Blu

Light and airy atmosphere with high ceilings and skylights, this beautiful place on Lake Michigan serves up exquisite dishes of delicious food! I had salad and the gnocchi and shrimp appetizer, which was wonderful. My husband ordered the duck, which he loved. The flour-less chocolate cake for dessert was amazing. Our waitress was fabulous!

It's going to be difficult to find enough good things to say about our experience about Blu but I will try. Every aspect of the dining experience at Blu was peak quality. We can start with the ambiance. The building is beautiful and there's a nice view of the water if you get a good table. Definition of fine dining experience is the best way to describe it. The food is excellent. We had the NY strip and the duck. Both were amazing. The duck is a staple, so much so that you get a numbered card to commemorate it. The service was amazing. Not only did they try to make our birthday celebration special they also accommodated my wife's special requests. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating. If you're looking for one of the best fine dining experiences in the Traverse City area, look no further.

We had a wonderful experience at Blu. The service and setting were exceptional. We had a party of 6 friends. We all enjoyed our meals. The standout dishes were the crab puffs, whitefish, and duck. We have wanted to visit for a long time. I am so glad we did.

This place has fantastic food, great drinks and wine list. My husband had duck confit, I had the salmon with shrimp and risotto. Try the crab puffs and fried green tomatoes. Morgan made it happen with a lakeside view for our anniversary.

Amazing 🤩 - best meal out we have had since Covid. For the past few years my wife and I have been so disappointed by meals out in virtually every category. We went to Blu with mid expectations due to this , just hoping for a decent meal while in Glen Arbor. We were absolutely blown away and so impressed by everything from the olives appetizer to the bisque and salad, the salmon and wagyu and don’t even get me started about the pear 🍐 my wife had and the pineapple upside down cake. A class act and we can’t wait to be back next year. Great job!!!

This was an absolutely stellar date night out for us. The venue is absolutely beautiful, lovely views of the sunset over the lake. Great beverage and wine list. The menu selections were a blend of classics and unique items and well executed, prepared to perfection. Our server was wonderful and I just can’t recommend this gem enough !

Amazing! Mary was wonderful, very knowledgeable and kind. The food is SPECTACULAR, honestly the best meal and deserts we have had in a long time. The chef was so accommodating for gluten and dairy intolerance, and no one had to skip a course due to their preparedness. A truly wonderful experience from start to finish

Just WOW! Stayed in Glen Arbor for my husband’s 40th birthday and wanted to have a nice quiet meal. Well BLU went above and beyond. First, they sat us at a quiet table facing the water out on their deck, then they handed us custom “Happy Birthday” menus. The Host and Server were very sweet to wish him a happy day. Then to top it off the food was out of this world. He got the Waygu and I got the Duck. We followed it up with the Rum Cake. Would return there in a heartbeat and would gladly recommend to anyone looking for a high end dining experience.

We had a fantastic dinner at this small upscale spot while in town for a visit. With its elegant setting and abundant windows featuring Lake Michigan views, it makes for a memorable evening. The daily menu was crammed with the best local foods and in August when we visited that meant cherries, luscious vine ripened tomatoes, blueberries and more. In fact I hard a hard time narrowing down even the 4 salads as they all sounded fantastic as did the 10 appetizers. In the end we opted to share some things starting with the light crab "puffs" (really golf-ball-sized crab/rice cakes) which were delicious although a bit light on the accompanying sauce. Next we savored the small summer salad made with juicy dark purple tomatoes, fresh basil and slivers of mozzarella. Our entree was the pecan crusted white fish that was also nicely prepared. Note they add a somewhat outrageous charge for a split plate-around $16, so our fish ended up costing $66! For dessert we chose the turtle sundae festooned with crunchy toasted pecans and a house made caramel sauce. There's a nice wine list too. Service here was top notch with constantly filled water glasses and a very professional staff. I was really pleased and surprised to find a restaurant of this quality located in a tiny vacation hamlet. Highly recommended

