Mission Table
13512 Peninsula Dr, Traverse City, MI, 49686
Mission Table 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 :
13512 Peninsula Dr
Traverse City, MI, 49686 - Phone (231) 223-4222
- Website https://missiontable.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Tony T.
Was in TC for a weekend and wanted to go to the old Bowers Harbor Inn. Wasn't sure what to expect from the new place, but we were so impressed with Mission Table, we ate there two nights in a row. Food and service were both impeccable and of course, the location and view are outstanding.
(5)Martha V.
We were staying on Old Mission Peninsula and had dinner reservations here one night while were in the area. I was excited by the farm-to-table concept of the restaurant. We had a really good experience. The food was well-done. We had locally made white wine and several courses of food (the tomato salad and the second course ravioli and the lamb sausage offerings were our favorites). The menu is divided into first, second, and third course choices plus sides. But, I picked two second courses (appetizer-sized) after my first course rather than a second and third course and was happy I did because I had room for dessert. The dessert menu had some unexpected selections and I picked a donut with candied bacon and ice cream - really tasty. Both the inside and outside of the restaurant are really pretty in a rustic way. There's a view of the bay. It is a loud restaurant - there was a party of 20 having dinner while we were there. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
(4)Ryan P.
I'll have to separate this review into one that speaks for the food and for the experience separately. The food was above average...a solid attempt at farm-to-table eclectic cuisine. One of our favorites was the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata salad. The rabbit salad was also good. The second course mushroom dish was good, but a bit over seasoned, and I am one to enjoy aggressively and boldly seasoned food. I ordered the monkfish, which was decent, but nothing amazing. My wife had the pork tenderloin, which was definitely a highlight of the menu...juicy and very good flavor. As for the experience...although it is a very cool restaurant on the water and a very nice atmosphere, we were inundated with gnats flying around our table. There was a wedding being held, so we were seated on the second floor, and there were so many gnats flying around that it was unbearable and one landed in my drink. We asked for a new table and were moved downstairs, thinking that we were in the clear, but the gnats were all over. We spent the remainder of our meal swatting the gnats away and again, one landed in my glass of wine. This totally ruined our experience and although the food was pretty good, the overall takeaway was that we would not return. We could not figure out why they had such a problem with bugs, but this is something that needs to be addressed immediately. I would recommend the Boathouse or Amical as superior restaurants with no issues with bugs and superior amazingly flavored food. As a foodie, we were really looking forward to this restaurant based on the concept, menu and articles, but the execution was underwhelming and the bug problem is obviously unacceptable and a huge impact to the experience and reputation of a previously established Traverse City peninsula landmark.
(2)Stephen K.
This place has gotten a whole lot better, I am happy to report. We have been eating at the Jolly Pumpkin and avoiding the restaurant in front for some time, but the deck was so inviting the other night, we decided to sit and take whatever came. The bar offerings are still a bit odd, as you can only get the house-made liquor ( I believe this is due to the type of license they have) and please don't ask if you can get food or drink brought from "the place in back" (they get asked this EVERY TIME, and the answer is NO--it's a different restaurant). But you are in luck, because Mission Table has now joined the expanding list of quality restaurants in good old Traverse City. Each and every dish was passed around our table of five, with great reviews from all. I particularly liked the Ox Tail dish I ordered. Flavorful, really terrific broth. Great desserts, friendly service too. Great to see this fabulous location returning to greatness.
(4)Erin D.
Stopped into Mission Table on a whim after having a glass of wine at the nearby Chateau Chantal and deciding to have dinner close by. The parking lot was packed and there was a wedding going on, so were unsure whether or not the restaurant was even open or if we could get a table without a reservation. We were seated within 5 minutes (at a high top in the cozy bar area). The service was wonderful- attentive, but not lingering- even with the wedding reception going on in the room next to us, and the food and drinks were even better. I had the Bonafide Cabernet (as recommended by our waiter), and was thoroughly impressed. My husband ordered a Jolly Pumpkin brew, and was disappointed with his (too sweet for him), and the bar tender happily swapped it out without question. Food was wonderful too- very fresh and innovative. I had the pasta, and he had the trout. Everything was very fresh and homemade. Overall, I highly recommend- beautiful view, cozy environment, excellent service, and even better food and drink!
