4 Best Restaurants in Traverse City, Michigan

Experience authentic northern Michigan cuisine at this popular spot, named for a fish rescued from the endangered species list. Stuffed fish and wood carvings adorn the walls, lamps are carved in the shape of bears and fishing poles, and there's a great view of the water. On the menu are fresh-grilled or sautéed fish—from locally caught whitefish to flown-in ahi tuna—plus steaks, barbecued ribs, and pasta dishes such as tequila-lime chicken pasta. Sunday brunch service and a curated list of fine wines make this more than a typical waterfront café.

Since opening in the mid-1990s, this has consistently been a go-to spot for fine French cuisine. Dishes are prepared in an open kitchen while diners sit among plants, statuettes, and wall hangings. Come summer, the patio beckons. Dinner entrées include honey-lemon-braised lamb shank or half a roasted chicken with herbes de Provence, while lunch offers choices like chicken potpie or croque-monsieur. Brunch is served on Sunday until 3 pm. The menu rotates with the seasons to ensure optimum freshness and also highlights northern Michigan producers. One of Traverse City's best wine lists is another highlight, wth choices ranging from a sparkling wine from nearby Lake Leelanau to a Malbec from Argentina; 22 wines are available by the glass.

Known for its thick burgers and "moose chips" (a twist on Tater Tots), Sleder's is also a local institution for down-home friendly service. Food has been served in this family-run tavern in the center of the city since the early 1880s; today the menu includes fish baskets and deli-style sandwiches for lunch, a cherry-barbecued chicken that's an ode to the region's cherry crops, and casual Mexican selections, such as three burritos. Deer and elk heads and a bearskin line the wood-paneled walls, and an antique chandelier is suspended above green tablecloths. Outdoor dining is available during summer.

With 300 feet of direct water frontage on the Old Mission Peninsula, this restaurant emulates a cozy cottage with an upscale vibe. Sunday brunch and daily lunch feature indulgent dishes like lobster mac 'n' cheese and crème-brûlée-soaked brioche French toast. Entrée selections include Great Lakes whitefish and Kobe fillet, plus innovative meatless dishes like sesame-seared tofu in ginger-beet vinaigrette. Much of the food is grown on the chef-owner's 10-acre farm on the peninsula, but it's more than a farm-to-table restaurant. An oyster bar was recently introduced, and an impressive wine list spans the globe (including Michigan), with many by-the-glass options. Splurge on two prix-fixe dinner-menu choices: a seven-course tasting menu, or Kobe fillets with Maine lobster.