drenched the fish in salsa and salt and lemon to make it taste somewhat okay. The migas was okay but not delicious. The beans had no seasoning but the rice was decent. The french toast was the best part of the meal but after eating the tacos anything would had been better. The only good thing about Kerbey is their queso. That has been the only thing I have enjoyed there. Their food is not worth going to eat. Their prices have increased but yet their portion has decreased. I don't think I'll be going here again after this last experience. Their service was horrible, the guy only checked on us twice. They really need more servers.
(1)
Michael T.
Kerbey's Migas taco with salsa verde is descended from Olympus. I don't know anything about Kerbey Lane except the migas tacos with salsa verde, and a side of home fries. The migas tacos with salsa verde are excellent! The potatoes are a nice side. Did I mention the migas tacos with salsa verde? It is a wonderful combination. Sometimes I have home fried potatoes on the side.
(4)
Noelle W.
I will never darken the door of a Kerbey Lane restaurant again for as long as I live. The service sucks, the attitude sucks, and the food SUCKS. NEVER. GOING. BACK.
(1)
Umper U.
I had a panic uh-oh here but where else could you do that in Austin at 3AM? They asked me to leave but try the queso 4 stars
(4)
Debbie C.
Queso Queso Queso! Kerby Queso brings a smile to my face. A fantastic concoction of salsa, cheese and guacamole. Not to be missed. I also recommend the hibiscus tea (hisbiscus mint iced tea with Sprite). Cool place, quick service and open 24/7!
(4)
Teresa D.
I work down the street from this location, and sometimes order to go. Without fail, I am disappointed. I ordered from here today, and was stoked on the new tomato summer menu. I Love Love Love tomatoes and ordered the tomato and squash fries. Battered and fried tomatoes and squash served with marinara sauce, sounds delicious right? Wrong! They were not made to order, and were cold and soggy. My friend had the Vegan breakfast platter, she loved it. It came with vegan blueberry pancakes, tofu scramble and soy-sage. I prefer the Kerbey on Kerbey, much better service, and I have never had cold or soggy food!!!!
(2)
Chris R.
Had a late night breakfast at the bar seats. Decent service for 3am staff. Food was good as expected. An experience you can count on, which is appreciated.
(3)
Jennifer T.
I find myself wanting to like Kerbey Lane, but really, it's very average. I usually come here when I crave pancakes. The first time I had the blueberry pancakes here, they were phenomenal, and for me, phenomenal pancakes don't come by that often. Fluffy, but slightly crisp on the outside, and delicious. But either I've developed unreasonably high expectations after that first bite or the cooking is inconsistent... they just don't taste the way I remember them anymore. I've tried their pumpkin pancakes too, but they had too much nutmeg/spice in them for my liking... I couldn't even finish them. Their Kerbey Queso, which they're famous for, is pretty good. But it'll run you up $8 just for the chips and dip alone. In case you haven't caught on, this place is super pricey! I order pretty conservatively, and even then it's difficult not to drop at least $10 here. For a short stack of pancakes and a cup of soup, I find that a little ridiculous. I always feel short-changed after eating here, or wishing that I'd used my money on something more worthwhile. I'd come back if I could ever make their early-bird specials between 4-7 am. For $4, I'd give their pancakes another try.
(3)
Mary V.
I love pancakes. And I love pumpkin pancakes especially. But I love Kerbey Lane's pumpkin pancakes the most out of all the pancakes in the world! It's kind of sad, but I'm only an active customer of Kerbey Lane when pumpkin pancakes are in season--which is around October to December, I think. The pumpkin pancakes are just THAT amazing. My boyfriend and I will order other stuff like the Kerbey queso and maybe a salad, but we always have to order pumpkin pancakes! I once tried their pumpkin french toast with the expectation that it was on par with the pancakes; it was disappointingly dry. Thus, forever shall I stick with the pancakes. Other than that, I have no reason to go because it can get a little expensive, but Kerbey Lane certainly knows how to make an amazing stack of pancakes. See you again in the fall!
(4)
Tate S.
Am I on glue, or am I totally missing the point? I had rather high expectations going down to the much hyped Kerbey Lane. But after eating that meal, I'm sure I would have been disappointed with even average expectations. We ordered the queso that everyone talks about, which was pretty good but lukewarm and had an icky film on top. Then they made us scoop it up with mostly bottom-of-the-bag chip bits -- not cool! The entrees took forever and when they arrived, the fries were pretty much cold and the sandwich was dry and kind of bland. Our server was nice, but holy cow... I kept having to check and make sure that this was indeed the Kerbey Lane I'd heard so much about. Also, it was ridiculously cold -- everyone at the table was shivering. I think I'll pass next time.
(2)
Will H.
See if you can find anything substantial on their menu for less than $5. No? then it must be pretty good. Wrong. How about soggy fries and pathetic sandwiches? Kerbey Queso isn't worth the price. Walk down the street (it's not far!) and get the Torchy's Queso instead. It's a fun thing to do when you're a freshman and new to Austin, and it is a local business, but if you live here a while you know there are better (and cheaper) places to eat than this tourist trap.
(2)
Ryan H.
Well, I was flagged for removal, as I didn't make it clear that I was in presence during said experience, as I WAS, so here again, is my review. My girlfriend will post her (likely identical) account shortly. "Removed Review": Boy, I am looking at my Yelp reviews, and I sure am a love it or hate it kinda guy. That being said, I haven't even Yelped in quite a while. Although, I guess it has also been quite a while since the last time my girlfriend's car was towed from the Kerbey Lane parking lot while she sat inside eating lunch with a UT professor discussing a job interview to teach psych classes across the street. Mgmt even refused to help get her car, and better, pay for their mistake. THAT being said, I am gonna file this gem under ''Hate.'' Get fucked, Mr. Kerbey Lane, and by the way, you owe my girlfriend $250 and her afternoon back. Thanks! PS. On a friendly note, a friend was telling me tonight that he had met a girl in Paris who was from Austin, and she said the thing she missed most about Austin was the Kerbey Queso. It's literally famous. That must mean something.
(1)
Nick L.
Been here 20-30 times, I'd guess. Usually has quality, interesting food, although there are definitely occasional exceptions. Gets a bit of a bum rap from students who have eaten there ten too many times. Lots of variety, both healthy and indulgent options, vegetarian-friendly, and seasonal menus (my favorite). The original Kerbey on 38th seems to be a little better all-around, though, probably because it's not as swamped with (occasionally drunk) college students in the wee hours of the night. Wait staff is usually friendly, although occasionally bizarre if you're there after midnight. Favorite quote from one of them, as he refilled our water, "Super-waiter strikes again, haha!" Anyway, for the price, it's great.
(4)
Karlyn K.
Great food as always. But the waiter borders on rude. They sat me near the glass in a corner and there were dead flies on the window sill. Yuck! But awesome food!!! If not for the waiter and dead flies I'd give em 5 stars.
(4)
Matthew C.
As an Austin staple, Kerbey Lane is an essential part of any trip to Austin - and the prefect late-night food stop for UT students. The majority of the menu is typical diner food with a unique Austin touch. Their winter seasonal menu in particular was unconventional yet delicious. I went with the maple ginger granola topped with fruit and served with Greek yogurt. That was the first time I'd had ginger in granola; it added a nice flavor that complemented the sweetness of the maple syrup and had a slightly chewy texture. The granola quesadilla (maple ginger granola, peanut butter, bananas, asiago fresco cheese, and honey in a toasted tortilla) also sounded really good. My only complaint: the prices. My granola was almost $6 and the sandwiches were almost $8 - not what I would expect from a "diner."
(4)
Troy G.
Kerbey Lane is great pretty much any time of the day since it is open 24 hrs a day. I wish more restaurants were open all the time like Kerbey Lane is. It really is a wonderful place to go at 2 am when the bars close. When my girlfriend and I go here, we basically have to get the Kerbey queso every time. They take queso and add pico de gallo and guacamole. It is one of the best appetizers you can get. Sometimes it is enough to make a meal for both of us because it is so big. Their pancakes are also very good, and in my opinion better then Magnolia Cafe pancakes. Here you can order many types of pancakes, ranging from gingerbread to blueberry or pumpkin spice, depending on the time of year. I would mainly recommend Kerbey Lane for breakfast since their breakfast is awesome and because they serve it all day. I did go out on a limb and ordered a burger late one night and I was thoroughly impressed with it. Kerbey Lane is an original Austin restaurant that everyone should try.
(4)
David C.
I think I've been to all the Kerbey Lane locations, but the one on the Drag is my favorite. It has a most interesting blend of clients and if you sit on the street side the variety of wackos that parade by is definitely worth the price of admission.. Breakfast is by far my favorite meal so it's difficult not to like this place. Today I met a friend and we sat at the counter. By doing so our coffee cups were always filled to the brim. I opted for the American Classic which consisted of eggs (I prefer scrambled) with 2 sides - today I chose the home fries and English muffin. Additionally I ordered two natural sausage patties - they are so good that I didn't even feel sadness about the demise of Porky Pig for my eating pleasure.. I did not have the gingerbread pancakes today but have often chosen them in the past. Other than the fact that I belch them endlessly for hours after consumption, they are quite delectable and extremely filling. So if you like a delightful breakfast with great service, Kerbey Lane is the place to be.
(4)
Megan S.
This place never fails to be mediocre. The interior is in the style of run of the mill blah, which is okay for roadside diners with dirt cheap food. Kerbey Lane, however, is neither of these. The queso is tasty and I do quite like the Paris Texas Platter (Migas + French Toast) but everything else I have ordered has left something to be desired. It's not bad (I have been many a times, especially in the middle of the night) and it tends to meet my stomach's needs at the time (it is convenient to college kids, after all) but it just isn't very good. Really not worth making the trip unless you are a UT alum trying to relive your college days or desperate for sustenance.
(2)
Samantha M.
Yum-o! I love the migas tacos with queso and the gingerbread pancakes!
(4)
Alex H.
This place is overpriced for sub-par food. The waitstaff is too stoned to take less than a half hour on any order. People rave about the queso here, but I don't know why. It's too thick and salty, and the chips don't help. I haven't had pancakes here, and I hear they're worth the trip, but nothing gets me excited to eat here. I say 'can it' and find a taco stand on the street.
(1)
Raymond P.
So the nacho cheese is the best. It's some weird guacamole cheese mix. Good stuff. GET IT! Then the buttermilk pancakes taste so good. However there strawberry pancakes didn't meet my expectations. I was expecting to be a little wet but there wasn't much STRAWBERRY in the strawberry pancakes. So, that was a disappointment. Surprisingly, they also serve enchilidas and although apprehensive at first, their California Enchiladas are the most unique tasting enchilidas ever. I don't know what was in them but whatever is in there mixes well. Great taste! I think I liked that more than pancakes, and it seems their pancakes are what they're known for so... (get my drift?) A little pricey but their pancakes are humongous. Oh, and I tasted orange spritzer for the first time. It taste like those bubbly drinks from The Magic Time Machine in San Antonio. Good stuff.
(4)
Iris T.
Not my favorite place on Guadalupe but it's nice to have this restaurant as a back-up when hungry super late at night or early in the morning. And as for what to order.. can't go wrong with the queso or the pancakes!
(3)
Kayla T.
Pretty great place for a late night meal. The queso they have is really good and the rest of the options are pretty decent. The atmosphere is great, casual and a great place to eat with friends.
(3)
Tim L.
Unless you live on or around campus or you're here around the wee hours of the night you probably want to pass. Parking is a disaster and you'll be lucky to find a spot. Even if you are one of the lucky ones, this place is a step down from the original Kerbey. Food, service, everything leaves a lot to be desired. I dare say this place is on par as the average IHOP. DON'T DO IT!
(3)
Vicky N.
I used to love this Kerbey Lane, but I came here one night and the manager (Diana) gave me the worst customer service I had ever received in my whole life. I ordered a simple American Classic, eggs over easy, saugage, and fruit. My three friends got their food at the same time, and the manager herself served us instead of the waiter that took our order. She handed us hot plates rather than placing them on the table. She didn't warn us that the plates were burning hot, nor did she apologize for handing us hot plates without warning. I waited patiently for my food. Ten minutes pass, I ask another waiter about my order. I then have to repeat my order three times to various people. Order comes out finally. Eggs are not over easy. They're harder than hard. The yolk had to be stabbed with a knife to break. I ask for the manager. I tell her I'm not satisfied with the service I've received, and I don't wanna pay for this. She then takes my plates without asking and shows no remorse. In fact, she didn't seem to care and acted as if I was in the wrong. A friend asked her, "You're not gonna let her finish? You're just gonna take her food away?" The manager stops and says, "Oh, I thought you didn't want this." Well, yeah, I don't want the egg and your service sucks beyond words, but I'm still hungry and the rest of the food is decent. But by then I had lost my appetite. That woman should not be in a managerial position, she clearly does not care about customers. I told a waiter what had happened, and to my surprise, he apologized. That was the first time anyone that night had apologized to me for the bad service. Needless to say, I won't go to the guad kerbey anymore.
(1)
Stuart L.
In all fairness, they weren't as busy as when I went there over my Thanksgiving visit, but the place serves a wide variety of Tex/Mex and American dishes that are as delicious as they are healthy. There is plenty of variety for vegetarian and vegan palates. The black bean/avocado tacos were freshly prepared and served with an equally fresh house salad that was very generously portioned. The wait staff was attentive, friendly and extremely accommodating. The atmosphere is casual and family friendly, and they are open 24 hours withr free wi-fi. The prices are also surprisingly reasonable (a simple 2-egg breakfast platter at Denny's will cost you more!). I plan to visit whenever I'm in the mood for a late night snack and in the neighborhood! Check them out!
(4)
david p.
My first visit to this Kerbey Lane location was around 8.00 one Saturday morning well before West Campus was awake and apparently, the kitchen too. I love Kerbey Lane breakfasts...they are the standard that I use to measure breakfast, but no more. I was really disappointed in this location. I'm not sure if the menu at all locations have changed or this one. There was a time when I could order an omelet, two sides, AND a short stack. Sadly, those days are gone like so many storefronts along the drag. I could have either a short stack OR the two sides, not both. What gives? Economy that bad? I opted for the short stack since it's Kerbey Lane after all. The pancakes didn't disappoint, but my Kerbey Scramble did. Looked like one egg at the most and a couple of veggies. Kerbey Lane used to be my breakfast standby in Austin. I am seriously going to have to consider a new breakfast place after my visit to the Guad location.
(2)
Daphney B.
Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes? Om Nom Nom!
(4)
Kaila L.
I was pretty excited to try this place, having heard great things about it, but it didn't end up being too special. As the yelp 2 stars rating says, "Meh. I've experienced better." The only real upside is that it's open late and has decent coffee. I was excited to see buffalo on the menu and ordered the buffalo enchiladas. Which contained only a minuscule amount of buffalo meat in them. They should be called "mostly vegetable with a tiny smattering of buffalo meat enchiladas." I visited on the weekend before Halloween, and all the employees were dressed up, which is cool, except that my coffee came with pink fuzz from someone's pink wig in it. :| I later saw the pink wigged person picking pink fuzz out of the coffee cup he was filling for someone else. Yum. My server was aloof at best. She mostly totally avoided our table or walked by us while looking the other way so that we couldn't get her attention. We had to go to the counter for a coffee refill (just one coffee refill, not 15, we weren't holding the table all night or anything). Why have a server if it's going to end up being self-serve anyway? If your expectations aren't too high, and you don't mind paying $2.40 for a cup of drip coffee that no one will refill for you, you'll probably be fine here.
(2)
Tara H.
Kerbey Lane is one of those restaurants that you keep visiting because you hope that one of these times it will surprise you and live up to it's potential. Much like my ex-boyfriend - but that's another story for another day. It's a great place for late night snacks as they have the obligatory twenty-four hour breakfasts and hamburgers. They have also tried to do something nice with their meat selection by getting free-range organic chicken and beef. - Don't order the breakfast potatoes as they are like little rocks. - Don't go on a Saturday or Sunday morning unless you have some fabulous friends to keep you company while you wait. - Don't go to the campus location as they are nazi's and almost kicked us out because my sister wanted to put her leftover iced tea in a cup she brought with us. - Do enjoy the chicken sandwiches or black beans. - Do sit at the bar unless you want to wait forever. - Do appreciate the waitstaff, who do a great job.
(3)
Lacey W.
I've had breakfast and dinner here. Breakfast was fine, as I recall. Fast, if a little on the "civil" as opposed to "friendly" side of things, and efficient service. Tasty French toast. Good coffee. Happy breakfast guests. On my most recent trip I saw the sign for lemon poppyseed pancakes, and those sounded pretty good. Dinner experience was not as fine. Server was polite, but a little distracted, so when I found several lemon seeds in my coke (which did not have a lemon in it), it took awhile to get his attention. Once we got his attention, the soda was promptly replaces, but we were still charged for it. (I'm not grubbing for a free drink that costs $1.30, but the glass was apparently dirty. I shouldn't be charged for a dirty beverage.) I ordered the chicken nachos, and maybe my dislike of them is my fault. I have a specific idea about nachos. The cheese should be melty to the point that it holds other ingredients onto the chip. Not so with this nacho. The black beans created a slick surface that all the toppings, including the cheese, slid off of. Beans went down my shirt in the crossfire. Not fun. Tasty, but hugely unpleasant to eat and not tasty enough to warrant the unpleasantness again. But maybe I am too narrow-minded about nachos. Boyfriend's quiche and the salad that came with was fine. Nothing to write home about, but fine. The service, as I said, was a little distracted, but still fast, and we were in and out in not much time. I will be back most likely, but probably for breakfast as not much on the lunch/ dinner menu excited me.
(3)
Sarah M.
I've been to Kerby a few times. I recommend getting breakfast all day and the queso rocks. Other than that, it's decent. The wait is usually long and the service is really slow, but its always open and dependable.
(3)
Stephanie I.
In my opinion, the only thing worth getting here is the Kerbey Queso. All the other food is just alright. With that being said...the Kerbey Queso is pretty much heavenly. It comes out steaming hot and as you dig your tortilla chip into it and take that first bite of delicious queso & pico de gallo, you swear that you will eat this and only this for the rest of your life. But wait...! You take that second chip and dig in again...only to be met with the most exciting surprise ever: yummy guacamole is hiding at the bottom!! And you thought a good thing just couldn't get better. And they're open late!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
ryan w.
Migas were awesome, did a few days in town and by far best breakfast.
(5)Michael Z.
Overall, I like Kerbey Lane Cafe. My customer service experience, however, at the university/Guadalupe location has been pretty mediocre by the server on one occasion and by the location of my table today. Today, my server was attentive and pretty prompt; professional. My table location however was near an order terminal and side office or closet. There was consistently a crowd of servers within an arm's length and the conversations varied from being short-staffed and upset about that to other subjects that are not appropriate around your customers. I work in the service industry as a manager, so I get that employees, myself included, will always have opinions on the synergy, or lack there of, about their workplace. Where to express such concerns is best suited in a place removed from the customer's presence. Additionally, if employees are not happy then what does that say about the quality of my food and the way it was handled? Back to the first issue, I believe that one table in the corner near the server station and that looks into the prep area is poorly placed and would be best if relocated or removed. Regardless of both of these recent experiences, I'll be back for the food.
(3)Butch B.
The food is expensive and isn't very good. But the people who work here sure are cool and funky. They're not like all those lame other people; they're into music and stuff. I hear one of them has the first NWA record on vinyl; I wanna bone that guy.
(2)Lauren P.
Only come here drunk and/or for the queso, which is WONDERFUL. The food is meh and don't expect refills. That's all folks!
(3)Autumn B.
The service and food were so disappointing that it compelled me to write a review. Our waiter gave us mediocre service without a smile and no enthusiasm. He definitely came off as if he didn't want to be working there and that always makes for a sub-par dining experience. The food was also nothing to write home about. We got gingerbread pancakes, pumpkin pancakes and miga tacos. They only offered fake maple syrup, not real maple syrup, which is a huge fail for a place that is supposed to serve good breakfast. I would not recommend this place for breakfast.
(2)Brian V.
I can't say much for the food in its entirety because I have been obsessed with their pancakes. This place has completely destroyed all IHOPs and Denny's (not that I liked them much anyways) into oblivion for me. They have a few varieties of pancakes such as your buttermilk or rocky road (I am not a big chocolate guy by any means, but these are very yummy), but the cinnamon roll pancakes are the ones to get! Kerbey Lane special with cinnamon roll pancakes is where it's at! It's always right down the street from campus so it makes a good place to swing by with friends during a study break and have some good breakfast. Staff has been ok at its worst and excellent at its best. You can't go wrong with pancakes at this location, it's a sure thing.
(4)Alan S.
Still after all this time, can't get breakfast food right. I sent complaint to their Corp email. No response. Danger to eat under cooked pork sausage. They obliviously don't care
(1)Melanie D.
"Dude, Kerbey Queso sounds SOO good right now" "OMG, YOU'RE SO RIGHT. You're a genius!!!" Basically how most of my trips to Kerbey happens. Like everyone says, their queso is the bomb.com . It's a little pricey, but how can anyone look at melted cheese in its face and tell it no? My mind tells me "$8.25 for cheese?! YOU'RE CRAZY" But the heart wants what it wants. I can see why veg heads would love the menu--there are LOTS of vegetarian options. However, despite my love for their queso and the fact that it's open 24 hours, everything else that I've had was, dare I say, pretty lack-luster. The service is always pretty slow, and my servers never seemed too happy to be there. But, I could understand having to deal with the college crowd at 3 in the morning. I'd hate it too. On one occasion, I had decided to get the Fish Tacos. It was pretty meh. The rice is rather flavorless, and mine was really cold. I also tried David's enchiladas. Again, I would consider this mediocre tex-mex at best. Then, I decided to opt for a breakfast plate. I got the Denver omelet. The rest of my table was served, and I was left waiting another 10 minutes for my food. My food was ok. To sum it up, I only come here because my drunk friends drag me here, and I'm promised queso.
(3)Jonah B.
Great that its 24 hours. Great that its free WiFi. Great pancakes of the week - I have had two iterations of them. The first were Elvis pancakes (peanut butter, banana, bacon), the second were cinnamon bun (pancakes that look like cinnamon buns and probably have like 30000 grams of sugar). Both were fantastic.
(4)Steven A.
The pancakes I got last nite were literally the WORST ones I have ever eaten. They had NO taste! Disks of tasteless gluten...and WAY overpriced. Everyone elses food was sub par as well and it took forever to get our food. Late nite dining in Austin has many choices, steer clear of this place!
(1)Steven R.
What can I say, it's Kerbey Lane. Had the fajita steak salad and it was pretty good. I felt like it could have used some more meat, and I asked for avocado on the side which I never received. That said, it's food, and it's 24/7. Enough siad.
(3)Jesse L.
Went for Thanksgiving Day game TCU vs Texas. Got the gumbo which was pretty good. Would go again if in town.
(4)Sophia L.
Great cafe in Austin! The staff was nice and food (needless to say it's more important) was one of the greatest one of all cafe I'd been to so far. Especially pancakes and quesedillas are super delicious! You should go to this cafe if you're going to visit Austin!
(5)Jason T.
Ok, so I have been to the re-done Kerby on Guadalupe twice now. The first time I wasn't terribly thrilled when they brought out my breakfast and there was bacon on the plate. Well, actually it was on the eggs. I had specifically asked for no bacon. The fix they offered was the helper pulling it off with their hands at the table. Double bleh. No thanks. We were in the neighborhood this morning and thought we would give Kerby a shot at redemption. Should have just stayed in the car and headed to Mi Madres which is what we ended up doing. There was no wait at all, got seated within seconds of walking in the door. Then we sat for at least 5 minutes, no one even came to ask us for a drink order, nothing. I guess that this is a new trend at Kerby. Well, I for one do not like it one bit. Definitely won't be coming back
(2)Crystal A.
I have been in here the last two weeks cause my friend moved central and we eat out alot. Every time I went I never got good service and half the time I would get home to find stuff missing from my order. I have had to go back up there once and got to tired to go get my missing food the second time. Once the server didn't give me back my change and said it was for "my benefit". I just had a bad experience again and all I got was an english muffin, it had green stuff on it that looked like avocado. I didn't eat it cause I was afraid it had been cross contaminated. I have lived in Austin all my life and have been going to Kerbey Lane for a while but this is by far the most terrible one, this location gives the company a bad name. I will not be going back to this location again!
(1)Betsy H.
I can't help it. I'm a true fan. I lead those not from here TOO here. Too some, well, damn good pancakes (honestly, there's not a more fitting description.) It's as though the forks on the table WANT you to order one. Or seven. You know, whatever fills you up and makes you all happy inside. So far, the very best I've had is that crazy-good Cinnamon Roll Pancake. What in THE world! Hello goodness on a plate! And served to me! Whom do I thank for such a grand offering? Hmmm...well, since I don't know I'll simple send a positive review out into the world and hope he-or-she-who-created-pancake-bliss will stumble upon another well-fed customers ramblings. And thank you, person out there, who changes the pancake options for us! I adore this, as variety, well, you know, IS the spice of life. I do most enjoy the Apple Whole Wheat, Pumpkin, and Gingerbread pancakes, as well. The omelets were a bit small, which might be my only half-complaint. So, yes. An almost 5 star review calls for pancake or breakfast searchers out there to STOP, GO, and EAT.
(4)Megan J.
Came here for breakfast today, first time since the remodel. So disappointing! The service was so so but the food was awful. We both got the breakfast platter with over medium eggs and the gf cinnamon apple pancakes. Our eggs were way over cooked. No runny yolks at all! And the pancakes were just super funky. Also, it looks a lot cleaner, but it's just as dirty as it was before. Needless to say, I'll be sticking with the omlettry or magnolias and not returning to kerby.
(2)Annette C.
Just recently my boyfriend and I have begun to recognize Kerbey Lane as a viable option for food. Our first couple of months here, we tried it out, but I was underwhelmed. I think I just wasn't ordering the right things though. I had always liked their queso (I don't think it's amazing, but it's good), but I found their chips to be disappointingly underwhelming, the soup when I had it was a bit watery, and the tacos were blah. Since we've been trying it out again, we've been making better choices! The migas tacos are good, the chicken sandwich is awesome, great sweet potato fries, and so far every entree we've had was DELICIOUS, surprisingly so. I had underestimated this place, and it's really nice to know that there's a decent restaurant available 24 hours. Go Austin! As for the service, we've actually never gone when it was crazy packed, so I don't know about that, but the service isn't good regardless. We've been doing take-out, which is painless. Just remember who took your order.
(3)Sarah M.
I order from here probably 5 nights a week. As a bartender, the last thing I want to do at 4am is cook (or eat Jack In The Box). The food quality/consistency is up and down, but people like Shane, who takes care of me on a regular basis, take up the slack! Shane, you are the best! Thank you.
(4)Solomon W.
Note to self: Stay away from their $6 rock at 4 in the morning. Oh did I say rock? I meant the veggie burger. Burnt to a crisp, it crumbled like a fragile, fragile rock. You pathetic thing, you.
(1)Alex R.
This run-of-the-mill diner has the air of a place that is basically doing the bare minimum. I go there (very occasionally) for one reason: the convenience of it being near UT -- and thus near my house. It's somewhat of a dive (one of the reviewers likened it to the feel of a fluorescent-lit mosquito trap, which is pretty accurate) with mediocre food and small portions for the prices they charge. My "side order" of avocado consisted of four lil' slices, my friend's "seasonal fruit medley" really delivered the goods with a few mealy apple and pear slices... BUT, I should disclose that I'm coming from the perspective of someone who likes to eat healthy. When you're drunk at 2 a.m., you can maybe appreciate its greasier food: pancake stacks, french toast, etc. I'm guessing that that type of meal is probably its specialty. At least, that's the only reason I can fathom for why it's always so packed (?). I also have to give props to the friendly wait-staff, who have always been pretty good and attentive. They can't be faulted for what's on the menu - and for that reason, I would rate this place at two-and-a-half stars (if I could award half-stars, that is).