(5)Jason S.
I ended up at the Mission Table after trying to eat at the Bowery, which is now the Jolly Pumpkin. Confusing, but back to the review. The food is not bad. I had the steak with bordelaise, asparagus and small sliced potatoes and I can honestly say that the food was a 4.5/5. The pork belly appetizer was only so-so. The s'more dessert, which consisted of a dark chocolate mouse on a Graham cracker crust with a burnt marshmallow on top was very good, but not as good as a real s'more. The reason that I knocked my score down to a 3/5 was due to the slow service. The waiter was a nice guy, but he was insanely slow. Slow to take our drink order. Slow to bring out silverware, bread and bread plates. The outdoor dining on the porch overlooking the west bay was pretty nice though. Conclusion: The food was good, though fairly expensive. The atmosphere was nice, but the service was poor. If you have a lot of time to kill, it's not a bad place to have a meal.
(3)Marc V.
Very very good. Tried ten different things on the menu and all of them were great. We had the steak, trout, pork, mushrooms, lamb, tofu, and three of the four deserts. The main food was great but the deserts were unreal. It's expensive here but u get what your paying for.
(5)Dave M.
So disappointed with our first visit to the new Mission Table! We have had several very good experiences at the sister Jolly Pumpkin so were quite surprised when we were seated by the hostess on the lovely deck with a table of seven people and waited, and waited, and waited for a server. We waited a total of 28 minutes after being seated to finally have only some of our drinks brought to the table. No water even was provided while we waited. Someone's Cosmo was weak and warm and had to be sent back. Entrees were delayed also. Our server was apologetic and it was obvious the restaurant was severely understaffed. Never once did we see a manager around let alone trying to help out. There were two hostess's who did nothing to help the servers. So, needless to say we were a bit perterbed. Onto the food. I had scallops small plate which was very good as was the lamb chop small plate. Kids got some Penne/Cheese which was good. Someone had a chicken entree which was rated good. Food a little overpriced for quality and portions. This is a prime example of how bad service can ruin a meal even when looking over the West Bay on a beautiful night. Won't be back until we hear some consistently good reports/reviews that they have it together.
(2)Keith R.
Look. I'm not a foodie. But this is the kind of place that might turn me into one. Run by what have got to be some of the nicest people in all of Michigan. Excellent tasting menu with perfectly paired alcohol for $65. I'll repeat that. Sixty five dollars. That's what you wished you spent on a mediocre night out in Los Angeles. The booze selection is a bit limited, but that is due to the fact that they produce their own liquors themselves. How great is that? Bonus: The place is rumored to be haunted.
(4)Meredith T.
My party and I had a great time at Mission Table. When we arrived, we were seated immediately on the lovely deck overlooking the bay. When the server arrived at the table, he promptly removed our menus from the table and told us the chef was going to cook for us. SWEET! We enjoyed five, wonderful courses from a salad that was to die for, chicken ravioli in a tomato juice broth, seared scallops served with pork belly, a ribeye that was AMAZING and a melon sorbet desert sprinkled with bacon. This was a total treat and while we can't afford to eat like this every month - I would definitely recommend you give it a shot for a very special occasion and ask the chef to cook for you. It was sooooo worth it and we felt very special for this one evening. The grounds of the restaurant are wonderful - you really feel like you've been transported to a different country, surrounded by beautiful northern wood trees and the water nearby. A ghost story involving the previous owner's wife adds to the ambiance of this amazing place on the Mission Peninsula.
(5)Taste-LIFE D.
