Somewhere off the culinary beaten path in downtown Muncie, a college town on a Tuesday night, sits a refreshing few restaurants for adults. Among them is Vera Mae's Bistro. My hot girlfriend and I started out with a nice wine flight and a delicious tropical mule cocktail followed by varied appetizers, including a very good shrimp cocktail, succulent crab cake, and exceptional feta cheese wontons with homemade tzatziki sauce. The porchetta with fig sauce was tremendous as the daily special that was truly special. And the chicken marcona with a blackberry sauce is one of the house specialties as it should be. Our server, Marissa, was great, and the repurposed historic building and interior enhanced the experience. read more

See all

The food was great and our server.was very attentive and personable. A very enjoyable evening!

Amazing food - great atmosphere - romantic live music. Highly recommend for date night!

We had an amazing meal last night with superior service! Everything was served at a perfect time and hot!!! The wine selection was spot on too! read more

Great food for downtown Muncie. It's a good date spot (cozy and personal) or business dinners (quiet and private). The menu is as eclectic as the art on the walls and the waitstaff is very knowledgeable! read more

New Years Eve at VeraMae's was amazing! The service was excellent and the food was incredibl. I would definitely recommend this restaurant, we would love to eat here again! read more

Live music and great atmosphere, fancier place but plenty of people were wearing jeans, and the bar was definitely popular. For an appetizer we got the feta spinach wontons, and those alone make me want to go back. They were delicious. For entree's we got the baked Campanelle and the ribeye. The Campanelle was essentially a "grown up" macaroni and cheese, but who doesn't love that. It was the only vegetarian friendly entree on the menu besides the salads, and was my order by default. The server did not mention that the dish it came in is what it was cooked in, and I did burn myself. The ribeye was tender and juicy, but we wished the portion of the sides that came with were larger. The vegetable of the day was green beans, they were fresh and crisp. The soup of the day was chicken gumbo, and we loved the large pieces of chicken in it. It was very nicely seasoned. Our server was not as attentive as we had hoped, although it was not that busy tonight. We were out of water for the majority of the night, which was really needed after my basil lemon drop that was all basil and no lemon. Overall, the food will have us coming again, but maybe not regulars. Especially for the lack of service compared to the price point. read more

Our pup is going to Ball State and we took her here for her birthday. On the Portnoy pizza scale I'd go 5.2 and two and half stars and that's kind of generous. For billing itself as a "bistro" some nice baguettes would be nice. My wife said the bread was store bought rolls. My steak was decent, not many rave comments from the rest of the table. Quite pricey. Might go back for apps and a drink sometime. read more

A sincere delight at every turn! Our evening started at the bar. We enjoyed a couple of drinks that were tasty and served promptly. Our affable hostess, Kendall, let us know that our table was ready but to take our time at the bar. We were happy that our table was one of the prettiest in the entire dining room, overlooking the great outdoors. When our courteous and delightful server, Stacey, approached, we knew that our evening would only get better. She had excellent recommendations for both appetizers and entrees and made sure to convey that we should have as leisurely a dinner as we liked. Which we did! Though we ordered 2 appetizers, she brought them out just one at a time, so we could share them. She made sure that the timing of the meal was impeccable, and we enjoyed our wine and conversation until the very last bite of dessert over 2 1/2 hours after we first sat at the bar. In this "turn and burn" era of service at restaurants, it was so nice that we had an evening at Vera Mae's Bistro that we won't soon forget and look forward to returning, for the food, the French onion soup, and for servers like Stacey. read more

Great service, fun vibe, incredible ambiance, sat our post funeral group all together in the basement which was nicely appointed, private and quiet. Food was excellent read more

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!! read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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!!!!! read more

See all

Let me just say this. Vera Mae's Bistro was wonderful. My two girlfriends and I wanted to have a nice relaxing time without the men and we did just that. The service and food was spot on! Live music was played and all three of us said we would be back! We started with 3 apps. Spinach wontons, Escargot, and calamari. We each had our main dishes which consisted of the salmon, chicken hollandaise, and the French onion soup. We will most definitely be back! I'm sorry I don't have pics read more

