We were lucky to snag reservations at Modern Bird over the weekend and what a treat it was. This may have been one of my top favorite meals ever. Tastebud perfection from first dish to dessert. Each dish was creative, perfectly balanced, with wonderful textural components. The asparagus was the best asparagus I've ever eaten. The smashed potatoes delightful. The halibut with mousse was perfection. And that galette was amazing. But the dessert? OMG. The strawberry cheesecake with lemon curd and cucumber sauce was wowzers. Spring in dessert form. Thanks to the wonderful chefs and server Amanda for a delightful anniversary dinner. We hope to be back next time we travel to Traverse City. read more

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Modern Bird is a very difficult restaurant to review due to a very inconsistent experience. There was one aspect that entire group felt clear on: the high noise level made the experience uncomfortable. There were six of us in our group at a table, and you could only hear the person directly next to you. Our group had a reservation and were seated immediately. The restaurant is small, and the tables are very close together and felt packed in. They do have a small roped off 'patio' area on the side walk with a couple of tables. I thought the service was fine, others in the group felt it was poor (probably because no one could hear her and we had to repeat ourselves). The server did recommend that we share several dishes as a table as they are small plates. We ordered the bread and the three vegetable appetizers to start. Here is where it is hard to review: all of the appetizers were fantastic, interesting and fresh preparations. From the light courses section, we had the bougie corn dog and the duck pasta. I'm not a fan of corn dogs, I thought it was fine, but pretentious and not worth ordering, others liked it. I did like the duck pasta. The mushroom tart was boring, dry, and forgettable (side note that if you are in Detroit, Le Supreme's is absolutely fantastic, so this can be memorable). The other stand out was the walleye main, their use of curry made it an interesting, as well as delicious, dish. We all thought the halibut was awful, it arrived with a fishy smell, but was then somehow flavorless. If we were not all splitting it, it would be a send back dish. Overall, the dishes ranged from flavorful and interesting, to terrible. No member of our group felt they would return, and I would recommend against it due to the noise level, it really was that bad. Every sound echoed off of every hard surface. As a result, it just was not an enjoyable experience. read more

Modern Bird - Inside - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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The food was fantastic but loud cars speeding ruined the dining experience Will look elsewhere for dining instead of traverse city read more

Best meal we've had in traverse city. We were pleasantly surprised with all the dishes ordered and there was a familiar comfort to each. There was a balance of crunch and softness to each dish. I don't agree with some of the reviews here of this place being "yuppy" or "trying too hard" (says a self proclaimed foodie from Chicago). Highlights: -carrots - the curry and fresno were so tasty together with the sweetness of the carrots -steak - cooked perfectly and the sauce work was INCREDIBLE. I will be dreaming of the sauce work and the crispy maitake -glass of cheverny - so refreshing Great service at first - the timing of the starters were precise, but we waited a fair amount of time to get the entree and then dessert. Prices were quite reasonable, and I'd definitely come back! The restaurant is cozy and it gets pretty busy around 7. This place was exactly what I was craving all week. Definitely check them out! read more

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Wow... What a local GEM for Traverse City! Top-notch food, service, and spirits. The food is the center of attention here. The atmosphere is simple and clean. No over-the-top decorations or distractions here. Yes, you MUST have a reservation. No, it's not for children or large parties. This is for a date night, special occasions, etc. Evan was our server and helped guide us. He recommended two dishes (I would not have chosen) and we loved them! Will return for sure. :) read more

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Modern Bird came highly recommended by the locals so we were excited to check it out. It can be very difficult to get into. You want to make reservations! We lucked out but we had to sit at a chair rail along the window. This was still great though. It's a very small location and very popular. The menu is very confusing. So you need the waitress to explain it. We chose to split a few items and everything was amazing! I can't wait to come back and try something new! read more