We caught the last day of the winter $20 prix fix menu (3 course meal). You couldn't beat this deal for the quality and deliciousness (can I say that?) of the food that we had. We had the morel risotto and chicken as our entrees. The risotto was creamy and the morels gave it a great meaty flavor and texture. The house made cucumber infused vodka was a favorite. We also had the carrot cake, which were more like small muffins. Different that what we expected, but it worked.
(5)B A.
For as great as the Bower's Harbor Inn was, I know I am not alone in thinking that the restaurant had become a stagnant, stale shell of what it once had been and its time had passed it by. Enter Mission Table. It a time of growing collective consciousness about our food, where it comes from and how it was grown, harvested, butchered or whatever the case may be I feel that the time have come for a catharsis at the Inn. I applaud the bold move of only serving liquors distilled on premise because i think it is a great move but not the easy move. I am sure this will disappoint some but its tough to make everybody happy. As of right now, the booze selection is a little limited but I would imagine it will be growing and the infusions they are doing and cool and avoid the artificial flavors that mar many store-bought flavored liquors. They seemed to have some cool signature cocktails but I am more of a vodka/soda guys so I stuck with that and enjoyed it. As for the food, what more could you ask for than a quality team taking the best ingredients around and transforming them into the best dishes they can. Are they all home runs? No, but as with any new restaurant they're is a trial and error period with the recipes and also with your customers wants and needs. The difference is that this place is swinging for the fences and not trying to produce mediocre meals to fill you up from meal A to meal B but, it seems to me, make each meal a celebration of it components. The tacos are awesome, and I have have a couple different preparations of walleye that have been great, interesting, and exciting. I guess I got a little long winded. Bottom line: This place is great and not because it occupies the place that used to be the BHI but stands alone on merits of its own.
(5)Sandra J.
Taking the Bus up to Mission Table from our hotel, you fall in love with greenery from the trees. We came to Mission Table formally Bowers Harbor Inn to celebrate our friends wedding. Mission Table has a old barn feeling when you enter. They make their own spirits and wine which was nice. The vodkas were strong but the peninsula red was incredible. not to dry but not to sweet. The food was very good but since I was eating with the wedding I didn't get to experience the menu as a regular visitor would. I had the chicken dish and Dan had the steak option, but were quite tasty and not dry. Again I cannot comment on the full menu. The scenery is beautiful and the wines are nice so I would recommend for a romantic dinner when in Traverse City, MI.
(4)Brad D.
Great local artisan dinner and spectacular local craft beer, and wonderful local micro-distillery cocktails, and incredible local wine. OK, so you can tell I loved my trip to Mission Table. I have been in love with The Bowers Harbor Inn for years, so I was sad to see it go away. But, the new Mission Table is just perfect. I loved everything about my experience at Mission Table. The view, the atmosphere, the service, and most importantly all of the local offerings I mentioned above. It feels good to support local farmers, brewers, distillers, and wine makers!
(5)E H.
The Mission Table's vision reflects two major trends in restaurants: highlighting local ingredients and small plates. Our group of 8 adults and 5 kids went in the height of summer (August). If you can't produce good food in the peak of harvest season, you won't be able to do it at all. We got a sample of small plates to share: beets, a caprese salad, pork belly (off the tasting menu), and asparagus with poached egg. All the veggies had great flavor but the beets were cut too small to get a good sampling. The pork belly, although supposedly Kurobuta, lacked the unctuousness and depth of flavor I expected. For mains, many of us got the grass-fed beef and whitefish dishes. I didn't get a chance to taste the whitefish dishes but my steak was cooked correctly. You'd be surprised at how many restaurants can't do a rare steak. Unfortunately, it lacked a lot of beefy flavor I'm used to with grass-fed beef. Our server, though very nice, didn't know the variety of pork and whether the beef was grass-fed or corn-fed without consulting the kitchen. When a restaurant bills itself as promoting local cuisine, I expect the servers to be able to answer questions about the source of the food. They act as agents to help connect the diner with the food. Bottom line, the veggies shine at this restaurant. The meat dishes are disappointing. And the servers should be better versed in what they are serving. One of the better meals I had in Traverse City but could be much more.
