Great food and service - small plates were excellent. Great view of Little Traverse Bay via larger picture windows. Hard to hear others at the table due to room accoustics and capacity crowd. Also had to deal with an obnoxious person at the adjacent table. Appeared to be inebriated and excited about celebrating his 10th birthday party. Would recommend restaurant notwithstanding! read more

Our family all agreed it was our favorite restaurant we went to on vacation! We decided to go last minute after a trip to the beach and were able to stop by during happy hour. They take reservations and we were able to find easy/free street parking nearby on a sunday in the summer. Outside has a view of the street and inside has an upstairs and a downstairs; both with a view of the lake. Our waiter was very informative and friendly. We loved everything we ate- it was all delicious! read more

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I want to give this place 5 stars soooo bad! We have a vacation home here and come to this restaurant routinely for years. Although pricey, it was always worth the cost. The ambiance is always stunning, sit on the outdoor patio in the summer and enjoy a great time with friends/family. The service is always top notch. Our go to is the Wagyu Hanger steak. Unfortunately, our dinner tonight was such a disappointment. My steak was over cooked. They changed the recipe to the steak dressing and it just didn't hit. The appetizers were great and no complaints of the service and ambiance, that was still exceptional. I just hope they go back to the old wagyu hanger steak. read more

Outstanding Hospitality!! We had an experience at Palette Bistro last night that demonstrated what truly outstanding hospitality looks like. We had called to make reservations for the restaurant's wine dinner and were initially told we would be placed on a waitlist. We subsequently received an email stating that our "reservation was confirmed" and that the restaurant looked forward to having us dine with them. Naturally, we understood that to mean we had a confirmed reservation for the wine dinner. When we arrived, however, we learned that the email was intended to confirm our place on the waitlist and that there was not actually space for us at the dinner. It was an unfortunate misunderstanding, but what happened next is why Palette Bistro deserves five stars. Once the staff saw the email and understood why we reasonably believed we had a reservation, they could not have handled the situation better. They explored whether they could accommodate us at the wine dinner and, when that proved impractical because there was not enough of the specially prepared food, gave us the option of dining downstairs from the regular menu. We chose the latter, and the restaurant went out of its way to make the evening special. We were given a wonderful table with a spectacular view of Little Traverse Bay. Our server, Norah, was exceptional--warm, attentive and thoroughly professional. The food was fantastic. And, as an especially thoughtful gesture, the restaurant brought us several of the wines being served at the wine dinner and graciously comped them. Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. What distinguishes a great restaurant is how it responds when they do. Palette Bistro took a disappointing situation and turned it into a terrific evening for our family. They did absolutely the right thing at every turn, and they did it with genuine warmth and hospitality. Five stars, without hesitation. We will most certainly be back. read more

The food, service and location were excellent, Tyler did a great job of explaining options and listening to my wife's food allergy restrictions. The dolmas small plate was so good and the presentation looked like a TV show. The mushroom soup was amazing as well, we split a cup and should have ordered it by the gallon. Our entrees were equally good. We'll make it a point to go back read more

We came here on a recommendation. Glad we did! Amazing views of the bay! We opted for first floor seating inside with a view. There is rooftop, bar, and patio seating too. We got there at 4pm just when happy hour started. Score!! $5 cocktails (select drinks) and 40% off small plates. Pretty amazing happy hour! We orders non-happy hour drinks - the hibiscus spritz was the perfect summer drink! We order a few small plates - the Mezzi, short ribs, and crab cakes. Delicious!! Service was great! I saw a few pups when we left. The patio is dog friendly! Always good to know! read more

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After a long day of exploring northern Michigan, we were happy to be able to snag a reservation at Palette Bistro to feed our hungry bellies. Located close to downtown Petoskey, Palette Bistro offers views of the lake from their back porch, indoor seating, and a nice front patio. We were seated out front and greeted promptly by our friendly server. We started the meal with the crab cakes, and I decided on a farmer's pasta with salmon as my entree. In between we had fresh bread with a sweet balsamic and olive oil for dipping. Our server was fantastic. Appropriately attentive, and going the extra mile to help grab things for kiddo (like a coloring sheet and mug full of crayons), to make sure that everyone enjoyed the meal. The ambiance is relaxed and definitely a vacation vibe, and we enjoyed winding down our day that way. If you're in the area and need a place to grab dinner, Palette Bistro deserves a spot on your list! read more

Palette Bistro - Zucchini pasta, add salmon. Very delicious! - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

The food was amazing. Great menu!! The view was wonderful!! The service was fantastic!! I would highly recommend this place.

