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    Vera Mae's Bistro

    4.2 (136 reviews)

    Vera Mae's Bistro Photos

    VERA MAE'S BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Upscale
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Vera Mae's Bistro

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    a plate of seared tuna
    Arvind D.

    The atmosphere and service is above and beyond! The food was AMAZING!!! We enjoyed all the offerings and went back a second day. The owners are the most gracious hosts and we LOVED this place. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Oh yeah, the outside seating IS dog friendly! Next time we bring our Dachshunds!!

    Calamari
    Josh M.

    Out of all the venues I've eaten at in Muncie, Vera Mae's is the one I would call a true fine dining experience. I often find couples celebrating a special occasion, faculty from Ball State debating current events, or the rare business traveler who stumbled upon the place based off social media reviews. ;-) In the spirit of unique, high quality dishes, Vera Mae's portion sizes may seem dainty to a typical American. The flavor and presentation, however, dispel prejudgement. Here are my reflections: FRENCH ONION SOUP - Delish! I was unsure of the addition of scissors initially, but now I see it's to cut the inordinate amount of gruyere cheese. #yum GUMBO - Meh; nothing to report here. CALAMARI - Typical; solid entry. CHARCUTERIE BOARD - Locally sourced meats and cheeses; yes please! I loved the duck breast pastrami coupled with a bit of honey and blue cheese on a slightly grilled baguette slice. I can still taste it. My only displeasure with the presentation are the hand formed balls of cheese (see picture). Knowing someone put their fingers allover my food before I ate it was a bit off-putting. CHILEAN SEA BASS - This is what cooking shows mean when they say "perfectly seasoned and cooked". I was hesitant to order and even more concerned when I saw the portion size, but I found myself celebrating each bite. LAMB CHOPS - I love lamb chops and these were delish. HONEY & THYME DUCK - *TBD DIVER SCALLOPS - *TBD NEW YORK STRIP - *TBD My only thought, after looking at other's photos, may be to ask for a side other than rice. It appears to be a signature component, but I'm hoping the "served with starch" isn't their way of saying "served with rice". I've been to Vera Mae's twice and show no signs of stopping! The regular rotation of specials that entice (and deliver on flavor) have left a few staples unreviewed (listed TBD). I will definite get to them seeing as Vera Mae's is in regular rotation when I visit Muncie!

    Appetizer
    Iris L.

    The service was wonderful. To be greeted and paid personal attention is not normal today but they do it right. It was a wonderful evening. They have a great wine list and the food is superb. Each dish displayed the love the Chef put into it. One of the best dining experiences of late. And yes many pictures because we tried a lot!!! Oh yeah..... Most importantly they give you SCISSORS with the French Onion Soup!!!!!! Yeah baby....yeah!!!!!

    Marley W.

    Throughly enjoyed my lunch today with my niece Kasey! She had the bib lettuce salad which was exquisite! So fresh and sweet. I had the quiche- spicy & savory with such a tender crust. The included side salad & fresh fruit was just enough for a light lunch. Service was outstanding. Ambiance was all set for the holidays! This restaurant is in a class by itself in downtown Muncie. Perhaps that points to the only negative which was that they are so busy that the noise was somewhat obtrusive into our conversation. Otherwise this place is worthy of your visit!

    Key lime martini
    Dagny Z.

    If you're in Muncie, this is a month. The outdoor bistro tables in the heart of muncies historic downtown create a fantastic and pleasantly surprising atmosphere. The list of craft cocktails don't disappoint- try the basil martini and key lime martini. While the atmosphere and food were great, the food topped it all. The ratatouille was delicious-the tomato sauce was fresh and flavorful and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. Highly recommend!!

    French onion soup
    Savannah J.

    Amazing food and service every single time. Went for an anniversary dinner and the setting was so relaxing and quiet enough for conversations and a more intimate setting

    Jason F.

