Vera's Restaurant
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: None
35 Reviews for Vera's Restaurant
I wanted to like Vera's but I was really underwhelmed. I don't really understand how this place is rated with only one $ sign cause my strawberry waffle was $8 by itself. Then add on another $3 for the not-included bacon and any drink and you're well over $11. So only expect one $ if you stick with the specials.
The waffle was tasty and the strawberries were sweet. Bacon was tasty like only bacon can be...but I just can't say $11 good. Service was somehow awkward, and I can't quite peg why.
I know it may be an unpopular thing to say...but it didn't knock my socks off.
Going out for breakfast after a night of a little too much to drink is the best. usually the food is good because of my lowered expectations. Upon walking into Vera's it reminds me of the Salmon Bay Cafe just around the corner, very similar food, and atmosphere.
I order up some drip, and some breakfast, hash browns and an omelet with a side of fruit, which takes an unusually long time? When I get my order the breakfast just doesn't seem to do it for me, kinda bland yet distinctly edible and filling. The best thing I had was the side of fruit, which was fresh and delicious.
I think you can find a much better breakfast most joints in Ballard, nothing to special about Vera's.
i love breakfast, and it usually doesn't take much to do breakfast well. i had high hopes for vera's after reading reviews. the food was ok, nothing better than i could cook myself however. the hash browns seriously lacked any flavor and the eggs were done in the most mediocre way i've tasted in awhile..
the atmosphere is lame, can't really think of a better way to describe it, uncomfortable chairs, slightly dingy walls and floors and free standing fans blowing right in your face...
the prices aren't cheap and for the same amount of dough you can go many other places and be impressed. i feel like i wasted a perfectly good breakfast out on an average diner.
How it all adds up at Vera's in Ballard- CONVENIENT FROM EVERYWHERE... according to me*
Salmon Benedict= Delicious and filling... check
Chicken Fried Steak= Perfect according to the Bro... check
Artichoke Omelet with Hollandaise sauce= Couldn't be better according to the Father... check
Good portions that fill you up but don't make you feel llike you are rolling out of the dive after you eat... check
The toast and potatoes aren't main attactions or try and overshadowthe main event but sides to round it all out... check
Constant good coffee refills offered with a smile... check
Country diner feel with great service and a sign that is NEON... check
Water always topped off... check
Cash not taken with sign clearly posted as you walk in and a couple ATM's within a couple minute walk... check
Basic menu with a few fun surprises and weekday breakfast specials... check
Hollandaise sauce that is thick and perfect... check
Has a counter with chair bolted in place and a large table seating area... check
FINDING A PLACE FOR A BREAKFAST OR LUNCH ANYTIME- SINGLE OR WITH A GROUP- THAT IS AMAZING... check- done done and done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Vera's has so many redeeming qualities! It's old school, the servings are huge but not disgusting, the menu has all the breakfast staples plus some delish and creative specials, fresh squeezed juice, fast and efficient staff, a counter, a central location, reasonable prices, and their toast rules. I think it's homemade bread and really thickly sliced.
Vera puts lots of vegetarian things on the menu, and despite being a diner, it's very possible to get a couple servings of vegetables into your breakfast via an omelette or scramble. Even if you have to wait to be seated at Vera's, it's never very long. I think it's because there's a good mix of seating options here, from counter seats for one to two tops to large round tables for groups.
They only take cash, but like I said, they're old school. It would really hurt if Ballard lost Vera's.
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I'm sitting here, at my new job which starts at an ungodly hour of the morning. And I am starving. I, smart girl that I am, left my ID and bank card in the pants I wore last night when I went out. Due to "the nature of the business" (concierge) being away from my desk from more than 10 minutes is frowned upon, so I cannot go home to get said ATM card.
But wait...my wallet still contains my check book, and Vera's actually takes checks! I wonder if they will whip me up some Eggs Benedict that I can just pick up and run back to my desk with?
OMFG They do to-go orders! YAY!!! I'm saved!
I like to actually eat in the restaurant, too. I savor their big ass bowl of perfectly cooked oatmeal served with a diminuitive pitcher of milk, raisins, brown sugar and butter. Yummmmm. I didn't think it would hold up very well for to-go, though.
