Blue Tractor
423 S Union St, Traverse City, MI, 49684
Blue Tractor Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
423 S Union St
Traverse City, MI, 49684 - Phone (231) 922-9515
- Website https://www.bluetractorcookshop.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Joel R.
Had 3 meat combo ribs - (fall off the bone), chicken - (smoked beautifully), brisket - (great smoke ring and tender). All were delicious!! Wife had pulled pork (to die for)!! Order a side of Mac and cheese (smoked sausage and jalapeño) we love spicy so best Mac and cheese for a BBQ joint. Lots of choices for Mac and cheese. Oh yeah, ordered a side of onion rings, they were not the ordinary rings, these were thick and delicious (2 rings per batter nice fluffy batter). This a place I recommend in historic downtown TC!! This will be a stop every time in TC!!!
(5)Marla R.
The food was good and so was the service. It's a really cute place, the music didn't match the atmosphere at all, for a farm style restaurant I didn't expect to hear 2000's pop! Over all it's a great little place and I would go back again!
(4)Mark J.
Service was fast and the pulled pork was great!. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Good place for a family!
(4)Keith W.
Chicken and Waffles ++ Pizza sauce very good, pizza was light. Pulled pork was delectable. Tractor twists make a great app, and the hard root beer was great. Ambiance was nice, will come back.
(5)Butch K.
Never a disappointment yet!! The BBQ is real deal smokey and tasty Not sure why yelp wants such a long review this place is good what more can you say
(5)Daniel H.
This is hands down the best bar in traverse city that's named after unusually colored agricultural equipment. Good spot for lunch and watching the game. I was very excited about the Sunday Bloody Mary special. $1.50 for a decent BM. Hell yes. There are a lot of great options in TC for food and beer, so I have to give this place 4 stars. Could be 5 stars if the competition wasn't so stiff.
(4)Kerry F.
We love Traverse City and visit several times a year. After looking at the online menu we were excited to try this place out. Uggh, no. What a mistake. Horrible food, mediocre service, so disappointing. Their chicken with "roasted" veggies were so raw the carrots were impossible to bite through, anyone wanting BBQ don't waste your $$ with this reheated, rubbery nightmare. Manager deliberately skipped our table while doing his walkabout the restaurant. Yup, he sensed it. So many better restaurants in TC, heck Taco Bell would have been a better experience. No worries in a city with many winners we'll know better next time.
(1)Lynden G.
Came in for a late dinner with family. Seated right away (party of nine) and drink orders taken quickly. When our food did arrive there were a few dishes that were cold and they were taken back immediately. Some menu items weren't available anymore (pork sliders) but the food was good overall.
(3)Priscilla O.
Had dinner at the Blue Tractor after touring the old State Hospital (The Commons) and deciding to not pay an arm and a leg at one of the trendy restaurants on site. This, I have to say, was a brilliant decision that ended in full tummies and watering mouths! From the hostess to our waitress, service was great. She was prompt with drinks and food, and very friendly. We had the tractor twists as an appetizer, which I highly recommend. They're rolls of bread that are perfectly crispy yet chewy and filled with gooey cheese and topped with parmesan and garlic. The marinara that it came with to dip was great, as well. I'm definitely a sauce snob (hey, my dad is 100% born and bred Italian), and this was sauce I'd eat again. Next time I'm there, we'll definitely be trying the pizza. For my entree I ordered the Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese and my boyf ordered the sandwich that was called something like the Porker or the Hog or something... it had bacon, pork, and ham on it, and the Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese for his side. First of all, the Mac & Cheese was downright delicious! Perfectly creamy and cheesy, and paired with the pulled pork - ugh, I'm drooling just thinking about it!! Definitely will be back to order it again. The BBQ sauce cut the creamy cheese just right and the pork was tender and plentiful. The portion was giant - I had plenty for lunch (well, breakfast) the next day! The sandwich was good, as well, but once the boyf had his very generous side helping of the mac & cheese side, he was done for. It completely out-shadowed the sandwich. It was really just that good! My one and only complaint was that the bathroom wasn't super clean but, it was 7pm on a Saturday night and there was a wedding reception going on in the private room. Five stars for food and service, and we will definitely be back!
(5)Michele A.
It was MSU game night and every place was packed mostly because they were all bars that we were trying to get into. We gave this place a try since it has good reviews. We got there and had no wait at all which was nice. The game was on as well (they have a few tv's) We started with the spinach artichoke dip, very tasty. Then for my meal I ordered the ruben however I am picky and hate thousand island dressing. I love it with horseradish sauce. They have the most powerful horseradish ever! No mayo mixed in which can ruin the taste. My sandwich was perfect and spicy. I got a side of pulled pork mac n cheese as well. Amazing pulled port was tender and the BBQ sauce had a nice kick. I would go back here for dinner. The only downfall is the lack of beers on tap.
(5)Jill N.
Great food and service. My kids had the tractor burger and finally a place that actually cooks medium. My husband had the chipotle salad and I had the black bean burger. All was great. Loved the bar b que homemade chips.
(5)Mikee K.
We went here for lunch with the family. Great atmosphere, kids liked the macaroni. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Salads were good along with black bean burger.
(4)Jon B.
Had to send our steaks back TWICE because they were cold and rare. Our meals weren't even discounted and when we brought it up they disputed it. Had to keep asking for my refills. Aside from that the food was good and they did eventually offer a discount.
(2)M D.
Ordered the half chicken with mashed and veggies. The chicken was horribly BURNED, I mean black charred. They put BBQ sauce over it, but you can't hide the taste of burnt. The mashed potatoes were ok but not hot, the vegetables luke warm. The server offered to redo it, but I declined.
(1)Julie P.
Great Mac n cheese; had 5 different types on the menu. Lived the Ham, Pea and Gouda Mac.... Delicious! The noodles are actually cavatappi, not elbow macaroni. Also strongly recommend starting the meal with fried pickles- get one order more than you think you'll need because they're delicious! Kids liked their kids Mac n cheese and chicken tenders. My friend raved about the chicken chowder soup. Service was very good.
