Locally owned and operated by Brian Leszcynski, the diner has been serving the Hutto community with its wide range of comfort food since 2019.
On the menu
Whether it's for breakfast or lunch, Hippo Cafe tries to serve something for everybody. Customers will find a traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes; a hearty helping of biscuits and gravy; or sweeter items like french toast. Additionally, the cafe serves up salads, burgers, philly cheesesteaks, burritos and wings.
The restaurant also offers a menu of rotating specials. In mid-January, the list included a variety of crepes, huevos rancheros, meatloaf and a white chocolate french toast.
Leszcynski said he focuses on making sure meals at Hippo Cafe are made with the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients.
“Take our bacon—it’s Wright Bacon out of San Antonio and it’s cut on the thickest cut you can have," he said. "The average bacon costs around $0.26 a strip and ours is almost $0.89 a strip. So it’s all about the quality of the food and that kind of sets us apart.”
The background
Hippo Cafe started under previous owners Scott and Stacie Feller, opening in the same location as Hit the Spot Cafe about three weeks after it closed. After roughly a year, Leszcynski joined the team.
Leszcynski said he previously worked for Food Management Partners, assisting with corporate takeovers of restaurants.
“So if they were looking to buy, trim and get rid of a restaurant, that was me,” he said. “If there was a problem with the restaurant chain, I’m the one that took care of it.”
In March, Leszynski took full ownership of the restaurant. Having lived in Hutto with his wife and four sons for 19 years, he said he has no plans for the immediate future, except to continue to serve the community.
“I was ready to semi-retire and be done, and I pretty much built this into something that fits my retirement perfectly,” he said. “So it’s more of a passion.”
Respecting the craft
With much of his career centered around the food industry, Leszcynski understands the challenges of running a restaurant and starting a new business.
As a way to help aspiring restaurant owners and chefs, he allows local food trucks to take over the kitchen for special pop up events “to try brick-and-mortar.” For example, local food trucks The Pastrami Guy and A Touch by Tonya Soul Food operated out of the cafe for a four-night weekend in August 2024.
“It’s a way for the local guys to get out and kind of test the waters,” he said. “It’s a good way for them to make mistakes, because mistakes are very costly and this prevents that. I have the space and everything, so why not?”
- 109 E. Front St., Hutto
- www.hippocafe.com