    We've been to Vera Mae's before, but this is my first review. Really, you can't go wrong. They are always willing to bend over backwards to get you what you need and to suit your taste. They are very knowledgeable about their drink selections, and if you like a good Bloody Mary, look no further. My wife and I recently stopped in on a spur of the moment on a date night. We were going to just get a drink, but decided to eat. We ordered bloody Mary's and the spinach and feta wontons. Served with an outstanding Tzatziki, this app is simple, fun and filling. Reminiscent of a spanakopita. Then we both ordered French onion soup. Again, look no further for the best. A salty, beefy broth with a nice helping of onion slivers. The croutons and the cheese is perfect. We love how they give you kids scissors to trim your cheese. I ordered the dill crusted cod, served with roasted and slightly caramelized brussel sprouts, and super crispy french fries. All was spot on. The cod was slightly overdone, but the crust and the homemade tartar sauce more than made up for it. Everything else was very nice. My wife had the Brie chicken which was slightly undercooked to her liking, but still cooked. Sometimes chicken just cooks weird. Served with brussel sprouts and a nice helping of pearl risotto. Then we decided to end the night with coffees and dessert. She ordered the cheesecake to go, and I ordered their quaint little chocolate mousse cake, infused with bourbon. Crazy good. So smooth, sweet was nice and balanced, and the chocolate toppings were a nice touch.

    Cabernet
    Deborah R.

    Thank you, Vera Mae's, for an amazing evening of great wine, atmosphere and service! Can't imagine celebrating Valentines Day anywhere else!

    Sofia G.

    This place is beautiful inside and the patio seating is beautiful as well. I had the ratatouille and it was to die for. Very tasty and flavorful but not at all heavy. I left comfortably full. The cocktail menu is very impressive. I will certainly be coming back!

    Beautifully well-stocked bar

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    3 years ago

    The ratatouille is amazing, fish preparations are fabulous and drinks delicious. A unique dinning ambiance and food experience

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    4 years ago

    Quick dinner during family weekend for BSU. Enjoyed the live piano music. I would go again.

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    5 years ago

    Salmon was delish and they had a very nice staff. I'll definitely return for dinners in the future

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    7 years ago

    French onion soup and quiche for lunch. The soup was very tasty and the cheese is plentiful. Very affordable lunch!

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    Service was top notch. Food was amazing. Atmosphere is lovely. I would highly recommend.

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - Vera Mae's Bistro

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    We saw their ad for bfast on IG and we had to go. We went…read moreon the most beautiful Friday morning with the most perfect temperature and sunny skies. We both felt like we were on vacation while sitting on the patio enjoying our coffee. Coffee was French press, which is always lovely to see as it's our favorite. Hadiya was our server and she was nothing short of lovely, attentive, and the epitome of a great server. I got the veggie omelette with spinach, mushroom and leeks with potatoes that it came with. The omelette was fat and filled with the ingredients. My husband got the breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, and it came with a baguette, but he opted to sub in a croissant instead. However, when his plate arrived, they had given a croissant and baguette, which was very nice as the baguette was out of this world delicious. I loved my omelette and he loved his plate. We were both very happy with our choices. The patio was charming, and it truly did feel like we were on a mini vacation in our own hometown. We will most definitely be back.

    Tucked into The Village on the bricks in Zionsville sits an exquisite lil French Bistro and Inn…read moreCalled Auberge. "Auberge" translates to inn, hostel, or tavern in English. That's the perfect description for this gem. The wait staff are excellent and the bar does not disappoint! Happy hour runs 3-6pm and I stopped in for a drink and a bite. The rotating cocktail menu featured a "Gin on the Barb." Local gin mixed with a rhubarb liqueur and mint was a tasty yet dangerous beverage for an 83 degree day. If you have a chance to try the Oeufs Mimosa (deviled eggs) do not miss the opportunity though the charcuterie is an experience as well. For dinner I suggest trying the beef bourguignon. It will change your life. It's not necessarily simple but it done very very well.