(4)L R.
Awesome meal again here... I got pizza classic and my man Noah scored the best meal at the table with the chicken and waffles, amazing!
(4)Patrick L.
What wasn't good. OMGness. A group of about 20 that was up here for a work conference and the food and the service was outstanding. Loved the fried pickles, and the twisted dog bread sticks. The spinach artichoke dip was good, it had a lot of cream cheese in it and almost overpowered the dish. We did ask about the pork rinds and they were out at 7pm on a Saturday night. I had the Tractor Pull pie, BBQ pulled pork pizza. Very good. Pork just fell apart and the BBQ had a really good flavor. Overall excellent. If and when I come back to TC I will be coming back to the Blue Tractor.
(4)Jeremy M.
Food was pretty good and the service was great! We came in with a party of eleven people (7 kids 4 adults) a half an hour before they closed the kitchen and they were attentive, quick and didn't give us any problem at all for being so close to closing. Staff was outstanding, drinks were good food was okay. I'd give them a bit of a pass being that it was the end of the night. Wasn't spectacular food, but was a worth the $$. Don't believe the snarky negative reviews here. The staff is nice, the menus aren't sticky, they have a good selection -and they make good drinks.
(5)Jordan W.
Excellent food! Husband and I ordered spinach artichoke dip (the bread that comes with it was amazing!), the big squealer burger, fried chicken sandwich and the blonde brownie dessert. Everything was delicious!
(5)Michelle S.
OMG! The smoked Gouda with BBQ pulled pork Mac and cheese is the best! Sunday $1.50 bloody Mary, Mimosa, & screwdrivers, yum! Nice atmosphere & great service. What more could you want? We will definitely be back!
(5)Stephanie C.
I passed up Bijou Fou Fou for this restaurant. Loved the live music. Great ambience and farm atmosphere. Impressive logo. I regret not getting a tshirt. Food was good but nothing special. Dinner guests were entertaining.
(4)Mandy E.
Very good! Got the Cuban burger which was amazing. Pizza good too. The tractor twists may be the single greatest breadsticks known to man. The service was a touch slow, hence the 4 stars.
(4)Noelle V.
One of my favorite places. Amazing atmosphere. They no longer offer the tractor melt sandwich which was my favorite item on their menu. The rest of the menu is great, however. Some dishes you don't get a whole lot of food, it depends on the day if you will get a good helping or enough food to tease you. Alcoholic beverages are pretty pricy. Overall, will always be a regular at this place.
(5)Jason J.
Great service. Great food. Neat place. Love the brisket and their bbq pulled pork mac & cheese is excellent too! The Blue Tractor has some great plates and flavor.
(4)Paige V.
Good stuff. Nothing extraordinary, but always have good service and love that they have North Peak's Nomad cider.
(3)Sarah H.
We came here for dinner on the first night of our honeymoon. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great! Our server was ok, but he definitely made us feel a little rushed, even though the restaurant was not busy at all. Despite it being relatively early in the evening, they were already out of a few items on the menu. Their fried pickles were pretty good. My husband ordered the BBQ combo platter and I ordered the chicken and waffles. The food was pretty good, but I don't think it was quite worth the price. It was a decent experience overall, but I can't say that it'll be a regular stop for us.
(3)Patty C.
Delicious cocktails and food, smells so good. The pulled pork sandwich was perfectly smoked and had great flavor with the barbecue sauce. The mac & cheese was so creamy and delicious. The lavender margarita was delicious.
(4)Brett F.
Six different kinds of mac 'n cheese?! Now, that's something I have trouble saying no to. So, I didn't. Say no that is. I was hard pressed selecting just one mac, but had to do it. And the smoked chicken mac 'n cheese with green chiles and pepperjack cheese was it. It was some for realz on point cheesy goodness. Seriously creamy, saucy, melty, ooey gooey, with just the right amount of sharpness. 'Tis the thing great macs are made of. Added a burger slider to my mac madness which I was hoping would take my experience to new peaks. That, it did not. The slider was meh (I fancy not iceberg on my slider) and could have, would have, should have gone with the "whole hog quesadilla" instead. I was afraid of a mega dairy overdose. Do not fear the overdose. Lesson learned. Friendly staff. Super cute redhead tending our table. I'd like to ride this Blue Tractor again. Giddy up.
(4)Kayt W.
The best macaroni and cheese EVER. The bbq macaroni was to die for. I also loved the ham and pea Mac and cheese the burgers were so tasty and soft. The atmosphere was super cool. Staff was great. Thank goodness for yelp because I would have never known about this place. Lived in the area for 4 years now and never heard of it. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Alyssa H.
Very disappointing food. My fish and chips were soggy. My husband ordered a classic deep dish pizza, but when it came out it was pretty much a microwave pepperoni pizza on a plate. Nothing special. Their famous mac and cheese is also lackluster, dry and underseasoned. Service is fine and the restaurant is nice, but they really need to work on their food.
(2)Bruce E.
I am just a tourist I guess but I loved this place and every time I go to Traverse City I go to Blue Tractor! The food is delicious, the service is good, and I love the location because when I am done I can walk around.
(5)Chris T.
Place smelled like bleach, and they had no bbq... Odd for a BBQ restaurant to not have bbq at lunch. So I ordered the homemade pork rinds. They didn't have them either
(1)Ann S.
A solid 3.5. I got the hay-baler burger which was very good. You can get one of their jacked up mac and cheeses as a side so I obliged. I got the peas, ham and gouda mac while my husband got the BBQ pork mac and cheese. We both liked them a lot and the side portion was pretty hearty so I can only imagine how big the entrée version is. I will say the server was less than impressive. He was more interested in yucking it up with the guys sitting at the bar (this was off peak, mid-day) than serving the 2 tables he had with another one arriving when we left. He used the same lines on all of us from the greeting to how he delivered the food to leaving the bill. It was like he was reading out of a cheesy bar manual but skipped the part where refilling the drinks would be a nice touch.
