Since starting as a food truck in 2015 and transitioning to a crowded East Side brick-and-mortar in 2020, Paperboy has reigned over Austin’s brunch scene. So good luck getting a last-minute weekend reservation at the newer South Lamar location, where tables also tend to book out weeks in advance. Fortunately, you’re still in good hands with this burgeoning Austin classic. The menu is identical to its predecessor, and so are the easygoing vibes. Even on a Wednesday morning, the place might be packed, with tables covered in bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches and other delicious brunch dishes that helped make Paperboy such a worthy destination. Paperboy 3.0 is located at the bottom of a luxury apartment building, but it doesn’t succumb to the soullessness that setting implies. A fun, carefree spirit runs throughout the restaurant—you can sense it as soon as you approach the shaded ground-floor patio. If you’re here solo, post up at the walk-in-only bar for a quintessential diner experience. With a group, a seat at one of the indoor tables feels like you’re at the center of it all. In truth, Paperboy’s unyielding popularity overtakes its quality, if only because you can sense how much of the crowd has flocked here because it’s a “cool” place to be. But even with a bit of overhype, this daytime spot is ideal for a brunch that’s meant to be more special than your average Saturday meetup. None of it’s worth a two-hour wait, but is anything? As long as you make a reservation well in advance, there’s nothing to regret.