Vera's is old school: a refreshing slice of pre-Microsoft Seattle, when breakfast was both delicious AND (relatively) affordable. From the grizzled fishermanly folk sitting at the counter to the $5.25 weekday breakfast specials, to the ludicrous plates of food which you can only eat three quarters of, Vera's feels like its from a long past happier time. What is definitely not from the past is the weekend specials menu - a few of my favorite selections were the artichoke omelet with hollandaise sauce and the house smoked salmon Benedict. If I lived in Ballard, I would probably eat here once a week. As things are, I plan to make a monthly(ish) habit of shuttling myself out to Ballard for some fresh blueberry waffles and a touch of nostalgia.
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I'm gonna go ahead and give Vera's 5 stars. I always feel good when I eat breakfast there. I can never decide which variety of benedict to get. Go with a large group and sit at a round table for 7. Make sure to appreciate the eclectic staff. Drink lots of coffee and don't forget the orange juice is FRESH SQUEEZED. Bring cash! Hurrah for Vera's. Here's hoping it's not shut down and knocked over for some more unnecessary condos.
Vera's is a great breakfast place and fits Ballard's personality to a "T".
The exterior masks how large the place is and the menu is that of a really good Diner.
I think what truly stands out is that there is zero pretension. If anything, someone going in there with false airs would feel unwelcome by both customers and staff alike.
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Vera's always serves me overwhelmingly filling breakfasts and perfect sandwiches. Huge portions, cheerful diner atmosphere and kind wait-staff. I also appreciate the prompt takeout service. Everything vegetarian on the menu is delicious; I've tried it all!
I only wish they were open past 3pm!
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Enjoyed a yummy breakfast here Sunday morning. Rolled in shortly after 9 AM & was surprised to see only half the tables taken. My smoked salmon Benedict ($10.95) was flavorful, hubby's Italian sausage omelet ($9.95) was tasty. Coffee was something like $2.40, is that a lot these days for a cup 'o joe? Service was prompt & efficient, the food came out a teensy bit too fast (can you believe someone is 'complaining'?) our hash-browns, my muffins & the cheese topping his omelet could'a spent another few seconds on the grill. Yet heck, if it can't be Perfect, it was still scrumptious & lickity-split is better than glacier-slow :-)
We'll be back & next time I won't be such a dork & pull out of my excellent parking space to realize too late - doh - Ballard Sunday Market was underway & I should'a stuck around & bought some flowers :-)
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Good if you live in Ballard. Not really worth the drive down there, but used to go there all the time. Strawberry waffle is great! It sucks that it's expensive to add a side of meat to the waffle, but otherwise good.
Solid american breakfast food. I don't know how many times I walked past this place before finally walking on in to sample there breakfast fare.
Hearty large pancakes, crisp delicious bacon..pretty much everything I want out of a breakfast place. This is how I'd make breakfast if I could cook bacon at home and knew how to not burn pancakes.
If you like simple fare this is a place for you.
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Best smoked salmon benedict I have ever had. I don't eat beef but my boyfriend was thoroughly satisfied with his chicken fried steak, and he is an ex-chef. The salmon on my benedict was like a whole filet of salmon, and it tasted home-smoked. Not sure if it was, but it was tender and not too salty. Amazing. Great prompt service too. Convenient location. The only downer is that they don't take credit cards, but they do take local checks with ID and witnessing the ancient cash register they have makes it almost worth the hassle.
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Order simple fare, grab the paper from the back table, eat a great homemade meal, and pay by cash or check. Run, don't walk, to Vera's - a dying breed in Ballard as the dives and greasy spoons are overrun by the upscale yuppie establishments. My grandma loved going to Vera's for a cup of coffee in her final days. Go have a cuppa yourself and keep the place alive.
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Vera's is a Ballard institution, and for good reason. It has something for everyone (well, except food snobs) and the service is quick and professional. I love it that they have spacious booths and you aren't crammed on top of other people. Vera's is particularly wonderful if you have a weekday morning off and go there for the slightly smaller, inexpensive weekday breakfast specials. A totally comfortable place.
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I'm glad to have a diner in Ballard - don't get me wrong. Being from Jersey, I know that having a diner close at hand is super, super important. But there's just nothing that special about Vera's....it's comfortable and it's consistent but it's just...there.
The florescent lighting is a little undesirable. The food is basic - tastes a little store-bought, really. Big omelettes and other typical brunch options, but a bit pricey for the quality involved.
Always friendly service though.
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Vera's is where Capitol Hill hipster-bar meets small town diner. I know it's hard to imagine, but I don't know how else to describe it -- you go and it makes sense.
Everything tastes homemade--you're not going to find that many other places. The egg-hashbrown combo is great (huevos rancheros are definitely among the best in Seattle) and sweet breakfasts (at least the waffles) are excellent; I can see why you would come here for an all-around great neighborhood experience if you lived anywhere near Ballard.
