The Bay Leaf

Impressed with the ambiance, the food, and the service! Loved seeing the fire in the fireplace … perfect place for dinner after a movie at State Theatre.
Kate C. was friendly & knowledgeable, and made good suggestions when we had questions about the menu. I loved the wine and cheese platter — five choices for $ 20 — and the selection of local wines.
We will definitely be back!

Seems like Déjà vu, I thought that I had previously reviewed this place, but apparently, I was only dreaming.
Service 5 stars.
Beer/​Wine list 5 stars.
Atmosphere 5 stars.
Food 5 stars.
Finally, a restaurant with great service comes to town! If you read my other reviews, I’m a stickler for good atmosphere and service. Scott was our server in the main dining room and Megan was our server in the bar area. Ask for either of them and you will be well taken care of.
During our first visit, I ordered the grilled pork chop, which was thick and oh so flavorful; seasoned to perfection. Love the fact that they make the effort to get Michigan raised pork.
The rest of my business clients ordered the seared scallops and everyone seemed to love this dish.
On my second visit, I ordered the chorizo risotto. The poached shrimp was cooked perfectly! Love it when restaurants in the Midwest (outside of Chicago) get this right… This will be my go to dish when I need some tasty comfort food.
Hubby ordered the mixed greens salad, which was definitely a great value for the price. Fresh, crisp greens with a simple dijon dressing that isn’t overtly sweet. Right on, keep this one going.
So now I’ll need to start quoting my hubby on his review for the braised goat fricassee~and by the way, you won’t find goat meat on many menus up here.
He’s been searching for this dish for years and was pleased beyond his dreams. «On a scale from 1 to 5, he gives the dish a 10! (no hyperbole here!) If you are looking for a splendid entrée, this dish is delicious, do not be afraid!
Best meal all year.»
I was prepared to skip dessert as I’ve been eating on the road for the past eight weeks straight. But my husband insisted and ordered my dessert for me. What can I say, the apple and cranberry cake with chevre was one the best desserts that I’ve enjoyed at a restaurant in years. (I usually roll my eyes at these Midwestern desserts that are as big as a bread basket with enough sugar to feed a small third world country) But that is definitely not the case here. Just a touch of sweetness and I thoroughly enjoyed the tangy chevre. Just remember folks, a big dessert doesn’t necessarily mean better! Hubby enjoyed his blueberry sorbet.
Their selection of local wines were good and reasonably priced. We recommend trying a bottle of the Leorie Cab Franc/​Merlot. My husband tried a draft beer from California (Old Rasputin), it was very enjoyable.
Thank you to The Bay Leaf staff and owners for bringing a small piece of the coast to small town Traverse City. We’ve waited over 10 years, it was worth it.

Had an enjoyable evening here with 9 other friends last night and ate off the Restaurant Week menu. Since I felt like I was getting a bargain with 3 courses for $ 25, I put on my adventure hat and tried the roasted bone marrow for a starter. Yep. It was an adventure, all right! Not every day you get a femur served to you on a plate. Once I figured out that spreading it on the crostini was a good way to go, I was better off. I think I’ll enjoy bone marrow in the future as a part of a sauce — not necessarily on its own…
Anyhow — I had the lamb stew and the hubs had the chicken confit — both were fantastic. The hubs also got the chorizo risotto for his starter, which was a meal in itself. Also very good.
Atmosphere is great, love the fireplace and the bench seats with pillows — comfy. Also loved the groovy music they were playing. The menu and vibe reminded me of some cool west coast restaurants I used to love.
Put on your adventure hat and go check ‘em out!

Nice interior and ambiance. Good menu selections. Wine choices were excellent. Wait staff was pleasant and knowlegible but inattentive. Steak was very good but presentation was poor. Scallops were tasty but 3 for $ 21 is over priced for a Tapas sized portion. Vension stew was great. We would try it again but with caution.

