Bradley's Pub and Grille

The more formal dining room at Bradley's Pub and Grille.

Popped collars, weird saunters with one hand partly in the pocket of some pastel colored short pant, raucous joking about holes and balls, and the smell of drying Bud Light. 

Seems to me that no matter how swanky the club, many golf course restaurants hold some or all of the above. Some adore that, some loathe it. Luckily for both, Bradley's has none of it - but also has quite a bit more!

A fun bar area with plenty to drink and see!

Bradley's is located at the Interlochen Golf Club. This little gem of a course has seen its fair share of me. I've whacked balls on the driving range, downed brews in what was once the club gathering place, I even broke my driver head clean off here! An annoying day, that was.

Yet, despite all that history, I only just recently chose to experience the newly minted Bradley's. And I am glad that I did!

The aforementioned (or soon to be mentioned, whatever the case may be) beef tips.

My lovely wife, wiggly son, and I met my parents-in-law for dinner here. I had no idea what to expect. They bill themselves as a "pub and grille" and, while those two words excite me greatly, I understand that one must proceed with caution. Doesn't Applebees call itself a pub and grille? If so, my point is most excellently illustrated - yuck.

I have ventured into PLENTY of pubs and grilles and left feeling completely deflated....in the wallet....from the absolute robbery that just happened at the hands of the liars who had named the place.

The smoked salmon dip.

Not so at Bradley's. The chef here knows exactly what he is doing. He also knows that folks in these parts (read: people in this region) have come to expect excellence from their pub and grille set! 

Enough babbling. Let's talk food and drink!

First and foremost, the house brew is a lighter IPA made by Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City - one of my favorite breweries. It is most satisfying! If you happen upon a place in our region that counts Right Brain as their house brew maker, get it! Minerva's has the Park Ale, Sleder's has a cream ale. Boone's Long Lake Inn has another cream ale. All are excellent!

Starter salad and wine....with crayons!

Appetizers on the menu run the gamut. We were served the blackened beef tips -  a wondrous concoction consisting of Spanish rice cakes, blackened beef tips (hence the name, yeah?), diced roasted red peppers, cilantro ( my wife's favorite!) and shredded smoked cheddar cheese. There's a picture of these things on this blog somewhere. Read the captions and take a look! They were outstanding! We also partook of the smoked salmon dip, consisting of house smoked salmon whipped into cream cheese with chives, red pepper, and seasonings, served with pretzel toast points. Also divine!

The appetizer menu also features pulled pork nachos, southwest eggrolls, and more!

My lovely wife's feast of walnut crusted rainbow trout.

For dinner, one particular dish caught my eye - beer battered bluegill. As a kid, I would go fishing with my dad and catch a mountain of these tasty little fish (some not so little!). I wanted to take a trip down that memory lane. And so I did!

This dish features a half pound of pale ale beer battered bluegill drizzled with malt vinegar gastrique. It was served with roasted red skin potatoes and house slaw. I soon discovered that I had made an excellent decision!

Wings by the pound, walnut crusted rainbow trout, charbroiled beef tenderloin, smoked baby back pork ribs, and much much more was also to be found on that wonderful menu.

This be the Bluegill! Along with that Right Brain Brewery IPA.

A couple of tasty salad and sandwich choices rounded out the menu. And the wine and beer list, along with available mixed drinks, were quite extensive! With abundant local options. 

The views here are pure Michigan!

The ambiance of the joint is none to over the top. All windows look out onto the green rolling fields of golf, it even has a rive rolling through. The dining areas range from a bit more formal seating to the old standard of bellying up to the bar, which has a welcoming design and ambiance as well.

In short, Bradley's of Interlochen is a grand place to visit before that Interlochen Center for the Arts concert, after a round, or just because. Get there and try it for yourself!

Apache Trout Grill

Traverse City's Apache Trout Grill is the perfect spot to enjoy some Great Lakes bounty and beach side sitting!

There's something to be said for location. One could be supping on a delectable bit of Mahi Mahi and throwing back some supremely scrumptious local brew, but, if that one's view is a parking lot full of cars, that tantalizing dining experience certainly leaves one feeling as though something was missing......

At Apache Trout Grill in Traverse City, that problem plagues no diner.

The trendy, visually pleasing bar area is a grand spot to unwind....or wind up!

Apache Trout Grill, situated next door to the Grand Traverse Yacht Club, is certainly a favorite of the boating set. But it is by no means exclusive to the boating set. An upscale city grill ambiance mixes well with a slightly "lodge" type feel for indoor diners. In the warmer months, Apache has one of the best patios in Traverse City, complete with a full service tiki bar.