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This is a very cute intimate sized restaurant. The service was wonderful and I loved that they change out your plates and cutlery between each course. The fried chicken and crudo were standouts but truly everything was incredible. We ordered: Crudo - 10/10, husband said it is one of the top dishes for him. It was fresh be the combination of flavors and textures was amazing Bread - 10/10, fluffy and crunch on the outside with a perfect side of ranch butter. Could have had 10 more Fried chicken - 1000/10, the crunch of the skin, the tender chicken, and the depth of flavor made this an unforgettable dish. This white bbq sauce was tangy and sooo good I could have drank it NY Strip - 10/10, cooked perfectly and the sauce was the perfect complement. Also the caramelized crunch mushrooms were an unexpected and delicious addition read more

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Hands down best meal and service I've experienced in Traverse City! Fresh, thoughtful, and delicious. Yummy cocktails. Ordered 5 dishes between the two of us it was the perfect amount of food. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Such a cute little corner restaurant that has a great seasonal menu with some permanent staples. We just stopped in for a couple of drinks and small plates, but will be going back in the near future to try out some of the amazing entrees. We started with two cocktails, one Modern Bird's White Negroni and another nice floral, hibiscus cocktail. I 1000% recommend the fried chicken on the supper menu, the white bbq sauce was delicious. Nick and Diana provided amazing service and were knowledgeable about the menu and had great recommendations for what we were looking to experience for the evening. The bar area was great to sit at, there's a lovely patio area but I would definitely recommend a reso ahead of time given the popularity of the restaurant. read more

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Did I say WONDERFULLY interesting and delicious! Always a great time, food and atmosphere. read more

My wife and I spent a week in Traverse City in September - she was familiar with the area but it was my first time. I was really struck by how many great restaurants are here, and this one topped our list. The owners moved here during the pandemic after having worked at some Michelin starred restaurants in Chicago. The creativity and flavor combination were just incredible. And relatively affordable. Service was genuine with some offbeat humor to boot. Space is a renovated 20th century structure very cool. Lively scene we went back a second time and as good an experience as the first time. read more

Modern Bird - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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If Michelin were to give me say in it, I think they deserve at least a Bib Gourmand. Everything about this place was exceptional. From the moment we stepped in the door, we were warmly greeted and seated immediately. Our server was super knowledgeable and friendly, and came over to check on us regularly throughout the meal. Because it's a small location, it's always easy to get someone's attention if needed, and the service is very cordial, does a good job of explaining the menu items if asked, and was polite at all times. We followed our waiter's advice and ordered several dishes to share. We started with two appetizers or small plates. The potatoes with brown butter/cheese sauce (parmesan) and pickled mushrooms were out of this world. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with an unctuous parmesan sauce and bright pops of flavor with the pickled mushrooms. We followed this with the herb caesar/asparagus/country ham and cured egg yolks. The yolks were soft but thick, tasty morsels of ham, and some brioche breadcrumbs. We did have to ask, where is the brioche, because the breadcrumbs were nothing more than a fine dusting-should have asked about that before we ordered the dish, but we got a clarification from the server. We moved on to the soft shell crab with polenta-some of the creamiest polenta I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying-with General Tso's sauce which added a nice pop of heat. We ended the main courses with the Galette with spinach and artichoke, and a small side salad. This was a perfect amount of food for two people. We finished the evening with the Strawberry Pavlova-smartly made scoops of meringue had been baked to shape the Pavlova, underneath a layer of chocolate pieces, strawberries, and greek yogurt, and a warm chocolate sauce poured on at serving. Thoroughly well done. I would not hesitate to visit again if I'm ever back in Traverse City, as I'm sure this has to be one of, if not the top, place to dine there. Thank you, Modern Bird! read more

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If you're local or even visiting Traverse City, do not miss this one of a kind dining experience. Nestled just on the outskirts of the downtown, Modern Bird is a quaint and warm setting that puts an elegant spin on Midwestern home cooking. This was our first time visiting and we were not disappointed in the slightest. Our server recommended 2-3 plates per person, but with our eyes on the desserts we selected three plates. The asparagus with prosciutto was the best we've ever had. Perfectly in season, we absolutely loved this dish. The fried chicken was equally savory with an awesome yogurt based dipping sauce to accompany it. We wrapped up our main course with the Galette filled with spinach and artichokes. Imagine a spinach artichoke dip inside a puff pastry? What's not to love! Our final selections for the evening were the Rhubarb Hand Pie and Key Lime Pie, and we will be dreaming of this meal for the months to come. From the cocktails to the dessert, everything is intentionally created to make you wanting more. With a welcoming staff, your needs will be attended to during your time at Modern Bird. We can't thank them enough for this incredible dinner. read more

