Varsity Inn Restaurant

Nice place with a great vibe. The staff was super friendly and service was great. I got the light breakfast with blueberry pancakes and it was pretty good. My wife got the Denver which was pretty good as well and nice portion size. Parking was easy on a weekend and would definitely come again.

Fun traditional diner in Wallingford. Small and fills up quickly. You will find all your diner basics. We had biscuits and gravy with eggs. Very good. I ordered a side of bacon. Our waitress gave me the option of 1-5 on the crispness of the bacon. 4 was perfect for me. Hamburgers and fries were also tops. The atmosphere was great. A little loud but it was Sunday morning. It's a short walk to gaslight Park. Perfect for an afternoon walk to burn off the calories. Totally recommend if you're looking for a great diner experience.

Such a lovely experience! The service was exceptional and the food came out very quickly. Arguably the best service I have ever experienced in the city. We ordered the biscuits and gravy and buckwheat pancakes which were both great and provided us with lots of leftovers!

The servers and other staff at this restaurant were so wonderful and helpful with our two kids, a toddler and a baby. One saw us standing outside considering what to do with our stroller and came out to tell us they had a spot for it inside. Then at the table, we were given a highchair and crayons right away. When we left, we were helped getting our stroller down the few steps out, and behind us an elderly couple was also helped down. Everyone was just so nice!

It’s my go to Seattle breakfast diner(ish) spot. The folks who run this place have been feeding me and my family with a smile for my ENTIRE life. The menu is practically unchanged. The hash browns are to die for. The omelets are HUGE. At one point way way back in the day they even had dinner service. I’m so glad they survived covid and are THRIVING. The wait times are QUICK and you’re practically guaranteed to get a massive portion. Love to the Varsity Inn!

I went to get a normal breakfast; eggs, sausage, toast, and hash browns. It was $17.99. Absolutely insane. The sausage was skinny and looked and tasted weird (they did replace it with a patty, which was better). The hash browns were dry, and the toast was skimpy. Much better breakfast for cheaper at other places. The service was good and the waitress was nice.

I stopped in on my way to Gas works park. It is a cute little spot. I had the clam strips and chips. The fries and clams were crispy. The clams were absolutely delicious, I didn't even need the tartar sauce (which was also very tasty). Very fast and friendly service. Would recommend.

Let's start with the good: clean restaurant with excellent service. I had the 3 French toast. They were TINY and tasted ok. They are fresh but not very sweet. The bread used was cheap white bread. And it was VERY overpriced for mediocre food.

Our community diner! We love it! The coffee is great ! The waffles could be less chewy, but as neighbors we have an emotional attachment to The Varsity. Customer service is always an A+ !

Overall this was a good experience. I like how light it is because of all the windows. I ordered buckwheat pancake combo because I love buckwheat. These were not good pancakes - gummy and not much buckwheat flavor. Accompanying eggs and sausages were fine. Husband had corned beef hash he really liked, and took 1/2 of it home it was such a large portion. I liked the cappuccino. Service was fine.

Yum! Great food and ambiance. Wait on a busy holiday was not bad at all. The prices look scary then the food comes portions are huge! Made for great leftovers and could easily have shared. My only complaint was it took a while to get coffee, but they didn't mind us hanging out to let it cool and finish the cup.

I enjoy checking out indie diners because I love breakfast! I recall two Varsity Inns, one in Ravenna (now as Ravenna Varsity - separate ownership) and this one over in Wallingford by Gasworks Park. After many decades of driving past and even briefly working nearby over 2.5 years ago, I finally scored a parking spot and checked it out the latter (9/27/23). It was a seat yourself spot with menus available at each table. Water and/or drip coffee is available when seated. Well worn, comfy indie restaurant, but with plentiful natural light despite the blustery weather that day. I decided to try their Corned Beef Hash with two overeasy eggs, hashbrowns, and whole wheat toast. Omg, that was a ginormous breakfast entree! About 2/3 of it was packaged to take home, an amazing bang for your culinary buck. Most notable was the personable gentleman who covered the host/reception stand, plus waited, served and bussed occupied tables. An amazing customer service feat and the ability to provide welcoming conversation with finesse. A great meal & convo that improved the rest of my day after a crazy, rainy commute to UW Seattle campus. Three great places for breakfast/brunch/lunch in the vicinity: Voula's, Mas Cafe, and Varsity Inn. Worthy recommended detour for a satisfying and filling meal!