(2)Jordan H.
Oh Kerbey Lane. My late night mecca of deliciousness. If there is anything that I miss about living in Austin, it's definitely Kerbey Lane. Back when I was in college, my weeks where finals, capstones, and theses were due, my days would usually go as follows: Class until 5pm, student work until 10pm, scoot on over to a 24 hour coffee place for an all night study bender, find the place crowded, go to Kerbey Lane instead. I've never had to deal with a wait at any of the Kerbey Lane locations - but then again I've never been earlier than 9pm. Kerbey Lane is exactly what I envision the manifestation of Austin to be - unique, local, quirky, and oh so delicious. Their menu has practically everything on it, from killer breakfast options to super scrumptious lunch and dinner selections. More often than not I do breakfast for dinner (or whenever I feel like) at Kerbey Lane. Their migas are the best I've ever had, and I love love LOVE their pancake flavor selection. Apple wheat is usually my favorite. But during the fall months I absolutely obsessed with there pumpkin pancakes, which are so good that they even sell the mix by the box so you can go home and make some yourself! Their sides are also semi-healthy and a little different than the average fries and macaroni fair restaurants, which include some veggie medleys and some tasty red potatoes. Also if you want to spring for something big and expensive their pork chops are really good, too. I find the prices very reasonable, and everything I've tried here is delicious. The ambiance is perfect for that late night study session or a place for young twenty-somethings to hang out, although the other locations like Lamar St and the original Kerbey Lane are just as great for older people too. And since they're open 24 hours a day, IHOP and Denny's can pretty much kiss my you-know-what. There's no beating the originality and deliciousness of Kerbey Lane. Whenever I'm in Austin, I'll always make a trip to one of their three locations, because being in Austin isn't complete without a meal from this wonderful restaurant.
(5)Ira G.
The Kerbey Lane next to the UT campus is convenient in terms of location and hours, but it does have some things that should really be improved on. Firstly, its cleanliness is questionable. One time I went there and there was a cockroach on the roof, right above a long table where people were eating. When they told the waiter, the waiter came with a long broom and tried brushing the cockroach off, while spilling dust specks in the air and inevitably, onto the table full of food. That made me wonder how many other cockroaches are hiding around in there. Secondly, the waiters there will demand a tip. I was in a group of three, and after we had walked out of the restaurant, our waitress came storming out and asked us why she hadn't received a tip. First of all, chasing your customers as they leave in itself is rude. After we talked with her, she said, "Next time, if you don't have money, don't come out!" and stormed back into the restaurant. These two things alone are enough to make me think twice before going back to Kerbey Lane, even if they have a convenient location/hours.
(1)Precious W.
The food was fine, I do like their breakfast sausage and it was well-cooked. No complaints there. I just don't feel like the breakfast experience was worth the $10 bill I departed with upon leaving. A couple things: 1. There was no host/hostess when I entered, and since I was just popping in for breakfast I went ahead to the counter. Several servers walked back and forth without even acknowledging me, then finally someone asked if I had been helped. I guess diners at the counter are second class. 2. When I did finally get my order taken, I asked for a few things a la carte. I was told there was a breakfast plate that included some of those items and a few others, and I politely declined, saying that I did not want those other items. I tried to clarify exactly what it was that I wanted, and was again told about the combo deal, with an attitude that suggested that I must be stupid to turn down the plate of food that I don't want to eat. I was less than impressed with this interaction. 3. While I was waiting for my food, another diner sat down at the counter and was ignored for several minutes until she asked someone if anyone was helping at the counter. The server in front of us didn't even turn around, but said over his shoulder, "Yes, someone will be with you in a minute." Then he paused, and then said, "well, not really, but someone will help you." This prompted the other diner to leave, and I don't blame her. 4. I waited patiently for several minutes after I had clearly finished my food until someone spoke to me again and I was able to ask for my bill. So the bottom line is, don't expect prompt, polite service, especially at the counter. To be fair, it seemed more that the staff was unclear about who was responsible for serving customers at the counter, not that they were completely indifferent, but it still makes for a less than ideal experience.
(2)Lorrie M.
This is truly a one stop shop for all things comfort food. It's got unbeatable menu choices, great prices and even better hours to suit all of your grubbing needs in the middle of the night or middle of the morning. The location is convenient, has a parking lot and can hold a large size party of almost any number of people it seems like. The wait staff is friendly and patient when they see that you are clearly inept to make up your mind when the menu options range from breakfast to country fried steak. The water glasses are huge and so are the juices. You really do feel like you get your money's worth here especially when the entree platters start showing up on the table. With just five of us, we probably ended up taking up a whole long table fit for six people with all of our plates, side orders, etc. I got a buffalo taco, not bad, but not the best. I didn't want anything else at 2 am in the morning but friends got eggs and some breakfast platters which looked appetizing. Recommended as a late night eatery. It's just during the day you could probably find better things that are open hence 3 stars for now.
(3)Katelyn D.
The food is average here but it's the service that gives this place a two star rating. I have waited for over 2 hours for my food to come out when there was hardly anyone there & it was a simple order. Pancakes, bacon & eggs, nothing to wait that long for. Then when the food came out they got the order wrong. But I just ate it bc I wasn't gonna wait another hour for the next dish to be brought out. Then it took us over an hr to get our check after I had asked the waiter for it. The service is just extremely SLOW. If my friends ever want to go they practically have to force me to go in there.
(2)Kimberly L.
Had to come back to Kerbey Lane after my first visit a few months ago, and this one was closest to the hotel. Plus, it was kinda neat to show off some Longhorn pride to an out of town visitor. The food was good...very good! I just had the biscuits and gravy with eggs because I wanted to save room for the Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake. OMG. That cake. *cough* Anywho, the biscuits were big and fluffy and the gravy was good, although a smidge bland, but that's what pepper is for, right? The eggs were cooked right and NOT runny-yay! The service was fine. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't crap. It was about 11am on a Monday, and they were busy-ish. But we got seated right away and our server was there fairly quickly. Sadly there were a TON of flies buzzing around and they sat us in a little alcove that was super warm from the sun beating through the windows. Blech. So all in all a good place to eat, I just think I might bring some sunscreen and a flyswatter if I come back to this location!
(3)Amber C.
This place by far has the BEST VEGAN PANCAKES EVER!!! I practically licked my plate the food here was fantastic! My husband and I both got the Vegan Breakfast Platter that had the pancake of the day being the Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes, I Swear they were Peach Cinnamon (pieces of peaches and the flavor) I asked them because they do have that flavor but she said she thought they were Pumpkin, either way they were INCREDIBLE! I loved the tofu scramble also and their own made soy sausage. The platter size was just right but I would have loved to have more pancakes :) It was packed but we seemed to get a seat pretty quick. I have more information and pictures on my blog livealittlesunshine.blog…
(4)Gloria C.
It feels more active than the Anderson location--even with most of the students gone for the holidays. The remodel might have been a good choice to stand out on the drag, but I got the feeling that I was entering a giant candy wrapper, and would not automatically associate it with much on the menu--especially if I had never eaten at any location before. It previously had more of an earthy-granola outward appearance. The TVs at the location were a nice touch so everybody had something to do while eating. I ordered something 'fast' rather than one of my usual menu items--and was pleased with how good it actually tasted. The servers were attentive to my needs, even proactively offering to make sure I had the right kind of cheese on my veggie burger and if I really did not want coffee to go because It was so cold outside. I'm not sure how regularly I will get the chance to visit this specific location, but people in the neighborhood do need to get the chance to drop by.
(3)Monica T.
On my various visits to Austin, I've found myself at Kerbey Lane several times. I've always enjoyed it, but have never been blown away. I appreciate that they have a large menu that hits a lot of areas of cuisine and they try to throw on some stuff off the beaten path. The ingredients are fresh, I can dig that. However, I always get the feeling that they're spread too thin. Maybe if they focused a little bit or scaled things down, something would wow me. The same thing goes for the service. The servers always seem very nice, but give off the vibe that they have just a few too many tables, or that they'd really rather not be dealing with my group of nine New Yorkers right now. Don't get me wrong, Kerbey Lane is definitely good. I just feel that for the price I should be getting just a little bit more if they want to be exceptional.
(3)Lady R.
Just amazing as well! Kerbey Lane Cafe has REALLY changed. I feel like it's not even the same restaurant anymore. It's wonderfully clean, we waited a whole 10 seconds to be seated, there is more seating, clean bathrooms (even can use your foot to open the bathroom), I would recommend their pancakes (they have specials of the day vegan and fun flavors like lemon raspberry though I wasn't a fan of lemon raspberry), burgers are very good, sweet potato fries are a must!, Kerbey Queso (drooling just thinking about it), tacos are amazing... I think pretty much everything I have had here was really good. I love that it right there on the drag with it's own parking lot. There is also this cute 'bar' area so if you are single and going alone, there you do so you don't take up a whole table. Great place and if you are hungry near campus and want to sit down, come here! They aren't the fastest at serving you, but you get good food! Love it!
(5)Valerie L.
Yelp is a place to vent, right? I've been here multiple times over the past few years and have always had a relatively good experience - until now. Can anyone explain to me why it took my friends and I over an hour to get our food? Or why the neighboring table, an even larger group, got their food first despite being seated after us? Most importantly, why did the restaurant do nothing about it? A long wait is one thing, and I can understand if a restaurant is understaffed. I'm not going to go apeshit over that. What really puts me over the edge is that even after we spoke to the manager, nothing happened. No apology, no complimentary food, nothing. Our waitress pretty much treated us with indifference the entire time. And she halfheartedly apologized for the long wait and said they only had one cook in the kitchen. She threw a bunch of straws on our table, couldn't break a smile, never filled my water, and didn't bother to ask if we wanted anything for dessert. Just placed our check on the table and walked away. What if I wanted some carrot cake, huh? I NEVER complain to management, but today is what I call "Be Less Passive Tuesday" so I had to let her know that we had waited over an hour already. Our food came out soon after, but still, that was it. My hippy burger was good as usual. I'm usually pleased with my food at Kerbey, so that's not why I'm complaining at all. I am really racking my mind as to why three hippy burgers and an omelette would take over an hour, whereas a group of five or six girls can get all their food in nearly half that amount of time. I know I could just brush it off, but like I said, it's Be Less Passive Tuesday. And Kerbey, you really did us wrong.
(1)Andrew H.
This place was a staple in college and I think it should remain that way. IT has a great vibe like many of the local 'Kerbey' locations, but it is definitely the most crowded- probably because it's so convenient if you're a UT student. The only reason I don;t give it 5 stars is the wait time and the customer service. Here's the breakdown: Taste: 10 stars- Get the Kerbey Queso! Atmosphere: 8 stars Price: 8 stars Wait time: 1 star Friendliness: 3 stars If you've never been there before, give their gingerbread pancakes, house fries and queso for a try! Thanks for the memories, Kerbey!
(4)Ashleigh D.
I really like that it's open 24 hours and located on the drag. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I got the hummus dip with pita bread and the hummus tasted watered down and had no flavor.
(3)Nicole P.
Actually, despite asserting otherwise in my last review, I am going to try and stop coming to *this particular* Kerbey. With the exception of one particular server who has since moved on to manage at one of the south locations, the service has gotten worse and worse here. The last straw was a couple of weeks ago. I had a friend in town, and we stopped at this Kerbey for lunch because it was on our way. Even though the restaurant was mostly empty, it took 5 minutes for anyone to acknowledge the party of 3 before us, and another couple of minutes for us to get seated. I asked for a chile relleno (yeah, I'm on a kick), but without the vegan chorizo and with some chicken, and was assured that this would be totally fine. My friend ordered some bacon wrapped pesto chicken (which they were, for once, not out of). About 30 minutes went by. The table that was seated right before us got their food in about 10 minutes, but we were left waiting. I put our empty water glasses on the edge of the table, and they were ignored. No large groups came in during this time. The restaurant remained mostly empty. After we asked about our food, an apology was offered, and "oh," says the waitress, "I forgot to tell you, when I put the order in, they said the rellenos are pre-made and just dropped in the fryer, but I'm having them just put your chicken on top, is that okay?" No. It's not okay. Not only did I specifically want meat, I also want to avoid processed soy-based fake meat. Had she "remembered" to mention this to me when she first learned about it, this would not have been an issue, but making me wait 30 minutes and THEN have to order something else that I now have to wait even longer for? Totally not okay. If this was the first time I'd had awful service at this location, I would have accepted the offer of free dessert and not complained. At this point, though, I'm really just done. If I wanted to wait forever for my food to not come out the way I had hoped, I'd be cooking at home and saving a lot of cash.
(1)Zeke T.
I always come to this place when I come down to Austin. The Food is okay and the service was pretty but why four stars you ask? Well I ask myself the same question. It just seems like a place you can always relay on after your drunken fiasco that is not fast food. To me, this place has become monumental social environment. and there is nothing wrong with that.
(4)Chris O.
Great queso with guac, best I had in town. Tasty sandwich too, and their breakfast food is very good. Good service as well.
(4)Autumn C.
When I think of kerbey lane I think of heaven...and really good eggs. Plus, Forrest is the best server ever. Oh, and Victoria.
(5)Gayle S.
If it's 2am on the drag, you don't have a lot of choice. Kerbey Lane it is. If you are able to go elsewhere, do so. The food is ok, but the service is notoriously rotten. Especially if you're a woman eating alone at the counter.
(2)Bruce J.
I hit this place up after a Halloween party and had heard rave reviews about the queso. It lived up to the hype but the chips were slightly stale. All I ordered was the queso which made for a perfect 3 AM snack. Our table agreed that it was probably overpriced but it was as good as advertised!
(4)Patrick L.
I posted this on this on the wrong kerbey lane but it belongs here.... LOL KERBEY LANE, what a freshmen death trap. I don't know why but EVERYONE who first starts attending UT, loves Kerbey Lane. It's like OMFG "KERBEY QUESO", combining queso and guac, who else would have thought of that. God, after 4 years of attending UT, I can honestly say Kerbey Lane sucks balls. When I was a more inexperienced Austinite, Kerbey used to be our stop after a sloppy night at the clubs. However, we all soon came to the sad realization that besides the Kerbey Queso, there was absolutely no reason to come to this craphole. I've been ordering this turkey panini about 5 times in a row. The first time, the sauce on it tasted a little bit like soap I absolutely couldn't believe it, I thought the waiter was messing with me rubbing soap on my sandwich. So next time I came to Kerbey Lane, I was like F it, I'm gonna order that damn sandwich again. IT TASTED LIKE SOAP AGAIN. So I ordered it one more time, just to make sure I wasn't crazy, its a SOAP TASTING DRESSING. Wow! I've ordered it a few more times to show my friends the soap tasting sandwich. I've had other breakfasts here for a whopping $10-$12, seriously? $3 for sunny-side or scrambled eggs? It cost me a whopping $2 for a dozen of eggs at HEB. Oh I want a stack of pancakes, that'll be $7-$9 bucks. I guess it's a freshmen hurdle to overcome, to realize this place is absolute trash.
(2)Anna S.
Kerbey Lane is open 24/7, so I usually come here when all my favorite restaurants around campus are closed. The place serves delicious veggie burgers, cheese burgers, chicken sandwiches, and breakfast items. I would stray away from the turkey avocado sandwich and roast beef sandwich. The former because the turkey is very dry, and the latter because the roast beef is disgusting. Other than that, the place is affordable and great for small or medium sized groups, or with one other person.
(3)Kimberly K.
It is freeeezing. Could you make it less cold?* No. Could you put some blueberries and some strawberries in the same pancake?* No. Could you put chocolate chips in the pancake?* Not today... just the special. How about real butter instead of margarine? No, margarine is better for you. No, my dear, it is just cheaper to put on the table. and it stinks. and it makes the pancakes stink... why have i never noticed this before today? Camel's Back meet Straw. Thanks for keeping the 3rd Coast coffee filled. *perhaps unreasonable requests... but MARGARINE, come on... that is so stinky, plasticky wrong. (ALSO, just for scorekeeping, the scrambled eggs have varied wildly in my last 3 visits from slightly runny to overcooked to slightly moist. Bacon has been consistently chewy and oily - not crisp at all. Pancakes - of course - are stellar but I am boycotting the stinky margarine. The coffee is bottomless but unlike sexy leather chaps, it is mediocre.)
(2)Annette A.
Whenever I'm in need of migas, Kerbey Lane comes to mind. They are absolutely delicious here. I will eat them for any meal, oh I want some right now! I've always had great service here, never a bad experience. The Kerbey Queso is also a must have, great drunk food at 3 AM :) I wish it wasn't so damn popular that I had to wait among the bajillion sorority and fraternity kids on Saturday/Sunday mornings, but alas I will because I can walk here. And I just love you Kerbey so much!
(4)Shannon R.
Editing to say that an employee told me the OJ is indeed local and that local is defined as within 100 miles. Glad to hear this, and I hope their food quality improves to where it once was. SR We went there at 7:30 Sunday morning - we were headed to Texas French Bread and as we passed Kerbey Lane we thought we'd see if it could best Texas French Bread. I like Kerbey Lane for its business model and its (apparently past) practice of having their own gardens. Sadly for me, I felt like i was eating at Denny's. I give it 3 stars instead of 2 because of the service and because my kids loved their dishes - and because I suppose they lived up to their website mission of being a "local, friendly and relaxed place with affordable homemade meals." It definitely did not compare in the slightest to Texas French Bread or Monument Cafe, both of which serve food that tastes awesome. Service: We were seated immediately - naturally most sane people are still asleep at that hour. Our service was fine, a 4 star. Server was pleasant and got our order right, no problems there. Decor: The interior looked fairly grimy but that might have been the pocks in the tile floor and the overall brown background color. There was neat artwork on the walls and a great set of windows to people-watch on the drag. There were 4-5 flies buzzing around our area, which was annoying. The women's bathroom was dark and dingy although they have a cool funky faucet. Food: I got an omelet, which was fine but a little greasy. Others at our table got an omelet (he thought his was delicious), pancakes (they thought they were good), and breakfast tacos (also thought they were good). The hot chocolate was of the ihop quality - tasted like powdered or syrup from a machine. I asked the waiter if the eggs were pastured eggs or regular and he said regular. I asked if they still had gardens at any of their locations and he had no idea. He did say that all of their food was local and I wonder if that is really true if not even the eggs were pastured or notable; eggs are perhaps the easiest thing to get in good quality and large quantities. And how is chocolate local? As a gardener who has had citrus orchards elsewhere and has looked into growing them here, I also doubt that there are enough oranges grown locally to provide for local orange juice. I think that claim is a stretch. I really was hoping to have a great experience and add this Kerbey Lane location to my favorites, and am disappointed at having to give it a blah review, but it didn't deserve anything better.
(3)Javier E.
I've been to this Kerbey Lane three times. The first time I was drunk and I had a so-so experience. It was Saturday night/Sunday morning, so it was packed with students and loud sorority girls. I was a bit annoyed. The service seemed rushed and a bit negligent but I understand, it was nuts that night. Second time I went, I had breakfast. The food is so delicious but the customer service is just horrendous--every, single, time. We had this girl who seemed to have gotten the job based on her sense of fashion rather than her performance. She was distracted, seemed annoyed by us, at one point I thought she was either drunk or high. Upon leaving I had to look for her to give us the tab. I could have just walked out--I should've!!! Third time, I took my friends there for the first time. We chose Kerbey's over Conan's Pizza--bad move! I had a really bad experience when it came to our service. The hostess sat us (six people) in a booth where four fit comfortably, cornered in the back of the restaurant. It's okay, my friends and I didn't mind. The food was great. I always come back only for the Kerbey queso (the best!!), despite being a little overpriced. Our server was so rude with us, my friends and I kept pointing it out. I tried cooling things off by asking him suggestions but he kept giving us a cold shoulder. We ran out of chips and an employee just walks by and literally throws some chips at us. It was unreal. It was nice of him to give us more chips but c'mon--be nice. The food is really good but each time I go to that particular location the service just kills the whole experience. My suggestion, try another Kerbey Lane location.
(2)Amanda C.
Had lunch here yesterday for probably the 4th time- in all of my experiences (except one where I was with a big party and had a surly server) the service has been good and quick; the food is good to above average diner food. I would stick with breakfast because breakfast is the best meal ever and they make some yummy omelettes (the Californian for example) and have healthier sides too- like a modest fruit portion or black beans. 2$ mimosas; special pancakes that change. 24 hours and average prices. My friends tell me the burgers and quesadillas are good too! Really busy on weekends for brunch so expect to wait, during the week it's more of a wham bam thank you mam situation.
(4)Cansu B.
Really good queso!! Unfortunately, the service was rather poor. Our waiter was confused and didn't realize that we were in his section. We ended up switching waiters a few times. My water was never filled. There was a long time between waiter "check ups" on us. Besides terrible service, the food was wonderful! Disclaimer: I came right after a longhorn football game, right before the crowds came. This may be the reason the service was bad.
(3)Meg W.
I come to Austin often and I always make it a point to go to Kerbey Lane for breakfast before heading home. I fall in love with Eggs Francisco (without bacon) every time I eat here and I can't bring myself to try anything else because it is so damn good. The service at this location has always been great, although I've noticed if we don't get there before 8 a.m., the wait is ridiculous at every location. I can see why though: this place is an Austin gem and something that should not be missed for a first-timer in Austin.
(5)David B.
Long wait but they sat us in the time frame they promised. I had the fried green tomato BLT
(4)Jeanette H.
I have mixed feelings about Kerbey Lane. The food is GREAT but the service is not so great! The morning staff seems to be not enthusiastic and provide poor service. I have been in the evening and had accurate and quick service. Kerbey Lane needs to work on its morning staff. If those folks don't like there job then they should fake it or get another job because providing poor service and bad food is only hurting Kerbey Lane's image. I can't write this review without mentioning the nightmare that they call a parking lot!! Its a danger zone and there is only one entrance/exit and not a lot of room to turn around. That being said the apple whole wheat pancakes are probably my favorite!! I would also recommend the omelettes as well.
(3)Ricardo G.
Very crowed, good place to go for meeting people. Service is good.
(4)Ben R.
Kerbey Lane has great diner food and lots of vegetarian options. The sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce are the perfect combination of sweet, savory and spicy. I love that they have Iced Toddy on the menu (and it's pretty decent). This place is very popular with the college kids though, so be prepared to wait for a table at dinner time.
(4)Tricia C.
Another Austin staple...gotta love the Kerbey Queso, the blueberry and the gingerbread pancakes, the omelettes, the hot cocoa, and the Greek chicken (I don't think that last one is a staple, but I ordered it pretty frequently). Due to the high volume of customers, waits can get REALLY long, and service isn't always very attentive (not always their fault, I've had some REALLY overworked servers). I think everyone and their mom has probably already been here, but if not, then get your butt in and eat something! Ideally at a non-peak time, if there is one.
(4)Elben S.
The bastard child of the original Kerbey Lane, Kerbey Lane: UT Campus is a staple of University of Texas life. Some declare Kerbey Lane as overrated. Perhaps this is true, but what better place to get fresh, specialty pancakes or a filling diner plate at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning? From Tex-Mex to breakfast plates to fusion Mediterranean, Kerbey Lane presents a rare melting pot of various cultures and identities. The service is sometimes slow, especially on late weekend nights, but the staff always displays a cheery mood. That's hard to do, and I respect them for that. The atmosphere is that of a diner, fitting for a university joint. If you're looking for a fancier vibe, visit the original Kerbey Lane on Kerbey Lane. Go here for the food, but also enjoy your experience. You'll be back, perhaps at 3 a.m. in the morning.
(3)Victor E.
I never been to this location and my first thought where am I going to park. Luckily since school is over, there were plenty of parking to park. The services was really good and the waitress came by to check on the group. I order french toast since I have been craving for a while and bacon. All over the food and the services was good. I usually don't go to this area because it is hard to park, specially when school is in session. will go there again to that location? maybe. it all depend of the time and day.
(4)Melissa d. J.
I must echo the sentiment that Kerbey Lane Cafe is one of those places you go back to over and over again--either for convenience or for the hope that their eclectic menu will somehow, someday live up to its potential. Though it never really does. Meh. Given, I am not really much of a breakfast person. I consider myself a pretty damn good cook, and breakfast is by FAR the easiest thing to make. But to be perfectly honest, I will choose sleep over breakfast any day of the week. So I rarely order breakfast items...though I have bought the pumpkin pancake mix to make at home when I have a craving. I have tried multiple things on the menu, but all of them have been a disappointment for me, save for: --turkey and avocado quesadillas --California enchiladas And yet somehow, I keep going back. I think it's due to the fact that it's the only place on the Drag with half-decent parking space, and during your hour lunch break, you really can't waste time searching for a parking spot. Being originally from San Antonio, I must admit I wish we had something remotely like Kerbey Lane over there...I mean, the only 24-hour joints we have are Jim's and IHOP...I'd like to see more variety in their menu like Kerbey Lane has.
(3)Jenny K.
if i were a UT student, i would gain the freshmen30 (not 15). paris texas platter -- migas con queso and french toast the migas is kinda like a egg, diced tomato, tortilla chips scramble. get it with the queso. the queso sauce is a bit extra...think it's 75 cents but worth it. YUM-MY!! =) french toast was just your standard. i wish i could eat the migas con queso in CA!!! maybe i'll just have to search for recipes and make my own. i'd have migas con queso on corn tortilla daily if my waistline permitted.
(4)Jennifer I.
Queso to die for!
(4)Shannon M.
After taking a 5 year break, we were reminded of why we don't eat at Kerbey Lane. Eggs were ice cold. Pancakes tasted like coconut and were drt. My kid who loves pancakes didn't like them nor did my friend. Wilted kale on what looked like a recycled orange. Rice that tasted like it was instant and not real. Lack of coffee refills. And let's not forget the flies.....
(1)Salman M.
Went for breakfast, wasn't disappointed. Pretty amazing pancakes. The order took some time but it was worth it. On the other hand the service wasn't very brilliant
(4)Andrew S.
I've been to this location multiple times during my first year at UT. You'll probably end up eating here if you're hungry late at night, and you're not feelin' Jack in the Box or Whataburger. I've had numerous items off the menu. Kerbey queso is a must have, it's usually the only thing I get. The Queso has changed a bit after the remodeling, but it's still delicious. What makes the queso special is the guac inside, it's like a little hidden gem that really defines and sets this queso apart from other quesos. In addition to queso, I've had some of the enchilada plates from the menu. Their enchiladas aren't bad, but they're not amazing either. I'm not a fan of the black beans that come with the enchilada plates. The rice is meh as well. The burgers are a good menu item. They're cooked pretty well, and I've never been disappointed with my burger at Kerbey Lane. They have a lot of other offerings, including the usual breakfast items, vegetarian options, and other random options (like hummus). I really like the remodeling, gives this diner a really modern feel. Service is good as well, I was once treated rudely by this one waiter because me and my friends were waiting for a few more friends to arrive, but after I complained about his rudenes, I was given some chips and queso for free, so I came out happy.
(3)Lini W.
I got the Vegan breakfast platter and it was DELISH. The pancakes were soooo good. The only thing that was annoying was the breakfast tofu scramble was a tiny portion. But it tasted really good!