We wanted to book one fancy dinner while in the Leelanau/GA/Leland/TC area - and I'm so glad this was our pick!! While we love great food, we are not "foodies" who do well with super modern/unique takes on classics - and after perusing many menus of different restaurants in the area, we felt like Blu was the right mix of fancy but delicious and classic and we were not disappointed! Pro tip: book a reservation and look when sunset is - we did the 8pm seating with the sun setting around 9-9:30 and if was amazing. They have see through blinds, but raise them up for the sunset and many people walk out to go take a picture on the beach right outside! It's a small intimate restaurant, so in general booking a reservation is advised. The gnocchi was amazing and so flavorful with sun dried tomatoes and succulent shrimp. My spouse got the lamb and really enjoyed the garlic and sauce Robert- and was so happy that it wasn't traditional mint sauce with lamb. The scallops were extremely rich with the asparagus risotto. We did split a crème brûlée which was just okay (maybe a bit too eggy in the texture?) , but they do use real vanilla bean and overall we were stuffed at that point. They have an extensive wine list, cocktail list, and mocktail list which I appreciated as a lady on her baby moon trip :) best Shirley temple I've ever had with real homemade grenadine made from real cherries! Staff is attentive, kind, and always checking to make sure you're taken care of. Overall, yes it's pricey, but for the delicious food, view, overall fanciness - I think it's justified and worth it for a special occasion! We would love to come back in the future.

Food and service was fabulous!! Delicious, I thought generous for a quality dinner and experience.

The setting of this restaurant is picturesque right on the lake, especially if you can snag a seat outside or get a window seat. It is definitely the most upscale restaurant in glen arbor and the prices reflect that. The service was really good and friendly. The portion sizes were pretty small and I found the food to be underwhelming. We got the pesto gnocchi to start and the whitefish was really delicious but the rest of the dish was a little flavorless. We also got the tater tots which was basically like fried mashed potatoes with this lemon aioli, it was again just average. For an entree, we shared the Waygu strip loin between 2 people- it was very fatty and chewy but charred well with a crispy finish. The mini baked potatoes, veggies, mushrooms and sauce were very tasty but the quality of the meat didn't match the price in my opinion. Overall, I liked this restaurant, I just didn't think the value was there for the price point.

Unfortunately, we did not have the pleasure of dining in so we had to get take out. The food was still delicious though. We got the crab puffs, rack of lamb, and bouchon. They used to have veal, they should have kept it on there. I liked the crab puffs, very flavorful but for $24 the quantity is lacking. Rack of lamb was cooked beautifully medium rare, a lot of flavor and tender. Bouchon was very good, not sweet and light.

If you're thinking about going here, GO!!!!!! This was the best meal my husband and I have EVER had. We sat outside right as the sun started setting and it was absolute stunning. Our waitress was Laurie and she was the sweetest and totally added to the experience. The food was so divine. It's pricey, like the most we've paid for dinner ever, but it was so worth it. Our suggestions would be to get the Blu Board (trust us it's more than just cheese), the Waygu, and the crème brûlée with some coffee. You will die.

Excellent service and amazing food! First time here and forgot to take pictures until we dug in but there was not one bad item! Good portion sizes, did not leave overstuffed but also did not leave hungry!

Excellent food . Inside larger resort but look for sign as approaching the end of the road. Limited seating so reservation desirable. Great view of sunset from deck or indoor seating. High end food, service and price appropriately reflects.

I've dined at BLU many times over the past 7 years. The staffing is amiable,well trained & professional. The ambiance and views from the dining room are attractive and comfortable. Personally,I love the fresh offerings that include local cherries in their salads . The duck confit is an amazing dish that I order quite often. Last night I ordered a Fried Green Tomato salad,a Whitefish that was lightly breaded with panko breadcrumbs,served on a light beurre blanc sauce and loosely covered with pecans. We ordered a cherry balsamic sorbet for dessert. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the Glen Arbor,MI. area.

Blu was absolutely fantastic. Wonderful food and service and stunning view of Glen Lake. Their signature dish the duck confit was delicious.

This restaurant was shockingly amazing - very upscale and pricey - but worth it - it has a gorgeous location on the water - the sunset views will disappoint. We started with a few sharable plates - the risotto, gnocchi and hand rolled tater tots - chefs kiss - each dish was fresh and flavorful. I went for the rack of lamb and I'm so glad I did - best lamb I've had EVER in a restaurant. Simply divine. The desserts and drinks were also fantastic and we ate every last morsel m. This was a truly epic evening. Of corse a nod to our excellent server and bartender - who worked extra hard to make the night perfect Sorry I didn't get more photos - Yelp needs to add videos!

Good service. Wonderful views of Lake Michigan and overall ambience. Food was ok and overpriced.

We had a lovely time at Blu. We must have gone on an off-night as only half the tables were booked. But the staff was attentive, funny, and provided excellent recommendations. It is a bit pricey for the area, but the sunset views and food are worth the cost.