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! read more

See all

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!! read more

Vera Mae's Bistro - Key lime martini - American Near Me - Muncie, Indiana

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 read more

See all

I've been contemplating my review for a week now and it hasn't gotten any better. The good: ahi tuna, shrimp cocktail, mashed potatoes, bread pudding, and the replacement steak all tasted excellent . The bad: very overpriced, very skimpy portions except for the cod, and the taste of most of the other items. The appetizers: ahi tuna was over cooked, crab cake had decent flavor but was not really very Cajun and fairly flat. Dinners: beef tips just didn't taste that good and were over cooked, blackened salmon was dull and the shrimp were quite small, there was a pork medallion meal on the menu but once we ordered it we were told that it was entirely different. Two filets were ordered, both medium rare. One came medium. One was less medium and was accepted but the other was rejected and replaced. It took nearly 20 minutes for the replacement to arrive and the others at the table were nearly finished with their meals. The steak came quite rare. The taste was very good. Sides: sides were broccolini or stir fry mix. The amount of mix was small. The broccolini was one very small over charred stalk placed on top of the meat. It was really only a garnish and not a side at all. Starch was either mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes. The mashed were excellent. The roasted came to about 10 small cubes. It was a small enough portion to fit completely under the salmon. Dessert: bread pudding was very good but definitely had no whiskey taste in the sauce. The bourbon pecan pie was lacking in bourbon taste but over filled with pecan pieces. All in all, it was probably not worth half what it cost. Definitely no reason to return. read more

Food was all cold! The filet tips were nothing but Chuck roast pieces ( I'm not stupid) for 48.00 you could do better maybe warm food. The only good thing was my drink!! Do not go here to eat! Our service was very very good. The food should have been as good. They crowded us all together. I had to sit at a corner no place for my plate. When two people pay 150.00 it should be exceptional. Don't go here!!!!! Ambiance. nice interior beautiful art work. read more

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. read more

See all

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

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

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! read more

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

So I've heard MANY good things about Vera Mae's over the years. My mom is a regular, and my sister loves it as well. I don't live in town, so I took advantage of my opportunity to visit when I was around and I was not disappointed! This was a quick stop so we sat at the bar for appetizers and drinks. They're famous for the french onion soup, which my sister ordered and let me try. Delicious! So much cheese, they even give you scissors for cutting! We got an order of crab and artichoke dip which is one of my favorite things, and it was absolutely perfect. The spinach wontons with the tzaziki dip were pretty tasty also. I loved the decor and the upscale feel of this place , while still being comfortable in my jeans. The staff was friendly, and our bartender Carlos was phenomenal. My request for a spicy margarita was met and exceeded! He made THE BEST one I've had, and I'd like to think I know my margaritas lol. Next time I'll try Vera Mae's for dinner. I'm sure I'll be no less impressed than I was with this visit. read more

See all

This is a must have in Muncie. Chef nick is always up for the challenge and you haven't had a drink until you have Carlos make it!

What a delightful setting for a meal. There is a sun soaked patio in front of the building(s) that houses the bistro. The south entrance (lunch side) leads into a colorful arrangement of art and decor with a stylish bar on the right. On the left is seating with more in a room beyond the bar area. The glass topped tables and the hardwood floors help add to the feel that this is a nice place! During dinner hours, they open the building connected on the north which has its own bar and dining room. Again, loaded with art that would be cool to browse just on its own. The staff was friendly and did a good job of keeping my plates cleared and water filled, but my specific waitress was back in the kitchen when I was ready to go, so a little bit of a wait occurred. Not too bad though. The food was good and since it was only lunch, seemed like lighter fair than the surroundings might suggest. I went with a Cajun crab cake sandwich with a side of fresh fruit. The fruit came out first and consisted of four kinds of slices of melon, pineapple, and oranges. The only problem was they were served in a tea cup which made the slices finger food. That wasn't a big deal, but without a small plate, I had to balance the rinds along the edge of the saucer under the cup if I wanted to keep them off the table. Most of the fruit was ripe and delicious, but the honeydew was hard and flavorless. Soon, my sandwich came out and it had a lot of flavor. The crab cake was smashed into roughly a burger shape and because it didn't have the binding that burgers get when cooked, I felt like I was balancing the sandwich to avoid having the meat that protruded beyond the bun from falling. I did like the addition of the heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, and lettuce along with the house made remoulade sauce. Just enough spice to bring out the Cajun without being out of balance and hiding the crab flavor. I was watching my time, so I didn't stay for dessert. They do have several daily specials which sounded good and I think this is a place I would return to when in Muncie. Note that there is free street parking and a free city lot behind the building which also has a rear entrance. Review #1048 read more

