Bushell's Kitchen & Cocktails — Restaurant in Traverse City

So I went here last night for Valentine’s Day and was severely disappointed. It was clear the moment we walked in that the business was not equipped for a busy night, such as ones that will come in the summer.

We arrived on time for our reservation. Stood around for 15 minutes before a host even showed their face, among a dozen other people. Checked in with the host and was brushed aside, assuming our reserved table would be ready soon. How wrong we were since we stood around for over an hour in their lobby with no update. The host and manager that were occasionally checking in with their list seemed beyond lost and were calling names already sat, canceling reservations of people who had been waiting, and showing their inexperience as the first impression.

Before I get to the food I want to address the claim that a reservation isn’t good for the time it is made. That is possibly true to the extent of a few minutes, but an hour is unacceptable. That is overconfidence and greed on the restaurants part for overbooking one of the most important nights of the year. On a holiday they shouldn’t expect tables to flip in an hour, so they shouldn’t allow reservations an hour out. This is basic restaurant management stuff.

When we did sit, were seated at a four top with another couple. Again, this is valentines, they should not be cramming couples next to couples just to seat a few extra tables. But after an hour of standing next to the door, we decided to sit out of exhaustion. We did not have a drink menu, and were greeted a few minutes later asking for drinks. The couple next to us let us borrow theirs.

My drink arrives after probably 15 minutes, and it would be another 5 before my dates did as well. We go to order apps and they are out of everything we request. At this point I ask my date if we should just go, but seeing how we wasted so much of the night waiting, and we are starving, we stay. We order small plates and entrees after the couple next to us has already received their full service.

The small plates are cold, presentation lacking, and seasoning missing. Not but a few minutes after they arrive we are given our entrees, so the starters now sit and get colder. Her dish was barely touched by the end as it was ill prepared and boring. I ate mine out of pure hunger, but the meat was so bland and the veggies rock solid.

All in all I took a chance on this place on an important night, and was burnt by it. Perhaps on a slower night it could’ve been different, but the summer is coming and I will not be returning. I really wanted to like this place, but from the moment I stepped in the door my expectations only lowered. Please figure out how to run proper service, and be worthy of your insane price point. For anyone to be paying $70+ a head for that experience is a joke. Own your mistakes and learn instead of telling customers they are wrong for...

We went here for our anniversary dinner, Everything was room temperature or cold. No sides or garnish or thought went into the plating. The fried chicken patty seemingly was both dark and white meat, which was off putting to bite into. The Mac n cheese had garlic powder and bread crumbs and solidified cheese once we served ourselves. The cornbread was room temperature, the honey butter was sticky and tacky on the top, nothing seemed to be freshly made. The grits were finely ground with a large dollop of honey butter - the portion on top overwhelmed the rest of the dish to the point it was inedible. We didn’t finish anything from our meal. Our waitress was nice but busy attending to the tables that came in.

Not having a liquor license but offering a complimentary drink to dine in customers is a risky game to play while waiting for your license to be approved.

Hoped for better, hopefully they get their menu sorted out, TC could use some...

Solo traveler - Took a break from my photography to grab a late lunch/early dinner here today. I search for Black-owned businesses everywhere I go so I was pleasantly surprised to find not only a restaurant in Traverse City but soul food at that.

I'm not ashamed to say I'm a soul food snob having been fed by two southern grandmother's. I ordered the chuck roast, yams, and collard greens. Everything was delicious and the yams were like a dessert. Those collard greens are the best I have ever tasted at a restaurant in my entire life! I ordered the key lime pie martini to compliment my dinner and wow what a great decision that was. It really lived up to it's name and tasted heavenly.

Service was great, owner was very friendly, and excellent food. This place is a GEM!!!!

I will definitely be back and am spreading the word...