A small gem. The interior is a bit dated and worn but clean, so it feels like that comfy sweater you like to wrap up in. Everything was made to order and had a yummy homemade taste. The cakey pancakes were delicious. The hash browns were thin and curly giving the meal a balancing crunch. The team was a bit understaffed so it may take a little time to get everything. The atmosphere is created by incredibly friendly service topped off with '90s grunge playing in the background; which earns the place an extra star in my book! read more

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Outstanding experience. Cute atmosphere. The food was tremendous, the service was nice but their service person wasn't in yet. And the prices were reasonable. It's a new place and I absolutely recommend stopping in. read more

I was swayed by pictures of cinnamon rolls and great reviews. I didn't notice the more recent negatives till after, and now I see why. The food was super bland and many things needed more time to be cooked... the quiche we got was barely over the line of being cooked, pastry barely beginning to brown/color and had little flavor. Same goes for the donuts. Coffee tasted burned/lackluster. The staff was super sweet, I hate leaving negative reviews, and rarely do, but to spend $70+ on breakfast and be this underwhelmed was nuts. The appearance is dated and very worn, but we took this as a sign this would be a fantastic hole in the wall place. The only positives- scrambled eggs were done well for a soft scramble. Breakfast sausage links as expected and hash browns were good. read more

The vibe here is cool though, feels like you're eating in someone's house. Someone who somehow stumbled upon a consistent flow of customers to feed, and they are just making it by as best they can. What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't seem like the people running this place are corporate suites with an inclination to squeeze pennies out of everything. It's as if they genuinely want to feed you and put a smile on your face. If I'm being honest about the food...it was meh. The waitress, bless her heart, told me that I came in right after a huge rush. To me it seemed like the waitress was a bit upset about having to deal with the rush, even though she said they were lucky to have the patronage and she wasn't complaining, she was clearly complaining? Or maybe she was preparing me for what was to come? The bacon was two different kinds of cook times, a couple pieces were completely burnt and a couple pieces were still floppy. The hash browns had been on the griddle for at least an hour. The eggs were cooked well enough but had too much butter in them. Toast had too much butter too. Look, I like butter, I really do, but let me put it on my perfectly toast sourdough. To be fair, when I pulled into the driveway I saw something that reminded me of rehab in my 20s: a man standing in the snowy parking lot, black T-shirt with black mittens on, coffee cup in one hand and cigarette in the other. He was chugging the coffee and sucking down the cigarette like it was his last few minutes on earth. It was truly impressive. He's the chef of the place. Perfect representation of this lovely little restaurant. read more

