Vios Cafe
6504 20th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98115
Vios Cafe Menu
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Address :
6504 20th Ave NE
Seattle, WA, 98115 - Phone (206) 525-5701
- Website https://www.vioscafe.com/viosravenna.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
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Elizabeth M.
This is a go-to-often place for me. The food is just consistently quality and you can get so many different things. Burgers and fries, pub fries, a pickled egg, falafel, or a meze plate (salads and dips with meat if you want it) if you're feeling more nutritious-like. Vibe is casual and great with wood everywhere. Good beers on tap and a cider. You can eat on the outdoor patio (at the front of the bookstore) when it's nice out.
(5)Brooke L.
Ambiance downstairs- love it! So cozy and I love the wood. Feels like we are in a log cabin on the slopes! Upstairs is kid/family friendly. Food- tasted good but was way over priced for the tiny portions.
(3)Alex N.
My waiter was too sweet. The people here are all, just, way too sweet. My waiter must have known that I'm one of those customers who loves it when his waiter rolls her eyes at the guests in one's own company, bot only when the waiter thinks that she isn't being looked at. I also love that she's the great kind of waiter who won't care that this review exists. That's my kinda waiter. Honestly, I like when people wear the same thing more than one day in a row. Maybe next time I'll be even the slightest bit impolite. I enjoyed that my raw, stoned, and half-drunk confusion was exactly the kind of thing that my waiter would never have the time for. Not even when she was being paid to do exactly that. Who knew I might have questions!? Not me! I shouldn't have said that I wasn't sure what I wanted. I realize this now. It was my bad that I didn't already know. Had I known, I would not have been rude enough to inconvenience you. I could have avoided forcing you to make my much more timid company, very uncomfortable. Thank you for being so stern in telling us when the kitchen closed, though. As cringe-tastic as I felt, I did learn something(it was in ten minutes). I was off of my game, though. I shouldn't have been such an ignorant human to my hosts. I still love you when you hurt me. Feeling unwelcome in, "the cool-place-that-I-was-showing-to-an-out-of-town-Âfriend," isn't the kind of thing that bothers me, so I'd definitely come back! Those friends are jerks anyway. That'll teach them to order bread when you're out of it! Had my friends understood that personalities could be made of sand, they could have avoided being so rude as to make you help them feel stupid. I wanna dip my barn-pail-fries in something that makes me feel uncultured again!
(5)Brianna O.
I live down the street so I come here a lot for brunch. My biggest suggestion is a side of Tzatziki with whatever quiche of the day they have. I've also had their salads, and some of their specials and am generally very pleased. I really enjoy their side of potatoes with brunch, they're well spiced and have a delightful crunch! But the burger? The burger I am in love with! It was SO GOOD. I'm also recently obsessed with their savory scones and slices of cake. My only solace is that I refuse to drive there since I live a few blocks away, and my laziness prevents me from running there to get cake everyday.
(4)Nina S.
ViOS Cafe At Third Place has amazing food, friendly & welcoming staff and a neat atmosphere. It definitely has the small community feel and I would recommend it to all my friends and family!
(5)Amy D.
Mediocre food, SNOTTY waitstaff. Leave feeling used.
(2)Laura S.
Great service!! The environment is extremely homey and relaxing. Perfect place to go on a nice fall day in Seattle :)
(4)Andreana R.
Being Greek I always feel a need to eat at as many Greek restaurants as I can to see how they compare to my Yiayia's (grandmother's) cooking. Vios is a fresh taste on timeless Greek classics. Of course I had to order the lamb Gyro...with a cup of avgolemono soup (egg lemon soup). The flavor profiles were nice, like I said, a "fresh" taste on Greek classics - they added sundried tomato to the Gyro and instead of shaving the lamb it was braised. All great additions, but not what you expect when you order a gyro. Greek dishes are classic for a reason, their flavor profiles are already outstanding, so why try and tweak them? Overall, I do recommend this restaurant if you're looking to pay quite a bit for a different take on Greek food. If you love large portions of truly classic Greek dishes I wouldn't attempt it.
(3)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: It used to be the Honey Bear Bakery, a coffee shop at the far end of Third Place Books, which offered bar seating against the windows overlooking NE 65th Street, cafe fare and friendly staff. Vios came in about two years ago and after hearing many good reviews, it was high time I sampled the menu. My friend Chris S. was in the mood for kebabs, "something Mediterranean" after our six (his eight) mile run around Green Lake. Ashley and I chose the spot as we waited for Chris to complete his last lap. Type of cuisine: Simple Greek cuisine. Ambiance: Casual setting with tall booths for seating. The space hosts a children's play area between the bookstore and restaurant. Simple and sparse space with a lot of openness. What I ordered: I ordered the Meze plate with one grilled chicken skewer ($11), a traditional Greek salad made with tomato, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, feta cheese and olives, and tzatziki (Greek yogurt with cucumber, garlic and fresh herbs). One of my dining companions also ordered a chicken skewer meze plate with hommus (chickpea puree with garlic, lemon and tahini) and braised greens (kale with extra-virgin olive oil, garlic and lemon juice). Our third dining companion ordered the lamb meze plate with a side of hommus and kopanisti (feta cheese, roasted red pepper, and hot pepper). We accidentally got three pieces of falafel due to server error, but no one was complaining. What I loved: I loved the kopanisti the most. The spicy flavor and the creamy texture were both pleasant to palate and tasty! Why I loved it: The service was quick and the food satisfying. The portions are manageable and the food good. Cost: Average to high ($10-$12 for a small meze plate, which includes two sides)
(4)Mytoan N.
get the quiche! and that salad that comes with it is a REAL salad, not just garnish. i like their decaf americano, and the rest of the setting with a kid friendly play area is amazing. thank you for being such a wonderful place in Seattle.
(5)My S.
First time here for Saturday brunch. And we are now fans. My husband loves breakfast food. So when we realized it was the brunch menu he went nuts ordering sorts of things for the both of us. It's a simple menu so it's perfect not to get overwhelm. We ordered the following.... 1) Biscuits and Gravy served with roasted potatoes. - OMG the gravy over their home made biscuits... *drool* 2) Eggs Benedict. Had fresh ham, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. 3) gyro with a side of soup (we had to pack it up and take it home) 4) unlimited drop coffee 5) Rasputin Stout beer (tastes like coffee and beer). A MUST ORDER. PS... They do not have hard alcohol = no bloody Mary's.
(4)Steve V.
This place is a good neighborhood gem located inside of/attached to a cute bookstore. They offer your usual breakfast fare and has pastries as well. The seating is first come first serve and the staff is good at helping you find a spot. We had a large party so we had to have 2 tables but they were right next to each other. You order either from your table or at the counter, it is that casual. There is a nice play area for kids (small ones), but space is a bit tight. I had the egg sandwich and it was good. Didn't want to roll the dice this time with some of their more unique dishes, kept it safe. Note that the menu here is completely different than at the Capitol Hill location. Parking out front on the street was no problem and they have a lot.
(4)Evan B.
The best brunch in Seattle. And we've pretty much tried them all. Their eggs Benedict are also literally the best I've ever had anywhere in the world. The egg sandwich is really good (Columbia City bread!), as is the French toast (but Portage Bay is better for that). The pancakes are texturally amazing but extremely filling. We like to get them without the lemon curd and just use syrup. Their specials are frequently really good as well. Great coffee and similar drinks, too, but that's par for the course. One note, though: their incredible brunch menu is only offered on weekends. On weekdays, the breakfast menu is different.
(5)Tim C.
I have mixed feelings about this Vios. On the one hand, the food is good enough to deserve at least 4 stars. However, it's overpriced for what you're getting (for dinner, at least). The bookstore, though, inevitably adds a coolness star to the rating. I tried both the chicken souvlaki and lamb souvlaki. I preferred the chicken because I think it was better-spiced and better-prepared. The lamb was tough and chewy. The main problem was that for dinner, you only get 2 skewers with lettuce, pita bread, and tzatziki sauce, and it costs $14 for chicken, $16 for lamb. It takes more than 2 skewers to make me full, so slapping those prices for those dishes is a little steep, in my opinion. The Galaktoboureko (filo dough with custard) was quite delicious, but I'm not sure if it was worth $6. I would recommend it over the Baklava, though. The service was fine, and the atmosphere is nice and laid back. Like I mentioned, having a bookstore attached to the restaurant is really cool, so I'm ok giving the place 4 stars overall. I just think you're paying a little more than what you are getting for dinner.
(4)Suzy H.
Expensive for average food and small portions. On the plus, it's child-friendly. However, the food wasn't good enough to warrant a return. Beet salad, bleh. Baba ghanoush was bland. The spring salad with champagne dressing was yummy but again the portions were very small for the price.
