John P.

Very cool, small, quirky, but really impressive restaurant in Traverse City. This place has a menu that I had no idea what most of them were but got incredible explanations from our server. She did a great job filling us in on what everything was and how it worked together. Basically we did a whole series of small bite items where we were able to each take just to taste or two of each different menu item, and that was a great idea. That is the best way to eat at this place, you will try things you've never had before combinations you have never had before and just have a great experience. It is very loud in the place so if you don't like loud dining, this isn't the place for you. It's a very cool older building, with a lot of young staff members, and obviously a chef who is a little bit crazy and a lot brilliant. They do have a "few regular items" like fried chicken and steak, and we did try the fried chicken and it was excellent, but by the time we got to it, we were pretty full from all of the other things. Every taste is an explosion in your mouth of multiple flavors and taste and it really gets you thinking about what it is you're eating. I told the people at my table I would've been afraid to order most of these things on my own, but because we got them all together and shared food, it was much easier to do and I was able to taste some things, I never thought I would have liked and enjoyed all of them. Don't forget the dessert. We also ordered the three desserts they had available, and all of them were incredible as well. But our favorite was the Keylime pie.

Christine A.

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.

Katie L.

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!

John F.

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. :)

Eowyn K.

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.

Amy W.

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!

Erica C.

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

Casey M.

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.

Kristen C.

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!

Cheney H.

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.

Jeff S.

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!

Nathan N.

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.