Bad Waitress451

If you don't like the service at Bad Waitress, you'll have no one to blame but yourself - irony-laced title notwithstanding, it's pretty much a self-serve diner.

Patrons use the slips and pencils on the tables to write up their own orders, submit them at the register and pay, and bus their tables when they're done eating. Kids are likely to enjoy that the tables are identified by pictures of superheroes rather than numbers, and writing up the order for the table can be fun, too. Borrow from the restaurant's selection of toys to keep little ones occupied while you wait for your food; highchairs and boosters are available upon request.

The breakfasts (served all day), desserts, and other diner mainstays are tasty, with large portions. Big, comfortable booths in the main section of the restaurant look out onto bustling Nicollet Avenue. There are a few seats at the counter as well.

Parents should be aware that Happy Hour promotions attract a big crowd - the place can seem more like a bar than a restaurant by early evening. Sunday brunch is the most family-friendly time to go, but careful what you wish for - the wait for a table might be 30 minutes or more, and the atmosphere can be pretty rowdy!