Absolutely incredible experience. From start to finish everything was perfect. The service was top notch. The food was incredible. The Wagu, Carrot, and octopus were standouts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beth
Modern Bird is always our favorite special treat in Traverse City! Kind staff, phenomenal food, great location. Love it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maureen Willoughby
What a wonderful evening. We watched the chefs prepare the food from the stools that overlook the kitchen. It was a blast. Everyone who works there was a delight. The food was delicious. We had a corn dog, fried chicken, the carrots and the beets. Unique but not weird. I love going out to eat and leaving the restaurant and saying that was an A+. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Perry Harmon
My wife and I decided to check out Modern Bird after it was rated in the Top 50 Restaurants in the US by the NYTimes. The staff was very good at following up before our reservation, to make sure we still wanted it.And what time we were arriving. The menu is set up not so much in courses.But in size as they are sharing plates and with two of us, they recommended three to four. We thought there were nice options as my wife is a vegetarian and everything was excellent.The service was very, very good.My only drawback a little bit was the noise level, but if you're used to a big city restaurant, then that shouldn't be a problem.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kendall L.
Hands-down the best meal I’ve had in TC, and one of the top restaurant meals I’ve had, ever. Every dish had a great balance of texture and flavor. The standouts for us were the beet dish and the wagyu steak.
What really stood out, beyond the incredible food, was the care and attention that was paid to my husband’s dietary challenges. Our server took time to go item by item on the menu to review what items he could order, what would work with modifications, and what would likely be no-go’s. (We rarely get help like this when going out—the last upscale restaurant we dined at offered him an unseasoned steak and some steamed vegetables as a compromise.) While I know it was more work for the already hard-working staff, it truly made our meal perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut, Beet Salad
Brent
We really enjoyed out meal and the service. If you are in TC, def check this place out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
AJ Davidson
We were visiting Traverse City for one night and chose Modern Bird as it was highly recommended. We were not disappointed! The food was incredible. Very unique and delicious flavors. The presentation was beautiful. The drinks were delicious and the service was outstanding. Would definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lynn “Pencilmarks”
Best food I've eaten in Traverse City, and I've lived here year round for eight years. Can't believe I've not eaten here before. Prices are high, but the food they prepare is sublime. Service is outstanding. Only negative was the nose level. Very hard to converse around the table, just very loud. With tables that close together, I'm not sure how to remedy, but it would be perfect if they could get that under control. The corn dog was a shocker. Have to taste it to believe how fantastic it is. The fried chicken? I could eat that as my meal. The Salmon entree was both beautifully presented and delicious. Cooked perfectly. Chocolate cake was moist. The key lime pie was my favorite dessert, with the most wonderfully tiny flame-kissed merangue kisses on top. I split it, but would have been happy to eat that entire miniature pie. Expensive, but I recommend as highly as i possibly can!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joel Callahan
Creative menu excellently prepared Staff is attentive and engaging
Lena Gunes
We had a wonderful dining experience at Modern Bird—a small, modern restaurant with a cozy vibe and exceptional food. The halibut was tender and perfectly prepared, the chicken breast was juicy and full of flavor, and the tomato salad truly surprised us. It wasn’t just tomatoes—it came with capers and a unique, flavorful sauce that elevated it to something really special. Each dish was thoughtfully composed, with fresh ingredients and creative touches that showed real culinary skill. Modern Bird is a true gem in Traverse City. If you appreciate inventive, high-quality food in a relaxed setting, don’t miss it!
$17 for 5 slices of carrot and curry? $16 for 5 shishito peppers? $42 for THREE bite size pieces of walleye?
All the food is delicious but everything is an appetizer sized portion, yet priced as an entree.
Mike M
Modern Bird is on par with the fine restaurants of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. Yes, I really mean that. The dishes are creative, perfectly prepared and presented, with portions just right to satisfy but not overfill. There’s a French influence here, with butter and sauces to match and enhance the food, but not so much as to overwhelm. The main ingredients remain the stars. In our case that was fresh beets, cucumbers, peppers, turnips, halibut, and wagyu steak. The desserts were delightful (a chocolate mousse creation and a strawberry confection). A generous wine list. It’s cozy and welcoming, a nice readaption of an older space. The service was outstanding.
Just go. You won’t be disappointed.
Laura H
Yes it is expensive, but every dish we had was absolutely delicious… cheddar bread, cucumbers, rabbit, walleye…Still thinking about those cucumbers.
Michael Bryant
Great portions, leadership, and food
Daya Wright
I cannot speak more highly of our dinner experience! Every item was delicious, intentional, and elevated. The waitstaff were attentive and engaging, too.
