Great service, great view, great food! We accidentally ordered three cheese dishes and only realized once they came out but honestly do not regret it at all! The French onion soup was quite good. Saw a lot of reviews recommending it so felt we had to try it. It is definitely a very rich, salty, intense soup so it might be good to share so you don't get sick of it but it was delicious. The pepperoni pizza was a good pizza but nothing crazy or special about it. Good size for two or three people to share with some other dishes. The star of the dinner was the lobster Mac n cheese. I really thought it was delicious. A healthy amount of lobster in it and very creamy. If I came back I would definitely get the lobster Mac n cheese again. It was also good as leftovers the next day :) Our server was very attentive and kind. We came in within an hour of closing and never felt rushed at all. Beautiful place to see the sunset over the harbor. read more

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If you're in Traverse City, do yourself a favor and make a stop at West End Tavern. I stopped in for dinner by myself, and from the moment I walked in, I felt welcome. The atmosphere is warm, comfortable, and relaxed, making it the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a great meal. The service was outstanding from start to finish--attentive, friendly, and the kind of service that makes you feel like a valued guest without ever being overbearing. I ordered the Bone-In Tomahawk Pork Chop, served with balsamic-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon and mashed potatoes, and it was one of the best meals I've had in Traverse City. The pork chop was absolutely massive. I ordered it medium, and it came out perfectly cooked--juicy, incredibly tender, and with very little fat. It was so tender I could almost cut it with my fork. Every bite was packed with flavor, and it was easily the star of the meal. The Brussels sprouts were exceptional. They had the perfect balance of sweetness with just a hint of bitterness, and once you mixed in the bacon... wow. They were phenomenal. I honestly wish I had taken a picture because the entire plate was huge. The portion size was incredible, and I left completely full. The mashed potatoes were good--nothing extraordinary on their own--but paired with the pork chop they rounded out the meal perfectly. I also ordered a side of the risotto, which was rich, creamy, and served piping hot. It was a little cheesier than I typically prefer, but it paired beautifully with the pork chop. Before my entrée, I ordered the seafood chowder, and it completely blew me away. I'm usually not a fan of onion or celery in soups, but this was hands down the best seafood chowder I've ever had. It was peppery, rich, and packed with incredible flavor. Honestly, I could have ordered a large bowl and called it dinner. It was that good. I would come back to West End Tavern just for the chowder. West End Tavern absolutely delivered. Between the exceptional service, generous portions, perfectly prepared food, and welcoming atmosphere, this was an outstanding dining experience. The seafood chowder alone is worth the visit, but the Bone-In Tomahawk Pork Chop is the dish I'll be thinking about for a long time. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Traverse City. read more

Seafood chowder was less than outstanding. Server never welcome us to his section. Bad form rookie! Settled on the patio overlooking the harbor - great view of some of the mega boats. Mild breeze with Sunny shade triangles shimmering in the wind. Their draft system was down - sad as its Cherry Festival week. Had to settle for a bottle beer & the waiter seemed irritated when I requested a glass. Selected their Detroit Beef sandwich (code for a French Dip), hope the Au Jus isn't too salty. Truffle fries were boring - simply regular fries sprinkled with some pre-grated Parm & some Bay Seasoning. The Ladies all ordered a salad & needed to ask for different dressings. We passed up on Harrington's & Apache Trout Grille for this! 3 Stars only because of the view from their deck patio. read more

We were driving through and your place we are glad we did Heather was our server so funny and nice Heather made our day.

Can't believe we haven't reviewed since 6 years ago, as we dine here every time we visit TC, many times each year. Love the view of our favorite body of water, whether we sit indoors or on the outdoor patio deck. Service is always excellent, and today's server (Sheila) was wonderful! We started with French onion soup...mine without crostini, his made normally. Truly, with its rich flavorful broth, it is not to be missed! I got the whitefish sandwich without the bun, served on fresh baby greens with pickles, Dijon aioli, coleslaw, and I had them add sliced tomato and red onion. The fish (huge filet) is crisp, seasoned well, and so fresh. Yum! Hubby got the Tavern burger without fries. Also delicious! Or recommendation, if you haven't already done so, is try West End! It could become one of your fav Traverse City destinations, as well! read more

West End Tavern - Whitefish sandwich minus the bun w/delicious fresh green beans instead of fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Always great service and excellent food. Nice view of the bay and a very upbeat atmosphere!!

