Cancel

Open app

Search

Velma's Diner

4.1 (21 reviews)
Open 6:00 am - 7:00 pm

Velma's Diner Photos

VELMA'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Velma's Diner

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Menu
R A.

Very good and so cheap! Just a solid, classic, no-frills country diner. My only gripe is the biscuits for the biscuits and gravy were kinda soft and appeared to be something similar to canned Pillsbury or something like that. Still good though, just not ideal. Service was great. Our waitress Alesha was very nice. Highly recommend. Very similar to Nila's in French Lick, which I would also recommend.

Breakfast Menu
Crissy R.

This was a wonderful surprise to have found in Indiana. Velma's is definitely a prized hometown gem in Shoals. Located next to the train tracks, this is a must stop to eat. Keep in mind this is a cash only establishment, and breakfast is only served until 11. Prices are very inexpensive and there is a chalkboard that list the specials of the day. Sad we had just missed breakfast, I opted for a BLT with onion rings. Special of the day was bean soup and cornbread which looked tasty. I definitely enjoyed the local vibes and friendly staff. The experience of being in a small town diner is definitely Velma's! This place was great, if I lived closer I would frequent quite often. Definitely recommend if passing through or in the are visiting.

Melissa B.

Tony and I visited this diner by happy accident. When we are driving, I prefer to try diners and local eateries instead of the chains like Wendy's and McDonald's. We were going to try and find something closer to Mitchell. I couldn't find anything there that was not a chain, so I kept driving. In Shoals, we found this little gem. It's not much of a looker inside or out. Inside the interior was dark and dated, and crowded with oversize tables and too many chairs. I almost walked away based on that alone, but it was near 2pm and we were hungry. The waitress hollered across the room, Welcome and seat yourself, so we grabbed a table near the jukebox, again oversized!!! But, a nice added touch but glad it was not on since we were sitting on top of it. Tony literally had his back touching it. She came over immediately and brought menus and with a smile took our drink order. We both ordered tea, mine was unsweetened with lemon. I like to add my own sugar. We surfed the extensive diner menu and really had a hard time deciding. They had a sheet of today specials inside the menu adding additional choices for our struggle. We went in wanting Tenderloin sandwiches, but the choices were overwhelming. I really wanted a Red Hot Hotdog also, or the cheeseburger...but the specials were great too...The kicker here was the prices.....Very very very BUDGET FRIENDLY. I choose the Roast Beef Manhattan (open faced Roast Beef) and Tony went with the Chicken N' Dumplins, with Mac N' Cheese and Mashed Potatoes with gravy. Once our plates arrived, I had to give him half of my Roast Beef entree, and I took some of his Dumplins and Mac...OMG!!!! The Mac N'Cheese was this side of heaven...it was delicious...You can taste the VELVEETA...DELICIOUS!!! The mashed potatoes and gravy was very good. The Roast Beef was piled high, well cooked and delicious. The Dumplins were great too...The food was 5 star great...cleaned our plates and I thought Tony was going to lick his clean...Lol!! I put in a order to go, 2 tenderloin grilled sandwiches plain with grilled onions and mushrooms on the side...I wanted to take some goodness home for dinner..Everything including a Tea to Go was $30 tips and taxes, and that was a $5 tip for our smiling waitress, never got her name!!! We circled Shoals on our map, when in the area...WE ARE DEFINITELY STOPPING AGAIN AND I CAN HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TRY VELMA'S TOO!!!

I am sitting almost exactly in the center of the restaurant. This gives you a little scale of the place, it's small, and decked out country.
Colleen D.

Delicious! We happened to be passing thru last Sunday and stopped for a late lunch. The food was homemade and amazing. I could have honestly eaten a bowl of the gravy!!! My husband had fried chicken wings and I had a dinner of all sides. The hush puppies were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with just a bit of peppers in there. The funny thing is, I have no pictures of the food. We were so hungry, we forgot to pause for them. Oh on more thing, best ice tea I have had in a long time. Really, it was perfect. I got half sweet and half unsweet. The server was the daughter of the cook and she was friendly and patient and helpful. I don't think this is a place you come for the ambiance. It seemed clean to me and just cute and country. I like the open kitchen too, it was fun to watch her work back there. I am not coordinated enough to cook for a crowd like that.

See all

11 months ago

Another great meal at Velma's ! Get the catfish and great service. Old school vibes and good ole fashion home cooking!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Great biscuits and gravy. Everything is good. Prices are very reasonable. I like the double cheeseburgers the most.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of R A.
26
44
49

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

My wife and I have been going here for years. My wife loves there Dutch oven and I love to catfish sandwiches.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Melissa B.
1280
2704
33404

9 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

You pay too much for microwaved food, and at times horrible service. The cooks don't seem to care and the servers only care about tips.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Velma's Diner

Review Highlights - Velma's Diner

The kicker here was the prices.....Very very very BUDGET FRIENDLY.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

People searched for Diners 144 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

The Elm - Pork Two Ways entree

The Elm

4.3(108 reviews)
37.1 mi

The Elm is "one of one" in Bloomington, really no place like it…read more From service to decor to the food, The Elm stands out. Went for dinner on a non-football weekend night and had great service. Helpful guidance on menu choices and super attentive without being a bother. The room and bar are handsomely decked out, with comfortable, well-spaced tables and banquettes and booths. Makes for a fun setting. The food is seasonal and local -- lots of corn and squash this time of year. The chicken roulettes are excellent, as was the beet salad with Calabrian honey and whipped feta -- a nice sweet/hot combo. The steak frites was perfectly cooked to medium rare as requested, and accompanied by scalloped potato fries. Don't miss the desserts, either. The sweet corn creme brûlée with popped sorghum was totally new to me and delish. The chocolate medley was also excellent. Kudos for well-made cocktails too. Great experience and 100% different from everything else in town. A little NYC in IN.

Elm absolutely delivered on every level. We tried the halibut, lamb ribs, and their signature…read morepull-apart milk bread with herbed butter--and every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The lamb was perfectly tender, richly seasoned, and paired well with bright, fresh sides. The halibut was delicate and artfully plated with vibrant greens and a silky sauce. And that milk bread? Pillowy, golden, and served with some of the best butter I've ever had. The ambiance was refined yet welcoming--perfect for a special night out or an upscale casual dinner. Service was attentive and warm without being overbearing. In my opinion, this is one of the best dining experiences in Bloomington. A must-visit for locals and visitors alike.

Photos
The Elm
The Elm - The Duo: Filet (left) and Short-rib (right)

The Duo: Filet (left) and Short-rib (right)

The Elm - Assorted Truffles for $10: Dark Chocolate, Citrus Chocolate & Birthday Cake

See all

Assorted Truffles for $10: Dark Chocolate, Citrus Chocolate & Birthday Cake

Velma's Diner - diners - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...