Joe's Friendly Tavern

Whether it's Christmas or the Fourth of July, Joe's Friendly Tavern in Empire is the perfect place to nosh.

Today, we venture out to the heart of "America's Most Beautiful" locale: the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Most visitors to the Grand Traverse region will make this tiny trek at some point during their stay, as they should. This part of Northern Michigan is not to be missed. Equally as do-not-miss is the little beach town nestled within the park's various scenic attractions: Empire. This is the sort of place where you can snag an ice cream cone after a wander downtown from the Lake Michigan shoreline, cross the street, rent a stand up paddle board and head back out onto the water. 

Yeah. Summer, winter, fall, spring; it makes no difference. You need to check out Empire.

Comfortable, familiar and good. Friendly's in Empire is a grand place to kick back.

Whilst checking out Empire and its severely majestic surroundings, I'm sure that you'll get a bit hungry and perhaps a little thirsty. Well, as always, I have the perfect solution for you! Let's chat a bit about Joe's Friendly Tavern in Empire, shall we?

After the Sleeping Bear Dunes adventures are through, Friendly's is read to serve up some satisfying fare!

Joe's Friendly Tavern, known locally as "Friendly's", is the ideal meal destination for the famished nature lover. Why is that, you ask? Well! Let me tell you!

A full bar will take away any aches or pains from a day spent conquering nature.

Hiking, beaching and all other manner of adventuring take a lot out of a person! Friendly's is here to help you put that "a lot" back. How do they do it? Well, they start with some fun appetizers. These range in price from $7 to $12. I tend to gravitate toward either the chicken livers (breaded, deep fried crispy, served with onions and Granny Smith apples - don't knock it til you try it!) or the Vietnamese eggrolls (handmade locally!). 

From there, the menu launches into their salad selection. You'll find prices ranging from $6 to $13. My favorite leafy choice is the Quinoa salad (fresh romaine hearts topped with dried cherries, pecans and quinoa, served with a pear Gorgonzola vinaigrette).

Private booths or wide open tables, you choose at Friendly's in Empire.

For me, the best part of this menu is the burger section. I'm always a sucker for a lovely slab of ground meat on a bun, and these guys know their stuff. Some of the best burgers of my life have come from Friendly's. Now, is this opinion shaped a bit because each time I have dined here it has been after some strenuous and fun outdoors adventure? Perhaps. But, these burgers are delicious nonetheless!

Burgers here range in price from $7 to $14. The Texan comes topped with Friendly's homemade chili, a local favorite. The Bleu Cheese Burger is out of this world. The County Fair Burger is topped with chili cheese fries. The Rodeo Joe is flooded with outstanding BBQ sauce and the Surf and Turf is perfect. There is no doubt in my mind, you can not go wrong when choosing from this menu! (Please only hold me to that promise if you take your burgers medium rare or less)

Local beer, like this North Peak Diabolical, is always a hot selling point for me!

Along with the burgers comes an assortment of other menu sections. Those include the sandwiches, ranging in price from $8 to $13 (try the Dagwood!), the dinners, ranging in price from $15 to $16 (you can't go wrong with the Campfire Whitefish), the Mexican section, with prices ranging from $12 to $14 (go for Joe's Wet Burrito) and an excellent selection of breakfast options for fueling up before starting a long, adventurous day. Breakfast options are vast and range fro $4 to $8.

And, do not neglect the bar! This is a "tavern" after all. Nothing brings a hard earned day of fun to a close better than a local brew! These guys are particularly proud of their root beer, FYI.

The food at Friendly's in Empire is tasty and filling, perfect for the on-the-go adventurer!

Joe's Friendly Tavern in Empire is, without a doubt, vacation food. This is the stuff that would find its way into our stomachs when dad was driving. It's tasty, it's hearty and it's a perfect complement to a day spent conquering nature!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)

Art's Tavern

This is the ultimate "local's" dining experience on the Leelanau Peninsula!

Let me tell you about my favorite area here in Northern Michigan. When I'm in the mood to escape the hustle and bustle of Traverse City in the summer, I hit the Empire area. What do I love most about the Empire area? Well, it's got nature (the most beautiful place in America!) and I love to get outside! It's got some amazing beaches, in fact, these beaches are some of the most pristine and breathtaking in the world! It's got perfect little towns with hundreds of activity choices.

And it's got Glen Arbor! What do they have? Art's Tavern!

Whether eating inside or el fresco, Art's Tavern is the place to be!

What is this Art's Tavern, you ask? Well, ask any local and they will regale you with a tale of Art or his tavern. This place, located in the middle of Glen Arbor's picturesque downtown on idyllic M-22. Art's Tavern has been around for over 75 years. To say that Art's is a Northern Michigan mainstay is an understatement. Art's has a loyal legion of followers from both the local and visiting populations. This joint is a must visit, their t-shirts a must buy. You have not experienced Northern Michigan, let alone Glen Arbor, unless you have experienced Art's Tavern!

