Traverse City and Manistee Michigan restaurants, please!

[Booboo731]

I will be traveling with my dad who enjoys Italian or steak! Any suggestions for great restaurants in the Traverse City or Manistee areas of Michigan? Thanks! Also looking for good breakfast and light lunch spots! Some unique would fun!

[BigBonesBradley]

I have to second (third, fourth?) the Stella recommendation. I have been there five times and loved every meal. Their steaks (they often have a Wagyu special) are great in particular.

I also have to agree with those who have said they felt rushed or detected an attitude. My specific complaint is that on at least two occasions I was denied a reservation at the requested time and then came in to find PLENTY of open tables that never filled up. That just doesn't make any sense to me. Most people (especially tourists) would go elsewhere (with the tourists likely to never return).

[rainsux]

Was at Stella's recently ... Mixed experience. Try using the search function ...

[Elyssa]

For incredible Italian in Traverse City definitely check out Stella. We love it there. When I was there this summer my boyfriend actually got a really delicious steak served with homemade spaghetti...delicious!

[Wahooty]

Another vote for Stella. I was up in TC for a conference about a month ago, and stuffed myself silly there. Perhaps a touch oversalted, but still worth every penny.

[momskitchen]

We liked the Boathouse Grill in Manistee.

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Boathouse Grill
440 River St, Manistee, MI 49660

[nsxtasy]

Just to clarify... I assume the Boathouse Grill in Manistee has nothing to do either with the Boathouse Restaurant in Traverse City ( www.boathouseonwestbay.com ) that is discussed extensively in the links above, or with the Boathouse Bar & Grille in Pentwater ( http://boathousebarandgrill.community... )?

It's very confusing!

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Boathouse Restaurant
14039 Peninsula Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686

Boathouse Bar & Grille
5164 W Monroe Rd, Pentwater, MI 49449

Boathouse Grill
440 River St, Manistee, MI 49660

Boathouse Bar & Grille
5067 Smuggles Pass, Pentwater, MI 49449

[momskitchen]

Don't know....I've only been to the one in Manistee....

[jock]

best italian in tc is stella. tuscan bistro is also very good.

[jock]

take it all back. visited stella the last night before returning to arizona. very disappointing. dry, tasteless "berkshire pork" was the biggest of several less than stellar (pun intended) offerings. service poor too. really felt rushed.

enough to turn regulars into unlikely to return.

[nsxtasy]

Traverse City and the surrounding area have been discussed extensively here, in the recent and not-so-recent past. Check out these discussions for recommendations:

www.chow.com/topics/738893
www.chow.com/topics/716476
www.chow.com/topics/708460
www.chow.com/topics/413360
www.chow.com/topics/120503