This is a long standing restaurant in the community and have been there several times and have always loved it. However last night was really surprising as it was so bad I am going to have to think twice about coming back. The ribs were so tough they had to be "sawed" of the bone with a knife to be eaten. The food was not warm and it was all smashed onto a small plate so it set on top of each other. I mentioned to the server how bad the ribs were and really not edible and I thought the chef should know. He was surprised to say the least and acted concerned but we never saw the chef or the owner. So disappointing to pay $25 and it's not edible. read more

Ok- we were really excited after reading the menu and reviews on yelp to visit Vera Mae's Bistro while working for the weekend in Muncie. We rolled in shortly after 8pm on a Friday, we were seated and the dining room was really cool- great art, nice tin ceiling. Ambiance good overall. The entrees were not too interesting and a bit over priced but the apps looked tasty and we like to try multiple things and share- so we decided to do small plates. Maybe it was our ordering of small plates or my army green unibomber jacket my wife made me wear but we had horrid service. Being food service professionals we are forgiving to a fault but this was beyond acceptable. From incredibly long periods of time for the server to come to the table, to her walking away as we were trying to order a drink, to our crab cakes being delivered to the table behind us and the other table discussing for a couple of minutes the crab cakes then the server plopping down the cold, flat crab cakes finally on our table. It was bad form all around. It's rare that I just want to get out of a place. The food was acceptable, would have been better hot, the French onion soup was the highlight, prices were reasonable especially appetizers and wine list. read more

Really enjoy dining here. I usually dine here at lunch time. Very nice eclectic atmosphere. Everything on the menu is delicious. I am a big fan of their quiche of the day. Service is good without being intrusive. read more

I have had only good visits to Vera Mae's over the years. The staff and owners are wonderful, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the bar is super fun to sit at and have a drink or two. That being said, even though my experiences are good, I still feel a bit unsatisfied with the establishment. My problem with Vera Mae's? In all the years they have been open, their menu has never changed. EVER. It's the same every time, except for a dinner special or two not on the staple menu. They have only one vegetarian option, Pasta Primavera, and it gets really old really quick. Seasonal vegetables in the dish are always zucchini and yellow squash. No matter the time of year, it never changes, and for this they charge $16, plus 75 cents extra if you want it with marinara sauce. The restaurant is one of the nicer ones in Muncie; the prices are on the higher side, but that is expected of fine dining. Vera Mae's is in serious need of a more varied menu. Again, service is great, the bar is fun, and the owners are fantastic. I just have to think the kitchen staff and chefs are bored to death making the same few things night after night, year after year. read more

I love this place! Muncie has long deserved a world class restaurant and now it has one!

We love the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the owners. We were able to find a seat on a Friday night without a reservation, but I would recommend a reservation to make sure that you are not disappointed. The seasonal decorations were unique and well done. read more

Vera Mae's Bistro - Seasonal decorations - American Near Me - Muncie, Indiana

The meal started out well with their soup of the night, cream of potato bacon, seasoning was well balanced and the bread served with it worked. The staff was friendly and attentive and there was a musician who played piano, giving the place a good vibe. Unfortunately the entrees which followed were not what we were expecting. Both the NY strip and the chicken brie raspberry were cooked perfectly (well close enough), which is what saved them...the sauce used on the steak tasted like A1, which totally ruined it and the meat was too salty for our taste, and for the chicken i feel like the raspberry brie combination on top just didnt work. The sides served with them were mashed potatoes and a green bean casserole, the mashed potatoes were dry and felt like they had been sitting out for a while and the casserole was lacking in flavor, but wasnt bad. I don't know...maybe we chose the wrong things, or maybe eating in Chicago for the last year has ruined me, but for ~25.00 a person I expect the chefs to at least know what they are serving tastes like, because if it was me those dishes would never of made it to the table. read more

The ambience is warm with a touch of elegance, The meals are absolutely wonderful. Best gourmet meals in Muncie! Perfect for a romantic night out or a fun evening with friends. The barkeep is friendly but not intrusive if you're there to share or for a intimate late night drink before going home. Love read more

Great food and great service. A good place to go for a great dinner and great atmosphere. Price was consummate to quality and quantity of the food provided. read more