Horrible food! Slow is an understatement. We were a party of 4 for breakfast we didn't order anything extreme. Eggs and pancakes are quick to make but not here. We waited about 40 mins and only 2 of the 4 people's food came out. When I finally asked what was going on I was informed that they only had 1 cook and he's the owner‍. Not impressed my egg were suppose to be over medium and they were still snotty, the hash browns looked and tasted like they were sitting in a grease bath. I recommend finding someone that knows how to cook breakfast after all it's the fastest meal to make read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Greasy hash browns - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Service was a delight. The staff is very polite and attentive! The cafe is nice and quaint. Intimate setting, lovely art on the walls. My daughter and I enjoyed our time together here. We really enjoyed the corned beef hash. The corned beef was tender and hash browns were crispy. Would have loved a larger portion, but that just may be my greed talking. The pancakes were a miss for us. They are very dense and are cooked dark. The staff was accommodating and remade them for us no problem, but the texture was still not appetizing to us. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Almost always excellent. Be patient, a tasty breakfast takes time to craft. There may be loud children present, laugh it off. Enjoy a stellar coffee while you wait for your breakfast. Eggs and the usual proteins are present on the menu. Do try the various sweet choices, too. But, maybe not all at once. It's been fun watching the new senior center, across the way, as it's been progressing month over month. Cheers. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Pricey, but worth every damn penny. Smooth af. Lattes for days. - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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I would say, "just okay" I had the sausage gravy and biscuits with added scrambled eggs. The gravy was just warm and seemed watered down a bit. Lacking in sausage and sage flavor. Not sure they use any dairy products in it. Not creamy at all. Eggs were hot and decent. They also serve that Northwoods soda which I find flavorless when compared to a real cola like Coke products. They also charge $4.50 for this substandard product. Might not return, especially if there is a line out the door. In my opinion, not worth the 30 minute wait. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Sausage gravy and biscuits - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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SERVICE:5 FOOD QUALITY:5 DRINK QUALITY: N/A ORDER TIME:3 AESTHETICS: 3 NOISE LEVEL:5 MENU SELECTION:5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.33 Cute little cafe style restaurant that has great breakfast reviews. When we arrived there was a long line to get in. As we got closer to the front we were informed that they had very limited items on the menu. Due to the supply chain issues the restaurant has been having trouble getting food shipments. We chose to stay, and eat the few things they had left on the menu. Once we finally got in, the server was amazing. Great service, and naturally, we were apologized to over and over. Their reviews boasted about their Cuban style sandwiches, and Cuban coffees. I went with a sandwich, and it was pretty amazing. Their menu, when not plagued by supply chain issues, looked amazing. I was really craving a cinnamon roll. Maybe next time. Overall, this place was amazing. The order time took a little bit, but due to staffing shortages, and the supply chain issues we understood, and just enjoyed the conversation as we waited. Once all the craziness is corrected, in America, I can definitely see this place being 5 stars with lower wait times. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Cuban breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Very good place. Staff super friendly. Family friendly feel. Actual homemade sausage gravy. Not canned and we add to it to make it homemade like others. Only 2 things keep from 5 star. Need 2 slices of toast and ya gotta have Franks red hot with that gravy. We are up here 3-4 times a year and we will for sure come back. read more

I went here because I love to support small businesses. The waitress was a sweetheart. The food was horrible, the coffee watered down, and the restaurant was run down and dirty. They food took 20-25 minutes to come out, yet the restaurant had less than a handful of patrons. They advertised homemade cinnamon rolls, but when we got there, their bakery portion looked like an abandoned vehicle (old and beat up). Apparently, they don't make those rolls anymore. We were told that they had newer owners. The booths felt like the cushion was gone and we were sitting on pipes. I went there because we read some really good reviews and it had 4 stars. After breakfast, I went to the reviews again and the great reviews were 5-6 months ago. The bad reviews started within the last three months. I think they need a food inspection because that was not a well maintained restaurant. I wouldn't doubt if they had rodents and feeding us expired food. To add insult to injury, Breakfast was just as expensive as going to a nice breakfast place like First Watch. So, save your money and your time! This small business needs a huge makeover. read more

Honestly super bummed by our experience here. The portions were really small, the toast tasted stale and my medium eggs were basically raw. The only positive parts were kind staff and a quick walk to where we were staying. read more

We came here a year ago, and returned today. The food was delicious, service was excellent! Abigail was wonderful, great conversation with my wife and me. Ambiance in this cafe is great. Comfortable, quiet. Locals enjoying each other's company. We'll be back next year!! read more

The service was excellent and staff was super nice!! Enjoyed my breakfast but I was disappointed that they stopped serving Cafe Con Leche's. One of the main reasons why I always came here. A suggestion, maybe you could serve the Cuban coffees starting at the end of Summer and Fall if you're too busy in the summer months to make them. read more

Great local dinner with a small town, personable feel. Not too many options, but has great staples! Sarah was also the sweetest waitress ever. read more

Small little safe with a wonderful staff. The coffee was delicious! We created my own iced latte & did caramel and maple flavor inside with vanilla cold foam on top. SO GOOD. The banana fritter was delicious. Tasted like fried banana bread. The bacon was definitely not the really thick cut bacon and it seemed like microwaved bacon- wasn't too great. Their breads are also amazing! read more

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Menu changed. All the items I really enjoyed that set this cafe apart from the rest are now gone. So sad to say my last visit was disappointing on all fronts. We used to make this a "must stop" everytime we were in town but have officially it off our list. read more

- loved that they offered lattes & cappuccinos in addition to drip coffee - dishes were slightly dirty & bathroom wasn't clean - waitress was amazing great service - food was what you'd expect from a diner read more

Food was extremely good and the bay view is spectacular. Highly recommend if you're in Traverse City.