One of the best and most reliable restaurants in TC.
The wait staff is always knowledgable about specials and ingredients. Some of our favorites from the winter menu include the chicken liver mousse (melts in your mouth with superb richness), Charcuterie (great variety and all very well executed), the braised lamb shank (always a perfect cold weather meal, and this place does it very well) and the burger (which is very moist and flavorful). They always have a nice wine and beer selection as well. I recently had a flight of cabernets that was very nice indeed (especially with that lamb!)
The atmosphere is very nice — cozy and quiet enough to actually have a nice conversation on date night.

My hubby is in love with the caprese salad here. He also has a talent for finishing their split pea soup — the waiter thought the bowl had been licked clean.

I was concerned when I saw yet another new restaurant opening in the seemingly-​cursed Park Street location, but they carry my husband’s wines – and he knows the owners, so I was looking forward to our evening there.
The ambience and décor is very calming, with grey-​based greens on the wall and simple and elegant white linens on the tables.
They have an exceptional wine list and their manager is very knowlegeable about food pairings if you are unsure or unfamiliar with any of the names on the list – my Hobb’s chardonnay was buttery and paired perfectly with my housemade potato gnocchi entrée.
I started with the bacon vinaigrette salad… I’m a vegetarian, but bacon is something I have never been able to give up. :-) Even the lettuce tasted like bacon. It was wonderful!
My entrée, as mentioned, was the potato gnocchi… delicious. The portion was deceptively generous. I left feeling full, but not like I had morphed into Fat Bastard, haha.
For dessert, I had their fall special, squash crème brûlée. It was perfection. It came with a shortbread cookie, which was perfectly baked and had excellent texture, but sadly a prominent ingredient was anise – and I can’t stand anything remotely black licorice-​like in flavour.
Our server was efficient and struck the right balance between attentive and allowing us time to just enjoy our wine, our food and our company.
I also believe their prices are fair, especially considering the quality of the food and atmosphere. It was around $ 240 for 6 people.
If you want nice ambience, good wine and excellently-​prepared food sourced from local growers and farmers, go to the Bay Leaf.

When we rolled up to the Bay Leaf I ended up one of those folks that I cringe at – someone who walks in right before close.
I know, I know, but I had just been driving for over 4.5 hours, my windshield cracked during the drive and I was tired and hungry. I needed good eats and I needed them now.
Luckily the Bay Leaf provided that and and more. It was spectacular.
First off, our waiter was just a dream come true. Super friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and chatty without being overbearing. He had great recommendations and didn’t mind one bit that we were there so late.
Next up was a strongly needed drink. I had a delicious glass of prosecco and sampled some of a lavender cocktail which was also fantastic.
Started things off food wise with a cheese plate. I was also really into the idea of the wonderful looking charcuterie but dessert was very much wanted so we played it simple with the cheese. They have a great selection and if you’re not sure what to go with the severs can give some recs. We got 3 different types and it came with some truly tasty sides – fresh apricots, spicy candied nuts, and a blueberry jam/​compote. For dinner I did the beef filet which was fantastic. Cooked perfectly and very juicy and flavorful. But as much as I loved my filet I have to say the sample I took of the pork blew me away. It was so delicious! I wasn’t bummed about mine at all but I was definitely jealous of that plate!
The hits just kept on coming with dessert. GOOD GRIEF! I opted for a creamy and not overly sweet panna cotta and it was everything I could hope for and more. Also the corn crème brûlée was a total winner. Again, not overly sweet with hints of sweet corn at the peak of its season. YUM.
The eats here aren’t cheap but you get what you pay for – super quality and fresh meals, a wonderful cocktail/​beer/​wine menu, and fabulous service right in the heart of downtown TC. Can’t wait for my next visit to the area to enjoy another meal there!

As a resident of TC, I usually go to all our regulars haunts and don’t get me wrong, I love them… but, to try something different I went to the Bay Leaf last night!!! It was fabulous, truly a hidden gem… the meats are made in-​house, the bread from the Cook’s house and the rest divine!!! Wine list is great and priced reasonably. But here’s the skinny — I ordered the bean soup for a starter, ate my way thru the meat tray and cheese tray, had the perfect cucumber cocktail, then the Chateneauf du pape, unzipped my skirt to I could consume the quack & cheese and finally a bread pudding for dessert. Later that evening, I ran into friends who were hungry and hadn’t eaten yet, so I turned around and went BACK to The Bay Leaf so they could experience the wonders.