Really nice place if you want to splurge and celebrate something nice like a graduation or promotion. The cooks seems to be a little over their heads though because there are quite a few seats along with quite a few menu options but the food doesn't come out very quickly. I think that was the longest I was ever out for dinner (2 hours). I recommend the tuna tartare for an appetizer and the salmon for dinner (very tender). Although it's the most inexpensive and one of the only vegetarian options, the pasta is a little too salty but that might have been the chicken that my boyfriend got as an add-on. Their drinks are pretty good as well. I got the basil lemon drop and there's a huge number of options on liquor brands read more

Amazing! Who would think there is a an authentic French restaurant here in Muncie, IN. When I opened up their menu I couldn't believe what I'm seeing... Escargot, scallops, French onion soup?!? I felt like I got the jackpot but is the food really as good as I can imagine? YES!!! The escargot are perfect sizes and they come with perfectly toasted baguettes and drizzled in garlic butter and herbs. The French onion soup is to die for in a bowl with melted cheese inside and out. There's so much cheese in it they have to give you scissors so you can cut the cheese when you eat it. I tried to go light by getting the scallops for my entree. They were perfectly seared with a sweet apple sauce over a bed of rice. I'm from Dallas and I'm very impressed with this gold mine I found right here in Muncie, IN. Yes I will be back before I leave. read more

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Great food and great environment! Went with a big group and really good service! Downtown Muncie has a lot of great offerings and this is a must. Friendly staff and excellent menu options. read more

Vera Mae's is Muncie Aviation's go to place when we are entertaining customers! The service is always good and the food is wonderful. Our friends and customers are always impressed! read more

Always good food...always good service. Crab cakes are fab. I love the crawfish nachos.

I wanted to like this place based on the reviews but I won't lie--it wasn't that good. Yes the French onion soup is good. My wife enjoyed her linguine. The dill fish my daughter had was absolutely swimming in sauce. And the chicken raspberry Brie I had was borderline inedible. Stringy, overcooked and burnt. What kind of self respecting chef can't cook a simple chicken breast? One in kitchen so backed up it was 40 minutes between soup/salad and entree. I was planning on dessert until the entrees were so bad. Service was average to a little below. read more

I love this place!! The restaurant is old school cool.. The owners are the kind of people that get to know their clientele and treat you like family. The food is tasty, unpretentious and the portions are spot on... Come in, eat, get to know the owners and staff... You will not regret it!!!! read more

My wife and I went to Vera Mae's Bistro a couple months ago and it has one of the best wine selections around! We started with a few appetizers and a bottle of Shaffer and everything was fantastic. The owners came out and talked to us for over a hour and are fantastic people who really care about their restaurant and customers. My wife ordered the NY strip and the owners were upfront and told us it was not a prime cut which we appreciated their honestly and that told us a lot about them. They are very honest and down to earth people. The NY was good and the scallops were great! Banana foster was amazing for dessert! The service and waitress was the best around! We loved it so much we ordered another bottle of Shaffer to drink only to spend more time there and talk to the staff. When we left the owners gave us their number and said to call before we come back and their would have a special table us. We would highly recommend Vera Mae's to anyone in Indiana to try! It is worth the drive! read more

Excellent food and service! The mango habanero dressing and turkey focaccia sandwich were out of this world.

I like to go for dessert and drinks. The desserts are tasty and will change occasionally.

This place is way overrated! It's the kind of place that wants to be something it's not, but because there is little competition for the space they are trying to be in, they can get away with not producing. Decor - Needs a good cleaning. Don't look at the mirrors, floor, or walls, or you might not stay. It does have white table cloths, but they cover them with glass like at your grandmother's house. So it's pseudo high class. Trying to go for the mismatch decor (chairs, mirror, dinnerware) is just not working for them either, it just comes off as old and sloppy. Food - We had the french onion soup, which wasn't too bad. On the other hand, the wild mushroom risotto was horrible! It was piled on the plate in a big dome shape. Not only was the consistency all wrong, the flavor was bland at best, though weird would be a better description. And, it was luke warm, probably due to the 45 minute wait for the food to come out. Yes, I said 45. We also had the grouper special. That was also luke warm with a hard crust forming on the outside of the fish, which suggesting it have been sitting back there for quite a while. Service - Our waiter was good. He seemed knowledgeable and had the presentation of a nice restaurant. The food took way too long to come out for its quality. If you are going to have to wait that long, the food needs to be much better. read more