(3)Michelle M.
For the last few years, when we came up north to visit our daughter, a must was to visit the blue tractor. Not any more. Went in last evening for dinner, five of us. To start, they no longer have the wonderful bread and butter pickles, and they were out of pork rinds, our favorite. On a Friday night! We were told by the waitress that they have a new chef when we complained. Then we got our dinner, which we all ordered our long time favorite. Absolutely everything was terrible, right down to the cole slaw, with no sauce. I am sure we won't go back, unless we hear they have improved. So sad! We loved their Mac and cheese. The stuff we got last night had no cheese sauce on it, just a bowl of macaroni.
(1)Erin D.
Had our first visit on our July summer vacation; definetly coming back next year. Family friendly and a big enough menu to please everyone, but not so big that its mediocre. Ordered: 2 had the all you can eat fish special. They were very happy with theirs. Gouda Mac & Cheese with Pork-All of their mac&cheeses sounded delicious and this was the one recommneded by the waitress. Pork was cooked perfectly and noodles with the right amount of sauce. It tasted even better the next day! Kid's Meal Mac&Cheese-18 month old loved it and did his best to try to eat the whole thing; we intervened. Reuben-Not the world's best, but a good meal nonetheless. Service was attentive and we were happy to get a table quickly on a Friday night. Ther is parking behind the restaurant.
(4)Allison M.
Cute place - really good service. Food was good for the most part! The tractor twists were delicious. I got a pizza and it was tasty but didn't seem cooked all the way through. My husband loved his burger. My MIL's Mac-and-cheese was not great and my FIL said his ribs were decent. Stick to the pizzas and burgers here!
(4)David R.
The food is generally good, not quite as good as the Ann Arbor location but still worth eating. Plenty of TVs in the bar area if you're there to watch a game. The service is what brings this place down from being much better. The dining room waiters are slow but ok, the bar area has been terrible. Multiple times I've come in at the bar and waited 10 minutes before even being acknowledged let alone served, and this happens not just when they're busy but when there are only 3-5 other people in the whole bar area. The bartender is often nowhere to be seen, or worse standing there watching tv or looking at a phone ignoring anyone at the bar. There are often good specials ($3.95 burger on Mondays) that make it tempting to come in, just be prepared for the service.
(3)Judd H.
Had low expectations walking in as it is a little dark with a funky layout. But food was great. Don't be afraid to get any of the Mac n cheeses. Our group had three of them and they were all spectacular. Great, diverse selection of draft beers - both local and other. Nice staff too!
(4)Kelly G.
Tried this restaurant three times and won't be going back. First time we had to move tables because we were next to a large bachelorette party that was too loud to hear ourselves think or hear our waitress. The place was half empty, not sure why were seated right beside them. Second time we had family visiting, so we called and were given a wait time of 5 minutes. We arrived 7-8 minutes later and the hostess (with an attitude) told us it was now 45 minutes. Third time I ordered the brisket and it came out lukewarm. I asked the waitress nicely to have the kitchen warm it up. It came back 10 minutes later slightly colder. When she checked on us, I told her it was cold and she took it back to the kitchen. A manager showed up and asked if there was a problem with the brisket. I told him I shouldn't have to ask twice to have a meal reheated. He apologized, took the plate and shortly brought a newly made plate. It was warm, (not hot as I would have preferred) but tasted horrible. Full of fat and mushy, I couldn't even eat it. Hopefully it wasn't a case of kitchen revenge, but we will never go back. One other thing to know, be prepared for lots of kids during early dinner hour. Nothing wrong with being a family restaurant, but not the adult dining experience we expected.
(1)Norman F.
We were staying for the night and decided to try this place. It's pretty kid friendly and has a good selection of food. My wife really liked the Bloody Mary. The Cuban burger was good, although the bottle of BBQ sauce was clogged, and it needed some. The mac and cheese was good, but a little bland. Fried pickles were one of the best I've had. Friendly staff helps, too. Parking could be better, but it's free after 6.
(4)Lauren D.
Yummy eats with ok service. I enjoyed a great chicken sandwich and I don't even really like chicken. The food was creative without being too weird. I ate here with my whole family, there was 7 of us including my 3 year old daughter. With many people trying to find a spot that agrees with everyone's taste buds can be a challenge and this spot worked well. Our waitress was nice but the hostess was not very welcoming. I don't know about you but that first interaction can really set a tone for the dining experience. If you love cherries try the cherry mead, I loved it.
(3)Susan N.
The website photo of the front of the building is a little misleading. We had to double check with the hostess that we were at the right place. The BBQ pulled pork, while not as great as found in Memphis, was tender and tasty. The service was ok. Plan on parking at a meter.
(3)Marin C.
Food was pretty tasty. I went with a group of 5. Two in our party ordered the pizza and pint, it was a good deal. Others had specialty salads. I had dinner salad and a side order of mac n cheese. I'm glad I ordered the side, for my frugalness and and my stomach because I saw another diner who ordered the regular portion of mac and cheese. The regular portion is huge. The side was really tasty as well. Our server was new and in-training, you could tell as there were some snafus with ordering, with how one salad came out versus how it was ordered, and a few little things re the bills. Such is life. We are a pain with our separate checks, sorry. Good food though, muchas gracias.
(3)Laura F.
Great happy hour specials and I had the best Reuben I have had in a very long time. It had just the right amount of everything and the corned beef was slightly smoked and very tender. We will be back!
(4)Holly S.
If you like Reuben sandwiches the one here is great. Sometimes I have to ask for extra dressing. It's not sweet like some Reuben sandwiches I have had. The servers I have encountered have all been pleasant and attentive. I cannot comment on their other dishes. I order the Reuben every visit and have yet to find a better one anywhere.
(4)Nancy D.
Enjoyed lunch while watching a bowl game. Nice mix of different patrons, families, singles, couples and those enjoying drink and conversation at the bar. Service was excellent, food homemade and delicious. Mac and cheese was nice comfort food on cold winter's day.