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    Veggie quiche

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    Chez Renée French Bistrot

    Chez Renée French Bistrot

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    (100 reviews)
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    Recently, my fiancée and I have been riding our bikes the last couple of months. We parked our…read morebikes and wanted to explore the old Milford area. We stumbled on this place and wanted to come here for our 10 year anniversary. When I got home, I made reservations. This is definitely 100% authentic. The couple/owners are from France. So you know the food is homemade. The food menu is simple. The drink menu has a lot of great selections for your pairing. The inside is very nostalgic. From pictures from their past and love the bright walls. Inviting and laid back. Lilly was our server. She was down to earth and attentive. We ordered: Drinks: -Domaine des Cellier 3 Cotes Du Rhone (bottle) Appetizer: -Snails (Escargot) Dinner: -Baked salmon w/ broccoli au gratin -Beef Bourguignon w/ smashed potatoes Dessert: -Chocolate mousse -Coffee & Cordial- Coffee 1 oz cordial and whipped cream Cordials: Grand Marnier The escargot was so delish. It wasn't greasy and had alot of garlic. Which I love. The rest of our meals were epic! My baked Chilean salmon was cooked to perfection. I absolutely love their homemade dill sauce that came with it. The potatoes had great flavor. My fiancée really loved his dish. He said it's one of the best he's had. It was made with love. We couldn't end it there, we had to get dessert. It tasted so good with our French press coffee. It was so fresh. I rave about this place. What an awesome experience and I can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu.

    My fiancee and I saw this place before and wanted to give it a try for our 10th anniversary. We…read moreboth love French cuisine and I turned her on to escargot a few years ago at one of Jean Robert's restaurants. My fiancee made reservations beforehand just in case. We loved the place as soon as we walked in. Very unique and very laid back atmosphere. We were greeted right away by a very friendly hostess. Lily was our server and she was awesome. Here's what we had: Drinks: -Domaine des Cellier 3 Cotes Du Rhone (bottle) Appetizer: -Snails (Escargot) Dinner: -Baked salmon w/ broccoli au gratin -Beef Bourguignon w/ smashed potatoes Dessert: -Chocolate mousse -Coffee & Cordial- Coffee 1 oz cordial and whipped cream Cordials: Grand Marnier Everything was amazing! They were definitely generous with the escargot and we were sopping all up the sauce with our bread. The beef in my Bourguignon was so tender I could cut it like butter with a spoon. My fiancee really loved her salmon too. The mousse with the coffee & cordial made the perfect dessert pairing. Trust me, try a shot of Grand Marnier in the coffee & cordial, because the orange zest it brings is perfect in it. We'll absolutely be going back!

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    Luca Bistro

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    4.5
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    i love this place…read more the service is always great. the food is absolutely amazing. this place is one of our favorite date nights! they do not do reservations so make sure to get there right when they open for seats. but totally worth it. i love this restaurant and will never not hype it up!

    You know how most "casual French" places are either casual (translation: sloppy) or French…read more(translation: $38 for three bites and a life lesson)? This place somehow avoids both traps. It's the rare restaurant that delivers quality without acting like it deserves a TED Talk for doing so. The food is consistently strong...like "you actually remember what you ordered tomorrow" strong. No foam experiments, no deconstructed nonsense, just dishes that taste like the chef respects both the cuisine and your wallet. In today's market, that's practically a miracle... or at least a manager who hasn't lost his mind. Service? Shockingly competent. The staff is attentive without hovering like a helicopter parent at a kindergarten recital. That doesn't happen by accident, the chef/owner is clearly a pro. A class act who hires well, trains properly, and....brace yourself...seems to care. I know, it's unsettling. The ambience hits that sweet spot: warm, relaxed, and just upscale enough that you feel like you made a good decision... but not so fancy that you're Googling "which fork do I use" under the table. And then there's the location, right next to The Blind Lemon. Honestly, you might find yourself rooting for a wait just so you can wander next door for a drink. It's the only time in life where bad timing actually improves your evening. Bottom line: This place doesn't try to impress you, it just does. Solid food, fair prices, great service, and an owner who runs a tight ship without making it feel like boot camp. In a world full of overhyped dining "concepts," this is something radical: a restaurant that simply works.

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    When you walk into the restaurant.
    When you walk into the restaurant.
    Cod Provençal
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    Outside the restaurant.

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    Outside the restaurant.

    Vera Mae's Bistro - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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