The decor is extremely unique at Art's, complete with a pool table that rises from the floor.

Let's get this out of the way: A common complaint with Art's is that the decently priced sandwiches do not include any sides (fries, onion rings, etc.). After one orders a sandwich, fries and a drink, there is the possibility of spending around $12 or $14 on the one plate. While that is a bit more expensive than most comparable establishments, you will certainly find that the price is well worth the product! Not only have you just noshed and supped on one of the best pub menus in the area, you've just experienced Art's Tavern, and that will give you some amazing props with the true Northern Michigan crew! Congrats!

Art's Tavern does libations well!

Now that you know the catch that many local establishments have when tourist season comes to town, let's get to the food, yo!

As you can see from picture above, Art's Tavern is home to many a wonderful brew and other libation. These choices pair well with the extensive menu of pub favorites.



The varied menu at Art's Tavern has something for everyone.

First up on that menu are the appetizers. One can spend $3-$12 on a starter, depending on your choice. Some highlights from this section include Super Clams (big and tender, battered and fried, served with cocktail sauce), Whitefish dip (savory mix of Whitefish, cream cheese, capers and spices blended together to create a unique Northern Michigan favorite, served with warm flat bread crackers), a chilled shrimp cocktail and deep fried mushrooms. Much more is available on this section, all equally as tasty!

Next are the salads. Expect to spend about $8-$10 on this section, unless you want coleslaw, that's only about $3. Art's Tavern features the usual suspects when it comes to salads with one savory exception: the crancherry salad (assorted mixed greens with a touch of red cabbage, dried cranberries, dried cherries, feta cheese, tossed with their homemade black cherry vinaigrette).

And the bar has something for everyone too!

Next, the menu offers up Art's Sandwiches. A couple of highlights here include the Whitefish burger (minced Whitefish blended with savory spices, hand pressed and grilled, served on a wheat bun with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce), the Great Lakes Perch (deep fried perch on a fresh baked roll served with tartar sauce and lemon) and the Rachel (thinly sliced oven roasted turkey, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing, served on grilled sunflower rye). One can expect to spend anywhere from $5-$10 on a sandwich.

An Art's Tavern favorite is up next, the burgers! Burgers range from $8-$12. Highlights include a double decker Art's burger, a bleu burger and an Art's surf and turf (made with burger and smelt). Love it!

The outside bar makes for a convenient outdoors dining experience.

Dinner entrees include seafood and "from the broiler" sections, with my favorites being the crusty Whitefish (Whitefish dusted with parmesan and corn flakes, sauteed to a golden brown) and the petite ribeye. Entrees run from $13-$20.

Art's Tavern also offers a grand selection of pizzas and south of the border fare. These range from $11-$17.

Don't forget to grab an iconic Art's Tavern t-shirt!

Hungry for more? Want some Art's in the AM? Well! Luckily for you, Art's does breakfast as well! Don;t miss their ribeye and eggs, good god that's delish! There're also a huge selection of omelets and waffles/pancakes/French toast options. In my humble opinion, Art's is at its best during breakfast, but that's just me, I'm a breakfast kinda guy! And no worries, side orders are plentiful as well. The wide selection of breakfasts range from $6-$10.

Last, but certainly not least, are Art's desserts! They serve up Moomer's Ice Cream, the best ice cream in America (really, there was a vote!). This place is the place to be on a hot summer's day. Nothing helps you recover from that better than a Boston Cooler! Desserts range from $6-$7 each.

I love this place!

Why? Because, for me, Art's Tavern in Glen Arbor rounds out a trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes or the shops of Glen Arbor or the many hidden beaches of the Leelanau Peninsula so well! It maintains that "escape" atmosphere for a bit longer. It allows you to relax in a booth, sip on some great local brews and lose yourself in conversation with friends and strangers alike. It helps that exhausted-from-the-sun feeling sink in at a comfortable pace. And when you leave, you leave happy.

The next time you're in Glen Arbor, hit up Art's Tavern! You won't be sorry!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)

Lake Street Cafe

Lake Street Cafe within Oryana Natural Foods Market on 10th Street in Traverse City.

When you’re talking local food, the kind that comes straight from the farm to your plate, most Traverse City-ites know just the place to fill up their grocery carts with organic, locally sourced fare - Oryana.

But, when it comes to filling up your stomach with those same local, organic choices, Oryana Natural Foods Market, at 260 East Tenth Street in Traverse City, is not the first place that pops into the minds of most. Well, it should be.

