Slabtown Cafe

Slabtown Cafe (Burgers) in Traverse City, MI is the perfect stop for the family on the move....to the beach!

The windows are wide open, the sun is shining and my mug is sitting here next to me, sweating little beads of condensation, patiently awaiting my next sip of Short's Soft Parade, a right proper brew for the Summer! 

Another right proper part of Summer here in Traverse City is a sweet little spot just down the road and around the corner from my abode, Slabtown Cafe, otherwise known as Slabtown Burgers by us locals, possibly because of their slightly misleading sign. What is not misleading about this joint is the amazing food! 

Dine in or dine outside, it makes no difference. Traverse City's Slabtown Burgers is certain to please.

Now, dining in at this establishment is a true little local bit of fun. The atmosphere is fun, slightly cramped, but you tend to not mind, the people here are usually quite awesome. There's even a great porch and some picnic tables outside along Front Street and Spruce Street. The actual address of this place is 826 W. Front Street. Although the address is on Front Street, this burger stop is not downtown, it's actually across Division Street from downtown, right in the midst of the Slabtown neighborhood; my neighborhood. A great place to live! 2 blocks from the beach!

Slabtown Burgers, a local mainstay of summertime in Traverse City.

Now, shall we get to it? The food!

We'll start with the sides and lesser plates. Here at Slabtown Burgers, if you're not into burgers, no worries, there's plenty to go around!

There's salads! How about a Traverse City Salad? It's got a bit of everything we love in our salads up here. Dried cherries (of course, cherry capital and all that), chicken, walnuts, red onion, blue cheese and a cherry vinaigrette. All for $6.95!

They've got hot dogs! A fun all beef 1/4 pound hot dog dressed with ketchup, mustard, relish and onion makes for a grand treat, especially at the dirt cheap price of $2.50. Yum! Beeeeeef!

Fancy a wrap? Slabtown has you covered! My favorite has to be a wrap that is aptly named for Summertime here in TC: The Hot Chick wrap. It's got grilled chicken, pepperjack cheese, jalepenos, grilled mushrooms, onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo. All that for only $7.25.

They've got sandwiches! Lovely offerings like the Big Bird will bring you the fuel you need for playing on the beach! It comes complete with sliced turkey, swiss, lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, mayo and homemade sweet Lincoln honey mustard sauce served on a bun. Again, great price: $5.25.

They've got fresh daily soups, local sodas, awesome shakes, and great extras like onion rings, chili cheese fries and some of the best fresh cut French fries around! Smother them in some vinegar and you're in heaven!

You can even snag a slab of ribs for $12.95. That comes with coleslaw and fries.

Summer is here. That means it's Slabtown time in Traverse City!

But, I'm not going to lie to you here, the main reason that folks visit Slabtown is for the burgers!

Their chalk boards are full of specialty bun contenders.

Highlights include the Big Blue Burger (bacon and blue cheese stuffed burger dressed with ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion, a personal favorite, for $4.95), JD's Half Baked (topped with bacon, cheddar, potato, ranch, ketchup and a pickle for $4.85), The West Side (burger stacked with ham, swiss, american cheese and mayo for $4.85) and Pungi's Pepper Patty (with jalapeno, cream cheese and bacon stuffed burger with pepper jack, ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion for $4.85). They even serve up a homemade black bean veggie burger for the unfortunate vegetarian that may inadvertently wander through the door.

Don't forget to grab a shake at Traverse City's Slabtown Burgers.

Bottom line, summer is about to hit the Grand Traverse region, and there is no better place to be during the summer than outside, am I right? Course I am! When you come to Traverse City, you're here for the downtown shopping, the State Theatre, the concerts and shows and, yes, the beaches, hiking, boating, climbing, biking and scenic driving that this perfectly picturesque locale affords the lucky traveller. What goes better with those activities than a transportable meal?

Now, I realize that this area has certain places that serve transportable "food" claiming to be a king, an arch, etc. This is NOT an acceptable form of nourishment. It is neither local, nor is it food. If you're here to experience TC, do it locally, immerse yourself in this amazing experience that is Traverse City!