(4)Irwin F.
This was our second visit and this time - it was very disappointing. I had the fish and chips and the breading was apart from the actual "meat" - which told me it was cooked improperly. The coleslaw had no taste whatsoever and the mac n cheese which is supposed to be a specialty - especially at $12 or so - had WATER at the bottom of it. Hello - just warmed up and not made from scratch!? Add to it that our server kept vanishing - and it was our last visit. We spent about 90 minutes there for two simple meals. Ugh. Stay away. Too many other places in TC to spend $30 for dinner and get better value.
(2)Jeff M.
We came here during National Cherry Festival, while the car show was going on just outside. We snuck in from the back and were surprised to get a comfortable booth during a time when we thought for sure there would be a wait. I wasn't sure what to expect, everyplace in TC is new to me. The Blue Tractor makes a good first impression. Cool and funky feel. The menu was homey and comfortable with some "upwardly mobile" and more hip choices. We tried three selections from the lunch menu, the sliders, Mac and Cheese and a burger. The sliders were good, though it was disappointing that we couldn't mix and match, sorry, 1 kind only. The Mac and Cheese sounded so good. Three cheeses and bread crumbs. Unfortunately it's promise out-weighed what was delivered. It was okay, but not that spectacular. The burger was okay but nothing special. Although we liked the vibe, the food under-delivered, especially considering the price.
(2)Matt W.
North Peak beers on draft, which aren't my favorite...but do the trick (it's personal preference). Deep fried green bean appetizer, with sweet horseradish dipping sauce! Yes, please...every time. A comfort food joint. Great pizzas, smoked ribs/pulled-pork and gourmet mac & cheese. My kids love the corn chowder.
(3)Chris W.
For those of us that live close by, it's difficult to avoid the convenience of Blue Tractor. Still there's a part of me that wishes they could do a few simple things right to make it better. Take out orders routinely take 30 minutes or more, compounded by the overworked bartender that typically has to serve the full bar and a large number of surrounding bar room tables by himself or herself. Why management has not ever addressed this (even after customer feedback) is confusing. The beer selection is very good and the food although not super healthy, lives up to it comfort food claim. Blue Tractor does well with kids and families, and the Sunday Bloody Marys are a great deal.
(3)Jessica H.
Would have loved to try the food however it was 7pm and they had an 1.5 hour wait with various open tables throughout. The waitstaff was rude when we mentioned the various open tables.
(1)Bridget L.
I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac n cheese. It was delicious, but the portions are big. Whatever you do don't order appetizers, you won't be able to finish your meal. Downside is the food is a bit pricey, and our waitress was kind of non-existent. I had to ask for water refills several times and she never cleared any plates from the table. She messed up the bill as well and it took forever to get fixed. I would come back again, because I really liked my meal.
(4)Persephone T.
We dropped in at the last minute and left very glad we did. First things first - service is amazing! The hostess was pleasant and our server was perfect! She was friendly, helpful and available without hovering. The beer selection was varied and my husband loved his double red. Mac and cheese is huge and my salad was filling and yummy! We look forward to coming again!
(5)Tim K.
Our first night in Traverse City we were recommended to try the Blue Tractor for dinner by the lady who worked at the hotel we were staying at. We had just finished driving four and a half hours, it was getting late and we wanted something good to eat that also offered the Tigers game that was on that night. The place is a little jam packed, but not to the point you cannot move around at all. They have a nice list of Michigan based beers to choose from so I sampled a few before deciding to get a boot, yes a boot like in the movie Beerfest of a local brewery's Octoberfest. So good! As an appetizer we got the Whole Hog Quesadilla and it was amazing! They give you this Smoked Tomato Mayo to dip it in which sounds a little unusual. When you think Quesadilla you think Sour Cream, Guacamole or Salsa to accompany it so this Mayo sounded a bit strange. It was strange, but so so good. It made my taste buds dance with happiness. I wish I could buy some of this stuff in bulk and put it on everything. For our main entrees my wife and I both got the Beef Brisket. She said it was the best she ever had, even better then Famous Dave's and other smokehouses. For me, it was very good, but the bark was a little salty. Nothing too crazy, still eatable and if you didn't care for it you could pull it off and set it aside. No biggie. I opted to sub out the seasonal veg which turned out to be Squash for a side of their Ham, Peas, Smoked Gouda and Crispy Onion Mac and Cheese. I was told the up charge for this would be $2.00 which seemed reasonable, but when I got the check it was $6.00 that they actually charged me for it. That was a bit of a shocker that a little side bowl of Mac and Cheese cost me that much when a full order is only a few dollars more. I would have complained about it, but at that time I already had a boot and two bottles of beer in me and I was just happy to be on vacation with my beautiful wife.
(4)Kristin F.
Another night on the patio, another night of Mac and Cheese. Does it get any better? Yes, it does. An awesome duo performing great Mraz and Martin Sexton covers entertained B and myself while we had some drinks, dinner, and sunshine. I adore the upstairs patio, and the amazing service. Sorry for being so indecisive at first... everything looks so good :) Good company and conversation at a great location is hard to beat!
(5)Kristen N.
Being a local, I'm not too sure why I keep going back to this place, probably because I love the Lobdell Family, but I keep getting disappointed. The Mac & Cheese is way overrated! The serve is horrible. It seems to always take forever to get drink orders, orders are never correct, and servers are not attentive at all. I had the Cali Coast Burger one time and keep going back just for that meal because it was delicious!! Sadly though, the last two times it was disappointing and tonight, with our take out order, they completely forgot the avocado salsa on the burger, which is the best part! I called to let them know and they didn't seem to care. Sorry guys, I'm done giving so many chances to Blue Tractor!
(2)Christine J.
WE had a very nice meal here while on vacation. The food was quite good and the service outstanding. Beer prices a bit high, but overall we would come back.
(4)James A.