(3)Ira L.
Having eaten at the sister restaurant Jolly Pumpkin the last two nights, our group decided to give the Mission Table a try. The first nice surprise was that they served all the same Jolly Pumpkin beers, wines, and spirits, which are outstanding. At Mission Table I had a beer they call the Humongous, which is definitely one of the best beers I've had in my life. Onto the food. The menu is divided into about 2/3 small plates and 1/3 full dinner portions. The small plates were all so exciting and unique that among our group of 10 people, most of us ordered several small plates, some of which we declared we would share around the table and some which we would hoard for ourselves. This was a great way to enjoy the Mission Table's offerings, which included Braised Natural Beef Cheek Tacos, Stuffed Squash Blossoms, Grilled Rosemary Lambchops, a Smoked Whitefish Dip to die for, and the most inventive BLT I've ever seen, that was served open-faced and had Tempura Bacon (yes, Tempura Bacon). The small plates were passed around the table and devoured quickly. The service was very efficient and informative. Now if only we didn't live in California...
(5)Tim N.
This is one of my favorite placed in TC. The setting is very nice, the view is great and the food is delicious. Service is always excellent.
(5)H G.
Maybe part of the problem was that I'd been looking forward to eating here again for a whole year, since the blueberry mojitos and appetizers we had on the patio last year were so perfect. This time, on our annual trip to the Traverse City area, the drinks were OK, but the food was just average, and the atmosphere was wanting. Though it was a gorgeous day, we nixed eating on the patio because of the loud, jangly rock music blaring there, which 1) we didn't like and 2) would have made conversation a challenge. Inside, some nice classical or low-key jazz would have enhanced the beautiful surroundings, but no. Though the person who took my phone reservation weeks earlier had asked whether it was a special occasion and I'd told her it was our anniversary, nobody mentioned it and the restaurant did nothing. So why ask? Would an amuse-bouche in honor of a special occasion kill profits? In contrast to prior years, the food was nothing to rave about. My sweetbreads were OK and came atop some nice mixed baby greens, but I'd have been happier with more greens and fresh tomato accompaniments and fewer sweetbreads (note to Mission Table bean counters: this revision would enhance your profits, too). My husband's flatiron steak was tough and not very tasty, so he didn't finish it. Our daughter's scallop/chorizo appetizer was OK, but, again, nothing to rave about. The desserts, OTOH, were tip-top, but didn't make up for the rest of the meal. With regret, we won't be back.
(2)Alyssa R.
Mission's Table is one of those places you read about and you plan and make sure you get there. I have attempted to go here many times and they were closed, it wasn't the right season, so on and so forth. So, when I finally made it there with some friends I was sooooooo excited. They are located in the same building adjoined to Jolly Pumpkin in a beautiful spot located on the peninsula. It's a great drive on sunny summer day. The water glows of blues and turquoises and you wonder how you ever lived your life not being there. Mission's table is a more upscale dining establishment. I wouldn't wear my flip flops and bathing suit here, but I doubt they would turn you away. They are used to having summer vacationers I'm sure, but this is a place where you get course meals and it just seems like bad etiquette to show up like you just came off the beach. We ended up getting a bottle of wine and sharing small portions. Every single thing that we order was absolutely amazing. Cooked to perfection! We ordered the following: Risotto - summer squash, leeks, serrano ham, wisconsin parmesan Arugula salad - apples, feta cheese, dried cherries, white balsamic Roasted red potatoes Duck (which was amazing! And doesn't look like it's on the men currently) Soup - I can't remember what kind If you are in Traverse City and it's the right season AND you are foodie you should get here. You will not be disappointed in the food or the sights. :) It's $$$$ so bring your big bills.
(4)Dean K.