(4)Daniel S.
Get the migas with ranchero or salsa verde! Also, you can never go wrong with their fluffy pancackes. The staff is generally friendly and courteous. Once, they completely forgot about our table (we were lost in conversation), but they compensated for the delay. Expect long waiting times late at night.
(4)Wayne N.
Kerbey Lane was really good the first time I came here, but since then the euphora has worn off. The pancakes are awesome every time and probably the reason why I give them all the stars; I definitely recommend the gingerbread ones. Kerbey queso was alright, kinda cold when it was brought out to us, but I did like the large scoop of guacomole. My omelet was nothing special, which was somewhat disappointing. It was pretty saddening to have to add salt and pepper to my eggs just to make them palatable. Its open 24/7 I think so you can have breakfast whenever you want. Nice service too.
(3)Johnny S.
One word: Kerbey Queso! In the mantra of maintaining Austin "weird," Kerbey Lane is truly one of the last bastions which connects current Austin to it's earlier-and-more-weird roots. The waitstaff here was rocking Buddy-Holly eyeware, body piercings, & purple hair long ago when most of the hipsters newcomers were still diaper-wearing whippersnappers!! Locals, natives, & anyone else who has lived in the city more than 10 years will still argue over which place is more authentically Austin -- Kerbey Lane or Magnolia Cafe. Personally, the debate doesn't matter much to me because I love them both equally! Both places portray that mystique we try to describe to outsiders as what is essential Austin, TX. Out of all the locations in the city, I still prefer this one to the others mainly because of the eye candy. The flavors all taste the same, but this one tends to have cuter guys (or girls ... if you're into that). Like others have noted, parking sucks. But it's difficult to park anywhere withing a 5-block radius of campus. Worse case is you have to park a few blocks away & walk over, while admiring all the cute college guys (or girls, or whatever) as you meander over for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or post-clubbing pancakes.
(4)Heidi G.
We were advised to go here just for the Queso, which was fabulous! Guac, black beans, cheese, sooooo good. Not only that but our meals were delicious as well. I got their seasonal steak arepas which was so tasty, different and fresh. My friend got the pesto bacon chicken which was great but maybe a little salty for my liking. The service was adequate and would have been great had our server not been too busy. He was friendly when he had time though! Other cool thing was that it was just recently remodeled and now it is this new trendy looking cafe as opposed to the apparently old dumpy place that it used to be. Wonderful place! Definitely go!
(4)Michael G.
I love Kerbey Lane Cafe! I don't eat there as often as I used to since I live in the 'burbs these days, but I thoroughly enjoy every meal that I eat at KLC. Some of my favorites include Kerbey queso (of course), chipotle cream pasta, and the mocha java float. Their side salads are always very fresh, and I really enjoy the seasonal items too. I'm not a big breakfast person, but last month I tried the lemon poppyseed pancakes and thought they were awesome. Yes, sometimes the waiters can be pricks and patrons can be smelly, but I think it's worth it in the end. I only wish there was a location in the RR area.
(5)Tiffany V.
Oh, Kerbey. What would my college experience be without your delicious Kerbey queso? Late night studying done, what to do? It's a clear consensus we should all go grab some Kerbey. Though Kerbey is not my absolute most favorite place to eat, it has provided me with good memories and decent food. I had to eat through the menu to finally figure out that the Eggs Francisco were heaven sent. An english muffin topped with eggs, tomato, avocado, bacon, and finally drenched in queso, is just divine. Substitute your sides for the short stack of buttermilk pancakes and you've got yourself a treat. Don't go for the gingerbread pancakes, I've tried them multiple times and have struggled to finish them every time, just stick with the good ol' buttermilk. And of course, you can't go wrong with the Kerbey queso. Order it and split it amongst your party, you won't regret it. I docked off a star for their price, it's not the cheapest thing on the block, especially when the majority of people that come in are college students. They are open 24/7, so if you come in late in the night, you'll most likely encounter some loud drunk students who stumbled in after a party. Another star was docked off because I remember the queso being a good decent size and now they serve less of it in a sad, small bowl. Boooo. I came back in the summer to visit and found that Kerbey Lane had a COMPLETELY new look. In my opinion, I liked the old layout better, felt cozy, rustic, and just had that overall "Austin-y diner" feel. The new Kerbey looks like a cross between something from the Jetsons and a cafeteria. The only upside is that they got new furniture and all these new lights and also still accept Bevo bucks.
(3)Rachael L.
We were scouting out Good diner-style breakfast and we were satisfied at Kerbey's. yummy greek yogurt with granola and strawberries, good scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, coffee. Waitstaff seemed very overwhelmed and on what seemed like a normal busy- not cray busy- late morning. That was a little distracting, but luckily we did not require much of our server. (Although it was a little annoying to have to ask for coffee refills multiple times). Overall, a decent visit.
(4)Charlie S.
Been going to Kerbey lane for some time but never reviewed. I really like the vegan options they have especially migas, pancakes, and the veggie burger. I changed diets about two years ago and having places to go that provide something similar to what I used to eat helps a lot. Service can sometimes be spotty but overall a good place to eat and a great place for breakfast.
(4)Leslie H.
I have yet to find a time where I have enjoyed a Kerbey Lane Cafe experience. Why do I keep going back? It's usually not my choice. Why does service here suck so bad? They're on a campus with tons of students, many of whom are dying to find a job, yet Kerbey Lane Cafe continues to hire the slowest, lackluster employees I've ever experienced. I went today with a coworker and ordered the two eggs with biscuits and gravy. My gravy was lukewarm (if that) when I got it, and didn't even pour out of the bowl onto the biscuits. I had to plop it out with a knife and spread it around. After eating one biscuit, I asked the waitress if she could pop it into the microwave, because by that point the gravy was cold. Once I got it back, it was nice and hot and tasted like gravy! I should have done that to begin with, especially since our waitress was MIA most of the time and you never knew when she was going to come back. I will try very hard not to go back to Kerbey Lane Cafe, as they are undeserving of my money.
(1)Sanket K.
1st star - Open 24 hours a-day. I can't tell you how many times I've stumbled in here around 3am to get a good bite to eat. It's worth the wait. 2nd star - Pancakes. They are fluffy, they have a great variety with a special nightly. I'm not the hugest pancake fan as they are just too filling (all pancakes not just the ones here) but KL's pancakes are some of the best in Austin. 3rd star - If you have skimmed through the other reviews and have not seen 2/3 of these words: "Kerbey" "Cowboy" and "Queso", I advise you to skip those reviews. This is perhaps my favorite appetizer in all of Austin. It's just sooo good. I used to order just the queso for takeout back in my college days. I have not had queso as good as this anywhere else. 4th star - See above. 5th star - See above. Yeah it's unfair to give multiple stars for the queso but it's just that good. My mouth waters for it right now.
(5)Heidi L.
The last time I ate here I remember thinking that this place is better then I remembered but not a place I would eat at unless nothing else is open. I tend to avoid the Kerbey on campus. It's almost always crowded, service is terrible, and the food isn't as good compared to other Kerbeys. My friend and I came here at 3 am to get our grub on. We ordered the Kerbey queso, which came out nice and thick. The last time we ordered it, it was thin (yuck). I ordered the Moroccan stew. I was disappointed in the lack of meat in my dish especially for the price. I should have gotten the pancakes since they never disappoint.
(3)Shannon A.
Well I don't know what to say other than what a great stop for a late night drink and work session. I came into Kerby, completely remodeled by the way, just wanting a beer and some free wifi to get some work done. That is exactly what I got long with some black beans and really friendly service from my waiter Cory. It was also really fun watching all the cray crays walking by on the drag. Great place to eat, drink, work, and people watch! Thanks Cory for the drinks!
(5)Tricia O.
I gave Kerbey Lane one star because: 1. The parking situation is really grim and people get nasty. We got in arguments with people standing in the spots so cars couldn't park there... BOO 2. While I was telling the host how many people were in my party, some random guy walked by and PUT HIS FINGER IN MY MOUTH and ran away - so we left, and didn't eat here. I gave it a second star since I didn't actually get to eat anything since I was so disgusted by the finger/mouth business. Who does that?
(2)Darcy D.
Love love love Kerbey Lane. Their Kerbey Queso just can't be beat! While they are known more for their breakfast foods (always so many unique pancakes!), I am a big fan of the California Enchiladas (Avocado, cheese, tomatoes, and olives smothered in a delicious sour cream sauce, served with black beans and rice). Great place to come after a night out drinking and you're over by campus and you don't want Whataburger or Pluckers!
(4)Roel R.
Eggs Benedict are delicious service is ok great breakfast at any time of day.
(4)Roberto F.
There are two things that you will always find at Kerbey Lane: A waiting time and great food. As mentioned in my previous review this place is constantly busy but for good reason. I always go for the pancakes here for breakfast and I never leave disappointed. If you can't find parking there's a perfect street near the 7-11, San Antonio St.. I love Austin int the fact that you don't have to pay meter's on Sunday.
(4)Cain R.
One morning, during SXSW, I stopped in here with my brother for a little nourishment and break away from all the food trucks. Though it was a weekend -- I think -- and busy, our wait wasn't that long and our waiter was pretty cool. The wi-fi was pretty great and helpful too because I had already burned through my data plan at that point. And as for the food? I ordered a Paris, Texas, which is french toast with migas. Migas, outside of my mom's, is usually hit-or-miss out in the world but these migas were probably the best one's I have had so far. Well, the best one I've gotten at a restaurant. And I'm Mexican from Texas, so that compliment has to count for something, right? But I was hungover so . . .
(5)Lauren H.
were in austin last weekend for the george strait concert and the hotel concierge sent us here for our hungover brunch. amazing!!! 2 of us got the eggs francisco (?) a mash of everything delicious - queso, eggs, avocado, tomato, english muffin. i had the california omelet with avocado, tomatoes, & salsa (nixed the olives) and we got some pumpkin french toast for the table. they had everything our hearts could have desired that morning - including dos equis, and the local right next door to continue our fantastic start to our day. we will be back!
(5)Carlos G.
VEGAN PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They also have lot of veggie options on the menu and they're open all day, every day.
(5)Mathew P.
Diners, I love them and live by them. My lady and I hunt for them. Whenever we enter a new city or place that we have never been it's one of the first things we search for. She found this place on her first trip to Austin but at a different location, so we decided to go for breakfast on our recent weekend trip to see the bats. (we chose this one due to proximity of where we stayed) The portions were huge. I couldn't even finish my food, but in a good way. I Had the Paris Texas which was a order of french toast and Migas. I don't eat meat and am used to NYC diners so i expected it to not be totally filling without the meat toppings for my miga's, and small portions that i am used to in NY. that being the case I ordered a side of home fries as well... Let me tell you they do not joke around, I will try to post a pic on here later. The food was excellent. My french toast was a little dry but it was made up for with the fine service and coffee. I had never experienced a Miga before but was very excited to indulge my curiosity. I had the basic egg with green salsa and corn tortilla's. Everything tasted great. the potato's were just the way I liked them as well. (to warn you i like them crispy and a bit burnt without grease) Overall a great experience and a decent atmosphere. Congrats Kerbey you are my first 5 star in TX. PS... the "soysauge" was the first fake sausage i liked the flavor of...
(5)Mel G.
This campus location has probably seen its handful of absolutely crazy shite in its day. I remember they offered a 10% discount for patrons who came in sporting a mullet (very respectable offer, if I do say so myself). Like a few other places on the Drag, it's nice to see some continuity, and Kerbey Lane has been there like an old friend.
(5)Rachel S.
Kerbey Queso. Pumpkin pancakes. Lemon poppyseed pancakes. What keeps me coming back. My worst issue is the service here. Every time I come here, I am constantly having to ask for my water to be refilled. It doesn't matter if it's busy, empty, you're sitting at the bar, or in the tiny corner of the second room. I always end up sliding my clearly empty cup of ice to the edge of the table multiple times, making eye contact with them with my empty water obnoxiously visible. Also, lemme tell ya. Some of them employees have got some sass. Yeah, I saw that eye roll. And really, this girl needs water! I don't appreciate how you make me feel bad for nicely asking for a refill.
(3)Drew Z.
Doesn't have as much history as the original but still has lots of good food and good prices. Parking as with most of the rest of Austin is a mess. There is a parking lot that always seems to have cars idling in the parking lot waiting and hoping someone leaves because there is no other place to park. The pancakes are very good and popular. They have various flavors but the buttermilk are the most popular even though their buttermilk has a somewhat different flavor, it is good and will quickly grow on you. Oh, I almost forgot. Their Kerbey Queso is amazing and I would recommend it even with breakfast. Mmmm. Good.
(5)Ethan J.
The pancakes here are delicious and I don't even like pancakes that much. If it's your first time trying out one of the Kerby Lane's MAKE SURE YOU GET PANCAKES. The pancake specials are almost always really good, but you can't go wrong with the plain buttermilk. Eggs francisco is another good choice, and the vegan food is surprisingly good, and as a non-vegan I even enjoy it. The queso is decent, but go to Torchy's if you want some really amazing queso. The service is hit or miss, but it's usually good enough.
(5)Shari S.
I have never had anything from the menu that impressed me. It's average, but nothing really stands out. The items on the seasonal menu have usually been better and I wish that some of them would replace items on the permanent menu. I do like their queso, but cannot justify coming here for the queso alone. If you'd like pancakes and queso at the same time though I'd recommend giving it a shot.
(3)Tonya R.
As good as I remember even though the menu has changed. The Harvest Omelette was wholesome goodness. The San Francisco eggs were cheesy goodness. Crisp bacon and avocado elevated to heavenly. The cocoa banana pancakes were divine. Chocolaty while still light. Staff managed the crowd without breaking a sweat.
(5)Gita N.
lots of delish vegan options
(5)Ron E.
Truly care about customers. Unique dishes and great service. An Austin original that keeps delivering what we love.
(5)Stephen H.
I hate the renovation. HATE. From the outside, it looks like a fence was thrown onto the building by a tornado. And on the inside, the previous charm has been replaced with sad green paint and really bad lighting design. The place feels so sterile now. That said, the food is the same, homey and comforting. I always end up getting the migas. And the waitstaff is still too quirky to pay you proper attention. Honestly, I much prefer Magnolia's to Kerby Lane, but this location will always be popular and nothing I say here will change that.
(2)Lillian H.
I've been going to Kerbey Lane for years and the food has always tasted delicious and fresh. I'm docking 1 star for service, which can be a hit or miss. Their parking lot is also tiny, so you may need to park somewhere else. I usually order the Egg Francisco and pancakes. You can't go wrong with their pancakes.
(4)Kristen D.
First place I ate at when I moved to Austin 5 years ago, and I'm still going back several times a month; There's something to be said for that. The vegan pancake flavors have increased dramatically, and I actually feel like my forever-ago complaint was heard and acted on. A multitude of stars for that. I also like how the servers at UT have become more knowledgable about vegan food, letting me know which tortillas aren't vegan for my tofu migas, and switching the hippie burger to grilled instead of fried so it wouldn't be floating next to a piece of bacon in the fryer. Considerate! Now my wish is for Kerbey to have a plain vegan buttermilk style pancake on the daily menu for when I'm not feelin' the rotating flavor. Anything to ensure I have a constant flow of vegan pancakes into my life, right? I have priorities, people.
(5)Martin G.
I have been to Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe a few times. Each time the service was prompt and the experience was great. The menu options also match the high paced student lifestyle. I would recommend Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe to fellow students.
(5)Paul S.
I really wish I could give three stars, but when you get cheated on ingredients... it's hard to brush it off. our server was great, caitlynn seemed genuinely happy to be our server. she should get 5 stars. our food was ok, the fried green tomato BLT read better on the menu than what it delivered. I had the tomato pie and the toms were not the best this summer tom season has to offer and it was mostly feta and olives.... the crust was soggy. I ate it all with no real complaints. the older two kids loved the chicken enchiladas with verde (green) sauce. they know enchiladas so when they approve, they must be good. my caesar salad... was swimming in dressing. easily 2 or 3x the amount necessary for a salad. it was really a bit gross. what really bothered me was the PB&J from the kid's menu. I noticed the 3 y.o. boy was really going to town on it. he refused french fries and that never happens. we knew he liked PB&J, figured the PB has some nutritional value and J just sort of sweetened it up.... I had a closer look, NO PB! none! it was just two slices of bread and gobs of grape jelly. if they ran out of PB, they should have let us know before serving it. I'd have felt OK w/ three stars if it weren't for the PB cheat.
(2)Jenny L.
I have a threesome once a week. It's not a spur of the moment trio, but more of a well thought out and planned one. And it's always fun. Coleen L, Amanda M, and I have our ménage à trois, take lots of photos, and always take turns. No one is the star of the show, and we all make sure everyone gets what they need and want. We will always have our threeway in different places. Recently, it was at the newly remodeled Kerbey. The waiter was nice, the queso good, entrees okay, but the remodel job kinda made us sad. And no one wants to be sad during a threesome. The colors, sights and sounds of the new Kerbey was all around strange. I can't quite put my finger on it, but maybe a cross between an old diner and mental hospital. I had a vegan Migas taco, and I appreciate that Kerbey makes it easy for vegans and meat eaters to eat together. But sometimes, that's just not enough. Really, food is okay here, and the vegan queso is nice and (non)cheesy. I am sure our triad will return soon, but we gave it a try, and thats what counts. And the threesome? I was just talking about lunch with two friends. Get your mind out of the gutter.
(4)Oxykitty S.
Ate here and also at s. Lamar. Think of it as a 24 Dennys or ihop with much better service and healthier vegan/vegetarian food choices if you have a hipster gluten free friend in your group. At the s lamar location the vegan queso was way spicy.. tasty but it was above flaming cheeto hot. Had their breakfast quesadilla w vegan chorizo which was yums with more texmex like spices. Also tried their breakfast platter which included their tofu scramble ...which was wayyyyy too effen hot. Couldn't even swallow that lava scramble. The waiter was kind enough to comp that meal without asking so props for customer service. The blueberry pancakes were as expected.. not the most tender pancakes I've had but the downside was that they were served with fake maple syrup and margarine. U have organic ketchup but not real butter ccmmonn... the sweet potato fries and aoili i enjoyed much more than their vegan queso. The fries werent the best I've had but they looked homemade plus it had some tasty crack seasoning on it.. also had their tofu scramble which had potatoes shrooms green chili's and cheese on it. Being super hungry it was nomnom and hit the spot. Overall decent veggie friendly foods open 24/7 with friendly happy waiters and waitresses that dont seem like they hate their jobs... ill be bachhh.
(4)Benjamin T.
Been here every time I visit Austin! Favorite breakfast in town. Getting the Egg Francisco today. Should be good!
(4)Grace S.
A bit on the pricey side for being near a college campus, but I think the food is pretty worth it. The service is also consistently good. The best part about it is that it's pretty much 24/7, so it's convenient for when you need good food when you're doing late night studying. I don't have much to say about their pancakes (I'm not picky at all), but some of my friends say that the pancakes are over-rated, if you're coming here for pancakes.
(4)Tony H.
Man this place looks snazzy since the remodel. I liked the old, but like the new as well. Other than the hippy/gothic kinda feel to the staff, this place was pretty darn good. Everyone that we interacted with was nice, and the service was pretty quick. The Migas rocked. But the Peanut Butter, banana, nutella pancakes blew my mind. Wowzers! Those puppies are to die for. Do yourself a favor, and run over to Kerbey lane and just get these pancakes if they still have them. SOOOOO good!
(4)Kaelynn H.
The service I have had has always been very good. Very up-beat staff who are ready to assist you and are fast paced. The food is always good and decently priced. I love how they have vegan options (even their pancakes!) which I would argue to be sometime better than the non-vegan ones. Overall, I love going their with friends or family for happy breakfasts. :)
(4)Madeline A.
Vegan pancakes are TO DIE. Favorites: Pumpkin, Apple Wheat, Chocolate Mint (sounds gross, but I swear...). Bonus-- they always supply a generous heaping of vegan butter. Ohh goodness. Anddd the Vegan Espresso Peanut Butter Cake is super duper good. So good that this one time, it became my dinner. No regrets!
(4)John N.
Just a quick little update regarding the renovated place we call Kerbey Lane. The place looks nicer.. yet still dirty. I could clearly see food on the floor. Yay for me bringing my sister here only to have her be let down a little... There was another little let down when she noticed she just stepped on a fork. Staff overall appear friendly and attentive. My waiter appeared.. well.. more like he did not appear. I don't know why. He had someone else bring out our food and he wasn't all that busy, but nonetheless he was nice and did a good job overall. Food: I'm leaving that out of this update since there aren't any changes to the main menu. Of course you have a mini seasonal menu that changes from season to season.
(3)Leslie M.
A local favorite place. I went with a friend for breakfast. Our server Cory recommended the Chicken Verde Omelet. Fantastic choice. A little spicy, but that's what I like. The pancake specialty of the day was cinnamon roll pancakes. To die for..... I hope they have them again when I come back!
(5)Alexandra R.
Do not let this summer pass you by without popping in to KLC to eat some or all of their special tomato menu items. They are fresh and fantastic. I went for lunch and inhaled the Ahogada sandwich - a dreamy combination of pork carnitas (direct from Richardson Farms) on grilled sourdough (viva the panini press) with mashed avocado, grilled red onions, and just floating on a dreamy bed of a tomato-lime jus. The menu directs one to eat this with a knife and fork, but if you act quickly, you can go hand-held and scoop the sandwich into the jus as you go. Or you can not be a caveman and use the knife and fork. Do not skimp on the tomato jus - it is tangy and acidic and slaps your tastebuds with summery, tomato-y goodness. I opted for sweet potato fries for my side, and the Heinz I dunked them in was almost candy-like in its sweetness compared to the tart jus that came with the Ahogada. As always, one of the best parts of visiting KLC - any KLC - if the friendly service. My server chatted with me about other seasonal sandwiches that have dropped off the menu - au revoir, bahn mi, see you on the other side. I reiterate: get thee to a Kerbey and eat something, anything, off the summer tomato menu. It is just that good. Forget about Heinz for a minute and let a real tomato slap you in the mouth.
(4)Ted W.
I recently was in St. David's Hospital for a few days. The food was not the typical mystery meat with a side of jello. You could actually order food from their cafe whenever you wanted and it was pretty good. One of the meals I had was a breakfast biscuit sandwich with gravy. It made me think of a meal I had recently at Kerbey Lane which also was composed mostly of biscuits and gravy. The hospital gravy was good. Not great, but not bad. The Kerbey Lane gravy tasted like elementary school paste but the texture and flavor was worse. I couldn't believe how bad it was. It was horrid. It was a disgrace. It was also embarrassing because I always tell people that Kerbey Lane is a good place to eat but this experience made me think back and realize that Kerbey Lane has been gradually getting worse and worse over the years. I will still eat there but I am giving them one star mainly to hopefully get their attention. I hate to say it but Kerbey Lane is now worse than hospital food.
(1)Gypsy J.
I think this place is ok, especially if you are not trying to eat healthy. I only found one item on the the menu that was vegan, and it was rather boring. It was the tofu scramble, and while it SAID it came with veggies in it, Im not sure I saw any...Also the plates were really not pretty, including my friend's omelette. It came with fruit, that was really just a few slices of apple and pear. Also, the waitstaff leaves much to be desired, but I guess that's to be expected in an Austin hipster area. Both times I went I had guys who didnt smile. The first guy was at least a good waiter, but the 2nd guy was awful. Good coffee tho, and the vegan pancakes were pretty slamming. So I cant say it was all bad ;)
(3)Chris C.
After many times of visiting this Kerbey, we have enjoyed every experience. That staff is top notch. At times we are lucky enough to sit at the counter and enjoy the conversation of the wait staff and today, unknown to us, had a conversation with the manager that made our day. The waitress we had was very helpful. After today, this is an Austin gem to us and you can see why they are expanding so much.
(5)El B.
Stale chips, lukewarm queso, soggy fish tacos, unpleasant server. Also, while I like the idea of the Kerbey Queso, it's really not that great. I may be dating myself here, but I remember when there was only one of these places. It was good. Also, I'm pretty sure hipsters didn't exist at that point, so the most annoying clientele were the occasional large(ish) party of aging hippie ladies loudly discussing organic laundry detergent, homeopathy, and whether or not whatever they ordered is macrobiotic. And they really weren't all that annoying.
(2)Jimmy H.
Really good service, easy on my wallet, forrest our server is awesome, I highly recommend coming here for anyone looking for good food and a fun time
(5)Caron L.
When I crave queso and gingerbread pancakes, there is nowhere else I would rather go. The Kerbey's queso is out of control wonderful, I mean who doesn't want guacamole with their queso. The pancakes are all wonderful but I have a special place for the gingerbread. Now that I no longer in Texas, I makes this a first stop when I am back in Austin.
(5)Mike T.
Three stars is average here. Minus one for customer disservice that hasn't been rectified Ever!!!! Sane as it was 6 years ago, Conveniently HORRID!!! Location is the only real reason you're still running. Vegan options ? At a fast food diner, way to diversify. Why not stand out for your great service and delicious food. Well that's because SOBER people learn from poor college errors and head to Mags. I'd give you one star just based on wait times during non busy hours. But you deserving one more for.....for........for....well I prove myself wrong. Oops that's now 1 measley star. At least some people can potentially get a badge from your poor ratings. See some good can come from your failures. Good that's out of the way. Food here is relative. Relative to your current BaC and lack of other options. I dont go to these "establishments" anymore. Praise be to Jebus.
(1)Amber S.
Sat here for five minutes while the two guy waiters chatted by a computer and then stared at us. Some times having coffee in the morning is important, but apparently making customers wait around is more important here. No service was given here- no menu, greeting, settings, etc .... The restaurant formerly known as Friendly's provides faster service than this wannabe spot.
(1)Cherry M.
Super great food! I love it so much! Definitely get the queso and pancakes. I love how creative they are! I hate the remodel though. Sometimes the service isn't great either, but I always come here.
(4)Linda S.
Good food. Loved that they had gluten-free options. Liked the ambiance. Server was a bit distracted. But overall good experience.
(4)Rachael C.
I am SO sad and disappointed with what Kerby has done to this store. This has always been my favorite location, filled with many kid memories and late-night meals with friends. I hadn't been back in a while, and come to discover they totally remodeled to look like the new Kerby on S Lamar. It's a travesty. It doesn't even feel like a Kerby Lane anymore with it's sterile metal chairs and diner-style open floor plan. I expect this kind of atmosphere from a P Terry's. It is now totally devoid of charm and that fun, funky Austin feel that made Kerby Lane one of my favorite gems. To give them credit, the food is still the same (thank god), but that's about it. Even the employees look way more "cleaned up." I talked to a couple of waiters about it and they all said everyone is really sad about the change. Are they doing this to all the locations now? I hope not. Looks like from now on I'll stick to the original location on Kerby Lane.
(3)Jorge C.
Stopped in for dinner tonight when a friend from New England announced that he was being detoured here for the night. It was short notice, but I picked him up from his hotel and we headed over to the cafe. The young lady who greeted us at the front was great. Outgoing personality and a warm smile go a long way. Out server was friendly enough, but he definitely seemed to be disappointed that we weren't a four top of female UT students. The food was good, not amazing, but solid diner fare. I'm a breakfast guy, and while my toast was overdone, the bacon, potatoes and eggs made up for it. I'd come back if I was in the area and craving breakfast.
(3)Nando R.