Great place to have a private party. Went their for Uncle Jim & Aunt Rita's 50 Wedding Anniversary and Uncle Jim's Birthday Surprise Party. The staff was really attentive. I do not drink but I had cranberry juice and the glass was always filled. Plenty of room, well lite and very clean. Would highly recommend it for anyone's event. My cousin ( Jim & Rita's daughter planned the entire evnt and did a great job ) read more

I was born and raised in Muncie. Since 1978 we have lived in the Southwest...currently in the Houston TX area. We have top chief's restaurants in Houston and we eat out 3-4 times a week. So, when we returned to Muncie for a family wedding, we celebrated my birthday in Muncie instead of Houston. I had a guest list of 10 people and most places in Muncie could not seat us all together. But Vera Mae's could. So we reserved the Boardroom and had my birthday party the day before the wedding. I guess I'm a bit of a snob because I didn't think Muncie could have a top chief meal like we have in Houston...boy was I wrong. The food is as good as any 5 star restaurant we have in Houston. The special of the evening was flown in Alaskan Salmon with a crab topping...it was excellent, flavorful and prepared perfectly.We had one finicky eater...he (a10 yr old) loved the Chicken Brie Raspberry and ate the whole thing...amazing his mother. My husband had the Apple Stuffed Pork Chops...OMG, I sampled a bite and it was fantastic. The appetizers of Green Tomatoes, Cajun Crab Cakes, and Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip were excellent. And the desserts were to die for...everyone enjoyed their choice. I have had the original Brennan's Banana Foster in New Orleans and Houston...and Vera Mae's Banana Foster is an equal to Brennan's. It has been posted by others that the service is somewhat cold or detached. But, I found our server Spanky professional and warm, and on occasion humorous, especially when our 2 and a half year old diner didn't want to give up his plate of food for the next course...it was funny. Vera Mae's is a gem. We wish they would open one in Houston...we would be frequent diners. Next time we are in Muncie, it is another must on our list...Concannon's, Pizza King, Lowery's Candy, and now Vera Mae's. read more

This is a fantastic dining option in downtown Muncie. It's a great choice for lunch or dinner. I really enjoying having the soup of the day. They seem to have a good variety and they are always tasty. There is a nice outdoor seating area. read more

I have eaten at this very fine restaurant since the beginning. I have always had great service and impeccable fine dining every visit. The atmosphere is charming and the owners are very nice. Finest place to eat in Muncie hands down. A must try if you have not experienced Vera Mae's. The Dill Crusted Cod is my favorite dish. read more

We had a great experience. I got the chicken raspberry brie and it was delicious. My husband got the rack of lamb and really enjoyed it. The cauliflower soup was good too. Our server was attentive and an older gentleman played the piano in the background. Old building, huge windows, decorated with local artists. We loved it. I would vote it Muncie's best restaurant. read more

Great atmosphere, prompt service. Wonderful upscale cafe feel, with good music playing. Cod was excellent. Will absolutely return when in town. read more

What took us so long to try out the most elegant dining experience in Muncie? We celebrated our wedding anniversary here a few weeks ago and there was nothing but top quality service and food that night! I sent over flowers earlier in the day and the Vera Mae's had the flowers on our table and greeted us with a very nice happy anniversary greeting! The waiter was great, the wine fabulous, the food was out of this world, and then to top it off the dessert was out of bounds!! We will now make Vera Mae's a pat of our list of places to go and suggest if you have never been.........get there tonight! read more

