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Rare Bird Brewpub

4.3 (779 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Rare Bird Brewpub Photos

RARE BIRD BREWPUB ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Rare Bird Brewpub

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Reviews With Photos

Seth D.

While exploring the local eateries during a trip to Traverse City, Rare Bird Brewpub proved to be an absolute gem. Situated just steps from the heart of downtown, but offering a relaxed, neighborhood charm. It delivers fantastic craft flavors, fast, friendly service, and an authentic local atmosphere. It is an essential stop when visiting Traverse City.

Danny W.

We love this place. We are local and come in often. The cold brew nitro martini on tap is so good. Very good, food selection is great and very good. The staff is always friendly. Today 4-15-2026 we had OG Tyler at the bar and he is always awesome. Best beard. Best bar tender. Great guy.

Pecorino Garlic Fries (we were hungry and snapped a photo late!)
Jamie G.

Stopped in for a quick bite and we both enjoyed the pub burger and shared the pecorino fries. Burgers were great and the fries will ensure a return trip! Beers were ok. I tried their Oktoberfest and it was good. Our server was awesome! Really talked up the town and gave us some ideas of things to do. I really enjoyed my time at Rare Bird and will return.

Love this place! Their food is so good, great beer selection and cocktails. Nice staff too.

Menu
Jen P.

Rare bird is one of our TC faves. The beer just cant be beat. Service always quick and super nice. My tacos had incredible flavor but the chicken meat was tough this time. The pork belly on the bahn mi was delicious but overall flavor just not there. However the parm fries were INCREDIBLE.

Cobb salad
Nikk S.

Very cool spot! Parking is easy- you can just back in out front or park at one of the many lots or meters down the road. Inside is really cool! There's merch for sale too. Self serve water- tons of beer options. The food is all so good! Staff is nice and food comes out quickly.

Madison D.

Great energy from this brewery. Nice selection of crafted beer. We tried their 1/2 nachos and were not disappointed. The bartenders were kind. Would love to try this place again when in TC.

Andrea P.

I think these pictures speak for themselves! The food here was absolutely amazing. Service was on point as well. The restaurant is huge inside, but it was such a beautiful day we decided to eat outside. If you're in the area I highly recommend checking this place out!

Beer menu
Frances B.

We wish we lived nearby to make this our weekly neighborhood bar because it was perfection. They had no opening when we arrived but would text us when a table was ready so we walked along the river for a short bit until we received the text. We were seated in a spacious booth. We were here in summer and tried the blood orange and chief coconut brown beers and loved them. I could drink the coconut brown beer nightly I think. A perfect stout with just a hint of sweetness but lots of creaminess. We started with the salad which surprised us with its size and freshness. Rather than a sad slice of tomato, the salad comes with a delightfully flavorful roasted tomato. And then we got the fried buffalo chicken sub sandwiches. We were worried the buffalo sauce might be too spicy so I got mine on the side. The chicken was juicy with a well seasoned batter. The made in house buffalo sauce was tangy and perfectly spiced without being blow your mind spicy, and worked well with the blue cheese on the sandwich. Service was on point. Our server was knowledgeable and efficient and seemed pleased at how much we loved the beer and sandwiches.

Brent M.