Went to the Tractor again last night and had a great experience. We had a party of eight; not a huge table but larger than normal. There was no drop off in quality of service or food as often happens with larger tables. We arrived at 7:00 on a Friday night and they were busy yet we only waited 20 minutes or so. 20 minutes to take a shot and start on a round of beers at the bar. When seated, our server was friendly and efficient. We ordered another round of drinks with our dinner order, and the bartender actually brought them over to us because the server was busy. Very nice touch. The food was great, appetizers were simply prepared and great for sharing. Most importantly they were quick. The table ran the gamut in ordering very different choices from all over the menu and everything was very tasty. To-go boxes after, check dropped off, bill paid, life is good. This is a place that knows its identity and delivers time after time. Good, homey food, reasonable prices, and a very casual, comfortable atmosphere. For my money, you might find somewhere better. But you can certainly find much, much worse.
(4)Dan M.
We were up in Traverse City for the weekend and I've been wanting to try this place out for some time. So we stopped by for lunch with some friends. Wife had the caprese pizza/beer combo for $10, I stole the beer. I ordered the two-meat BBQ combo of pulled pork and brisket, with a side of fries and mac n cheese. Pizza was terribly underwhelming, according to the wife, so she ate all of my fries which were delicious. The pulled pork was tender and smokey. The brisket was cooked to perfection with that beautiful smoke ring telling you it was made right. Their house BBQ sauce was a nice accompaniment. The mac n cheese was pretty good, not mind-blowing like I've been told, but it was better than anything I could probably cook. It's not extra cheesy and not burned to hell either. Pretty fair value for the money I'd say. Kinda sad they don't have more Michigan beers on tap though.
(4)Robert A.
The food is very good and the selection of beers is just as good. The eight of us make it here once a year it's a tradition we do after a round of golf.
(4)Patrick D.
We stopped by based on the reviews. It was very late, so the place was dead. The service was great and the food was fantastic. My wife had a turkey club... I yelled at her for getting that at a place known for BBQ. I had the BBQ burger - forgot what it was called. We both had a side of Mac and cheese...wow. The pulled pork Mac and cheese was worth the hype.
(5)Ben M.
If you're walking in the area and the sole of your shoe falls off, go to this place and order "brisket." the money they spent on decor could've been spent on a better cook.
(1)Catherine B.
Our group of 6 had finished a long day on the water and the first restaurant we stopped at (which was right on the water and next to the yacht club) had a 1 hour & 45 minute wait. I remembered we'd a nice meal at Blue Tractor last year so we headed over and got a table right away which was awesome. Our drinks came quickly which always makes sailors happy. We ordered dinner right away so no apps. My barbeque chicken salad was so good but too big to finish. My friend had a salmon entree that she gave a thumbs up, and one of the guys ordered the same mac n cheese as last time. It wasn't fancy or on the water but they delivered! I live in a tourist town and know how easy it is to get screwed trying to find a place to eat on Friday night when you don't want to wait for an hour.
(4)John J.
I wanted to like this place just based on the decor. I'm sad to report that the food was not all that great. I ordered the brisket and had to send it back. In short, it was both extremely over salted and was so tough, I could have used it to resole a shoe. I spoke with the manager who apologized as if the bad meat was my fault... "I'm sorry you feel that way about the brisket." No, I'm sorry that you think it's my fault that the brisket is awful, and I'm sorry that you don't understand the reason people go out to eat: good food and a good experience. There are better places in TC.
(2)Vince S.
A Friday evening dinner. I ordered the pulled pork and was happy to split my dinner with my wife. We will try it again someday and hope for better service. Not happy about me credit card being used for another couples dinner by our waitress. Luckily they spoke up and got it corrected.
(3)Mark R.
I came here after a day of meetings for a late work lunch. I could tell immediately, from the name and decor, it's one of those themed restaurants with social bar (every time I go to a place like this, I think of Chili's). I had the pulled pork sandwich with chips for lunch. The pork was decent, not great. I have very high standards for pulled pork - I make my own numerous times every year, straight from the hog. I'd be willing to give this place a try again but, would try something different on the menu. hint: we sat at a high-top in the bar area, the service was quick and it does have a nice ambiance.
(3)Christina A.
We had a great experience at the Blue Tractor. The food was good, service was good, atmosphere is good. My parents and kids give this a 5 star and go here often and say it is very consistent.
(4)Pebbles And Bam Bam A.
Similar to my other review, I entered this place with low expectations since I'm not a big fan of Blue Tractor in Ann Arbor. Great surprise! Traverse City shows up Ann Arbor once again. I had the roasted vegetable salad, which was excellent. Very hearty and satisfying. Excellent beer selection as well. We visited the indoor bar, as well as the upstairs patio, which was a fun, chill spot with live music. Added plus: pool and fuseball tables.
(4)Liz K.
I REALLY wanted to give more than three stars, alas everything was just okay. Well, actually there was one stellar item, but it was my beer, which I can get lots of places (the Atwater vanilla java porter). I had the Tractor burger with cheese and added a side of the pulled pork/smoked gouda mac n' cheese. I could only eat half of each they were so rich, but I'm not sure I would consider this a good thing. The burger was cooked properly, but I really disliked their secret sauce - it had almost no flavor and just seemed like it added grease... almost like a flavorless mayo. No thanks. The mac was pretty good, but not spectacular. I'm a big mac connoisseur and this just seemed heavy without a lot of good flavor I expected from BBQ/smoked gouda. The hubs got the beer can chicken, which he thought was okay, but also not great. I think we'll be back, but seeing as there are so many great places we already really like and a ton of others to try, I think it'll be a while...
(3)Chrysanne T.
We enjoyed an outstanding lunch here. My husband's burger was grilled and prepared to order. My MAC and cheese with pulled pork was excellent. Our waitperson Jeff was attentive and helpful, without making a nuisance of himself. We will be back!
(5)Ryan M.