(3)Francine S.
The customer service here is great. While normally this would have been a bad review - I found a nasty hair in my salad last week when I went in for dinner - the waitress was not only super apologetic and comp'd my meal, she also took my name down for a free entree at a later time. I thought this was really generous. I suppose these things happen, regardless, but the staff at Vios was willing to go above and beyond - super staff!
(1)Ren G.
This is a really cool little place. I ran in here for a quick lunch while on break from my job. Since it was in the back of a book store, I assumed it was a quick service style restaurant where you order at the counter but it turned out to be a legitimate sit-down restaurant. I was skeptical about the timing, given that I actually had to order and wait for my food to be cooked, but so pleasantly surprised to find that it was Greek food that I decided to give it a go. Not only was the service quick and pleasant, but my falafel was really good! The sandwich was warm and tasted fresh and high quality. It was delicious! Roasted tomatoes and falafel and some sort of sauce that I can't spell correctly, but it really was exceptional. When I told my boss how good it was once I got back to work (on time, thanks to the quick service without "quick service"!) she told me that Vios is Greek for life and was actually the product of a tragic loss in the owner's family. She also mentioned how it's super child-friendly because the owner was a single dad when he started the restaurant and there's some sort of child play area where you can let your toddler play while you sit nearby and have a meal with your spouse. I think the concept is really excellent, and they've carried it out quite well. I will definitely be back at some point given it's proximity to my job, but even if it was on the other side of the city, I'd be craving that falafel.
(4)Megan A.
Love it great spot for families with small kids. Food was good and the enclosed play area was nice for my 1 year old to play in.
(5)Robert B.
(Note: this is only a review of the weekend brunch. I didn't know these guys do a dinner service; it might be quite good!) Honestly, it is very hard to get excited over breakfast/brunch places. The menus tend to be basic. The challenge for someone competing in this niche is to execute your dishes as well as you can. Happily, Vios Cafe does a good job here. Nothing really earth-shattering on the menu. You have the usual suspects of omelettes, griddle specialties, sandwiches, etc. Vios stands out from the pack by executing each dish very well, and being careful to use quality ingredients. Even sides that are an afterthought, like breakfast potatoes, are a cut above here. They cut russet potatoes into large cubes, boil and drain, then quickly deep-fry. The result is light and fluffy inside, with a lightly crispy exterior. Vios also benefits from a very pleasant and efficient staff, and prices are well in line for what you're getting. Oddly, while they offer a couple of Greek dessert wines, there are no wines or beer for pairing with the meal. I dock them a star for that. But don't be put off: Vios has a limited repertoire, but like Paul Simon sang: "He's just a one trick pony (that's all he is) But he turns that trick with pride l" In other words, you don't have to have a menu as big as the books in the bookstore that Vios shares it's space with, just do what you do really well. By all means check 'em out!
(3)Shirin F.
I come here everyday to write my thesis. They have a cafe area in the middle of the 3rd place bookstore. The ambiance is great with wide windows that let lots and lots of light in! Beyond that, everyone is so friendly and nice! They get out of your way to make you happy! It hasn't been long since i have started coming here to write but I am sure I am going to stick to it whenever I want to write for long hours. I have been to many different coffee shops and cafes in Seattle, but this one makes you feel at home...
(5)Angie K.
YUMMMMMM Oh, you want some actual words and sentences? Sorry. OK, this little spot inside the Third Place Books is a cozy, comfortable spot with super yummy Greek/Mediterranean food. I'd been wanting to try it for a while but then ran across a daily deal which tipped the scales in favor of going. Now I will want to go there every Saturday, I think, so the deal worked! We started with a nice beer. Of course every place in Seattle has a good beer selection, so why should a random Greek place in the back of a bookstore be any different? (there is a pub downstairs too, which probably helps). There are a variety of dips and we chose the "Kopanisti," described as "Feta cheese & Roasted Red Pepper with a touch of Cayenne" Not that we needed it . . . but it was yummy! For dinner, I had a Meze plate which you get to choose some selections from the salad/dip menu, and hubby had the Pastitsio. Later he ordered some fries because he saw someone else have them and they were SOOOOOOO GOOD. He said the Pastitsio was probably enough for dinner but he had a light lunch and was super hungry. I had gelato for dessert - they serve Fainting Goat gelato. I had a lemon flavor which I am not sure if it was gelato or sorbet- it seemed very light and lemony. Very good end to this meal. I'm already looking at the menu trying to decide what I want to get next time. BTW we had no problem with service; there were several Yelp comments about service so I was ready for waiting and putting up with bad service. But our server was super nice and very attentive, and the servers seemed to be working well as a team (something I always look for) - no problems whatsoever with any of them, and we actually got way better service than I would expect from a neighborhood cafe.
(4)Sonya L.
Went here for dinner with a friend earlier this week. I don't get to this area often, so I didn't realize it was here at all, but I was excited to give it a try. We grabbed a table near the bar and looked over the menu. Everything looked great so we had a hard time deciding! We ended up with the Trio Sampler with babaganoush, green olive tapanade, and kopanisti and also a salad each - Greek for my friend and a Caesar for me. The kopanisti was the most delicious of all the spreads. It was amazingly tasty. The others were good as well, but I found myself going back again and again for more kopanisti. The food was great and the service was friendly, but it was slooooooow. Very slow. It was fine in the beginning, but got slower as the night went on - to the point of really being glaringly apparent. The Trio Sampler needed more pita for the amount of tasty spreads we got, so we requested more. It took probably 20+ minutes before it actually arrived. We were checked on during that time and told them we were fine but just waiting on the pita. Didn't seem to hurry it along in any way. Overall, I enjoyed our meal here and I would return. I'd just keep in mind that I couldn't be in a rush because the food doesn't always come out in a timely fashion.
(4)Jody G.
Such a GREAT place! And, for me at least, the fact that it shares a place with a book store makes it even better. The space itself it both cozy and airy (not an easy accomplishment), the service is great, and the food is delicious. Five of us had dinner here..... and rather than each ordering our own meals (how boring!) we decided to order a whole bunch of things and share. Yummy and fun! We started with a bottle of "Retsina" which is the perfect Greek dry white wine to pair with all of our choices. Then we ordered EVERY dip and salad on the menu.... SERIOUSLY! Babaganoush (Roasted Eggplant, Olive Oil, Lemon & Tahini), Hummus (Chickpea puree with Garlic, Lemon & Tahini), Tzatziki (Greek yogurt, Cucumber, Garlic & fresh Herbs), Green-olive Tapenade (Green Olives, Sweet Red Pepper, Pine Nuts & Basil), Kalamata Tapenade (Black Olives, Orange Zest & fresh Thyme), and Kopanisti (Feta cheese & Roasted Red Pepper with a touch of Cayenne). All of them were wonderful, fresh and super flavorful.... and were accompanied with warm (!!!) pita bread (and lots of it) for dipping. If I had to pick my favorites they would be the "Green Olive Tapanade" and the "Kopanisti" because they both were so bright and full-flavored. Then came the salads: Traditional Greek (Tomato, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, feta cheese, & olives), Greek Caesar (House-made Caesar Dressing, house-made croutons, & Keflotyri cheese), Orzo Salad (Roasted Eggplant, Peppers, Kalamata olives, basil & Manouri cheese), Braised Greens (With Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Red Chili flake, Garlic & Lemon), Roasted Butternut Squash (with Caramelized Onions, Apples, fresh Thyme, & Feta Cheese), Marinated Beets (with fresh Mint, pickled Red Onion, & a Sherry Vinaigrette), and Mixed Greens (in a champagne vinaigrette). Again, everything was fresh and delicious, but this time both the "Traditional Greek" and the "Orzo" really stood out as my favorites. "Vios Cafe" also serves complete dinners, breakfast, and a delightful weekend brunch. There are also specialty coffees..... and a display case just filled with yummy looking desserts. Sadly, after all of that food (even when shared by five of us) we were all too full to sample any..... this time.
(4)Rosa O.
I had been to the Capitol Hill location of Vios so was excited by the idea of going to this one. The menu is pretty flexible - you can customize a mezze plate with some salad or dip options and end up with a decent but not insane amount of food. A note: getting a salad solo may not give you the amount of food you hoped for. A friend got the orzo salad and we had to supplement her with parts of our lunch, as the portion was rather small. I ordered the vegetarian mezze plate and chose to have the beet salad, squash with feta, and the fruit cup. It also came with eight small slices of pita. Beet salad= tasty. Beets were roasted, onions lightly pickled, and everything went nicely. The squash was also good, well seasoned, not too greasy. My fruit cup was a little pathetic in that aside from the melon, it wasn't very seasonal (citrus and pineapple) but it was still fresh. So, the food was decent. Bringing the whole deal down to three stars was our server, who just didn't seem to care that much. Water glasses were left empty and he seemed flippant when asked about dishes without dairy. Maybe it was an odd day, maybe he needed a vacation, but he just didn't seem into it.
