Apache Trout Grill — Restaurant in Elmwood Charter Township

We dined at the Apache grill in November 2021 and 2022. It is a very popular place to dine. Last year, we opted to eat at the bar due to extreme wait times for a regular table in the dining area. We were impressed with the bar staff's ability to take food and drink orders with efficiency and courteousness. I remember having their balsamic vinegar, and bacon charred brussel sprouts. They were absolutely delicious. I could not wait to have them again this year. 2022-we were greeted by friendly smiling hostess. The wait time was estimated to be 45 minutes but is usually less than that. They have a room that you can take your drinks from the bar and wait for your table. I asked for a cleaning towel to wipe down our table. I cleaned a couple of spaces for additional guests. My guess is that they were short-staffed, which is normal these days. We had a very nice, and extremely efficient server. We marveled at how fast she was able to take care of all of the tables in the area, both large and small. I grew up working in our family restaurant since age 10. It's a habit to watch restaurant operations. Yes, I know that I need a new hobby 🤷🏿‍♀️ Anyway, our burger and fish sandwich were cooked to perfection. We accompanied the dinner sandwiches with seasoned fries which were delicious. The shrimp and lobster bisque soup was lumpy and chunky. The moisture may have been cooked out of the soup, or it was on the stove/warmer for a long time. It had a potato base flavor. It also had a couple of shrimp in the soup. My favorite, the charred bacon and balsamic vinegar brussel sprouts had changed quite a bit. It tasted as if they partially boiled the sprouts first, then lightly charred it in the oven. It had a light smathering of bacon with a heavily-handed application of balsamic vinegar. It was hard to chew and bitter. We placed it off to the side and waiting for our main dishes, which were delicious. When we finally mentioned the sprouts to our server, and it was removed. My guess is that when the brussel sprouts were taken back to the kitchen, examined, and deemed satisfactory by the chef/owner/staff because no options were given for either replacement/redo, or credit. It's simply appeared on the bill with a smile.

Quick suggestion-cut the brussel sprouts in quarters. They will roast faster and more evenly. You will not need to boil them at all. You will be able to reduce the portion size. It will reduce waste and allow your guests to concentrate on your mains. Your current portion size for the appetizer is very large.

*Please note that restaurants are trying to survive just like every household during inflation. Dealing with staffing, rising food cost, and customer expectations is very hard. I wish the Apache Trout and Grill continued and...

First I have to say that this is not my first time eating here with a group of 12 or more. While I hope this is an isolated experience I have found out that this isn’t the same place since new ownership. First we called ahead to let them know 12 of us were coming and they said 60-90 minutes. That was fine and we had expected that. Next we get a call that they could seat us in 10 minutes. That was not possible to get us all together and be there in 10 minutes. We tried and from 5 miles away we got there in 15 minutes. They gave our tables to others and now we had to wait 45 mins to an hr. Ok let’s go outside to the bar and talk. 20 mins later they were ready for us. Great we thought. We sat another 20 mins before a waitress showed up for drinks. My self and another guest ordered a bottle of Cabernet Hess. Another 20 mins and they opened and poured the wine. I thought it tasted a bit funny and when I looked at the bottle it was a Merlot from a completely different vineyard. I ordered the 24 oz ribeye along with 3 others at the table. We all ordered med/rare. After 1 1/2 hrs our meals came a different temps between hot and actually cold. No bread came to the table as is customary. One person got his ribeye as ordered. The rest of us (3) got med/well. Not juicy, a bit tough and I kept eating in hopes that the further into the steak I would finally get med/rare. Not even close. Others complained of cold or like warm food and missing sides. A representative of our party went to talk to the manager and we finally did get some bread to pass after we got our meals. The manager initially said he’d take 50% off the bills but it dwindled to 25% when we finally got our bills 3 hrs after we set foot in there. We all were so displeased, dissatisfied and disappointed with the meal that we were about to walk out and leave what we all felt it was worth but the bills came before we did. What a complete disaster of a meal it turned out to be. From what we’ve learned this is the new standard of service here. If that’s the case they will not be in business for very much longer. The owner did finally show up and apologized and said he authorized the 25% adjustment. The only bright spot was the Mac n cheese. Never going back. Our table still spent over $1000.00 even with...

As long-time residents of Traverse City, for many of the past 30 years, Apache Trout Grill was our favorite restaurant for special occasions (not to mention the excellent Sunday brunches once upon a time). Many landmark memories and meals occurred for us there, dating all the way back to 1996. The food and service was always excellent--and some of that still remains. However.....we just celebrated my wife's birthday there, our first return in a couple of years. Much, we found, had changed, apparently with new management (?). The lobster/shrimp bisque--once a delectable favorite of ours--was now more of a clam chowder-like concoction, overly thick texture, heavy on potatoes, light on shrimp, with the lobster being non-existent. A 3% surcharge is now added to one's total check...for "increased expenses and services". (Why not just adjust menu prices of any items that require it??) And to add a final kick....bread, a standard accompaniment to any salad, soup, appetizer, or meal is now an additional $5?? That is just a ridiculous idea: $5 for bread, after already being asked for an additional 3% surcharge. The food itself: still above average for our beloved Traverse City. The service: still quite good. But come on: we've spent a decent amount of time over the course of our lives in excellent NYC and Chicago restaurants on special occasions....and this is no 5 star restaurant by comparison. Moreover, we usually leave those excellent Manhattan and Loop eateries with a final check charge of less than the $140 bill for two diners and two soups (including tip, and 2 non-craft beers) that was the total of our recent Apache Trout Grill check. Granted, Apache Trout Grill still offers good food, and the servers are fine and deserve good tips for their work. But it's no Rue 57, nor Atlantic Grill (both in Manhattan) nor Catch 35 (Chicago). And in all of those excellent major city dining experiences, you don't pay a "surcharge" for your meal, nor are you asked to pay $5 for bread. And in recent dining experiences this past spring at a couple of those places, we left their tables with a smaller total bill than we paid at Apache Trout Grill. We love supporting local restaurants; but it's nicer when you feel that the support...