Worst Service of my life: The first time in my life I actually left no tip at all....... The food was good, it was recommended to us by a friend. But the service was the worst I've ever experienced. Half way through our order the server became irritated and stopped listening. We didn't see him for over 30 minutes, finally our food came out by another server. We tried to tell her they forgot two items.... half way through telling her about the first item she walked away (before we could tell her about the second item we were missing). We finally catch the eye of our server, when we tell him he gets extremely irritated with us and goes back to the kitchen (we were trying to also tell him our drinks had been empty for 20 minutes, but he walked away before we could). When he returned with our other missing item (by this time we've had our food getting cold while waiting on him) he finally brought us drinks.... only he brought us the wrong drinks. I guess that's what happens when you don't come back to your table, you forget what the ordered, and what they were drinking. I debated walking into the back and tipping the chef, because the food was actually pretty good, but I was worried he'd share it with the server. So for the first time in my life.... the only tip I could bring myself to leave was: try harder next time. We won't be back.
(2)Beth J.
Very good barbeque place. I had the cowboy reuben--nice flavor, large sandwich (I couldn't finish it). I think this is probably a pretty dependable spot for a good, meaty meal.
(4)Becky O.
Party of 9 yesterday. The staff was super accommodating! Even took group pics for us and tolerated our loud happy laughter with smiles! Love, love the Mac n Cheese! It's to die for!!!
(4)Rick S.
7.50 a beer is a bit much. Burger was ordered med. rare came well done. I really Want to rate them better but I can't 10.95 burger. Very over priced
(3)Cameron T.
I have to say first and foremost the food was great! I had the bleu cheese burger and it was quite good. Not the best I've had but it was closer to the top of the list as apposed to the bottom. In saying that I have traveled the U.S. experiencing most all the food cultures. I've had Memphis BBQ, New Orleans Creole/Cajun, Wyoming Steaks and Gulf Coast Fresh Seafood. I know this is taboo on here but the service was subpar. And that's putting it nicely. A bigger bald gent from the bar served us and chewed myself and my fellow friends and family out for trying to move two tables together as we had a large group...and the place only had 5 other diners at the time. You would have thought his paycheck depended on the tables staying put. Very rude the entire time...ruined what I was expecting to be a great experience.
(2)Nick W.
You have to go here when you are in Traverse CIty. Start with the Tractor Twists. They are really good. For your main meal order the BBQ Pulled Pork and Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese. It was the best man & cheese that I have ever had. The staff here is young and laid back which for me was good. It is a very laid back cook shop in a good way. I highly recommend having dinner here.
(5)Rich Z.
The Colossus burger was amazing. The atmosphere was great, and the shed felt like home
(4)Jason N.
Big burgers! Big beers! Just can't get any better then that.
(4)Angela N.
We dined at Blue Tractor at the recommendation of one of the someliers at a winery we visited in Traverse City. We got there late-ish on a Tuesday night and had almost the entire roof deck to ourselves (and found out after it was one of the only, if not the only, roof deck in Traverse City). The service was excellent; our server even advised that beers were cheaper downstairs and we could visit the bar and bring them up. I had a tuna melt and the mac and cheese (one of Blue Tractor's specialties). The tuna melt was okay (crunchy bread, not overly tuna-y) and the mac and cheese, which was white cheddar, was good comfort food. We all agreed the food was fine/good but what made it was the experience.
(4)Shannon M.
Dined here with some girlfriends a few weeks ago. It was a fairly busy weekend night but we got right in to a table. Service wasn't that great, slow and forgetful. The mac and cheese with mushrooms I ordered wasn't impressive. The mushrooms tasted like they were freezer burned. Two friends ordered some kind of burger with avocado and they enjoyed them. We all ordered a pint and our waiter failed to inform us that if we waited 7 minutes the price would go from $6 to $2 for their later happy hour. If I have my choice, I won't be coming back.
(2)Rachel K.
We were in Traverse City for the weekend. The Blue Tractor was recommended to us by one of the wineries we visited. The food: I ordered the BBQ beer can chicken. The chicken was excellent. Very tender and moist - good BBQ flavor, a little spicy and a little sweet. Mashed potatoes were also great. Boyfriend ordered the baby back ribs with French fries. Ribs were soft, fall off the bone - very good. The service: We were seated right away and drinks came pretty quickly. After that, our waitress seemed to disappear. We only saw her again when she dropped off our food and then brought the check. She never asked about drink refills. We were seated in a booth near the bar area. We were amused at the male waiters who were hanging out behind the bar lining up to give the female bar tender a back massage. Funny for a minute, but really unprofessional. Overall - the food was excellent, service - lacking.
(3)Kevin K.
Just got done with dinner and I was able to get the colossus burger as a single. It was just as good as the double. Thank you!
(4)Brad D.
The Blue Tractor is really, really good! Simply the best burgers I have ever had. Seriously, really good burger. I was there on Friday and I had the colossal burger and it was bigger than my head. Pork, Bacon, Cheese....the works on this burger. Service was exceptional. The beer selection is fantastic. This is my new favorite restaurant in Traverse City. I went with a group so I was able to sample the raspberry chicken salad. It was really good. The Cowboy Reuben is made with beef brisket. It really has amazing mix of flavors. After dinner we went to the bar for drinks and the bartender was really cool. We were able to sample another beer from the beer list. I am definitely going back!
(5)Tony S.
This is one of TC's great bar atmosphere restaurants including a very unique outdoor bar on the roof. The rooftop bar is subject to weather conditions however so don't expect it to be open at all times. The food selection offers many very unique items including macaroni and cheese dish combinations you wouldn't believe. The general tone of the menu is "slightly" southern with many BBQ inspired dishes and offerings. The price range is moderate and the portions are typically generous. Check out The Tractor and I think you'll have a great meal at a reasonable price.
(4)Carrie L.
I just had the crispy potato chips and beer. Yummy. Great place to hang out in TC. I will be visiting this bar over and over again.
(4)Ryan V.