We had a dinner reservation at 7:15. The food was delicious, and Brayden, our waiter, gave great service and really tried hard. That said, it took an hour and ten minutes to get our food, which was very frustrating. The ambiance was also quite noisy, making it hard to talk. While they did offer to comp a dessert, which we declined since we didn't plan on ordering one, we still felt they should have at least comped part of the meal. Overall, we'd give them 3 stars--good food and effort, but the wait and service balance left us a bit disappointed. read more

I am a local and decided to give Palette Bistro another try after not eating there for 2-3 years due to poor food quality and servers with bad attitudes. I wont be trying it again. The good - Italian sandwich. Good quality ingredients, fresh, and well balanced. The bad- Greek Pizza with chicken. A train wreck. Flavorless, ill balanced, not fresh, and incredibly dry. Like cardboard. Drinks - interestingly enough, the soda was poured warm, had 3 small ice cubes in it, and was flat. I ended up not drinking it. I am putting service in the bad category as well. I'm okay that I was ignored for a while, but I am not okay with being served with a cold attitude. Ambiance - dated, which, in my opinion, shouldn't be the case when paying $60 for lunch. read more

Just finished a meal here absolutely perfect Mediterranean food. The spices are perfect very. Very reasonably priced. Rilla was our waitress. She did a wonderful job. Great suggestions. read more

While visiting from out of town, my family and I stopped in for dinner. The drinks were excellent, and the service was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our visit. What truly sets this restaurant apart, however, is the incredible level of customer service they provided after our visit. While leaving to head to the park with our younger children, I accidentally left behind my favorite pair of sunglasses--brand new and purchased just a week before our trip. When I called the restaurant, they had thankfully found them. Not only did they hold onto them for me, but they went completely above and beyond by carefully packaging and mailing them back to me. They even made sure they were protected so they wouldn't break during shipping. I was so relieved and incredibly grateful for the kindness and effort their team showed. It's rare to find a business that cares this much about its customers long after they've left the restaurant. Thank you for turning what could have been a disappointing situation into such a positive experience. We will definitely be back on our next trip up north. Cheers! read more

Hosted a group dinner here and had a great experience! The staff was friendly and on point, and the owner--on crutches, no less--even made the effort to hobble upstairs and check in, which was such a thoughtful touch. The pasta was flavorful, and the baked chocolate pudding? Massive! More like a warm, gooey brownie in disguise. Plus, the view from the private room overlooking the bay was absolutely stunning. read more

Palette Bistro - Baked Chocolate Pudding with ice cream - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Traveling through all the Michigan beach cities this August, we came across this little gem! Parked across the street and got a table on the upstairs patio with a sliver of water view through the trees. Outgoing server Freddie was happy to accommodate with happy hour drinks. I had a canned starcut cider, spouse had an Eucre pilsner beer. After hearing about the forest floor soup, there was no way we could not try this creamy delectable mushroom bowl. Skipping other appetizers, we just split a Caesar side and went on to small and large plates. I ordered the short rib with polenta and was thrilled with this dish. Tender and flavorful. It was the perfect size small plate for my small appetite. Husband had the seafood paella which was gorgeous and loaded with mussels and fish. A short meal without dessert or more drinks, but a lovely experience nonetheless. Recommend! read more

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Cool location right on the water (almost!) - we sat upstairs in a primo spot for happy hour which was nice... super cheap drinks and food. Our Crab Cakes and Feta Dip + complimentary bread service were nice. read more

Palette Bistro - Crab Cakes & Feta Dip - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

The food was absolutely incredible, we sat at the bar and the service was top tier! Staff were so kind. Highly recommended! You won't be disappointed! Plus the ambiance was wonderful, so cute and classy! read more

We had a very good dinner - everything was hot and fresh and very good service. We sat outside on the upstairs deck which was a very nice atmosphere. We would definitely return. read more

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Palette Bistro is a really nice place to have some dinner. They have a view of the water especially if you dine upstairs. My Forest Floor Soup was delicious. I had a cup that was filled with roasted shrooms, leeks, and cream. I wish I had a bowl! My main dish was the beef tenderloin. It was cooked a little more than I wanted, but it was still good. Either way we had a great time with good company. read more

This place is a little gem. The cocktails are so good. Then the halloumi was delish. The watermelon gespacho ... excellent .

