Today I made my second visit to Varsity. Both times were for breakfast, and the experience each time was less than stellar. However, despite the grubby building painted egg yolk yellow, the large window-lined windows do make the interior space appealing (even if it is shaped exactly like a railroad car). I was seated by a woman with a large and perhaps genuine smile pasted on her face. Breakfast is the focus of the menu, with lunch options not being offered until the relatively late time of noon. I ordered a routine breakfast of sirloin steak, eggs and hash browns. As I waited for my order I pondered why somebody talking on a cell phone in a restaurant can be annoying to people nearby. I mean, what's the difference between somebody talking on a cell phone and somebody holding a conversation with another person in the restaurant? In theory, it should be the same. But there is a distinction - it seems people on cell phones tend to speak louder, for whatever reasons. So yeah, I was not thrilled when the old college professor-type guy behind me was blathering on and on into his phone about the awesomeness of his 7 iron. My order was brought out in pretty good time. The sirloin steak was a boneless filet. I had asked for medium-well and it came out very rare. Still, I ate the rather tough meat without sending it back for further cooking. The hash browns had a heavy margarine flavor and greasy texture. Oh, and the coffee was terrible and the orange juice lukewarm and artificial tasting. The lady with the faux grin served me, but never came back. What was galling is that when she went around to the tables asking other patrons if they wanted refills, she looked directly at my empty water glass and said nothing. She did that twice! And that was like my experience here the first time - mediocre food and service. The only reason you might consider coming here for breakfast/brunch on the weekend is because there likely will not be a wait for a table. But you should ask yourself why there is not a wait for a table at Varsity. read more

You just don't find old time diners like this anymore. The food would get three stars, but the ambiance and family run aspect get them an extra glimmer from me. Its long and narrow and usually busy, with a nice view to the street and of the complicated parking. But its worth the effort. This has that innate charm that only comes with age and years of regular patrons. My burger was average but enjoyable. recommend. read more

I've been on a number of teams over the years, but this is the easiest time I've ever had making Varsity. Awful joke, but I'm afraid I don't get the tie-in as to why this restaurant is called the Varsity Inn. Then again, I suppose it doesn't have to make sense. As for the restaurant, it's basically an old school diner place. It has the feel, from the benches to the waitresses calling me "hon". Like with the best diners, they serve breakfast all day; all restaurants should do this. The waitress was a little slow taking orders: it's not that she herself was slow, it's just that she was the only waitress for the entire place (she was working the register, greeeting patrons, taking orders, cleaning tables). Since this was a meal before work, I went with the Denver omelette (with toast and hashbrowns) and some coffee. The good news is that the portions are generous. The toast was fine and the hashbrowns were basic unseasoned potatoes; easily cured with some pepper and tobasco. As for the omelette, I did have a few issues. The egg outer portion was very thin and immediately crumbled once touched, spilling the ham, onions and peppers onto the plate. It wasn't so much an omelette as a pile of ham and veggies. Which isn't so bad, I actually like those things. But as constructive criticism, they should fluff up the eggs more so that the outer shell is more substantive. Parking is on the street, but is easily accessible. This area of Wallingford tends to have more open spaces. Overall, it's basic diner fare serving all-day breakfast. read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The eggs are always perfect, the bacon waffles rock, and the coffee ain't half bad. Consistency is a good thing. Huge selection on the menu for breakfast and lunch. They close in the early afternoon, so this isn't a dinner venue. Expect a line if you get there between 8:30 and 10am on a weekend. Oh, and they now have free wi-fi! read more

Great diner with lots of options and friendly atmosphere. My fav is the breakfast burrito with chorizo and hash browns.

Very consistent diner. I won't say it's the best in Seattle but I've been coming here for years and the food is always hot and fresh, coffee is always tasty and refilled regularly, and service is friendly. What more can You ask for in a diner? Most recently I came on a Wednesday around 10 a.m. and it was completely empty. I decided to splurge so I ordered the blueberry pancake combo which comes with two huge, plate-sized pancakes, two eggs and two pieces of sausage(or bacon). I also ordered a side of hash browns because I'm very picky about them and am on a mission to find some that are cooked correctly. Pancakes were amazing and loaded with fresh blueberries. Sausage was yummy and eggs were cooked precisely how I ordered them. Sadly I did not like the hash browns. They were brown and crispy on the outside(yummy) but raw and uncooked inside. This is how they are served at almost every diner I frequent. Am I overly picky? Is this how they are supposed to be served? Maybe I just don't like hash browns. Despite the hash browns this is a very delicious little diner. Parking can be tricky but they do have designated spots right out front. They do fill up quickly though. Gas works park is within walking distance if you need to burn off some of those carbs you just ingested. read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - Blueberry pancake combo w/ a side of hash browns - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For being open during the day on New Year's Eve, that is a plus. This restaurant has a memento diner feel which is a disappearing trend in Seattle. The service is great and the food is given to you promptly. I enjoyed their pancake combo. The pancakes were just the right size and the protein portions are not too bad, either. My husband ordered the huevos ranchero and it was quite tasty, too. I would order more items next time I visit. After 11 for lunch, the Philly cheesesteak looks appetizing per the menu. read more