While the food at the Blue Tractor is good and they have a great selection of Michigan beers, the service is lacking. Even on an afternoon that wasn't too busy, we didn't see our server for about ten minutes after we were seated. There were at least two or three tables in our vicinity that need to be bussed for the better part of our meal. It almost seemed that they were under staffed. Again, the food was good, not great. And after this being the second consecutive time we've had slow service, we likely will not return.
(2)Dean K.
Went here with wife and two small children for a late lunch. Sat on their rooftop deck (their claim of the view of downtown Traverse City is greatly overstated). Several other families were eating here as were other groups of people, a good mix. Good selection of various beers, many of them local, selection is limited when sitting outside. We both had burgers that were absolutely outstanding, kids ate from kids menu and meals were fine. Heard others complimenting the waitress on their food choices. Sufficient number of items on the menu to make everyone happy. Must stop if you like burgers and beer (who doesn't?).
(4)Bob M.
We ate there twice this weekend ,service appears to be hit or miss. Good atmosphere, prices are a little high. $9.00 for burger and chips. Burgers are good and juicy. First time i had the Cuban burger it was tasty, maybe with Swiss instead of jack cheese , it would have resembled a real Cuban . GF had sandwich soup combo, she liked the blackened chicken quesadilla but the chicken chowder was just ok. Second was with group of 9 .The server was great till the food was dropped off ,then she disappeared until she brought the bill.
(4)Amy K.
I was here over ten years ago when it was Dill's. Loved it then, but love it even more now. We had a nice casual Saturday lunch. Excellent food. I had the Cuban burger, which was a pleasant surprise. The homemade chips are flavorful and so much better than fries. The management was very friendly and helpful. The waitress? Not so much, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having a rotten day. I only wish we'd have come here the night before for dinner, as our Friday night restaurant selection was a severe disappointment.
(5)Scott S.
Top notch! Very good food! Service great! Sat outside, beautiful afternoon in Traverse City.
(5)Erik T.
When my wife and I lived in Traverse City the Blue Tractor was a staple for us. We would go there about once a month. It has very interesting decor, tractor style. Plus a multitude of TV's with games on them. However, we moved to Grand Rapids in April of '09 and hadn't eaten there until last month. It used to be that when we went to The Blue Tractor we always greatly enjoyed the food; it was some of the best we have had. They have many interesting burger choices, plus chicken, pork, and even a large salad selection. The only draw back was the POOR service. We learned to live with it because the food was SO GOOD and it defiantly made up for it! One tip is to order two drinks when you give your drink order, like a water and a coke or water and a beer or whatever it is you like! Sadly, we found out, that it has changed and, in our opinion, not in a good way. On our way to spend an Easter weekend with my family we stopped in Traverse to have dinner with a friend and to enjoy some very missed Blue Tractor. Now our favorite foods were the bbq turkey sandwich and the honey chicken breast, both were no longer on the menu! :( Luckily the cheese fries were still there, but still sad! I ordered a club sandwich of some sort, and my wife had a chicken salad. Our friend had a burger, which she halved for her significant other. We were all satisfied, but it was not what we had remembered, well except for the cheesy fries, those were good as always! I would say try this place! Remember to order two drinks ;)
(3)Natalie W.
First thing I noticed was the sticky menu that desperately needed to be wiped down. Second thing I noticed was food on my 'clean' silverware. So first impression, not great. Burgers were average, Server was average at best. He tried to serve us a cheeseburger when a hamburger was ordered, and didn't spend much time at all at our table. Fudgies love this place, locals seem to stay out. I probably won't go back.
(2)Mikey G.
Review does not include food: I love dropping in to the Blue Tractor for a beer when I go out. The place is usually pretty quiet which is just how I like it. They have a small section of seating with leather couches and arm chairs (mmm comfortable seating). The seating is much more conducive to a group of friends than bellying up to TC's average bar. They also have relatively good drink specials. Whatever day we went in they had $5 Bells Oberon boots... yeah. Happiness in a shoe, now I know how my wife feels. I'll have to go back and eat here (I believe I have in the past) to give a full review, but know that this is a great place for try on a friday/saturday if you don't want to get mauled by tourists if you decide to have a drink downtown TC.
(4)Chuck N.
I had heard about the B T from a friend. Came here with the family on vacation. I have to agree with a lot of the reviewers here. The food was definitely worth the trip but the service was poor. Refills on drinks were neglected and they got our order wrong. Too many other good choices in the Traverse City area to take a chance on this place again.
(3)Jan W.
Warmly greeted at the door and then seated. Waitress Lisa arrived promptly with menus. Order the California Burger and my hubby had the All-You-Can-Eat Thursday Fish And Chips. Both meals were excellent and service was outstanding. Our water glass never saw the bottom. Would definitely visit again and again as we live local.
(5)Carrie K.
We visited Blue Tractor on our last night in Traverse City and after eating big meals previous nights, I opted for a chicken Ceaser salad. Be sure to ask for it grilled or it comes blackened which isn't my favorite. David got the crunch burger which was homemade potato chips and some sort of "cheese-wiz" product which sounds bad but was darn good! The kids tried the meat loaf on a plank and mac and cheese and they both raved. And the chicken tenders were completely gone which means it was excellent coming from my picky little eater. Excellent service, clean, relaxed atmosphere. Oh, and David found that they serve Stroh's in a can and had to have one for nostalgia.
(4)Doug L.
Every time I come back from NYC to TC to visit my folks, we go to the Blue Tractor. Excellent Bloody Marys and the best burger I have ever eaten - the Cuban Burger.
(5)Brad K.
Great place for pizza and beer. I'd recommend the Hawaiian pizza which has an awesome Asian sauce on top. Tons f beers and good prices.
(5)P K.
portabella mushroom "burger" - delicious!!! glass of local wine - yes, please. several varieties of mac and cheese to choose from - amaaaazing. it has been awhile since i've found a portabella mushroom "burger" with a mushroom cap substantial enough to not require a meat burger with it. this made me quite happy. i had the lump crab, bacon, and swiss mac & cheese which was pretty good (although the flavors weren't really blended), but my friend's ham and smoked gouda mac & cheese was really good. i would definitely go back....and try the blue cheese mac!
