Papa’s Cafe

The breakfast food is just ok, but the biscuits are the bomb! Our food took forever to come out and my food was only warm by the time I got it. Also, the place was super crowded and kind of a mess. I would not return.

I arrived at 1230 on a Thursday for lunch, and there were lots of people there, so I figured it would be a good spot. I sat down at the counter and got nothing for 20 minutes — no greeting, no menu, no service, no nothing. At least 5 waitresses and 2 cooks saw me sitting there — they just kept doing what they were doing. I got up and left, and still no one said anything. Maybe I’m invisible?

Papa’s Café is a tiny gem hidden in a strip mall in HArker Heights, it looks small but when you walk in the atmosphere is anything but small. Loud chaos, customers and staff are on a first name basis and everyone seems to be in good spirits! There aren’t any booths to give it that small town diner feeling, but tables work well for anyone. There is a coffee counter with swivel stools, I was excited to see, because it’s my favorite spot to sit where I can see the magic happen. Menu prices and selection are terrific and I love breakfast, so I was extremely excited to see «Breakfast All Day» on the front of their menu. There is a great selection to choose from whether you want breakfast, appetizers, salads and low carb, steaks, seafood or even burgers. Papa’s seems to have it all! There is a kiddie menu as well as a senior menu for the young and the young at heart.

A pretty good impression of how diners were back in the old days. It’s always packed with people and mostly everyone comes here on a daily basis. From the two times I’ve been here, I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of food served for such low prices. Like by far the best deal you can get for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The services are really casual, like personal but not formal. They are polite people and really have a personality, and I loved it.
They have breakfast all day, so for all you breakfast lovers this is your spot.
Everything I’ve ever ordered were always fresh and hot and cooked on the spot.
There daily deals are amazingly cheap for a lot of things you can get at ihop or dennys for more of the price.

We’ve eaten here a bunch of times and the food has been great. The issue is with the service and it’s getting worse. It was busy today but we sat down and we’re basically ignored. 10 mins after we sat down an older couple came in and asked to share our table (it was the only one avail when we came in) we said «sure» and they sat down. Within 30 seconds a waitress come over with cups coffee for them greeted them and walked off. We just sort of sat there in awe. The gentlemen made the correct assumption that we hadn’t been waited on (or even offered a menu yet) and went up to the waitress and told her. She couldn’t have cared less and just went off to other tables and ignored us for another 5 minutes until we left. During the 15 minutes we were there we saw 3 other couples leave (1 was even after they had ordered but had been waiting forever for their food). They must be making too much money if they can just allow customers to walk out due to such poor service. My suggestion would be to hire more servers or replace the ones you have if they are this inefficient. Sad, as we like the place but it has definitely gone way downhill on the service side. We won’t be back.

Ok I will begin this review by saying if your in a hurry for breakfast on the weekend this is not your place. If your looking for a quiet, super clean, fancy place this is not it. If you don’t mind waiting, being packed, able to hear others conversations then go!
I have been to Papa’s twice. I drove from Temple just to have breakfast. Both times it’s been worth the wait and interesting folks that go there! The cooks are awesome however the waitresses can’t keep up. There is no leadership and you never know who is doing what. Once the food arrives loosen your pants! This past Saturday I got a country fried steak skillet. It came smoking HOT and was a belt buster. My buddy couldn’t finish his HUGE pancakes.
End of story if your hungry and want really good comfort breakfast GO HERE!

Always busy great prices food. Mornings can be busy
Great & PA type place. Sometimes servers get really busy but are nice if you signal them if you need something. They look put for each other work well together.

Some of the best biscuits in Texas! My wife and I were house sitting and decided to find a local breakfast spot for Saturday morning. Unilocal lead us to Papa’s Café. As others have said this is very much a mom and pop café and is organized and run as such, for the better. Claudia was our waitress and kept our coffee topped off as we wanted. I ordered the Belgian waffle with some eggs and bacon and my wife ordered eggs with hash-​browns, sausage, and biscuits. My waffle was very good, one of the better ones I have had recently. My scrambled eggs were good and bacon was crispy like I like it and not greasy. My wife’s meal must have been good because it was gone quicker than mine. We split the two biscuits and I am so thankful we did as they are big, soft, and not dry. A little butter and jam on them help make them the perfect companion to polishing off our cups of coffee.
Being a mom and pop café they support the local community and veterans. We witnessed them honor a local Vietnam vet as they gave him a «Quilt of Valor» in recognition for his service. They do this every third Saturday of the month and I am so glad we were present for it.
So if you want to eat some where with memorable décor or wide open spaces, this is not your café. However, if you want to support a hard working local business with great food, solid staff, and an opportunity to talk to some fellow residents, Papa’s Café is where you want to go.

