Restaurants in Traverse City, MI

At the foot of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is a metropolitan hub surrounded by farms, orchards, and vineyards. Nowhere in town is the agricultural setting more evident, and tasteable, than at Moomer’s ice cream parlor, the porch of which offers a nice view of dairy cows grazing. The ice cream is rich but not cloyingly so, sundaes are generously constructed, and sodas are made using Vernor’s ginger ale, which once was a Michigan exclusive. A couple of other great bucolic tastes are each a drive out of town: the Cherry Hut in Beulah, which has been known for stupendous cherry pies since 1922; and Friske Orchards up in Charlevoix, where the smell of apples, apple cider, apple pie, and apple donuts is a dizzying appetizer. Back in Traverse City, Cousin Jenny’s serves all manner of pasty — traditional ones and “gourmet pasties” with ingredients that reflect cuisines of the world. For a blast of the past, Don’s Drive-In (since 1958) is a bright pink building that sells burgers from slider-size (1/8 pound) to quarter pounders and double quarter pounders. Shakes and malts are blended to order and, in season, can be made with fresh Michigan fruit.

Traverse City’s Most Famous Dishes

Strawberry shake in a tall soda fountain glass is accompanied by a silver beaker of extra milk shake for refills at Sand Creek Cafe in Auburn, WI

Milkshakes

Burger on a tender bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo ... car hop service

Grilled Hamburger

Thick, horseshoe-shaped sausage ring is tightly cased.

Sausage

Glass bowl holds vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate & caramel sauces, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry.

Turtle Sundae

Traverse City’s Best Restaurants

Moomer’s - Turtle Sundae
Moomer’s

TRAVERSE CITY, MI

Cousin Jenny’s

TRAVERSE CITY, MI

Don’s Drive-In - Sign
Don’s Drive-In | Traverse City Michigan’s Best Burger & Malt

TRAVERSE CITY, MI

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Don’s Drive-In - Sign

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In a clear plastic cup, ice cream is topped with swirls of hot fudge and caramel, pecan halves, and a maraschino cherry

Heartland Turtle Sundaes

The turtle sundae is not unique to the heartland. Its sublime combination of crisp nuts, hot fudge and caramel sauce atop vanilla ice cream can be found from coast...

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