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Classic diner look and feel. Servers on our 2 visits have all been very nice. 1st time a little slow on the drink refills but better the 2nd time around. Eggs benedict (I got bacon instead of ham) was pretty good. Eggs were done right and liked the dish. Country benedict was what my wife got and that was also pretty good. Last time we got omelette (veggie) with egg whites. It was good but came out with the hash browns literally dropped on top which was weird. Bacon was also done really well thick and nice a crispy (not burnt) We also got a waffle to share which wasn't good really at all... I'd stick with the pancakes if I order them again as a side to share. read more

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The classic diner breakfast I've been looking for! Go for the classic 2 eggs, bacon, toast, hashbrowns, and pancakes!

This place is my favorite Seattle breakfast place. Not only is the food delicious and satisfying, but the staff are very attentive and kind. Their pricing is reasonable, especially compared to their portions. Highly recommend! read more

Service was terrible. Spoke with our waiter once. Meanwhile everyone else in the restaurant was helping so we never got a consistent face. Food was the worst. I had bacon, eggs, and hash browns. Didn't know you could mess them up but apparently it is very possible. The hash browns tasted like lighter fluid and were a strange consistency. Never going back Avoid if you like good food and service! read more

Good food , nice people ! The service alone willl keep you coming back to this place !

Been coming here for years-- mostly for breakfast! Their omelettes are fabulous, so are the hash browns.. great selection of breakfast dishes. One problem is that I am disabled, and walking is difficult for me. The on-street parking surrounding the restaurant is uneven, gravel, mud, etc. and a little harder for me to traverse. But worth it for the great egg dishes. Cheerful service. read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - Love the omelettes and hash browns at the Varsity Inn! - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Seattle is constantly growing and looks different year after year. The beautiful thing of Varsity Inn is that it's the classic diner spot IN the city.. it's hard to find something as homey as this anymore. The food is great - exactly the classic breakfast you want. Great portions, too. The staff and team are amazing and so friendly. Don't forget to call ahead to ask for daily specials! read more

As a veteran eater of ham and cheese omelettes, I can attest that the BACON and CHEESE three-egg omelette is totally outstanding. The staff was almost too happy.......really great service. 5-star fo sho read more

Great breakfast! Friendly and prompt. Clean and safe- we are visiting from Texas- we will be back

Coffee was fine after seating ourselves. Place is clean and looks to be run by people who don't want to get dirty. Was willing to substitute the two eggs that come with the French toast... Why? Aren't there enough eggs on the French toast? But they did substitute for hash browns. Still waiting for a coffee refill on their under sized coffee cups.. Food looks just fine, except for the French toast was a little on the small side for us French toast lovers. Airline silverware makes me feel I'm eating at Toys R Us Overall food and coffee were just fine the environment was just fine the location was just fine, hence, I give a just fine rating. I'll be back again probably because it's a great location and its clean and it's edible. price was just fine. fine fine fine. read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm 30 and I've been coming here since I was in 6th grade. Best pancakes in town and I don't care about those hipster places on the Cap Hill and Ballard (yeah, I've been to plenty of those). Coffee is standard, eggs always done right, and any breakfast special involving Mexican food is spot on! read more

This place gets four stars for what it is - A DINER. This isn't your trendy, wait in line outside for an hour breakfast place. This is a good old fashioned diner. The kind you'd expect to find in the middle of nowhere on a road trip. For that, I love it. Flavors are classic and portions are large. Also, you can literally roll out of bed looking like a hot mess and come in for breakfast and not feel out of place. That is a win in my book. read more