(3)Mike B.
Y'gotta love a Greek place that's attached to a homey bookstore and offers a wonderful selection of on-tap beers from the pub next door. Y'gotta love it -- unless you're actually hungry; that's when things start to go downhill. Don't get me wrong: Vios Cafe in Ravenna offers a tasty selection of delicious Greek dishes. The problem is the amount of those dishes you receive in exchange for your hard-earned money. Thaaaaaat's not as good . . . I dined with my wife and we ordered a pair of skewers: hers chicken and mine lamb. Both came with a selection of dips and/or salad options. What I was picturing for the price ($15.50 and $16.50 respectively) was a steel skewer loaded with hunks of seasoned lamb and steamy chicken. What I recieved was an extended toothpick with five pieces of lamb, each about the size of three Lifesavers put together. The chicken was even less generous, with the entire length of the skewer being about six inches. The whole thing was gone in a couple of bites. Included with this repast were (in my case) three generous helpings of delicious dips and a nice pile of pita. I opted for a lucious dip of feta and roasted red peppers; classic hommus; and a delicate, garlicy tzatziki. The dips were fantastic; I think I've eaten enough garlic now to ward off the entire cast of True Blood. However, they weren't $16.50 worth of fantastic. In fact, the whole thing came off more as a small plate experience rather than a decent dinner. Sadly, Vios seems to fall into the all-too-common experience of "Come hungry, leave poorer and still hungry". Perhaps other selections were more generous and from listening to other diners, the $12.50 hamburger seemed a popular choice. I have to say in Vios' favor were the excellent, attentive and friendly service and the extensive beer list, those beverages being supplied by the pub next door. Also worth noting was the large parking lot in the back, saving diners the trouble of driving all over Ravenna looking for parking. Finally once you're done eating, on the off chance you actually have any money left to your name, there's a well-stocked bookstore to browse. Maybe the management of Vios can pick up a copy of "Decent-Sized Portions for Dummies".
(2)Alli D.
Sissy and I popped in for lunch on the patio one sunny day. We had two little kids in strollers in tow, so it was a little inconvenient to shlep them inside and back out again, find a table, then go back in to order, etc. But once we were settled under a nice outdoor umbrella, it was quite delightful. A waitress brought our food out to us when it was ready. I ordered a felafel wrap, sissy got a gyro, and we shared the greek salad. I love me a felafel, and the salad was good, too, although a little too oily. I love the pub down below, too, but it is definitely a wintertime hangout in my opinion. Although there were signs posted about happy hour on the patio, so maybe I'll have to check that out sometime soon too!
(4)Felisa D.
I almost had a "When Harry Met Sally" cafe scene moment here. Minus the faking. I had a seasonal dish of corned beef hash (with sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes) topped with perfectly poached eggs. The yolk with the corned beef and the crisped up sweet potatoes served on a cute little iron skillet... Oh man... I may have just sighed out loud. I've only been once and just for breakfast but I'd love to come back sometime.
(4)Rachel H.
Yelpers, beware the hater reviews. Vios Ravenna is a fine bookstore cafe and an enjoyable experience. The food is the same great quality of the Capitol Hill location, and that's saying something considering it's in a bookstore setting in a quiet, out of the way location. I had a tasty lamb sandwich for under $10 (lamb slovaki) and a nice, relaxing lunch. I'm new to town, but as a transplanted San Franciscan I was happy with my decision to drop by. Is there somewhere else you can eat a good lunch for about 10 bucks, pull off a family rainy day indoor game playing session, and grab a book on the way out.? (Okay there is. Go to Capitol Hill and try Elliot Bay Books and eat at Oddfellows Cafe, but that is another review for another day.) All in all, the "horrid" reviews for this place seem suspect. I get it that the old cafe was beloved (just what were they putting in the coffee exactly?) and the loyalty is admirable, but from what I'm seeing, the replacement cafe is a nice addition to the neighborhood, and certainly to the bookstore. Its not fine dining, but for a nice, low key family cafe with great food attached to a bookstore, this is a great option, in my opinion.
(3)Jessica H.
Best things I've eaten here: Trio of Dips, souvlaki, Eggs Benedict for brunch, the steak, the pork chop, salmon and this really yummy squash salad that seems to be off the menu. The kids pie and gelato are favs of my kids. We enjoyed the chance to have "Dinner and a Show" (observing our kids play in the enclosed kid spot from above while we eat). We've always had decent service.
(4)Sarah B.
If there is such a thing as an "anchor restaurant" in Ravenna, this is probably it. Great open, light space in the back of Ravenna Third Place Books bookstore; I believe it was previously the original PCC and before that a drugstore? - I'm not sure it was ever part of the town of Ravenna (turn of the 19th century), but it is in an old building that has seen many other uses. Weekend brunch is a small but well worth it menu. I usually order the baked eggs with roasted kale and feta - a healthy savory breakfast alternative to the omlet. I'm not usually a fan of biscuits and gravy, but I must always steal bite from my husband's order - the biscuits are perfectly crispy and flaky, and the gravy is...uh, gravy. The pancakes and french toast are also good. Portions are appropriate - on the medium to smallish side, but satisfying to me. I've only had lunch/dinner a time or two - the mezza plate is good and I dug the standard pub burger. Service is always friendly and attentive. The real gem here is the pub under the restaurant! The knotty pine wood paneled walls and gnarly wood table with low ceilings lend a cozy, tucked away feel. Great selection of beers. Order the fries in whipped fets dip and be sure to check out the book of confessions at the bar. People will admit to some pretty funny, weird stuff after a couple of beers.
(4)Not M.
Food is generally excellent but can be pricey if you're not careful with add-ons or any modifications to the given menu items. I usually get Greek salad with a lamb or chicken skewer and it's always very good. Baked goods at the counter are pretty good too.
(4)Krystin T.
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this place. I wanted to like it, I really did... I wasn't incredibly impressed, but I wouldn't avoid coming back, either. I came with three girlfriends for brunch. It was pretty packed so our wait was over twenty minutes. Not too big of a deal, just a little unexpected. But our real problem was the service. Although everyone was friendly enough, they were SLOW. We waited awhile to order coffee then a long time to actually GET our coffee...at which point they still didn't take our food order. So on and so forth. I couldn't decide what I wanted from the menu. It was between the baked eggs and the breakfast sandwich and I don't think I made the right choice. While the baked eggs weren't BAD, exactly, they just weren't quite what I expected. We'd inquired as to what exactly a "baked egg" was and were led to believe it was some sort of cross between a frittata and a scramble. It... wasn't. It was more like hard-boiled egg in a pan surrounded by marinara sauce, some cheese, and spinach. It wasn't bad - adn definitely had a little kick to it! - but I don't love egg yolks. I also wasn't entirely sure how to eat it. The coffee was good (it's Illy, with which my friend is obsessed) and there were a couple other things on the menu I'd want to try. I just can't give it a top rating until I try it again and see what I think on round two.
(3)Jeff C.
I ate at Vios Cafe at Third Place Books in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle for the first time today. My wife and I had lunch. She had the lamb souvlaki plate with salad and I had a falafel sandwich and a cup of lentil soup. Everything was excellent and I think it was the best lentil soup that I've had. My wife went there for the first time a week ago Saturday for weekend brunch with eight friends to celebrate one of their birthdays and all of them had a good time and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This building was an early home of my favorite grocery store, PCC Natural Markets, and Vios has created a very relaxed, inviting ambience with Third Place Books.
(5)Luigi A.
Great little restaurant in a used book shop. Wonderful Greek food and the bar downstairs is amazing! The only thing I'd ask is to bring back the mussels & fries. They do an uncommonly good job with the lattes - even for Seattle. It's certainly a popular dish in Greece. Update: am now finishing brunch at Vios. The waiter is stoned and it took him eons to find my table in the confusion that is washing over him. He noticed about 40min after I sat down that I didn't have water. It still didn't come until I found someone who would get it for me. The food (a smoked salmon omelette) was lovely though I was puzzled why it only had two eggs. Even with the requested extra egg the salt from the salmon was formidable. Still a great place but the warmth and charm of Seattle hippy culture is impacting the service sector.
(5)Jonathan S.
A HAIKU REVIEW Atmosphere good: books! Food: sub-par. And the wait staff? Still....waiting....for....them
(2)Michael B.