It is what it is: a diner. Pancake was huge. Hashbrowns were tasty but you have to try real hard to fuck them up. Morningstar veggie patties were the star of the show! Chicken apple links were so juicy, some of its juice squirted onto me.

I'm sorry but we're out of towners and we came over due to the facts it close. But other than coffee which I assume everyone goes there for the food is ok. Breakfast was not good but my hamburger was. It was nice to see a diner nearby I just wish they. Had better food

Cute place Great staff and owners! Breakfast was delicious but I just have to get past the cost of everything know a days. $30 for sausage and eggs and coffee now is just a treat

Really large portions food Good taste, nothing innovative but classic I saw a lot grandpa grandma there And this store has a really long history I can tell

Cute little diner in the Ravenna neighborhood. Food is nice and aligned with a countertop service diner anywhere else in the US, and the service is super kind. Great for a quick bite of breakfast when you're in the area or a cup of coffee waiting for a delayed bus.

Went on a Wednesday morning. Great service and ambiance. Very tasty homemade cinnamon rolls.

We arrived with a party of 13. They were super accommodating and sat us down immediately. The waitresses were very kind and really attentive. The food portions are large and the food also tastes amazing. My favorite breakfast place whenever I visit Seattle.

This was a wonderful place. We came in with 13 people and they sat us down very quick and with a smile. The service from the wait staff was amazing. They took our orders and the food was at our table quickly. It was yummy! The customer service, food and views is 10/10!!! Cannot wait to come back for breakfast or brunch.

I love how every table is a window seat! Big portions of food. Lovely diner atmosphere. Food came out pretty fast and service was friendly!

Human treatment is totally lacking. Their ignorance of the law in our case violated our rights and will never be forgotten. We can forgive their ignorance, but not their refusal to be enlightened as to the difference between a mandate and a law. See Article 6, Section 3 of the Nuremburg Code.

I've been here in 2011 and 2023... This is more consistent than any of my past relationships. Your standard brunch offerings wit the Seattle upcharge (don't blame them, blame the government). The location is clutch if you plan on grabbing something on the go and hitting Gas Works Park. The staff is welcoming the vibe feels like at a friend's house. In a city filled with pretentious restaurants, Varsity Inn keeps it 100.

I have been so excited to try this place because the diner experience is something that is really missing from Seattle. The thing is, you don't get that same feel if you take it to-go, and who wants to do that with eggs anyways? Making my own breakfast since before quarantine started has been a disaster. Your boy eats oatmeal every single day. What a sad life. As soon as the latest round of restrictions were lifted, I called up Varsity Inn to see if they would seat us. The angelic voice on the phone told me they were ecstatic to announce they would be allowing visitors. I told them that I will be right there in my pajamas. I felt right at home when I arrived. They are so welcoming that you feel like a part of the family. The entire vibe here gives me the feeling like I'm back at an old school east coast diner. The waiter was swinging by every five minutes to make sure that I was fully zooted on my coffee. I was bouncing off the walls with excitement while eating my breakfast. I went for the classic eggs-sausage-pancakes combo, and was even feeling a little crazy and threw some blueberries in there. These pancakes were top notch. Maybe it's because I used the entire serving of butter and syrup, but this flavor explosion was intense. Truly a great breakfast experience. And you can walk down to the Burke Gilman to walk off the cals after if that's your thing. Varsity Inn is a must stop.

Very tasty huevos rancheros, but know they are spicy. Excellent sausage and gravy biscuits - thick gravy, fluffy biscuits. Great breakfast!