And the view, oh my, the view! In warmer months, sailboats rock back and forth as the sun glints lazily off of East Bay. The Old Mission Peninsula stretches out across the water and downtown Traverse City's skyline breaks the tree tops in the distance. This is one of Traverse City's best dining views, to be sure!

The fishing lodge decor isn't just for show here at Apache Trout Grill.

And, speaking of dining, these guys certainly do it right! As you'll notice in the pictures that accompany today's blog, they put out quite a spread for their Sunday Brunch, one of the best brunches in the Grand Traverse region.

But, on a day to day basis, these guys are none too shabby either!

Apache Trout Grill hosts one of Traverse City's best Sunday brunches.

Upon entering a place with "Trout" in the moniker, one has certain expectations. You won't be disappointed here at Apache!

The lunch menu is incredibly satisfying. I'll make it easy for you and name off a few highlights from each section.

And one of the best patios in Traverse City as well!

A favorite salad is the Baked Goat Cheese. It features crisp bacon, tomato, mixed greens  and toast points with fresh herb arugula pesto. This salad goes for $12.95. Salad prices on a whole range from $11.95-$14.

I am a sucker for crab cakes, and Apache Trout Grill knows their crab! This is why, when it comes to the Starter section, I always lay down the $10.95 needed to score their delicious crab cakes served with garlic aoli cream sauce. The starter menu is vast and varied. Its prices range from $7.95-$14.

"Apache Favorites" is a great section to order from for the beginning Apache enthusiast! I'd sample the Baja Shrimp Tacos. They're $10.95 and they come with two flour tortillas filled with lightly fried shrimp, salsa, sour cream, avocados, red onion, lettuce and swiss cheese, they also feature an avocado egg roll! "Apache Favorites" range from $9.95-$19.

For many folks the "Fish" portion of the lunch menu is always a hit, including me. Here, I go for the Parmesan Encrusted Whitefish (Lightly breaded Lake Superior filet deep fried, topped with Parmesan cheese with marinara sauce. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable) for $18.95 or the Rainbow Trout (pan fried filet with peppers, onions and feta cheese in a white wine sauce) also for $18.95. Fish prices range from $18.95 to $23.

Soup? No question. Always snag a bowl of the Shrimp and Lobster Bisque. $6.95. Good Lord, it's yummy!

Now, I'm not much of a pasta guy, but if you put some of Apache's Crab Cake over Six Cheese Sacchettini in front of me, I'm suddenly Italian! This feast consists of real crab meat (always important, no crab with a "K"!) sauteed crisp and placed in a lemon caper sauce over cheese filled Sacchettini....or Little Purses...for only $16.95! other pasta prices range from $14.95-$19.

The sandwich section is a popular lunch stop on the menu. I'd snag the Whitefish Sandwich, it's tasty and simple, $9.95. Sandwiches range from $8.95-$12 and come with french fries or cole slaw.

Finally, there's burgers! Try the Mighty Mack! It has Thousand Island dressing, sweet onions, shredded lettuce and Tillamook cheddar cheese. $10.95. You can't beat it! The other burgers range from $8.95-$11 and, again, come with fries or cole slaw.

The wine selection is grand and the beer list is large, if a bit light on local selection.

The dinner menu has much the same as the lunch menu. Differences being a few additional large plates. Of these, I thoroughly enjoy (and recommend) the Salmon Oscar under the Fish section (grilled salmon served with house bernaise sauce, a crab cake and asparagus) for $23.95 and the Seared Sea Scallops, also under Fish (seared scallops served with lemon caper buerre blanc) for $29.95.

A "Steaks" section is also new to the dinner menu. I'd suggest the Boursin Filet for $29.95 (an 8oz filet topped with boursin cake, mushroom cap and demi-glace). Other steaks range in price from $18.95-$30.

Another difference between the lunch and dinner menu is the addition of "Barbecue" to the dinner menu. The barbecue here is grand. Dishes in this section range from $15.95 for chicken breast to $23 for a full slab of ribs.

One of Traverse City's best (and only) tiki bars. There's nothing like sipping a Hurricane while watching your boat come in!

As would be expected from a joint like this, the wine lists and beer lists are extensive. Unfortunately, many of the beers are not exactly local, something that I think would thoroughly improve this already amazing beach side restaurant, but, oh well, I'll just saunter up to the tiki bar and order myself a tall glass of coconut rum and pineapple juice. Yuuuuummmmm.

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)