One of the best things about traveling anywhere outside of your backyard (or front piece of grass if you live in a New York high-rise), is trying all the food possible. And since most of my life is based on food, anytime I travel I try to eat all of it. The food. All of the food. Even when I travel within my state and have been to places I've been to often, 11/10 my goal is food consumption. With that being said, let's dive right in. First, I want to get off my chest the fact that I have dined here before, but forgot what I ordered as well as forgot to leave a review. So if the jury could please disregard that piece of evidence, I would like to try again. So before any meal, you have to always order an appetizer. How else are you supposed to be full and hate yourself BEFORE your meal arrives? Luckily for us, we ordered the pretzel sticks, complete with a beer cheese and the kind of mustard that has the seeds? Or the chunks? It's not smooth mustard. Stone ground? I don't know. It was the not normal yellow hotdog mustard. I'm always never a huge pretzel fan, but sometimes they sound good. And when they're done right *chef's kiss*. These pretzels were top shelf. Pretzel experience 10/10. Moving on to the main course. Maybe it was the mood I was in, or perhaps my brain and stomach were battling it out, but nothing sounded particularly enticing. Not in a negative way, but more of an indecisive, wasn't feeling it vibe. Because of that, I settled on an oldie but goodie menu choice. The Chicken Sandwhich™. The ingredients were your basic lettuce and tomato, but also a cilantro sauce and garlic aioli. I'm a sauce man not only by trade but by nature. So those were my selling point. I did 86 the avocado because I respect myself. The dish came out and it looked great. Fries were shining like long, golden trophies of potato. Sandwich was built and stacked like an immovable jenga tower. I was excited. I was pumped. I was put into this booth for a reason. And then it happened. Did you ever wish for one thing for your birthday? Just the one thing? And then you get socks. Not even new, but hand me downs. That's how I felt with this sandwhich. Let me clarify, the flavor of this sandwhich was wonderful. Everything worked together. However, the chicken breast was just a little thicker than college ruled lined paper. With a sandwich flavor profile like this, you need to accentuate it with more CPB (chicken-per-bite). Grilled Chicken Sandwich Enjoyment 8/10.

Beer and menu

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2 months ago

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4 days ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

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1 month ago

Best buffalo chicken sandwich I've had in a long time. Also a great gluten free menu. Cant say enough good things about this place!

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26 days ago

Great family spot for dinner for burgers! Staff is always friendly and food is always good.

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30 days ago

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2 months ago

Nikki is the best bartender in town! We come from Bay City and our first stop is always Rare Bird to see Nikki and get drinks!!

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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3 months ago

Sat outside and food was great. We came here last year and enjoyed the food and glad to be back again.

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3 months ago

Our server Mickey was so kind and accommodating when we asked to take ingredients off our nachos nachos were so fire

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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11 months ago

Great spot. Friendly service and good crowd. We came in after a long day and had appetizers and a drink. I would return here. Tasty!

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Great food wonderful service fantastic drinks. All was fantastic just filling delicious.

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11 months ago

The food and beer are exceptional. Loved being able to bring a can home to enjoy. We had burgers and a beer flight to try their fare.

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2 years ago

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Ask the Community - Rare Bird Brewpub

Is there any gluten free food or drink?

Hi Helen, Thanks for the question! We have lots of options: all of our beer is gluten reduced, we have wine, cider and cocktails, and we also have some great GF food options… 

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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The Workshop Brewing Company - Pinball

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0.5 mi
•$$

Terrific "local joint".., great feel, great vibe! Wednesday night live jazz band that is…read moreincredible! Food was terrific..."smash burgers" and craft beer...what more could you want! And the service is incredible! Ammie is a "Joy" and absolutely the best! Fun, friendly and attentive and helps you navigate thru the beer menu. A sweetheart..., makes you feel like family...and that is what makes an amazing night into a memorable experience!!!

My girlfriend and I recently returned from a vacation to the area, we spent a day in Traverse City…read more I wasn't impressed with the Workshop in the slightest. Although the wildfire smoke likely kept some people away, we came around mid afternoon in what should be the beginning of prime time hours and the place was empty. Not a good sign. I found it a bit odd that we had to order at the bar, considering only 2 other groups were there. There were like 4 employees just chatting away at the bar as well. At this point I know what I like in craft beers and I usually never have an unpleasant experience trying them, but we liked nothing we ordered on the beer flight! We had put in an order for the BBQ flatbread as an appetizer as well, and the chicken was super dry. I can't blame the sauce for being to spicy since I'm sure it's a popular local brand. That one's on us. We decided to have an actual dinner closer to our cabin.

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The Workshop Brewing Company - Inside Workshop Brewing - fun décor - February 2023

Inside Workshop Brewing - fun décor - February 2023

The Workshop Brewing Company - Inside Workshop Brewing - cans to go and Kombucha - February 2023

Inside Workshop Brewing - cans to go and Kombucha - February 2023

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Rare Bird Brewpub - bars - Updated October 2026

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