Exceptional and attentive service. The food was excellent. I had the beef tenderloin and my dining partner had the salmon (large plate). Both were outstanding. Only suggestions I would make is to have the pea shoots on the beef dish presented in a way that makes them easier to eat; that was a tad awkward. Also a steak knife would have helped when the dish was served. But these are minor issues in what is otherwise an exceptional dining experience. The chocolate pudding is apparently a favorite dessert but we chose the fruit crumble instead, served with vanilla ice cream, and it was yummy. read more

Thumbs up all the way around. Good view with spectacular sunset . Food and service delightful

Best pork tenderloins I ever had and by far the best waiter I've ever been waited on by. Hats off to Fred. The man is a shining example of what every waiter should strive to be. Very romantic ground level with nice views of the lake! read more

Would like to acknowledge this wonderful restaurant for creating such an amazing dinner experience. The menu offers exciting and unique choices, reflective of the region. Just the name of the soup is exciting. For our dinner, delicious food was served and the wine selection continues to be impressive. I chose my dinner from the evening special small plates, caprese salad and a feta arugula tenderloin tips dish -fantastic! My out of state guest raved over the Halibut. Have been a frequent diner for years, but this most recent dinner last week was spectacular. Reservations advised-we lucked out and got to sit outside and enjoy the peeks at the bay while dining. Our server was spectacular. read more

I visited during happy hour and sat outside on a beautiful evening. The service was great and the mushroom soup was to die for. I would come back just for this. However, the cab crabcakes were below average and seemed like they were store-bought. The Manhattan was watered down and not very good. read more

I love the concept and the ambiance here but the execution was a little lacking. I'll start by saying that the upstairs patio is a great place to dine-in. Depending on when you arrive though the menu may be highly limited. We opted to cocktail until the regular menu was offered again starting at 4 pm. The service was OK enough but our waiter was a little stoic and stodgy but he got the job done starting us off with some AMAZING local bread and a few plates of olive oil and reduced balsamic for dipping. We ordered several small plates from the Margherita pizza, to the Halloumi and then the Mediterranean Pulled Pork which was my choice and lastly the warm Pita plate. The food was OK but I didn't fall in love with it. The pizza was good and the Pita plate had a magical almost tzatziki sauce served with pita points. The Halloumi was a pretty solid dish too but visually a little unappealing. The Med Pulled Pork missed the mark entirely. Far too much cumin which overpowered the more subtle flavor of the pork BUT I did like the Bleu Cheese Polenta that was served alongside it. There were a few other menu choices that looked enticing like the paella and the scallops so perhaps when we're back I'll look into those. For now though I'm curious what else is around Petoskey that stands out brighter. read more

Our first dining experience after Covid shots. It was a great experience! We were early for our reservation and got the best seats with a view of Little Traverse Bay, socially distanced with immediate service. New wines on the list and our server gave us perfect pairings with our meals. Caesar salad split was on a cold plate and crisp. Duck and walleye were very good with interesting combos on the side - mushroom risotto and sweet potato mix were both delish and hot. We finished by splitting a chocolate mint cheese cake, which was better than any cheese cake that I've ever experienced! What a great way to celebrate getting our vaccines! read more

We ended up here on an impromptu date night by process of elimination and a little chance -- it was the place in this part of Petoskey that could squeeze us into a patio table without a reservation. My wife's strawberry margarita was surprisingly good (and I say that as a serious margarita snob) and I wished I'd ordered it instead of my beer. The entrees looked far too leaden and we stuck to small plates: Crab cakes, mussels, etc. were all just fine, but the two most inspired things we ordered were a Caesar salad with an aggressively anchovy dressing and a haloumi dish with farro and greens. So think of your approach to dining here as approaching a good cocktail party -- classic drinks, and small plates, the smaller the better. read more

First time eating here. The place is very quaint and nice. Loved the upstairs patio where they accommodated a party of 15. The staff was very friendly and sweet. I ordered the special...new York Strip over mushroom gnocchi and asparagus with a demi glaze. I ordered medium rare but i got a well done steak that was dry and hard for me to eat. That didn't ruin my experience here though as the sides were delicious and the waitress took it away apologetically offering to remake it. When I declined saying it's ok and not to worry about it she came back having removed it off the bill. Honestly, it's the right thing to do on her part but I didn't ask her to do that so it was nice that she did. For a starter I ordered the grilled peach salad and it was absolutely delicious. Not like anything I've ever had before but definately something I would go back for. The ambiance and setting is very nice and relaxing. I would definately come back and most definately recommend this establishment to anyone visiting. Bon Apetito! read more