It's an okay place if you're looking for somewhere open 24-hours in West Campus that's not fast food. Food is really, really average. I've been here around 5 times. I didn't have any bad meals per say (maybe once I did), but I don't leave with a feeling of satisfaction like I do in other restaurants. I just leave... indifferent... with a feeling of "meh". 2/5, would come here again just b/c there's not too many 24-hour, non fast-food options in West Campus. But if you have a car, 24-diner's meals are way better quality.
(2)Jeffrey V.
Good service, nice and basic place. Decent prices. The food's a bit on the bland side though. Okay for a quick basic meal drop in.
(3)Erin G.
We were yelled at by our server, RYAN. Yelled at. Had a coffee cup yanked from my friends hand. And our server made my friend cry, at her birthday party. I hope that corporate reads this review. I've never given a restaurant a one star review. Where to even begin? Let me preface this- I'm a server at a Brewhouse in Austin, and can't imagine dishing out what our server did. We had been down to 6th street for a 21st birthday party. Our server, RYAN, was great at first. Was on his way to earning a 20-30% tip from a table of 8. He even modified a sandwich for my picky ass, I was super grateful. My friend, S, was with us for her 21st birthday. Out of the 8 of us, she was the only one who was intoxicated. We were all sober. S said she needed to go to the bathroom. E and I took her, in a group, as any girls would. Our server, did I mention his name is RYAN, stopped us. Grabbed E's arm. (Battery, anyone? He's lucky we didn't call the cops.) Said we couldn't go in to the bathroom, that if she threw up it would be a biohazard and nobody wanted to clean it up. Okay, I get that. She wasn't hammered. She was buzzed. So E and I talked to him to figure out if he was serious. He told us that we would have to go outside, in 35° weather, to throw up in the trash can. I told him that if there was a mess, I would be happy to help clean, that I understood where he was coming from, but we needed to use the restroom, regardless. We were paying customers for crying out loud. RYAN got upset at this point and told us to get out of the restaurant. Get out. GET OUT. Not please leave, but, "You need to get out now." He even had the balls to tell us that he would have our food boxed so we could get out. Not leave, always get out. S, who is mortified at this point, since RYAN has been yelling that we're too drunk to stay, (which we weren't,) started to cry and walked back to our table, where RYAN yanks our half finished appetizer from the table and starts clearing dishes. May I point out that S hasn't thrown up, anywhere? Doesn't need help walking, hasn't fallen. A, who has a coffee cup in her hand, states that she wants to speak to the manager and that she's leaving without paying. E states that she'll pay for our appetizer, but that she wants to see a manager. RYAN yanks the coffee cup from A's hand and when she asked what he was doing, he got in her face and yelled that she wasn't paying for it so she couldn't finish it. Okay. I was unhappy up until this point. Now I'm furious. I couldn't believe the gall that RYAN had. He spat at all of us that his manager would be over soon. Chris, the manager, was incredibly helpful. Offered us free meals, wanted to make it right. He seemed mortified that his server had acted the way he did. We declined even having the food we had ordered boxed for free, we wanted to leave. S had practically run from the restaurant and was now crying in the car. I can't understand how he could possibly keep his job. I hope that Kerbey lane fires him. Coming from a server, I would hope that his spot at the restaurant goes to someone who will be respectful to guests who are incredibly cooperative. He was mean. He wasn't rude. RYAN was mean.
(1)Blair A.
Kerbey Lane is another one of those eclectic 24/7 joints Austin is known for. It doesn't matter when you roll in (be it 3 am or 1 pm), you'll likely consistently get crap service. BUT if you know this going in, and properly prepare yourself, your experience should be just fine. I'm a carb-a-holic so the pancakes at Kerbey are always my "go to" item. Be it gingerbread, blueberry, buttermilk or their special pumpkin pancakes in autumn or lemon poppyseed pancakes in summer, you can NEVER go wrong with the pancakes! These babies are as big as the plate they serve you on and your eyes will definitely be bigger than your stomach! You also can't go wrong with the Kerbey Queso: yum yum queso topped with a huge dollop of guacamole and pico. They made a smart decision a few years ago and stopped serving crappy chips that took away from the flavor of the queso. I suppose enough of us (*cough*) complained about how horrible the tortilla chips were that they finally changed them to some pretty good ones! Also, right now Kerbey is in the midst of its "summer menu" and they have a gem on the menu you HAVE to try: Fried Green Tomato BLT. The staple is, obviously Fried Green Tomatoes, topped with a thick slice of prosciutto and lettuce smashed between either whole wheat or sour dough toast that is smattered with herb mayo. IT'S CRAZY GOOD!!! Try it, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Annalise P.
Good not great food option near UT campus. The place is crawling with students at all points of time and it's almost like they've dumbed down the plates for students palettes because even though the menu is a bit diverse the food isn't popping with flavor. Eh, but if you've got a craving for sweet potato fries at 3:00 am (I can't be the only one who suffers from this, can I?) you really can't go wrong by stopping by here.
(3)Bibiano L.
I had the vegan banana nut pancakes and they were delicious. The Orange Spritzer was refreshing. The servers are really friendly and it's always packed with loud students. Need to go back and try some more stuff actually.
(4)Jim T.
Excellent food, casual vibe, across street from UT What's not to love?
(5)Scott G.
The campus Kerbey kicks ass. Their remodel is pretty sweet, and the staff are always fun. The food is consistently quick and good, and I firmly believe that there is crack in the coffee. Also, Kerbey Queso is an Austin institution. The last time I went was at breakfast on a Friday with a couple of friends, and we were pretty pumped about some french toast, bacon, and coffee. I guess we were really excitable because at the end of the meal, they dropped off a check with no balance. Apparently they do nice things for customers sometimes, and buying your meal is one of those things! Saweet! Be sure to tip your server if this ever happens to you! See you soon, Miss Kerbey. You sassy girl.
(5)Daniel L.
My first time here was as a freshman in college. Many (don't ask how many) years later to the day today nothing much has changed: gingerbread pancakes for the gold star sticker meal that is quick, cheap, and fantastic. Quite unlike the Houston dichotomy where the "other ones" are usually better than the original (e.g. BB's and Niko-Niko's) I found it quite easy to give the original Kerbey Lane five stars, but this location four stars. But even at four stars, it is an awesome place to eat, see, and be seen. The parking lot is a dead end, just to save you that thirty seconds of trying to exit from the rear (hehe) and having to back up and go back out the entrance onto Guadalupe. Unlike the original KLC which is larger, more spacious, and more "unique" in the Austin way - I find this one inside to be much more of a Cafe Brazil (if anyone from Dallas is reading this) or traditional diner cookie cutter mold. The booths are nice and spacious. Everything is clean of course. The waiters are business-first and not so chit-chatty but that is fine since they refill drinks rapidly without needing to hear your life story. And the food comes out quite quickly. I think the location two feet off campus explains how easy it is to distinguish this location from big poppa - and the large number of students with bookbags and books out on the table further underline the point if you come around the lunch hour. I would always be willing to come here. Every time a gingerbread pancake is plopped on a plate an angel get its wings. They have other things on the menu but I really don't see the need to try them. Pancakes at any time of the day are appropriate whether it is a hot date, a meal with your parents, or a business meeting: pancakes will do mighty fine.
(3)Sean H.
Always a good meal. Dependable. Clean. Good variety. Just had the gluten free gingerbread pancakes, which were excellent. My wife is a big fan of the place too.
(4)Amanda M.
Yum. Super duper yummy. Kerby Lane is a great spot for weekend brunching it up. The service was good, the wait wasn't too long, the price was right and all of the food was tasty. Simple enough.
(5)Matthew C.
Food was delicious- especially the pumpkin pancakes and chicken verde omelette. Our waiter Conner was awesome!
(4)T F.
Used to visit Kerby Lane on 183 in the 90's and loved it. But this is my 2nd visit to this location in recent years and yep..it just is not the same. Food was OK. But it just is not what is used to be. Or maybe my standards have changed..either way. Biscuits cold. Migas Ok.. Everything just OK
(2)Julie S.
Awe really only 3 stars!?!! Before heading to crazy SXSW, my bud and I stopped in here for breakfast. The parking situation sucks though, the lot was small. I had park kinda far and walk by the construction guys that were perving ewww...damn it I shouldn't have worn that short dress =P The wait for a table was not long at all, sat in the nook by the window. They had so many delicious options for breakfast, but I wanted something hearty that can last me all afternoon, so went ahead and ordered a mushroom omelet & potatoes, all good portions of food. Yum inexpensive breakfast joint! Must go!
(4)Lesley W.
Here's the thing: Being a former UT student, and living in Austin for six years...I've been to Kerbey Lane and had the full range of experiences. 4 stars is my overall impression from coming here possibly over 100 times (oh my... I think that just might be true!). Reasons you may go to Kerbey Lane: You are hungry and it's an odd time of night, you're vegan, you're gluten free, you're vegetarian, you go to UT, your friend goes to UT, you went to a frat party, your family is in town, etc. etc. I'm not a huge fan of the remodel, but it's nice enough. The prices have gone up just like everywhere else. Oh well! Quit your cryin and just eat some pancakes! Pancakes are typically no-fail. Get the special ones: Lemon Poppy Seed, Pumpkin, etc. I've never been a fan of the enchiladas, they are kinda puny in my opinion but have a nice flavor. And seriously - how can I not love a place that has vegan queso? Be still my beating heart! They do still have some of the best regular cheese queso in Austin. You may sit next to drunk college kids. You may have to wait too long. But, I'd say it's worth the possibility! Or, try one of their other locations - they are typically less crowded & less drunkenly filled. I'm a huge fan of the original.
(4)Kelvin P.
Kerbey Lane has been remodeled since I came here in college. Eating here on a late night (3am), I was pleasantly surprised that the food was still better than IHOP.
(4)Audrey E.
Fall menu must have: Pear and bacon grilled cheese with aged white cheddar. Holy shit! That is all! Had it twice this week. I hate queso personally but all my friends rave about theirs so if you like queso this is your spot. A longtime longhorn favorite. Myself included.
(4)Aj A.
On man is tomorrow too soon to come back? Delicious tofu sandwich a d vegan cheese fries. They're beyond vegetarian friendly, I'm not used to having SO many choices!
(5)Ivan V.
I routinely get kerby queso at 3 am when im drunk haha. And its amazing. Other then that. When you go there i feel like its a bit overpriced for what you get
(3)Whitnee R.
If you live anywhere around the Austin area and have yet to hear of Kerbey Lane, then you may just live underneath a rock. If you have heard of it, it was probably from customers raving about their Kerbey Queso. Let's just cut to the chase and say that the real gem here is their green chili cheese fries, which are heavenly in all forms of the word. My one complaint about Kerbey Lane (and especially at the Guadalupe location) is they are seriously lacking with the consistency of the food they serve. You can order a meal one night and order the exact same the next, but be warned that it will probably look and taste noticeably different. I ordered the green chili nachos once and they were absolutely amazing. A couple of nights later, they came out cold and were cooked completely different. But, what's to expect from a 24 hour restaurant? I like Kerbey Lane for many reasons, the main one being that there aren't TOO many places for a starving vegetarian during the late hours of the night. Their variety of food is also another plus, because whether you're feeling Tex-Mex, breakfast, or American classics, they've got you covered. If you've yet to try it, do so as soon as you can.
(4)Christine C.
UGGGGGHHHH. So. Annoyed. My first clue should've been the person who seated us, as she threw the menus on the table and didn't even bother talking/making eye contact with us or anything. Okay, I get it, you have tats, you think you're bad ass, aaand you can't be bothered to be civil. Not my problem if you hate your life. In fact, all the waitstaff seemed pissy today. Idk what their problem was, but they definitely ruined the experience. Additionally, it took 45-50 minutes to complete an order of tacos. Tacos!!! Good thing we got the Kerbey Queso, otherwise we totally would've had nothing to eat. Btw, that queso is $8 and some change. The waitress came by and said on one occasion "Sorry it's slow, you had a big party in front of you." Really? For real? What "big party?" Stupid. There was no "big party." Then she didn't refill our drinks. We sat right next to the soda fountain and watched as she kept pouring herself something to drink. Blatent. Finally at the 46-47 minute mark, I was seriously trying to convince my friend to get up and go. That's when the waitress brought the food out. I even told her we were fixing to leave. Then she said "Oh, it took a long time because it's pork." That might've been a fine excuse if we weren't seated next to the kitchen and saw other tacos being served. Starve and then lie to me? I guess that "big party" story wasn't going to stick. Jesus H. Christ. I then asked: Can I get a refill? Waitress: We're out of tea. Me:(Stifles expletive) ...Just...just get me something. (Seriously, an hour of chips and salsa on one glass of tea? Sorry, I guess I shoudl've changed my order to "water." Oh wait. That's what my friend had and she couldn't get a refill either). Bitch Waitress then decided to, you guessed it, bitch about us to a coworker. She didn't even have the decency to whine about her crappiness away from us. She got a 9 cent tip for our $35 meal (queso, one tea, two orders of tacos, and the worst service I've ever had.) And that was only because I wasn't willing to wait around another hour for my change. Call it a gift. I wanted to GTFO before punching out a damn hipster. Fuck. One hour in Austin and this is what I get. I called the manager on the way back, I was fuming so bad I couldn't even make it to my hotel room. She did nothing to allay my concerns, and just kept repeating "Yeah, not every experience when you eat out will be good; I'll take care of it on my end. Yeah, I'll take care of it on my end. Uh-huh, yeah, I'll take care of it on my end." When I got home and saw the slew of comments people have been leaving about the crappy service, it has become readily apparent that really, honestly, no one here gives a shit. I noticed that the other people complaining about the service are Asian. I'm only half (I'm usually just lumped together with generic brownies) but my dining partner is clearly 100% Asian. Charges of racism abound? Why Hell yes, I will go there.
(1)Karen F.
the watermelon gazpacho I had in Aug was delicious. The sweet fresh tomato and watermelon combination was very refreshing. I visited late afternoon and service was excellent, dining solo. parking lot included. easy entry and exit if you are going in the 'right' direction. This is the UT area, so expect many co-eds. I can imagine parents with their UT students like to frequent this location. one of the few 24/7 establishments with long-standing good reputation in Austin.
(4)Tiffanie L.
Wow. I just came back from experiencing the worst service... ever. The one itsy bitsy little star that I'm giving Kerbey is solely due to the fact that my Hippie Burger was delicious. The veggie patty was really flavorful and the homefries that came on the side were sooo good. My plate was wiped clean, but this isn't why I decided to write a review. I never really understood what people meant when they said they had "awful service." Was your water not completely full all the time? Did you get a dirty knife? Or are you just really anal about everything? Spoon up your butt? Ha. But I understand now. It all started when our waitress practically threw the straws (that we had requested) at us. There was nooo gentle placement of the straws on our table. I didn't know that I did anything wrong by asking for some straws. Geez. We got into the restaurant at 6pm and ordered, and another group of girls had sat down right next to us about 15 minutes after we had walked in. Thirty minutes later, we were all just sitting and talking when we noticed that the group of girls next to us were all getting their food. This puts us at 45 minutes of wait time for you math-challenged. My friend and I got up to talk to the manager, but she didn't apologize for the wait or give us anything to compensate for the HOUR that we waited. No free chips. No free dessert. The Kerbey Queso that the girls next to us got looked pretty good. How about some of that? Nada. Our table waited for an hour to get our 3 Hippie Burgers and our 1 Baked Potato Omelette. Seriously. How long does it take to heat up a veggie patty and cook a few eggs!?!? The waitress apologized for the delay and said that there was only cook. Only one cook at dinner time? Huh. The waitress never asked us if we wanted any dessert or anything before she brought us our check. I was actually in the mood for some of that Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake, but no... No shortcake for me. It was probably cause we asked for the straws. You may think you're hearing this story for the second time, and you're right. Valerie L., the witty journalist that she is, tells the story better, but I just had to say my piece. Oh, and there's flies. Big ones.
(1)Marie-Elena B.
Awesome breakfast. I loved their fall menu!
(4)Rick G.
They just remodeled this location, and it looks great. Everything is bright and shiny clean, and there's much more seating available. A group of my lab mates and I ate a late lunch/early dinner there around 6PM. It may have been my imagination, but it seemed the staff was better looking, too. The food was great as was the service. I had my favorite tomato pie, and others had a variety of things. Someone ordered the chili-cheese fries, and they looked frighteningly good.
(4)Michael B.
04/28/13 I had Davids Enchiladas. They were really good. The portion size was fairly smaller then I'd hope but it was ok. Waiter took a little longer than expected but still friendly. I think her name was Victoria & she forgot our Queso appetizer. But she did bring it out immediately! Awesome place, will return!
(4)Hieu P.
The lemon poppy-seed pancake was in all honesty the best pancake I've ever had, it's just a shame I didn't order it. I got the Kerbey Scramble which was yummy, but not the same level of deliciousness that my friend was presented with. Two scrambled eggs with some mushrooms, cheese, and peppers. It was OK, but nothing out of this world. That's right, I'm basing my whole review on what my friend got. Also, the coffee was apparently amazing as he had four cups, which then kept him up all day and night. AND I GOT SOME BEEF TO PICK WITH AUSTIN. Why is your tap water so shitty? Smells like the sea and tastes like fish bath water. Totally gross, worst water I've had in America bar none [it was like this everywhere in the city].
(4)Bryan H.
Vegan Queso was amazing! Not a fan of their veggie burger but love their pancakes and Kirby scramble. Wait staff was good and attentive.
(5)Heather G.
We went to kerbey lane cafe last night because it's the closest place to our house that's open late. He ordered a burger and I got the pancakes. My food was ok that's why I'm giving them two stars. My husband's burger had tiny bits of bone in it. He was spitting out tiny pieces of bones all night and now he is having issues. He didn't alert me to this issue until we were in the car otherwise I would have said something to our waiter. Now I think Husband needs to see a dentist.
(2)Samantha L.
Props for being open 24 hours and tolerating drunk children. Sucks the service suffers because of that though. I honestly don't blame them. I have to say, though, dropping a scoop of guacamole into the queso is genius.
(2)Lily P.
Absolute yes. We had a party of 4 at 1-2am. They let us have the kids coloring sheets, and we had great fun while waiting for a table. The waitress let us know what was special about this place - queso and pancakes. Oh god was the queso amazing... we devoured that thing heartily while singing praise. And then my special pancake - the beignet! Sweetness overload, which is how I liked it! No syrup or butter needed (not that I didn't oblige anyway ;) ). Thanks for continuing to impress, Kerbey Lane!
(5)Alex D.
Loud atmosphere but its expected as its the late night bite of all of UT. If you don't get the Kerbey Queso...I don't know why you went to Kerbey lane because the mix of guac, pico de gaillo, and queso is all you really need. Basic but delicious and always will be every single time. Entres were the blackened fish tacos and the Pachola burger, both of which were lacking a little flavour but in general alright. Not to-die-for but hits the spot when you're hangry. Texture if the burger felt like it was blended meat and the tacos didn't have a powerful fish taste but ingredients were fresh. Service was great! It was our servers first day and he was nervous but he did a great job at getting our orders, recommending dishes, checking in every now and then, and making sure our wait isn't the norm and they were exceptional at making up for it. Environment is loud and bright, not ideal for a date but nice for groups of 4-8 because if their booths or corners.
(4)Elyse L.
So, originally our plan was to eat at Franklin's. We had friends from out of town staying with us, and since we haven't been yet either, we figured it would be something fun that we could all experience together. We got there at 9am on a Friday morning and knew to expect a line, but the one we saw was much more daunting than we planned. We didn't think we had a chance in hell for brisket to still be available by the time we got inside, so we threw down the white flag and headed here instead. I have to admit I was a tad relieved as it was warm out and I was absolutely starving. We walked into their sweet air conditioned space and I was surprised to see how modern it is compared to the other two locations I've been to. Plenty of parking here as well which I loved, especially being downtown. Their pancake special of the day was apple pie, and we got two for the table so we could all try it. Their pancakes never disappoint. They also have free wifi and morning drinks such as their $2 mimosa. (They are mostly champagne, yay! So proceed with caution) My husband got the fried chicken eggs benedict and our friends got the breakfast tacos and the Eggs Francisco. Lots of mmmm's all around. I got the breakfast platter per usual which comes with two half sized pancakes of your choice, eggs, and bacon. Everything was delicious. As much as we were looking forward to that glorious bbq, I think we were all secretly relieved we didn't have to wait 5 hours to eat. And this way our friends could still say they ate somewhere you can only find in Austin! Win win.
(4)Sarah J.
Two words: Avocado enchiladas. With rice! This may or may not spell Ayuervedic disaster in regards to the 'food combining' concept....but...ya have to live a little, right? Man, that dish is good. Totally worth it. Best dish I've ever had at a 24/7 diner.
(4)Elle G.
Pancakes are delicious, but the fry game is decidedly weak (both potato & sweet potato). While the burger and sandwich were hot and crisp, the fries were literally cold and soggy for both of us. The fries were half of the dishes we ordered (i.e. worth ~$5 per dish), so that was quite disappointing. Other than that, we came at an off peak time and the food came out really fast. Oh and this is really random but my menu had coffee in it. I opened it and drops of coffee rolled down the menu into the table. Probably a one off experience with the coffee though. I recommend you order queso and pancakes and open your menu with caution.
(2)Jennifer M.
I've been to this location many times, and always for breakfast. Being on the drag, there is typically a lot of students, packed house, and no parking. I've always parked on Hume Pl or 26th and walk over. The service is always ok, some days better than others, but friendly and happy place to get some breakfast. They have all the classics on the menu, with some unique items, likes Eggs Francisco, a delicious sandwich smothered in queso. I thoroughly enjoy their omlettes and pancakes, with seasonal and pumpkin-everything options. Mimosas are $2 or $12 for a carafe, which is a nice price. Overall, I feel like this Austin tradition is delicious and great for breakfast, but they have raised their prices and I'm usually spending ~$15-20/person. Parking and wait time also can be a pain. I'm sure I'll be back, though.
(3)Alyssa C.
This is "that place". The one you go to when you're being annoyingly indecisive about all the food options Austin presents. We come here more often than any place just because of the simplicity. We love dining out but also try to keep a pretty clean paleo diet so we try to avoid daily tacos and bunless burgers get old. We love the amount of options here, and love the seasonal menu. Recently we've tried the Mediterranean chicken plate, the pesto bacon chicken, and the Cobb salad. The Cobb is now our "go-to" healthy dining out meal. One thing I recommend (which goes completely against all that health talk above): Kerby Queso.
(5)Terri J.
I love Kerbey Lane...no matter which location one visits, the food & service is consistent.... They're almost always open (check to verify holiday hours because not all locations are open). It's yummy anytime, but it's such great middle of the night spot for the munchies. We stopped at this location before a show at Bass Concert Hall. For a spot so close to campus, the parking is great! Of course, the food was awesome. My friend had a hamburger & fries. I tried the seasonal pumpkin pancakes with a side of the most perfectly crisp bacon everrrrrrr. Yummy!!! The server recommended the mint pie for dessert - described it like Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. So we caved. OMG...it was so good! De-lightful, De-licious, De-lovely.
(5)Lorrie G.
Breakfast is definitely Kerbey's strong point. I had the pancakes cinnamon styled (like a cinnabon), eggs, and sausage. The pancakes STOLE the show, they were so sweet and somehow the chef managed to get the nice icing baked into the top of the pancake. It was great! I've been here twice, once for breakfast, once for lunch, and breakfast is definitely the winner.
(4)Myia B.
The wait wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be...though the line was super long - lots of people perched along the sidewalk. The service was horrible; our server's name was Yalimar and she barely made an attempt to hide the fact that she hates her job and found us to be quite annoying for coming in to pay for food and service. I'm the nicest guest ever...I *genuinely* smile and engage. I customize my orders on the front end so I rarely need anything during my meal...overall I'm a pretty darn good customer. I was this way with Yalimar and so were my cousins, so I didn't get the rudeness. Food: average. I ordered the crispy chicken Benedict (12.50) with bell peppers and onions (+.65), and a side of hollandaise (+3). Topped it off with a mimosa ($2). I was trying to recreate Jonathon's Oak Cliff "The Kure" but it fell way short. I probably wouldn't venture back to Kerbey's unless others wanted to. Extensive menu...lots of options. Give it a whirl, you might like it.
(3)Pamela P.
Ordered the chilaquiles (asked for no onion, eggs over medium and potatoes instead of black beans). This was probably one of the best breakfasts I've had in a very long time. I totally recommend it.
(5)Jenna C.
So this is one of those places where you go when you're a) not in a hurry, b) not expecting stellar service, and c) looking for something simple, but still tasty. The special was beignet pancakes, so we had an order of that. I got an omelette with sausage, avocado, kalamata olives, and tomatoes. It was all good - the beignet pancakes were an interesting concept, but pulled off nicely. The food was hot, good, and would have earned this place four stars, had it not been for the service. To be fair, while the service was fairly slow, it was crowded. Our server, while trying hard, seemed just a bit frazzled and was obviously covering more tables than she should have been. Our food took nearly 30 minutes to be dropped, which seemed like it was an excessive amount of time, given a family of five sat next to us, ordered, received food, and paid the check before we were even halfway done. It was also a bit of a rush after we were done - I understand there was a bit of a wait, but there's also the golden rule of "Don't rush the check." I try to give the benefit of the doubt, having been in her situation myself, but when she was standing around at the register chit chatting, it does not bode well for my confidence in the efficiency of the place. Otherwise, it was a nice place to go after sleeping in a bit - laid back vibe, young, hip. Just don't be in a rush if you go.
(3)Marina R.
I'm not a huge breakfast fan but I went here anyways. I got the shepherd pie and it lacked taste and just looked gross over all. The crust was mashed potatoes and just tasted funny all around. I also got a side of fried green tomatoes and I don't understand how you can screw up fried green tomatoes so bad. The green tomatoes themselves lacked taste (no sour at all) and the breading was awful. The sauce that came along with it was orange and had no real taste. I don't understand how food can have no taste but kerbey lane mastered that art. My boyfriend had eggs, pancakes, sausage and bacon. The eggs looked super fake, as if they were in a bag and heated up in the microwave. The pancakes were just super gross. My boyfriend said he liked it but only ate 1/4 of his plate, mmh. Anyways i won't be back. I guess I'll just have to find another 24/7 diner here in Austin.
(1)Nicole E.
It's Kerbey Lane - what else do I have to say?! I had the fried green tomato benedict this time around (usually I get a french toast) and was not disappointed. My chai was delicious, the crowd small (the secret is to go on a weekend after school has let out). While I haven't been to this location before I'm a huge fan of Kerbey Lane and will return to any one of the many locations in the future.
(5)Jessica E.
I used to really love this place, but the quality has gone down as the prices have gone up. The pancake dishes are pretty good, but their killer dish USED to be the kerby queso - I am sad to say that is no more. Every time I have been there in the past year, the price has gotten higher and the queso has become more watery. I keep hoping that the next time I go back the queso will be great again, but it is not so. I think that Magnolia Cafe is a better option, or even iHOP, because for these prices the quality needs to be improved. Yes, they are open 24 hours, so if you go in the middle of the night be prepared to see lots of drunk college kids!
(2)Kyle L.
Okay so I have been here a couple times. Came here with a friend to get some late breakfast. We tried the location up near 38th but it was crazy crowded as I'm sure it is most Saturday afternoons. Surprisingly, the location over by campus wasn't too bad. Parking was a little on the full side but we were able to get a spot after a couple of mins waiting in the lot for someone to leave. In addition, we got a spot at the bar right when we walked in which was pretty awesome. I'm a big breakfast person and I have never been disappointed with the food since coming here. I ended up getting the platter which came with pancakes, fruit, bacon, sausage, and two eggs. The food was solid, can't complain there. Service here was great too. Server was super nice and very helpful. No complaints here. Overall this is a great place to get some quality breakfast. I will definitely be back soon!
