Red Ginger — Restaurant in Traverse City

Red Ginger 2.18.23

If you're looking for a restaurant that's sure to impress on any special occasion, look no further than Red Ginger in Traverse City, Michigan. My husband and I recently celebrated our first wedding anniversary here and were blown away by the service and attention to detail.

From the moment we walked in, the staff at Red Ginger made us feel welcome and appreciated. Our server, Maureen, was knowledgeable about the menu and recommended the perfect drink to start off the night: the Espresso Martini. It was a delicious blend of coffee and liquor that really woke up our taste buds. We chatted with Maureen about how she landed in Traverse City and the local atmosphere.

For our appetizer, we went with the beef ishiyaki, which was a great choice. It wasn’t specifically on the menu, but it was an unforgettable special item. The beef was brought uncooked and we cooked it at the table on a stone slab that was heated on the fire. We also appreciated the portion size - it was just enough to whet our appetites without leaving us feeling too full for our entrees.

Speaking of entrees, there were so many great options on the menu that it was hard to choose. Ultimately, I went with the Cognac marinated Faroe Island salmon, miso brown rice, wok tossed brussels sprouts, carrots, red onion, and scallions, while my husband ordered the mandarin orange chicken. Both dishes were fantastic - the flavors were bold and well-balanced, and the portions were generous without being overwhelming.

But what really made our night special was the surprise anniversary card we were greeted with and chocolate truffles that the staff brought out for us at the end of our meal. It was a small gesture, but it really showed that they cared about making our night memorable.

Overall, we had a fantastic experience at Red Ginger and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic night out in Traverse City. The service, food, and ambiance are all top-notch, and the little touches like the anniversary surprise really set it apart from other restaurants...

The food was delicious however our waitress, chefs, managers, and staff members were unacceptable. Traverse City’s culture has a long way to go. The non-verbals (starring and making us feeling different) and ignorance towards an interracial lesbian couple was very evident. I am familiar with the history of Traverse City being more diverse in the summertime due to tourism. However, acceptance and equality should be presented daily with no exception. The entire staff and multiple tables starred the entire night. Our waitress Rilyn came off cold and hesitant to service us initially. She proceeded to ask my partner for her ID for their Sangria, she held my partner’s ID for 5 minutes, starring at her and the ID with an intense look over and over again, until I cracked a joke about her looking younger to lighten the mood. My partner is well into her thirties, so the starring with no communication, holding her ID for a long period of time, and judgements looks are quite discriminating. Our waitress, Rilyn, also would rudely ask my partner “What” instead of “may you repeat that for me” when my partner would have a question about the menu, mocking her Asian accent. This shouldn’t be our responsibility to correct their behavior and these nasty gestures were off putting. I noticed the manager only serving us for our first entree and no other tables. Why? Hmmm, very suspicious. Outside of the restaurant , we encountered an European group of friends coughing closely to us due to us having on facial mask due to COVID cases still being relevant. These experiences are what molds our memories of Red Ginger in Traverse City which as a first-time traveler here are alertly disgusting and inhumane. I hope this reaches everyone reading as a teachable moment. Ignorance , racism, and discrimination should not be within any culture, area, and a societal norm. Thank you for...

My wife still loves Red Ginger's Thai Curry, but lately I'm struggling to find a great go to entreé. They have awesome appetizers & sushi, and fun cocktails. Service has dropped a bit as all meals were not served at once for our party of 3 (see prior review below where that was their hallmark), though dishes were promptly cleared & water glasses were never empty. Given regional staffing shortages, that's presumably a short-term hiccup. And a long standing pet peeve that was previously overlooked - they don't offer bread or rolls - now affects my rating. Last, our dessert was OK, but not very sharable & the ice cream that accompanied it seemed past it's prime. We're sure this is a bump in the road & that RG will return to greatness soon!

(Prior Review) - We’ve been to Red Ginger many times & continue to love it!! It’s why, on a night when I wasn’t very excited about the Japanese Katsu Curry dish I ordered during Restaurant Week, I’m still very comfortable giving 5 stars. To begin, service is always exceptional - wait staff is always walking by & looking to see if you need service, asking when appropriate, but not in your face. Water glasses are always filled. And everyone’s food is delivered at the same time for each course, which required 2 people for our group of 4. Though my entreé wasn’t great, everything else was wonderful. From the Mu Shu Pork & Lamb Spring Rolls small plates, sushi, the infamous Thai Curry & the Vietnamese Shaking Beef, as well as the Thai Rice Pudding & the Chocolate Duo desserts, everyone was extremely pleased (& quite full), with their choices. Red Ginger will always do a great job & that’s why it's one of our favorite...