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    Wren

    4.4 (89 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Wren Photos

    WREN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Wren

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    Amazing cocktail menu

    Wren is a MUST stop when you're in Sutton's bay! It's a 5 star quality restaurant hidden in this cute little town! You won't be disappointed!

    The BEST tomato soup I've ever had...roasted tomatoes blended w/a bit of fennel and coriander drizzled with a basil oil.
    Linda S.

    While we try to get up here several times per year, haven't officially reviewed in a few years, so here's the latest experience: Chef Adam is a gifted and innovative chef, utilizing the freshest ingredients, most locally sourced, exquisitely! His staff (love you, Hannah!) and bartender are top notch and knowledgeable/welcoming. Ambiance warm and intimate. Our favorite dining spot...and we travel 6 hours to get here. Our starters and meal pictured below (pictures posted out of order but are labeled): 1) heirloom tomato soup w/chèvre, basil oil and toasted breadcrumb 2) beet fritters w/cabbage salad, kimchi, and black garlic aioli, 3) melon salad w/arugula, prosciutto, basil, honey, shaved melon, and bee pollen, 4) scallops w/oyster mushrooms, spinach, lobster cream, and apricot aigre-doux, and 5) kurobuta pork tenderloin, pumpkin puree, roasted tomato, gremolata, and leek powder. OUTSTANDING DINING ONCE AGAIN! Highly Recommend!

    Butterscotch dessert with shortbread
    TLynne S.

    We managed to score a last minute reservation on a Saturday evening and we are so happy that we did! This is a cute, cozy place! The food and serve are phenomenal; It was nice because they did not make all 3 of us do the tasting menu, so my husband and I opted for that and my daughter ordered the Rolls and the Waygu Steak. (she loved both). The tasting menu included celery root soup, Kimchi fritters with beet sauce and carrot salad, Tile fish or Waygu Steak (we ordered one of each) a Romaine Salad with fresh peas and a Butterscotch Pudding Cup. The kimchi fritters were the only thing we didn't love, just felt they were a little mushy on the inside and not a strong kimchi flavor. The steak came with this amazing homemade ranch dressing, shallots, bok chow and mustard. At first I was not sure about that ranch dressing but everything together was just a lovely umami bomb! The butterscotch dessert was so good, butterscotch just reminds me of being a kid but this was super elevated with a level of chocolate mouse in it and topped with whipped cream and some crunchy toffee like pieces. Before the meal, we were given an amuse bouche - sweet potato chip with mushroom foam. Even my daughter who isn't the most adventurous popped that into her mouth and loved it. Service was fabulous. We also felt that the pricing was great for such an amazing meal - to be honest they could cut the portions in half and I don't think anyone would complain! Would highly recommend.

    Our table setting
    Cassy J.

    On a recent trip to the Leelanau Peninsula, my husband and I dined at Wren for the first time and were very impressed. This small, cozy restaurant has so much charm, from the historic building to the warm and friendly staff, we were made to feel right at home. Everything on the menu appealed to us, which made it very difficult to decide what to order. When we return, we will definitely try the tasting menu. We were very pleased with each course, but felt dessert came up a bit short. Our favorites included the octopus, beets and whitefish. Service at Wren was top-notch. Our server was helpful, prompt and friendly. Overall, we were so pleased to find a special restaurant to fill the hole that formed when Alliance closed several years ago. If you are in the Traverse City vicinity, the short drive up to Sutton's Bay will take you to one of the best dining experiences in the area!

    Menu as of 8/2/24
    Emily C.

    I can't say enough good things about Wren. The moment we walked in the hostess had us sat (we made reservations for inside) at a two top next to the bar. Our server was prompt asking if we wanted any drinks. We ordered a cocktail and a soda and she gave us time to peruse the menu. They offered a tasting menu with several courses, but we ultimately went for the Ala cart options. Started with the rolls that are fresh baked in a cast iron skillet to order. They were so yummy! The dill butter was very flavorful as well. My husband got the bone in pork chop and you could tell everything was highest quality. It was marbled with fat making the flavor out of this world. It sat on top of a zucchini puree and had roasted tomatoes on top. He said all of it together was a great bite. I went for the beef tenderloin cooked medium. It was melt in your mouth. It came with roast potatoes and milk weed pods. The milk weed had a shallot/mustard sauce on them that was so good, and the house made ranch it came with was divine. We were too full for dessert, but before leaving the server brought a few sweet treats. A chocolate almond, spicy pepita brittle, and lemon hard candy. It was the perfect end to the dinner. We loved sitting in the dining room, getting to hear the bartender describe drinks and food was fun, as well as the art gallery hanging on the wall behind the table. An enjoyable meal all around.