(4)Johnny B.
Wow. This place used to be awesome. Sadly, the rumors are true and the place has gone downhill. They actually served me inedible, burnt food carefully hidden under an egg. How could someone let that out of the kitchen?! The waitress was awesome but I can't help but be saddened someone in the kitchen thought they could put that kind of food out. C'mon Kirby!
(1)Cassie A.
Came here by myself for breakfast pretty early. Service was good. I had the fried green tomato benedict. It was good, however I feel like the tomatoes could have been way thicker sliced - on the benedict it was mostly flavors of hollandaise and breading and I only tasted the tomato when I pulled it away and had it by itself. I really like how you got a choice of side - potatoes, fruit, beans, etc. I would definitely come back to this or another location when I am in Austin again.
(4)Delia S.
Kerry Lane is firmly a mediocre experience, but it gets a bit of a pass for how "Austin" it is. Some days, the parts come together beautifully and sometimes they fall flat. I know this, but it doesn't stop me from going back for cheap mimosas, tasty pancakes, cowboy queso and some eggs Francisco. It's an austin staple and so what if she isn't the prettiest, youngest girl at the dance, she's still a good time and sometimes that's all you're looking for.
(4)Debby K.
Skip IHOP please and go here!!!! All 7 of us were happy with our food and service. Pancakes ARE awesome, favorite with the kids. And they are big. This is a local favorite and a tourist goldmine!!!! Good vegan and vegetarian options as well.
(5)Clara S.
This is an Austin-brunch all day-staple. Perfect for UT students when they're hungover or looking for something to eat at 2 in the morning. But be prepared to wait houuurs. This is not a place to go when you're in a rush. Service is not consistent- sometimes you'll get a really cool waiter/waitress, but sometimes they are really rushed and won't want to deal with the large drunk groups. Otherwise the food is great, and the menu is extensive. Great seasonal specials too! Definitely a place to try when you're in town.
(3)Renee G.
This is my favorite place for late night projects. Lots of seating, hardly any electrical sockets though so go with a full battery if you're there to work on your laptop. Pancakes & queso are the bomb.
(4)Audrey B.
I live near Cedar Park and have no problems making the drive to University to go to this specific Kerbey. The staff is quirky, fun, and unafraid to start comversations, and even friendships, with their customers. The food is always good, and they even have seasonal menus so the regulars can try different things now and then. Their own Kerbey queso constantly owns my late night cravings....so it's a good thing they are open 24/7!!
(5)Henry L.
I come to Kerbey Lane Cafe for two reasons: their Kerbey Queso and their pancakes. I'm a big fan of Kerbey Queso and their use of white cheese. It's really the best queso I've ever had. It's bigger than it looks, and around 3 people can share it comfortably. The consistency is perfect as it flows and drips, but clings willingly to the chips. The taste is delicious but not too strong, so you pretty much won't get tired of the taste. It also comes with guacamole and pico de gallo. Need I say more? If you've been to Kerbey Lane and haven't tried the Kerbey Queso at least once, then you're doing it wrong. Their pancakes are on a whole new level. Compared to IHOP/Denny's pancakes, Kerbey Lane pancakes are large and thick, yet maintain a very fluffy consistency. A normal meal for me is sharing the Kerbey Queso and having a short stack (2 pancakes). Kerbey Lane also often switches out their special pancake flavors, so it's always exciting to see what new ones they have. Their original and their Cinnamon Roll pancakes are delicious, but might be a bit sweet for some. Today they had a Salted Chocolate Caramel Pancake, and I can really eat these all day if cavities and diabetes weren't an issue. So good! Many of their non-breakfast entrees and especially their seasonal entrees sounds really delicious, but sadly I haven't taken the opportunity to order them yet. To me, they're a big pricey for the quantity and for a one-person meal. Nevertheless, their menu is innovative and high quality, with dishes that aren't very commonly found in most restaurants. Beware of the Kerbey Lane food coma. I have been a (eager) victim almost every time I eat here!
(4)Natasha P.
I told my parents to go to Kerbey Lane and try it out while they were in Austin. My mother asked the hostess to seat them at a booth, which they said they could not. The next party was seated at a booth, and my mother asked the server if they could move to an open, adjacent booth for her back. The server told her to "be happy and eat the food" as a response. She was very angry and left before they could eat. Will not be returning here.
(1)Natalie C.
There is something on the menu for everyone, here. I've been several times post-renovation (it's a lot cleaner now!) and I've been quite happy. I feel like it's a good place to take out of towners, and people who may not be as adventurous. The queso is solid, the breakfast is solid, and I quite like some of their dishes like the pesto chicken. Great place for a group. Love that it's a 24 hour joint. It's an Austin staple.... what's not to like?
(4)Colin S.
I rarely come to Kerbey Lane Cafe, which is somewhat surprising since I work only about a quarter mile away. This location underwent a major renovation last year into a much brighter, more spacious diner. I'd say it's cleaner too except the floor always seems a little sticky. Parking is still an absolute mess with only room for maybe two dozen cars in the little parking lot. You're probably going to have to grab a spot on the street somewhere, especially if visiting around lunchtime on the weekend. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table on Sunday. I'm not a huge fan of eating breakfast outside of normal breakfast times, so I usually get a sandwich, burger, or one of their entree dishes. The Portobello Panini is a particular favorite of mine although the mushroom can be a little tough sometimes and result in sandwich collapse. As much as I love sweet potato fries, I do not like them at Kerbey Lane. They're always soggy and limp and pale in comparison to other sweet potato fries around Austin. I just stick to the regular fries. The Kerbey Queso is delicious. It's everything that queso should be plus it has guacamole hiding underneath. Be warned that if you order it you're going to completely ruin your appetite, so plan accordingly.
(4)Eric Z.
I ate here recently as a sort of consolation meal out after facing an unfortunately long line at Franklin's. My friends and I started off with the queso and chips, something I now realize was odd to order at 8:30 in the morning, but nonetheless, we all wanted it. The queso comes with a little bit of salsa too, but the salsa is mediocre. The queso was good though, not like, mind blowingly good, but "I'm hungry for queso" good. The chips themselves weren't anything special, I believe they were just from a bag. Our tray was nearly half bottom pieces (the broken up little pieces that are good for nothing that end up at the bottom of the bag), so we had asked for more chips, clearly not wanting the bottom pieces. Well we got more chips alright, but we got our bottom pieces back too. Gah. Time for real food. After much deliberation, I settled on the fried chicken biscuit. It's two biscuit halves, topped with a piece of fried chicken, gravy, and a poached egg. PERFECT. Hard to screw up such a classic. It also came with a side of onions - meh, didn't complement the main attraction well, and I didn't like the taste of these onions. Overall, the food was good, but the price was a little high for what I got. They also have a pancake of the day, which at the time, was cinnamon roll, which sounds amazing, right? Well, I was let down as it didn't really taste like much of a cinnamon roll so much as a regular pancake with a little cinnamon in the batter topped with powdered sugar. :( I'm told this place is a staple of the UT experience by some friends that attend, but I don't see what's so special about it. I'm glad I tried it, and I wasn't necessarily disappointed, but I don't anticipate coming back again.
(3)Molly A.
Its extremely overrated. The food is good at best. What angers me the most is that the chocolate chip pancakes are just pancakes with chocolate on top, not in it. Kerbey is just nice because it's convenient when you come home drunk after downtown and it's one of the only things left open in west campus
(2)Niraj P.
Very awesome diner. Decor is pretty cozy but modern and the staff is pretty friendly and they know the menu pretty well. Everyone enjoyed their food: pancakes are really fluffy and flavorful and the breakfast sides are made well. Portions are also very generous, so you get nice bang for your buck. Prices in general vary from cheap ($6ish for pancakes) to moderate ($10+ for a few items). I had their fried green tomatoes benedict, which was excellent! Their hollandaise was spot on!! While in the past I have found this place just okay, I can says pretty confidently that their breakfast/brunch is solid; maybe be a little more cautious when going for any other meal. I'll keep the review 5 stars because my most recent experience of having brunch was really good. Also, TONS of vegetarian options, so I'm extra pleased :)
(5)Odie O.
It was an early Sunday Morning, I was with the kids down on the drag at about 7:30am. We had just dropped off their mom (Joy C.) and a friend for the 3M Half MArathon, and were headed to meet them at the finish line. Since we had several hours to go, I decided that we needed some morning grub. If you have ever been to Kerbey Lane, and at almost any location, you will get the sense that this is def a locals joint. It just feels like how a diner in Austin should feel like. Kids ordered pancakes and Fruit, I ordered the Cuban Eggs Benedict. Service was nice, and attentive, Everything came out in a timely manner. side note, Later on that day, I went to the 2nd annual Beer and Bacon fest, Kerbey Lane had a booth there, and I met the guy who came up with the recipe for the Breakfast item I had earlier in the day. Thanks Kerbey Lane, you guys ROCK!
(4)Jessica F.
Eggs francisco, holy grail. English muffin topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, avocado, and queso. Hands down the best breakfast I've ever had. The gluten free pancakes were banana pecan and they were HUGE and equally tasty. My husband got the pancake special - the Elvis - with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon. He said they were the best pancakes he's ever had. You don't just come to this kind of cafe once. #addicted
(5)Rachel A.
Aw, this place is kinda cute. Nice servers and consistent experience every time I come. I can appreciate that. I wasn't wowed by the queso or really anything else on the menu, but I dig the $2 mimosas at any time. Woohoo! We'll be back to this cute joint because of its proximity to campus!
(4)Natalie R.
This is by far my favorite Kerbey Lane. Friendly staff, nice waiters who are attentive even if you just sit down for chips and queso. This cafe encompasses everything Austin is. It is fun, quirky, fast and friendly! I always come eat here when I can and I will continue to bring my service here. They have great food all around and I love their queso.
(4)Crystal H.
When I move back to Houston from the summer, I shall miss Kerbey Lane's queso and their pancakes. And the migas. And the sweet potato fries. Those are the items that have stuck in my mind so far. The quinoa salad is boring, but it's hard to make a tasty quinoa salad anyway. Do not get the migas to go, because the tortilla chips will be soggy by the time you get home. And there is a small to go fee, and I feel like the portion is smaller.
(4)Hannah K.
I know this place is best known for its breakfast and especially the pancakes, so I don't think I had the proper Kerbey Lane experience when I came here for dinner. The place is pretty small and casual, lots of sorority girls grouped around tables. I ordered the fish tacos and my boyfriend got the Greek lamb burger. The tacos were fine, I wanted something filling but not too heavy and they delivered. They came with rice and black beans. I guess "standard food" is the best way to describe them. The burger was very well cooked and pretty big. All in all, I regret not getting pancakes because I think they would have wowed me a lot more. I'll be back.
(3)Carolyn N.
Meh. It's good for late night munchies.. And their queso is pretty good.
(2)Angela W.
There are numerous Kerbey Lane Cafe locations within Austin, but the one on Guadalupe is a good place to get your breakfast fix. If you are craving any kind of breakfast meal, including breakfast tacos, this is a good place to go. Constantly packed with UT students around the clock, Kerbey Lane Cafe gives off this hipster feel with a splash of a good diner feeling. With breakfast foods as their specialty, there is a wide range to choose from like pancakes to waffles, breakfast tacos to smores pancakes. Honestly the pancake list is quite amazing and is probably a good choice to pick. I will recommend that everyone should at least try a short stack of pancakes. And to spice up that short stack, you should test out two different pancake flavors. Overall-the campus Kerbey Lane Cafe is a good choice.
(3)Kirsten B.
This place is legendary but to be honest the food isn't that great. I go here and get Queso or breakfast tacos. That's it because nothing else is worth it for me. I'm not a huge breakfast person anyways. Oh well.
(3)Raquel C.
If the service was as good as the food it would of gotten more stars. My compliments to the kitchen staff who i watched worked their asses off making food. i sat at the bar and had a pretty good view. My chicken pesto was delicious you guys! yall keep up the good work! . As for the servers, tisk tisk you guys suck. when i walked in i asked for a table for 1. "you can sit at the bar if you want" "ok, can i get a menu?" "there's one right there" (great, its a dirty menu that was just placed there, thanks) i sat at the bar, no one acknowledged me despite being right next to the POS system and also the couple next to me left. The service gets 2 stars but the food and kitchen staff gets 3.5.
(3)Tom K.
Awesome staff, tons of pancake options. The whole menu was tasty with options for any type of eater. Super friendly staff made me overjoyed I would definitely go back.
(5)Lauren A.
I'm not a big fan of the remodel or the new menu. The breakfast items are as good as ever, but after a while I get bored of getting Eggs Francisco or migas with queso every time. I used to be able to come here and order lots of tasty vegetarian entrees that weren't breakfast. Now there are almost none. To be fair, I don't really like paninis or things with feta, so that cuts out most of their veg entrees. I feel like Kerbey used to have some sort of portabello sandwich or bean tacos or something similar. The French toast used to come with a sliced strawberry. No longer. Also, get off my lawn. I'm cool with the bright green paint, but the new seating, vinyl paneling, and weird white bubbly window things make the restaurant feel sterile, not as cozy as it used to feel. The service is same as ever (friendly, good, underpaid). I guess I'm sad that Kerbey used to be my old standby for decent, inexpensive food, and I'm disappointed by how it's changed.
(3)L G.
Sunday brunch. Ungodly slow. Food keeps coming out of the kitchen. Why not mine?? Yes! Gingerbread pancakes finally delivered to my table. They are delicious! Waiter Forest is working many, many tables. I think they just need more staff.
(1)TJ L.
A young lady on the campus of UT sent us up the street to this great breakfast spot. Breakfast shouldn't be complicated and it isn't at Kerbey Lane. I was visiting with my girlfriend from California and we could not have been treated better. Wifi, pancakes, and eggs! Rainey and Rebecca treated us like royalty! We are looking forward to our next trip during football season.
(5)Long Z.
Their specialty banana pancake is great. I ordered a short stack but I wished that I had ordered a tall stack. My girlfriend even tried to steal some pancake from mine.
(5)Kellie N.
absolutely love Kerby's! I'm not a huge fan of breakfast food, but Kerby has some of the best blueberry pancakes and the cinnamon swirl you can add on the top for FREE makes them that much better. Eggs Francisco was delicious also.
(5)Sahar M.
I am in LOVE with their pancakes. 5 stars for the pancakes. A couple of my friends love their queso. I've also had their enchiladas and sandwiches, which were pretty decent. I'm not sure if they still have their pumpkin mousse pie, but that was straight up heaven. The restaurant itself is average. Pretty good service. Great place to eat late night!
(5)Catherine C.
Had their chicken enchiladas for my first time and I'm not sure if they were really good because I was starving, or because they just WERE. Service was a little rushed, I guess it's understandable since it's always packed. Definitely will go again, and also... Their queso is good, but not great.
(3)Shannon C.
After many of my Austin friends kept mentioning Kerbey Lane, I finally made my way over. I was not disappointed. I love how comforting the food is; one of my personal favorites is the portabello panini with sweet potato fries. Both times I have gone, there hasn't been much of a wait, which has been nice. To be honest, I feel like this place is a little overhyped, but the food was definitely good, and I will definitely be back!
(4)Winnie C.
*breakfast and queso review only I've been to Kerbey many many times and went pretty much every Friday for awhile my freshmen year. Pros: fantastic & large pancakes, open 24hrs, variety of options Cons: kinda pricey, long waits, slow service, inconsistent I haven't gotten much other than the Kerbey queso and their pancakes. I've gotten their omelets twice, and they're alright, pretty standard. The pancakes are my favorite thing about Kerbey and the reason why I go. Without them I would probably not go ever. Very fluffy and not oily. They have a different flavor of pancake and gluten free pancake every week. I've had the lemon poppyseed, which was topped with icing, amazing. The rocky road, very good with almonds, chocolate chips, and marshmallow goo on top. Both pumpkin and gingerbread, which were probably my least favorite of all I've tried. I love both pumpkin and gingerbread products, but their pancakes weren't that flavorful and kind of on the drier side. I've had their chocolate chip, original, and cinnamon roll as well. Without a doubt, cinnamon roll is their best pancake with chocolate chip as a close second. If cinnamon roll is offered GET IT. I cannot praise enough about it. Original had a good flavor as well, very simple and vanilla esque. The chocolate chips/squares/pieces they use in their pancakes are very good quality. Overall, the pancakes are priced decently because of the size. They're huge. Kerbey queso, honestly overrated in my opinion. I love the idea of guac and queso, but it's overpriced. 8.50 can buy me another meal somewhere. Not the best I've ever had either, queso wise. I've had it ~4 times, and don't get me wrong it's been very good every time, although slightly too cold. I prefer my queso warm. Would recommend it if you have a big group, then you could split the cost. Another note, the breakfast platter comes with two eggs and choice of meat or fruit. Their eggs and bacon are sometimes inconsistent. I've gotten rather over cooked eggs and bacon before. Service can be really slow, and sometimes the wait is ridiculous, because a lot of people do come here. It can be a long wait to seat groups, because your whole party needs to be here before you can be seated.
(4)GT W.
Type. . . . . . . . . . ..Late Night Diner Location. . . . . . . ..Excellent, Downtown Prices. . . . . . . . . ..Medium to Cheaper Beer Selection. . ...Unknown, I think maybe they have something interesting? Food Level. . . . ....Medium Staff. . . . . . . . . . ..Friendly, On Point Noise Level. . . . ...Medium to Loud Décor. . . . . . . . . ..Bright Fluorescent White, Lime Good for Kids. . ...Sure, before 11pm Parking. . . . . . . ...Private Lot Cash Only. . . . . ..No Recommended. ..For late night drunk food? yes Comments: It's a 24 hour diner, but the food here is actually quite tasty. I had an eggs benedict that included pancakes instead of English muffins. Hearty and quite tasty. Everything else was upgraded typical diner food with some interesting savory pancakes. Giant menu has just about everything you can imagine. Nice that UT has this place available to them.
(3)Tai F.
I went there once with some friends. Food was great, especially their queso dip/chips. Never thought a coffee shop would actually have foods... (I had friends who ran coffee shops elsewhere and they served food but not diner food). On the other hand the environment left a little to be desired. The floor is SLIPPERY in the restaurant itself. So anyone going in make sure you walk carefully because I've slipped a few times myself. This is only at the UT location, other locations do not have this problem. This issue needs to be addressed because someone could actually fall and they could end up suing the place. Can't blame them about the kitchen though... the place is so busy that it's hard enough to keep up.
(3)Silly S.
came here last night for some late night grub and it was pretty busy. i got the chicken benedict which was mediocre. Upon finishing my meal i noticed a cockroach on the wall of the booth i was sitting in (it was about 1 foot away from my now empty plate). I pointed it out when the waitress came to grab my plates and she brutally smashed it and walked away nonchalantly. No thanks Kerbey Lane.
(1)Michael K.
Wow! Here with the family (wife and 3 kids) after a long day looking at colleges and swimming at Barton Springs pool. We ordered the Eggs Francisco, Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes with Cinnamon Swirl added, and Crispy Chicken Benedict - all for dinner. Everybody was knocked out with the quality of food and combination of flavors. Most of us got the special pancake of the day, Raspberry Chiffon - Amazing!! Our server was friendly, fast and helpful. We will be back as soon as possible!
(5)Fizza S.
I really don't know how I didn't end up here sooner but it definitely didn't disappoint! I ordered the French toast and it was soooo good... I'm not too big on breakfast food but I loved how it wasn't too sweet and just the perfect taste.. You can also choose to add on icecream to the French toast which sounded heavenly.. Their queso is a lot sweeter than at other places (I'm still loyal to taco deli queso) but I can see why people like it. Also put this together with them being open 24/7 and you can see why people frequent it so much. Perfect comfort food!
(4)Mahesh B.
There are quite a few vegan options. I love their vegan pancakes and vegetarian enchiladas. Awesome place, always busy and best of all, all day breakfast platter.
(4)Samantha Q.
To start off, my husband and I have been recommended by several of our friends to check out this place. This morning we had the time and went to check it out. Limited parking and there was a 30 min wait to be expected on a Sunday morning, nonetheless we were able to walk right in and sit at the bar. Our waitress was Sabrina and she was top notch. A person sitting beside me got the Kerbey Scramble and it looked so good I got it as well, it was hands down the best breakfast I have ever eaten at a restaurant. My husband got a platter with the Raspberry Chiffon pancakes and he LOVED them. We will 100% be back and be taking our family when they come into town next!
(5)Jennyfer N.
To clarify, I've lived in Austin for 10 years and I've been going to Kerbey Lane for the entirety of that time. This was the first one I went to and I loved it before the remodel. Now, it looks so cookie cutter and unoriginal. I can barely stand to come to this location because of all the memories I had of the place are cheapened by the new design and the crappy service. Let's not beat around the bush. The service at all of these restaurants kind of...suck. It's an eclectic group of people that staff these establishments. Some are ornery, some are grumpy, some just don't care, and others resent your presence it seems. Honestly though, I come back for the food and this location, aside from the original, are the closest locations for me to get my pancake fix on (go local, don't go to IHOP). The last couple of times I have been here, one thing has been consistent outside of the food being good. The service sucks. Long wait times, long periods of time before you get your bill, negligent staff who do not refill the drinks, food left and no check in. It's just all sad really because these are such easy fixes. I can't support your whole local ideals, fresh food philosophy if I am deterred because it takes you forever to get any of said good food out or for me to have my bill paid. Get your act together or else I'm going to mistake you for an Asian owned and operated establishment. At least in those places, you get your food delivered more quickly albeit with gruffness.
(2)Wendy K.
Oh man, I know this is an Austin must do but the breakfast was a terrible! The coffee was so bad we could not drink it and the waiter agreed!! At least he took them off the bill and offered us juice at no charge. The fruit is a joke. Rough cut and chunky pears and apples with an orange slice. We ordered egg white omelets and there was just nothing to them expect a lot of cooking spray or oil. I tried the biscuit which was way too dense and no jelly on the table, and we tried the special Benoit pancake which was way to sweet to eat. I left hungry! I am over the Kerbey Lane experience. Magnolia was better.
(3)Lila R.
Have had a few bad experiences here lately. Some rude/inattentive wait staff. Also, every time i eat here i always look at my receipt and see about a million additional charges. It generally makes my whole experience end unpleasantly. They also changed the menu to remove a bunch of their entree salads, including my favorite one. Its just made it harder for me to eat healthier here.
(3)david r.
Who would have thought a 24 hour cafe could serve up such delicious food? And with truly friendly, attentive service :-) Believe what they say about the fried avocado tacos.
(5)Wes O.
Friendly service and a late night menu that works. Plenty of options. For me and two of my friends driving through town, it was a good place for me to meet with them and for dessert and caffeine. The apple pie a la mode was a pleasant surprise. Good ice cream, warm pie, and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon made for a good late dessert. Will be back to try more stuff...
(4)Brendan C.
I've been here so many times since I live near campus. The menu is a wide and diverse selection from American to Tex-Mex, but the staples here are the Kerbey Queso and the pancakes. The pancakes are huge and filling, and the queso is delicious - pricey, but delicious. This is a 24/7 cafe that seems to be always busy, and for good reason. In my opinion, this place serves the best food on the drag; easy to determine since most of the restaurants on the drag are horrible. Other than pancakes and queso, I would suggest the sandwiches which are pretty good, David's Enchilada's if you're up for super-filling Tex-Mex, and the huge omelets if you're in for some breakfast food. The food is seasoned pretty well, and the portions are generally large enough to be filling. The burgers are decent, the fries are a bit disappointing, so I'd substitute those for some other sides if I were you. I usually get the pancakes to go even if I'm stuffed, because the pancakes are great microwaved; just make sure to drown them in some syrup before you take your leave. If you've already been here quite a few times, you'll know that they have a seasonal items menu that they come out with almost semesterly to try to keep things fresh for those who come back often. I'd give some of those items a shot, and hope you ordered well! Happy Eating!
(3)Alexandra W.
This place gets 2 stars because of a few major factors: 1) It is not as good as the other Kirbey Lane locations. The original location just has better food, better ambiance and better service. 2) The remodel made is feel less cozy and more "we're hip and young and students give us your money". 3) This is a problem at all the Kirbey Lane locations. They changed their menu so that it is no longer as veggie-friendly as they used to be, raised their prices and reduced the portions! That's not cool. Their veggie-chorizo quesadilla used to be a great deal, and now it is half the size, the same price and no longer comes with free chips and salsa cause it's on the breakfast menu. Like I said, not cool. I give the Kirbey Lane on Kirbey Lane 3 stars, but this one annoys me, so 2 for you.
(2)Joel D.
Food is always awesome. I had the chicken fried chicken. Wowzers. The seating needs to be fixed though. I had a lot of trouble enjoying my meal while the person in the booth behind me constantly pressed agains the back of the seat, and against my back.
(4)Aaron G.
So this place is always open, and the wait staff has been friendly enough. Last time we sat in a booth where I could see the floor of the kitchen. ACK! the floor looked like a crime scene. My friend and I both had gluten-free pancakes... which seemed to stay with us until 9pm! Both of us skipped lunch, and then for supper we chatted and realized we both still felt like there was a lead brick in our stomaches. My friend's fries where cold. They promptly replaced them though, and where very apologetic and polite about it. Though they offer gluten-free things, they do have the warning that there is still the possibility of cross contamination with flour. I suspect these pancakes are cooked on the same part of the grittle the glutenous ones are, and with that said if you have a serious allergy, please follow the advice on the menu and avoid them! Everything about the coffee is piping hot and delicious. I know Kirby Lane is an Austin thing that everyone revers, but for me this place is just a bunch if hipsters serving "ok" food. The amount of arm sleeve tattoos and piercing in the waitstaff's head doesn't make the food any better, or appetising.
(2)Steve C.
Service is great. Art/ambiance is awesome, and the food is fantastic. Recommend pancakes, queso, and the Eggs Francisco.
(5)Rose R.
Always have terrible service and the food is overpriced. Girl decides to flirt with me and sits I front of me... Very income table. Oh and on top of that messes up the whole order. Could be a glitch but 4th time here and always horrible experience...
(1)Scott L.
A highly touted Austin staple, this location feels more industrial with a remodel from a lovely wood cabin feel on my last visit to a more industrial turquoise vinyl, plastic frog green and ugly white tile look. Yet it still sits right off campus so the clientele provides an interesting mix of gruff laborers, think out loud homeless, think out loud yuppies and cute students. The original location on 38th Street was our goto 24 spot back in college, for pancakes and studying with vegetarian options and a hip crowd. This location seems more ordinary, but the waitress was friendly and solicitous, a rarity now in an Austin sea of beautiful 20 something service industry workers and the meals are affordable, in the $10 range, and reasonably healthy.
(3)DeAnnica T.
Maybe I didn't order the correct thing but I didn't enjoy my meal at all. We were seated quickly but over all we left disappointed.
(2)David G.
Kerbey lane had it's hits and misses. The major fail was the crappiest tortillas I have ever eaten. They were actually stale. I had the Cochinita Pibil which is pork roasted in a achiote pepper...and the dam thing was still flavorless...and really really greasy. Their pumpkin pancakes on the other hand were the bomb. Tasted like warm pumpkin bread. Loved the whipped butter but what is with the log cabin like fake syrup? If you are nearby and are hungry I would try the pancakes but I would not go out of my way to eat here and I would stay away from their Mexican monstrosities.
(3)Poojee S.