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Excellent atmosphere that makes you smile as soon as you walk in the door. Everyone is extremely friendly and accommodating. We sat in the bar area and had a drink while we waited for our table (we purposely arrived early). Watched the chef and staff work diligently and quietly in the open kitchen area. Quite impressive! The dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives was perfect. The forest floor soup was delicious and my wife said that the crab cakes were the best she's ever had. We split the morel stuffed gnocchi and beef tenderloin, which practically melts in your mouth. Superb! We finished the meal with a strong recommendation for baked chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream drizzled in butterscotch topping. Just when you think things can't get any better....! We have had the good fortune of eating in many different countries over our 25 years together. We have no reservation in telling you that this quaint bistro in northern Michigan tops our list! read more

Palette Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

We were really disappointed with our visit tonight. My wife and I made reservations for 4:30. The restaurant was about 1/4 full. After waiting at the hostess stand for at least five minutes for someone to greet us, we told the hostess that we'd like to sit up on the deck. "It might be full." Ok, we asked, "Is it full?" "Probably." Ok, fine, you don't want to seat us on the deck. She sat us in the dining room, which was completely empty. 10 minutes after we were seated, she seated a 4-top right next to us ... literally 6 inches away. The entire dining room was empty, but we had two other couples basically sitting with us. For the entirety of our meal, our two table were the only ones used in the dining room. We ordered the tenderloin, medium rare. It came out without a speck of pink in it. Very well done. The service was terribly slow, and as the food came out it was badly paced. Nothing for a long time, then everything all at once. Staff were standing around talking, sorting tip money out in the dining room, discussing their work schedules with the manager within earshot of us. Finally, when it was time to leave, my wife stopped by the restroom. She came out to report that there was no soap and no towels. Two of us spent $135 plus tip. Food was OK, service was poor, and the environment was terrible. I realize it's a busy week ... but we were there early and we expect much more from a restaurant of this caliber. read more

Ordered Kobe Beef Hanger Steak once again and crème brûlée and the Bay Street Salad. Had it delivered Door Dash. Doesn't matter how it's served. Always fabulous! read more

Wonderful Place for lunch or dinner. The menu was great and the service was excellent. I had the Mediterranean chicken salad which was by far one of the best salads I've ever had. My wife had the cage special which was excellent. Highly recommend this wonderful restaurant. read more

Palette Bistro - Jerry Enjoying lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Not sure why they don't have the full menu posted on here, but they do serve dinner. It's a lovely setting with huge windows overlooking the lake, as well as a nice patio (which was not an option because it was raining). They had a very nice wine list. We were eating light after a week of pigging out, so just shared some appetizers & dessert. The Forest Floor Soup was divine - creamy but not overly rich, lots of mushroom pieces, & a drizzle of truffle deliciousness. Meatballs were very good too, with a fresh salsa instead of typical red sauce. We had the seasonal crisp for dessert, which had raspberries, blueberries & mango. It was perfectly cooked & still bubbly. This would be a lovely place to dine at sunset! read more

Make reservations and go! This restaurant has great views and even better food. Gus, our server, was always smiling, polite, and attentive. Our appetizers and dinner were fantastic! We went at 5:45 on a Thursday evening and got right in but there was a crowd waiting who didn't make reservations. I highly recommend this eatery! read more

Mary Ellen was an absolute joy as a waitress! She had outstanding recommendations and was very attentive. Our meal was spot on and reasonably priced. Not cheap but priced correctly. read more