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Outstanding inventive menu excellently prepared. Great cocktails. Wonderful experience. We sat at the "cook bar," our favorite place so we could watch the chefs prepare the orders. Everything was on point, as it always is. Best restaurant in the world! read more

The staff and attention to detail were absolutely the highlight of our experience. I very much wanted to love every bite I took of the food, but maybe it's my palate or expectations of the dishes that led me to finding a few things a little lackluster. A few things to remember before you go, the menu changes often so don't have your heart set on trying anything particular and the kitchen may run out of your dish. That's nothing against the restaurant at all but as someone who always previews the menu I want to warn my fellow planners. Also the descriptions of the dishes are very succinct, so you won't have the full picture unless you ask one of their wonderful staff or have a surprise when the dish is placed in front of you. We tried five dishes all together; the trout crudo, smoked carrot, fried chicken, halibut and cream puff. The trout crudo- I found the fish to be really good quality and the cantaloupe broth (?) was very fragrant. The only off putting part of the dish was the char roasted rice in the middle of each bite. As a visual eater I had to convince myself it wasn't anything else. But the bites themselves were textually interesting with a refreshing flavor. The smoked carrots- there are so many layers to this dish. I think it's up to everyone's palate if they like that or not. The only part of this dish I was surprised on was the carrots were cold and for some reason I thought they would be a warm dish. The fried chicken- I would say a standard two pieces of fried chicken. The meat was moist and the batter was well seasoned. The white barbecue sauce comes on the side and had a strong vinegar base but the chicken mellows out the vinegar really well. Halibut- this dish is very green centered. With leeks and peas bringing the color to the plate the flavor was not what I expected. The fish is sous vide and gives it a very gentle texture, and it's definitely personal preference but I wish it was warmer than just above room temperature. The peas were pureed and had a citrus undertone which was nice but not the savory side I was expecting and the leek sauce really didn't have much leek flavor to me or my husband. The cream puff was delicious and the pistachio cream was my favorite part. I also really enjoyed the Wheres My Rind cocktail. Overall, the decor is very modern and the ambiance is upscale casual. The restaurant is very loud but the open kitchen is fun to watch. The staff were lovely and the attention to detail was impeccable. I appreciated the experience for what it was but maybe my palate needs to grow. read more

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There is a lot of attention paid to the food and cocktails, with fresh ingredients and careful crafting. The location is in what appears to be a midtown-like neighborhood of downtown TC. The dining room is small and very noisy. Service is friendly. All of this (very sterile) said, the price point is way too high. Quite frankly, 2 small pieces of fried chicken (a thigh and leg) should NEVER cost $20!!! I had to try it. It was delicious. I got an auntie in Alabama who puts it to shame on her worst day, in the middle of a hurricane. The delightful surprise? A delicate lavender dessert with olive oil drizzle. It was on the menu in late July. I absolutely would pay $20 for this again. Modern Bird is best when it sticks to the modern. Well, except for the contemporary furniture. It was uncomfortable. read more

Modern Bird - Lavender dessert with olive oil - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

On a whim my wife and I decided to catch a late(ish) dinner and randomly chose the Modern Bird because it said small plates. Seemed busy especially for the off season, which to me is a great sign. We were offered a small two top or a seat at the kitchen. Without a pause we both said Kitchen. Wonderful atmosphere and the staff was amazing. I had the beets and they were amazing, my wife started with the gnudi. We then shared the potatoes and trout. EVERYTHING was amazing. Please go and enjoy some good food and good company. AND sit at the chairs at the kitchen if you get the chance!!! read more