See all

Went in for a weeknight meal with the family. Our server was friendly, but overall service was immensely slow and he did not check on us nearly enough. We were there almost a full 45 minutes before we even got our soup. The restaurant changed ownership recently and I've been nervous to see how it impacts the place. The French Onion soup is still the best even if I did wait so long for it. After the soup we waited for our food. You might have thought the place was packed full based on the length of time for food prep, but it wasn't. Husband ordered filet and was told about 15 minutes later they were out of filet so he changed his order. He also asked about the Bananas Foster for dessert before our meal even came out, partially because we needed to leave by a certain time and the clock was ticking. The waiter said he'd check to see if he had everything. 15 minutes later when our meal arrived we mentioned the Bananas Foster and said maybe we wouldn't do it because we were going to run out of time. The waiter, only then, said they didn't have any bananas anyway. Let me tell you, they really need to remove this from the menu. In the past couple of years (yes years) anytime we have asked for it they have not had bananas to make it. Overall the food was good, service was okay but not 'fine dining' level and the meal took way too long for a fairly relaxed and not too busy night. Hoping they perk up a bit here since it's basically the only fine, upscale dining option left in Muncie. read more

This place is located on a nice little Main St style section of Muncie complete with brick pavement. Vera Mae's opens out onto the pavement in French cafe style with flowers spread all around the dining area. The food is similarly presented with unique tastes and French flair. I do approve! The service was quick honest and on point. The food was unique and tasty, I had then cheesy popcorn grits with mustard cream bone in pork chop and it was great although I would have preferred a larger cut of meat but the nomination of flavours were great. At the end of the day it is the dessert that separates the men from the noys and this creme brulee was very well done, cool on the bottom warm on the top and cover completely with carmelized top. Not over done and you could see the vanilla beans and it was not lumpy. read more

Vera Mae's Bistro - Bone in Pork chop with mustard cream sauce and cheesy popcorn fritz... - American Near Me - Muncie, Indiana

See all

Our first post pandemic visit. You could tell Steve and Kent were a little bit stressed. They were having to practically re-invent their restaurant. Quite a bit of planning and staff preparation went into the whole process. First--I have to admit--I miss the hugs. Hugs upon entering were replaced with elbow bumps. All the paid staff were wearing masks. All of the diners arrived with masks on-except one couple. That couple was seated closest to me and his great enjoyment was laughing at mask wearers. Several things that he said were just plain wrong. I have spent too long on this subject. Let's move on. They now have a touchless menu that you scan the QR code with your phone and the whole menu pops up. They have single use menus for the computer illiterate. I think the touch less menu will be the future. You can change things according to market availability. Specials could be on the menu and be taken off "on the fly" so to speak if they sell out. Seating. You could request outdoor dining. We went fir inside. When they seat you the tables on each side are marked out of service. One suggestion I have seen is to mark each table that has been cleaned and sanitized with a green card stating so. I visited a Greenwood restaurant that I had never been in before. They did that. It made me feel better. There was plenty of hand sanitizer. They make their own with ethanol and a moisturizer. It is not as thick as Purell brand but I actually like it better. Your hands don't feel so sticky. No complaints at all on the food. French onion soup, crab cake, salad, filet and scallops were all perfect. Carlos the bartender was there. My wife has discovered a cocktail called "Chaos Calmer". Carlos was kind enough to mix one for her. You will need reservations and they are really wanting people to arrive on time. A couple of new menu additions are burgers. They seemed quite popular. My son will be so happy. Congratulations on your re-opening. read more