Just went here with my husband. The place when you walk in is just tables scattered out throughout the place. It’s a very mom and pop run kinda feel when you walk in. I ordered the country skillet it has chicken fried steak, home fries, scrambled egg and is covered with gravy served with a side of biscuits. I loved the gravy and potatoes. They eggs were a little too runny for my taste and the chicken fried steak wasn’t a hit either. Their biscuits were delicious nice and flaky and buttery, just the at biscuits should be made and taste. I also ordered a glass of orange juice and it tasted like it had some dish soap left over in the cup and it wasn’t fresh orange juice it tasted like it was sunny delight. My husband had two over easy eggs, hash browns and toast. He just had a water, which also had the taste of dish soap in it. His meal over all was really good. Everything was cooked the way it should be and was very tasty.
We will be returning, next time I go I will just order the biscuits and gravy.

I always wondered what was the hype all about this restaurant. So my husband and I tried it one day. The service was very slow, place needs some cleaning… The food wasn’t that great at all, and even cold when given to us… Way too much clutter behind the counter, and the sliced lemons weren’t even enclosed nor on ice!!!

Great catfish! The food is excellent old time café food at a great price. Breakfast is also priced right. Service is good!

I love this place! The biscuits and gravy are so good! I just wish they had more seating, some times the line is out the door and you have to share tables. But the staff is super friendly.

Breakfast or lunch or dinner? So many options to pick from. I wish this place was larger, almost every time I’m here it seems like a nice big crowd.

Fantastic food. Great service. The waitress went above and beyond to give me and my four kids a great Valentine’s Day dinner.

The same excellent service the second time around, only this time I got the two egg breakfast with 1 meat for a little under $ 6.50. It came with eggs, choice of potatoes or grits, meat and choice of a bread. I had my eggs scrambled, which came out really great. The hashbrowns were cooked to a nice crisp, the two sausage links were plump and tasty, and the english muffin was grilled and tasted like a fried butter sandwich. I will be a regular here.

Old fashioned mom and pop type café. All American food, with breakfast served all day. And the prices are excellent! I had the fried catfish, and hubs had the chicken fried steak. Remember, this is not fancy food, but good basic food! And sometimes, that is the best!

This place is really great for a breakfast. Very reasonable prices. I used to love eating here with my family or after a big night of partying in Austin. This place great for breakfast or lunch.

This place is excellent. Local restaurant with great food and great service. Very reasonable prices and good portion sizes. A wonderful place to bring out if town guests.

If you’re looking for a great casual, well-​lit, friendly diner for cheap, basic, comfort-​type food, then this is your place!
Disclaimer for the foodies out there: This isn’t gourmet.
However, we enjoy coming here occasionally with the kiddos for breakfast (note: ginormous fluffy delicious pancakes!!)
We’ve also been here for lunch and dinner… eh. They have daily specials, but I usually just get the catfish plate. LOVE the sweet iced tea!

Unfortunately my girlfriend and I both sick afterwards.
** The service
The service was mediocre. Our waitress was very nice, however we asked for a little bit more time and she disappeared for nearly 10 – 15 minutes. We couldn’t find her to wave her down and it is a small diner. After she did take our order however, she was more attentive.
**The Food
I had the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes and green beans with a side of beef and vegetable soup. The soup was actually quite good. It had very good and robust flavors and they did not skimp on the vegetables. The chicken fried steak was decent, and filled me up as I hoped. The mast potatoes and green beans seemed to be just out of a can or box.
Unfortunately, we both got sick less than an hour after eating here so I have to give it one star. If we didn’t get sick it would have been 3, not good, but not bad.