I was with a party of 5 and we all really enjoyed our food. I thought the gnocchi was quite good and I have never had better scallops. There was really no room for improvement. However, because of the service, I will not return. Our server kept us hostage while he talked about himself and his life story before even taking our drink order. Then he pretty much made himself scarce the rest of the evening. No one was offered a refill on wine or non-alcoholic beverages. I had a tonic with lime and it was gone with my appetizer and that was that. When it was time to use the restroom I went to the bar area to ask for directions and then just stood there because there were no employees in sight for the longest time, even at the hostess stand. We waited forever to get the check while our waiter waltzed around the room visiting with his other two tables and then, when we were leaving, I held the door for an empty-handed outdoor server who walked through without even acknowledging me or touching the door. Sadly, the terrific food simply did not make up for the poor service experience since there are places where you can have great food AND service in TC.
(2)Eric W.
Good food and excellent service. Recommend sitting outside on the patio and food-wise, the pork tenderloin. Rabbit salad was just not quite right. They have a great selection of beers by north peak ( they have Maylem and Humongous - not even north peak itself has those) and jolly pumpkin. Wines by the glass are good value.
(4)Maria P.
Incredible experience all around. Beautiful decor and ambience, definitely upscale, but not pretentious. Food knocked our socks off, especially the fresh corn soup, smooth and velvety and so delicious, also unlike anything we've ever had. Beet salad was simple, gorgeous and sublime. The Kobe NY strip steaks were nothing short of spectacular. The best steak experience in my life to date, hubby concurred. Wonderful staff. Looking forward to our next visit!
(5)Kristin F.
I am so glad Jolly Pumpkin was busy on Saturday night! We arrived a little after 8 and opted to dine at Mission Table instead of the old fave, Jolly Pumpkin. We headed over to the dimly lit, updated and upscale version (of what used to be Bower's Harbor Inn) next door. I love this place because it still has the old feel with chic touches. Our waiter was Raj- he joked around, was extremely informative, and easy going. He didn't seem to mind that we took forever to actually look at the menu, let alone order. He helped us pick out salads (mine was a beautiful and delicious ricotta cheese salad) by basically suggesting one for the both of us. I ordered the scallops which were phenomenal. For dessert we split the apple brownie... delish. I sipped coffee as we took our time talking in the now-empty restaurant, and were there until they turned the lights up on us. Oops! We easily spent 2.5 hours there. It's just so inviting! The restrooms are upstairs, and in the big empty space I was a tad scared since apparently Ms. Ghost lurking ;) but she didn't creep on me this time around. In case you didn't know, there's a tale that Bower's Harbor is haunted. Just in time for Halloween: voices.yahoo.com/hauntin…
(4)Abigail P.
I want to start out by saying that I'm not usually one to complain about restaurants. I eat out a lot and, for the most part, the reviews I write are positive. So when I write a bad one, you know it's really bad. It really makes me sad that I cannot give this place a good review. I went into the experience with every intention of liking it. I just feel the need to write about the experience so the owners are aware. I went for dinner over the weekend with a date for a special occasion (birthday celebration). We made a reservation, but it wasn't needed; it was nearly dead on a Friday night, which, considering the busyness of the rest of the area on a Friday night in July, seemed pretty strange (red flag?). Right off the bat, we were kind of disappointed that they don't have any cocktail options other than the stuff they make. The liquors they make just aren't good in my opinion, which is a personal viewpoint. I've had their "whiskey" before and it's clear (weird) and just has an odd taste. I think the alcohol percentage is lower than "normal" in their spirits, also. Your other options are beers they make and a few wines from the area, so the bar selection is very minimal. If you're looking for a nice standard martini or something as a pre-dinner cocktail, there is no option. That obviously wasn't the worst part, but I wanted to note it; the worst part was the food. The food was mostly just bad, and