    Eowyn K.

    Lovely farm to table restaurant in Northern Michigan, a short drive from Traverse City. Housed in a refurnished fire house, the decor is simple and clean. It suits the area as well as the food. There are not many interior tables, but they have a patio area as well. The menu is short, and as it is seasonally and product based, constantly changing. We came as a group of four for a Birthday dinner, so were able to try each other's orders. I'm not generally a huge fan of cauliflower, but I tried my friend's cauliflower soup and it was phenomenal, a standout. Perfectly creamy and full of complex flavor. I had the raw artichoke salad, which was fine, though a bit boring, too simple. I like that they wanted the product to be forward, but this dish was a bit too dull. I ordered the scallops, also wonderful. The scallops were just caramelized, and the sauce was flavorful with good accompany textures. My friend's steak was also excellent. A nice cut of beef, cooked perfectly. This was a lighter meal, if you are wanting to really leave full, it is going to come with a higher bill. At the end of the meal, we were brought complementary sweet bites (pictured). Since we came for a Birthday, we did order a couple of desserts. The key lime pie dessert was perfect, every note right. I'm glad it's far enough away as to not be temping. Wren is an example of upscale fare, not overly pretentious, but interesting and delicious.

    Butterscotch Pot de Crème
    Abby F.

    My friend really wanted to go here during her bachelorette party, and I was nervous about going here as a vegetarian because there wasn't a vegetarian entree on the menu. The chef made a vegetarian entree for me from the veggies they had and it was really well seasoned and had a delicious sauce. The drinks and desert were also really delicious! I wanted to make sure to post a review for any other vegetarians who were nervous about going to this restaurant!

    Mj J.

    The Wren has been on our list of farm to table restaurants in the TC area. The Wren is what I consider a dining experience! The restaurant is small with a warm, cozy atmosphere welcoming patrons. They offer a unique list of Cocktails, but when you're in wine country...go for the wine! A deep, red wine is always my favorite. After spending some time with the menu, the potato leek soup sounded divine, especially during the chilly Fall season. To be honest, there's nothing better than a warm bowl of soup to sooth the soul, I like to say. The Lamb Bolognese was a must try for me and Oh my...the flavor still lingers! Everything was fantastic! The service was great and I can't wait to come back during another season!

    Beets!
    Susan M.

    One of our favorite meals in the Suttons Bay / Traverse City area. This feels like a high quality tasting menu you would find in a much bigger city, but this restaurant is nestled into downtown Sutton's Bay. Loved every dish but especially the dessert and the wine pairing. Chef's kiss!

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    3 months ago

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    Great food, not the best service or atmosphere. For the money did feel the overall experience matched, felt rush and mor of a nuisance

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    3 years ago

    Excellent menu, service and food. Bar/cocktail service a big plus. Great date night selection.

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    Streetside Grille - French dip sliders

    Streetside Grille

    3.8(150 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Let me start by saying the food was very very good. There were 12 of us and we all liked what we…read moreordered. Pizzas, salads, and burgers - all good. Kids meals also very good. With that being said... the service was the downfall. When we walked in, the only other table that was seated was leaving so we were the only group. They were not busy. We had 12 and they cleared an area and seated us. We placed our drink order and then I asked about splitting the bill and I am not exaggerating one bit. She looked at me and rudely said "It literally says in the menu that we do not split bills and that there will be a 20% gratuity". So, since she is already guaranteed the 20% there is no sense in her being a good waitress from that point on. Again, we were the only table. There were times that we had to go to the bar to refill drinks. Another table did come in while we were there and that waitress was super friendly. Wish we had gotten her as our server. So, we each went to the ATM machine and withdrew $ to split the bill on our own. The very next day, we went to Rare Bird Brewery and when we walked in the staff told us right away about their policy to not split bills. Which we praised them for - excellent service. And in the end because they were not busy, they split our bills anyway. So, my suggestion is that Streetside Grill announce their policy when a table that large asks for seating. It costs nothing to be up front.