And, if you truly love the part of a trip that allows you to let go and not care about your diet or health, grab the Double Bypass Bag from Slabtown and hit the trails! See you at the beach!

Bubba's of Traverse City

Riding a bike or walking, Bubba's of downtown Traverse City is perfectly placed for the summer lifestyle. 

I would be completely idiotic if I did not begin this blog with a hometown favorite here in Traverse City- Bubba's. 

It's not the fanciest joint in town, nor is it the priciest or the one with the most risks gracing its menu.  But, when it comes to fun people, delicious food and an atmosphere that can almost never be beaten, Bubba's is the place to be!

A welcoming atmosphere, great staff and fun menu welcome hungry folks into one of Traverse City's favorite eateries.

Nestled in the midst of downtown Traverse City's East side at 428 East Front Street, Bubba's is my preferred stop off after a long day of soaking up the sun or wandering the downtown shops. 

Bubba himself!

This is the man behind the vision, the late "Bubba."  The passion and fire that shows through in this photo is present within the wide reaching menu and drink selection. 

Now, the atmosphere is often quite jovial.  The staff and patrons mix and mingle to make for a fun, energy filled atmosphere.  Depending on who is in charge of the play list during your visit, you may hear bar rockin' blues, brilliant oldies, rock, Reggae or (my least favored) 80's R&B.  The noise level is most likely to be elevated a bit, but such is the personality of the place, especially as the night draws on.  Fear not, my friends, you too will be sucked into the energy of Bubba's!

Along with some great bar food and plated creations comes one of Traverse City's deepest reaching bars, able to whip up all manner of mixed drinks and offering some grand micro-brews and rarities.

While the food is truly satisfying and always fresh and fun, my favorite bit of Bubba's is certainly the bar.  From house made jello-shots to a few great pours and a beer selection that would make any connoisseur drool in anticipation, the Bubba's bar has it all.  My preferred libation is an ice cold bottle of Matilda, a wondrous bit of beer-ish miracle from my lovely Chicago (a city I adore and strive to visit every year, including this one, wherein it witnessed my bending of knee and presenting of ring).

There are also the local favorites by the boatload here.  Of those, I gravitate toward Oberon (from Michigan's famed Bells Brewery), Soft Parade (from Bellaire, MI's Shorts Brewery) and anything else up on their beer specials board (a wondrous piece of black board that is constantly changing).

Prefer a generic brew?  Search no further than these three lovely letters: P-B-R.

If you find yourself in the mood for a product of the vine, might I suggest some Woop Woop Shiraz?  It tastes as fun as it sounds!

Ask almost any local and they'll tell you that they love Bubba's of Traverse City.

Yes, as you can see, the drinking is grand at Bub's (as the locals call it).  They even have their own mixed drink menu full of intensely tasty treats.  But, for most, the libations are nothing without something solid for the gullet.  And so, I submit to you:  Bubba's and their burgers!

Now, Bubba's is a lot more than burgers.  They are an amazing breakfast, outstanding South-of-the-Border fare, satisfying sandwiches, yummy starters, perfect salads, homemade soups and delicious entrees (including a wondrous take on surf & turf).  BUT, to truly experience the Bubba's magic, it is this blogger's humble opinion that you MUST raise that glass of PBR in salute to your burger feast.

Of all the wonderful selections present upon their menu, I almost always gravitate toward the Buffalo Burger.  It is a healthy portion of scrumptious red meat (cooked medium rare- my suggestion- NEVER cook the taste out of a burger, for the love of god!) teamed with a spicy Buffalo sauce, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles (request Gorgonzola to REALLY be taken for a ride!) lettuce and tomato.  Achingly simple, but oh so good!

And that's that folks.  My first review.  I figured that I would start here, a guaranteed winner AND the perfect place to kick back with friends after a day full of water sporting in this amazing paradise we call TC.

And what's dinner without a movie at Traverse City's own State Theatre?

An added bonus to this little post is the above picture.  I heartily encourage you to take advantage of this deal and catch a flick at our fabled theatre, home of the Traverse City Film Festival.

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)