Service is top notch and the people are super friendly. Food just ok. Nothing special. Have t been in 20 years and probably won't come again but it's a fun place

Finally decided to give the place a shot. Went for breakfast this morning and was completely disappointed. Everything on our plate was bland, my French toast was very small and had no flavor it was practically just bread. My partner got biscuits and gravy the biscuits were basically a dinner roll. We seen someone order hash browns and the serving was huge. We asked our waiter how big a side of hash browns were and he made it seem like they were gigantic. When they arrived it was barely enough for one person. The service overall was okay but the whole experience was subpar and with those portions I'd say overpriced.

The service was great. The food was not. It was bland and the temp was off. Hash browns were under cooked yet burnt.

We are lucky enough to live across the street from this lovely diner. I cannot speak highly enough of how positive our experience is every single time we eat here. I love their extensive breakfast menu and have tried almost everything: waffles, pancakes, french toast, corn beef, omelette, grilled cheese sandwich, eggs florentine, hash browns.. and EVERYTHING is exceptional. The lovely family who runs it is so so friendly and attentive. We feel to pampered every single time. portion sizes are HUGE so come hungry!

A late morning stop during spring break to avoid morning crowds (with the three kids in tow) had us stop by this place in Fremont before heading to Gas Works. Awesome staff + reasonably priced + tons of aloha for the kids = we will be back.

This is our families favorite breakfast spot! If we go for breakfast we love getting pancakes, french toast, bacon and hash browns. All the classic breakfast your heart can desire! But the also have their specials, and there you'll find their delicious carnitas! Their lunch starts at 11 on weekdays and 12 on weekends and holidays! When we make it for lunch, the Chuck Wagon is a family favorite! Always great and friendly service!

Friendly, delicious and reasonable prices. What more can you ask for. Patty is fabulous and their Mexican food is to die for.

Great breakfast potatoes and big portions friendly staff and owners. Cafe has been around for years 23 with this lovely owner.

Nice little old school diner right by Gas Works. The people are so friendly and service is top notch. Food is just okay. We were hungry and it was remedied. But sandwiches are very disappointing (esp for $17) small, basic, and salty! I guess you pay for the location. I'd get food elsewhere but this might be a nice place to stop by for a coffee if you have some time to kill.

Great breakfast spot, huge portions. Country fried steak hashbrowns we're sooooo good. I'd definitely come back and recommend to others

*Always* try the specials. Local spot, cozy diner feel, closes at 2pm most days. Come hungry, leave happy.

I love a good diner brunch! Came here Sunday for brunch with some friends. We came around noon so we could order off breakfast or lunch. We ordered: - chicken fried steak - corned beef hash - chicken sandwich - Western Beef - side of fries I had the corned beef hash, typical corned beef. I enjoyed my food. Looked like everyone else enjoyed their meals as well! This place has a small parking lot, but if you don't find a spot in there, there's plenty of street parking around the area.

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.

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

Our experience at Varsity Inn was great! We came in for breakfast around 10am on a Monday and were placed at a sunny table by the window. The interior is very comfy and sweet, with old school booths, plants hanging about and cute decorations. It definitely feels like a place old friends meet up at for their weekly catch-up to grumble about how everything is changing and gossip about their neighbors. And to enjoy the food. Their breakfast selection is pretty decent - good prices, and from what we ordered, good portions. I stuck with a cinnamon roll and bowl of fruit and was really happy with that. I'm not sure if the roll was fresh or made in-house, but it was still warm, fluffy and flavorful. The fruit was also all fresh and good-quality. Those at our table also had a corned beef hash and breakfast burrito and were surprised by how much food they were given! They had enough to take for lunch. We had some food sensitivities in our group, and the waitress was really helpful in suggesting how to order what they were interested in so as to accommodate those needs. And, the kitchen didn't just take out the parts that were requested to be left out - they actually substituted them with more of other ingredients (ex. a burrito with chorizo but no eggs became a burrito overflowing with chorizo) instead of leaving them some sad half of a dish. We were really happy with the service and the kindness of the whole staff. Tl;dr - Good old-fashioned diner food in a cozy environment with sweet service. If I lived closer, I'd definitely come back here often, and I'll probably find some excuse to make the trip again soon!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Honestly the nicest people work here! No matter what they always have a smile and are so welcoming. The omelette are plentiful and super delicious .

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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

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 :)

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!