(4)Margo L.
This was the comfort food I always think I remember from growing up, but actually never ate. We were here on a busy Sunday night and sat in the bar. My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and really liked it. I tried the chicken chowder, which was so good I am actually craving it three days later! The prices are very reasonable and the tractor photo collection is fun to look at. A great spot!
(4)Matt H.
Forgettable. I sampled a bunch of different things here including the supposed "best mac and cheese" and I was never impressed. Yes, the food filled me up. It came relatively quickly. It wasn't cheap, or expensive. It sort of feels like a part of some chain even though it's not. Not sure why so many people love this place, it is usually pretty full.
(2)Brian S.
My wife and I have been here maybe five times over the last few years. It's been a nice place to get a beer and a burger or mac and cheese or other comfort food in a pretty good setting. We were hungry for barbecue the other night (OK I was hungry for it and my loving wife went with me) so we went for the barbecue plate. You can choose chicken, pulled pork, brisket, or ribs. I ordered the chicken and ribs my wife ordered the pork and brisket. The chicken was the best of all, the ribs were fine and the pulled pork was good. I noticed my wife had some brisket left (I always eat clean up) so I tried it. It was terrible! Very dry and tough as shoe leather. My wife never complains (26 years with me has taught her to deal with adversity) and had eaten most of it. When the waiter asked how everything was I told him about how bad the brisket was and he said he was sorry. She had eaten most of it and he wasn't going to replace it with anything. We should have spoke up right away. I can count on one hand the number of things we have sent back at restaurants over 26 years of eating out together, we just eat what we're given like good Midwesterners. WELL NO MORE. I promise to send back food that is not what I want or how I wanted it or even not what I ordered (I've ate alot of food that wasn't what i ordered). Life's too short and foods too expensive to put up with apathetic servers and cooks who don't care about presentation or staff that doesn't care about sanitation. NO MORE. I promise to send back the next meal that I don't like.
(2)Wayne H.
Comfort food. Their burgers, Mac and Cheese and Pizza's hit the right spot. Mix that with an awesome selection of beers and you've got a real winner. The Buffalo wing pizza is great and a favorite of ours.
(4)Nathan V.
Maybe it was because it is off season but we had great service and excellent food!
(4)Tony E.
excellent food - very good and I love eating here however the service is much to be desired unless you sit in or at the bar - those guys hussle.
(3)Bill C.
Good food. Definitely a bar atmosphere. Service was OK (not the friendliest but adequate). Prices were fair, servings large.
(3)sara k.
I've visited twice and found service to be mediocre and excellent. Fun atmosphere, fun menu filled with comfort foods, delish bread and butter pickles (I could eat a bowl full!), and pretty tasty dishes. The Cuban burger is a must-try. Macaroni is tasty and I've heard my friends rave about the chocolate chip cookies with ice cream.
(3)L M.
I so badly want to like this place, my boyfriend likes it so we come here often. I love the location, the love the building and the inside decor... it's really cute and comfortable... the food is good... I can't recall every having anything here that I didn't like. I love the Chicken chowder soup, their mac & cheese is great, good burgers.... I just can't get past the service. We'll wait in the front for a host for 20 minutes sometimes- not that there is a wait, but because employees look at us and don't want to bother seating us I guess. Some of the waitresses have a serious attitude along with one of the bar tenders. They have a lot of specials but its for certain times and days and they are very picky about it. Last time we went there we walked out.... they say they are open until 11, it was 10:30 and they told us all they had was pizza. I'm sorry but if you are a restaurant and you are open till 11- serve your food until 11!
(2)James K.
Good burgers fair pricing. I had the Cuban burger, well most of it, the Half pound burger topped with a pulled pork/Cuban sandwich. This down town eatery was not very busy and service was very good. I just wish the Chicken Wings I ordered were crispier, and my fries not cooked like potato chips. Over all a affordable place to eat with good food.
(3)Heather L.
I love restaurants that involve a little nostalgia...formerly Bill's Dill (remember the trains around the ceiling) a childhood haunt of my mine. I was excited to try The Blue Tractor after reading the menu online (it was between this and the Soul Hole). We started with the kids getting the homemade rootbeer which was DEEEE-LISHOUS!! a little on the flatter side but very flavorful. Next we ordered the Fried Dill Pickles and the Warm Potato Chip basket-the fried pickles although weird sounding were FABULOUS (I could go back and just get a beer and this and be really content) but the potato chips not-so-much...I really felt they were either over-seasoned or seasoned wrong (heavy heavy bbq/seasoning salt flavor) on the menu it says it comes with cheese fondue for dipping, well that was velveeta in a bowl-ick. I decided to order two of the sliders-the Little Squealer and the Crabcake. The Little Squealer was good but could have used some more (or more flavorful) bbq sauce. The Crabcake, blah, it seemed more like a cornmeal cake (the menu says panko and curry so ???) I was really hard pressed to find ANY crab in that cake. One of the kids ordered a baby burger slider and could not eat it, so I tried that as well, it was good and a perfect size. My oldest daughter ordered the kids Mac and Cheese, which I guess is made with some sort of white cheese. It was terribly bland, and she told the waitress-who then left it sit there on the table and we had to ask twice for it to be removed from the bill (it was left uneaten). I have mixed feelings about this restaurant I really wanted to love it, but didn't, although there were several things I LIKED about it (the fried pickles, some of the sliders, the root beer). I certainly would try again but maybe ask for some recommendations or check other reviews for recommendations.
(3)Geoff G.
Tried this place twice. First time was shortly after they opened, second time was very recently, so a year or more gap between visits. Both were equally awful. Service was SLOW and non-existent (took almost 40 minutes from seating to first arrival of waitstaff), half the menu seems to be unavailable at any given time, and what was available left a lot to be desired.
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