This is a popular restaurant so go to the website and get in the virtual line! It was accurate and helped us manage our time which is great with young kids. The hostess was extremely thoughtful and had a high top ready but asked our opinion and then was able to seat us at a regular table. Food was delicious! Calamari was good without being greasy and our kids loved it. Drinks were good as well. The view is the best part! So peaceful to be on the marina. It started raining and the staff did a great job getting people inside or under the covered portion. read more

Came here for lunch and it was amazing! Madison was a great server and kind enough to share other local spots to stop by at while visiting TC. The view was amazing and the food was so good! read more

The view is spectacular, especially on a beautiful sunny day. The staff was very personable and friendly. The food and drinks left alot to be desired. The martini, ordered straight up was made incorrectly. The chicken in the sandwich was very dry and tough to eat. For what we spent (over $100.)(for 2) we should have had a much better meal. read more

It's worth your salt to visit West End Tavern. Yes, it's got the food. We had the calamari and bruschetta: they were delicious, and clearly the kitchen prepared and plated them with pride. And yes, the Tavern has the staff. Madyson was a pro and a pleasure to talk with, whether about how the tourist traffic was building near the end of May, or joshing with us old guys. Finally, there's the experience: enjoying good food and drink on a deck overlooking the Elmwood Marina and Grand Traverse Bay. read more

Nice location, at the marina, overlooking the traverse bay coastline. For obvious reason, the patio area is difficult to get a table at. We were visiting during the cherry festival and even after calling 40 minutes ahead, had to wait for more than an hour to get seated. That too, at an inside-booth, as the patio was still crowded. The food was pretty good, and we all enjoyed both the lobster stuffed mushroom and fried calamari starters. For the main course the walleye risotto was good and so was the chowder. The locally sourced riesling wine was just as good. It was my birthday and the chocolate cake they served was nice too. The scenery gets very pretty during the sunset and the food is awesome. I got compliments from my friends for picking this place for the birthday dinner. read more

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After exploring the Leelanau area we ended our day at one of our favorite dinner venues. This is a great location, by Grand Traverse Bay next to the Marina. They are always busy at peak times, so unless you used called ahead seating, expect a wait. You can get a cocktail and enjoy the views by the patio while you wait. Always great food, good portions and the staff is friendly and attentive. We had the Grilled Caesar with their homemade dressing, it was very flavorful. We also had the Chicken Pasta with sun dried tomatoes, bacon, spinach and a smoked Gouda sauce. The two dishes paired nicely and ingredients were fresh and tasty. Definitely recommend West End Tavern if you are in the area. read more

West End Tavern - Grilled Caesar Salad, shaved Parmesan, croutons and homemade Caesar dressing. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Staff and food are amazing. Start off with the spinach artichoke dip or the lobster stuff mushrooms. My go to is the Salmon Caesar.

Very meh. Overpriced. Great views though. Tavern Burger isn't great. Pizza is better though

West End Tavern is a cute restaurant that my husband and I have wanted to try for some time now! We ended up stopping by here for my husband's birthday and had a nice time. We split the French Onion Soup and ordered Ribs and Salad as our Mains. The soup was good, salad was yummy, and the ribs were just okay! We also brought our 11 month old, which I wouldn't recommend. The restaurant provides high chairs but we felt a bit out of place with our kiddo - it's a much more quiet environment than we had anticipated and our son does not have an inside voice yet. read more

West End Tavern - Wedge salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

We had dinner Sunday evening, I ordered the Tavern Burger and my husband ordered the BBQ chicken pizza. Both were excellent, seasoned well and flavorful. Our waiter was exceptional, our drinks were never empty, he had a quick wit and was friendly! read more

Really impressed! Not pictured is the seafood chowder, on a chilly spring day it was sooo warm and yummy. Service was very attentive. Also right on the water so beautiful view! read more

West End Tavern - Wedge salad with steak and candied bacon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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6/5/26 - Lured us in with the ambiences of boats and water, wait over an hour for food. Dry hamburger and overpriced. Disappointing.