They are amazing!! Open whenever you want to eat (always!) Never had better packages. Love their experiments with the vegan pancakes! My favorite - portobello panini! The fresh pesto, the succulent portobello are to die for. Simple and tasteful, it always makes me feel good :) The noise level is a tad high. But, who needs words to communicate when the food on your plate says 'Awesome!'
(4)Jimmy N.
When you walk into Kerbey, you see a diner similar to one you would see in a movie. I've been here multiple times, but I'm not super ecstatic about the food here. It is good, but I feel like you can get a much better deal elsewhere. All of the food here is really expensive for the amount of food that you get. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes the last time I went here, and it was good! But it was also pretty expensive for pancakes. I also really like the Turkey and Avocado Sandwich. The service here is pretty normal, not awful and not amazing. Going to Kerbey Lane Cafe is a pretty great place if you want to get a midnight snack near campus. I definitely recommend Kerbey Lane Cafe. TL;DR: Appearance: 6/10 Food: 8/10 Service: 6/10 Price: $7 for pancakes; $10-13 for a meal Recommendations: Buttermilk pancakes and Turkey Avocado Sandwich Side note: If you are willing to drive, I personally think that Magnolia Cafe is a much better option.
(3)Sophia T.
The service at this location is never very good because it's all college kids working overnight, and I really don't have a problem with lame service at a 24/7 place but the food just keeps getting worse. Did you know that you have to specify real eggs or they will feed you non-eggs (I don't even want to know the ingredients)?! My boyfriend ordered off their seasonal menu, some fried chicken with tomatoes thing which disappointed him. My Kerby Scramble didn't taste like much of anything and the side of fruit was tiny compared to the huge mound of tasteless home-fries which were my other side. The queso was runny and lumpy- usually it's a viable alternative to Mag-Mud (Magnolias' cafe queso). The chips do taste like they come from a bag, and it's hard to find bad corn chips in Austin. We had come here specifically for pie for my boyfriend, and ordered the apple. It tasted like a grocery store previously- frozen pie, my boyfriend hated it and he is hard to disappoint when it comes to dessert. To save the meal I ordered strawberry cheese cake which was EVEN WORSE. It didn't taste like cheesecake at all, or it was dyed red and had for sure been taken out of a box. They didn't even try to disguise it with whipped cream. I have been coming here for years for midnight meals and I guess I have to switch entirely to Magnolias or suffer another disappointing- and expensive for the quality- night! Magnolias never fails for sure.
(1)M S.
The food here is to die for good! The mimosa is a little small. Over all great local spot
(4)Julia S.
Read about this place on yelp and decided to try it out! Such a good decision! Was looking for a great place for breakfast and I found it. Loved the Migas and cheap mimosas!! Definitely recommend for breakfast.
(4)Joe M.
Just had a great breakfast here . I ate the gluten free pancakes with a avocado omelet. They also had gluten free bread. It was perfect. Service was good and it was a great location. Lots of room
(4)Rosy H.
Yes, the Kerbey queso is amazing, but what I love most about Kerbey Cafe is the breakfast food. The pumpkin pancakes were some of the best I've ever had, and the French toast hardly requires any maple syrup, just because they have the perfect amount of sweetness. I don't blame it for being an Austin favorite, and, in typical Austin fashion, parking was terrible, and the wait was awful, but worth it for the really great food.
(4)Theresa N.
Wow, I got not one, but two emails from Colton which ran the gamut to apologizing for the shoddy service to scolding for 'passing judgement on everyone'. WTF Colton, I'm reviewing, which means I do judge my experience...and my experience would happen to include people that serve me in a restaurant. It is MY review and I can complement AND write about anything disappointing that happens. If you don't want meh reviews, don't render meh services. Anyway, I will never return not because of how much KL has changed, it's because Colton is an a-hole.
(3)Yajaira Z.
It was dirty especially the restroom smelled horrible and we were seated near it. The food wasn't as great as I remembered.
(2)Joshua L.
RECAP: the tip I left last night -- "my party of 10 was waiting at least 15 minutes after being told "5 minutes", then I look over to see a table for 10 completely set with cutlery AND water... I ask the incompetent host if that's our table, and he says yes, but we need to "wait for our server to be ready". after spending about 15 seconds attempting to comprehend how much sense that does NOT make, I ask if we can just sit and look at the menu while we wait... unacceptable customer service. I sure hope the food is better." The food was actually OK, which is really the only reason this review gets 2 stars instead of one. I'm not really going to talk about the food, but I got blueberry pancakes that were a little too well-done on one side. To add to my disappointments early on in the service, our waiter re-filled everyone's water ONCE, and conveniently filled up everyone's water EXCEPT for mine. What? I was in the middle of the table, and our waiter filled up everyone else's water, looked around, then left. Again, what? Additionally, he messed up almost half of the orders, either forgetting to bring something or bringing out something wrong. This may not be entirely his fault, but since we didn't deal directly with the cooks, I don't know where else to put the blame. I am also still left clueless as to how our host could be so inconsiderate and incompetent in asking us to continue waiting in the lobby while our table was set and the water had beaten us there. He also had no idea how to count to 11, which was the number of people in our party, and counted to 10 instead and gave us that many menus and chairs, leaving us to scavenge for an extra chair and menu. To top it off, our table was situated literally right in front of the door, so that every time someone came in, the temperature at our table plummeted about 10 degrees for a few seconds. It truly makes me sad to update a review and not have an improved experience, especially since I know the owners/managers use Yelp to gather input and respond to their customers. To the owners/managers, I'm sorry that I am putting this burden of such criticism on you, but I would legitimately be interested in having a discussion with you about the competency of your hosts. If I weren't with a large group of friends, I probably would have outright left because the person that's supposed to be the face of the business and the first person we interact with was so incompetent.
(2)Jan E.
Kerbey Lane is a favorite for breakfast. Often crazy busy. Today for breakfast on a Monday morning not so much. They are known for (not necessarily in this order) 1) pancakes, 2) being open 24/7, being in Austin. Try the specials.
(4)Vidhi S.
The queso and David's Enchilada's are amazing. Veggie options available!
(5)Talib A.
The service can be pretty lazy, as can the food itself. I guess it has upswings, but generally every time I came here in college and after I kind of regretted it. Queso is good, it just isn't really that great overall compared to other diners in town. The Kerbey lane on Kerbey ln street is far far superior. If your looking for a campus diner, head over to Starseeds near Dean Keaton which is also not perfect, but not nearly as bland as this place.
(2)D C.
The food here is amazing. This is not diner food. I got the tacos pastor. I was hesitant to get tacos at a diner. But they were amazing. My husband got something on their fall menu. Oh my goodness both items were great. The coffee was really good. We also got hummus and pita bread. The hummus was awesome. There is a lot of things to chose from. But nothing is typical. It all has better ingredients than what you would normally find at a diner. I love the ambience. There is art work all over the place from local artist. It's very clean. The servers seem so happy to work there which is always a good sign. They were singing and dancing. The music rocks too. I heard Janis Joplin there. Our server had only been there for 2 days and he was such a sweetheart. He was very attentive. I wish I got his name. He just moved to Austin from Seattle. There is not one bad thing I can say about this place. I wish I lived closer. I live in San Antonio. We don't have funky diners with non traditional diner items on the menu.
(5)D M.
Wow. I cannot believe the difference in service I received. It might have been because the my servers were new and in training, but they were very attentive and even gave me a refill on my soda to go! Awesome. I tried the jambalaya this time from the tomato summer menu. It was different from what I am used to. I had never tried it before, but I liked it! $15 for one person is a bit pricey for me, but I will be back.
(4)Dawn D.
Great atmosphere, food and service. The orange spice gluten free pancakes were unlike any pancake I've ever had.
(5)Hayley M.
Food here is just awesome. When I am in Austin, this is where I love to eat :):):)
(5)Marie M.
If you're in Austin, you have to give this place a try! $2 mimosas and delicious omelets! The service is wonderful and its in a good location. Unique, yummy and trendy. Request Severiano as your server. He's the best.
(5)Mackenzie O.
I cannot resist the urge to order the Kerbey Queso every time I come here. The secret guac in the middle is delish. Also, the David's enchiladas are fantastic. Staff is super nice and chill. Love the atmosphere here!
(5)Tom N.
Tons of reviews already, so here's my short take Came here late after catching a show. Great place for pancakes. Ate a special, beignet pancakes. Basically a regular pancake with powdered sugar. Drowned it in syrup, ate a side of bacon, and had a bottle of Shiner with it. Try doing that at IHOP or Denny's.
(4)Medvedi P.
Sorry for 1 star but the food was really bad, the latte tasted like they have run a keurig cup the second time and mixed it with half cold milk. The house fries were crunchy in the middle and our waiter was just tired I guess. Yeah...
(1)Albert K.
The quintessential Austin Diner, anyone that's ever lived on campus can attest that Kerbey Lane is an awesome place to start your day, or end your night. Their menu offers a great variety of tex-mex inspired dishes, as well as most diner staples. A lot of my friends love the migas here, but in my mind, Kerbey Lane will always be associated with awesome pancakes! Late night or early morning, their hearty Denver omelet with a side of pancakes always hits the spot for me. I only stop at this location nowadays when walking down memory lane, but in case you're not familiar with the area, this location will be full of college kids, so adjust your expectations accordingly. They've renovated since I was a student, it's far less divey than back then, but the great atmosphere remained intact.
(4)Phillip E.
I recently had a rad experience at this Kerbey Lane that I simply can't keep to myself. Early one Saturday morning, I came in with a friend for coffee and a short stack. The waiter (Forrest?) commented on my Baylor cap and mentioned he was from Waco. We had a funny conversation and he was helpful in taking our orders. A few minutes later he asked if we were in a hurry. We said no, and he said that they accidentally burnt my pancakes, and they want to make a new batch. This was no problem to me because it really wasn't that long of a wait. I get the pancakes, enjoy them, and then Forrest comes back and says that because they re-did the pancakes and because of our Waco connection, the tab would be taken care of. Shocked, I thanked him immensely. How awesome is that? Moral of the story: Go to this Kerbey Lane Cafe because the service is excellent. And, come on, good pancakes and good coffee.
(4)Savannah S.
Been here a few times and the food is very good. Love the Chilaquiles, the natural sausage too, and the Queso is very good. I wasn't impressed by the biscuits and gravy I have to say, but everything else yes. Service is always very nice as well.
(4)Yanlin C.
Crispy Chicken Egg Benedict is the best!!!!
(4)Emma J.
Always good for a late night sobering meal.
(4)Lauren I.
Meh....that's all I really have to say about this Kerbey...I came here regularly as I went through my studies at UT and I always remember being excited to go and then being slightly disappointed when I left. I just went back tonight after a victorious night of skeeball with my teammate. We were craving some nostalgic kerbey queso...*sigh* What the h*ll happened to this place??? It used to be dirty hipster chic...which sort of went with the place. Meh food, with meh service ...but not...it's just so..sterile....so "look-how-cool-and-futuristic-and-hip-we-are".... I was not digging it. But yes, overall....this place has gone even farther downhill than it was when I went to UT just a few years ago. And I swear they've made the queso smaller (which is bull considering the price has gone up!). Fools! I'll be back, but it'll only be out of sheer convenience/late night... PS. And this may just be my unpopular opinion...but their pancakes are bleck....I'd almost rather have IHOP pancakes :O *SCANDAL!*
(2)Monica S.
This our late night place to go to. Enjoy the food. And usually we get really good service. Like the atmosphere and breakfast foods. Can't forget the kerbey Queso- good stuff! Would totally recommend and/or take a friend there to grab a coffee and some pancakes.
(4)Tasha C.
Let me start by saying that the ONLY reason I went to this location is because I had some friends in town attending an event on campus. It was easier for me to go to them than the other way around. The location by me on William Cannon has food that is equally good but WAY better service on multiple levels. The only good experience we had (besides the company of each other) was the food and the fact that our coffee cups stayed full (but not because of our waitress). After being told that we couldn't be seated until our whole party arrived (my toddler and I arrived early), they sat a small group of people who were meeting other people that were clearly already seated. Nice. Strike one. When we did get seated, they put us in the path of the drafty winter air as people came and left. I requested a different table and they told us to wear our jackets. Awesome. Strike two. Cue the waitress who clearly hates her job and was wearing a cardigan that she was holding closed with her arms crossed, so you couldn't even see her apron or name tag indicating that she was in fact our waitress as she just stared at us. To top it off, she looked at my child like a pile of dirt. I could already see where this was going. Not quite a strike three... but getting there. As predicted, after we got our check, we didn't see our waitress for about 20 minutes. I guess she assumed we were all leaving cash? By the way, you can only keep a toddler entertained for so long when there's no more food on the table. We had to get the hostess to track her down, which she did very reluctantly. Seriously? The place was now PACKED and they're not even interested to clear a table so someone else can be seated? Strike three. I'm done. We paid and we left. I generally leave more than 20% when I have my daughter with me but not this time. I also try to help clean up her mess a bit but I didn't do that either. Why should I help a waitress who clearly didn't want to help me? There's a reason why actors make better waiters and I won't be returning to this location for a while. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that this place has frequent rotation in staff according to the other reviews.
(2)Claudia G.
This was by far best breakfast in Austin. Must try pumpkin Paris platter. Pumpkin French toast was the bomb!
(5)Orlando S.
First off, aside from the queso I've never had anything other than breakfast items. That being said. Went in last night for some late night eats. The queso was cold and the chips were crushed. Cinnamon Roll pancakes were fantastic. I subbed a biscuit for the fruit just to taste one and it was a little hard. The sausage was a little dry as well. The scrambled eggs and bacon were good. I tasted my friends Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast and it was delicious and the service was solid. Add a star for the 12.00 carafe of mimosas.
(4)Amanda M.
Personally, I'm a Magnolia Cafe girl, so this is why this place gets 4 stars... suckas!!! But it's still very good and open 24/7, yippie! I have to give it major props for splitting checks so nicely (see pic) because Magnolia Cafe DOESN'T SPLIT CHECKS! SHAME ON YOU! This review was not meant to hate on Magnolia, actually quite the opposite, maybe I'm gonna become a Kerbey Lane-r. Just kidding. I'll stop talking to myself now. Anyway we came around here close to 11 p.m. and I was full but wanted to order something anyway. My brain was actually in control instead of my stomach (strange) so I ordered something light... Allies Vegan Sandwich! Which was quite good. I could have made it, yes, but do I have spinach, sprouts, or avocado in my kitchen? no. So I'd say it was worth my money. The bread was super crispy and it was just very very good and light. I was a vegan for a dinner! Just kidding I had queso, it was yummy too. haha! But this is where Magnolia wins... Mag Mud comes in a MUCH larger bowl for about two dollars less with salsa ($7.50 vs. $9.50). And when you're a serious queso fan, that means a lot. Our waitress was very good at whispering but she managed to bring us everything we needed! So the service was great. Also I love Magnolias pancakes, but this place looks like it can serve up some mean ones, so I'll try that next time :)
(4)Kimberly G.
Stopped by for brunch before we went back home to Dallas. The place was super packed and the wait was around half an hour. Food was good, was priced decently, and I'm a big fan of breakfast, so this place was one of my favs while in Austin.
(4)Jonathan K.
The Guadalupe location is an overrated and overpriced icon. Apathetic waiters galore, the color lime green attacking your eyes, and more often than not, the smell of mop water and bleach lingers with the mix of subpar breakfast food. That'll be $12 please! People who continue to go here are under the facade of convenience and trendiness Kerbey Lane has relied on.
(2)Keith P.
I came to Kerbey Lane Café twice during my visit to Austin, Texas, and this place was absolutely marvelous-- I felt very welcomed by the servers, and every dish I tried tasted delicious. It reminded me of how the Peace Pit was to the show 90210 because I can see it being a hotspot for UT students who are looking for a place to hang out. Their sandwiches are delicious. Their fries are crisp, and their omelettes are topped with fresh ingredients. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a diner with good food and quick service.
(4)Jacki E.
The best thing about Kerbey Lane has to be the sweet potato fries! They are absolutely amazing and I can eat them all day. When ever you go you must order the "Kerbey Queso." Its a delicious starter that should not be missed! I always get the Chicken Pesto Panini, it has yet to fail my taste buds and I! Kerbey Lane is also open 24 hours, so its perfect for a late night dinner!
(4)Kelly R.
The Eggs Francisco plate is pretty bomb, but I was pretty unimpressed with the fruit on the side. We didn't try any other sides, but I'm guessing it'd be safer to go with something like the home fries. We also ordered a Kerbey Lane Combo platter, which was fine but not too impressive. The apple whole wheat pancakes weren't my favorite, but hey, it's a good deal, and everything tastes better after 2 AM.
(3)George L.
Back again to have some awesome pancakes. Summer menu this trip so I'll be ordering the Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast platter. The meal was quite good this time around and there were no surprises. I think I'll probably try the pancakes next time just to be able to compare.
(4)Jordan J.
I was so happy this morning. It must have been because its friday but the staff was super great today (I've been in before when the staff hasn't been so great). Jordan my waitress was so sweet and when I told her I didn't like the watermelon gazpacho special she brought me a new soup the chicken tortilla for free and it was super good! My coffee cup was never empty and my eggs Francisco was nice and cheesy and hot and yummy. Great service today and good food
(4)Kristina L.
I always like to come here when I'm in Austin. Im a huge brunch fan so this place makes brunch a little special for me. This trip I ordered a Turkey Avocado Sandwich with sweet potato fries. The fries and the possible "aioli" sauce were awesome. The sandwich was just a little boring to me considering they do a lot of cool stuff with their other menu items. Just lettuce, meat, avocado and tomato. That day a new employee was being trained and he seemed to be pretty good. Way to pick-em Kerbey Ln! Looking for brunch, come here.
(4)Steve B.
Kerbey Queso was pretty awesome. Had french toast with eggs and sausage. Decent breakfast dinner food. I would say slightly above average dinner food. Staff was very nice, and courteous though!
(3)Darae C.
This was the first place my friend took me when I got off the plane for my trip to Austin. I was a little bummed we weren't going for BBQ or Mexican, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The eatery was very busy both times I went (Sunday morning and Thursday around noon) so the service was a bit slow, but the food did not disappoint. Tons of the dishes I saw come out looked good and I saw many finished plates leaving. The portions were priced fairly and the place was a mashup of a college hangout and a family diner. I had a Southwestern steak salad for lunch one day and the sausage gravy with biscuits for brunch. My steak salad was FANTASTIC. Biscuit dish was meh, but that's mostly because they used bacon gravy and not sausage gravy. All around solid place and I would for sure be back for in the future.
(4)Jasmine B.
As a recently-graduated student, this Kerbey Lane location is my home-base Kerbey, something every Austin resident should have. When I don't know what I want or where to go, Kerbey Lane has me covered and I have always loved their quality, local ingredients and evolving menu. My favorite thing to get is -- SURPRISE! -- the queso. It is the best I have ever had, will have, or hope to have in the future. If there is better queso, I don't want it. I get the queso at breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or drinks. It doesn't matter. There is always time for this queso. So, if Kerbey Lane is such a stand-by and Austin must-have/treasure, why am I only giving four stars? Well, let's talk about it. Kerbey Lane changed their prices last year, and I find myself going there less and less because, honestly, it just isn't a great value anymore. The queso itself is $8, and for chips and dip, that is a little high. It was always a little more expensive than other queso -- because it is the best queso in town, but I find myself more reluctant to chill here with friends for a snack. Also, the rest of the menu is also more expensive. Most of the more complex entrees price for closer to $20. Again, I'm not saying these prices can't be justified, but eating at Kerbey used to be a great value and it isn't anymore. That's a disappointment. But, the real reason my opinion of Kerbey has been downgraded from "amazing" to "pretty good" is because the vibe isn't the same anymore. They changed the decor in all locations to this off-kitsch, 60's chic, aluminum and green motif that feels sort of yuppy duppy and no longer part of the quintessential shabby-chic essence that Austinities crave. It just feels weird eating in your sweatpants here, and it used to be the kind of place where that happened all the time and I supported that. Casual Austin slacker for life, baby. But the food is great and it probably always will be! Come here for a great meal made with real, wholesome ingredients.
(4)A P.
I'll start by saying expect to wait a little while for seating and for food but trust me when I say it is worth the wait. It's understandable why this place is always packed. People know good food when they find it. We had the Migas with a chipotle sauce and the Kirbey Lane Combo with blueberry pancakes. The Migas was excellent with just a hint of spicyness. The outstanding food item would be the blueberry pancakes. I don't recall ever having pancakes that were more light, fluffy, mouth watering and tasty. I highly recommend eating here. I know i will definitely be back!
(5)Ryan B.
I don't understand how people cannot enjoy Kerbey. It's close to campus. I can roll out of bed and get Kerbey queso at 3 am or pancakes at 2 pm. It fits into the campus lifestyle. Don't come here expecting fine dining. I will give them props for the remodeling though. Before the remodeling, everything always felt sticky and uncleanly. Now it has a pretty fresh updated look, but the same 24 hour service. I always grab the Breakfast Platter in the mornings. Why not? It's 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and some bacon for 5.75. C'mon.. that wont break the bank anywhere. Bonus points if you try the gingerbread pancakes. Always a genius decision. I can't see myself ever turning my back on Kerbey. It's a part of campus in my opinion. The only negative is the parking. They need like 10 more spaces. It's so packed every time I head over there.
(5)Adam P.
Really good! Really fresh! Good service! Vibrant atmosphere. Vegan-friendly menu. Highly recommend. My only recommendation is add turkey bacon and sausage to the menu.
(5)Omar A.
I've been coming here for over 5 years now, always new people working, new managers, and lots of douche bags. #1 douche bag ( taller white guy long nasty beard, and really long stinky hair ). This guy seated my party of 6, I came in a little later on a sat night, this guy approaches me and says HEY! YOU CANT SIT HERE. I said dude these are my friends, I just grabbed a chair. He said NO! YOU NEED TO WAIT... I Said wait? They'll be done by the time I'm in the next session, that makes no sense. HIS DOUCHE BAG RESPONSE.... YOU HAVE 2 OPTIONS : EITHER YOU LEAVE OR I CALL THE COPS... I was like call the cops for what? hahaha DOUCHE BAG!!! My friend tells me to leave and take our $$$ else where. Later that night, my group told me how bad of an attitude this DICK HEAD had that whole night and how he was real moody and rude. I go in a week later with a friend, sit down order, chit chat, I see douche bag with nasty beard IN THE KITCHEN ON TOP OF YOUR PLATES FOLKS... I don't say anything ( maybe he had a bad night whatever) Next thing you know, this guy goes to the front of the place meets 2 cops shakes hands with them fist pound it with the other guy ( I Guess he gives them favors ) and this NASTY LONG BEARD DOUCHE BAG comes to my table and tells me I need to leave with the cops next to him. The cops ask for my ID write down my info and says ( if you come within a year you will be arrested with dwi ) HAHAHAHAHA DWI? for sitting at kerbey lane really? I say ok grab my phone keys and leave the place. POINT IS... YOU LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER... ONCE I FIND OUT THIS EMPLOYEES NAME I WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GET HIM OUTTA THERE. THE MANAGERS SHOULD OF WALKED UP.... ASKED ME WHAT IS UP AND WHAT THE DEAL IS.... THE COPS SHOULD OF TOOK MY SIDE OF THE STORY.. BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER I GUESS HE DOES THE COPS FAVORS ;) Kerbey check your employees, tell them to shave or trim their nasty hippie long hair, we don't want that shit in our food, plus it looks very unprofessional. MAGNOLIA HERE WE COME!
(1)Victoria W.
After a long night and not having many options to grab a snack, I decided it was finally time to try Kerbey Lane's Queso! My friends tell me it's the best they've ever had, so I've be meaning to try it. It was pretty pricey. I did not expect to be spending so much on my late night snack. But the queso was delicious. It had guacamole on top of it and peppers in it too. The chips paired with it were fresh! Probably not going to be a regular snack for me, but it was worth trying!
(3)Karmelo N.
Best drunk eats in Austin, TX.
(5)Lola L.
This is my second time visiting a Kerby Lane location and it was totally worth it. I actually ordered to go bc this location isn't dog friendly. I ordered their delicious vanilla pancakes that I had been craving. And as I was thinking all I needed was butter! Lol Awesome pancakes!!!
(5)Atul M.
Amazing food.. Had Rocky Road pancakes.. amazing brunch menu.. Love it! Will come again!
(5)Elijah L.
Its difficult to find a good brunch in this town that won't leave my wallet drained, and Kerby on the Drag definitely fits the profile. Food is always great, staff is nice and attentive, and they have football on so I can get my fix while grubbing down.
(5)Andrew D.
By some standards I am a stickler for service. I have an expectation that servers at least pretend to give a shit because, after all, they are getting paid to do it. The notion that simply showing me my seat, scribbling down my order and bringing it to me is sufficient enough to land them a 15-20% tip is absurd. For that service the standard $2-3/hr (TX) rate is sufficient compensation. Kerbey lane offers little in the areas of ambiance or service. However, if i may polish a turd for the moment, KL does have some satisfying breakfast fare. You can't go wrong with an omelet, scramble, or some variation of pan-fried carcass. Perhaps this cafe is more suitable at 2 am for those with a penchant for cirrhosis, but those days have passed me by. I don't want a ho-hum servant to fetch me my food. I want a person with good customer service skills. What I'm saying is I want a genuine actor: a person who can pretend to care. They don't have to genuinely care because after all, for many of us if we weren't paid we wouldn't care about our jobs either.
(2)Lora T.
Oooooh Kerbey. Kerbey, Kerbey, Kerbey. You never let me down by serving an awesome array of good food (¡¡¡pancakes!!!), are reasonably priced, and always open. A solid place in my Austin "comfort food" list. May my love for thee never weaken.
(5)Andrew C.
I really like the recent remodeling at this location. It has made the restaurant much more comfortable that it was previously. While the food is occasionally inconsistent, for the most part Kerbey is a great, cheap, crowd pleasing choice. Any time I have family in town I bring them to Kerbey as it it offers traditional fair for them as well as a huge amount of vegan options for me. If you are vegan and looking for an easy reference make sure to ask for the vegan menu. Some of my favorites include the vegan breakfast tacos, pancakes, homefries, hippie burger, portabella fajitas, and its also cool that chips and salsa are complimentary if you order fajitas or enchiladas. Good work Kerbey Lane, you're not my favorite location but you're pretty convenient.
(4)Cris G.
I've been in Austin for two decades now and have done my time at Kerby Lane. I'm excited to see them expand across town. The menu usually has good choices that aren't your typical fare. I gave this location only three stars because it was not terribly appealing. It felt kind of dirty. That normally doesn't bother me, but this time it did. We showed up on a Sunday morning at 11am and I couldn't believe we only waited 10 minutes. The line was insane by noon, so just remember students have to sleep off the night before and you're in. I was surprised how many families were there, since this is at campus. One disappointment: I asked for some bacon. The guy told me bacon was .50. I said for how many strips? He said, "I'll bring you 4". Sounds good. Then these four anemic strips of fat showed up. I was okay with that. Those four pitiful strips were $2.69! Whoa, now that's not okay. I'll pay that for bacon, but it better be a lot higher quality than that.
(3)John C.
