Sportsman’s Inn Pub & Eatery

I have lived on Vashon for 25 years and have enjoyed Sporty’s for all those years. Famous island-​wide for their breakfasts. They serve equally good bar food for lunch and dinner. Surprisingly good basic hamburgers. And most importantly fries are well done — crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Prices are very reasonable and they give generous portions — no tiny architecturally designed tasteless food here. One of the few restaurants on the island that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. And LOVE the fun when an island newbie orders the Tall Stack for breakfast. They have done a slight remodel so it doesn’t smell like a dive bar but has not altered the hometown atmosphere. However, as the island gentrifies and becomes a bridge-​less Bainbridge or Mercer this gem’s days may be numbered.

Good breakfast. Massive pancake. Decent omelets. I like the Hoot Salad, loaded with cheese and lunch meats and hard boiled egg. Salad dressings are homemade and delicious, blue cheese and French especially. Something really comforting about a kind waitress always refilling your coffee mug. My kids love the fries. After dark the ambience is kinda sketchy, but sometimes that’s just right.

Hmmmm, I’ve always wanted to try Sporty’s but never did because it always looked so «scary» from the outside (due to all the mostly older, salty dogs coming in/​out of the place for a smoke break, or hanging out in the back alley by the patio — equally intimidating for a gal wanting to have breakfast alone with her book).
But this morning, it was cold. And I was hungry. And I needed coffee STAT. And I was tired of all the other joints in town I’ve already eaten at about 9,000 times. And there was definitely no way in heck that I was going to the place on the corner that shall remain nameless because ugh… SO overrated, and SO overpriced.
But I digress.
I popped into Sporty’s this morning with my book in hand around 9:30am. Service was immediate, attentive, and super friendly. The coffee was perfect «diner» coffee; strong and hot! The space is nondescript, but clean. There’s plenty of tables up front by the windows, and a patio in the back. The bar is sort of between the two spaces.
I ordered biscuits with sausage gravy (which wasn’t awesome, but it wasn’t terrible either), a side of fried eggs, and subbed cottage cheese for the hash browns it usually comes with. Next time I think I’d go with the pancakes, or perhaps some eggs and those hash browns (which I saw on other tables, and which looked delish). Live and learn.
The place was full of older folks (I’m almost 50, so I can say that right?), dining with their Significant Other’s, or alone. There are two big screen TV’s on the wall opposite the bar, but as they were tuned to different channels, only one had the volume up. Game shows on a Monday are not my idea of a great time, but whatever. I just put in my head phones and settled down with my book. Works for me!
This place is casual, cozy, friendly… and while not fancy, it’s definitely worth a visit. Especially for breakfast. I don’t know why I waited so long! Thumbs up Vashon!

Wow! Funny how my review was deleted. A few months ago, a group of my family and friends went to Sporty’s for breakfast. After eating a mediocre meal, we received our check. My group of friends takes turns paying the bill and paying the test. It was my friend’s turn to pay the bill, and my turn to pay the tip. When my friend paid the waitress $ 40 for a $ 38 bill she assumed this was her tip and decided to use derogatory language in front of the children at the table. After speaking with the owner, nothing was done. I understand it was a busy morning, but there is no excuse for treating customers this way, especially with kids. Not recommended!

Came here during a trip to Vashon to meet my brother at the Coffee Roasterie. The last trip to Vashon we tried the Hardware store for brunch, and weren’t impressed. We figured we’d give some other place a try.
This place is a sports bar that happens to do breakfast. Just setting expectations here.
The waitress was friendly, and took our orders quickly enough. Refills however were not forth-​coming. We didn’t get any offered until we were ready to leave.
The food itself was okay. Very bland. The portion sizes were adequate. The prices were average.
Largely, the experience was unremarkable. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was much like eating at a Denny’s, but with less lighting, and large TV’s showing football games.

Ok restaurant on weekdays when the serivce is good. Good burgers and good breakfast. Avoid at all costs on weekends, the two servers that work on weekends should find another line of work, one incompetent, the other surly.

Great prices and large portions. Check out my pics! Pancakes over the plate. Great breakfast!

They are known on Vashon for 2 things:
Big breskfasts (not necessarily good but filling).
Drinking & Live Music (usually local).
I have been a patron for both and they are a landmark for both.

I guess I’m the tie-​breaker since there’s been one review from Seattle and one from a local on the island.
My wife and I had a late breakfast there on our anniversary last month and we both loved it. The portions were gracious to say the least, we both ordered omlettes and they were awesome. The atmosphere was between a mom and pop place and Cheers. The service was good, about 5 minutes after our order she checked in on how we liked it and again once we were finishing up after a stop in between to refill our drinks. It was our first time on Vashon Island and when we go back we’ll be sure to stop by there again – as good as it gets for the very reasonable price.

I like this place because it’s totally unpretentious and you never see yuppies there. You can get an awesome diner breakfast there, but you might want to bring your own coffee. It’s great in the morning to see all those old working class farts mawing their bacon and eggs and talking smack. My peeps fer sure. Also a fine place to get drunk before noon! Later at night, the crowd can be iffy; could be a sweet little posse of old timers or douche central.

It loses two star recently because the service is wavering steadily. the last three times I have been there the waitress has forgotten parts of our order. Once with just two people, once with five, once with three… so I don’t think it has a lot to do with a bunch of orders.
I can’t give a place a good review if they don’t feed me or apologize for their mistakes.
What made it a fun spot kind of went bipolar– the «at your own pace» dining I had when the place was near empty was reversed to «At MY own pace» by the waitress, and saw no other signs of speediness from the other two employee’s.