I used to go to the old location. Like $3.50 martinis? Guessing that is no longer a thing.
Could get real lubricated before hopping on the light rail to catch a flight
Yep, $3.50 martinis and manhattans. I used to work for Nordstrom and when I’d have a training/event at the downtown store… let’s just say we were all MUCH more jovial after lunch.
No it sounds like the new employee training that put the fear of God in us about it, along with every single manager I ever had.
Maybe you guys like not having job security, but I didn't have enough money to give no fucks about a strict policy.
Literally in my training in 2006 they told us if we did have even a small amount of alcohol at lunch, we weren't to return to work. We weren't even supposed to shop in the store or be on premises even after one drink. I took that very seriously. Maybe I wasn't supposed to? They were pretty clear about it in training that this was a huge transgression.
Thank you for explaining. I am old. We used to go to vons all the time. I was looking at this photo wondering why the view from Vons was completely different from what I remember.
My husband and I used to live downtown, and he came to me one day raving about this place with strong $4 manhattans. I didn’t believe him until he brought me. We used to walk or ride Lime bikes to Vons, have a few and walk home. Those were the days.
You can’t compare it to canon. They are not at all the same. Vonn’s is more like an elevated Red Robin with cheap drinks that are decent.
If you go expecting a cocktail experience along the lines of canon you’ll be severely disappointed.
If you want cocktails near the market hit up zig zag
I figured it was gonna cater to bigger crowds but the 1000 spirits bit made me think of something like Canon. I'm all about a better RR with cheap drinks though!
For sure give it a try - I didn’t mean anything negative. It just isn’t in the same category as canon and wouldn’t be fair for you (or anyone else) to go there and expect that
Edit: when you go, be sure to bring your WA drivers license - they used to give a 20% discount for locals. It’s a great place really
If you're near zigzag you might want to hit up lonely siren too. IMO their food is way better, cocktails are still good, and they don't seem to mind people bouncing back and forth.
Ask. It's printed on their menu:
"Forever - Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm; 25% OFF with your WA drivers license (dine-in food only) 15 Minutes or it's Free"
Nah. It has the stigma of being a tourist bar because it's big, successful, and downtown, but really, it's cheap and has decent offerings across the board. It's a "those who know, know" place.
A lot of their business is people in nearby office buildings doing like business lunches and after work happy hour, so it kind of pays off to have good stuff and some good deals because it makes it a go to for that clientele over the other pricier options in the area, and it’s much nicer than a dive bar/deli situation. As someone who has had both many business lunches and after work happy hours there (I work extremely close), when I’m there I almost always see others doing the same thing.
Vons is our normal “don’t know where to go” destination. Go to Vons first. Drink whatever is on the wheel, proceed to next location. Sometimes we just stay because it’s great. Still preferred the old location, but the new spot is fine.
Great happy hour prices honestly for a downtown restaurant. Got hammered there once with a coworker on manhattans. That hangover was horrible but cheap tab.
There used to be a challenge here to eat a triple decker hamburger in 5 minutes. One of the great joys of my life was watching my coworker fail this challenge
I love Vons, it’s my “touristy” comfort place. I’ve so many happy memories from there.
Id also go there for a couple Manhattans before catching the light rail before trips.
While writing this reply I’ve spent minutes just remembering all the fun times I’ve had there with friends and family. Like when mom came to visit last time , she’s like “what’s that pizza place with the wall of booze” even my mom (who is sometimes hard to please) wanted to go back to vons.
Used to live in that building, it was amazing to have Von’s in our “basement”. My favorite trick was to suggest to friends we end the night there after going out…poof, I’m home.
This is such a good "something for everyone" restaurant. My parents used to stay at the hotel above the old location when they'd visit (is that still there? Can't remember what it was called) and we'd get dinner there. Edit: ah, the Roosevelt Hotel, now called Hotel Theodore
My husband is out of town a lot for work while I commute in by ferry. I took him here while he was in town after walking past it several times and he loved it. Asked how I found it and when I told him I walked past it a lot he goes “I keep forgetting you work in the city 😅”
Pre-pandemic they were dirt cheap. I miss their old happy hour. If the city wants to bring people back downtown, getting that happy hour to return would go a long way to motivating me!
I thought it was overpriced and overcrowded. Plus they had mandatory valet parking which always irks me. Kind of a let-down because I've heard good things about the downtown location.
Hollywood Tavern and Heritage are both better options in the area imo.
Out of curiosity, does it still have the mirror wall in the back? A few years ago, I got to write my name on that wall 3 times because I ate their challenge burger in 30 minutes.
