Food
Your Summer 2026 Restaurant Guide
Seven eateries to explore in northern Michigan
By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | July 18, 2026
For summer dining, you may want the lively bustle of a food truck, the cool quiet of a steakhouse, or the light and bright ambiance of a riverside bar. Perhaps you’re hungry for a creative small plate, a healthy snack, or a slice of pie. Maybe you just want something you can’t find anywhere else in town, like a raw bar or Korean BBQ. Good news for any of the cravings above: … Read More >>
A Little Whimsy Goes a Long Way at Acorn Kitchen
Fun and food meet in this TC eatery
By Lourin Sprenger | July 18, 2026
Seven months after opening its doors, Acorn Kitchen already feels like the kind of neighborhood spot that’s been part of Traverse City for years. Tucked inside the Atomic Marketplace off Cass Street, the restaurant is equal parts gastropub and culinary playground, serving everything from shawarma to inventive weekly specials that are the brainchild of owner and chef Zachary Anderson. “I’ve always wanted this,” Anderson says of Acorn Kitchen. “Ever since I was … Read More >>
Nine Food Trucks to Try This Summer
Mexican, Japanese, Polish, Jamaican, and other cuisines await across the North
By Rachel Pasche | July 18, 2026
Northern Michigan has a robust food truck scene, with entire food truck courts in places like The Little Fleet in Traverse City and the Back Lot in Petoskey, where customers have their pick of cuisines. Even if you aren’t visiting one of those locations, you can still find exciting trucks with unique menus scattered throughout the region, serving up unique menu items and fresh flavors from around the world. Sabores Y Colores, … Read More >>
Sun-sational Summer Salads
Inside the Ingredients
By Nora Rae Pearl | July 18, 2026
No one wants to turn on the oven on a hot summer evening, so to accompany grilling and picnic days aplenty, we have tossed up two quick and refreshing salads to take on the go with you. For local ingredients, we love TLC Farms basil and lettuce. You can find them at a farmers market near you. When sweet corn comes into season, we recommend pulling over at the closest roadside stand … Read More >>
Songbird Provisions’ The Cinnamon Roll
Tastemaker
By Anna Faller | July 18, 2026
What defines the ultimate cinnamon roll? Does it melt in your mouth? Is it loaded with filling? Will you need a nap when you’re finished? If your answer is yes to all of the above, we’ve found your final pastry pursuit: it’s The Cinnamon Roll—capital “The”— from Songbird Provisions in Glen Arbor. Featuring a scratch-made dough that falls somewhere between fluffy brioche and milk bun (though the 24-hour minimum fermentation is non-negotiable), … Read More >>
Aurora Cellars’ Luminous
Bottoms Up
July 18, 2026
According to the winemaker notes on this semi-sweet white, “This wine is the ultimate oxymoron; It’s a planned improvisation. We always know what we want Luminous to be in terms of aromatic style and palate, but which of our vineyards the fruit comes from depends on how the vintage is developing.” Well, whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it perfectly! This wine is an ultimate summertime crowd-pleaser that will tempt dry and sweet … Read More >>
The GOAT of Michigan BBQ
Flannigan’s Goat is smoking up another summer of great eats
By Geri Dietze | July 11, 2026
We all have our favorite food trucks; in fact, it’s almost a personal relationship, a place where we can score our favorite foods, fresh as can be in a neighborhood near us. Flannigan’s Goat, the go-to source for Michigan BBQ, has set up at Short’s Pull Barn and Production Brewery in Elk Rapids for the summer. Sharing the patio with Flannigan’s is Osorio Tacos y Salsas, the family-owned purveyor of fresh, authentic … Read More >>
Goody’s Lobster Roll
Tastemaker
July 11, 2026
Believe it or not, you don’t have to fly across the country to get an excellent lobster roll, because Goody’s Lobster Shack of Frankfort is bringing the East Coast to you. This seasonal pop-up beside Goody’s Market is all about the New England seafood experience, and while the crab cakes and fish and chips are equally delectable, you have to try the Lobster Roll on your first visit. This summertime staple starts … Read More >>
Three Trees Vineyard’s Goat Shepherd
Bottoms Up
By Anna Faller | July 11, 2026
We don’t know about you, but we’re always on the hunt for a red wine suited for warm-weather sipping, and we’ve found our new favorite in The Goat Shepherd Cabernet Franc from Three Trees Vineyard in Suttons Bay. A selection from the 2024 harvest, this sustainably-farmed, estate-grown red was fermented and vinted in concrete for 12 months before maturing for an additional six in French oak barrels. The result? An approachable and … Read More >>
20 Burger Joints Up North
Take a bite out of these specialty burgers
By Geri Dietze | July 4, 2026
Summertime is burger time, whether it’s fresh off the grill in your backyard or at your favorite local burger joint. Many of you Northern Express readers might find your favorites on this (non-exhaustive) list from our 13-county coverage area, or perhaps you’ll treat this as an invitation to take a little drive and check out something new. Bon apetit! Alpine Tavern & Eatery | 220 S. Otsego Ave. #1, GaylordThe Pub Haus … Read More >>
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