Balyeat’s Coffee Shop

Truly don’t know how you can screw up breakfast this bad. Our waitress, who said she had been there for 20 years, didn’t know what was in the egg casseroles that were the special that day. And didn’t offer to find out. 2 at our table tried them anyway, and 1 had no filling, it was just scrambled egg. When this was pointed out the waitress took the plate, spooned up some stuffing from elsewhere in the casserole pan and dumped it on top of the plain eggs. 2 had French toast and it was two small squares of what appeared to be Wonder bread. My Canadian bacon was nearly impossible to cut with the knife provided.
Too bad we missed the place when the previous owner had it. If in Van Wert for breakfast do yourself a favor and go to Bob Evan’s. And I’m not a fan of chain restaurants.

New owner took over late 2015. I have not yet been to Balyeat’s since but if she keeps the place running like her predecessor, an excellent menu awaits you. A visit to Balyeat’s is kinda like a step back in time (heck, a visit to Van Wert is just that) where time slows down and you can relax, have a cup of coffee and a warm, home-​cooked meal. If you’re hungry and the neon sign is lit, I cannot hesitate to recommend a stop at Balyeat’s.

Atraditional home style restaurant. Been going there for over 50 years and the menu hasn’t changed!

Cute diner walked into time warp, the white fish good my husband liked chili, place could invest in new ceiling tiles and get rid of tobacco stains ones. Not a bad lunch but nothing terrific either.

I don’t get the hype… Canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, and chicken with dressing so greasy it doesn’t even keep its original form. You are better off going to wal mart and raiding the canned foods aisle. Also their «famous» noodles are a weird, bright yellow color that can’t be natural. Very disappointed. Yet, on a Sunday afternoon, the line was out the door. I’m from the south though, maybe I’m just used to a higher quality of food. But oh well, they’ve been around for a long time so I guess some people like it.

I absolutely love this place! It’s so homey and warming. I hope to go back to this place soon! I always get the chicken and noodle dish and it is so good. I love it. The atmosphere is so great and the service is great and so are the workers! This is a must go!

Born and raised in VW and never went until is was 43! I was missing out. Old school small town diner at its almost best. Other than the owner being a mean guy to his employees the food is good hot and cheap.

This is one of those wonderful places that time seems to have forgotten. I had a wonderful pork pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. My wife had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes.
For dessert she had homemade apricot pie I had homemade sugar cream pie. Wow.
When we told the waitress we were from out of town she gave us a postcard with the restaurant on the front.
It’s great little place is like this that remind us what we have lost when we left small-​town America.

This is a family tradition, and I went 2 days in a row, on Saturday I had the beef and noodles… just as good as I remember as a kid. One Sunday I splurged and had the chicken and noodles. this was amazing and worth coming all the way from Arizona. the young fried chicken, and custard pie were also very good. They were delicious, and I can safely said in all my years this is the best fried chicken. the décor is aged, but remember this place is going on 90 years. in that time anyone who’s anyone has dinned there on their way through Van Wert, see the oldest county library, and dine in one of the best older but still truly classy restaurants that has a history to be proud of.

Average. Good old-​school home-​cooked food. Bland, though, which is understandable given the average age of the customers. Could also use a good scrubbin’!

Excellent diner food, with strong, though not incredibly flavorful coffee.

Our band was playing a concert for the local Summer festival in Van Wert, Ohio. As part of our rider, they have to feed us. At shows throughout the USA, sometimes it’s a shite deli tray, sometimes it’s stuff from the midway of the festival (which can often be really good), and when we’re lucky, as we were in Van Wert, they take us to a tip-​top local restaurant, in this case Balyeats.
The place looks old and decrepit, but in the best way possible-​time capsule old. The waitresses wear waitress uniforms. There is no menu, per se. The Waitresses recite the Carte du Jour from memory (without prices). The fare is American cusine writ large-​Roast Beef, Pork, Kraut and sausage, and more– especially Fried Chicken. In fact «Young Fried Chicken» is below the name on the front of the building.
You get your choice of White or Dark meat, Veg and Potatoe.
A few of us ordered soups which were fab, and salads which were nothing special.
A few of the guys ordered Prime rib, but I had to go for the house speciality «Fried Chicken-​Dark.
It was home-​style old fashioned bird, not deep-​fried but shallow fried in a skillet. It wasn’t crispy, but had that soft breading that is a little crisp in places, and tasty all the way through. There was a Leg and a Thigh, with a mound of Mashed ‘Taters with gravy and some green beans. A fine Dinner plate, if not the picture of abbondanza.
But it was damned good. Real Damned good.
The local official that accompanied us to the place had eaten earlier, and just asked for a slice of the Prime rib, nothing more. Of course they complied.
He didn’t finish it, and offered the remainder to me to taste.
This, too was fine fine fine.
We were told that no matter what, we had to try the Pie. I had Custard, and it was great.
It was a unique experience to poke our noses in this living relic. I can’t help but believe that there are places like this in many small towns across the country.
You want to know what the exact opposite of McDonalds/Applebees/Denny’s and such shite restaurants is?
It’s places like Balyeats. True American Gourmet Dining.
A solid 4 stars. May they never close, and more important, may they never change.

Horrible! Waited 15 minutes before anyone came to table. Then another ½ for our lunch. My chef salad had processed cheese, like Velveeta. Yuck! Hubby ordered a beef over bread and potatoes just like on the menu. After waiting on our food for about 20 minutes, the waitress came and asked again what he wanted. She asked if it was like a sandwich with gravy on top? She had no idea… We will definitely not be back.

Five of us ate huge for 46 bucks. Pie was incredible

Horrible coffee. Should not be called a coffee shop. its a hole on the wall diner that never left the 60’s

Great place– food seems to be even better on Sundays — bring cash

Yummy home cooking. Ordered the ham and owner carves this from a full slow cooked ham. Had the raspberry pie — perfect! The crust was awesome. Truly homemade Reminded me of my Grandma’s cooking. I thought I made great pies but this one was the best. Thank you previous reviewers!

We stopped here on a Sunday. White table cloths on all tables. A very nice lady came out of the kitchen and came right over with menus. The specials that day were prime rib, Virginia baked ham, southern fried chicken, and 5 – 6 more choices. All came with a small bowl of the best soup I’ve ever had or juice, salad of choice, home made muffins, the entrée which came with potato of choice, stuffing, veggie and, if that wasn’t enough, a piece of pie. Everything was hot & yummy!

Simple, old-​school, local diner — felt like we were back in the 50s. Super cheap lunch — had a veal loaf sandwich, and a salisbuiry steak sandwich, with a fresh strawberry pie. Very nice service and clean inside. Cash only.

Fun place. Their donuts were really good.