Went here for a Sunday brunch with grandparents and kids. Service was good, but the food was thoroughly disappointing. Potato side was either burned or underdone. Pancakes were uneven. Corned beef hash was half gristly meat. We try this about once or twice per year, just in case it can repeat the one good experience we had in 2009, but end up asking ourselves "why did we bother" each time. I'm glad some of the other reviewers were satisfied; maybe we just had bad luck 5 times in a row.
(2)Jen T.
What we ordered: Trio Sampler wth hummus, kalamata tapenade and kopanisti for our appetizer, pastitsio with small greek salad and lamb souvlaki with a bucket of fries for our entrees with a bottle of Skouras red wine. The food was wonderful. Dips and pita were fresh and full of delicious robust greek flavors. Pastitsio was perfect greek comfort food and the greek salad (tomatoes, cucumber, green peppers, red onion, feta, greek olives) was refreshing. The lamb souvlaki was cooked to perfection, tender and full of flavor and the fries (handout) came with a wonderfully rich feta dip. The Skouras wine was deep, velvety and perfect with our meal. Was not able to finish the wine, so they corked it for us to take home. We also took dessert home for later (chocolate cake with an orange sauce). We actually got a late start and arrived a half hour before they closed. I thought they were open till 10pm otherwise I probably would've opted to go elsewhere only because I've been in the restaurant industry and know what it feels like to want to get home. The waitress was very welcoming and there was no feeling of being rushed. Service was quick, attentive and friendly! This was our first time at Vios and definitely not our last! Thank you for a wonderful meal, great atmosphere and service! Jen and Brett Ravenna/Bryant
(4)Julie G.
Vios is yummy. I've had meals here about 5-6 times, and many times I end up getting the same thing (the falafel). It's delicious! Something about their falafel...a little more perfectly crisp, which a slightly spicy interior that makes you want to gobble them all up! The hummus is silky and smooth. I recently had some greens dressed with champagne vinaigrette (one of the sides offered with the meze plate) and it was delicious, perfectly crisp lettuce with just the right amount of dressing. Excellent pita as well, wish I knew where to get it. The downsides - they have sun-dried tomatoes in their falafel sandwich, which can be a little annoying - difficult to bite through so you end up with one overpowering bit of tomato. I'd prefer them diced up small, or just fresh tomatoes instead. They're also a little pricier than your standard falafel shop, but the quality of the service is excellent. I've tried their specials a time or two, and each have been quite good (seafood). If you're in the area I recommend giving them a try, or head downstairs to the Pub at Third Place (same kitchen).
(4)Sara M.
This place is so cool! I always drove by and never noticed it because it's tucked away in a cute bookstore. I'm so glad I found it though! I went on a Saturday morning and the sun was streaming in, people were studying in groups and alone, parents are while their kids played in the play area and other diners had a proper sit down brunch. It was bustling and upbeat with lots of nice servers. I got the baked eggs with tomato and braised greens - it was delicious and probably a little bit healthier than other options!
(5)Kari D.
Employee was rude. Food was nowhere near as good as the Vios on Capitol Hill. Sad. Hummus was flavorless and they were "out" of all gyro meat at 11:20am on a Sunday. Huh??? Also no avgolemono, which they always have at the Cap Hill location.
(2)Kevin P.
This is my dad's favorite restaurant in Seattle, which is nice because it's reasonably close to where we live. The baked eggs (only available on the weekend) are really good, and I usually try to get a side of the breakfast potatoes along with it. My wife loves their scones.
(4)Inna B.
First thing- I loved the set-up that Honey Bear had. I loved the cozy but open space and the coffee and the AMAZING breakfast sandwiches. On Friday night I finally checked out Vios. I grabbed a book to read from the bookstore and walked over to the seating area. It was super busy and confusing and I had to ask the hostess (or waitress?) what I was supposed to do because when I stopped by the night before it was almost empty and people seemed to be ordering at the counter. Once that got figured out I grabbed a seat and was handed a menu. I picked out what I wanted and waited. A guy that wasn't a server walked around with a plate of pita bread & hummus and asked about 5 tables if they had ordered it. That was... not so well planned out. I knew he wasn't a server because that was his answer when I asked if I could order from him (and he didn't seem to take the time to send a server in my direction, either). I ended up starting to read because it took the waitress at least 10 minutes after I picked my food out to actually get back to my corner again. It was kind of crowded with the tables so I was probably hard to see and hard to get to, which was also another negative point. I ordered the chicken souvlaki (sandwich) and a glass of white wine. The wine took quite a long time to get to me because apparently they ran out of wine glasses and ended up serving it to me in what I think was a double shot glass. That wasn't too good... the wine was fine, but I think it would have been a better experience if it was in the appropriate kind of glass. The sandwich arrived about 10-15 minutes after the wine. It was quite delicious and the sun dried tomato tasted AMAZING in it. I just wish it was pieces of sun dried tomato and not several whole ones (cause they're kind of big). Over-all the flavor of the sandwich was wonderful. The only disappointment was that I was hoping to have something on the side because the sandwich cost $6.50. Over-all? + Servers are nice + It's in a bookstore + Flavor of food + There are about 5 selections of both red and white wine- more if you're interested in a bottle. (I like variety) + There's a seating area that's perfect for people who are there alone (I don't like taking up a 2+ person table when it's just me and the place is busy) - Slow service (good thing I had a book to entertain me?) - Cost of food - Kind of cramped and difficult to get around (at least in the section I was in) - The person delivering food sometimes had no clue where it was headed I'll probably go there again just because I want to try the octopus salad (and wasn't in the mood for it last night).
(3)Mike O.
Great spot with the family. Everyone enjoys browsing the bookstore while we wait. Food's really tasty, maybe a bit expensive for what it is, but still reasonable enough that I eat here a lot.
(4)Maga B.
Three stars and I'll tell you why. Although this is really one of my most frequent haunts, the staff, or I should say 1/2 the staff is a little too.. Abrupt for my taste. That being said however the other half is extremely friendly. This is a great place for coffee and tea and what have you. I recently tried their food for the first time. I had a chicken souvlaki. It was very satisfactory. All in all, great place to get a coffee and study and even get a bite to eat, the staff, ok. (But the bookstore staff are great)
(3)SY k.
Love their egg's benedict during brunch!
(5)Sara F.
I love this place! Things i like about it: 1. The play area, although they should have more toys in it. 2. The small book store connected to it, you can grab a book and check it out while sipping coffee. 3. The food is really good. The service however is not that good, the waitress last time seemed a bit edgy and aggressive (maybe she was having a rough day) I would definitely go to this place again. It has a unique atmosphere.
(4)Lilani E.
They get 3 stars for really cool staff, fair prices, warm atmosphere and neat table tops.The food and drink however is sub-par (I hate to admit this). The lamb is dry and the menu is pretty limited. It's not awful food but the Seattle Restaurant scene sets a high standard. I would love to see more variety on their drink list as well.
(3)Angela K.
First of all, I love the space. Windows, it's in a bookstore with pictures of Greece. What's not to love? The food however is just okay. Fries and sauce are pretty good, and I've had several soups with good flavor. But overall not a great value for your money at dinner time. There are better Greek for places where you get way more food for your money and better taste. I've also had a great Greek salad there and a really mediocre one. Lunch is a little better and I like their quiche but I'd generally say if your looking for good portion size and really quality food go somewhere else for Greek. However, if you need a place to do some work or study they have a decent espresso bar with some tasty little treats. Their wifi is solid and have plenty of chairs with tables, although no comfy ones.
(3)K N.
Great brunch! Portions are reasonable. More about quality than quantity. Always fresh.
(5)Gayle B.
I love this place. I like the whole café in a bookstore atmosphere, and I like that the food here is as enjoyable as the atmosphere, which just makes you feel cozy and good. I've had breakfasts and lunches here, I haven't had dinner here yet but i'm sure i'd like that too. For breakfast I had the pita egg sandwich and I kept thinking about it for a couple days, the roasted tomatoes were awesome. For lunch I've tried the gyro and the falafel- both were great. Service has been friendly and quick.
(4)Behzod S.
Vios has the trifecta: great food, great service, and a great facility. I was there working with colleagues on a number of projects and had positive experiences with their hummus, greek salad, espresso, and unfailing wifi. This place has tons of seating options and a fun vibe: not too serious but not too loud.
(5)Rachel F.
I like the cozy bar, or patio when it's nice, and good beers on tap. The food's OK, nothing is great but nothing is bad.
(4)Crystal B.
Delicious food but mediocre service. Sometimes you have to wait a while for them to take your order and get your food. The bookstore attached to it makes everything worth it. Oh, and their chocolate chip cookies are to die for!
(4)Neil R.
This place has a very nice staff but that is all. Everything I've tried is over priced, average tasting and lacks in quantity. I gave it one more chance today (only because my pregnant wife was craving a gyro and my other spot is closed on Mondays) and my tiny gyro had four small pieces of lamb accompanied by six French fries rolled pup inside???..... Really?