Looking to brighten a rainy weekend evening with a small group of friends, we decided to try Palette for the first time. Two of us had tried the "Taste of Palette", starting with the mushroom soup, salmon for the main course, and berry cobbler for dessert. The rest of the group ordered Margherita pizza, the Caprese salad, and the "Toast & Jam" appetizer. Things were off to a great start with the mushroom soup, but took a turn for the worse when we were served our main courses. The salmon, served with bland polenta and an avocado/mustard concoction, was underwhelming. The Margherita pizza was served on a paper thin crust, heavily sauced and topped with a few scantily sprinkled shreds of cheese, also underwhelming. A few minutes after being served our main course, our server quickly stopped to ask how everything was, but didn't wait for a response before rushing off to fill a water glass, leaving out entire table open-mouthed at the speed with which he departed the table. I'd love to say that we ended the meal on a high note with our dessert order, but the three strawberry blackberry cobblers ordered for the table were nothing spectacular. In fact, without being told, one of our cobblers was substituted for a blueberry peach cobbler and when we asked the server about it, he fumbled around for an answer and said "that it must have been one of the cobblers from a few weeks ago" that made its way to our table. Hmm. Overall, the service was lacking and the food was not well prepared (especially given the price point). What they do have going for them is a great view of the water and some great outdoor seating. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be enough for us to want to return here. read more

The best meal we have ever had in Petoskey! 100% will recommend to EVERYONE! Food is incredible quality, service was impeccable, and the view is sure spectacular. read more

Palette Bistro - Duck with root vegetables - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

Best dining experience we've had in a while. Mary Ellen our server was a hoot. Smoked pork chops and paella very flavorful. Excellent baguette hot bread. Our table upstairs had a nice view of Little Traverse Bay. read more

Worst food and service I've ever experienced. Rude staff, can't even eat the food because it was so dry and disgusting. Hopefully they go out of business soon some some place with promise can go in. DO NOT GO HERE!!!! read more

Ah, the salmon. And everything else I have Caesar Saladtasted at Palette. Highly recommend.

Went to this place two nights in a row. Food is great. View is great and we had two fantastic wait staff (Gus and Eva) such wonderful service. Their recommendations was right on and their service super! Enjoyed it and recommend. Ask for Gus or Eva and you won't be disappointed!! read more

Food was incredible! The duck was fantastic and my friend had the smoked pork chop - delicious as well! Atmosphere wonderful with a view of the bay. Great service by Collin! We sat on the second floor. We loved the entire experience and would highly recommend the restaurant! read more

I ordered the seafood paella and my spouse ordered the vegetable paella. We have high expectations for food and we were pleased with our meals. No complaints about our dining experience! read more

We had great service today and enjoyed a beautiful view from our table. The beef vegetable soup was perfectly flavored and nicely complimented my quiche. Best quiche I have ever had with small roasted garlic and other delicious vegetables hidden inside. Tried the cheesecake and was happily surprised at the lime flavor. read more

Palette Bistro - Fantastic cheesecake. A zesty lime kick made this a treat I would return for on its own. - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Great view, great ambiance, great food. Service was good, pizza was great, Caesar salad was perfect just enough dressing to flavor but not drowning in it. My husband loved his short ribs and rigatoni. read more

This was one of our favorite meals of our road trip. It is an elegant place with delicious food. We had a table by a window looking out at the bay - a very relaxing view. Our service was excellent. One of the things I liked most was that they have a "tasting menu." This is a fixed price, three course meal (appetizer, main course, and dessert). What made this so appealing was that you pick from the regular menu, but the portion sizes are smaller. Let me just say that the smaller size portions are just the right size. Our waitress was delightful, personable, attentive, but not intrusive. The Maitre'd stopped by and we had a wonderful conversation with him that included suggested things for us to do in the area. We will definitely go back if/when we are in the area again. read more

We tried this restaurant during the Happy Hour time from 4pm - 6:30 pm, in which you receive 40% off of small plates and they offer a few $4 drink specials. The small plate salad options were delicious, and so were the crab cakes. The soft shelled crab was very small and not that good, but the Forrest Mushroom soup was fantastic. Definitely a great option for starters or an early light dinner. read more

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Fantastic restaurant in Petoski. Steak dinner, and appetizers were great. Highly recommend. Also ask for view of the lake. Service was top notch read more