You don't realize this is a 24 hour diner from it's outward appearance. When you see the menu, the choices are what you would expect to find at a diner either. They have some interesting twists on some items like many Austin restaurants. When we visited this past June I opted for a burger while my wife chose a club sandwich. I thought the burger was pretty tasty but I will stop well short of calling it the best burger I ever ate. The fries seemed to be fresh cut and were crunchy, crispy, and golden as they should be. My wife thought there was too much turkey and ended up removing most of it but she does that no matter where she orders a sandwich. Here are some things you may expect from a 24 hour diner. The service was a bit slow and the place was less than half full on a Tuesday at mid-morning. We also noticed flies buzzing around and landing on our table which wasn't the cleanest. My wife remarked that the Ladies Restroom was not very clean and a little run down. Overall the food was probably above-average for a diner but the low marks for service and cleanliness make this place only average.
(3)Leanne H.
I love Kerbey Lane's salads. I know this may not be what most people come here for, but when I get a craving for a really good salad, KLC is my go to. My favorite salad here is the Berkeley. Full of delicious veggies, fruits, garbanzo beans, olives, and mozzarella (?) cheese. This salad is filling and worthy of its name (at least says my CA native bf). The last time I came here, the Berkeley was not on the menu! I asked the waitress why it was gone, and she said the chefs took it off the menu. She lamented with me, and put in an order for the Berkeley salad anyways - a guess to prove to the chefs this salad is wanted, and people are not ok with it being taken off the menu. Made my day! Can't say much about the other food here, I only come when craving a salad, and apparently the queso is amazing, but queso and my stomach are not friends.
(4)Mary L.
I'm surprised by how many reviews are at completely different ends of the spectrum. I came here with a friend one day for lunch. Our service was very quick, prompt, and attentive. We shared the Cowboy queso which rocked my world to the core. I'm from Virginia so the thought of a dish with guacamole, black beans and white queso on top NEVER crossed my mind. Well, good job Texas, because this stuff was liquid goodness. I couldn't stop eating it and the portion was huge. In retrospect, I would have been happy eating just this. I also got a Hippy burger which is a burger with a veggie patty and I thought it was pretty good. I could only eat half of it because I inhaled most of the cowboy queso. For some reason, the burger actually tasted better the day after... at room temp. Does this make me a frat boy? Ha! Anyway, I thought both the service and food were great. I highly recommend the Cowboy queso if you haven't tried it yet. If I ever find myself back in the area, I will definitely come back here!
(4)Shanon H.
All food at Kerbey Lane is awesome!!!!
(4)Ernest G.
I love this place! From their food to the service, you cannot go wrong here. Their pancakes have never let me down, I seriously try a new variety every chance I get. I have loved every item of food I've had there with the exception of Pedro's Pasta (I believe that is the name). It is disgusting and I would never recommend it to anyone. They added this a few years back after they removed the pesto penne pasta, big mistake. It is so oily and the flavors do not blend well IMHO. This is a 24 hour joint right by the heavily student occupied West Campus neighborhood, if you show up past 9pm on a weekend expect drunk kids and their normal antics. That being said, the staff here is amazing. They have literally never let me down. In particular Justin is a savior among men. He is extremely friendly and a conversationalist. He has been my server on a number of occasions and under various situations but his service has never let me down. From drunken queso runs to late night study sessions, Justin has had me covered. I went in one night around midnight because I still had to study for a few more hours and Justin did not let my coffee cup run empty. He is seriously one of my favorite waiters I have ever encountered and that says a lot considering one of my biggest pet peeves is bad service.
(5)Allison F.
I was never a big fan of Kerbey Lane, but I went 'cos a few of my friends love this place and would sucker me into going with them. The food is mediocre. Service is not bad. The only thing I can really praise is the queso, which is made with white cheese. The last time I was in there, my waitress was not so great. I went in around 6am, and it was the end of her shift. She rushed me to pay since she was about to get off, and she said she would not ignore me, but she pretty much did after I paid her. On the other hand, the late night servers are pretty top notch. You gotta give them cred for handling all the obnoxious, drunken students who stumble in after being down at 6th St. all night.
(3)Anne S.
This place reminds me of a Northern California breakfast hot-spot, Hobee's. It's laid-back, basic, honest, and good. Nothing mind-blowing, but you don't feel like you're being robbed blind, either. I almost got the gingerbread pancakes, then chickened out at the last minute (fearing a sugary stomachache) and ordered the apple-whole-wheat pancakes. When my plate arrived, I was convinced that they'd read my mind and brought me the gingerbread pancakes anyway. There were no apples anywhere! Finally, I found two tiny bits of apple in the bottom pancake. Hm, okay. The flavor was predominantly honey-wheat, which was still good, just not anything amazing. I liked that they had interesting options for pancakes, though, and I'll try the gingerbread ones if I ever make it back to Kerbey Lane someday. My two friends had the American Breakfast, which came with scrambled eggs that they weren't crazy about. I can't eat eggs, so I didn't taste them and can't give you my own opinion. However, my one friend raved about the home fries, and the other loved her grapefruit and English muffin. Overall, Kerbey Lane is good deal for a decent, just-like-momma-used-to-make-style breakfast. Well, I only wish my momma made gingerbread pancakes. ha!
(3)Zach C.
Since 2002 I've been making questionable decisions in Austin and back then my HQ was a couch in an apartment on San Gabriel. Kerby Lane was always the final stop before going face down into that disgusting couch. Piles of bacon, home fries and toast always were the best way to soak up the booze at 4:44am. This story starts with the good ol Hole in the Wall and ends with a bacon sandwich and queso. Hole in the Wall is a dangerous place for me in the first place, with rivers of Lonestar flowing like the mighty Nile. Throw in 6 of my Alaskan drinking buddies in the mix and it's a whole different kind of party. Needless to say, we got hamboned. As the bar was closing we made a unanimous decision that Kerby Lane would be the next stop because it is almost next door. I have always loved the greasy goodness at Kerby no matter how gassy it makes me for the next 1-15 days after. I kept it simple and ordered the goods for a bacon sandwich. Always a good choice in my mind, the bacon was cooked perfectly and it was just what I needed. The table ordered a queso and I swear I blinked and it was gonzo. The waitstaff always seems to be on point and being able to deal with drunks at all hours of the morning is a skill worthy of some kind of medal. This is definitely a place a will keep hitting up when I find myself stumbling around the campus area.
(4)Sharon T.
1. Service was definitely a single star! 2. We waited an hour for our food with no logical explanation (a single cook at dinnertime? the fact that every table around us had received their food, including 6 girls who had orders that included REAL beef burgers, not veggie burgers?). 2. I can't decide if our waitress felt like she had to be pleasant to us or was just kind of carefree in throwing our straws on the table but it was a bit insulting and she didn't come by our table much 3. We were harassed by a huge fly at the window and I pretty much lost my appetite after I killed it 4. No compensation at all for waiting an hour, even after 2 of my friends went to the hostess to speak to the manager about it, who also did not seem to console my friends, not to mention us 5. The waitress did, however, apologize for the wait and thanked us for waiting 4. If their hippie burgers and cowboy queso weren't so freaking good, I would never come back. Last semester I had great service, but maybe I'll stick with the other Kerbey. Unless I were starving at 5 am near campus with no food
(1)Rachel W.
Oh Kerbey Lane how I miss you!! One of my favorite places in Austin, I've been going since I was a kid. Some of the best breakfast ever! Their pancakes and omlettes are so good! This particular location is cool because it's on the drag...so I usually end up here at 3am after a night of binge drinking! This location can get a little rowdy, so if you want a more family place and not a college one, try the one on South Lamar instead.
(4)Victoria D.
best queso!
(4)Jawad C.
Ah, Keybey Lane on the drag. So many fond memories at this place, yet so many terrible ones. I won't bother going into a description on this place, it's undoubtedly one of the more popular places on Guadalupe, and anyone who has been around UT at all has either been to it or at least seen it. I might as well skimp on this review and describe my own personal experiences. First, the bad. Good god, this place has shit service. I've been here maybe 10 times or so and I'd guess pretty much every time we'd have less than satisfactory service. It might be because this place is just so damn crowded ever hour of the day, but come on, hire more staff or SOMETHING. A certain instance I order a chai tea from our waitress for the beginning of my meal. 10 minutes later, still no tea, still no waitress. OK so let's order our food, and order that tea again. 15 minutes later, we have the food, but no tea. By the time I finish my meal, our waitress shows up: "Oh sorry, here you go". .... Fuck that, I don't even want it anymore. But seriously, besides that, Kerbey Lane can still house some good food. In particular their breakfast menu. You can get a breakfast platter, which includes some pancakes, egg, sausage, and some other stuff for 6 bucks or so. This place is known for their pancakes anyway - try some out. They've also recently had a seasonal lunch menu, which includes some pretty unique sandwiches I found to be pretty tasty. Anything else on their menu is pretty hit or miss. I particularly enjoyed their burgers and chicken sandwiches, as well as the mahi tacos. At any rate, their menu is a fairly large offering, so there's something for everyone in there. In sum, I've had a good experience at Kerbey Lane with my friends at 3 am while we were stoned. Any time else, not really. I'll still give Kerbey Lane a 3 for their great breakfast menu.
(3)Emily S.
I have been going to Kerbey Lane Cafe for at least 5 years now. 5 years ago it would have gotten 5 stars easily! It was very "Austin", welcoming, and the waiters/waitress were so helpful and nice. Although the menu has not changed the quality of food certainly has! I got my usual: 2 eggs, 2 buttermilk pancakes, 2 sausage patties, and a small cup of tortilla soup. Now, the first thing they bring out is the soup. I can already tell it doesn't look right. I take a bite, and it tastes more salty than the ocean! (no exaggeration, seriously!) I took 2 bites and the salt made me so sick I didn't eat for another 20 minutes. I told the waiter and he looked at me like I'm crazy (very annoying!) So I said "Tell the cook this is so salty I've lost my appetite" and he goes on to tell me it's comes frozen in a package. EW! So I continue to the eggs. I got over-easy they were not done the egg white around the yolk was still translucent. So I sent those back too! Once again he looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about... The sausage patties weren't very good but tolerable. And the buttermilk pancakes were still very good but not as good as they once were. So if you're going there for great food.. ihop is better and cheaper!! That brings me to my next complaint. They have recently done some remodeling and relocating.. Whoever made that decision was crazy!! It went from a very nice, welcoming, and Austin family owned kind of feeling to a bad retro very corporate kind of place. I am sad to say I'm not going back to Kerbey Lane for a very long time. Which is sad to say because it used to be my favorite cafe!
(1)Angela M.
PANCAKES. So many delicious flavors. And in such huge amounts! Yesterday's special was the cinnamon and peaches. Delicious. Slightly dry, but plenty of syrup to make up for that. Quick service (on a Tuesday morning at 8:30), lots of refills and attention.
(4)Jennifer C.
Let me justify my 2 star rating: Food gets 5 stars.....service gets 2. And here's why... This is a popular breakfast place in Austin so it was packed at 10 am on a Sat morning. I get it. We were told the wait would be 30 mins. I accepted it. After sitting on a little bench for 1 hour and 10 mins I started to wonder if they had forgotten about us. They had. Not wanting to seem inconsiderate or rude, when the 30 min wait was up I thought maybe we should just wait a little longer. They were busy after all...and we were sitting right up front so they could see us sitting there waiting...how would they forget us? Plus, we had one of those little buzzer coasters...and it hadn't gone off yet. Soooo we waited and waited and waited. When I saw a family get seated that had come in long after us, that's when I started to worry. So I sent the boyfriend up to ask. He came back to tell me they had skipped us on the list by "accident" and showed that we had already been seated....hmmm. Something was fishy and it wasn't the fish on the menu. Then why did my buzzer never go off? Hmmm? After we busted them, we were seated immediately but never told sorry. Then we got to wait some more for our waiter. He never showed up. Instead we got a random busboy...he took our order and then we never saw him again. Ugh. Our food finally came out and WOW it was amazing. Pumpkin pancakes are a MUST try. Bacon was delish, sausage was great and I was happy. Until I noticed that everyone else that ordered pumpkin pancakes got some special butter...where was mine? So I had to waitttttt some more to ask for butter. When I did our waiter looked put out. Well excuseeee me mister! Finally got the butter....but never got a refill on my coffee. Bitch bitch bitch....I'm done. I felt like I was on some weird TV show here....like Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out and say "HA! We gotcha!".....but it never happened. I got shitty service and great food. NOT the combo I enjoy. However, maybe I'll try them again when they aren't so busy. I hope they don't skip me on the wait list again. Grrrrrrr!
(2)Daniel Levis K.
3 stars for taste and atmosphere, plus 1 for trying with the vegetarian options. 1) Kerbey is not dinner-date material. However, their diner look was welcoming and perfect for grabbing a quick bite with friends. 2) Scanty appetizer choices. 4 kinds of queso is not 4 different appetizers. 3) Food was fresh tasting, despite being mostly fried diner food. Sweet potato fries were the best I've had yet. The queso was good too, though the chips tasted stale or like they'd been sitting under a heat lamp for too long--my one major disappointment here. 4) All that said, I appreciated the homemade veggie patty (basically a black bean patty, though no Gardenburger here) and homemade veggie chorizo. Touches like these separate Kerbey Lane from places like Magnolia Cafe as truly veggie-friendly instead of merely veggie tolerated. 5) Open 24 hours!
(4)Wendy W.
Thanksgiving morning. Only place open. May as well break our decade long absence from patronizing this place. Seated at invisible table. Had to get up to find a waiter. Was told our MIA waiter had been in the bathroom (UMMM...OVERSHARE, anyone?) Scrambled eggs were ok. Bacon was good. Pancakes were ok. Hot tea was Lipton's, but ok. Biscuits are dense and not recommended. Ended up with 3 different waiters. No hard feelings. Won't be returning.
(2)Jessie H.
I've been here so many times for late night eats, and overall it's been pretty good. But be aware, if you come super late, sometimes the server may get a little rude, especially if you're a teenager. Some of the servers are super cool. Don't get me wrong. Most of them are laid back. But one of them was just so rude. I could not stand it. I came with a group of friends around 3-4 and some of them already ate and wanted to just come along. There were 7-8 of us and 6 ate, so gratuity was included. This guy asked my friends what they wanted to eat and they said "Oh, we already ate," point to the people who ate. He moves over to the rest of the table and asks "So who's ordering food?" in the ugliest tone. Later I overheard him asking at a table next to us, "So are y'all ordering real food tonight?" Seriously? My sister had a question about the menu and he had the nerve to say "Why didn't you do your studying?" Not only that but he never once came by to ask us for anything unless I flagged him down. Just the typical taking orders, bringing out food, and bringing out checks. One of my friends just ordered dessert and it didn't come out with the other food so towards the end I asked him, "Where's his dessert?" And the server says "Why didn't you say anything?" I'm sorry, but I would assume that a server would ask the customers when they would like dessert. I was so upset with this guy. He's lucky he got gratuity because I wouldn't have tipped him 17%. Ugh. But besides from that one time experience with bad service, the food was pretty good. I like the Kerbey queso! I think everyone does. (;
(3)ariela r.
I wish I could give this place 2 1/2 stars.. I got the breakfast platter (vegan) the tofu scramble was good but they give you such a teeny portion of it and the sausage was not good at all. The pancakes however, I liked a lot. strawberry with walnuts..although the strawberry looked like dried raspberries..the waiter assured us it was strawberry though, whichever it was, the pancakes were very tasty. I also got chai(asked for it hot and got it barely warm) however hot or cold..the chai was horrible and undrinkable. I might go back for pancakes again but that'd be all.
(3)Gwen V.
Love the queso, but that's about it. Breakfast is OK. I prefer waffles over pancakes, so I guess I'm kind of missing the point of Kerbey, but friends were craving Buttermilk pancakes the other day and just could not get over some odd gingerbread-y taste to them. They were sorely disappointed. Blueberry pancake replacement was quite nice though. Anytime I get an entree, I am underwhelmed. Mahi mahi tacos are OK, but not anything I ever crave. Stick to the queso (especially at any time after 2am, drunk is a flavor that should not go underappreciated), and you'll be fine. Service is notoriously bad at this location. Other locations are somewhat better and the Kerbey on Kerbey has a nice atmosphere.
(2)Oscar the Death Cat B.
A 30 minute wait to get seated for lunch - on a weekday - and a "seasonal" menu? This shabby little place must be a lot more classy than it looks!! Or so I thought.... Part of the reason we waited so long is that they accidentally purged us from their wait list. When we finally did get led to our table, I saw that almost every other table in the restaurant had ordered a breakfast dish w/ pancakes. Did I get the hint when it was time to order? No, dopey me, instead I fell for a couple of items on their "autumn" menu, the duck nachos and pulled pork tacos. When done right, pulled pork and duck can be outsanding, but they certainly should never be dry and/or chewy, and unfortunately both dishes were. Worse yet, the duck nachos were bathed in some super-hot sauce, a fate that might be appropriate for a crap-quality meat or poultry, but why in the world would you want to drown the flavor of duck like that?? On a positive note, I was lucky to get a few bites of someone else's pancakes and they were good. Queso was tasty too. Service was poky and the parking lot, though better than nothing, was inadequate, I HATE having to stalk departing diners just to get a spot. I'll bet this place looks and tastes a lot more appealing at 3 AM after a night of drinking.
(2)Christine H.
Wow. WOW. I have never had veggie chorizo the way they do it here. I'm salivating at the thought of them. Okay, so backing up. Came here with my boyfriend for lunch on a Monday holiday and were seated almost immediately. The menu is extensive and VERY vegetarian-friendly. I've honestly never been to a restaurant with such a huge variety of both veggie and meaty choices. Super-plus. I got a quesadilla with veggie chorizo and my bf got a pear+bacon panini with a side of home fries. Portions were HUGE--we both have really big appetites, but we each only finished about half of our food. I'm sure the unlimited chips and salsa played a role. There were a couple pieces of soggy chips in our basket...odd. Our water glasses were kept full, and my bf's root beer was refilled without him asking. Our server was super super nice. After lunch, we needed to walk around to digest, so we asked her about nearby parks (being the tourists that we are). She drew us a map on our takeout box. :D
(4)Melanie K.
I love migas, often outside of traditional breakfast hours, so I was drawn in by the fact that Kerbey serves breakfast around the clock. The famous queso takes my favorite dish to another level (top 5 in Austin perhaps), but it seems chincey for them to charge a dollar for a drizzle of cheese atop a $7 plate. A lot of the breakfast items come with rice on the side where one would expect potatoes, but you can sub homefries. The menu is expansive and diverse, which makes this a pretty safe place to take just about anyone. Parking here is soo much better than the original location. The tradeoff is that the interior is much less cute and sort of plain.
(4)Snicker D.
Officially my favorite location. Only good things happen at this Kerbey. So back to this location I go with a friend after picking him up from work. He wants pancakes and suggests IHOP. I offer to pay if we can dodge IHOP and go to Kerbey. When he didn't order pancakes, I saw what was really going on. It was worth it. The chai was great, as was our server. I wish I could remember her name. She was there when we needed her, but still let us have our space. I always appreciate that type of service. Okay, random rant before getting to the food: The main thing that keeps me coming back to certain places, or certain locations of certain places, is manners. Sometimes things are going to go wrong, it more depends on how you handle it. Something I really enjoy about this location, is that people have manners here. An example: There was this guy sweeping, I'm sure it was part of his side-work before he had to leave. He was sweeping all around us but not being noisy or obnoxious about it. Just quietly sweeping. He seemed to wait until there was nothing left except the area where we were, then said "excuse me" then apologized and explained that he had to get where we were. We lifted our legs up so he could get under the table we were at and he said "I really didn't want to do this, but I just can't help myself!" as he was sweeping. Hilarious! We were cracking up so hard. Of course, if he would have been a dick about it this review would be a bit different. Seriously though, apologize, explain, make a joke. It's not that hard. Don't be a dick. Gold star and a brownie for the dude sweeping at Kerbey! I pretty much dealt with almost the same exact thing earlier today, but without the person saying "sorry" or "excuse me" or anything. It makes the world of difference! If you're going to work in the service industry, have some manners!! Now back to the food... Got the chai, it was awesome! Woo-hoo! Got the queso, it was awesome because it's the queso at Kerbey and it never fails to fill and satisfy. I then decide to step out of my nom-norm, and because I was feeling like a fatty, got the Cobb Salad. Don't get the Cobb Salad if you're feeling like a fatty, it's deliciously misleading. I ordered it with Blue Cheese dressing. Rich and heavenly. It came with bacon* that was cooked perfectly. The leafy greens were fresh, not wilted at all. The egg* was cooked perfectly as well. The whole thing was huge! I ate it all... After the plates were cleared, our server came back and asked us if we wanted to try some chocolate cake. After the week I just had, there was no way I was leaving without some cake first. I would marry this woman for introducing me to this cake. This was the best cake I've had since my great-grandma went into assisted living. It had the kind of icing that's thick, but not spread on too thick, with layers of more icing in the middle. I want to say it was a three tier too. The cake itself was fluffy, but not dry. I can't remember if I asked for ice-cream, or if it came with it. She said cake and I really didn't say a whole lot except "YES!" The only thing I would change was that it comes with Strawberries and I'm allergic. They looked quite fresh though, and like I said, I didn't ask any questions. I just gave my friend the side with strawberries. I was going to share anyway. It's been a terrible week, and Kerbey, especially the cake, made up for it.
(5)Joshua B.
Overrated. The only times I go to kerbey lane is at 2:30 in the morning drunk with friends, which usually happens to be the same time everyone else has the same idea. The queso is pretty legit, but I've never eaten anything here that blew me away.
(3)Stephanie S.
Kerbey Lane was fair. With most of the egg dishes, egg whites were available for 65 cents more and tofu scramble could be subbed for 75 cents. Not a bad deal, considering I'm used to paying up to $1.50 to substitute egg whites. I went with the Kerbey Scramble, substituting tofu scramble for the eggs. Oops... I'd noticed that the tofu in another dish was mixed with nutritional yeast (eww!!) and didn't realize that would be in my tofu scramble as well. The consistency was weird and gummy. I needed my beloved Tapatio for this one, but the only hot sauce on hand was Tabasco. Grossed out by the tofu/yeast scramble, I focused on the breakfast potatoes (very good) and whole wheat toast, making for a very carb-y meal.
(2)Molly F.
The service here is spotty and sometimes unprofessional. I've had a wait person slam down someone else's food in front of me, shout "bam!" a la Emeril, and leave before I could say "this isn't my chicken!" At brunch, I've had my coffee arrive well after I finished eating my food. For dessert, I've been served cold cake straight from the fridge. So why do I keep coming back? Vegan pancakes. Where else besides Kerbey Lane can I get vegan pancakes at 2AM. Or any time, really? I appreciate that they have a vegan menu and can serve me something more interesting than hummus (though they have that, too.) Beyond the pancakes, it's a restaurant where I can eat with my family who eat healthy, my family who can't eat onions or anything spicy, and even my family who will only eat burgers. Kerbey Lane is pretty good at everything, but great at very little. And sometimes that's just what I need.
(3)Sarah S.
It's not that difficult to make a breakfast taco. Now, I'm not expecting everything to be up to Whole Foods standards, but still - tortilla + potatoes + tofu = not that hard. Kerbey literally had the WORST breakfast tacos I've ever had. The only plus is that this is still the only late night (i.e. 3am) place with a vegan menu.
(2)kelly m.
No trip to Austin is complete without breakfast (or sometimes forth meal) at Kerbey Lane!! Think of classic diner casual crossed with hippie (mostly) vegetarian friendly fare, and you'll understand why it's a local favorite. I almost always order off the seasonal menu or get the pancakes special. I also love the sandwhich selections (especially the turkey avocado) with sweet potato fries. Last time I was here I tried the tres leches. This did not include all three of the leches-- the cake was dry, rather than soaked in the sweet milk (the milk was on the plate instead). This was kind of a disappointment, because I brought some non-Texan friends, who hadn't experienced the deliciousness of tres leches cake before. The parking lot at the location on the drag can be a bit of a nightmare, so we parked further down the street and walked a few blocks.
(4)Naomi H.
Gross. I got the Chipotle Grilled Cheese, one of the menu's "favorites". The cheese wasn't melted, the sandwich was cold, the onions were way too thick. The fries were okay. The queso was thick and globby and made me wonder what was in it. Not impressed with this place, considering all the hype I heard about it.
(1)Megan M.
There is only one thing I come to Kerbey for and it's their pancakes. Kerbey is a 'go big or go home' meal for me as I always get the Kerbey scramble with a short stack. I love their seasonal pancakes (pumpkin and lemon poppyseed) as well as their blueberry pancakes. They have some crazy flavors occasionally too, like s'more pancakes. Their monster size also tends to keep me full until dinner.
(4)Matt H.
Great restaurant. Manager took the time to serve me after his scheduled time since it was busy.
(5)Andrew V.
My friends and I came here on a Sunday for brunch, and booooyyy was it packed! The guac-queso here is well worth the 30minutes wait though. It was an amazing mix which even surprised my Mexican gf of the combination. The queso is very rich in flavor, you could practically taste the milk of Mexico. Yum. The prime let down is while drooling for the gingerbread pancake that I've read so tastily of, was sold out?!? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!? I hope to try it some day..
(4)Sarah S.
So the parking here is terrible. I was meeting a group of 9 other people here for lunch the other day. I think we had a total of 4 cars. Do you know how long it took us to wait for spots to open? Oiy!! Once we were in, we were seated right away. We had a table waiting for us. But the waitress was less than pleased to have us there. We weren't a difficult group to deal with. And the tip was already worked into the bill....so what's the problem?? As for the food, I ordered the chicken quesadillas, which came with sour cream and pico de gallo. I thought it was pretty tasty and a pretty big portion size. I wish it came with guacamole though...that would make it better! No one at the table had any complaints about the food, and we were all quite happy with what we ordered. I thought it was a bit strange to get such a frosty reception from the waitress though. I hear the pumpkin pancakes are really tasty, so I think I'll go back and give them a try :-)
(3)ashley g.
The servers are all tremendous!!! Especially after you eat here enough and they get to know you! My fav. dishes are pesto cream pasta, chicken tortilla soup and the flavored pancakes! I just had the pumpkin pancakes yesterday and they are awesome!!! I hate how some pumpkin food creations are more spice than pumpkin, so these are the opposite- hence why I LOVE them!!! It's like someone scooped out all the pumpkin goo, mixed it in with batter and POOF! So soft and fluffy! Udder greatness!!! The only complaint is that it is so loud in the restaurant!!! All the drunk college kids that swarm the place after bar closing make it less enjoyable :( Overall, thank you Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe!
(4)Tim P.
Ok. I don't know anyone that thinks it is a great idea to go to Kerbey Lane at 7:30pm. It's not one of those places. 2 am? BRING IT ON! :) I enjoy Kerbey Lane and think the food is def goodness after having fun around town (with alcohol that is...). I had a good Breakfast Burrito and French Toast. MMMM.... Very yummy! It also has a special place in my heart as the first time I visited this location the waiter gave me his phone number on the check.... LOL.. so that makes it a classic in my mind. :)
(3)clayton m.
Beer is kinda pricy. Mahi mahi tacos a lil on the burnt side. Cowboy queso and service was great though. I might give this place a 2nd chance, although I might try a something a lil less ambitious and maybe a different location.
(3)anne marie j.
Our family loves coming here. We try to get something different every time we go. The kids love seeing what the pancake of the day will be. We started going all the way north (we are in South Austin) because it's bigger and there never is a wait. The omelets are always great. My favorite pancake is the white chocolate. Super Yummy! You don't get nickel and dimed like at the chains and the food is, well, you can't even compare.
(4)Robert S.