FYI, I don't know if I've been to another place like this, but Vera's takes only cash and personal local checks.
Oh Vera, how I crave thee.
When I'm lucky enough to have a weekday morning off from work, Vera's is where I like to go for a real breakfast. No need to scan the entire menu. Just flip it over to the back side and simply pick either the A, B, or C breakfasts-- if memory serves, they're about $6 each. Not a gluttonous amount of food but just right, and no gut bomb hangover that you'd otherwise get at Denny's for your all-American breakfast. Top it off with a bottomless cup of coffee, and I am ready to rock my day. Or take a nap, which ever comes first.
Okay, it's probably the nap.
**P.S.-- The only con: They only take cash or check, so come prepared one way or the other!
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Some friends of mine recently came to visit from out of town, and as eager as they were to sample Seattle's exotic cuisines, by day three our stomachs were pleading for some normal, ordinary food. We happened to be in Ballard for the obligatory Archie McPhee/Cupcake Royale run, and decided that a lunchtime trip to Vera's was the best thing for our traumatized bellies.
Vera's is an unfussy, no-frills diner that serves your basic American cuisine: hamburgers, sandwiches, and hearty meat breakfasts. From the fake-wood paneling to the hand-lettered signs taped up behind the cash register, there's nothing fancy or pretentious about this joint, and therein lies its charm. The servers are friendly and attentive without being sugary. When I pointed out that I was missing a side dish, our waitress frowned, agreed, and dashed off to the kitchen to get a replacement.
I'm fond of the Bird in a Bush, which is embarrassing to order but also delicious. It's nothing fancy --- a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, cream cheese, and sprouts --- but it's so good, it's worth the humiliation of speaking its name. The gyro isn't the best I've ever had, but it comes generously stuffed with tender, well-seasoned meat, and the tzaziki sauce is very tasty. Their fries are always crispy and golden, never flaccid or overcooked. My dining companions were pleased with their grilled chicken pita sandwiches, waffles (the small-hole kind, not Belgian), and milkshakes.
I've never had a problem getting seated here, so it's easy to get in and out relatively quickly. Yes, it is kind of lame that they only take cash, but as long as you're aware of that going in, you can plan accordingly. Come on, you can handle it. It's worth hitting the ATM beforehand in order to enjoy their meatful, reasonably priced sandwiches and perfectly golden fries. Just because it's not exotic doesn't mean it's not special.
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You should at least try it once, even though it's all the way in Ballard. It's amazing and delicious at the same time!
It's a diner and prices are pretty darn good for breakfast. Their eggs benedict is one of my favorites. Basic toast, nothing fancy, just yummy.
Hit the ATM, it's cash only (like most good places)
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This is my favorite breakfast place in all of Seattle!
The Huevos Rancheros is to die for! It's so good my mouth waters in anticipation! It goes so well with a large glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice! The service at Veras is always fast, friendly and consistent. There is always someone filling your coffee and water at all times! The portions are very generous and you usually get a few pieces of fresh fruit with your meal. You may have to unbutton your pants if you manage to finish your hearty meal.
It has a neutral, country style decor with comfortable booths and tables. It's usually bustling with families and people looking for an excellent breakfast.
I will go back here again and again because I adore this place!
They only take cash here, so please make a stop at the ATM beforehand. They also have odd hours. They are not open in the evenings.
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When I think of breakfast food I think of biscuits and gravy. When i think of biscuits and gravy I think of Vera's. Never has a breakfast food left me speechless. It's on the "a la carte" menu near the front door and not on the menu they give you. You get two fluffy biscuits smothered in classic white gravy with sausage chunks.
OH LORD.
I cant continue. Just go there yourself.
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This is what a cafe should be, namely family owned, not a chain, with good food and good prices.
I had the greek omelette, which was very tasty-my service was good (i.e. the waitress was quick, friendly but not too friendly)....highly recommended. Next time I'm in Ballard and am looking for some good breakfast grub, I'm going to come back.
Cons: (only reason they don't get 5 stars).............don't accept credit/debit..........need to take more care of cleaning the place up
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Vera's is a great place for a hearty, reasonable breakfast. The service is quick. Servers are friendly and always keeps your water glass full and your coffee piping hot. The atmosphere is open and has classic diner touches with booths and a wide variety of clientel. Despite the tray ceiling the place feels homey; it is bright and cheery.
A great place to meet friends for breakfast any time of day.