Let me start with the positives: the service and front of the house was polished; great $11 martini with local gin; scallops were cooked perfectly and accompanied by a great platform with balanced acid. Negatives: fried chicken was undercooked with red near the bone; corn dog was good but better at k pocha for half the price, and the breading fell off. Everything else was meh. If this is what the NYT thinks is great dining then I'm mistified. I'm local, spent $180 for 2 and thinking how much protein I could have bought for that. Perhaps this is a place for tourists? Locals will be one and done read more

I really enjoyed Modern Bird. The food was interesting and well prepared, the service friendly without being overly familiar (and issue in TC in my experience), and the atmosphere charming, I got great recommendations from our server. I will say that though the quality is high, I think it is expensive for what it is, The small plates can really add up, and the wine is about $5 a glass more than I expected to pay (I believe mine was $22 a glass, and I would have expected $16-18 based on quality). Still a definite thumbs up. I will be back. read more

The food was good a little pricey for the little amount you get as in if you need extra sauces that come in shot glass size but i like that it has different foods you wont find at other resteraunts will i go back? Probably not but its not a bad place read more

Now this is probably the best restaurant in traverse city with the best service, Elisabeth especially! From the menu potato in a brown sauce, fried chicken, and wagyu steak are our absolute favorites. It is difficult to find a spot so reserving in advance is recommended. read more

PHENOMENAL! The service was great and we were able to get in fairly last minute surprisingly easily on a Saturday night in July. Every last dish was beautiful and delicious. We were thrilled. My halibut in particular was incredible. read more

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Had a lovely Friday night date over MDW at Modern Bird. The relatively small space is modern, minimalist, and elegant, but doesn't feel cramped. Your eyes immediately focus on the back of the dining room where you can see chef expediting dinner service (you can actually eat your meal here). The service was what you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber, my water was never empty, and our server brought a little gadget so my fiancé could hang her purse! Cocktails here were good, they had a short list of 4 or 5 house cocktails but also had full bar service and an extensive wine list. I had the old fashioned and a mezcal margarita that hit the spot! The food was all delicious. Stand outs for me would be the cold smoked carrots, fried chicken, and wagyu. The carrots especially had such an intense smoke flavor that really played well with the earthiness of the carrot. Fried chicken was incredibly crisp, had a potato chip! Don't skip out on dessert, our key lime pie was gorgeous and perfectly balanced! I will definitely be recommending this place to any friends headed up to TC. This was easily one of the best meals I've had in 2024! read more

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The food was AMAZING! It is a must if you are in Traverse City. Love the intimate setting and the staff was top notch too!

OK, Yelp, you let me down. My experience was nothing like others. Nothing was good from start to finish. And the Brooklyn/Chicago pretentiousness of the whole experience was nearly comical because it was not earned. First, only three red wines by the glass seemed awfully limited. They were OK, but nothing particularly memorable, and certainly not at $20/glass. And, they were so chintzy and small, we didn't order more. The winery tasting pours nearby were heartier. The hamachi crudo starter was fairly good, although very small - just three thin slices of fish. The fish was good and the crunch was great. While, I know the fish is expensive, this was a very small dish for the price. The server was a bit icy, which didn't help in figuring out what to order from the menu. To be fair, beets, carrots and mushrooms figured heavily, and are verboeten for me, so the menu in general was a bit of a challenge. Yet, since the server wasn't engaging, there was no way around this personal limitation. This led to some awkward "repartee" with the server, and our feeling like we mis-ordered. Soon afterward, the server noted that the chicken breast would take over 45 minutes! OMG - 45 minutes for chicken breasts! How dry would they be???? About 20 minutes later, he came out to say they working on them and they were cooked to order. Who's order? I was never asked how I wanted the chicken breasts. Sure enough they came out about 50 minutes after we ordered. Really??!?!!!? 50 minutes, to cook chicken breasts? Why weren't they sous vided and prepped and ready in 10-15? When they finally arrived, they were well cooked (not dry like expected, and came with some chicken sausage), but was it worth a 50 minute wait... not really. The puff pastry was OK. The pastry itself was great - a nice flaky croissant-like shell. Unfortunately, the filling was immemorable. Too much cream cheese, a little kale, and chopped sun dried tomatoes. It needed some herbs, heat and/or just more salt and pepper. It came with greens with too much oil and vinegar dressing. I've had better similar "side salads" at diners in Paris. And, then there are just too many staff, constantly buzzing around trying to do something (maybe to justify themselves?) which added annoying unnecessary activity. I hate to trash someone really trying, especially in Traverse City, which can use good dining options, but this is just so living beyond their means that I have to call it out. Fairly - this place probably deserves 2 stars; but since they have this attitude that isn't earned, I'm knocking them down. read more

