By Jean Totti
From the moment you enter Vernona Gourmet on Manatee Avenue East in Bradenton, you feel the hospitality of its owner Nikoletta and her staff. The space features a refurbished interior and an outdoor patio, giving you plenty of options for small and large parties. The walls are decorated with scenes from various Hungarian cities as well as a collection of works by local artists.
Vernona Gourmet takes on a challenge not seen in many establishments today by serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nikoletta explains that there are two teams in the kitchen that make this possible: the early shift works breakfast and lunch, while the second shift prepares and executes dinner service. I’ve been there for all three meals (on different days, of course) and find the transition is seamless. I really don’t have a favorite time to dine at Vernona Gourmet—in fact, I have a list of favorite items from each of Vernona's menus.
Breakfast Choices
I’ve enjoyed a few breakfast dishes so far. My first order was the Bundás Kenyér Sandwich, which loosely translates to “coated bread.” It is egg-dipped bread stuffed with ham and provolone cheese. It’s not a Monte Cristo sandwich, even if it sounds like one. The difference is that this is a savory dish, and it’s not served with syrup or powdered sugar.
Another breakfast dish that fits the sweeter category is the Fresh Berries Crepes topped with vanilla yogurt. I modified this slightly and added a poached egg on top—I consider it a delicious match! These were my first selections because I tend to gravitate toward dishes where the restaurant’s specialty is highlighted, but don’t let my choices deter you from a more traditional breakfast.
Some of the more traditional choices they offer include:
Avocado Toast: Topped with their secret seasonings and baby tomatoes (you can also add eggs).
Lox and Bagel: Served with all the fixings.
Buttermilk Pancakes: (Gluten-free option available) Which you can top with blueberry, strawberry, banana, granola, or chocolate chips.
Vernona Breakfast: For when you're really hungry, consisting of two eggs any style, home fries or grits, and a choice of muffin or toast.
Lunch Options
Lunch opens a whole new world of possibilities. For example, they serve Halászlé, which is a Hungarian fisherman’s soup, a Seared Tuna Salad, or even a Vernona Burger—a double-patty smash burger with your choice of cheese.
Other options include the Fish Sandwich, Chicken Panini, Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, or Tuna Melt. It’s also worth mentioning that a great portion of the dinner menu is also available at lunch time.
Dinner & Specialty Hungarian Cuisine
Let’s get to dinner and their specialty cuisine. On our first dinner visit, we started with Bakonyi Palacsinta, which is a Hungarian-style crepe filled with mushroom ragu. This dish is incredibly flavorful and makes you want to grab a spoon and go for the mushroom sauce, which we did.
For entrées, we ordered a Hungarian specialty and a Swiss one:
Kárpáti Borzaska: A traditional Hungarian fried chicken covered with shredded potato, fried crispy, and served with seasoned sour cream and shredded cheese.
Cordon Bleu: Served as a chicken cutlet stuffed with cheese and ham, fried, and served with mashed potatoes.
Both dishes were outstanding. They gave you that home-cooked feel and left you with plenty of leftovers the next day. There are many other Hungarian dishes that I still want to try, including the Homemade Chicken Paprikás (traditional Hungarian-style chicken ragu served with pasta), Meatloaf Hadik Style (Hungarian-spiced meatloaf topped with mushroom gravy and a sunny-side-up egg, served with parmesan mashed potatoes), and Konfitált Kacsa (a confit duck with Hungarian spices).
Desserts
Desserts are also a strong component of the restaurant’s menu. Somlói is the ultimate treat—it's a Hungarian-style sponge cake with walnut chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Second to that is the Double Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Next on my list are the Tiramisu and the Panna Cotta!
The Story Behind Vernona Gourmet
A Hungarian restaurant wasn’t always in the cards for Nikoletta. She learned how to cook in a high school class (the equivalent of our “home economics” class), and that motivated her to spend summer vacations working at a few hotels in Italy and Greece. She started as a busser and finished running a banquet facility before completing her college education. She arrived in the U.S. 23 years ago and had several businesses before Verona Gourmet, but this successful restaurant is now her pride and labor of love.
Nikoletta is already planning some neighborhood events to bring the community together. The first such event will take place every Monday night with an Open Mic Jazz Night hosted by Robbie Rose. Robbie Rose is a well-known pianist and musician who began composing original tunes at age 13, attended the legendary music and art Community High in Ann Arbor, MI, and honed his jazz skills working with the great Detroit players of the 1970s. He composed many commercial jingles and TV themes, including the theme for "Zoo Life Magazine." Today he resides in Sarasota and will be hosting this event.
Location & Hours
Address: Riverwalk East District, 711 Manatee Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34208
Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday – Saturday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Quick Links
DINING GUIDE