BACON WAFFLES = Heaven BACON WAFFLES + Maple Syrup = Paradise in Heaven Ohai I'm getting chubby cuz I can haz bacon waffles @ Varsity Inn! Diner style dining. Down to earth & welcoming staff. Gooood fooooood! What's not to like? read more

you see all those 4 and 5 star reviews? You should probably just ignore them. This is easiest the worst breakfast I have had in Seattle! The food was soooooooo bland. I got the biscuits and gravy with eggs and hash browns. The gravy was bland and the biscuits were rubbery. Easily the worst part of my meal. The biscuits were almost inedible. It's really hard to try and put into words the taste and texture, just avoid them. The hash browns were so horrible I could only eat them by drenching them in ketchup. And let me tell you, I hate ketchup on my hash browns! Great location near gas work. But HORRIBLE food. read more

Great food and service beyond any I have ever seen. My mom had a bite of her juevos rancheros and had a look of had a very rare look of total satisfaction on her face. The owner- a lovely and genuine person explained that the cooks did incredible things with food they love. And we loved it too! read more

I really like this place for breakfast and have been going here for years. It's the closest thing to a diner that we have around here, especially because of how inexpensive it is. The staff is always wonderful, without exception; you feel welcome, your coffee cup is always full. Good times. Try the pancakes! If you're looking for good morning grub without spending a ton of money, this is your place. read more

This All American Diner is winning My Heart right now! And its close to Gas works park! I'm a happy little kid at this current Momment :) read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I know this place already has an amazing reputation, but I felt like I needed to share even further! Our servers were so friendly and sweet, and the food is insanely good. Perfect for anything. And I mean anything. Breakfast anyways read more

It seems like the reviews for 3 stars and less are a bit cynical and seem to want this place to be a trendier restaurant. In reality, this is a family-run business that is unassuming and casual. It reminds me of diners that I used to go to in Denver, where food is less of an affair while still being good. To compare it to Denny's or IHOP is a complete disservice as the food is fresher, much more flavorful, and the servers and owners actually want to please you instead of get you in and out the door, your money in their hands. This is a good place to go for a low-pressure and relaxing breakfast. The service is relatively fast, water glasses and coffee mugs are always full, and the friendly atmosphere is ever present. As far as those with a sweet tooth, it may or may not be the best- I don't know. We normally don't get the pancakes/ waffles/ french toast options and instead opt for more savory or spicy dishes. The best things that they have are all Latin flavors - huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, and their morning specials are all excellent and spicy (well, as spicy as you can get in Seattle without being Thai food...) Other great options are eggs benedict and biscuits and gravy. The omelettes are decent too. Basically, if you want a breakfast that is a bit spicier or savory, Varsity Inn is one of your better options. read more

This is one of my favorite diners to get a delicious All-American type of breakfast in all it's greasy and fattening glory. I used to frequent this spot during early morning breaks a couple of years ago mainly for their pancakes, which are light and fluffy with crispy edges....mmmmm. The eggs are cooked any way you like them and go great with the hash browns in any of their combination breakfasts. The medium sized establishment can get busy in the mornings but you'll find you can get a seat pretty fast since people are constantly moving in and out of there. The service is very friendly and attentive. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with anything you order here. Varsity Inn pancakes....I LOVE YOU! read more

This diner doesn't deserve 4 stars, it's a pretty normal diner. It has breakfast foods and lunchy things like sandwiches. It's pretty good, but I like most diner food. I'd call it a step up from Denny's strictly due to ambiance and the Varsity Inn's lack of chicken fried steak... they do have good menu options with something for everyone. And the service is nice. It's an "A-OK" diner, but not worth going out of your way for. read more

It's rare to find a rural atmosphere in a bustling city. Varsity Inn offers such atmosphere with friendly service and amazing breakfast food. Great for brunch after a fun Friday or Saturday night. A little pricey but portions tend to be large. read more

Saw all these great reviews here, and have heard about it for a long time. Thought this holiday weekend was a perfect time to try a Seattle Standard. Well, I think those "standards" are low. My waffle was an over-sized eggo, my friend's corned-beef hash HAD to have been out of a can, and even if I looked at it from greasy-spoon perspective, the portions were sparing. Amongst the three of us, the biscuits and gravy were the *only* redeeming food on out table. Yes, everyone was friendly, our coffee and water was refreshed frequently - but the food just ain't worth it. read more