Hi my name is Shelly Edens so I work at Red Geranium in Grand Raoids Michigan I work at the Kalamazoo location me and my husband went up to Traverse City for a couple nights we had dinner at this location, our server was Sam, she was a awesome server, answered all of our questions, the food was awesome, We had the spinach dip, I ordered the brussel sprouts and Charlie ordered the pizza, he is a picky eater btw and Sam helped us with all of my husband's food and how to order it. We talked for a while as it was towards the end of the night, very friendly, smiled alot and I will definitely ask for Sam w b en we go back. We also thought it was a very nice restaurant, we were sat in a little corner booth that we loved definitely give it a 5 stars along with Sam!!! read more

Drove by and dropped in for a Sunday afternoon meal. We were quickly seated and had a nice booth with a view of the harbor. The menu has many interesting options but we chose a cup of seafood chowder and Caesar salad. The chowder was very good, rich, creamy and a touch of heat. The salad was also tasty and plentiful for the two of us to split. Looking back I would of had the dressing on the side. It was very flavorful and creamy, a little went a long way. Good food, nice view, quality service. read more

Lovely bay views in this open restaurant. We enjoyed the French Onion Soup and a sausage fennel made in the brick oven. The soup was so hot but so delicious and the pizza crust was thin and toppings perfect. The garlic, onion and tomatoes on the pizza were sweet! We ordered the old fashioneds and they tasted fine but have a honey cinnamon taste that I was not enamored with. Our waiter, Chuck, was attentive and helpful with menu selections. Nice place to stop. read more

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This spot is a must go when in TC. It was 6 of us dining and the accommodated us right away. The location has a nice water view by the boat docks. Each of us ordered something different and tried each others. Every single item was delicious and rather large portions. The ribs fall off the bone, the rib eye was cooked to perfection, the lobster Mac was delicious and family sized and the French Onion soup was devine and served with a small scissors to "cut the cheeses." lol. read more

West End Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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It's a 3.5/5 restaurant with an 8/10 view. And it's mostly tourists. I'm local and I typically avoid West End Tavern. On a whim, we grabbed an outdoor table in a beautiful night. The drink menu was sticky & filthy. Gross. The brussel sprouts are just doused with sauce. A real chef would know that's not how you cook or present food. I ordered the tavern burger, spouse ordered the Detroit beef sandwich. Both were ok, not amazing by any means. Neither would bring us back. I ordered the house margarita but got the spicy margarita. I specifically said I don't want a spicy marg. Our server never came back to check on us so I couldn't send it back. In the end she took it off our bill, but I came for a decent cocktail and I got someone else's order. Here's the thing about West End Tavern: it's servicable. There are so many better restaurants in traverse city, why bother with WET??! Simple things: bring the ketchup & mustard with the burger so I don't have to wait til my food is cold to get those condiments. A spicy marg, when not ordered, is a big disappointment. Traverse City is a hotspot for really great food, don't waste your money here. read more

West End Tavern - Grossly doused brussel Side Maple Bacon Sprouts covered in too much sauce. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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We noticed West End perched up over the water while driving at night and decided to come here for lunch. Their patio was definitely a bit hot in the sun, but the sangria and the Bloody Mary were both good and helped cool us off a bit. My husband and I both started with their seafood chowder and LOVED it. It was delicious, full of shrimp and potato pieces, a hearty portion and really flavorful! I wouldn't recommend the calamari, a large portion but definitely not fresh seafood in the slightest. My husband ordered the fish sandwich and it was pretty good.. we really liked the battered fries served with it. My only complaint overall would be the pricing... the atmosphere and the bar-type food doesn't seem to match up with the $30+ entrees. If I come back it's definitely for the chowder! read more

West End Tavern - Calamari - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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get your shit together ! overpriced small portions with slow service ! bartender over rings and llays ignorant !!! close this shithole

Please skip this place for the sake of your GI system. Our waiter was rude and tried to rush us through our meal. Everything looked like a glorified Golden Corral. I ordered a sirloin that came drenched with brown gravy . I could barely cut it with a steak knife. I ate a few bites of it as it wasn't cheap. Man I was sick afterwards. The restaurant has a nice view but that's about it. read more

Great place, the view, the food and our waiter - all 19's! Cole was a terrific waiter and took care of our every want! We will be back!!