Loved this place! The service was top tier- friendly without being stuffy, and the chef came out to chat with us at the end of our meal. I have an allium aversion, and they were very responsive to my needs, which is often not the case. I had the signature duck confit, which was exquisite, and my husband had the veal, also very tasty. We started with the tater tots and green beans, which were delicious, even without alliums. Cocktails were also noteworthy. A special place in a bit of a food desert- highly recommend.

This is by far one of the best meals I've ever had. If you're vacationing in northern Michigan, book a reservation early and don't miss a meal at Blu. My husband and I called a few times and were able to put our name on a list for cancellations. Thankfully, we got a call back that a 5pm reservation at cancelled and we scooped it up. We were staying nearby at the Homestead, celebrating our ten year wedding anniversary. Due to covid only the patio was open (2020), which was fine because we preferred to sit outside with a view of Lake Michigan. Upon being seated we spied one of our favorite wineries on the wine list - Frank Family- and ordered a bottle of their Chardonnay. We started with the semi-famous crab puffs and they were perfection. Lightly fried with a soft crunch, accompanied by a delicate and sweet chili sauce. For dinner, we ordered the signature duck confit and a pecan crusted halibut with lemon beurre blanc sauce. While the duck was absolutely outstanding, definitely the best duck I've ever had, we fought over the last bite of the fish. It was the perfect summer dish. The service was impeccable, we couldn't have asked for a better meal. Top it off with a view of Lake Michigan and you won't find a better restaurant in the area. Make a reservation early. This place is tiny, and has limited reservations available.

Came to this lake front fine dining resturant on Thanksgiving. Blu did not disappoint. Elevated cuisine with classy picturesque aesthetics. We ordered the butter nut squash soup, lobster risotto along with a arugula salad with pine nuts apples and champagne vinneigrete. They timed the plates strategically so we enjoyed each before indulging in their special Thanksgiving meal with turkey, truffle gravy with all the proper sides. Ended the memorable culinary evening with short bread cookies and salted caramel gelato. Scrumptious, indeed! Recommend if you got the payroll and are looking for classy date night.

A very nice place for dinner with an amazing view of the big pond we call Lake Michigan.

Fabulous setting with fabulous food. The Dining room is a joy either any and lake views. We had duck confit which is a specialty as well as a wonderful veal tenderloin.

My boyfriend & I loved our dinner here! The staff was very nice & knowledgeable & the food was great. I highly recommend the bisque, gnocchi, and hanger steak. We'll definitely be visiting next time we are in the area.

Having dinner at Blu is an absolute dining experience! The food was amazing and the service was wonderful. We will definitely be back.

This one of best restaurant I have ever had a meal at! Everything thing they cook is amazing. The atmosphere is great and has an amazing view of Lake Michigan.

Great food, great chef, great view/ of the lake. The Chef speaks through the food. I ordered tea and even the tea was from a local tea farm. Really fun, open, bright, elegant dining.

The setting on Lake Michigan was perfect. We started with the crab cakes. I had the seared halibut. My wife go the white fish. We ended on a chocolate tart all was top shelf

Outstanding pecan crusted white fish. Naturally, the atmosphere is inviting. Our service and waitress were impeccable.

The atmosphere and service was amazing and it was the best duck confit I've had. Very unique daily appetizers!

Wonderful food perfect service in Great View! We had the Walleye & the filet that we're at like a place to get drinks that for perfection

Food- 5 stars Creativity- 5 stars Professional wait staff- 5 stars Wine list-5 stars Location ON Lake Michigan- 5 stars Highly Recommend!

We have loved our experiences at Blu so far. It's a great upscale French restaurant with amazing beachfront views and attentive service. I recommend the escargot and you can't go wrong with any of the meat dishes. My husband had a pheasant special that was unbelievable this fall, and their duck confit is on point. It's the place I'd recommend most for a special occasion spot in the TC area. It has white tablecloths and an upscale feel but is still cozy and comfortable.

Our dinner started out with a nice round of appetizers and champagne Mawby Tallis of course. The tables choice was the Fried Green tomatoes BLT, however both the crab puffs and the ahi tuna were also delicious. Our party sampled the Wild boar tenderloin, the Beef tenderloin and the Pheasant. The winner of main course was the Beef tenderloin the meat was cooked to perfection. The pheasant while delicious was over powered by the chorizo sausage it was stuffed with I recommend if you want the pheasant to either request less chorizo or remove some of the stuffing before eating. The wild boar was my personal favorite the flavor was on point and the meat was perfectly prepared. Dessert there was no clear winner as they all were divine. We watched a lovely sunset while dining and sipping cocktails our courses came out on time and were not rushed at all. If you are looking for fine dining while in Glen Arbor I definitely recommend getting a reservation here.