Tucked toward the back of Oryana is the Lake Street Café, a vegan’s dream come true! Of course, the café offers a little something for everyone as well.

Lake Street Cafe is a great place to chill with some eccentric folk in the midst of a hectic day.

Nowadays, “healthy” is a word that is tossed around on MANY menus. For the love of God, even McDonalds has so-called healthy options on its menu! Obviously, many of these health claims need to be taken with a grain of salt…..only a grain, mind you, because salt will certainly ruin the health benefits of any meal!

Along with “healthy” comes “organic.” This term is also a bit loose when it comes to various folks’ interpretation. Many establishments claim that their food is organic, wholesome and real. Free of dyes, steroids, hooves, hormones, torture and religion. Many people who make these claims are, shall we say, stretching the truth a bit.

For those of you out there who absolutely adore a local experience, but want that experience to also be truly organic, or perhaps your diet (vegan, vegetarian, etc.) may have ruled your experience in other truly local undertakings out entirely, Lake Street Café is the place for you!

Pre-made selections, soups, chips and ordering from their extensive lunch menu are all available at this Traverse City restaurant.

There is an interesting mix of humanity patronating Oryana and, thus, Lake Street. From Hippies to hairdressers, pot heads to politicians, fanatics to physicians, you will find a little bit of everything within this celebrated co-op’s walls. Each and every person I just described, and all of those which I did not, will find something to love about Lake Street’s menu.

This menu is perfect for a Traverse City summer. The dining in options are great; comfy tables and large windows offer amazing views of the surrounding neighborhood and grand people watching opportunities. From time to time, a spontaneous live music show springs up and the place turns truly Bohemian!

Most folks choose to grab a few items off of Lake Street Cafe's tempting menu.

But, as I just wrote, the hippies and hipsters (and all in between) love utilizing this yummy little café for their outdoor adventures. Nothing rounds out a trip to the beach or to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore quite like a sundried tomato pesto tuna sandwich!

The menu is simple, yet full of fun and fancy! Coffee and espresso drinks share paper space with Light Of Day tea offerings and house made chai.

Juice, made with organic fruits and vegetables, is also a popular takeaway item, as are the smoothies, both options are some of my favorite before-the-hike fare. I suggest trying the Green Lemonade (Apple, lemon, celery, kale and ginger) or the Michigander (Banana, apple juice and Michigan grown blueberries, strawberries and cherries) if you’re about to hit the trail! Great energy food, that! The Superior (Dates, avocado, goji berries, cherries, blueberries, banana and apple juice) and The Flu Shot (a shot of carrot, lemon and ginger) are two other very popular selections. For those of you journeying north for our town’s lovely annual Cherry Festival, make a quick stop off at Lake Street and pick up a Cherry Ginger smoothie (cherries, ginger, banana and apple juice) to sip on whilst walking around downtown and matching wits with carnies.

Lake Street is certainly great for an energy meal in a cup, but that’s not the only draw by any means!

Working their foodie magic behind the counter are some of Oryana's trademark (and awesome) hippie folk.

As I alluded to earlier, this is the place to go when you need to stock up your picnic basket.

Sandwiches, wraps, paninis, soups, crackers, chips and more are readily available at Lake Street, along with some amazing cheeses! Oryana is an outstanding grocery store with a huge variety of choices that will make for an outstanding lunch amongst nature.

Some of the highlights of their menus, at least for me, include:

Sandwiches: Hot To Trot Vegan (dill tofu salad, spicy pickled veggies, red onion, sprouts and tomato on North Country bread) and Lemon Parmesan Chicken (local baked chicken, lettuce, tomato and lemon parmesan sauce on focaccia bread).

Wraps: North End Veggie (avocado, cucumber, tomato, red onion, sprouts and lettuce with sundried tomato hummus or roasted red pepper cream cheese) and Smoked Turkey Apple (local smoked turkey, apple, red onion, Swiss cheese, sunflower seeds, lettuce and cherry honey mustard).

Panini: Reuben with Tempeh (tempeh or local smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread) and Grilled PB&J or PB&B (peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter, honey and banana on North Country bread).

Lake Street Café also offers day-trippers a treat for the pocket book!

Drinks range from $2-$6.50 and sandwiches, wraps and paninis range in price from $4.95-$9.

Dine in or take out, Lake Street Cafe in Oryana is tailor made for the Traverse City lifestyle.

Dining in or taking out, this place is quintessentially northern Michigan. It is an awesome stop off after a day of exploring, the perfect locale for filling up the backpack or picnic basket and the ideal place to meet up with friends or just chill by yourself in the midst of errand running.

 Healthy, local, organic and tasty too! Lake Street Café is the place to hit up if you're heading out for sure!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)