Food
Raduno’s Brisket Sandwich
Tastemaker
May 16, 2026
Traverse City’s Raduno is known for its carryout (though it does have charming indoor seating!), so it’s definitely a place you want to add into the rotation for summer on the go. The perfect picnic starts with one of their sandwiches, salads, or pastas and ends with a slice of chocolate torte with nut crust. For our latest visit, we opted for the Brisket Sandwich ($15), which is built on fresh, house-made … Read More >>
Stockist Company’s Dune Runner Medium Roast
Bottoms Up
By Anna Faller | May 16, 2026
We’re always on the hunt for a perfect pinch-hitter coffee. You know, that elusive house-style blend that checks all the boxes in one fell brew. Prepare your presses, folks! We’ve found your next go-to cuppa in the Dune Runner Medium Roast from Stockist Company in Traverse City. Crafted from a duo of single-origin beans, Colombia Juan Tama ICA and Guatemala La Morena Women Producers, this medium roast is everything we want in … Read More >>
The Bistro’s Bloody Mary Omelet
Tastemaker
By Anna Faller | May 9, 2026
We love breakfast food, we love fun drinks, and you bet we love a bite that does both! Enter: The Bistro in Petoskey’s beloved Bloody Mary Omelet. Inspired by the classic brunch sip, this breakfast plate features a fluffy three-egg omelet stuffed with white onion, Meat Monkey’s bacon, and melty pepperjack cheese, all doused in house Bloody Mary sauce made with tomato concassé, dill pickle brine, Worcestershire, a touch of Tabasco, and … Read More >>
Modern Bird’s Tomorrow Comes Today
Bottoms Up
By Anna Faller | May 9, 2026
With the long wait for spring finally over, you might say Tomorrow Comes Today, which is also the newest agave cocktail at Modern Bird in Traverse City! Named for the eponymous Gorillaz tune, this Paloma-adjacent creation features the earthy-smooth duo of Suerte Blanco tequila, which is sous vide in house with local carrots, and Palomo’s joven-style mezcal. Combined with a clarified cordial of lime and lemon juices and prickly pear purée, the … Read More >>
Northern Michigan’s Most Iconic Eats, 2026 Edition
Six must-try dishes Up North
By Craig Manning | May 2, 2026
How do we know northern Michigan has an incredible culinary scene? Because eight years after kicking off our search for the region’s most iconic dishes, there are still absolutely legendary restaurants that are only now getting their moment in the sun. In 2026, we inducted six new dishes from five as-yet-unfeatured restaurants into our growing hall of foodie fame, which now includes 40 dishes from 39 different spots. We’ve been doing this … Read More >>
Your Spring 2026 Restaurant Guide
Seven eateries to visit across northern Michigan
By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | May 2, 2026
What do Quiche Lorraine, patty melts, grilled cheese, chicken and waffles, Welsh rarebit, coney dogs, and drunken noodles have in common? They are some of the most popular dishes from the establishments featured in this year’s Spring Restaurant Guide, which highlights the stand-out eateries our staff profiled over the colder months. So shake off the winter blues, and go grab a bite! The Dandy Traverse City By definition, a dandy is a … Read More >>
Betting on a Pretty Penny
The Pretty Penny Steakhouse is the newest restaurant iteration at 201 Front St.
By Ross Boissoneau | May 2, 2026
Dean Sparks had an idea for a restaurant. A couple of them actually, starting with the eponymous Sparks BBQ. It debuted first as a food truck, then moved into the cozy space at 439 E. Front Street (now home to Chubby Unicorn). He then found a larger space at 201 E. Front, where he debuted the nightclub Encore 201, while Sparks BBQ morphed into Enclave 201 in 2025, which emphasized pub fare … Read More >>
Very Berry Spring Recipes
Inside the Ingredients
By Nora Rae Pearl | May 2, 2026
Spring has sprung, and soon, there will be strawberries. Local strawberries that begin to come out in late spring are a completely different fruit than what we are used to eating year round. They are sweeter, smaller, and bursting with flavor in comparison. To highlight these attributes, we like to try new dishes that put berries front and center. In this strawberry-misu, we have made the perfect no-bake strawberry shortcake. And to … Read More >>
Fiesta Grande’s Tortilla Chips
Tastemaker
May 2, 2026
Feeling snacky this week? Skip the super processed options and go for Michigan-made Fiesta Grande tortilla chips. The ingredients are simple: stone ground corn, water, corn oil, sodium propionate, sorbic acid, and a “trace” of lime. The chips themselves have a perfect balance of salt and crunch and are layered in such a way that they flake beautifully when you take a bite. We’ve found that they pair best with guacamole, but … Read More >>
Snowbelt Brewing’s Sassy Pants
Bottoms Up
May 2, 2026
In years past, we’ve told you about Snowbelt’s Sneaky Pants, a slightly sweet and slightly tart cider from the Gaylord brewery that combines apples, cherries, and vanilla extract. But on draft right now in the taproom—but running low, so hop to it!—is Sneaky’s spicy cousin, Sassy Pants. It still starts with King Orchards apples, but swaps out the cherries for blackberries and the vanilla for—wait for it—jalapeños. Now, don’t let the photo … Read More >>
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