not cheap, either. We started off with the gnocchi appetizer, which had a strange minty almost toothpaste taste to it- it was not good at all. In fact, it was downright gross, the flavors were just odd, and it almost made me feel too nauseous to try any of the other food. I mentioned this to the waiter and he kind of blew off my comment and didn't offer to do anything about it. OK then. We also had a cauliflower appetizer which was OK only, not much flavor or anything special about it. We then had salads which were decent-ish but pricey. I had the Burrata, which was like $14, and you got a tiny piece of cheese, some sad old looking greens, and two slices of tomato. My date had the blue cheese salad which was also just meh. For entrées, I had the scallops, which were by far the best thing we tried. My date had a fillet, which he had to send back twice, even though he's not that way AT ALL, and would usually rather just suffer than complain. The first time the steak was so overcooked it was impossible to eat. When it came back medium rare as he had requested, we then realized it was just not a good piece of meat. It was chewy and stringy and in no way tender, extremely disappointing for a $40 "fillet." The waiter offered to give us a free dessert since everything was bad, but the desserts were all weird. For example, there was something that had avocado and chocolate in it. Honestly, not one we even wanted to try for free on the menu. So, long story short, out of the six items we ordered: one was absolutely disgusting, one was completely inedible, three were merely so so (yet overpriced), and one was decent. We turned down free dessert because they all looked bad. I am adventurous and open-minded when it comes to dining out, and as a local I love to support the local farm to table type places, but this place was just not good. I don't understand why it has so many good reviews? Could it have possibly just been an off night for them? Did the chef quit? This restaurant is in a beautiful location, and has the potential to be really great, but it's not. Really disappointed in the food. Yuck. They may be better off just expanding Jolly Pumpkin brewery into this space. Two stars because I feel too bad to give it one star for some reason.
(2)Arthur M.
We rolled up the dirt driveway and parked next to a Chevelle from the sixties. The parking lot sits directly next to wine vineyards. I imagined the old muscle car belonging to one of the Old Mission wine barons. Mission Table, housed in a historic, sprawling building that renowned Michigan breweryJolly Pumpkin calls home as well, could not have been more cozy. There were comfortable chairs beside a roaring fire. The dining room had its own fireplace, and windows on the lake. My girlfriend and I loved the food here, one of the best meals I have had in Michigan. Mission Table pairs classic technique with local ingredients, and the resulting dishes are high quality and flavorful. We had lake trout in a light, acidic tomato broth, and steak in a rich sauce of beef shortribs. The locally grown vegetables were shining, at this time of harvest. My girlfriend enjoyed her cocktail. An interesting part of the restaurant is that they make all their own beer (Jolly Pumpkin), wine and spirits. Right before the entrees arrived, the sun burst through the grey pall blanket of clouds on its descent. The bottoms of the clouds caught pink reflections. The resulting contrast was so surprisingly beautiful many of the diners, including me, stopped eating to step outside and see.
(5)Michael B.
My wife and I enjoyed dinner here recently on a weekend visit to Traverse City. We were seated outside on a perfect summer evening, with a nice view of the West Bay. The setting was stellar. The food and service were also great. I had the duck confit while my wife enjoyed the short ribs, and both were excellent. Our only wish is that Mission Table offered wines from outside of Michigan......they are completely loyal to locally produced wine. Lastly, the connection to Jolly Pumpkin is an added benefit. We paid a visit to their taproom prior to dinner and it was also a great experience.
(5)Hannah W.
Nice venue, but the meal left something to be desired. Had the gnocchi and some foodie form of nachos for appetozers, which were both good. The entrees (pork for me, scallops for my husband) were good, but neither featured a vegetable. Also, both were quite salty. We got a the rye bread with creme fraiche and avocado fudge for dessert, but the bread was dry and the avocado fudge was quite strange. Staff and view were both lovely.
(3)Adam O.