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Let me get this straight, Vera's: you are with the times enough to realize you can get away with charging nine dollars for a taco salad, but you can't be bothered to get a debit card machine?
Than Bros I'll get cash for, because I see how the low overhead benefits us all. But for you? I think not.
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I thought that the food was pretty good. They had 86'd the chicken fried steak, for which i was deeply saddened. So I kicked off the New Year with a plate of corned beef hash, which was very tasty, quite crispy and crunchy. There was nothing remarkable about the food other than it was served hot, it was filling, and good. I never had to ask, they kept the coffee cup full...which is all that one can ask for. JR
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I've been frequenting Vera's for lunch for....shoot...3 or 4 years. There is one thing about this restaurant that makes it far superior to anything around. IT TAKES CHECKS.
I have it calculated that if my bank account is overdrawn, I can go to Vera's on a Wednesday, write a bad check, and it definitely will not go through until the begining of the next week. AWESOME! I've never had a check bounce from them, and trust me...I've written some bad ones over the years.
Oh yeah, the food. It's better than Dennys, healthier than Beths, less greasy than Dicks, and portions comperable to Shari's on steroids. Don't expect special seasoning on your fries or a gourmet basil aioli sauce on your cheeseburger. You want eggs and hash browns, you get eggs and hash browns. A little bit better than you can make at home, but with none of the effort. All food is exactly as it is written on the menu. The "side salad" is a little blah...pretty much just lettuce and dressing (no lie) but you can ask for cheese, carrots, and other stuff on it for no charge.
I recommend the Veggie Something sandwhich on 9 grain bread. It has sprouts, avocado, tomato, CREAM CHEESE, cucumber, and some other stuff that makes it taste good. Swiss cheese? Man, I just ate it a few hours ago and I already forgot.
And props to whoever makes them put fruit on the plate with every meal. Americans need more fruit.
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Ever craved diner food, hit the local greasy spoon, then walked away feeling somehow empty inside? That won't happen at Vera's. All your diner favorites are here, without the extra grease, soggy buns & fries, and gastro-intestinal distress so common at other places.
Vera's has the best bacon cheeseburger in town, and the french fries are always crisp and golden brown. Any of the grilled sandwiches are also excellent, as well as the specialty eggs benedict dishes (salmon or spinach) and the Monte Cristo. Portions are more than generous, and most come with a garnish of fresh fruits (kiwi, banana, orange, etc.). The waitstaff is friendly and generally attentive, especially when they get to know you, and even when it gets busy they do their best to keep your cup full of joe. Prices may be slightly higher than some places, but for me the quality of the food is worth an extra buck or two. The best time to go for fast service is between the breakfast and lunch rushes, between 10 and 11:30.
I suppose I ought to smear the place so that I can get a table faster, but honor demands giving credit where it's due. I've never posted a review like this before, but the folks at Vera's deserve some recognition for their fine work. I just wish they stayed open later than early afternoon.
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I like good Eggs Benedict dishes and Vera's has the best in my opinion. In addition to Eggs Benedict they have: Smoked King Salmon (My favorite), Spinach, and Isernios Chicken Sausage Benedict (Second favorite). All served with great hash browns that are actually browned on both sides, and fruit. And of course like any benedict, topped with hollandaise sauce. My wife once said, and I agree with her, that you could put hollandaise sauce on shoe leather and it would taste good. Vera's takes cash and I believe, checks but no debit or credit cards.
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I know people who won't go near this place - not "gentrified" enough I guess. I laugh and call them snobs and go park myself at the counter and order some good old fashioned Americana food. If Vera's ever shuts down, Ballard can officially be called pretentious.
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Bah. Overpriced and mediocre food. Go get the Early Bird Special at Hattie's Hat for better food and a heavier wallet.
I usually love the diner experience and I am fine with "dives" but I have had a few bad experiences here. The wait staff has been rude and the food was certainly nothing special. Yes, the portions were the usual F.A.S. (Fat American Size) so you will be full at least.
Both times I went were during the busy breakfast rush, so maybe it's better to go for lunch. Oh yeah, when I was there last NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, not sure about checks (?).
The best thing about Vera's is the awesome neon sign out front (a listing of Seattle's Best Signs is coming soon)
Okay, so as I've mentioned before I'm a cheap Yankee, and I just can't understand why anyone would pay more than a dollar for a coffee, or Vera's prices for a greasy spoon breakfast. Other than that, it's a pretty good place, although there is usually a long line on weekends.
Like most things, this is a favorite because I can walk to it. Perfect hangover breakfasts.
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