Literally took 50 minutes for our breakfast order and they weren't busy. It was overcooked too

Waitress said it would be a wait because of only one cook but we weren't in a hurry. However I ordered the biscuits and gravy and they were cold in some spots...lukewarm at best. The gravy was separating. The biscuits were clearly not fresh. Will not be back. read more

Food and service were absolutely amazing! Fresh baked Sour dough bread and Cuban bread were out of this world, yum! read more

We were in town for a long weekend and discovered this cute place for a quick breakfast. Be prepared to wait thanks to COVID-19, but once inside, service was friendly and fast. I ordered the reuben fritatta and my husband ordered the meat lovers. We weren't offered a toast option like other tables, but loved the cuban bread that came with ours. My husband loved the sausage gravy that came with his - served on the side since they originally forgot, but ended up with a huge portion. Definitely not your standard, white, pasty gravy - loaded with sausage and a nice kick from all the pepper. They are known for their cuban coffee, but we stuck with plain for this visit. The only downside was that my fritatta was a little underdone (can't stand running egg whites). Overall good experience for a small place trying to survive during a challenging time. read more

I loved everything about this café! We were lucky enough that there was an open table when we arrived so we didn't have a wait to be seated. I ordered the Sausage Frittata and it was very good. It was served with hash browns and homemade toast (I ordered Cuban bread it was AMAZING!). My husband had the House Frittata which was bacon, sausage, onions, peppers and cheese topped with house made sausage gravy. It was also top notch. Our girls ordered scrambled eggs and bacon. Of course it was also really good. They served the girls milk and juice in paper cups with lids and straws. They understand kids need lids and non breakable cups! :) We also ordered Latte's which were really good. I don't remember what he called them but it was like a Cuban Latte so it was slightly different and so delicious. Everything I could see being served looked fantastic. I need to go back and try more of what they have to offer. I love this place. The staff was extremely friendly, every single person working was next level nice, the restaurant was clean, the food was fresh, hot, homemade and rather quick. They do have a public restroom, it's clean, very small and no changing table. Do yourself a favor and come here to eat if you're in TC. I promise if you have to wait it will be worth it! read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Sausage Frittata served with hash browns and homemade toast. I ordered Cuban bread and it was amazing! - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Cute cafe in Traverse City which my family and I had brunch in while visiting. Not many vegan options but the servers were helpful in pointing out options that I could order (oatmeal, potatoes & tea with oat milk). read more

We drove an hour and a half primarily for the cuban bread and coffee...both of which have been taken off the menu which is completely different and they no longer serve lunch :( This will be our last time here but glad we found out before bringing guests. read more

Simple and enjoyable. Breakfast was well prepared and the servers were attentive. Egg sandwich with sausage on rye is a must try.

An interesting menu at this cafe restaurant brings together a touch of traditional American breakfast options with a Cuban flare. The Cuban coffee will open your eyes given the strong bold flavor and infused sugar. For those wanting a cup of milky frothy coffee as opposed to a small shot... try the Cafe con Leche. We enjoyed both of these coffees with French Toast and the Breakfast Sandwich. Both were good options and reasonably priced. I wish that they served fresh jams with so many goodies, but overall good nonetheless. read more

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What a great local spot. We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning and they were hopping. Very cute interior and friendly staff. The interior is a bit dated/worn but clean, so it feels like that comfy sweater you like to wrap up in and just chill. Lots of art on the wall looks like local scenes at beaches and around the bay. I had the Protein Breakfast (eggs and bacon) and it was very good. The sausage was excellent. They also allowed me to get a single pancake (normally 3) and it was great! Light and fluffy, great flavor. Maybe the best pancake I've had in a very long time. Oh, and the prices are incredible, such a great value. Normally, we come up in August but made a short trip this weekend. So glad we found this place so we can come back again this summer. read more

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Delicious Cuban Coffee. Sausages are savory and the sunny side up eggs awesome! Continued success!