Had eaten here a few years ago when up on vacations in the area and it had always left an impression. Had my first smoked whitefish dip ( the Northern Michigan staple ) here and loved it ever since. Beautiful old building on Old Mission that always provokes a feeling of place. Ate here to begin our recent honeymoon while staying at a local winery and loved the experience. Shared the updated smoked whitefish and a deep fried cauliflower/romanesco with a garlic aioli that it could have used more of. Followed that up with the best bowl of cassoulet I've ever had. Impossibly comforting. Ended with the best dessert of our entire trip (with multiple meals at Cook's House and Trattoria Stella) called the Walt Jr. Some type of pie/torta made of layers of tortilla/pastry? Defies description and incredible taste and texture. Wine list encompassing many of the bottles you can find right down the street but with mark-ups that can make buying it hard to stomach. Fortunately, the on-site Jolly Pumpkin satisfies any and all imbibing needs. A constant winner for years now.
(5)Annette J.
Full disclosure--I haven't had a meal here but I still had a wonderful evening that I will remember fondly! Came here still totally full from a crazy brunch so despite the fact that we had planned to sample some food and everything on the menu looked amazing (especially that small plate of scallops! Sigh) we stuck with cocktails and beer on the patio. And BOY, what a patio! How much better can you get than a lovely wooden patio (with fire pit, although it wasn't running during our visit) placed in a wooded area overlooking the bay. It's the ideal spot to spend a cool summer night with a drink in one hand and the sunset coming down in front of you. LOVE. The cocktail I had was scrumptious. It was a lovely vodka cocktail with lemon and thyme that wasn't overly sweet and had the right amount of citrus/herb balance. The beers on tap were from the next door neighbor Jolly Pumpkin and their pard'ner in beer crime North Peak, so it was indeed tasty. The prices were reasonable, the view was amazing, and the staff was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better evening for casual conversation (and a heated game of Trivial Pursuit Steal). Can't wait for my next trip up north, this is first on my list to try for food since we didn't get the pleasure this time around.
(4)Stephanie M.
Service is ghastly! Hostess sat my party of 5 in a 4 top in the corner of the room, wedging us between a 5 too n another full 4 top. When inquired about the empty 4 near the entrance, by a couple she said it was reserved in that order. We has reserved our seats as well but an experienced hostess wouldn't have had a trouble relocating us. Sure enough, the next reservation that sat down was a 2 top. The seat was drafty and really unpleasant to be airting in. Given my precarious seating arrangement, I was the 5th awkwardly protruding out of the head of table, inches from the person behind me. I was constantly bumped by the servers going in and out of the server station! Then the server was a complete jerk. He was very sarcastic and acted like a smart ass (pardon the language). I wasn't feeling well so I requested to have a soup for my entree. He huffed and moved on to the next person at the table. The silverware I got was mismatched. My table all had matching silver and I got the proper knife with 2 forks that look like it should've been at a diner! I requested the soup to be an entree so I could at least dine with my friends and it came out as an appetizer! How hard is it to do it right? Not to mention, he completely forgot my friend's order, brought out an extra order of something else. This is all after confirming with us our order beforehand. I had about enough so I explained to the manager the whole debacle that had occurred within the first 15 minutes of us arriving. She was completely understanding and more than accommodating due to the bad experience. She moved us to the lounge section of the restaurant, giving us our own room practically. Helped us mode our dinner that had then come out. The second manager then came out and made sure our dinner was better. We also got a new server since who was much more competent! He was nice and personable. The only saving grace for this place is its food and the turnaround the managers were able to arrange. so therefore they are receiving a 4 stars for that.
(4)Teresa P.