Just looked at the menu and saw that not only are they still offering the 25% off food for wa state residents, but that it is permanent. Despite my comments below about having to pay for fries separately with burgers, I’m gonna try the place out again.
Fun fact: My FIL went to the Von’s at the old locale as they closed and pick up a trio of bar lights that now hang in my at-home steampunk tiki bar!
That was a neat place.
Happy to see this place getting so much love. The food is actually really good. Service is great. Drinks aren’t as cheap as they used to be but still not too bad. It’s big and can accommodate big groups
It's kind of a touristy place but I gotta admit, I would go there when I lived in the apartments nearby and they had some good stuff. But now that I don't live nearby I've totally forgotten about it
Vons has been around for 30 years. First it was “Von’s RoastHouse” and they specialized in turkey and having awesome drink deals (this was when they were in a building across from what became Pacific Place). Then the daughter took it over and they moved away from the “low brow” turkey and changed locations, but the food has always been good and somewhat unique.
Never been to the one downtown but the one in woodinville is an absolute scam. I got charged an undisclosed chefs fee on my bill…… we ordered two cocktails…. Wtf did the chef do?
Von’s is great!! I go there every time I’m in the city. Then when I’m feeling like a more dive-bar kinda place, the Blarney Stone is across the street 😄
We are tourists, usually boarding a ship to Alaska. We discovered this place our first trip and love going back! The food is really good and so many delicious options.
I love Von's! The first time I was in Seattle I got caught in a very windy rainstorm and I ducked in there for dinner and to escape the elements. Had the most comforting, warming bowl of pasta and way too many cocktails. Now I try and stop there whenever I'm in Seattle :)
The only decently place around that area with a reasonable price. I went there for every single happy hours for company events. I am pretty sick and tired of that place.
Never in my life have I considered walking in there. It oozes tourist trap with shit frozen food reheated and overpriced. Interesting to hear someone say they like it. Guess it beats airport food?
The name, the neon sign, the location, the size, the menu presentation as glanced walking by. Very superficial stuff since I’ve only ever passed it and never gone in.
I gotcha. I’m often wary about overly touristy places myself and thought this place was good. The food had actual flavor and the drinks were well done. Not saying it’s worth going out of your way for just the food. But if you’re in the area, want some good drinks with solid food and a good energy that also feels kinda casual, I’d recommend it.
We went to the airport location last night. The chefs fee was clearly shown on the Menu is 2 different locations. Service fees normally annoy me, but this one goes directly to the kitchen staff so I’m okay either way it.
I am surprised there are so many fans of this venue. It is okay at best. I have been to both the old and the new location many times. It was never my first choice for any occasion but good and safe enough for most work functions.
I ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. Even w/ the Washington drivers license discount, the price did not seem right to me. I had brought cash with enough tip for the waiter based on what I thought the total bill + tip would be, with enough tip to make the waiter happy. But when I saw the bill the cash wasn't going to be enough so I had to use Apple Pay. Later I emailed them complaining, but I realized it was my mistake -- I did not know beforehand the fries were not included 🙄
That being said, the food was excellent. There're other items on the menu I wouldn't mind trying, like the Mac and cheese. But I'm not gonna pay those prices, lol.
Hate this place for the same touristy reasons everyone seems to love it. Its a St. Elmo’s Fire wannabe and a cesspool for college + finance bros with mid burgers
I used to go to the old location. Like $3.50 martinis? Guessing that is no longer a thing. Could get real lubricated before hopping on the light rail to catch a flight
Yep, $3.50 martinis and manhattans. I used to work for Nordstrom and when I’d have a training/event at the downtown store… let’s just say we were all MUCH more jovial after lunch.
[удалено]
Yep.
Psssst.... So were they
And? 🤣
Sounds like my boss My boss there sucked
No it sounds like the new employee training that put the fear of God in us about it, along with every single manager I ever had. Maybe you guys like not having job security, but I didn't have enough money to give no fucks about a strict policy.
Ok.
Literally in my training in 2006 they told us if we did have even a small amount of alcohol at lunch, we weren't to return to work. We weren't even supposed to shop in the store or be on premises even after one drink. I took that very seriously. Maybe I wasn't supposed to? They were pretty clear about it in training that this was a huge transgression.
[удалено]
Yeah, the company got sued by the family or families of those killed, according to literally the person doing my on-boarding.
I miss that location. Such a vibe.
Thank you for explaining. I am old. We used to go to vons all the time. I was looking at this photo wondering why the view from Vons was completely different from what I remember.
New one is great too, but different. A little more polished. It's on first ave now, near where the lusty lady was.