What's funny about this place is that I'm pretty sure I've eaten there before -- 15 years ago when I was up in Petoskey for work. It's a very pretty space with two floors and overlooks the Bay. Parking was free after 6pm on the street. They have a fair few options for vegetarians and vegans. We started with some cocktails which were refreshing and delicious. Their menu confused me: I couldn't tell what angle they were going for: Tapas? American/new contemporary? French? Random? My husband and I split a few plates: - forest mushrooms soup - this was so good; tasted like clam chowder but with mushrooms - patatas Bravas - crispy potatoes but I wish there was an egg! - vegetarian paella - this was pretty bland and lacked all kinds of flavor. But overall, the ambeyonce was great in there, wonderful views and our server was attentive and friendly! read more

Palette Bistro - Patatas Bravas - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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We (3 people... my wife, mother and myself) stopped in for a quick 'lite bite' and cocktail after some day touring through the area. The ambience/view is great and our server was also great, but that's where it stops. We ordered two of the wood fired pizzas, 1 gluten free Margherita pizza which was a soggy mess and 1 regular crust Margherita pizza... the crust was paper thin and was also a soggy mess. Looking at many of the reviews on Yelp about the pizza, it seems like this is pretty much the norm! If you can't make a good pizza, chances are the rest of the menu is going to follow the same path. The drinks we had were ok, nothing special and the cranberry in my Tito's rocks must have been from a soda gun... very funny taste. Unfortunately, the view and service cannot compensate for the food... we will not be going back. read more

Cute spot! I went because I saw they had vegan options and I will be honest they were super underwhelming. But nice if you're in a group with non-vegans too. read more

We went to this restaurant because of a recommendation from a friend who had been there the night before and had a good experience so this may be a one off. However, it was really noisy, the service was slow, and the wait person clearly had too many tables. The. food was pretty good. The pizza had a very thin crust which my wife liked and the crabcakes were OK with not a lot of crab and extremely crispy and well done if you like that. The prices were reasonable or wine and beer, but a bit on the high side for most entrées. Given the prices, you really have to question the decor. You're in uncomfortable, wooden slat chairs, and tables that wobble. And I have to agree with a number of other reviewers, that it's hard to believe that they had a table with 20 people in the middle of where we were eating who were celebrating a big birthday. It was extremely loud. One couple left the room. If you look through the reviews, this seems to be a repeated pattern where they have large parties with very loud groups seated in the middle of the dining area and creating a lot of noise. I was seated right next to my wife and literally could not hear her. One note of caution. If you sit outside, you're actually sitting on the side of the building that does not face the water and you're on a fairly well traveled street. If you're inside, you can almost see the sunset although not entirely. read more

We arrived at an awkward time (3pm-4pm) when it was only small plates. But we were so hungry from a long road trip, we decided to try it! And it worked out great because we got to try a lot of different things. Food: all were excellent. -Braised short rib: meat cooked well and super tender. -Forest floor soup: so flavorful -Sea scallop: cooked well; not rubbery. Only wished there was more! Only came with 2 sea scallops. -Palette salad: super fresh, very healthy, the right amount of dressing and a perfect mix of veggies -Winter caprese salad: also super fresh. I wish there was more salad; it was majority tomato and mozzarella. -Calabria pizza: my mom's favorite; she's still talking about it a week later. Amazing flavor and cooked so well. Service: so friendly. They offer black pepper on everything and dealt with all of our family's many asks. read more

We usually don't go in for these pricey bistros, but today was a special occasion. Celebrating the union of my cousin and her partner, both in from New York. We really wanted a deck spot but it being February, no dice. This venue has incredible views of the bay and features scrumptious plates of Mediterranean cuisine. What's more? A myriad of great wines. It's not always fair to these places, but we just happened in with our party of 10. They immediately sat us and served all 10 drinks within five minutes. That's impressive! Credit Jasper! I can see where Jasper is a valuable member of their team. He's both knowledgeable and sports a wonderful personality. His suggestions really helped those that have never eaten this food to understand and order something palatable (see what I did there? Palette/palatable) The cost is out of this world, but it appeals to the correct palette (OMG, I did it again). The right folks "get it" the other folks forget it. Some quick recommendations: Try the crab cakes. You'll sweat you're in Maryland. The Seafood Paella is the cat's jammies, and finally, the Surf $ Turf Gnocchi-Beef tips, shrimp white wine chimichurri. While we averaged a little over $50 a person, I feel it was well worth it. 02/24 read more