My friends and I came here for a casual breakfast. It's a small cute place. The cheeseburger was good. I loved the fresh fries. My friends enjoyed their breakfasts. We shared a cinnamon roll, which was a little dry. The booths needs a little TLC, it felt like we were sitting on wood poles. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Cheeseburger - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Wonderful food and service. The Cuban flair made it unique and delicious! The different coffees were amazing as well. We had fresh Michigan blueberries in our pancakes....what a treat. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed the quality of the food items today at breakfast. The sizes were very generous and kept us full for our adventures for the rest of the day. Plus, there is a free parking lot attached to the restaurant (Bonus!) read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Banana walnut pancakes and the Big Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

The service here is top notch! It might not be the trendiest spot in Traverse City, but this is such a hidden gem. There was a line out the door in order to dine and it was well with the wait. I don't like coffee nor drink coffee but with Amy's recommendation - i agreed to Cafe Con Leche. It was wonderful. The food comes out fast and my cup never got empty. Everything was wonderful! I would come here again and again. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Con Leche - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Great fritatta and Cuban bread. The Cuban coffee is outstanding. The service was wonderful. It can get ultra busy on weekends, so prepare your patience level accordingly. read more

A must visit. The service was impeccable and the food was wonderful! A must visit for travelers read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Cinnamon roll - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

There are two kinds of breakfast places: those who do the traditional American breakfast and attempt to do it well, and those who take traditional American breakfast and try to put a twist on it, an attempt to revolutionize classics. Traverse Bay Cafe is the varsity of the first. I had eggs perfectly cooked, big deal. But I had them on a sandwich made from homemade Cuban roll baked fresh that day, with bacon cooked perfectly, and high end cheeses. I had pancakes, so what? Did I mention they were banana walnut pancakes that somehow didn't get soggy because of the griddle skills, and had more flavor than any I've had? The French toast? MADE FROM MONKEY BREAD! blew my mind. Cross between a cinnamon roll and just biting into heaven. my coffee stayed full, hot and wasn't junk from Maxwell house. The service was friendly, fast and professional. For a restaurant that had a line out the door and around the building that doesn't take reservations, no online check-in, and a TINY dining are, they had a lot to make up for and they did 100 times over. The building has as much character as the people and i'll be back every trip to the bay. read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Breakfast sandwich, traditional eggs breakfast, pancakes, and French toast all 5/5 amazing. - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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We stopped in here for breakfast today, and were not disappointed! It is pretty small, but we got lucky and didn't have a wait. The pancakes have great flavor, as well as the cinnamon rolls and frittata. The service was good! read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - cinnamon roll - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Food was good and price was definitely reasonable! Our waitress was super nice and seemed liked she loved her job. I honestly would give this place 5 stars but I'm just a baby and need good creamer for my coffee. Half and half? Yuckkkkk! read more

Traverse Bay Cafe - Big Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Fairly disappointing compared to similar restaurants. I wouldn't suggest ordering ham with your breakfast. Typically at a Cafe like this you'd get a 1/4 inch thick slice of ham. They served one piece of Canadian bacon. Hashbrowns were similarly portioned, I made it stretch and had 5 bites. Really peculiar with how low cost potatoes are to put on a plate. Eggs were cooked fine but not seasoned in any manner. Only had grape and orange jam. They did not carry peanut butter for toast or pancakes as it was an allergy risk. However they do serve foods with walnuts. Considering similar prevalence of walnut allergies that seems to be fairly inconsistent. Someone at my table got the French toast and that seemed to be a hit. That's about the only positive. read more