Terrific ambiance. .. upscale, classy, comfortable.
Wonderfully professional service. .. our server was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. We got great service without intrusiveness. My friend and I both had the Shrimp and Chorizo Risotto. .. scrumptious! I will go back just for this dish. Our server recommended a nice oaky chardonnay and though a bit expensive at $ 11 a glass, it was the perfect choice for this dish.
I SOOoo hope this restaurant succeeds in this location. .. previous establishments have not done well. This was the third time I’ve dined here and I am a definite fan! It’s a great little find in Traverse City.
Five stars for sure. .. becoming one of my new favorite places for dinner.

We’ve been here twice so far, and haven’t gone wrong yet with any item. The menu changes frequently, they use locally-​sourced ingredients, and they have a wonderful, extensive wine list. All that and right in downtown TC — can’t be beat!

Nice location, great atmosphere, great menu, nice beer/​wine list. Includes a kids menu. Great for an upscale family.
Staff was great.

I have been here 3 times, and have been pleasantly surprised every time. The food is great, the wine list is extensive, and the waitstaff have always been very helpful when asked for suggestions. Also, for the quality of food you get, the prices are great.

We just happened upon this restaurant on our way to Front street during the Cherry festival, looked it up on Unilocal and saw all the favorable comments. This became a place that my wife and I decided we had to visit during our vacation in the area.
We were very pleased with what we experienced. The dishes were quite varied but wonderful. I had the Shrimp and Chorizo Risotto as an apetizer and their house-​made Merguez (a relatively spice sausage) and onion/​pepper couscous. It was great. My wife had the beef tenderloin and I’ll just say that they choose their ingredients (Creekstone Farms in this case) well and I’d bet that is true for the other dishes.
I’d eat there again if back in the area.

We loved this place! What a find. If you haven’t been there, it’s a must try. Our family went there this weekend and we typically vary in our restaurant tastes. What a 40-​something likes and what an 18 or an 11 year old like don’t always line up. My kids thought it was going to be «too fancy» but we all loved it. The food is amazing and the service was excellent.
Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Went to TC for the Cherry Festival and stayed at the Park Place Hotel this last weekend. We stumbled on this gem right out front of our Grand Hotel the first night and came back every night. Menu, Food and Staff were outstanding 5 star stuff by big city standards and an incredible find right here in Traverse City. Chef Adam (like 23yr old?) is SoCal trained and learned well… We had almost all the appetizers the first night and a Fess Parker Chardonnay. (very hard to find) The pan seared Fois Gras and the Salmon tartar were to die for. And I’ve had lots of both…
Wine list was OUTSTANDING as well. A Robert Stemler Pinot Noir, another very hard Wine to find. All the Wines were impressive and reasonably priced.
Staff were super friendly, well educated, and knew the menu. I’ll look forward to eating here again next Cherry Festival, if I don’t stop by before that…

My new favorite «up north» restaurant.
Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect. Our server was polite, attentive, and knowledgeable. We started with cocktails — a citrus cilantro martini, which was suggested for its compliment to the seafood I was ordering. One of the best, not-​too-​sweet drinks I have had in a long time. Cold, bright, with a few cilantro leaves floating on the tart concoction. I had almost ordered the Spanish wine flight, but was not disappointed in my choice after all.
To start, salmon tartar with a hint of fennel served on toast points. This appetizer was tasty without any fishiness or oiliness I’ve experienced in other similar dishes. Just fresh seafood simply prepared allowing the other slight flavors of herbs to come through.
For my main course I ordered a shrimp in saffron and vanilla sauce over whipped potatoes. It was a seemingly simple dish, yet one bite yielded so many delicious flavors, I shared with my guest and we both just ate and smiled. You know when diner conversation stops, or turns to oo’s and ahh’s about the food, it’s a really good dish.
For dessert, we had a chocolate cake topped with a small scoop of homemade basil ice cream. The cake was more like some heavenly amalgam of mousse, cake, and fudge — yet it was not too sweet. The ice cream tasted like no ice cream I’ve ever experienced. All I can say is that basil is mint’s first cousin, and placed in a gelato-​like form and sweetened, it is the most incredible flavor I’ve ever had to compliment chocolate. All in all, a very memorable meal.
The dark wood floors, the flickering fireplace, skylights, the jazz playing softly in the background, the sense of creativity in food preparation… I felt as if I were in a 4-​star restaurant in Napa or San Francisco. Sure enough, when I asked, the chef and key members of his crew are all from the west coast. Come summer, with events like the film festival, this place is going to be packed. Take advantage of the off season now and enjoy a wonderful meal prepared by an exceptionally talented chef. You’ll feel like you’ve taken a two-​hour vacation, for about $ 30 apiece.

