Seton Medical Center Cafeteria

I felt so dirty and uncomfortable when I was being treated in the ER. The bed they had me lay on had worn out sheets with holes in them, their «warming blanket» was stained with blood (I took pictures) and their «information board» was not correct. I did not know who where the doctors who where assigned to me or supposed to treat me. I received a survey as soon as I left the hospital that I informed them of my horrid stay and asked to be contacted. No one has contacted me and all they want «after my insurance has paid» my co-​insurance for a sub par service. I still have not received a resolution to my concerns as of today. I was treated back in late January. Do not go to this facility. Stay away! I will be using urgent cares more than ER’s from now on…

place was a little dirty. parking more difficult around the medical center. construction and traffic makes it a little annoying. ive been looking for a center where i could have surgery and my surgeon has privileges here. not my first choice but i’ll go where my doc is.

I eat here only when I have no choice. The prices are ridiculous and their menu is improving year to year at turtle speed. They tend to use yesterday’s leftovers the next day which I’ve heard from multiple people.
(I myself have bought food only to throw it away in disgust.)
They are under staffed and if you go after 11:15am expect to wait at least 10 – 20 minutes for your grill ordered items. Whomever comes up with the daily menu lacks imagination. It’s the same food over and over and over and over… you get my drift. I love the staff and I know they work hard but someone has got to stop and think about making their staff and visitors happy.
It’s a depressing day when I have to eat here…

who recommends hospital food… me!
great prices too and food made to order quickly!
menu items always changing and servings are enough for me.

Seton Cafeteria is better than most of the hospital cafeterias I’ve eaten at in Austin, and I’ve eaten at Brack, St David’s, and the joke of them all, South Austin Hospital.
Sure, they have their turkeys now and again. Every restaurant does, including 5-​stars. For example, my mom had to throw out the squash I brought her last night because they decided to season it with bay leaves. Yuck! And the fries are almost always cold.
Then again, here are the things we über-​enjoyed this week:
1) Floyd’s burgers. Yes, they grill burgers at noon and supper, but when Floyd’s on the grill, somehow they always taste better. He says it’s in the seasoning, but I don’t care. They are damn good burgers for only $ 2.15.
2) Floyd’s migas. This is Floyd’s breakfast sensation. I’m a die hard Trudy’s migas fan, and nothing else will do. Until this week. Floyd makes a mean batch of migas. No, they’re not like Trudy’s, but they are damn good. For a few brief moments until they’re gone, you won’t even miss Trudy’s.
3) Floyd’s chicken-​quesadillas. You wind up with this nearly inch thick chicken stuffed quesadilla with bell peppers, onions, jalapenos, cheese, and, oh yeah, chicken breast strips. One of their best values on the menu for $ 3.25.
4) Onion rings. Sure, they’re probably just Ore-​Ida, but they’re not greasy and cooked to perfection.
5) Cakes. This week, they had a reasonable Tiramisu, and a delicious carrot, white buttercream coconut, and lemon cake, among others.
6) BBQ brisket. No, I won’t go back to my diatribes about BBQ places, but this brisket was lean, tasty, and not chewy. And the sides I pcked to go with it were great.
7) Whipped sweet potatoes. Whipping sweet potatoes should be against the law, but this place makes law abiding seem silly. These had pecans in them and were delish.
8) Curly fries. If you can get ‘em right as they come out of the fryer and run through the cashier lines before the overhead air vents can do the 10^th Avenue Freeze Out to them, they’re crispy and terrific.
9) Grilled cheese. ‘Nuff said.
10) BLT. Early in the morning. Tons of bacon, lettuce, and tomato. A couple of bucks and change.
If you aren’t careful about what you buy, this place can cost you as much as a trip across the street to Boston Market. But if you are stuck in the hospital long hours without the energy to truck that far to eat, they’ll fill you up. I do have a bit of concern that some of their items may drum up business for their cardiac ward, but so long as you alternate with the soup and salad bar and take Lipitor, you should be just fine.
I made a joke to one of the OR nurses while I had a friend on the phone. I told my friend that she needed to come to Seton just to eat. At which point, the nurse whipped around, smiled at me, and said «That would be a no!»
A couple of closing notes:
1) Floyd is usually on there for breakfast and lunch weekdays, so catch him early. He won’t be there at suppertime. But he was there this weekend, and cooked Sunday night. Go figure.
2) If Floyd seems a little grumpy, that’s not the case. The man really takes a lot of pride in running a top-​notch grill, in the flavor of the food he serves, and in the loyalty of his customers. He hates it even when the tortillas run out mid-​stream and he has to abandon the grill to fetch more. He is the quintessential short-​order cook that gets no glory but has satisfied thousands in his lifetime. He’s a good man, and I barely know him other than from other side of the counter observations.
3) Prices are going up September 2, so check in while it’s still (relatively) cheap.
OK, revision, 4 stars, no equivocations.