This place looks like a charming house from the street. Depending on the angle you approach it, it's actually very easy to walk right past(the sign is at ground level and on the small side) as soon as you walk in it's evident that it is an upscale establishment. There was a curved bar to the left with a few craft beer taps and a full lineup of wines and liquor. Very stylish and chic seating with candles on the tables. The walls had local folk art and stunning landscape oil paintings. The music was a a soft jazz which allows for both quiet relaxation or a focused conversation. We were seated to the back which gave views of the icy bay this time of year. The winter cocktail menu wasn't traditional "brunch" offerings and nothing caught our attention so all 4 of us got French press coffee. Our waiter was AMAZING. So nice and bubbly. He politely tells us how long to wait until pressing and gave us ample time to order. He also went over all specials and gave feedback on menu items and our selections. The brunch menu is small but gave a good range of both sweet temptations and savory satisfactions. My mom got brioche French toast (full order, she barely finished) my son got the Asiago biscuits and gravy (full order, he practically licked the plate!) my husband got the brioche French toast Benedict which seemed like it would be a sweet infused Benedict with the poached eggs and bacon and hollandaise... sadly it was WAY sweeter than he had hoped but still very interesting and yummy. Finally I got the smoked salmon Benedict which was PERFECT! Poached eggs with velvety yolk, lightly draped with hollandaise sauce, red onion slices and capers served on top a pile of smoked salmon served with hash browns. Service was great. Price was to be expected. Brunch for 4 with 4 coffees (our two French press canisters gave us each a refill of coffee) was $53 not too shabby. I'd love to visit for dinner. read more

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Amazing great food really loved the ' Mushroom Floor' soup, veggie Paella and Caesar salad. Our server Erica was prompt and friendly will definitely come back! read more

The views here are phenomenal, great little lunch spot. The place is busy, but the service is pretty quick. The menu is small, and it's really lacking in the Mediterranean area, the alleged theme of the restaurant. The view though: top notch. read more

Palette Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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The food was AMAZING! Every entree was seasoned to perfection. We arrived during Happy Hour and enjoyed a couple of $4 Margaritas to start and I finished with a nice $4 Cosmo, which l hadn't had in ages...it did not disappoint! It was hard not to fill up on the delicious french bread before our meal came, which came with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping. I had the crab cakes with sweet potato hash and my husband and daughter decided on the chicken wings. All of it was magnificent! We will be back on our next getaway! read more

Palette Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Absolutely love the Pallette Bistro! We try to stop in there each time we're in The area! Beautiful views, delicious cocktails and yummy food! Great service! read more

This used to be one of the best places in Petoskey for dinner. Our waiter only came to the table twice. He welcomed us and took our order. I mentioned to him that we"re vegetarian and I was disappointed that there is not only one vegetarian choice. He joked that there is salad. Very funny. Lettuce is the only vegetable??? No offer to adjust anything. My wife eats fish so she ordered seafood paella. He didn't mention that the dish has chorizo. She's not a native English speaker so wouldn't have noticed it. He just heard that we are vegetarian? We had to signal the host in order to get some attention and the manager came and took the dish. Later she came back to say we wouldn't be charged. Never saw him again so I left enough for the meal and walked out. Very disappointed. It was once a very good place Update: owner response tells you all you need to know. It was my fault! Nice read more

The food was amazing and the service was prompt, polite and friendly. I loved the siracha pene and my hummingbird was absolutely lovely. The view was amazing!! Definitely check this place out! read more

Palette Bistro - This is the view from the back of the restaurant!! So glad we peaked inside the restaurant instead of sitting outside! - Mediterranean Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

I cannot recommend Palette Bistro highly enough. They hosted our COVID wedding/elopement in 2020, and it could not have gone better. Everything was coordinated via email (which can be difficult!), yet everything still turned out beautifully, and honestly even better than we expected. They allowed us to have the entire upstairs private room for our event, with a stunning view of the water. The food was delicious, served timely, and exactly what everyone had ordered. The service itself was also incredible; the team was attentive, fast, friendly, and helpful. It felt like we had the entire restaurant to ourselves with the focus they allowed us. The pricing was very fair, especially for the quality and quantity of food and care we received. We never felt rushed or like we were overstaying our welcome. Thank you, Palette Bistro, for making our big day during COVID that much easier and more special. We will be back every time we are in the area. read more

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Very good food and a great view from the top floor. Highly recommend! Quality service

Service was excellent. Waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. Food was good but not outstanding. My chicken Lemon dish was nicely flavored with carrots in a light curry sauce. The skin on the chicken was burnt. While the Strudel was good, it was not freshly made and the portion was small. The most objectionable part of the meal Was the noise level. With less that 20 people in the dining room a conversation with my dining partner was impossible. Table cloths and some sound deadening materials on ceiling would go along way toward improving the experience. read more

Good service and reasonable price. Food was also good, but the paella left to be desired (too runny and no discernible saffron taste ). Crab cakes were very good. read more