Absolutely delicious, high quality food with good serving sizes and worth the price. The ambiance was very warm and romantic and not loud. The service was wonderful and I highly recommend read more

Most of the reviews are good. And I get that. We were here for a luncheon following a funeral service, and had absolutely terrible, pitiful service. Our waitress was not kind, and very unfriendly. Service was painfully, painfully slow. To the places credit, the food was tasty, and it is a nice environment. Had the server been better. Could've been 4-stars easy. A 20% tip was included in the final bill due to the size of the party. I urged the bill-payers not to add any more, due to the poor, poor service. And the bill payers complied. (I was not the only one whom experienced poor service also, multiple attendants shared my opinion) If she'd a been friendlier - could've put some extra money in her pocket easy. The premise of this review: I would not recommend using Vera Mae's for parties of 30 or more. read more

Fantastic service. Food is excellent all around and what a great venue totally restored old building.

Not having been in downtown Muncie for more than a decade, I didn't know what I'd find when it came to Hoosier cuisine in Ball State-City. I'm glad to be able to say, after dining at the eclectic Vera Mae's in the heart of downtown, my highest expectations were surpassed! Housed in a well-preserved late 19th-century storefront with original hardwood floors and tin ceiling tiles, this Bistro serves as the upscale restaurant anchor on Walnut Street. The first thing I noticed walking in was the artwork on the walls...both paintings and photographs reportedly done by local artists. Some photos were quite bizarre...like the one of the girl in white holding the head of another girl on a platter. No one in the restaurant seemed to know the origin or meaning of this strange pic. Vera Mae's offers a menu covering all the bases including beef to pork to veal to lamb to duck to seafood along with several daily specials. I opted for the daily special Diver Scallops while my business colleagues chose the Dill Crusted Cod and the very unique Quinoa Portabella. I personally loved how the Scallops were finished with a rum butter and fresh mint...what a imaginative combo! All of our entrees were expertly prepared and deliciousioso. Professional and attentive service topped off the evening. Vera earned a fiver tonight. read more

See all

This place was a gem. I loved the quant atmosphere and the piano guy was a nice touch. The food was awesome. From drinks to appetizer to the main dish. I highly recommend it. Also finished with most of the deserts. Yummy banana fosters. So worth the trip. read more

See all

Always the very best, personalized service. If you tell them you are having a special occasion when you make an online reservation, they will knock themselves out making it special for you. The drinks are handcrafted to your preference, every member of staff is personable and the entrees are to die for. Never a disappointment. Bon Appetit! read more

Foods good. The decorations are neat. But it's pricey.

The inside is so classy and cozy feeling it's definitely a gem in Muncie ! We were greeted the moment we walked in by the host which was a pleasant surprise and got seated immediately. Our waiter was very attentive and was on point all night. They do change their menu seasonally so ATM they're serving their winter menu. I had the Honey & Thyme Duck w/ wild rice and veggies, SO good! Cooked perfectly and the duck was juicy and tender. My friend got their New York Strip w/ 2x wild rice. He had it cook medium rare, cooked perfectly and he really enjoyed it. The soup of the week was decent I can't remeber what it was called but it was a meaty brothy taste to it. All in all, definitely would come back! Loved the service , loved the food, warm and cozy atmosphere, if you're looking for a great place to take your significant other too, add this to your bucket list , you won't regret it! read more

Vera Mae's Bistro - New York Strip w/ extra wild rice - American Near Me - Muncie, Indiana

See all

Its a short walk from the Marriott. Was in town on business. Had the fillet it was great! Service was good and also good atmosphere will definatley be back. read more

Excellent service, excellent food. Rack of lamb is delectable- each piece is like a meat lollipop. Wonderful sides, desserts, all around nice experience with eclectic artwork/decor throughout. read more

You would think If a restaurant was this expensive their meals would have flavor and their chicken wouldn't taste like cardboard.

The best place to eat in Muncie. No it is not the cheapest but my grandpa always told me, "you get what you pay for." This place is awesome! read more