The food quality at this location is better than other Kerbey Lane locations in town. And that says a lot. I'm willing to give a restaurant multiple chance, so I've eaten at this Kerbey Lane for breakfast, lunch, a late night snack, and while wasted from a night out. The food is rather bland, and ridiculously overpriced for the low quality you receive. Sometimes, the eggs are runny, or the pancakes haven't cooked all the way through. The salsas are almost like water. And most side orders seem to have come right out of a can and onto my plate. Why this place is popular? I don't know, but considering it was in Austin, it doesn't surprise me.
(1)Aly J.
First off, the queso is amazing. Sometimes I find excuses to go out to eat with friends JUST so I can get some of that cheesy goodness. My favorite thing about Kerbey is that it has food for everyone! I'm vegetarian and most of my friends are not, but Kerbey has plenty of veggie fare without being exclusively vegetarian, so all of us can be happy. They have little seasonal menus to go with the regular menu. Usually the seasonal food is really interesting! Last year I tried to butternut squash french toast and it was absolutely perfect. I can NOT wait until it comes back. All the food I've ever had here has been consistently good. I don't really care for the rice that comes with the enchiladas (it's always crazy dry), but that can easily be substituted for something better. Service is pretty hit or miss. I've only had one waiter who was outright rude, but I was with a guy who was being rude first, so that's understandable. Just don't go to Kerbey if you're in a rush or have a god-complex and feel the need to be pampered, and the service should be perfectly satisfactory.
(4)Davonne H.
Two words....blackberry pancakes! It's their pancake special right now and it's delicious. Otherwise a better kerbey experience this past saturday. Good wait staff, not much of a wait, and blackberry pancakes.
(4)Dena F.
It was Saturday...the Saturday of the rescheduled Arkansas game. Can I pick a time to take a vacation or what. We were walking down Guadalupe playing our game of slug-everytime-you-see-a-girl-in-cowboyboots-&-Âorange shirt-&-short skirt (similar to slug bug.) Both of us had seriously bruised arms so we decided to take a break and grab lunch. I wish we'd gone for breakfast...the morning menu looked way better than the lunch food. Both of us had sandwiches. They were good. I'd go there again. Atmosphere was great, service was great, food should have been great too!
(3)Kristin D.
After moving to Austin in 2009 Kerbey Lane quickly became my stop for comfort food. They have enough variety to satisfy my adventurous friends and they change their menu seasonally which I think is nice. They change their pancakes of the day too and have vegan food so I can actually go to a "normal" restaurant with my vegan friends. I'm a plain Jane and order the same thing every time. Even the waiters are beginning to remember my order. My food is always consistent and I like it that way. Occasionally I'll get a mishap where I they give me an avocado burger instead of a bacon cheeseburger or they forgot the cheese or bacon, but they are quick to fix it and apologize. Most of the time the take something off my bill too. Most of the staff is nice. There are a couple of people I'd prefer not to have: the moody girl who used to be the hostess and the tall guy who talks to softly you can barely hear him. There are also people I love to serve me. The guy with the labret piercing is my favorite. If you go in between the hours of 11pm and 3am any day of the week expect a wait. Sunday morning until 4pm is usually busy as well.
(4)D D.
I've been many times over the past 8 years I've lived here. I've accepted the price raises for "local, organic" ingredients, the downgrade from experienced, seasoned servers and mgmt to typical bored hipster, college kid staff, etc. Those working at Kerbey tonight were the most incompetent, ragtag team I have ever had to deal with there. The initial server was confused when I asked for pie, even after I pointed to it, he responded with "what?!' repeatedly instead of up-selling a dessert. I order a house salad, to which I am told there "is no house salad"? Ok kid, I'm drunk, give me the closest thing. The manager was curt, frazzled, had no idea what customer service resembled, and only got concerned when I pissily filled out a comment card. I have never written an internet review of any restaurant. Ever. Being in the service industry, I am prone to believe most of the people reviewing where they eat are the same hard to please cows your local cafe staff loves to hate. The shit storm of service I received tonight hasn't made me rethink that outlook, but the boys and girls of late night dining should remember that folks are way more apt to note bad experiences than good ones. If this is the new face of Kerbey I will never go back, and I will tell everyone I know to not go back as well. I dont give a fuck if theres a dairy out back from where my queso is sourced: If it takes 45 minutes and dealing with your ass clown servers to get said delicious queso, I just dont want it. Make your staff act like adults and conduct themselves in a manner that gains you business. Kerbey campus has clearly gone down hill. The queso is still the best on the city, but I'll bite the bullet and just go to Magnolia, or jesus, maybe even Starseeds, next time.
(1)Sue L.
Oh no!!!!!!! What did you do with the decor? The new floor plan is an improvement but what was a funky unique Austin diner is now sterile and corporate. Did you hire the decorator from Cafe Express? The food's the same which is good, but how can I enjoy it sitting in my metal chair surrounded by bare white walls with retina-burning lime green accents? How? I can only pray the don't wreck the original Kerbey Lane with this *improved* look. It's dreadful.
(3)Bert B.
Great all around Coffee was good Portions a plenty Spicy chipotle sauce Really great service Gave us a tip about where to get a half price oil change
(5)Sarah J.
My husband and our two kids (age 2 and 5) stopped in to Kerbey Lane tonight for dinner. I have to say, my expectations were basement-low. I think of it as a late-night option for drunk college kids or a ho-hum dinner option for poor grad students. But, we were hungry, no food at home, tired, and it was getting late (by kid standards). Luckily, we were VERY pleasantly surprised by the setting, the service, and the food. Our waitress was friendly and fast. The space was clean and bright. We got the basic burger with sweet potato fries, and both were truly delicious. We also got a seasonal dish that I think was called the "steak arepas" and it was really very tasty as well. Served with very flavorful black beans. The kids got totally standard kid fare. I like their chips and salsa. I would not hesitate to stop in to Kerbey Lane again. Families with kids: you will be fine to eat here. College kids don't mind if there's a rambunctious 2 yr old in the next booth.
(4)Elizabeth E.
I really doubt the cleanliness of this restaurant. I ate here the past Sunday. While eating I watched a hostess kill a fly with a sugar jar on a table top, tried to clear the dead fly carcass from the table by smearing it along the table with the sugar dispenser used to kill the fly, then when the fly got caught in a joint of the table top disguised the dead fly by putting a menu on top of the carcass. She promptly returned with a party of 6 to sit at the table (without attempting to clean the table or sugar jar or remove the dead fly). My stomach was turned and I was unable to finish my meal knowing that that was the level of cleanliness embraced by this establishment. To make things worse when we got our ticket the waiter put a dirty leather case with the bill leaning onto my glass of water so I was no longer able to drink my water. He had the WHOLE table to place the bill. I'm not sure why he thought putting it on my water glass was appropriate.
(1)Brad K.
This breakfast joint (well, it's open all day but you'll want to get breakfast) is one of the only reasons I will head to campus. The migas at this location rule, but I can't speak to much else. (Well, the coffee is service-able, but nothing to speak about). It's a student hangout so be prepared -- at this location -- for service to be a bit slow and the place to be a bit loud. There are worse things in the world, though. We always have a good time there. Lots of energy. And if you don't want to wait, there's counter seating. Which can be fun.
(3)Kitt J.
Hi, elephant in the room! I'm Katya and I prefer Magnolia Cafe. With that out of the way, I can still say that I like Kerbey Lane. A lot of the same stuff, right down to the awesome gingerbread pancakes. So let's talk differences. It's really quite simple. The atmosphere is a little more generic at Kerbey Lane, and the place sometimes makes me feel dirty because of how badly the linoleum and wall coverings are peeling in certain places. The lighting reminds me of a backyard bug zapper, and the portions seem a bit skimpy lately, too. And I consistently get worse service at Kerbey Lane. On the plus side, Kerbey Lane has a much more extensive menu, a lot more seasonal stuff, and I prefer their desserts. For me, it comes down to the semi-creepy atmosphere that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, and the service, which can make me feel downright unwelcome. On good days, it's fine. But on bad ones, I could die of dehydration while waiting on my server to come around or choke to death while being pressured to scarf down my meal and leave. Overall, very mediocre. But, hey... that isn't a horrible thing. Just as much as mediocrity means "not great," it also means "not bad." It just depends on what matters to you.
(3)TJ S.
Kerbey Lane is that place to go for 24 hr service! It's a very casual, cool place to eat. I only gave them 3 stars because the food is really traditional. There isn't really anything spectacular on the menu besides the Kerbey Queso dish (and even that is pricey). But on a more positive note, it's a great place to get an early or late breakfast, or even a nice place to go get lunch/dinner. If you want a standard place to eat on the Drag that's not overly expensive, and doesn't require a long wait, this is your place.
(3)Edward P.
Yes, cheap and locavore type waffle house with a granola feel.
(5)Vincent N.
I wish I could love Kerbey, but I can't. It seems they always burn my sausage or I just ending up having a sub-par breakfast experience. It's super when they have their pumpkin pancakes and you can have a nice hot coffee, especially during the winter months (or winter-ish months), but other than that, I just keep on trying, perhaps its futile. Wish I could dig.
(2)Mary N.
It's 12 am, my friend and I got hungry and knowing that this is one of the few places that was still open we decided to eat here. Looking up the menu beforehand we knew what we wanted to order: fish tacos and the texas paris meal. They renovated the whole place and it looks weird. I liked the old style a lot better. We got there and waited for 10 minutes for the server to get our drinks. We told him we wanted to order right away because the service was slow. Usually the chips and salsa comes out before the meal but this time it came out with our meal. The new Kerbey sucks. The food was horrible! The fish tacos was not even edible. The fish looked like the fish sticks you buy from the store for cheap and they were overcooked and super hard. We had to drenched the fish in salsa and salt and lemon to make it taste somewhat okay. The migas was okay but not delicious. The beans had no seasoning but the rice was decent. The french toast was the best part of the meal but after eating the tacos anything would had been better. The only good thing about Kerbey is their queso. That has been the only thing I have enjoyed there. Their food is not worth going to eat. Their prices have increased but yet their portion has decreased. I don't think I'll be going here again after this last experience. Their service was horrible, the guy only checked on us twice. They really need more servers.
(1)Michael T.
Kerbey's Migas taco with salsa verde is descended from Olympus. I don't know anything about Kerbey Lane except the migas tacos with salsa verde, and a side of home fries. The migas tacos with salsa verde are excellent! The potatoes are a nice side. Did I mention the migas tacos with salsa verde? It is a wonderful combination. Sometimes I have home fried potatoes on the side.
(4)Noelle W.
I will never darken the door of a Kerbey Lane restaurant again for as long as I live. The service sucks, the attitude sucks, and the food SUCKS. NEVER. GOING. BACK.
(1)Umper U.
I had a panic uh-oh here but where else could you do that in Austin at 3AM? They asked me to leave but try the queso 4 stars
(4)Debbie C.
Queso Queso Queso! Kerby Queso brings a smile to my face. A fantastic concoction of salsa, cheese and guacamole. Not to be missed. I also recommend the hibiscus tea (hisbiscus mint iced tea with Sprite). Cool place, quick service and open 24/7!
(4)Teresa D.
I work down the street from this location, and sometimes order to go. Without fail, I am disappointed. I ordered from here today, and was stoked on the new tomato summer menu. I Love Love Love tomatoes and ordered the tomato and squash fries. Battered and fried tomatoes and squash served with marinara sauce, sounds delicious right? Wrong! They were not made to order, and were cold and soggy. My friend had the Vegan breakfast platter, she loved it. It came with vegan blueberry pancakes, tofu scramble and soy-sage. I prefer the Kerbey on Kerbey, much better service, and I have never had cold or soggy food!!!!
(2)Chris R.
Had a late night breakfast at the bar seats. Decent service for 3am staff. Food was good as expected. An experience you can count on, which is appreciated.
(3)Jennifer T.
I find myself wanting to like Kerbey Lane, but really, it's very average. I usually come here when I crave pancakes. The first time I had the blueberry pancakes here, they were phenomenal, and for me, phenomenal pancakes don't come by that often. Fluffy, but slightly crisp on the outside, and delicious. But either I've developed unreasonably high expectations after that first bite or the cooking is inconsistent... they just don't taste the way I remember them anymore. I've tried their pumpkin pancakes too, but they had too much nutmeg/spice in them for my liking... I couldn't even finish them. Their Kerbey Queso, which they're famous for, is pretty good. But it'll run you up $8 just for the chips and dip alone. In case you haven't caught on, this place is super pricey! I order pretty conservatively, and even then it's difficult not to drop at least $10 here. For a short stack of pancakes and a cup of soup, I find that a little ridiculous. I always feel short-changed after eating here, or wishing that I'd used my money on something more worthwhile. I'd come back if I could ever make their early-bird specials between 4-7 am. For $4, I'd give their pancakes another try.
(3)Mary V.
I love pancakes. And I love pumpkin pancakes especially. But I love Kerbey Lane's pumpkin pancakes the most out of all the pancakes in the world! It's kind of sad, but I'm only an active customer of Kerbey Lane when pumpkin pancakes are in season--which is around October to December, I think. The pumpkin pancakes are just THAT amazing. My boyfriend and I will order other stuff like the Kerbey queso and maybe a salad, but we always have to order pumpkin pancakes! I once tried their pumpkin french toast with the expectation that it was on par with the pancakes; it was disappointingly dry. Thus, forever shall I stick with the pancakes. Other than that, I have no reason to go because it can get a little expensive, but Kerbey Lane certainly knows how to make an amazing stack of pancakes. See you again in the fall!
(4)Tate S.
Am I on glue, or am I totally missing the point? I had rather high expectations going down to the much hyped Kerbey Lane. But after eating that meal, I'm sure I would have been disappointed with even average expectations. We ordered the queso that everyone talks about, which was pretty good but lukewarm and had an icky film on top. Then they made us scoop it up with mostly bottom-of-the-bag chip bits -- not cool! The entrees took forever and when they arrived, the fries were pretty much cold and the sandwich was dry and kind of bland. Our server was nice, but holy cow... I kept having to check and make sure that this was indeed the Kerbey Lane I'd heard so much about. Also, it was ridiculously cold -- everyone at the table was shivering. I think I'll pass next time.
(2)Will H.
See if you can find anything substantial on their menu for less than $5. No? then it must be pretty good. Wrong. How about soggy fries and pathetic sandwiches? Kerbey Queso isn't worth the price. Walk down the street (it's not far!) and get the Torchy's Queso instead. It's a fun thing to do when you're a freshman and new to Austin, and it is a local business, but if you live here a while you know there are better (and cheaper) places to eat than this tourist trap.
(2)Ryan H.
Well, I was flagged for removal, as I didn't make it clear that I was in presence during said experience, as I WAS, so here again, is my review. My girlfriend will post her (likely identical) account shortly. "Removed Review": Boy, I am looking at my Yelp reviews, and I sure am a love it or hate it kinda guy. That being said, I haven't even Yelped in quite a while. Although, I guess it has also been quite a while since the last time my girlfriend's car was towed from the Kerbey Lane parking lot while she sat inside eating lunch with a UT professor discussing a job interview to teach psych classes across the street. Mgmt even refused to help get her car, and better, pay for their mistake. THAT being said, I am gonna file this gem under ''Hate.'' Get fucked, Mr. Kerbey Lane, and by the way, you owe my girlfriend $250 and her afternoon back. Thanks! PS. On a friendly note, a friend was telling me tonight that he had met a girl in Paris who was from Austin, and she said the thing she missed most about Austin was the Kerbey Queso. It's literally famous. That must mean something.
(1)Nick L.
Been here 20-30 times, I'd guess. Usually has quality, interesting food, although there are definitely occasional exceptions. Gets a bit of a bum rap from students who have eaten there ten too many times. Lots of variety, both healthy and indulgent options, vegetarian-friendly, and seasonal menus (my favorite). The original Kerbey on 38th seems to be a little better all-around, though, probably because it's not as swamped with (occasionally drunk) college students in the wee hours of the night. Wait staff is usually friendly, although occasionally bizarre if you're there after midnight. Favorite quote from one of them, as he refilled our water, "Super-waiter strikes again, haha!" Anyway, for the price, it's great.
(4)Karlyn K.
Great food as always. But the waiter borders on rude. They sat me near the glass in a corner and there were dead flies on the window sill. Yuck! But awesome food!!! If not for the waiter and dead flies I'd give em 5 stars.
(4)Matthew C.
As an Austin staple, Kerbey Lane is an essential part of any trip to Austin - and the prefect late-night food stop for UT students. The majority of the menu is typical diner food with a unique Austin touch. Their winter seasonal menu in particular was unconventional yet delicious. I went with the maple ginger granola topped with fruit and served with Greek yogurt. That was the first time I'd had ginger in granola; it added a nice flavor that complemented the sweetness of the maple syrup and had a slightly chewy texture. The granola quesadilla (maple ginger granola, peanut butter, bananas, asiago fresco cheese, and honey in a toasted tortilla) also sounded really good. My only complaint: the prices. My granola was almost $6 and the sandwiches were almost $8 - not what I would expect from a "diner."
(4)Troy G.
Kerbey Lane is great pretty much any time of the day since it is open 24 hrs a day. I wish more restaurants were open all the time like Kerbey Lane is. It really is a wonderful place to go at 2 am when the bars close. When my girlfriend and I go here, we basically have to get the Kerbey queso every time. They take queso and add pico de gallo and guacamole. It is one of the best appetizers you can get. Sometimes it is enough to make a meal for both of us because it is so big. Their pancakes are also very good, and in my opinion better then Magnolia Cafe pancakes. Here you can order many types of pancakes, ranging from gingerbread to blueberry or pumpkin spice, depending on the time of year. I would mainly recommend Kerbey Lane for breakfast since their breakfast is awesome and because they serve it all day. I did go out on a limb and ordered a burger late one night and I was thoroughly impressed with it. Kerbey Lane is an original Austin restaurant that everyone should try.
(4)David C.
I think I've been to all the Kerbey Lane locations, but the one on the Drag is my favorite. It has a most interesting blend of clients and if you sit on the street side the variety of wackos that parade by is definitely worth the price of admission.. Breakfast is by far my favorite meal so it's difficult not to like this place. Today I met a friend and we sat at the counter. By doing so our coffee cups were always filled to the brim. I opted for the American Classic which consisted of eggs (I prefer scrambled) with 2 sides - today I chose the home fries and English muffin. Additionally I ordered two natural sausage patties - they are so good that I didn't even feel sadness about the demise of Porky Pig for my eating pleasure.. I did not have the gingerbread pancakes today but have often chosen them in the past. Other than the fact that I belch them endlessly for hours after consumption, they are quite delectable and extremely filling. So if you like a delightful breakfast with great service, Kerbey Lane is the place to be.
(4)Megan S.
This place never fails to be mediocre. The interior is in the style of run of the mill blah, which is okay for roadside diners with dirt cheap food. Kerbey Lane, however, is neither of these. The queso is tasty and I do quite like the Paris Texas Platter (Migas + French Toast) but everything else I have ordered has left something to be desired. It's not bad (I have been many a times, especially in the middle of the night) and it tends to meet my stomach's needs at the time (it is convenient to college kids, after all) but it just isn't very good. Really not worth making the trip unless you are a UT alum trying to relive your college days or desperate for sustenance.
(2)Samantha M.
Yum-o! I love the migas tacos with queso and the gingerbread pancakes!
(4)Alex H.
This place is overpriced for sub-par food. The waitstaff is too stoned to take less than a half hour on any order. People rave about the queso here, but I don't know why. It's too thick and salty, and the chips don't help. I haven't had pancakes here, and I hear they're worth the trip, but nothing gets me excited to eat here. I say 'can it' and find a taco stand on the street.
(1)Raymond P.
So the nacho cheese is the best. It's some weird guacamole cheese mix. Good stuff. GET IT! Then the buttermilk pancakes taste so good. However there strawberry pancakes didn't meet my expectations. I was expecting to be a little wet but there wasn't much STRAWBERRY in the strawberry pancakes. So, that was a disappointment. Surprisingly, they also serve enchilidas and although apprehensive at first, their California Enchiladas are the most unique tasting enchilidas ever. I don't know what was in them but whatever is in there mixes well. Great taste! I think I liked that more than pancakes, and it seems their pancakes are what they're known for so... (get my drift?) A little pricey but their pancakes are humongous. Oh, and I tasted orange spritzer for the first time. It taste like those bubbly drinks from The Magic Time Machine in San Antonio. Good stuff.
(4)Iris T.
Not my favorite place on Guadalupe but it's nice to have this restaurant as a back-up when hungry super late at night or early in the morning. And as for what to order.. can't go wrong with the queso or the pancakes!
(3)Kayla T.
Pretty great place for a late night meal. The queso they have is really good and the rest of the options are pretty decent. The atmosphere is great, casual and a great place to eat with friends.
(3)Tim L.
Unless you live on or around campus or you're here around the wee hours of the night you probably want to pass. Parking is a disaster and you'll be lucky to find a spot. Even if you are one of the lucky ones, this place is a step down from the original Kerbey. Food, service, everything leaves a lot to be desired. I dare say this place is on par as the average IHOP. DON'T DO IT!
(3)Vicky N.
I used to love this Kerbey Lane, but I came here one night and the manager (Diana) gave me the worst customer service I had ever received in my whole life. I ordered a simple American Classic, eggs over easy, saugage, and fruit. My three friends got their food at the same time, and the manager herself served us instead of the waiter that took our order. She handed us hot plates rather than placing them on the table. She didn't warn us that the plates were burning hot, nor did she apologize for handing us hot plates without warning. I waited patiently for my food. Ten minutes pass, I ask another waiter about my order. I then have to repeat my order three times to various people. Order comes out finally. Eggs are not over easy. They're harder than hard. The yolk had to be stabbed with a knife to break. I ask for the manager. I tell her I'm not satisfied with the service I've received, and I don't wanna pay for this. She then takes my plates without asking and shows no remorse. In fact, she didn't seem to care and acted as if I was in the wrong. A friend asked her, "You're not gonna let her finish? You're just gonna take her food away?" The manager stops and says, "Oh, I thought you didn't want this." Well, yeah, I don't want the egg and your service sucks beyond words, but I'm still hungry and the rest of the food is decent. But by then I had lost my appetite. That woman should not be in a managerial position, she clearly does not care about customers. I told a waiter what had happened, and to my surprise, he apologized. That was the first time anyone that night had apologized to me for the bad service. Needless to say, I won't go to the guad kerbey anymore.
(1)Stuart L.
In all fairness, they weren't as busy as when I went there over my Thanksgiving visit, but the place serves a wide variety of Tex/Mex and American dishes that are as delicious as they are healthy. There is plenty of variety for vegetarian and vegan palates. The black bean/avocado tacos were freshly prepared and served with an equally fresh house salad that was very generously portioned. The wait staff was attentive, friendly and extremely accommodating. The atmosphere is casual and family friendly, and they are open 24 hours withr free wi-fi. The prices are also surprisingly reasonable (a simple 2-egg breakfast platter at Denny's will cost you more!). I plan to visit whenever I'm in the mood for a late night snack and in the neighborhood! Check them out!
(4)david p.
My first visit to this Kerbey Lane location was around 8.00 one Saturday morning well before West Campus was awake and apparently, the kitchen too. I love Kerbey Lane breakfasts...they are the standard that I use to measure breakfast, but no more. I was really disappointed in this location. I'm not sure if the menu at all locations have changed or this one. There was a time when I could order an omelet, two sides, AND a short stack. Sadly, those days are gone like so many storefronts along the drag. I could have either a short stack OR the two sides, not both. What gives? Economy that bad? I opted for the short stack since it's Kerbey Lane after all. The pancakes didn't disappoint, but my Kerbey Scramble did. Looked like one egg at the most and a couple of veggies. Kerbey Lane used to be my breakfast standby in Austin. I am seriously going to have to consider a new breakfast place after my visit to the Guad location.
(2)Daphney B.
Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes? Om Nom Nom!
(4)Kaila L.
I was pretty excited to try this place, having heard great things about it, but it didn't end up being too special. As the yelp 2 stars rating says, "Meh. I've experienced better." The only real upside is that it's open late and has decent coffee. I was excited to see buffalo on the menu and ordered the buffalo enchiladas. Which contained only a minuscule amount of buffalo meat in them. They should be called "mostly vegetable with a tiny smattering of buffalo meat enchiladas." I visited on the weekend before Halloween, and all the employees were dressed up, which is cool, except that my coffee came with pink fuzz from someone's pink wig in it. :| I later saw the pink wigged person picking pink fuzz out of the coffee cup he was filling for someone else. Yum. My server was aloof at best. She mostly totally avoided our table or walked by us while looking the other way so that we couldn't get her attention. We had to go to the counter for a coffee refill (just one coffee refill, not 15, we weren't holding the table all night or anything). Why have a server if it's going to end up being self-serve anyway? If your expectations aren't too high, and you don't mind paying $2.40 for a cup of drip coffee that no one will refill for you, you'll probably be fine here.
(2)Tara H.
Kerbey Lane is one of those restaurants that you keep visiting because you hope that one of these times it will surprise you and live up to it's potential. Much like my ex-boyfriend - but that's another story for another day. It's a great place for late night snacks as they have the obligatory twenty-four hour breakfasts and hamburgers. They have also tried to do something nice with their meat selection by getting free-range organic chicken and beef. - Don't order the breakfast potatoes as they are like little rocks. - Don't go on a Saturday or Sunday morning unless you have some fabulous friends to keep you company while you wait. - Don't go to the campus location as they are nazi's and almost kicked us out because my sister wanted to put her leftover iced tea in a cup she brought with us. - Do enjoy the chicken sandwiches or black beans. - Do sit at the bar unless you want to wait forever. - Do appreciate the waitstaff, who do a great job.
(3)Lacey W.
I've had breakfast and dinner here. Breakfast was fine, as I recall. Fast, if a little on the "civil" as opposed to "friendly" side of things, and efficient service. Tasty French toast. Good coffee. Happy breakfast guests. On my most recent trip I saw the sign for lemon poppyseed pancakes, and those sounded pretty good. Dinner experience was not as fine. Server was polite, but a little distracted, so when I found several lemon seeds in my coke (which did not have a lemon in it), it took awhile to get his attention. Once we got his attention, the soda was promptly replaces, but we were still charged for it. (I'm not grubbing for a free drink that costs $1.30, but the glass was apparently dirty. I shouldn't be charged for a dirty beverage.) I ordered the chicken nachos, and maybe my dislike of them is my fault. I have a specific idea about nachos. The cheese should be melty to the point that it holds other ingredients onto the chip. Not so with this nacho. The black beans created a slick surface that all the toppings, including the cheese, slid off of. Beans went down my shirt in the crossfire. Not fun. Tasty, but hugely unpleasant to eat and not tasty enough to warrant the unpleasantness again. But maybe I am too narrow-minded about nachos. Boyfriend's quiche and the salad that came with was fine. Nothing to write home about, but fine. The service, as I said, was a little distracted, but still fast, and we were in and out in not much time. I will be back most likely, but probably for breakfast as not much on the lunch/ dinner menu excited me.
(3)Sarah M.
I've been to Kerby a few times. I recommend getting breakfast all day and the queso rocks. Other than that, it's decent. The wait is usually long and the service is really slow, but its always open and dependable.
(3)Stephanie I.
In my opinion, the only thing worth getting here is the Kerbey Queso. All the other food is just alright. With that being said...the Kerbey Queso is pretty much heavenly. It comes out steaming hot and as you dig your tortilla chip into it and take that first bite of delicious queso & pico de gallo, you swear that you will eat this and only this for the rest of your life. But wait...! You take that second chip and dig in again...only to be met with the most exciting surprise ever: yummy guacamole is hiding at the bottom!! And you thought a good thing just couldn't get better. And they're open late!
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