(1)Carol D.
This is one of the better places for breakfast in Seattle, IMO. Surprisingly, I think this (greek) place does the best biscuits & gravy, and by far the best pancakes in town--which have a little ricotta to help them retain moistness. Great stuff.
(4)Dawn S.
I was very enchanted with the idea of dining in a bookstore and loved the fact that it appeared very kid friendly with a enclosed play area for the little ones while the parents dined. The menu was simple and described well and boy was I in the mood for some Avagolomeno! Which, they had on the menu. It was served maybe five minutes after we ordered and I was impressed with the speed. And, then the experience took a turn. It was the WORST version of Avagolomeno that I had ever had. It tasted like it came out of a can and there was hardly any rice and that delicisous tangy lemon was completely absent. That was the last taste for me. I ordered the mushroom pastitsio and my husband ordered the lamb souvlaki. The pastitsio noodles were so over done that they were mushy and there was hardly a mushroom to be found. I did find it flavorful and seasoned appropriately. My husbands souvlaki was the rock star! It was amazing! We talked about how we ould rate Vios on the way home and agreed the soup was a real spoiler for the score. Maybe a bad night? Don't know if I'd be willing to risk another try when there are some many other options.
(2)Jake D.
Great study spot with a book store and bar...you can't go wrong.
(5)M C.
The reviewers here are crazy. Overpriced? You can eat to the bursting point for under $10. I get the feeling most of the commenters are just angry about the Honey Bear leaving. Personally, having long loved the Vios on 19th in Cap Hill I was overjoyed to have the place open here. And the food? If you like real Greek food, and not just greasy Gyros there is much to love. Great salads, flatbreads, and wonderful mezze plates sound good to you? How about a superb post-meal Baklava? Theirs is one if the best I've ever had. Seriously. Restaurant reviewers around the city have raved about this place for good reason. Go and enjoy.
(4)Trisha F.
Horrible service and overpriced food. Came here with playgroup. As a restaurant with a child play area and reputation as a kid-friendly place, Vios falls far short of the mark. The manager is a curt, rude individual. Our server abandoned us halfway through our lunch and never mentioned his departure. As a result, we had whiny toddlers and waited over 20 minutes for a check. When we finally grabbed a waitress (not ours) and asked, the manager finally gave us a check. Splitting the bill took another 20 minutes. I will not return here for another mediocre 10 DOLLAR pizza.
(1)Catherine C.
good for families, affordable prices, relaxing laid back ambiance. The server forgot to tell us about the specials though, so that was disappointing. We overheard another server give the specials of the nights to the table next to us and wondered why our server forgot to tell us... hmmm. lamb and chicken under a brick were good as was the greek salad and lemon-chicken soup.
(3)Sally W.
Aimosphere...how can you beat book store? Food...how can you beat a falafel sandwich perfectly balanced between moist and tasty accompanied by braised greens with garlic? I love this place. It's my go to!
(4)S M.
I meet a friend for lunch here at least once a month and have never been unhappy with the food or service. In addition to great sandwiches, soups and salads, there are also wonderful desserts and gelato. Arrive a little early if you are able to because it can be very busy at lunch time.
(4)Amanda W.
A few disclaimers before I start my review: - My first time to Third Place books occured after Honey Bear had been replaced by Vios. - My review is from the perspective of a person who went to a book store not expecting to find a casual restaurant. - My first experience with "good" greek style food was at Vios. I have been here 4 times so far and have loved every meal. Three of those times were for a casual lunch (one unexpected) and one time was for a planned dinner around 6 PM on a Saturday. I have never seen it overly crowded, and the service is not super fast or attentive. But if you're in the mood for a casual night at a bookstore with some good quality food, and a possible drop down to the bar below afterwards, then this is the place to go. I highly recommend the Trio Sampler of Dips as an appetizer to share or small lunch. And they are always very nice about giving extra pita bread if asked. The Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese flatbread is also very good. Finally, the Lamb Souvlaki, mmmm. The food is a bit on the pricey side, but I find that most good places in Seattle are. And relatively speaking, this is very comparable to a typical cafe on the Ave in the U-District. But it's in a cute book store!!!!
(4)Bridget S.
This is my favorite secret place to come study. There is an area off to the side in the bookstore next to the cafe with about 25 seats where you can sit with your laptop all day long while the super friendly servers and manager dude bring you drinks and snacks without giving you the feeling that you are overstaying your welcome. Also, if you have kids there is another little walled off area your kids and play in while you eat at the surrounding bar. Perfect place to come when you don't want to cook dinner. Smiley and adorable staff and the food is great too! I love this place so much! Oh, and there are huge tables for groups and an awesome pub downstairs!
(5)W M.
This place gets 5 stars for a lot of reasons: 1) They put a lot of care and quality ingredients into their food and it shows. 2) Everything is clean, appealing and well tended. 3) There is a nice atmosphere and a family-friendly yet sophisticated vibe. 4) Healthy, flavorful REAL food with authentic flavors. 5) They've got heart. Vios is great for almost any meal: breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, dinner, coffee, etc. The portions are reasonable, the plates have variety and the flavors are delicate. For example: if you try the lamb souvlaki plate, you get 4 warm pieces of REAL pita, a nice chopped romaine salad with some herbs, savorysweet luscious roasted tomatoes, rich fresh tsatsiki, and perfectly grilled lamb skewers. If you're there for dinner, you can get some chewy home-baked bread served with deep green olive oil. They make their own lemonade. They've got baklava and gelato. They offer many lovely dips. And the coffee is good. Now, yes, there will be kids, but if you sit closer to the kitchen by the windows or to the left side (facing in), you'll have less commotion. The staff is not swift and you might need to remind them of some stuff. But the food is worth it and the owner is an amazing person who you will feel good supporting. It would help if the play area had more engaging toys and if parents sat close to that area and didn't allow the kids to go back and forth endlessly. But you can also go later to avoid the kiddos or bring your earphones.
(5)Honora W.
a little neighborhood jewel. Books, good coffee and really tasty food. The meze falafel plate allows you to choose two salad/dips on the side - I went with a greek salad (fresh and not over-dressed - you could taste each veggie's unique flavor rather than a continuous one-note of vinegar/oil) and tzatziki (sooo yummy with real thick Greek yogurt, not the thin drippy stuff you often get around town - could use a little more garlic). Very sweet and efficient server (and bonus! the gal delivering food to tables was singing the "Let's Get Together - Yeah Yeah Yeah" song from original Parent Trap as she moved about her work - we like). ;-) Nice atmosphere whether on your own or with a group.
(4)Rishi H.
The burger is extraordinary and the kiddie play area is a blessing. Makes the all too infrequent experience of going out to eat with a toddler a real treat. Bonus: Manny's on tap!
(5)Jeff D.
Vios is here in full effect, wonderfull food, great atmosphere, kid friendly, and the pub is one of the best in the city. Goodbye honey bear hello Vios.
(5)riika C.
Great ambience, love the lighting and fact that they have a kids area. But I wouldn't go back for dinner, breakfast only. It doesn't help that the hostess was very flat and non-welcoming at all. Server gal was very friendly! I should bump up to 4 just for her. But the food was over-priced and not worth it. We had the squash salad, which was very tasty, but way over-priced. I also have the Falafel Mezze plate with two sides of the squash salad and hummous. Hummous was very bad, and I can't say i've had bad hummous before. Falafel was just terrible! Super dry and mainly bread crumbs. Not moist, hot or tasty. Like old gas station falafel, if such a thing even exists. We were with our child, and she seemed to think falafel and hummous were edible, so that's why I didn't send back. But I've never spent $32.00 and had to go home and eat because I was hungry. So sad, considering it's right in our neighborhood and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Just has no spirit and food is bad.
(3)Jeff S.
Man, so many people hatin' on the Vios. What's the deal? Am I missing something? I think the food is very good and the menu is inventive and creative. Both breakfast and dinner have enough variety to satisfy a number of palates. For breakfast, the baked eggs with greens is delicious. Admittedly, I had to send the dish back because the egg whites had not thoroughly cooked through. For dinner, I've really enjoyed some of their specials along with the staple falafel sandwich. The wine selection is decent, but their pours are TINY! For dessert, order the galaktobourek! Overall, Vios offers very good food and a nice option to have in the neighborhood. Staff has always been very friendly and accommodating (unlike the experiences of others here). Now, regarding the service. I think it's great for Vios to have the dedicated kid-pit and to encourage families to spend time together. But I think that most parents out there take "kid-friendly" for granted these days. Most people expect to bring their kids and let them run rampant while others are simply trying to enjoy a meal and perhaps a conversation. Vios staff are not baby-sitters, they're simply trying to make you, your kids, and other patrons happy. I'm not suggesting that parents can only go to Chucky-Cheese, but I think it's fair to have reasonable expectations when your're taking the little ones out to a restaurant.