This is one of those places I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I can't do 4 because the food is not truly great. However, it is a really nice neighborhood lunch spot because the food is good, the prices are right, service is good and it's comfortable. I was taken there for lunch by some friends and didn't even know it existed, but I would actually think about living in this neighborhood because this place was there. It seems like it would be a great, comfortable alternative to a coffee shop with $5 coffees and goofballs sitting everywhere working on their laptops. I mean, I love $5 coffees and laptop goofballs, but if you want to have a comfortable lunch/breakfast/chat with friends, a coffee shop is not the best environment. But Varsity Inn was great for that. read more

Found this by driving by it trying to get good breakfast before leaving to go back home to Alaska. Didn't disappoint. Food comes stupid fast (we were there on a Saturday morning in case that matters) and tastes good. It's a diner, pure and simple. I give it 5 stars based on those expectations. read more

*Had bfast with my 4 yr old son on his bday today and mentioned it to the waitress *Out came a candle in an orange and the staff sang happy bday! He was just tickled *Consistent with my mantra of "how good does a restaurant do with what they are trying to do" Varsity serves up good old fashioned diner food at a reasonable price and the ambiance is second to none! *Thanks for making my day and a 4 year olds! read more

I am going 4 not 5 because it is so standard! I used to eat there when I lived up the street. I loved the hot sausage omelettes! The service was always wonderful - you can tell when management is dedicated to having friendly staff! This is one place like that! I go by occasionally and pop in. I like the coffee. I like the diner atmosphere. I wish they served organic broccoli and chard! DANG that DIE-it! read more

Great little greasy spoon kind of diner located close to Gas Works Park. The staff is really nice here. I've only been for breakfast, but they do offer lunch service as well. They have bottomless coffee (a must for me). The greek omelette is really good as are most of the others. There pancakes are also really tasty. They make them just the way I like them... nice crispy edges. read more

Based on some of the reviews I saw here on Yelp, J and I headed down to this joint. We weren't impressed. The food wasn't lousy, but I'd have rather gone to Denny's or IHOP, it probably would have been cheaper and tasted better. The atmosphere = old diner. I ordered the eggs benedict with the hollandaise sauce on the side, and it's probably a good thing. They brought out at least a half cup of the stuff to top my e.b. with. J ordered some generic omelet and it was chock full of ingredients rather than weighted down with egg, which he thought was a nice change. read more

It's a greasy spoon. Not that that's a bad thing. Food was ok but nothing to rave about. Coffee tasted bland but they kept my cup topped off at all times. We had a patty melt and a burger. These are the reviews I don't know how to rate. Want a greasy spoon diner? 4/5 stars as far as greasy spoons go. If you don't want that? 2/5 stars. So I land somewhere in the middle. read more

Great for a laid back breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Service is nice if unhurried. If you're in a rush, less than ideal, but perfect if you want a lazy Sunday morning with no one hurrying you. Food is exactly what you expect from a diner; tasty (nothing amazing), big portions, reasonable prices and constant flow of coffee. Also have some good Mexican choices which is a welcome change in Seattle. read more

Great little nostalgic diner in North Lake Union. Went here before headed to the zoo last Friday. I had the light French that breakfast. It was pretty good. I just wish I ordered something of a larger portion, because I was still hungry. Instead, I ate the other half of my partners really good BLT! read more

Varsity Inn Restaurant - The lighter French Toast breakfast - Diners Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm tempted to give this place 5 stars just because of the blatant flattery from the waitress, but I'm going to try not to be that shallow behind my apparently stunning eyes. *tosses hair while brushing shoulders off* Anyway, along with dozens of other people on Labor Day morning, we had the idea of going out for breakfast at the Varsity Inn. Despite the already packed house, the wait was only 5 minutes or so. The menu's pretty standard--omelets, pancakes, french toast, steak & eggs, etc. I was delighted to see a "light breakfast" option that wasn't for toddlers or senior citizens, so I saddled up and ordered the one pancake, one egg, two pieces of bacon option. In no way was it the best tasting breakfast I'd ever had, but at least I didn't feel like a cow after licking the whole plate clean. And it was only $5.45! I felt bad for the wait staff, because they were slammed with all of these customers who wouldn't be there if it wasn't a holiday, and here they were working extra hard. But they were super friendly and quick. Great job, people! Don't know if this makes it on the list of places I must go back to, but if I ever want a cheap breakfast and want to hit up Gasworks Park for a stroll afterwards, (or maybe if I just need a self-esteem boost), I just might find myself here again someday. read more