You know how when you find something; whether it be a restaurant, a musical group, a place or just something everyone should know… and you want this «thing» to succeed, so you tell everyone?
This is «that» place in my opinion.
Reasonably priced really good food, beverage and service by people that obviously care.

I have to admit, after a flurry of failed restaurants to occupy this space, I was a skeptic. After three visits, including a full dinner, drinks with friends, and drinks and a quick bite, I’m comfortable with a fairly comprehensive review of the new-​ish Bay Leaf.
The first experience in the restaurant afforded me basically whatever I wanted to eat and drink, as it was an office holiday party. We sampled almost all of the appetizers and desserts and a fair amount of drinks. Funny enough, out of about 14 people, we all either had the lamb or hanger steak. Meat eaters are we. The dishes were well conceived, presented beautifully, and very flavorful. My favorites? The risotto with shrimp and chorizo, cheese plate, bread pudding (a special), lamb with polenta cake, and gnocchi. At evening’s end, I was satiated. But happy. (Also delish: butternut squash soup (special) and the Bay Leaf burger!)
Since that meal, I’ve discovered that the bar is one of the most sophisticated in the area, presenting new creations daily with imaginative ingredients like beets, peppers, bacon, and other savory essences. Their martini list is delicious and inventive; I’d order anything from it.
The atmosphere is slightly upscale, with nice lighting and comfortable seating, but still very accessible. A great place to gather with a group or just a close friend or lov-​ah.
Prices are on the high end, but the experience warrants it.
I’m hoping that this place sticks. It deserves a shot.

The Bay Leaf is in a very convenient location in downtown Traverse City on Park Street, in the building formerly occupied by The Catch Island Grill. It’s close to all the local shops and the hotels are close at hand.
I was happy to find the environment cozy, yet sophisticated. There’s ample room in both the dinning and the bar areas, which is refreshing when compared to other Traverse City restaurants where you feel cramped by the people sitting next to you.
They’re marketing themselves as a Rustic Cuisine restaurant. I think The Bay Leaf is on the more retro-​chic side Rustic Cuisine rather than the unrefined and simple side. Their menu is a similar to other higher-​end places in town, such as Stella’s and Phill’s, but more reasonably priced. Like the aforementioned competitors, The Bay Leaf’s menu is one that will change on an almost daily basis.
The wine list is beyond impressive, and allows for half glasses to be had from most of the selections, which is fantastic for anyone who is a wine lover, or just indecisive about what wine to drink with dinner. The wines are served to customers in the dinning area in small carafes, which I thought was a great idea– allows certain wines to breathe, and looks very unique on the table.
The beers are mostly all craft-​brewed, many of which are obscure. Again, everything is very reasonably priced, especially considering what the options are.
Everything my boyfriend and I ate there was delicious and well presented/​plated, from the foie gras, the cauliflower soup, the pork shoulder with butternut squash purée to the hanger steak with celery root potatoes.
I would highly suggest trying The Bay Leaf out to anyone visiting Traverse City, whether you’re in the mood for food, or just going out for drinks. The Bay Leaf is only open for dinner, starting at 4 p.m., so plan accordingly.