Restaurant in Minneapolis, United States
No-fuss diner brunch, skip the Uptown wait.
The Bad Waitress is a casual, diner-style brunch spot in South Minneapolis at 2 E 26th St, built for no-fuss weekend mornings without a reservation headache. It skips the ambition of destination kitchens and delivers consistent comfort eating at an accessible price point. Easy to book and welcoming for solo diners, it is the right call when you want a reliable neighbourhood breakfast without the scene.
If you are looking for a no-fuss, diner-style brunch spot in Minneapolis that skips the pretension of the Uptown scene, The Bad Waitress at 2 E 26th St is worth a first visit. It occupies a different lane than polished weekend brunch destinations like Spoon & Stable or the creative-leaning Hai Hai — this is casual, direct comfort eating, not a showcase kitchen. If that is what you need on a weekend morning, book it. If you want something more ambitious, look elsewhere in the city.
The name is part of the identity: The Bad Waitress leans into a diner-counter culture that feels deliberately unpretentious. The Minneapolis brunch circuit has plenty of options that chase trends, but this address has built a following by staying consistent with a relaxed, come-as-you-are approach. For a first visit, the format is simple — walk in, find a seat, order off a menu built around familiar breakfast and brunch staples. There is no dress code, no tasting menu pressure, and no need to plan weeks ahead. Booking difficulty here is easy, which already puts it ahead of harder-to-access spots like Owamni or 112 Eatery when you want a low-effort morning out.
Because venue data is limited, specific menu prices and hours are not confirmed here , check directly with the restaurant before visiting. What is clear from its reputation is that the price point sits firmly in the accessible, everyday-diner range, not the $30-per-head weekend brunch tier you find at destination spots.
For the format , morning and weekend service in a relaxed room , The Bad Waitress delivers what it promises. It is not competing with the ingredient-driven plates at Brasa Rotisserie or the refined room at 4801 S Minnehaha Dr. It is competing with every other diner-style brunch option in South Minneapolis, and its longevity in that neighbourhood suggests it holds its own. If you are new to Minneapolis and building a weekend itinerary, pair it with a walk through the surrounding streets and consult our full Minneapolis restaurants guide for the wider picture. For bars before or after, our Minneapolis bars guide covers the neighbourhood options well.
Solo diners will find the counter or casual seating format comfortable , there is no social pressure in a diner setting, and the easy booking means you are not committing weeks out for a table of one.
Quick reference: Casual dress, easy to book, accessible price point, South Minneapolis location at 2 E 26th St.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bad Waitress | — | ||
| Kincaid’s | — | ||
| 112 Eatery | — | ||
| Brasa Rotisserie | — | ||
| Lobby Bar at the Peninsula | — | ||
| Punch Neapolitan Pizza | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Come as you are. The Bad Waitress at 2 E 26th St runs a diner-counter format that has no dress expectation beyond being comfortable. Jeans, a hoodie, or whatever you wore to run errands will fit right in. This is not a place where outfit choice affects your experience.
Yes, and it is one of the better solo options in the Minneapolis brunch category. The counter-style setup at 2 E 26th St means a single seat is easy to fill and you are not made to feel like a table is being wasted on you. If solo brunch with a book or a laptop sounds right, this format suits it better than most sit-down spots.
The name signals the attitude: deliberately low-key, diner-rooted, and not trying to impress you. It sits at 2 E 26th St in Minneapolis, outside the noisier Uptown cluster, which keeps the vibe calmer on weekends. Go expecting a straightforward morning meal, not a destination-dining event, and it will deliver on that promise.
Pricing varies at The Bad Waitress; confirm via check the venue's official channels.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