When we arrived they told us it would be a 45 min wait. They offered us immediate seating at the bar. Why not! The bar was outside and it was a nice night. Not too hot. I ordered a white sangria. Josie was tending the bar and she made it perfectly... So refreshing. For dinner I ordered the mixed green salad with shrimp and poppyseed dressing. So good. Hubbie ordered the Ribeye. Cooked to the right temperature and was very flavorful. We rated the food 5 stars. And Josie had such a pleasant personality... 5 stars for her too! Nice view of the bay and all the boats in the marina read more

West End Tavern - Mixed greens salad with shrimp - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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I came in with my husband and a friend. Between us we had the seafood chowder, the stuffed mushroom caps, the wedge salad, and the beet salad. The chowder was fantastic. The wedge salad was lovely. The beet salad needed to have more beets and less lettuce and the mushrooms needed to have less breadcrumbs (although they tasted lovely). Our server was first rate and, although we wanted to sit outside but couldn't, the view was lovely. read more

Food was outstanding. View of the bay adds a nice touch. Service was good. Had the salmon dish and it was great.

Outstanding location overlooking the west bay in Traverse City. You can sit and watch the boats while sitting outside or enjoy the climate controlled indoor seating. We tried 2 pizzas which were both delicious and we are looking forward to going back to try more apps and desserts, too. Would love to eat here outside in the evening to enjoy the string lights as well. I took off one star for what seemed like pretty limited parking? Unless there was more around the back! read more

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I agree with A A. This place made my bowels work overtime and the food tasted like silly putty dipped in unsalted sewer brine. The waiter was obviously perturbed by our existence and the view of cheap fish boats was equally as deserving of attention as their cocktails were. read more

Great spot with an amazing view! Pearl was our server and she is great! We got the lobster mac and cheese (highly recommend!). A little pricier than it should be but it's definitely delicious. We also got the Alaskan halibut. The sauce and accompaniments were good not the halibut was not fresh. As soon as it was sat down on the table, we immediately smelled that fishy smell from when fish it not fresh. We ate abt half but couldn't handle anymore so we gave it to our dog. Sadly, she sniffed it and turned away. She would not touch it at all. The smell was appalling. Aside from the nasty overpriced halibut, it was a good experience. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed the food and service here during our visit. We sat on the patio with a fabulous view of the bay. The Detroit shaved beef sandwich was a highlight...as were the sweet potato waffle fries! read more

Everything seemed to be going well - food was good, excellent service, ambiance wonderful. There is a 3% surcharge to cover increasing costs, which I understand. But then we learned that management takes 1% of the tips for the wait staff!! When I give a tip it's not for management! I would invite customers to leave a cash tip and let the wait staff decide whether or not to report it. read more

It has been hard to find a great restaurant in Traverse City, this place has nailed it twice for us this week. Outdoor seating in the patio overlooking the marina is beautiful, both servers, Candice and Zoey knocked it outbid the park, drinks were great and refreshing, and walleye sandwich is a must. We had the edge, fantastic and different with maple bacon, calamari was a hit with the kids, sweet potato fries are amongst the best, and both soups were outstanding in a cold day highly recommend! read more

Had a pretty good experience here. The food is pretty pricey but it tasted really good. Really good selection of appetizers. The wagyu steak with the sauteed mushrooms was fantastic. It was cold and nasty when we went so we really didn't get to experience the best ambiance of the place but sitting inside isn't awful. read more

Went and had a drink at the bar due to a 90 minute wait for a table. Had an amazing view of the lake, and sadly we skipped dinner. Maybe next time. Beautiful little spot so I can see why it had such a long wait. Call ahead of time to get an idea of the wait. read more

Its been a couple of years so we wanted to return for an early dinner. We were hoping to get a table outside but the only table left were in the sun. So we opted to dine indoors...Which wasn't bad seeing is we had the dining area to ourselves. We ordered the Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms as a beginning and for our entree we both selected the Walleye dinner. Both were very good. The food is 5 star but the inside ambiance is more like a 3-4 but you still get a decent view of the harbor if by the windows. We will come back next time in town. read more

TOURISTS BEWARE!! If you are over 21, but have a verified Real ID issued license from any other state that is still vertical as your state does not require you to renew until 2028, this restaurant will not serve you and they will ruin your entire celebration with poor service and a manager who says he can deny service to anyone he wants. Upon leaving this place, this Real ID issued license worked by being scanned at a gas station for beer and cigarettes, and at two different bars on front street. This restaurant discriminated against a tourist with a legally issued ID and they should have their bar license revoked. Their service also sucked and the food was marginally okay. read more