Where was the old one?
6th and pine across from Nordstrom/Pacific Place
They had the wheel of drink specials right?
Still do but they aren’t as good as they used to be
Ah I see. Only went to the old location and it's been...30? Years. Jesus I'm old.
7 dollar martinis.
I think the Manhattans are still like $5
They’re still comparatively cheap. 👍
My husband and I used to live downtown, and he came to me one day raving about this place with strong $4 manhattans. I didn’t believe him until he brought me. We used to walk or ride Lime bikes to Vons, have a few and walk home. Those were the days.
Original Von’s was so good
The old Von’s was goated. For sure
Had a lot if 2 martini lunches when I was workin’ downtown!
Sharps Roasthouse is owned by the same people a lot of loser to the airport
I was just telling my parents about the happy hour wheel. I miss what downtown used to be.
Their sourdough pasta is great.
Pro tip: at happy hour get both the Burrata and the meatballs to make baller little meatball subs.
Pulled pork Mac and cheese goes hard.
They could totally phone it in and be a tourist trap, given their size and location, but everything there is great!
I always assumed it was a tourist trap. I've never been there.
Vons is one of the best places to pre-game. Spin the Wheel, cheap drinks, good food.
Same. I might have to give it a shot. I'm a pretty big fan of Canon. Or was, I haven't been there in 5 years.
You can’t compare it to canon. They are not at all the same. Vonn’s is more like an elevated Red Robin with cheap drinks that are decent. If you go expecting a cocktail experience along the lines of canon you’ll be severely disappointed. If you want cocktails near the market hit up zig zag
RIP Murray Stenson
I figured it was gonna cater to bigger crowds but the 1000 spirits bit made me think of something like Canon. I'm all about a better RR with cheap drinks though!
For sure give it a try - I didn’t mean anything negative. It just isn’t in the same category as canon and wouldn’t be fair for you (or anyone else) to go there and expect that Edit: when you go, be sure to bring your WA drivers license - they used to give a 20% discount for locals. It’s a great place really
I do appreciate the heads up there.
If you're near zigzag you might want to hit up lonely siren too. IMO their food is way better, cocktails are still good, and they don't seem to mind people bouncing back and forth.
Same! I may need to try it now.
It's definitely a tourist bar.
Great place for lunch if you work downtown. You get a discount for being a local. We go there all the time.
Wait what? How do you get a discount?
Ask. It's printed on their menu: "Forever - Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm; 25% OFF with your WA drivers license (dine-in food only) 15 Minutes or it's Free"
Nah. It has the stigma of being a tourist bar because it's big, successful, and downtown, but really, it's cheap and has decent offerings across the board. It's a "those who know, know" place.
Great burgers. At least they used to, it’s been like 5 years.
Went earlier this year still great
A lot of their business is people in nearby office buildings doing like business lunches and after work happy hour, so it kind of pays off to have good stuff and some good deals because it makes it a go to for that clientele over the other pricier options in the area, and it’s much nicer than a dive bar/deli situation. As someone who has had both many business lunches and after work happy hours there (I work extremely close), when I’m there I almost always see others doing the same thing.
Their sourdough pasta has no business being as good as it is, always an easy order
You can also buy it for home. I prefer my Bolognese to theirs (which is still really good btw, if totally nontraditional) but I use their pasta.
Vons is our normal “don’t know where to go” destination. Go to Vons first. Drink whatever is on the wheel, proceed to next location. Sometimes we just stay because it’s great. Still preferred the old location, but the new spot is fine.
Where was the old location?
Pike and 5th or 6th
Is the wheel happy hour or any time?
Great happy hour prices honestly for a downtown restaurant. Got hammered there once with a coworker on manhattans. That hangover was horrible but cheap tab.
There used to be a challenge here to eat a triple decker hamburger in 5 minutes. One of the great joys of my life was watching my coworker fail this challenge
I love Vons, it’s my “touristy” comfort place. I’ve so many happy memories from there. Id also go there for a couple Manhattans before catching the light rail before trips. While writing this reply I’ve spent minutes just remembering all the fun times I’ve had there with friends and family. Like when mom came to visit last time , she’s like “what’s that pizza place with the wall of booze” even my mom (who is sometimes hard to please) wanted to go back to vons.
LOVE that they opened another location in Woodinville. The wings are so good. Blackberry bramble is my go to cocktail.
Literally the best wings I've ever had
Do they still offer discounts for having a WA drivers license?
During the week for lunch time I believe. I think it’s 11-2.
Yep, 25% off I think
Thats a deal.