I was torn apart about Vera Mae's. On one hand, it deserves "A" for an effort and cool European lounge interiors, on another hand there are plethora of delinquencies. If you've end up in Muncie, IN you have been doing something wrong/right (pick one). I know that for many travelling professional picking right place to eat, while on the road, is a hobby of a sorts. It is certainly an entertaining activity for me. Here is my feedback: Positives: Let me start with positives. Decor of the place is nice. Old Europe atmosphere, cozy chairs, linen tablecloth, surplus of silverware on the table, uniformed and well-trained/behaved waiting staff. As a result, "the form" of a proper restaurant is there. After all, we do eat with our eyes as much as with our taste buds. I also have to say that the house wine (one of the Californian's cabernet that I have ordered) was a decent selection. It had robust taste with delicate nose, powerful middle, and nearly non-existing end. For the price, it was good pairing for my meal. Now let's get to a constructive criticism: Price! I am sure that a professor of neighboring Ball State University could afford a meal or two in Vera Mae's, however an average of $60/person for a full meal is a bit excessive for a casual diner, IMHO. This review would turn sour very fast if I'd have to pay my own $60 for a meal I didn't _fully_ enjoy. Did I clean my plate? Yes. Could I have better meal of a same type in Muncie, probably not... so in other words, I was forced to pay $60, because I didn't have an alternative. Perhaps it's good business model for some, since I can't imagine that rent in Muncie is too high and therefore less customers equals less work for the kitchen. However 90%-empty dining room @ 7 PM of ANY day of week is telling, especially that neighboring restaurants were reasonably full(er). Word of advice to the owner - drop your prices a bit. You might have mere mortals visiting your establishment on occasion and spending cash to subsidize your next educational-gastronomical trip to France. Paying attention to actual French cuisine, to its ingredients and traditional pairings, to cooking techniques and sauces, to real bred (that is not Costco quality) and not just to how pretty it happen to look, might help. I would suggest thinking about taking long long trip, and concentrating on food preparation and techniques. I am sure you can figure out how to expense it as "market research."Plan B" is to order Julia Child's book on amazon. So what about the food? Food itself was all right. I would give it C+. I really wanted it to be French inspired but instead it was "Faux French". Kind of like Japanese deserts that are pretty and intriguing looking with utterly disappointing weak delivery in the department that matters the most - the taste itself. Can you eat it? Sure! Is it good, it's all right. Is it $29/per entrée worthy - absolutely not! Price tag sets up an expectation that a bit too high and then fails to deliver. No amount of forks on the white linen and French names on the menu or generous portion sizes will compensate for an average taste. Food decoration also lacked fineness. Again, if you call yourself French(ish) and you ARE one the most expensive establishments in the town I'd expect better attention to delivery/details of every meal. Not bad, but not excellent either. Overall taste of the food was flat and underwhelming, and mainly because of high expectations and anticipation which are set/implied by an atmosphere/interior and prices on the menu. The seared tuna appetizer, that I had, was lacking proper sauce, and had excessive amount of weak-tasking vegetable relish. Salad that accompanied the main course was cafeteria quality. Literally, the spring mix from the grocery store with two cherry tomatoes thrown in. The dressing was all right, but nothing special to off-set cafeteria look of the salad itself. Lamb kebob lacked any kind of spice, and that "seared" quality that one would expect form a dish called kebab. It also lacked well-paired garnish. Rice that it came with, was fine by itself, it just didn't play well with the meat, in my opinion. However I did like the au jue, which saved that meal for me. The beautiful layered chocolate mousse was flat on the taste, no expected caressing delicate flavor, no texture variations, just the look. It reminded me grocery store deserts more than a French desert... and it was over-decorated. Less is more, in this case, as far as I see it. I have absolutely nothing good to say about coffee. Couple of button clicks on the Starbucks machine in my office can produce better cup of coffee than whatever I had. So, if you are all about form and not so much into intricacies of food itself - Vera Mae's is your friend. If you have corporate per diem to burn and tired of Midwestern fried food - Vera Mae's is your friend. However, leave your expectations of foodie-quality restaurant behind, it looks better than it tastes or costs. read more

THE best place to go in Muncie! The staff and owners are always pleasant, attentive and very welcoming. This is a great place to go for a special event such as anniversary, birthday or special date. The decor is a little quirky but that makes it feel not so uptight. I highly recommend the French onion soup. The cheese is so thick, they give you scissors! They have a fantastic wine selection and a great bar if you like cocktails. They are always updating the menu to keep it fresh and try new items. I went for lunch today and they've added a California Bibb salad that was delicious. I can't wait to go back and see the new dinner menu! You'll love it, I promise! read more

If you are looking for quality food, quality service, and quality atmosphere for your dinner in Muncie, look no further than Vera Mae's. Located in a beautifully restored building in downtown Muncie, the cuisine at Vera Mae's is a nice change from the scarce non-chain food selection available in Muncie. The quiche is excellent - the quiche of the day is always inventive and excellent as well. read more

I am in Muncie on business and happened to stumble across this gem whilst running around. I came in and was really impressed by the menu. Everything looked awesome. Everything was reasonably priced. I settled on the angus burger with a house salad. OMG, this was honestly the best burger I had in awhile. Juicy, thick, and messy....the combination of the meat, the sweetness of the shallots, tanginess of the cheese worked perfectly. I like my burgers medium well and it was cooked perfectly. There are at least three or four more dishes on the menu that I will have to try before I leave town.... read more