Meal began w an intro from our server that I can best paraphrase as "We're pretentious". It's not too much to ask (outside of TC) for good food prepared correctly, and they accomplished both...tho we learned the speech was a setup for tiny portions. My wife got just a sliver...seriously, smallest piece of fish I think possible, and that we've ever seen...of halibut. read more

8.19.23 So excited! We found a new Traverse City favorite. The food & service is absolutely impeccable! Sinfully delicious....Scallops served with creamed corn & topped with pickled kombu (wow this makes the dish!) & a little popcorn. Fried Chicken with white BBQ sauce. I promise you this is not your average chicken. The meat is oh so moist and the BBQ sauce is a great compliment. You will be sad when you finish this dish. Start with the cheddar bread with ranch butter & the Country Ham Toast (with peas, ricotta, balsamic). You won't be disappointed! Make a reservation. read more

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5 star food, 1 star service. Had to reserve a seats at the bar. When we arrived they tried to seat us in a cramped corner. When I requested another seat (bar was 75% empty), it really threw the hostess off. She had to get the manager involved. When we finally got seated and ordered drinks, the bar tender was asking for our order before we received the drinks. Food was amazing and very creative, but felt like we were being rushed even though it was a Tuesday night in off season. read more

We sat at Chef's/Kitchen table and it was truly an unforgettable dinner and a show. One of the owners was serving as Expo and she walked my youngest (13) through every step and procedure. Staff treated us like family and fed us like family as well. We had Bread and Potatoes as starter...outstanding. We went with Fried Chicken, Gallete, and Sockeye for entrees...one of the top five meals I've ever eaten. I would've ordered two Sockeye had I known how life-changing a dish it would be. Cocktails were tasty as well. Must stop if visiting Traverse City. read more

Modern Bird - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

We went to this restaurant to celebrate my 50th birthday and it was absolutely lovely. It was during the winter, so it was a little less crazy... and given the very small space, I am glad. It was full, and quite loud... but I'm guessing much louder in the summer months. The food was great, wine list wonderful, service fantastic. I would say that the only issue was that they suggested WAY too much food. We were at explosion level, and we under-ordered on how many dishes they suggested. Other than that, top notch. Would definitely return. read more

Had an absolute great time. Our first, and definitely not last time visiting Modern Bird, was for restaurant week. We picked seating up at the service counter/ kitchen and if you can handle sitting on very comfortable stools, I would highly recommend this experience. On top of chef Andy being extremely gracious and answering our questions, we got to enjoy watching the dishes being made by the tight knit cooks on the line. The house cocktails were super delicious, the food was beyond amazing with portions you might not expect for this kind of restaurant, so bring your appetite. Lastly but not least, the wait staff had it down being there when needed but not hovering, super welcoming and friendly. If you live here all year or are just visiting you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don't visit Modern Bird. read more

Food was good! But the atmosphere was cold and crowed! Intimacy Reminded me of a drug store counter top!

Modern Bird is amazing it is casual but also all the dishes are amazing and well thought out and the service was great the food can out in 10 min and you could order 3 corses of amazing food. The total restaurant was amazing you could watch the chefs make the food and take pictures and videos. read more

Appetizers were very good. The beets, carrots and breads were all a hit. For dinner, I had the monk fish , which was prepared and presented exquisitely. Excellent. I had a taste of the Wagyu steak, which was also excellent. Additionally, I sampled the chicken, again, excellent. I don't think you can go wrong here. The restaurant is smaller, so plan ahead of you have a big party. read more