(4)Ronald M.
Wonderful restaurant! Excellent Greek food, deserts, lattes, friendly service. All this plus a very good bookstore with new and used books. It doesn't get any better than this.
(5)Brendan M.
Three times now, I've had the quiche and a cup of coffee. The quiche, which changes from week to week, is always excellent (and, apparently, always meat-free, to my delight). The coffee is great, and the service is fine. I'm taking one star away, however, because I do expect slightly larger portions at this price point. I can have a bowl of cereal before going to Vios and still scarf down my brunch with no problem. That would never happen at, say, St Clouds.
(4)Lana B.
Vios, I want to love you and most of the time I do. But sometimes you just really disappoint me. I visit you once every two weeks because I really like your food. I eat your good food, drink my wine, and grade my papers. Most of the time the wait staff is attentive and on top of it, but not this last time. This last time I got a waitress who seemed way too smug for her own good. When I asked for a table for one, she seemed surprised and didn't hide it well. She didn't bring me bread (I get bread 9 times out of 10) or water, and she messed up my easy order. How hard is it to put the sauce on the side of my Vios burger? Come on now. Vios, get some consistency with the wait staff already. I want to come back.
(3)Bobby J.
The best illy coffee! There is a small kids area to play.
(5)Suzanna F.
This is really 3.5 stars, not 3. I went here today for a short meeting (to plan a bridal shower!) and was surprised because I hadn't realized the cafe actually served FOOD. Not just coffee and pastries, but actual meals. None of us were extremely hungry, so we just ordered a plate of hummus and the $2 bread with olives/olive oil. These were both delicious, but I think it would be pretty hard to mess up bread with olive oil. I also ordered tea and I was really disappointed with their tea selection (or lack thereof). I asked for a black tea and really all they had was earl gray. It did come in it's own little pot, which was really cute though! Having the olives on either side of the olive oil was also a nice touch. So props on presentation! I would agree with others that it's extremely family friendly, which to me translates into LOUD. The three of us shared a large table with a family and although we were able to get our planning done, I could see how that could be distracting for someone wanting to do homework or study. To sum it up: Decent food, okay prices, but noisy.
(3)Devin E.
So maybe I'm just a contrarian. Maybe I just loved Honeybear too much to see it give way to this place. Maybe I just didn't know what the hell haloumi is (before I consulted wikipedia) or why there's almost nothing on their menu under $6. Maybe it's the slow, pathetic service. Or maybe I just need to give Vios a second chance. In any case, I don't think I will patronizing it nearly as much as Honeybear. It just isn't the same going to RTPB anymore and not having the Honeybear employees greet me with warmth and alacrity. Sorry, Vios (which, for all my carping, does have some good, if expensive, food - the spanakorizo is one such example) just doesn't make the cut. (Edit 5/13/09) This place just sucks. They fired some of their best pub workers and charge their customers absurd amounts for mediocre food. Down with Vios!
(1)Anton Z.
Tasty breakfast. I usually have their breakfast sandwich with egg, tomato, and bacon (hold the mayo)...it comes with amazing potatoes! My partner is partial to the greek yogurt and granola, and I love the espresso. The quiche and other egg dishes are great, and if there is a wait you can chill in the bookstore, which is also fun.
(3)Alina R.
Rude rude people. Many look very unhappy to work there and give you constant attitude. My tea order today was spilled all over the counter and the top of the teapot was dirty with coffee stains. The girl at the register didn't even notice any of that. This is the first time ever that i didn't leave a tip to the barista. Love the study area and the bookstore.
(2)Brian G.
We used to go to 3rd place for a mid week beer and plate of nachos from Honey Bear all the time. The vibe is definitely different: louder. 3rd place was at double capacity and there were at least 3x the the largest crowd honey bear ever saw. Also the service was slow: we waited 20 minutes for an appetizer then got charged $1 for extra pita. Really? My first reaction is this is not my little neighborhood place. But here's the thing, the experiment is only a few days old. The food is good, even real good. There is little on the menu under $6, but plenty under $10. And at that price point the value is there. The lamb kabobs are tasty and they know what they are doing with the spreads, sides and salads. A few weeks will pass and the servers will pull together the service. And as some of the novelty wears off the crowds will thin (hopefully). We'll be back.
(3)Robert B.
I went to this restaurant because I like the lamb chops so much at their other location on Capital Hill. I guess I assumed, incorrectly it seems, that the portions would be something that would work for a man. What came was perfect for a midget. Puny, and great on top of a Ritz cracker. What my wife and I had cost $35.00 with tip. It was not worth it. Ugh, was I disappointed.
(1)Ashlee G.
I can only say one thing: FREE COFFEE REFILLS. $2 bought me the (delicious) coffee high of my life and a nice, large, outlet-accessible place to sit for four hours and work my bum off. The orzo was alright and the service was kinda slow, but for my purposes, it was perfect. The waiter was cute, too. Major plus.
(5)non o.
I've been waiting for this place to be open, and I finally went there for dinner tonight. The menu looks pretty much the same as the one in Capital Hill, and I can see this place is suppose to be a kids friendly place also. Well, the space is smaller and I felt that kids are everywhere!! It was overwhelming. I should've tried the pub down stairs but the waitress said the pub has smaller menu, so we tried upstairs. We had meatball sandwich, hommus, and flat bread with greek sausages. The sandwich and hommus are good as always, but the flat bread was just okay. The bread wasn't really "flat" and it was like a pizza without sauce, just as our waitress described but I wouldn't order that again. I like Third Place Book store and I think it could be better to have kept the coffee shop with sandwiches, soups, and sweets. This place doesn't feel relaxing to have dinner while kids are running around.
(3)Abby S.
Came here for Saturday brunch with a friend. Cozy table by the window on a drizzly Saturday. I ordered the Croque-Madame, which is ham, tomato, and gruyere, between two pieces of toasted Columbia City bread, smothered in mornay sauce and topped with a fried egg. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! The nibble I had of my friend's scone was tasty and fresh. Yummy, filling, comfort food complemented by a cup of coffee that was always kept full and steaming. The cafe was comfortably busy, which allowed our conversation to meld into just the right amount of background noise. I look forward to coming back here to try lunch, dinner, and pub options.
(5)Corinna J.
I stopped in for breakfast and ordered probably one of the simplest things on the menu. The baguette with fruit, a sunny-side egg and a cup of tea. The baguette arrived incredibly burned and charred and was barely edible - a shame because the Columbia City bakery's breads are so good. I don't understand how you can mess up something as simple as toasting bread. Oh and there was only one other table occupied so it wasn't that the kitchen was having a busy day to pay attention to the food being cooked. The water for the tea was barely warm but the sunny-side egg was not too bad though. At the end of the meal, the waitress didn't even ask how everything was - she probably knew that the bread was burned to a crisp. Overall, a very big disappointment of a breakfast.
(2)Lisa C.
This is one of my favorite places because it's always consistent. Love visiting the bookstore on the way out. The food is not cheap, but it's really good. The braised greens are incredible! We do not have small kids, but it appears to be very kid friendly, even toddler and baby friendly. Definitely recommend!
(4)Alisa M.
I give this place 3 stars for the food at least. I'm a huge fan of the lamb burger and meatball sandwich. However, this is where the love stops. I'm a parent, with a toddler and a newborn. This is not nearly as kid friendly as the Cap Hill location. First off, the kid section is right up front of the cafe, not back in a corner. The way this location is set-up, a couple of kids makes it look like you're at a kiddie party. Where as at CapHill, the "kid pit" is in back & is much larger. So even non-kid folk can enjoy their meals. Next, the cafe is in a bookstore. A bookstore where the staff obviously have an aversion to children, as I experienced today when joking with a sales clerk about the rambunctious toddler I was with (my own, thank you), I got a snarky, attitude filled response back. There also seems to be an almost too long period between ordering & receiving your food, even without kids in tow. So overall, I'd say go for the CapHill location, because I feel the love there but 3rd Place needs a huge shot of happiness all the way around.
(3)Faye J.
