The Tendermaid

The Tendermaid "The spoon isn't for the milk shake. It's for the burger." Owned by Gary & Sara White of Austin. No, she means with the burger. Why?
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Voted one of the 12 Best Burger Spots in Minnesota on Thrillist in 2015

You may have read a little something about “lose-meat” sandwiches in our round-up of the 21 best Midwestern foods, and while we’re not really sure if this constitutes a proper "burger", it’s close enough to mention here because people go bonkers for this thing, and if you give it a try, you’ll quickly understand why. --Thrillist

Voted #14 in the Minnesota Monthly Best Burgers of 2008

14 - Tender Maid Sandwich Shop
Inherent Awesomeness: 32
“You want a spoon with that?” asks the nice lady behind the counter at Tender Maid. If you’ve never been here before, you’ll think she’s asking if you want a spoon with your milk shake. It’s loose meat, meaning that it’s filled with steamed crumbles of beef, kind of like a Sloppy Joe without the sauce. Of course, you can pick up the whole burger in its wax-paper wrapper and shove it in your mouth without the spoon. If you do, you’ll experience the simple, unadorned taste that people have been wild about since 1938. But, really: Put the burger down and use the spoon. When else in life are you going to get the chance to eat a burger with a spoon? --Minnesota Monthly

Hang yer hat and take a seat!
09/11/2026

Hang yer hat and take a seat!

09/07/2026

We hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing Labor Day! 🇺🇸

The Tendermaid team is taking a break as well, so we’ll be closed today to relax and recharge.

We’ll be back at it tomorrow, ready to serve up your favorites! 🍔❤️

🎨 Festival folks! We are OPEN today! 🎉We’re taking orders through our window so we can serve as many customers as quickl...
08/30/2026

🎨 Festival folks! We are OPEN today! 🎉

We’re taking orders through our window so we can serve as many customers as quickly as possible. We have plenty of outdoor seating available, too! ☀️

Indoor dining resumes tomorrow!

A huge thank you to the Austin ArtWorks Festival, part of Austin Area Arts team and all the amazing volunteers for the time and effort you put into making this such a wonderful festival for our community! ❤️

08/25/2026

Love the Chuck Norris comments, you guys! 😂❤️🍔🍧🌭

Hey! We just realized we have yet to formally introduce ourselves here on the Tendermaid page. So, hi! 👋 We’re ...
08/24/2026

Hey! We just realized we have yet to formally introduce ourselves here on the Tendermaid page. So, hi! 👋 We’re Zach and Betsy Morem — the newest caretakers of The Tendermaid as of April 2025. ❤️

A little bit about us…

Zach is an Austin native and has been a Tendermaid patron since he was little. After graduating high school, he left Austin for college and eventually spent more than a decade away from home, traveling, working, and seeing a whole lot of the world along the way. But like many Austin natives, home kept calling. Zach returned to Austin in 2015 and has been putting down roots here ever since.

Zach spent many years in the restaurant industry, with his very first job at The Old Mill, where he learned the ropes from someone who would become a dear friend, Dave Forland. His love of the restaurant business and his connection to Austin made The Tendermaid feel like a pretty special fit. You’ll find Zach in the diner most days of the week. And when he isn’t working, you might find him dressed up in a fun outfit like the one in this photo. 😄

Betsy — well, I’m not from SPAM Town. 😉 I’m from a small community called Olivia, MN, where CORN is king. 🌽 I moved from Minneapolis to Austin in 2017 after meeting Zach and quickly fell in love with this community. I work full-time as a CPA and also co-own another local business, The MOD Medspa. So while you may not see me in the diner as often, I’m definitely working behind the scenes.

Getting the opportunity to care for The Tendermaid is incredibly special to both of us. We’ve always had a love for history, nostalgia, and the stories that make a community unique. The Tendermaid is such a special piece of Austin’s history, and we feel incredibly lucky to be entrusted with its next chapter.

We don’t see ourselves as simply “owners” of The Tendermaid. We really do feel like caretakers of something that belongs to the community — a place that generations of Austin families, travelers, and visitors have walked through the doors of for nearly 90 years.

Thank you for welcoming us, supporting us, and continuing to walk through these doors. We’re so grateful to be here. ❤️

— Zach & Betsy

This customer pulled up in style 😎
08/11/2026

This customer pulled up in style 😎

Today marks 88 years of the Tendermaid.A lot has changed in the world over the past 88 years. But here at the Tendermaid...
08/06/2026

Today marks 88 years of the Tendermaid.

A lot has changed in the world over the past 88 years. But here at the Tendermaid, much has stayed the same. The same building. The same counter stools. The same recipe.

Whether you've been coming here for decades or have yet to visit us, we hope there's one feeling everyone experiences when they walk through our doors: nostalgia.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. It has a way of transporting us back in time, reminding us of simpler days, familiar faces, and moments that matter. It makes us feel connected to our memories, to each other, and to our community.

Thank you for 88 wonderful years. It's an honor to be caretakers of this Austin tradition, and we hope the Tendermaid continues to feel like home for generations to come.

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Cheers to 250 Years! 🇺🇸

We're closed today so our team can celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙

07/03/2026
We love seeing a new generation being introduced to an old tradition. ❤️And remember: The spoon isn't for the milkshake,...
06/17/2026

We love seeing a new generation being introduced to an old tradition. ❤️

And remember: The spoon isn't for the milkshake, it's for the burger. 😉

Address

217 4th Avenue NE
Austin, MN
55912

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

+15074377907

Website

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