Modern Bird - Inside - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: 5 NOISE LEVEL: 2 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.57 After our original dinner plans were spoiled due to unanticipated closing we scrambled around looking for something suitable for a party of 3. After browsing Yelp we decided on modern bird because it had plenty of meat, pasta, and veggie options to satisfy everyone in the group. When we arrived the hostess was very polite and accommodating. There was no wait, and we had an option of indoor and outdoor. We chose outdoor because it was extremely loud inside. They have a medium size menu. Not overwhelming with options, but everything on the menu sounds amazing. Their drink menu is also really good. Lots of locally made drinks and high end wines. My favorite pepper is Shishito peppers, and they had some on the menu so, of course, I ordered them. Not a lot of places carry them, and many that do usually keep to cooking them in a traditional manner. These were unique, and absolutely amazing. For dinner I ordered the fried chicken with white bbq. Happened to be my first encounter with white bbq and I was amazed. I was informed that white bbq was an Alabama style bbq which is heavy in vinegar. Quite possibly my favorite bbq sauce now. The fried chicken was cooked to perfection, and the meat was juicy. For dessert I had the key lime pie. This key lime pie was an absolute treat. The meringue candies were delicious and it was the perfect size. It was a little more tart than the usual key lime pie which I liked so much more. Definitely one of the best pies I've ever had. Overall, we lucked out. Was the best meal we had the whole Traverse City trip. This place was perfect in every aspect except the noise. The inside was so noisy that you couldn't hear yourself think. Not sure why it's so noisy considering they don't even have music playing, but they might want to consider consulting an engineer, and changing some things to damper the noise vibrations. Either way, it's a must go restaurant. The chef is creating some master pieces in that kitchen. read more

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So delicious and a wonderful experience! You can just tell you're eating high quality food. Cauliflower appetizer was amazing. Galette that was very good. No complaints but I'll try something else next time. My husband ordered the Bass with parsnips and butternut miso soup which was one of the best meals he's ever had! Overall a bit pricey for a normal night out, but worth it. This will definitely be our new Go To for special occasions! They're also very knowledge and accommodating if gluten free or other allergies. read more

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I sat at the chefs counter and had an amazing experience with my boyfriend. Loved getting to meet the owner, Andy and hear from him during our experience. Everything we had was amazing and I can't imagine not coming back anytime I'm anywhere near Traverse City read more

So it's pricey, just let me get that out of the way. But if you want to splurge, this is the place to go! We ordered five items, the house bread with housemade ranch butter, Char Tartare, Horseradish Beets with Jammy Eggs, Tomatoes with trout roe and Key lime Pie with Basil oil. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was incredibly delicious. My hubby and I were so on food cloud nine. We also had an amazing Cabernet which made everything even better. Excellent service as well. We can't wait to come back. Soon!!! read more

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This restaurant has to be the best on Michigan's West. We were blown away by how good the chicken breast and sockeye were. Absolutely phenomenal and the owner is a great guy too. We can't wait to come back to this cool little place again. The service was fantastic too! read more

Modern Bird - Sockeye - New American Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Food was delicious, server was attentive and prompt. You can really tell that the chefs put a lot of thought into their food and the bartenders into their cocktails. The menu is small with meat, fish and vegetarian options. Prices were rather high, small plates were $10-15, entrees $25-30ish, and desserts were $14-15. We went for a birthday dinner with reservations for three. We were seated at high top seats at a window counter that accommodate four people. A single diner was already at the counter. We were never told our table request was placed at a high top table when making the reservation. This made an intimate birthday celebration a bit awkward in regards to conversation (not facing each other) and being seated uncomfortably (being squeezed together at a small counter). A good portion of seats at this restaurant are high top style and for this reason it is important to let guests know when making reservations over the phone that they may be seated at high top tables or counters. The reason I am making such a fuss over this is that two of the three of us cannot comfortably sit at high top seats. There was no option to wait for a table because they were completely booked for the evening so we took this seating option. Our reservation was at 7 PM and the dining room was fairly noisy at that time. As the evening progressed it became exceptionally loud to the point where we couldn't have a good conversation without yelling and continuously saying "what?" Would I go again? Yes as the food was delicious but next time I'll make sure my reservation request is for a regular table and I'll bring earplugs. read more

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