We were coming from a wedding and thought lets try this place, it did NOT disappoint. Service was young and may have been new but that was ok. Food was spot on and the drinks, well my friends this bartender is GOOD! Anyone can sling drinks but not everyone can make a great cocktail. Atmosphere was perfect, small intimate dining, great for date night or a small group, but the inside did appear to be able to accommodate large groups. They have large wine selection, wish our waiter would have had more knowledge. Pretty good beer selection as well. Started with a key-lime martini that was really good, not overly sweet. The french onion soup came which a pair of scissors and I was quickly told to "cut the cheese" :D, was the best french onion soup I have ever had. Filet for Matt and Strip for me, both wonderful. I liked Matt's filet better but it does not mean the strip wasn't good. For dessert, salted caramel creme brulee, perfect. Wonderful food, beautiful night, Fabulous experience. Absolutely worth the price. read more

Vera Mae's Bistro - Beautiful Buick outside - American Near Me - Muncie, Indiana

I have been a loyal customer for years but I am disappointed with some of the food lately. I ordered lobster bisque last week at lunch and was very excited. It wasn't a bisque at all . It was like broth, pink broth. No flavor. Very disappointed. I also had a patty melt and asked for medium rare. I got well and the bread was very dry. Donner has been a little better but am disappointed that some things are no longer on the menu. Bring back the good old days. read more

You can tell the Chef loves his/her job! With beautifully arranged food that tastes as good as it looks this local bistro with it's classy, sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere can bring a whole new feel to either begin or end your night! read more

First visit - found on Open Table, the only restaurant in Muncie listed. Our evening was wonderful. Table was waiting on us upon our arrival. Decor fit the renovated downtown area with a a nice elegant feel. Piano music playing in the adjoining dinning room was a wonderful touch. My first pleasant surprise was the selection of white wines from Verona Italy - one of my personal favorites. We started with the Apple Bacon Fritters and Spinach and Feta Wontons. Both good and large portions. - should have only ordered one. I had the soup du jour - a delicious oyster and crawfish stew (which I would call more of bisque) and husband had the French onion soup. The only odd thing about the meal was the scissors served with the French onion soup to cut through the melted cheese. For dinner we selected the stuffed quail and the Filet of Beef Tourteau, both served with broccolini. The meals were well prepared and delicious. I did not particularly like the Choron sauce but the steak was better than the filet I recently ate at Morton's - in flavor, preparation and overall cut of beef. The stuffed quail is served with two quail amply stuffed with a rice based jambalaya, both prepared well and very tasty. For dessert we had the bread pudding and the bananas foster with French Press coffee. All delicious. The owners / managers stopped by several times making us feel quite at home and welcome. They showed a true interest in carrying on a conversation with their patrons and not just that quick run by "hi how was your meal - thanks for coming in". We plan on coming back as there were so many yummy options that we want to try next time. read more

I love this restaurant!!! Last night my date and I came here for a long dinner. They had a fire lit and the whole atmosphere was so warm and cozy. I couldn't believe how packed the dining room was on a cold, snowy Tuesday night. People were dressed in everything from jeans to suit and ties and everyone was welcomed. So, on to the food. We had the brie and roasted pepper with naan bread. It was tasty but not too much. My date had a long island and I had a basil lemon drop martini. Their bartender is awesome. His drinks are always on point. Next, I had the oyster stew and my date had the French onion soup. The oyster stew was prepared a little differently then what I am used to but it was tasty nonetheless. My date remarked that his soup was the best French onion he's ever had. For our entrees I had the duck and my date had a steak. Their food is just so well prepared and fresh. I had a chocotini for dessert. Service was flawless...thanks Andrew!!! We also loved the old building the restaurant is housed in as well as the eclectic art work on the walls. read more

Fantastic atmosphere, the staff is very friendly, the food delicious. A Muncie must!

Great atmosphere and great food. I had the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and it was really good.

Truly not me cup of tea, doesn't get me wrong lovely place with great service, but the menu wasn't too my liking.

Very good food...yet expensive. It is a nice place to eat, excellent for a nice date or anniversary. The lunch menu is a little cheaper. Well worth a try. read more