    Cute little place on main street! Very accommodating for a…read morelarge group which was much appreciated!! The pulled pork mac n cheese was 10/10, meatloaf cupcakes and fish & chips were all also enjoyed by several people in the group. Even went back 2x on the trip because of the wide variety of options on the menu and space for a big group. Service was slightly disappointing and unhelpful

    Photos
    Streetside Grille - Table area

    Table area

    Streetside Grille - Thai chicken wrap

    Thai chicken wrap

    Streetside Grille

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    Boone's Prime Time Pub

    Boone's Prime Time Pub

    4.0(199 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    After shopping and walking around the streets, grabbing a bite to eat for lunch here was much…read moreneeded. We had wanted to sit on the rooftop to enjoy the views but it wasn't opening until 4PM so we didn't get to experience that. The clam chowder was on special so I ordered that to start with some peel and eat shrimp, cold- you can get them hot or cold and they were perfectly done and the cocktail sauce wasn't so strong that it overpowered the shrimp which was appreciated. My husband and I shared the trout basket and they were very lightly breaded, not greasy at all and well seasoned. My son ordered a cheeseburger and raved about it so much that he told our waitress on the way out that it was 5-star worthy. Note: he orders burgers everywhere we go so I trust his judgement . It was cooked how he asked- medium rare- and was thick and juicy to top it off. If you're looking for a spot with friendly service and delicious food- it's a must try in Sutton's Bay.

    So the first time we came here was about eight years ago and the place was still just as amazing as…read morewe were remember. This is a bar, but it's also a restaurant in the food is unreal. First time we came here. We came to have a couple drinks and I remember the service was amazing this past weekend we went here and we brought our daughter for her birthday. She had the best time again. The food is still amazing. We'll be coming back as much as we can. I ordered the cod special and my daughter ordered the kids chicken and fries and the chicken was delicious. My fiancé ordered the burger and the cook on it was perfection again you can't go wrong with anything you order here. It's an amazing place. It's a must check out if you're in Sutton Bay.

    Photos
    Boone's Prime Time Pub
    Boone's Prime Time Pub - Clam chowder

    Clam chowder

    Boone's Prime Time Pub - Massive Mary menu shot

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    Massive Mary menu shot

    The Cove - Side Caesar's Salad

    The Cove

    3.9(384 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    This restraunt was incredible from start to finish. So me and my family were going on a trip to…read moreMichigan, and we happened to stop by this little town called Leland, aka Fishtown, which had a bunch of stores and places to eat, and a incredible view. So we got there and there was a 30-40 minute wait time, but it ended up being 20 minutes before we got seated. We were then intorduced to our waiter, who was extremely nice. i got a Diet Coke and it tasted fantastic, no issues whatsoever. The menu looked phenomena, with tons of tasty dishes, but i ended up getting Whitefish and chips, and they were phenomenal. The fries were amazing, the waiter even brought us extra ketchup without us even asking. The fish also tasted very good, basic whitefish, but the crispy and crunchy taste was just soooo good. we tipped $50 just for the service and the quality of the food. If I lived around the area, I would come here often. Highly recommend eating here and visiting Leland!

    Great place for fresh fish!…read more Group of six of us came on Friday night just before 6PM and waited about 30 mins for a table on the patio. Nice shades table at this time with great breeze on the riverfront/marina area. We all ordered fresh fish with half of getting the almond Whitefish ($30) and it was outstanding! One BIL got the New Orleans Whitefish ($33) and the other BIL got the Whitefish tacos ($21) and it was unanimous...everyone loved the food. What really made our night special was our server Julie! She was super friendly, fun, helpful and very prompt. She is a precious asset for the restaurant!

    Photos
    The Cove - Seating area near host stand

    Seating area near host stand

    The Cove
    The Cove - The famous "Chubby Mary" featuring a pretty good sized delicious smoked chub.

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    The famous "Chubby Mary" featuring a pretty good sized delicious smoked chub.

