Rare Bird Brewpub — Restaurant in Traverse City

Edit to add: My food was not discounted as promised.

Edit to add: Normally I don't come on for rebuttal to a response to an original review BUT the response to this review is EXACTLY what my problem was with this place. The staff is RUDE. Reviews are meant to give patrons considering an establishment an inside look at the experiences others have had there. Numerous reviews of this place are pointing out poor service and rude behaviors. The response here is condescending at best. "We discounted your food but apparently that wasn't good enough" is SO rude! I didn't ask for a discount. I asked for my food to be made as I ordered it, and when we came back and asked kindly to have it made the way the menu described it we were met with the cook coming out of the kitchen to argue! Missing items? CALL YOUR CUSTOMER to tell them you are out of them and ask if you can substitute! There were multiple parts of my review explaining poor service from the front to the back AND management is getting on for their piece online. 😳 Spend your money on establishments who appreciate those of us who are trying to keep them afloat during Covid. I assure you that most care more about their customer experience than this place.

Ordered the Cobb salad and kombucha to go. The person giving out the order gave me a bag and said have a good day. I got halfway out the door and realized my kombucha was missing. I asked for it and the guy goes 'that wasn't on there' as he checks the ticket and goes 'Oh, my bad'. Good catch on my part. On my salad I got THREE crumbs of bacon, FOUR crumbs of cheese, NO SCALLIONS, and NO ROASTED TOMATOES. I asked for ranch if it was homemade and gave a second choice for dressing if it wasn't. Thankfully I was going to eat this as a passenger in the car so I noticed right away that this $14 salad was not right. We went back to have it remade and when my SO went inside the cook came back out with the salad in hand making excuses, instead of just remaking it! They were out of tomatoes, the scallions were the first on the bottom (no, I dug to see where it was all at since it was missing) come on people! The ranch IS homemade, so the dressing wasn't even completed right because they put the second option in. When my SO came out he commented that he remembers going into this place before (we are from out of town) and the service was poor then too. When the guy brought the new salad out to my car he apologized (which is great) but then went on to make excuses about the cook. Not what anyone wants to hear. Own the mistake, make the food great on the second try and use manners. That's how you fix it. Passing blame is not. The person putting the orders into the bag should be checking the order to make sure it is complete and correct. Will not return. Too many awesome places to eat...

Rare Bird in Northern Michigan is truly a hidden gem that exceeded all of our expectations. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were warmly greeted and made to feel right at home. This is largely thanks to the exceptional service provided by Alyssa R, who went above and beyond to make our dining experience truly memorable. Her knowledge of the menu, attentiveness, and friendly demeanor were outstanding.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show: the cauliflower bites. They are nothing short of a culinary masterpiece. Each bite was a tantalizing explosion of flavors that had us craving for more. The cauliflower was perfectly crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside. The seasoning was spot-on, and the accompanying dipping sauce was the perfect complement. Rare Bird's cauliflower bites are a must-try, even if you're not a fan of cauliflower - they might just change your mind!

In addition to the cauliflower bites, we sampled a variety of dishes, and each one was a culinary delight. From the freshness of the locally sourced ingredients to the creative combination of flavors, it's evident that Rare Bird's kitchen is passionate about their craft.

The ambiance of the restaurant is charming and cozy, making it an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or a relaxed evening with friends. The beer list is one of the best in town and in the summer it can all be had outdoors on an awesome deck!

Rare Bird is a place where you can savor delicious food while receiving top-notch service. Alyssa R, our server, was not only knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about the menu and the restaurant itself. Her recommendations were on point, and she made sure our dining experience was flawless.

In summary, Rare Bird in Northern Michigan is a culinary haven, and their cauliflower bites are a true revelation. The remarkable service provided by Alyssa R added a personal touch to our visit, making it an unforgettable experience. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit. You won't be...

Hostess went to seat us and someone else just walked up and took our table. They asked them to move, they said no and instead of dealing with it, they just let them stay there and had us wait close to an hour for a table. Worst service, horrible experience. Go somewhere else.

Edit: Please see the owner's response. This says it all. They know nothing about me and asked zero clarifying questions about my experience in their facility but took it upon themselves to judge my character and insult me in their reply. First, I worked in restaurants for over 10 years, from a busser to hostess to server. I know what being kind is, what is good communication and how to create a good experience even when circumstances are out of your control. Clearly this is of no interest to this owner, simply blaming COVID and insulting customers is an easier path. The host perhaps couldn't change what the customers did but there were many things after that they could have done to change the experience. Instead, when asked about the issue, they denied the table was ever ours and then lied and said we chose to give it up. Look, you can't give us the table fine, but don't lie to me about what transpired. Funny thing about that, I know what was said, I was there. A simple apology and communication update makes the experience transform. But they instead in that moment just chose to blame our party, by lying, and then left us sitting with no updates. Now that I have seen the owner's response I am getting an idea about where that behavior comes from. My family frequently dines out, we tip big and are understanding, but being rude is being rude, period. Justifying that rather than wanting to address it is another great reason to not want to go to this establishment. I think the owner has done more to set the tone for my review...