Airbnb'd it out in Glen Arbor for Thanksgiving & decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at Blu. First, I'd like to say BIG PLUS for wonderful atmosphere and attentive staff! Second....the food. A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. There were 4 of us, 1 salad, 2 glasses of wine and 4 meals: Elk Chop- delicious / Filet of Wagyu Sirloin- delicious / Rack of Lamb was undercooked(needed to sent back) and chewy / Turkey Ballotine very disappointing- flavorless. For a check total of $400 we expected to walk out of Blu wanting more whereas we just ended up talking about how subpar our Thanksgiving meal was.

Blu is one of our favorite restaurants of all time and we are fortunate to have it in Glen Arbor. The service is impeccable, the staff friendly, and the owners make of point of greeting guests. The view is fantastic. When we have visitors taking them to Blu is always a treat.

It's like $300 Applebees. I'm sure that they are very proud of not being the Boondocks, but if so, the pride is sorely misplaced. The rest of the microwaved food in Glen Arbor puts this place to shame.

The reviews don't lie. My favorite spot in the region and some of the best food I've had in Michigan. Sat outside and timed the dinner so that we could watch the sunset. It was perfect. The food and service goes up against any Michelin-rated restaurant I've been to. We went with multiple appetizers because they all looked good and I would recommend any of the fish dishes. However, it was the pasta that made this place so memorable. Will definitely eat here again every chance I get.

The food is indeed quite good, and the table service is excellent, thanks to the highly trained professional servers. However, we've dined here twice, on separate occasions (in different years), both times in October when it's cold outside. On both visits, the staff used a backdoor to the patio, which allowed a significant amount of cold air to blow directly into the dining room. Regrettably, this greatly affected the overall dining experience. Considering the cost and the dining room atmosphere, we have decided not to return to Blu.

Was lucky enough to get a reservation this past week during the sunset. There are very few tables outside, so be sure to make a reservation. We had the barramundi, duck, tater tots, and salad. All were delicious, but the duck really stood out! Felt very comfortable with the precautions taken for social distancing and everyone wore masks when not seated. Would highly recommend!

Fabulous food, impeccable service and a beautiful view of lake Michigan from this fantastic restaurant in the heart of Glen Arbor, MI. A must for a special occasion.

A wonderful gem located on the beach and walking distance from Glen Arbor. We were there a week before the hustle and bustle of the Summer season. Good for us.. no wait and it was an amazing experience. The ambience and decor immediately put you in a relaxing mood. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day. We had some cocktails as we perused the menu. The menu is constantly changing, depending on what's in season and fresh. We started off with Escargot, Morel Mushrooms and the Leelanau Arugula as appetizers. Then we had the Duck (the best EVER) and the infamous Whitefish for entrées. Everything was fresh with incredible flavors. We made sure that we saved room for dessert - Tarte au Chocolat - an experience in inself. Thank goodness for Blu... if you are in Glen Arbor off season, they are the only place in town for an outstanding, upscale meal. We have a wonderful memory for our last night of our family reunion!

OMG! Flavors and tastes woven together to make this one of most amazing dining experiences one can enjoy. First, I had tater tots, but not just any tater tots. These where hand rolled with cheddar cheese and cooked to perfection with a delicious aioli sauce. My main meal included vegetables so yummy with some infused herbs, I guess. I could have had more. The grilled shrimp and the black rice with drizzled with a truffle oil mixed with hollandaise sauce complimented the plate. The tastes and blends of flavors blended to make the each bite pure joy. Finishing with a cup of coffee and dark chocolate gelato with ganache and walnuts around the plate, on top of the delicate walnut cookie- WOWED BEYOND WORDS! I can't forget to mention our wonderful wait person, Lauren. She explained dishes, ingredients and was nearby for and needs. The view of the water while sitting on the patio was beautiful.Blu is a wonderful gastric experience!

This restaurant has excellent food and beautiful views of the lake. The staff here is friendly & attentive. The duck confit was delicious as was the roast pheasant stuffed with sausage that my husband had. Beautiful presentation of the food! Pricey, but worth it!