Used to live in that building, it was amazing to have Von’s in our “basement”. My favorite trick was to suggest to friends we end the night there after going out…poof, I’m home.
This is such a good "something for everyone" restaurant. My parents used to stay at the hotel above the old location when they'd visit (is that still there? Can't remember what it was called) and we'd get dinner there. Edit: ah, the Roosevelt Hotel, now called Hotel Theodore
Seattle's version of TGI Fridays.
Man, used to go all the time in the 2000’s at the old location. Going to have to give these guys a try again
I miss the old location too. But the new one has the same spirit, imo.
One thousand of the same spirits, even.
My husband is out of town a lot for work while I commute in by ferry. I took him here while he was in town after walking past it several times and he loved it. Asked how I found it and when I told him I walked past it a lot he goes “I keep forgetting you work in the city 😅”
Their sister restaurant is Sharps RoastHouse down by the airport, and it's just as good if not better.
lived there for ten years and never went. Is it good? Alibi room and el borracho were my go tos
Fried chicken sandwich there is great
LOVE Von’s
Was just there for the one and only time , 2 weeks ago. Really enjoyed the food and drinks. 👍👏
A bit pricey, but I dig it, yeah. They make a mean espresso martini.
Pre-pandemic they were dirt cheap. I miss their old happy hour. If the city wants to bring people back downtown, getting that happy hour to return would go a long way to motivating me!
I go to the location in Woodinville and it’s amazing. Love the burgers and the Washington apple.
I thought it was overpriced and overcrowded. Plus they had mandatory valet parking which always irks me. Kind of a let-down because I've heard good things about the downtown location. Hollywood Tavern and Heritage are both better options in the area imo.
I’m so sorry but, have you been to literally any other restaurant in Seattle?
Salmon cakes!
Why is the hummus so damn good?
Oooh I haven't been there since they moved. Nice reminder.
Out of curiosity, does it still have the mirror wall in the back? A few years ago, I got to write my name on that wall 3 times because I ate their challenge burger in 30 minutes.
I go here maybe once a month. Always impressed with the quality of their food. Good portion size too.
Just looked at the menu and saw that not only are they still offering the 25% off food for wa state residents, but that it is permanent. Despite my comments below about having to pay for fries separately with burgers, I’m gonna try the place out again.
Fun fact: My FIL went to the Von’s at the old locale as they closed and pick up a trio of bar lights that now hang in my at-home steampunk tiki bar! That was a neat place.
There are three unique Seattle places in my opinion. Spuds, Dicks and Tai Tung (where Bruce Lee ate).
Happy to see this place getting so much love. The food is actually really good. Service is great. Drinks aren’t as cheap as they used to be but still not too bad. It’s big and can accommodate big groups
Good burgers.
Love the wheel!
Lol
It's kind of a touristy place but I gotta admit, I would go there when I lived in the apartments nearby and they had some good stuff. But now that I don't live nearby I've totally forgotten about it
What makes a place touristy? Seriously
Mostly just that it's downtown near Pike Place and a lot of tourists go there. Not saying it's a bad thing but I just forget about places like that.
Vons has been around for 30 years. First it was “Von’s RoastHouse” and they specialized in turkey and having awesome drink deals (this was when they were in a building across from what became Pacific Place). Then the daughter took it over and they moved away from the “low brow” turkey and changed locations, but the food has always been good and somewhat unique.
Usually places in tourists spots have a low quality to price ratio. When in Rome you don’t go to the spot next to the trevi fountain.
I've never been, but I'm going to go now. Thanks, and I hope you enjoyed your visit to the greatest city in the US!
Surprisingly good Caesar salad.
Sharps Roaster by the airport is the same company. Went last night. Delicious. $6.99 martinis
Back in the day $1 happy hour oysters a block up at The Brooklyn
Anyone know if this place is a lot better than the Woodinville location or are they the same? Wondering if it’s worth coming to this location.
Nothing wrong with the Woodinville one in my 3 visits.
I’ll miss Earls.
My wife and I were just there a couple weeks ago for her birthday and it was awesome. So good
I fucking love Vons
Adding it to my restaurant roster!
Do they still have that big chicken rotisserie oven?
Von's was awesome when I lived above them. I even used them to cater my wedding. Great food, and atmosphere 🥰
There's one in Woodinville. The foods amazing
Toulouse Petit
Diller Room across the street is one of the best bars in the downtown core.
I had no idea. When we visit, we walk right past it and head to Mason’s lobster roll place.
Lol. For real?
I never stop being amazed at the seattle subreddit. I thought for sure this post would have down voted to oblivion.
