CR W.
Yelp
Waterloo Icehouse on HW 360/2222 is an Austin icon, standing strong in the face of the city's hipster influx. I always get Migas with egg beaters and a beer for breakfast (as healthy as I get, and happy hour is fluid, literally). I always find myself in a delightful throwback to an Austin that predates the invasion of beta males from California in skinny jeans and "man" buns. It's a refreshing scene, especially when compared to the usual parade of angry purple-haired girls with facial piercings that look like the aftermath of a passionate encounter with a tackle box, as you can find in many newer establishments in Austin nowadays.
Amidst this nostalgic setting and solid human service, our service was augmented by a robot waiter - a fascinating blend of old-school charm and futuristic coldness (she did say y'all). This attentive automaton, however, met its match when my "older" friend tried to coax it into refilling his coffee and fetching more syrup. Despite his earnest efforts, the robot remained steadfast on the script, leading to amusingly futile interactions. I love technology!
What's endearing about Waterloo is its ability to straddle different eras of Austin. It's where day drinkers, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs share space with well-behaved kids (thanks to a lifesaving playscape and Riddilin) and their Westlake tennis moms coming in for Xanax and Chardonnay at 9 AM. And where the spirit of 'Old Austin' is palpable. Here, amidst a diverse crowd, the purple-haired and pierced stand out as colorful reminders of the city's evolving identity.
In summary, Waterloo Icehouse is not just a dining spot; it's a slice of Austin's history (It's also my goto breakfast place for Migas), a refuge from the trendy, and a place where you can enjoy a good meal, a great beer, and an occasional laugh at the expense of a well-meaning robot server. It's a reminder of the days when Austin was a little less polished, a bit more quirky, but always welcoming.