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. First, I'm a big fan of both Greek food and Third Place Books in general. Since a family member has moved into the neighborhood, we're into Ravenna area restaurants, BUT... At lunch today, we waited nearly 40 minutes for our food to be served, but that wasn't the bad part! It was the "whatever" attitude on the part of both the server, and the person who seemed to be the manager. After 20 minutes without food, I went up to the kitchen to see if two pita sandwiches sitting there might be ours. WRONG. Back at the table, I saw orders being taken to other tables, and then orders to parties who ARRIVED AND ORDERED 15 MINUTES AFTER WE DID... then to a party who ordered 20 MINUTES after us. I then caught the eye of our server, and asked her to check on our order. I saw her at a computer station, but she never came back to our table to let us know. At about the 30 minute point, I walked over to her to ask what the **** was going on. That's when I got the "whatever" attitude from her and the manager. "Well, we're just slammed, unexpectedly," was her answer. "Yes, but why are you serving food out of order?" I wanted to know. Neither she nor her manager would answer. Just bland expressions and perfuntory apologies. It's not like we ordered anything exotic, either. Oh, yes, and the bad part is that I have a low blood sugar issue and was well past the point of when I should have eaten. Our food finally arrived about 5 or 10 minutes later. Only when I went up to pay the bill did I glean a bit of truth. She semi-admitted she had screwed up the order. Sounds like she never turned it in until I asked at the 20 minute mark. Or something. They did offer a 25% discount when I asked for one, but heck, after the what we went through to get our food, it should have been free. NEVER GOING BACK AND WILL TELL THE USUAL 10 OR 20 friends not to go there because of insulting service.
(1)Miz S.
I visited regularly before Vios took over, and never came back because of all the nasty reviews on Yelp. What a mistake! Service was great! Staff was extremely accommodating, food was good, and atmosphere still cute as a bug, although the seats aren't as comfy anymore.
(5)John C.
I think folks will be encouraged to know that Vios in Ravenna has a new manager and things have really turned around. I have been in several times for lunch and brunch and always had a good experience. Really, the brunch is so great -- the casual warm family atmosphere and the delicious unique food offerings.
(5)Katherine M.
I'm afraid this will have to be yet another bad review of this place, which is a shame because I like to give people and places the benefit of the doubt, and support local businesses (not chains). Our party of 6 moms had nothing but a bad experience. One of our toddlers was reprimanded almost immediately by a waiter and had a fork snatched out of his hand for banging on the table (for about 2 seconds- apparently it would damage the table). RUDE and inappropriate way to handle that. Our orders were all placed in front of the wrong people, and the food is overpriced and disappointing. Took forever too. Then our waiter deserted us mid-meal without telling us, and when it came time to get the check (from another person), a huge fiasco ensued because it was all on one bill - we had to write on the ticket ourselves whose was whose, THEN we had to go up to the computer to go over the bill, so we could get individual tickets. Then yet another person cashed me out. All with terse expressions. I think from the time we asked for our check and the last one to leave, it took 45 minute...and this is with toddlers in tow. The next day I found out I had been charged twice on my card, and so was overdrawn and had fees tacked on. Calling the manager to try and get this resolved seemed like a big pain in his ass (not considering any of my inconvenience apparently...); I had to call several times to finally confirm this was done...with nary an apology, or even giving me the opportunity to tell him the service was dire and this was unacceptable business practice. Another restaurant would have offered up a gift certificate for all this crap. My BF happens to work in the restaurant industry and would have been horrified with the experience; you just can't treat your customers like this. The lack of a proper apology is more than enough for me to tell others not to bother with this place, even with the (albeit tiny) kids area and being inside a lovely independent bookseller. Since my own household relies on a server's income, I know what it takes for my man to bring home the bucks (good customer service and a diligence to hold up the restaurant's standards), and this place is certainly not worth spending that hard-earned money in.
(1)Jennifer L.
I love studying in this cafe. It's kid-friendly (and often loud during lunch and dinner time), has a bookstore adjacent and a bar downstairs, and has plenty of windows for a lovely atmosphere. The roasted eggplant sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches in Seattle, and the french fries are really hearty and yummy, even when cold. I like all of the veggie options. Even though the service is not super speedy, the people were very nice.
(4)Mary H.
This place is a gem that I recently discovered. I've become a total fan of both the lunches and dinners. Fresh, wholesome ingredients, delectible dishes and very modest prices! Service is tops, and the place is very welcoming of adults and adults with kids. I am able to sit undisturbed in a very pleasant setting and read, unbothered by familes nearby with children. Plenty of space and not noisy...I could eat there every day and be perfectly content. Such a deal!
(5)Carey K.
We often choose Vios for lunch time work gatherings. Both the food and service are great. They get us in and out in less than an hour and have always asked if we wanted the check split up. Enjoying the food downstairs in the pub is just an added bonus.
(5)Trish R.
Upon meeting the rest of my party of five at our table for brunch, I noticed Vios Cafe was rather crowded, so I was looking forward to an extraordinary experience. What I was reminded of is being at the movies, watching a film nominated for a bazillion Oscars or one with rave reviews in the media, and exiting the theater a little disappointed. Our server was nice, our food was served pretty promptly, the prices align with other brunches, and the food itself was pretty good. The not-so-good parts: at least two of us had some sort of filmy/powdery substance (detergent?) on our glasses. We wiped off the schmutz, no biggie. Being gluten-free, I was a little let down at the available menu choices. The server pointed out a few items that would work and told me I could just omit the bread. Well, I already know bread is a bad thing for my gut, but I was looking for a dish where I wouldn't have to leave out a significant part of the meal. I finally settled on an omelet, but asked that the eggs be scrambled. I was not offered a substitution for the excluded bread. When the plate was brought to me, the server acknowledged she screwed up, forgetting to ask for the scramble. She then then asked if I still wanted the scramble. Um, yes, please. I received an apology from someone else (manager?) a little later. I absolutely loved my fresh orange juice. Our budget these days doesn't allow us to eat out as much as we would like. As such, I prefer to stick with my favorite go-to places. If I dined more frequently, I would most likely return to Vios Cafe, but since I prefer a four-star experience, my return will need to wait. That's OK. I think Vios is doing really well without me.
(3)Doug B.
This must be the most contradictory collection of reviews ever! From my point of view, I'm 62, I've eaten at many high-end restaurants in the US and abroad and Vios is my neighborhood restaurant of choice (and there are LOTS of choices in the Roosevelt/Ravenna area). I've eaten here dozens of times and never had a bad meal. The food is tasty and the appetizers in particular are excellent. The portions are reasonable, but not overly generous (which I appreciate). The lamb souvlaki plate is my favorite; I've never ordered their gyro. Admittedly the service is slow and the wine list is barely adequate, but if you're prepared for that, the food is worth it.
(4)Fred P.
Great place for kids and parents with kids. For non-kid folks, it certainly can be chaotic, and I understand the negative reviews... Otherwise, good food and a very fun, upbeat, unpretentious vibe. The portions are a tad small, but eat family style and you will get a nice selection of dishes and flavors. I am giving the place 4 of 5 stars because the management does seem a bit disorganized at times. Keep in mind that the other negative reviews are because people miss the Honey Bear Bakery. It's simply a different place, apples to oranges, and shouldn't be reviewed as a replacement for the old, cozy cafe...
(4)Deborah B.
I really want to help this place get its ratings up because it's one of my favorite spots in the city! It is friendly and unpretentious and the food is really wonderful. There are options in the lower prices range if you are on a budget that are also delicious. Their pastries are incredible and they are baked there as opposed to purchased from a third-party. Coffee is great, nice, warm atmosphere and several large communal tables make for a great spot for a larger group... what's not to love? People taking little kids out to restaurants should maybe bring some crackers along to placate your kids while you wait. Seriously, why should you expect special treatment because you have kids along? Give them credit for bothering to have a kids area at all -- most restaurants do not. I love Vios!!!
(5)Alex J.
Wow, people are so negative about Vios. We go there all the time and have had nothing but great experiences. The food is always great, the service alway quick and pleasant, and the casual atmosphere is nice. Very strange that people had such bad experiences.
(5)David E.
I dropped by this afternoon for the first time and ordered from the counter. It was mid-afternoon and I'd already had lunch, so I ordered a dessert and coffee. OK, so far, everything is fine. Then I tried to sit down and enjoy it. Big mistake apparently. The host of the place came right over and told me I couldn't sit at a table and eat my dessert. The tables had to be kept clear in case someone came in and ordered food. This is in a place that is nearly half empty. So, even though I had just bought food there, and there are plenty of tables, I had to go outside to the bookstore and eat out there. I don't know - maybe my fly was down, or I stink? I certainly felt like something about me was wrong, after basically being thrown out of the place. I ate outside and beat it. Maybe I'm disgusting in some way, but I do have enough self respect to not come begging around there again! Next time I'll choose some dive, like Art of the Table or something. That's more my speed I guess. So, the rating? The dessert and the coffee were terrific - five stars! The hospitality - negative four stars for that. Bye bye!
(1)C S.