    The Riverside Inn

    The Riverside Inn

    3.8(90 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$$

    The food was incredible and the server was great. Everything was perfect; it had such a beautiful…read moreview and I loved the lay out of the restaurant!

    We've been waiting for Riverside Inn to really find its stride under the new ownership (which "new"…read moreis really several years old now!), and last night felt like it may finally be getting there. Riverside was a favorite of ours when Kate owned it, and over the past few years we've kept coming back hoping to see the new owners develop a more consistent kitchen and, importantly, a menu with an identity of its own rather than one that sometimes felt like it was trying to emulate the best restaurants around the area. Last night delivered. The food was consistently good across the table--the chicken was cooked and seasoned to perfection, the pasta was excellent, and the accompaniments felt thoughtful and well executed. And please, whatever you do, never get rid of the whipped mashed potatoes. Those have consistently been something Riverside does very well. The focaccia with corn was fabulous and butter with honey is way better than previous iterations of butter with olives??? Nobody wants that. Service got off to a very delayed start, but once our server found a rhythm, things got back on track and the rest of the evening flowed much better. It feels like Riverside is beginning to settle into what it wants to be rather than chasing something they're not, and that's encouraging to see. We've been waiting for that. Last night was the most confident and consistent the restaurant has felt in a while, and we're hopeful they keep heading in this direction.

    Photos
    The Riverside Inn
    The Riverside Inn - Pork chop with foie gras braised cabbage, bacon jam, shishito peppers.

    Pork chop with foie gras braised cabbage, bacon jam, shishito peppers.

    The Riverside Inn - Sunset on the patio at Riverside In

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    Sunset on the patio at Riverside In

    Modern Bird - Panna cotta

    Modern Bird

    4.6(97 reviews)
    14.8 mi

    This was a spot that served American cuisine and changed their menu seasonally. The menu items…read morewere meant to be sharing plates. The service was top notch. We were at the kitchen counter and the head chef/owner talked to us a lot while he was at the pass finishing dishes. He was not overbearing, where it was annoying. He was very friendly. He asked a lot of questions and we returned the favor. He went around talking to other tables too. Besides him, the rest of the staff was very pleasant and accommodating, including the chefs doing the cooking! It was one of the best experiences I had in regard to the staff. I have included what I ate below. Everything was timed out well too. Our Bread ($8) - This was a cheddar bread with ranch butter. This was very good. It came out extremely warm. The ranch butter was light and paired perfectly with the soft inside and slight crisp on the outside of the bread. Cucumber ($16) - This came with salsa Macha, pickled jalapeno, and cilantro. This appeared extremely fresh. There was a slight kick from the jalapenos and/or salsa. It all went well together with one another. Ricotta Gnudi ($17) - This came with pea, basil, country ham, and Marcona almonds. The gnudi had an unreal texture. The almonds were a nice added touch for some crunch. I did not really think the ham was needed. Potato ($17) - This came in a brown-butter cheese sauce with shallots and pickled mushrooms. This was my favorite non dessert dish of the night. The cheese sauce was unreal with tons of flavors, while the pickled mushrooms combined with the crispy shallots made for a superb pairing. Fried Chicken ($16) - This came with two large chicken pieces with a white BBQ sauce. This was brined in Earl Grey tea. The skin was crispy as anything, and the chicken was cooked to perfection. It was moist with great color. The white BBQ sauce was one of the best sauces I had in a while. I do not have much experience with white BBQ sauces, but this was tremendous. The vinegar could really be tasted and paired well with the hot crispy skin of the chicken. Halibut ($47) - This came with white beans, chermoula, and black garlic. The halibut was cooked perfectly, and the chermoula was ideal with the slight crisp from the large beans. There was also a nice crunch from crispy brown rice it seemed like. Key Lime Pie ($16) - This was with a homemade graham crust, white chocolate, and a basil meringue. This was my favorite overall dish of the night. The crust was one of the best I ever had. It was so buttery and had a perfect thickness to the key lime filling. The little meringue pieces on top was an ideal topping. Will I go back? Obvious.

    Very cool, small, quirky, but really impressive restaurant in Traverse City. This place has a menu…read morethat 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.

    Photos
    Modern Bird - Inside

    Inside

    Modern Bird - Corn dog

    Corn dog

    Modern Bird

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    Wren - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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