Modern Bird Named One of America's Best Restaurants

Modern Bird has been named one of the 50 best restaurants in America in 2025 by The New York Times - the only Michigan restaurant to make the list this year.

In the article, The New York Times said the following of the downtown TC restaurant: "In Traverse City, where the farm-to-table scene is strong, the chef Andy Elliott plays with textures in ways that leave a lasting impression. He runs this perch with his wife, Emily Stewart; they met while working at Boka in Chicago, and she makes the breads and desserts. Each dish calibrates contrasts, using local produce from the Leelanau Peninsula. Trout roe and genmai add pop and crunch to a plate of fat, grilled asparagus swimming in smoked mushroom sauce. Walleye, a staple of menus up north, is reimagined here as a fried roulade filled with a mousse made of walleye scraps. The fish medallions alone are creamy, crunchy and fresh, but Mr. Elliott layers more, serving them on a housemade red mole and showering them with popcorn, onions, chiles and cilantro. It sounds over the top, but it works."

In a post reacting to the news, Modern Bird said the restaurant was "so proud of our team today" for being included on the list. Modern Bird opened at 541 West Front Street in 2022.