From the moment we were greeted by the hostess, we felt welcomed. Our server Cindy was spectacular. She was knowledgeable and patient. A true gem. The Trout special was delicious. Their Forest Floor Mushroom soup did not disappoint.Our online reservation request for a window table was granted. Thank you. Made the world of difference. read more

We stopped in for a quick bite and were blown away. I ordered a small pizza--fresh, delicious, and authentically Italian, made in a specialty oven that really brought out the flavors. My wife had the mushroom soup, and we both agreed it was some of the best we've ever tasted--rich, earthy, and perfectly seasoned. The setting is quaint and cozy, with a stunning view overlooking the lake. A truly memorable experience all around. Service was good as well. read more

My wife and I were strolling through the charming town of Petoskey on a beautiful Saturday afternoon when we started feeling hungry. Looking for something local, light, and inviting, we came across Palette Bistro. Drawn to its cozy, welcoming vibe, we decided to settle in for a meal on their porch area, which offered lovely views of the surrounding town and a refreshing breeze. The outdoor seating was perfect for enjoying the warm afternoon, with comfortable chairs and a relaxed atmosphere that made it feel like a hidden gem. The porch had just the right amount of shade, so we could enjoy the sun without feeling too hot. The food did not disappoint! Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. We enjoyed everything we ordered, finding it both fresh and satisfying. The only item we weren't too fond of was the baked feta, which had a bit too much feta for our taste--though we can see it being a great choice for those who enjoy a bolder, richer flavor. Our waitress was friendly, though she seemed a bit overwhelmed as she was also handling a large table nearby. Because of this, our service was a little slower than usual, but we understood the circumstances. Despite the delay, she made sure we had what we needed, and her attentiveness was appreciated. read more

Great food especially th pizza. We loved our server, Neveah! She made our night; sweet personality and great service! read more

So this was our first time trying Palette. The bar is cute and although we initially were sat in the back the server allowed us to move to a seat by the window. The views from this restaurant are amazing. We started with the crab cakes which were fresh and delicious. The paella was very tasty and my squash rigatoni was rich and the perfect serving size. Our server was attentive and the wine list was great. The only downside was the noise. We had a hard time talking to each other during dinner - thanks mostly to the group next to us. They were more than a little obnoxious. All and all a solid experience and we will be back- hopefully with more considerate people sitting next to us. read more

Awesome place. Atmosphere, food and service impeccable. Mushroom soup was incredible!

Probably the best restaurant in this little town. This is my first time Petoskey and if I'm ever back I'm definitely coming here. Top spot for flavorful quality food and superior service. They can accommodate large parties. We had about 20 people. There's an upstairs in addition to a large downstairs. Food was hot and came out quick. I added a few pictures of the dishes which is on their updated menu. Not a person in my party had a negative thing to say about the food. Please see their honest opinions below: Caesar salad- you know it's going to be a good salad when it has anchovy Caesar dressing. A top option to start off your meal. Beef tenderloin- horse radish is not overbearing which was important for those ordering. Not a drop left on the plate. Cooked to perfection. Lamb bolognese- all I can say is quality. Good seasoning. Perfectly cooked noodles. Nice section of greens to the side to compliment. Lamb chop- incredible but had a kick. Spice and savory with the Greek sauce was perfect pairing. Kobe hanger steak - medium rare. Cooked perfectly. The combo of the mushrooms and the fingerling potato's was phenomenal. The tomato jam gave the sweet and savory needed. The ounces was about 6-7 which was a perfect size. read more

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Everything here was perfection. The view, the service (Jeff, our Justin Timberlake look alike) and the food! Highlights were the forest floor soup, a light broth of mushrooms, leeks, white wine, butter & garlic. Absolute incredible. Gazpacho was refreshing with crisp bites of bell pepper & cucumber. So refreshing! Mussels were tasty and flavorful and the Palette burger had a tangy balsamic and pickled onion flavor. Tangy & Yummy! The quiche of the day was fluffy and lightly goat cheesy with fresh vegetable flavor. All in all, a wonderful experience. read more