We were disappointed in Mission Table; the least favorite of all the meals we had during our recent annual trip to Traverse City. It's definitely not what it used to be when it was Bower's Harbor Inn. Bower's had much more attention to detail and a sense of history. When one of the servers commented that "Genevieve" was there as papers flew out of her hands, I think many newcomers may not even know who Genevieve (resident ghost) was had they not been there in the past. The current menu doesn't even tell her story, which was part of the allure of going there. Cocktails were very nice. As for the meal, the Roasted Beet Salad was simply incredible and super fresh, but everything went south from there. My steak, which was ordered "medium" was well-done and very salty. When I showed the waiter the dry pieces and mentioned it was not cooked as requested, he made no effort to make any kind of amends. To his credit, he did a fine job otherwise. Dessert, however, was the worst imaginable... a mediocre peanut butter cookie backed by a fatty, sugared slice of bacon, and set over a rotten, frozen banana ice milk coated in some kind of red sauce. Repulsive! If it were my establishment I would seriously question the pastry chef's skills. It seems like the new Chef/Owner is just riding on the success of the attached Jolly Pumpkin. We've done a lot of "farm to table" dining as Mission Table claims to be, but the bar definitely needs to be raised if they expect people to drive all the way up the Mission Peninsula with all the other amazing Traverse City dining options. I want Mission Table to succeed because some of my best & earliest memories of Traverse were at Bower's, so I hope my comments are taken constructively.
(3)Mark R.
Have been looking forward to this for awhile, as my wife and I love good restaurants. But, after being sat (with reservations) nobody showed up for 15 minutes. We thought of leaving and when the waiter finally came? We expressed our unhappiness; his response was to walk away. So we left and had a great meal elsewhere. Fuck Mission Table; we all deserve better.
(1)Morron F.
Excellent atmosphere and food. A nice out of the way place with character, a view and great food. I enjoyed a ribeye which was perfectly cooked and truly delicious. Certainly worth the ride from T.C. Its the kind of place that you want to go back to so you can share it with friends.
(5)Pamela F.
This lakeside setting in a grove of trees on West Grand Traverse Bay can't be beat. The dining room is a mix of rustic chic craftsman furniture, big stone hearth, rich wood beams and expansive lake views. Started the evening with three glasses of wine from 2 Lads winery (pricey but good at $11 a pop for pinot noir -- and yes, Michigan actually delivers a respectable pinot. Thanks chef Piombo at Nonna's for the tip). Although we were there during peak season, the dining room was nearly empty, about half of the outside tables filled. Not sure if it's the price point or the distance from downtown Traverse City (about half an hour north) My roasted beet salad was incredible flavor mix: sweet/salty juicy beets, pickled paper-thin shaved radishes (need to learn to make those) and the creamiest goat cheese from local farm I've ever tasted on bed of mixed greens lightly dressed in a vinaigrette. Oh. My. Gosh. $9. I wanted to taste the house-made spirits, but the vodka martini was harsh (I'm a Greygoose or Chopin girl), not smooth. What followed was anticlimactic. The tomato basil risotto was bland and a bit watery. The marscapone barely discernible, the parmesan a whisper. This is farm to table and the tomatoes came in very late up here this year which may explain the diminutive thumbnail piece of tomato. Skip this at $9. I wanted to taste locavore cuisine and ordered the treaty lake trout, which was prettily plated but oddly dry, served on a bed of fingerling potatoes in "ramp butter" a wild onion, leek. Sounded great but couldn't taste it. $26. The husband's maple brined pork tenderloin was a hit, served with smashed redskins at $23. Dinner for two with one drink came in at $110. Pre-dinner drink $30. Not quite worth the price.
(3)Brandi P.
We sat out on the patio for dinner on a Friday night. I'd definitely recommend making reservations! I think there was some type of wedding rehearsal or something going on that night too. I had the strawberry and rhubarb mojito to start and it was really good! Next up was the small plate pork butt gnocchi, and oh my goodness was it fantastic! The pork butt was so tender and really good, and the gnocchi was the best I've had! Last up was the chicken entree. I didn't think it would top the gnocchi but it did! The fried chicken was tender and juicy but not fried too much. The bacon kale might have been my favorite thing though! The cheddar grits were yummy too. The service was good, and our waiter was very good at explaining the dishes so we could decide what to get. Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)Tracy K.
The BEST restaurant in Traverse City! Creative menu, great views of the lake from the patio. If you want a restaurant away from the crowds of downtown Traverse City, head here! Very relaxing and romantic. I have visited the last two times I was in the area and will come back every time I visit Michigan.
(5)