I had a birthday brunch at Vios cafe at Third Place Books. We had a great big wooden table and it's a wonderful setting with the big windows even on a very dark rainy day. We called ahead to ask them to reserve us a table and it was reserved and ready when we got there. The servers were really accomodating when we added more chairs when extra people arrived. The food was yummy. They were very accomodating for folks arriving and ordering at different times and splitting bills etc. The portions for the quiche could have been a bit heftier for the price and the coffee could have been refilled a bit quicker. But all around a great place for brunch without long-lines and crowds at 10 am on a Sunday. I thought the coffee was great and loved the neat mugs and little cream bottles.
(4)Michelle W.
Not a huge Greek fan but the food is good enough. I really enjoyed the Brussels Sprouts salad and the hummus. Lamb was good but not plentiful. Dessert was delish but too big for the amount of sweetness on the plate.
(3)Henry T.
I'm mystified by the lousy Yelp reviews! I guess there is a lot of Honey Bear nostalgia souring into bitterness out there. Get over it! Honey Bear is gone. You can head up to Lake Forest Park if for some reason you need one of their only-okay sandwiches. Vios is here now. And Vios, taken on its own merits, is pretty awesome. Look, the Capitol Hill Vios is almost universally held to be one of the best neighborhood places in Seattle, especially if you have kids. Maybe a little overpriced, but what are you gonna do. This Ravenna location has a simplified menu in comparison, but almost everything they do is first-rate. (And the pared-down menu means a more affordable meal.) The butternut squash, the babaganoush and tzatziki, the sausage flatbread, the meatball sub...all amazing. The octopus salad used to be my favorite thing on the menu, but the last time I had it, it was a little under-salted and the octopus was too chewy. Maybe it was just an off day. I've never had any trouble with service here, beyond momentary confusion the first time I came in over where/how to order/sit. The kid pit is small compared to the Cap Hill Vios, but it's still more than most places do. It's a beautiful space with a light, airy feel, especially on a sunny day. And the pastries hold up just fine compared to Honey Bear's...the galaktoboureko alone is worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood. Don't believe the two-star hype! This place is rock solid.
(4)Rachel G.
I had the best salmon dinner I've had in years at Vios last night. Had to rave about it to the chef and manager. It was a generous portion, seared with no sauce, perfectly, gloriously cooked, served on a bed of greens, with couscous and string beans, all for $18. Also enjoyed a delicious bottle of Greek white wine, and several shared desserts (also yummy but we all voted for the, sounds like "galactic burrito", as the best. Run, do not walk, to Vios and order the salmon while it is at it's peak this summer.
(5)Amanda A.
I drove pretty far out here from downtown Seattle, passing tons of great restaurants, thinking I could eat lunch on a Saturday at 2:00 (I had an event downtown and just finished.) We waited at the hostess desk for a really long time, then finally someone came out and said they weren't serving any food for the next 2 hours. Their signs, right at the hostess desk, said, "Lunch: 11:00 - 5:00." I pointed out the sign and they said, "Oh, well we just got done with brunch and we're not serving." She was really rude about it too. I left and thought I'll never get to eat here again because I'm never coming back! Idiots. You can't do that to people on a Saturday, let alone any day.
(1)Scott C.
On my second visit I had another positive experience. This time I went for breakfast. Friendly service and exceptional food. Again, I brought my laptop and nobody seemed to mind.
(4)April S.
The food is good here but overpriced. This is a great place to study except the study area is right next to the kiddy zone. At least it's cool that it's a local bookstore and has a hobbit-like bar downstairs
(2)Beth C.
Don't let the internet cafe section fool you -- or the free wireless. This venue is antagonistic to virtual workers. After patronizing Third Place for months, and easily spending upwards of $10/day at the cafe in appreciation of the space they offer, I am taking my business elsewhere. I don't mind the noise of the lunch crowds, of the other virtual workers talking on their phones, or of the children playing in the "kid pit" right next to the wireless worker area; one expects noise when working out of a public place. I do mind the management disrupting my call with a client and asking rather brusquely over the loud din that surrounded, for me to keep it down. Sure I'll keep it down. I'll keep it down the road at Grateful Bread, where they appreciate that people talking on phones and perched in front of laptops is a huge part of what keeps them in business.
(1)sarah b.
This place is great. Service is friendly. Their butternut squash salad is awesome and their baklava is the best I've ever had. Very kid friendly.
(4)Frank D.
Great brunch and coffee.
(4)David W.
Stopped by on New Years with my partner to look at books and decided to sit down for some coffee. After reading Dave E. review I decided to replicate his experience but had no luck even with a 2/3 full dining room. We ordered cake and coffee at the counter and proceeded to sit down in the main dining room with no one saying anything. The food was quicker but I believe it was due to the fact we only ordered ready made items. I will still give Vios Cafe and Third Place a 2 star because the whole experience is still the same as previous. It is unfortunate that Third Place books is no longer a "third place" and now just a book store with a restaurant attached. They need to change the name to reflect the changes made to simply Ravenna Books since it is no longer a community gathering spot.
(2)Allyson F.
I came here for a meeting for a group project for grad school, and was very disappointed by the service. I arrived a bit after the other members of my group, and no one had come by to see if I wanted to order anything, so I thought I would just go up to the counter to order something to drink. When I got to the counter and asked for a chai, though, the worker (in a rude manner) told me that I had to go sit down and someone would come by the table. After more than 5 minutes, the same guy came by the table with some half-full water glasses and then asked why size chai I wanted. After that, he never came by our table again, and I never received my chai. I might come back for group project meetings again, but will not plan on trying to order anything here if I do.
(1)Jessica O.
Wow. I can't believe what a bunch of self-centered people live in Ravenna! Reading reviews from people who refuse to be patrons of Vios because they can't get exactly what they want when they want it makes me feel happy for the staff at Vios that they won't have to deal with you being a pain in their restaurant! I have eaten at both locations, and while I like the vibe of the Capitol Hill location better, the food and service at both has always been superb. I dare you to find more authentic, delicious, reasonably priced Greek food in Seattle. PERIOD. The world is not here to serve your unreasonable expectations. But, Vios is there for folks who appreciate excellent food in a laid back setting. I look forward to my next lunch of skewered chicken, braised greens and yummy hummus that I wish I could steal the recipe for! Vios, you are loved by many . . .
(5)Katie G.
I thought the service was really good. There weren't many people when I went, but the workers were very attentive, we didn't have to wait long for our food, and they were really friendly. The food was also really good. I wasn't planning on getting dessert but when the waiter brought us the dessert menu I had to order the cake of the day: carrot cake. It was the BEST carrot cake I have ever had. I plan on going back again, even just for the cake.
(4)Stella M.
My friend and I were both surprised when this place opened up inside Third Place. It's kind of a funny idea to have a restaurant like this in a book store, but I really did like the atmosphere. Of course, I'm pretty much always happy surrounded by books...so there's that. We sat by the window overlooking the street, and it was quite pretty. I'm still looking for my go-to place for Greek food in Seattle. As many rave reviews as Mr. Gyros in Greenwood gets, it's a little too fast foody for me. I like the food and selection at Vios better. I had some kind of sweet potato/feta salad that I would definitely get again. The hummus/pita was more perfunctory than perfected but nothing to complain about. My friend had a gyro and it looked very good-- but it was also very small compared to the standard gyro you get at most Greek places (probably half the size of Mr. Gyros.) I actually thought the size seemed more manageable... but might disappoint some. Overall, I would recommend Vios and would go again. Great for a lunch date followed by some leisurely shelf-browsing.
(4)Dandelion F.
This is a family restaurant, so if you don't want to hear high-pitched squeals every minute or so, probably not a good choice. Because of all these kids in the house, I do feel a bit sorry for the waitstaff, but that doesn't excuse their ill spiritedness in dealing with childless patrons. When I requested a table in the only zone not currently dominated by two-year-olds the waitress gave me an exasperated look, then shrugged and acted like she was doing me a huge favor letting me have such a desirable table. When the "summer lamb" came out of the kitchen completely bland, I asked her whether there were any herbs I could add, e.g. dried tarragon or fennel, and she replied "I'll think about it." I did not hear from her again until she came with the check. There is very low morale among the employees, and it translates to a bleak customer experience.
(2)Kimberly H.
We just returned from dinner at Vios and I felt compelled to write about the horrible octopus salad my boyfriend ordered. First off, there was only TWO pieces of octopus (which he ate in one second) and the remaining portion was a sorry concoction of undercooked and inedible chick peas. I tasted the chick peas and nearly gagged as they were completely disgusting. Our dinner was also disrupted by an annoying clanging sound emanating from the kitchen, actually sounded a mallet of some sort and it continuously shook the table. On a side note, my soup was extremely bland and my "Greek" salad consisted of over ripe tomatoes, some onions, and green peppers, a whole lots of nothing. Overall, complete waste of money.
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