Absolutely incredible experience. From start to finish everything was perfect. The service was top notch. The food was incredible. The Wagu, Carrot, and octopus were standouts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Modern Bird is always our favorite special treat in Traverse City! Kind staff, phenomenal food, great location. Love it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a wonderful evening. We watched the chefs prepare the food from the stools that overlook the kitchen. It was a blast. Everyone who works there was a delight. The food was delicious. We had a corn dog, fried chicken, the carrots and the beets. Unique but not weird. I love going out to eat and leaving the restaurant and saying that was an A+. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I decided to check out Modern Bird after it was rated in the Top 50 Restaurants in the US by the NYTimes. The staff was very good at following up before our reservation, to make sure we still wanted it.And what time we were arriving. The menu is set up not so much in courses.But in size as they are sharing plates and with two of us, they recommended three to four. We thought there were nice options as my wife is a vegetarian and everything was excellent.The service was very, very good.My only drawback a little bit was the noise level, but if you're used to a big city restaurant, then that shouldn't be a problem.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hands-down the best meal I’ve had in TC, and one of the top restaurant meals I’ve had, ever. Every dish had a great balance of texture and flavor. The standouts for us were the beet dish and the wagyu steak.
What really stood out, beyond the incredible food, was the care and attention that was paid to my husband’s dietary challenges. Our server took time to go item by item on the menu to review what items he could order, what would work with modifications, and what would likely be no-go’s. (We rarely get help like this when going out—the last upscale restaurant we dined at offered him an unseasoned steak and some steamed vegetables as a compromise.) While I know it was more work for the already hard-working staff, it truly made our meal perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halibut, Beet Salad
We really enjoyed out meal and the service. If you are in TC, def check this place out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We were visiting Traverse City for one night and chose Modern Bird as it was highly recommended. We were not disappointed! The food was incredible. Very unique and delicious flavors. The presentation was beautiful. The drinks were delicious and the service was outstanding. Would definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best food I've eaten in Traverse City, and I've lived here year round for eight years.
Can't believe I've not eaten here before.
Prices are high, but the food they prepare is sublime.
Service is outstanding.
Only negative was the nose level. Very hard to converse around the table, just very loud. With tables that close together, I'm not sure how to remedy, but it would be perfect if they could get that under control.
The corn dog was a shocker. Have to taste it to believe how fantastic it is. The fried chicken? I could eat that as my meal. The Salmon entree was both beautifully presented and delicious. Cooked perfectly. Chocolate cake was moist. The key lime pie was my favorite dessert, with the most wonderfully tiny flame-kissed merangue kisses on top. I split it, but would have been happy to eat that entire miniature pie.
Expensive, but I recommend as highly as i possibly can!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Creative menu excellently prepared
Staff is attentive and engaging
We had a wonderful dining experience at Modern Bird—a small, modern restaurant with a cozy vibe and exceptional food. The halibut was tender and perfectly prepared, the chicken breast was juicy and full of flavor, and the tomato salad truly surprised us. It wasn’t just tomatoes—it came with capers and a unique, flavorful sauce that elevated it to something really special. Each dish was thoughtfully composed, with fresh ingredients and creative touches that showed real culinary skill.
Modern Bird is a true gem in Traverse City. If you appreciate inventive, high-quality food in a relaxed setting, don’t miss it!
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent food, but wildly overpriced.
$17 for 5 slices of carrot and curry?
$16 for 5 shishito peppers?
$42 for THREE bite size pieces of walleye?
All the food is delicious but everything is an appetizer sized portion, yet priced as an entree.
Modern Bird is on par with the fine restaurants of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. Yes, I really mean that. The dishes are creative, perfectly prepared and presented, with portions just right to satisfy but not overfill. There’s a French influence here, with butter and sauces to match and enhance the food, but not so much as to overwhelm. The main ingredients remain the stars. In our case that was fresh beets, cucumbers, peppers, turnips, halibut, and wagyu steak. The desserts were delightful (a chocolate mousse creation and a strawberry confection). A generous wine list. It’s cozy and welcoming, a nice readaption of an older space. The service was outstanding.
Just go. You won’t be disappointed.
Yes it is expensive, but every dish we had was absolutely delicious… cheddar bread, cucumbers, rabbit, walleye…Still thinking about those cucumbers.
Great portions, leadership, and food
I cannot speak more highly of our dinner experience! Every item was delicious, intentional, and elevated. The waitstaff were attentive and engaging, too.
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