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Really, REALLY great spot with a beautiful view - ask to be seated upstairs. Small but fabulous menu. Very accommodating staff from the hostess to the servers. Ask for Jasper - a true pro! There were five of us so we decided to share three pizzas & two orders of lobster cavatappi, and we each had a salad, 3 Caesar & 2 the broccoli salad. Raves for the broccoli salad, decent on the Caesar, which came sans dressing, seemingly, but when we asked for more,it became apparent they had originally forgotten it. Saved the day, tho! Pizza & pasta were outstanding with leftovers on both. Owners are the Wineguys Group who also own one of our favorite spots, City Park Grill and one other. We frequent CPG, and will Devi Italy addPa,Etta to our regular rotation. read more

Very good restaurant with a great atmosphere. The main dining room has beautiful views of the bay. The food is excellent. The Cesar salad uses actual anchovies in the dressing like they are supposed to. The forest floor soup is a favorite. The braised short ribs are a favorite and their standards menu. They typically have a rotating special menu and then the standard menu. Drinks are excellent as well. Service is always professional. A great place for a nice dinner in Petoskey. read more

We got the table that faced the lake, which was nice for sunset. Fantastic service! All the staff from start to end of dinner were so kind - our waitress gave us all the time we needed while we waited for the other half of our party. Appetizers were great, the bacon wrapped dates and the corn soup my friend got were big hits. I ended up getting the seafood paella which was OK. It was heavily tomato based and did not have the socarrat that is definitely a factor for paella. It was a bit too saucy/wet for my liking, but will say the seafood was cooked well. Last thing - for a restaurant that serves mainly Spanish foods, was a bit disappointed they didn't have Spanish wines to choose from. Great service and location, but hoping for more from their food next time I come to Petoskey! read more

Palette Bistro - Seafood paella - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

What a lovely first visit to Pallette Bistro. Amazing view of Little Traverse Bay from dining room. (An "enclosed" outdoor patio, but only available by stairs). We arrived for a 4:30 reservation so we could partake in their Happy Hour small plate specials. We tried almost everything! Started with Watermelon Gazpacho, yum! Followed by House Salad and Margherita thin crust pizza. Actually a best-ever thin crust. Every bite was flavorful. Next came two crabcakes as our entree, with a beautiful bread service. Ended with Baked Chocolate Pudding (definitely not your Mom's instant Jello pudding). Topped with ice cream and whipped cream! Shall we yum again? For sure!! We'll be back. read more

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Delicious food, great views and good service. All things that I love in a restaurant! We were recommended this spot by a friend for a great view for sunset. We arrived around 6pm and were seated promptly and had a lot of spots to choose from and once we placed our drink orders in... the crowds came in and every table with a view was taken. The restaurant isn't super big, and I'm not sure if they take reservations, but we enjoyed our experience. We had the bacon wrapped dates and butternut squash soup to start, I got the pasta with meatballs (it definitely had a fancier name than that) and my boyfriend got the half rack of lamb. Flavor wise, everything was great! We enjoyed it but definitely a little on the pricey side. But that's what you get for a nice dinner and a view. read more

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This place is so good! Our second time here since we live 3 hrs away. We are treated well and the food is delicious. We had the butternut squash bisque, beef tenderloin, and scallops. Everything was the best we had tasted in a long time. Our waitress, Tonya was amazing as well. We were taken care of so well and left very satisfied and delighted. Thank you! read more

Not a bad place just didn't really meet our standards for the food. A little too overpriced for what we got. Service was excellent! We got refills on the bread and dipping oil, they saw we loved it and they brought us more, also ended up going out and buying the oil ans vinegar they serve here! Amazing! Out of 6 of us only 2 liked their meals. We felt like it lacked a lot of flavor, my husbands medium $50 steak came out more like well done, and it really lacked flavor, like it wasn't even seasoned with salt or pepper. the polenta served with it I gotta say, it was the grittiest polenta I've ever had at a restaurant. The lamb pasta dish was very very dry, the meatballs were lamb and that's it! Ground lamb, or that's at least what they tasted like. The seafood paella, was okay, lot of flavor there, a very good kick to it, so if you don't like spicy food don't get it. The muscles in it were a little questionable...a few of them were almost completely black in color. Overall, no I don't think I'd choose this place again. read more

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