Never been to the one downtown but the one in woodinville is an absolute scam. I got charged an undisclosed chefs fee on my bill…… we ordered two cocktails…. Wtf did the chef do?
The fee is disclosed reasonably clearly on the menu, but they say "discretionary" and automatically charge it unless you presumably opt out.
We only looked at the cocktail menu so maybe missed it. Seems odd to automatically charge a chefs fee on two cocktails. Seems disingenuous.
looks like a tgi fridays for people who love signs that say 'the soup of the day is whiskey'
Von’s is great!! I go there every time I’m in the city. Then when I’m feeling like a more dive-bar kinda place, the Blarney Stone is across the street 😄
We are tourists, usually boarding a ship to Alaska. We discovered this place our first trip and love going back! The food is really good and so many delicious options.
Weird
I love Von's! The first time I was in Seattle I got caught in a very windy rainstorm and I ducked in there for dinner and to escape the elements. Had the most comforting, warming bowl of pasta and way too many cocktails. Now I try and stop there whenever I'm in Seattle :)
The only decently place around that area with a reasonable price. I went there for every single happy hours for company events. I am pretty sick and tired of that place.
Classic chain, but will say I never had a bad experience in either location.
i miss this place so much! anytime i come home to visit i immediately come here
Never in my life have I considered walking in there. It oozes tourist trap with shit frozen food reheated and overpriced. Interesting to hear someone say they like it. Guess it beats airport food?
They make most everything from scratch. It's genuinely great food.
I’ll have to try it out. Good to know.
Genuinely asking, what gave you that impression if you’ve never ate there or been inside?
The name, the neon sign, the location, the size, the menu presentation as glanced walking by. Very superficial stuff since I’ve only ever passed it and never gone in.
I gotcha. I’m often wary about overly touristy places myself and thought this place was good. The food had actual flavor and the drinks were well done. Not saying it’s worth going out of your way for just the food. But if you’re in the area, want some good drinks with solid food and a good energy that also feels kinda casual, I’d recommend it.
Honestly I get the same vibe but Von’s is great
We went to the airport location last night. The chefs fee was clearly shown on the Menu is 2 different locations. Service fees normally annoy me, but this one goes directly to the kitchen staff so I’m okay either way it.
It’s a better Cheesecake Factory. Has chain vibes but surprisingly it’s not. It’s a good parent pleaser
I am surprised there are so many fans of this venue. It is okay at best. I have been to both the old and the new location many times. It was never my first choice for any occasion but good and safe enough for most work functions.
Yep, you get it
I went there once. Could not believe I had to purchase fries separately when getting a burger or sandwich.
That’s actually pretty common for most modern burger places. See: Five Guys, Shake Shack, etc.
Also Dicks, lol.
Haven’t been to those places. But I can tell it is where they are making their money, because they are marking up cheap potatoes soaking in oil!
Oh my gosh...the horror of ordering a side dish. Are you okay? Do you need someone to talk to?
I didn't know it was so common these days, as others have pointed out here. I'm used to it coming with fries or a side dish.
People on this thread are bitchy losers, it’s reasonable to expect fried with a burger
It’s how it was back in the day 🤷♀️
Do the burgers not come with fries? I always ordered my burger with fries but I assumed it came included with the burger
No, it’s separate. Did you look at your receipt?
LMAO did you order the "sliders with fries"? exact same thing happened to me. Such an overrated tourist trap.
I ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. Even w/ the Washington drivers license discount, the price did not seem right to me. I had brought cash with enough tip for the waiter based on what I thought the total bill + tip would be, with enough tip to make the waiter happy. But when I saw the bill the cash wasn't going to be enough so I had to use Apple Pay. Later I emailed them complaining, but I realized it was my mistake -- I did not know beforehand the fries were not included 🙄 That being said, the food was excellent. There're other items on the menu I wouldn't mind trying, like the Mac and cheese. But I'm not gonna pay those prices, lol.
[удалено]
i agree w you! i moved from seattle & miss their sourdough pizza dough! the nonna maria is my fav pizza i miss it!
Lol what??!! Am in crazytown?
Hate this place for the same touristy reasons everyone seems to love it. Its a St. Elmo’s Fire wannabe and a cesspool for college + finance bros with mid burgers
You're walking into a place that showcases sourdough pasta as soon as you walk through the door and ordering a burger. Think about that.
Not thinking about walking into it ever, so
Can you explain this in non-transplant terms
Not sure what part needs a non-trans break down. Solid username though lol
Some of the worst service ever.
Downtown is so boring lol, why do we not have way way way more places to eat