Traverse Bay Café — Restaurant in Traverse City

Got there at 1:15 and the first thing the lady said was, "We close at 2" with a scowl. No hello, just an indication that she automatically hates us for trying to get food 45 minutes before they close. We only wanted take out so she shoved a menu through the door and made us stay outside until we knew what we wanted. That's fine, it's covid times, and they only wanted one of us inside. Odd since there was only one 4-top in there but whatever. There were 5 of us; two adults, two kids and a baby. Anyway, I went inside and my husband stayed in the parking lot with the kids. I start ordering and she says, "Oh you can only get breakfast, nothing from the lunch menu." I say, "Oh ok well I'll need to go talk to my husband outside then bc we wanted lunch." And she snaps back, "Well we close at 2." I say, "It's 1:30 and you didn't tell us half the menu was not an option!" And she glares at me. Now I've worked in the business for 10 years and closing means you stop taking orders at closing time, not 30 minutes before. I know it's a pain when people come in last minute but it happens. I get that maybe she had somewhere to be or is going through a rough period in her life that is affecting her ability to treat people with any miniscule amount of kindness, but maybe hospitality isn't her calling. I don't care about smiles but I'd prefer not to be glared and snarled at. Anyway, we decide to just order a kids breakfast and a side of bacon for my kids bc they were starving. $14 for absolutely burnt bacon, a gnarly looking scrambled egg, decent toast fortunately, a root beer (they were out of lemonade), and some soggy hash browns. I've read enough about prison to compare and I'd say it was prison quality. Horrible experience and I hope whatever is wrong with the lady taking our order gets better so she can be a more pleasant person. The absolute worst experience we had in Traverse City, everywhere else we went...

We get there and get seated, the server comes over to take our drink order and we wanted to order the food at the same time. Instead of saying “Oh are we ready to order food?” she said, “we can do food after I get your drinks”…. Okay?

We wait 45 mins for the food. The food was terrible. 2 bites of hash brown crumbs, overcooked “over easy” eggs, mixing up who ordered what meat, whatever. Maybe there’s only one cook back there and it was a little busy. We ordered beignets, which weren’t even beignets they looked like pancake dough fried, but then we didn’t even eat them just peeled them open to see they were completely raw dough in the middle. The waitress doesn’t ask us how to food was, ignores us, and when she comes to take some plates we say they’re raw. She is immediately combative (for the second time) and says they’re supposed to be doughy in the middle. Okay great, they’re raw they’re not doughy. Also she didn’t even look at them, just started arguing saying she “has to check” if she can take them off. We didn’t even eat them?

A different server comes over and asks how the food was, so we repeat the beignets were raw, and she also starts arguing to say they’re supposed to be that way. I’m begging yall to look up a picture of a beignet. It’s thick, fluffy dough in the middle. Not RAW dough. Also why do we have to argue with two different servers to get something taken off if when we didn’t eat them and we had to wait over 45 mins for the crappy food.

You could get someone sick with raw flour and eggs. Honestly just sad this new ownership is proving to be very poor especially looking at the other reviews...

Traverse City Bay Cafe is the perfect breakfast spot to start your day in Traverse City. Nestled along the beautiful bay, this charming cafe offers a welcoming and cozy atmosphere with stunning water views that make your meal even more enjoyable.

The breakfast menu is exceptional, with a variety of options that cater to every taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic plate of fluffy pancakes, perfectly cooked eggs, or a hearty omelet, the quality of the food is consistently top-notch. Their fresh, locally-sourced ingredients shine through, and the flavors are simply unbeatable. The breakfast sandwiches are a standout—generous portions, perfectly balanced flavors, and served with a side of crispy hash browns.

Service at the cafe is friendly and fast, making sure you get your meal promptly without sacrificing quality. The staff is welcoming and always ready to make recommendations or accommodate special requests.

With its delicious food, scenic views, and warm hospitality, Traverse City Bay Cafe is a must-visit breakfast destination. Whether you're a local or just passing through, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing morning by the water. Highly recommended!

My only complaint is that they didn't have stickers of their logo to add to my daily travel...