One of the better meals I've ever enjoyed, and that says something. Hubby and I were visiting the area proclaiming to be "The Most Beautiful Spot in America," and yes, it's very pretty, but not sure I'd vote for Sleeping Bear Dunes over Maine or Alaska. This restaurant, however, did not disappoint. Blu ain't cheap, as if anything good ever is, but if you are able to do as you wish, you'll thoroughly enjoy a meal here. Our appetizers were the crab puff for hubby and I ordered the cheese plate, both exceptional. For salads he had the arugula and I had the frisee, again, both exceptional. While it seemed odd, I was recipient number 8,552 of duck confit ($40) at this establishment, and it was every bit as delectable and yummy as you'd expect. Hubby had the NY Strip that was also very good, but at $69 it better be! We shared a yummy cheesecake and had three cocktails between us, and before tip our dinner was $223. The dining room is small, but with excellent views of Lake Michigan. Our server was quite good, and our 8 PM dinner reservation was there last guest for the night, and it wasn't a problem when we arrived at 7:45 we were seated early. There is no separate bar area, and it's not large unless you are talking about the view. A very nice unexpected dining experience! It's unlikely we'll ever return to this part of the world, but if we did I'd absolutely stop back in... appeared to be the nicest option in the area.

Stopped in here for dinner tonight with my husband for our mini honeymoon date night, food was amazing! It was a little restaurant, but considering it's a Wednesday in May, it wasn't very busy. Only a couple other tables occupied. The service was great and the (I believe?) chef stopped by to give us a beet sampler. I had the duck confit and my husband had the beef tenderloin. Both delicious! The portions were more generous than expected, and we couldn't even finish either of them. Pricey, but would love to go back again when we come back to visit!

Great Restaurant!!! Food is amazing!! Randy is a terrific chef. The variety of dishes showcases his skills. Very good wine list and creative cocktails. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. And the setting overlooking Sleeping Bear Bay at Sunset is spectacular. This is truly a Michelin star-level restaurant in Northern Michigan.

Randy and Mari serve some of the most creative food in the best atmosphere in Leelanau County. Service has always been impeccable. A one of a kind experience that everyone should experience.

Blu lives up to the hype. It is pricey, but you pay for what you get. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted great. Service was also on point

What a wonderful experience. If you're planning a stay around Glen Arbor and enjoy a special evening out, Blu is highly recommended. Our server, Erin, was very friendly and enjoyable to chat with. We ordered the escargot (yum!) and foie gras for apps then rack of lamb, crusted whitefish and the duck confit...all wonderful and so much food we took our deserts to go!

Blu was a wonderful dining experience and was a great place for our group to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant on the the side of the Le Bear resort with large windows that provides a view of Lake Michigan. It was smaller than expected inside, though they also have an outdoor patio. The restaurant is lovely, simple and allows the view to be the focus. The service was excellent, very attentive. They have a good wine list that includes local wines (including some we had sampled earlier that day on our wine tour that were considerably marked up). To begin the meal you are served an amuse bouche. At our visit this was a salmon mousse. The idea of fish whipped is strange but this was surprisingly light and made a nice start to the meal. I had the crab puffs as an appetizer, which were as good as the other recommendations suggest. A friend had the fried green tomatoes. I would not have thought to order this and it was another pleasant surprise. Our group primary ordered fish items, the salmon and the sea bass. They also had a asparagus risotto. This is not the easiest to make and this was perfect and creamy. The salmon was very good, but the sea bass was amazing. I am not sure how often the menu changes or what items are seasonal but this fish option seems to be a good choice. Expect that any meal you have here is going to be pricey. We came to celebrate a friend's birthday, had a wonderful experience and felt that it was worth the price. If you are just looking for somewhere to eat or do not have much time, this is not going to be a good choice. As I noted, Blu is small, and I would recommend making reservation, especially during the busy part of the year.

Excellent food, service and views. Very expensive. Very nice outside deck if weather is good.

Had a late reservation but a wonderful indoor seat overlooking the lake and sunset view. Setting is beautiful -- small dining area inside with large windows looking out towards the beach. We shared two apps: sweetbreads and pate. Both were flavorful beautifully presented. Our entrees, which we also shares, were the duck confit and rabbit gallantine. The duck was crispy on the outside but retained its moisture and flavor -- I asked for more of the jus and they quickly brought a generous side of it. The rabbit was exceptional and was our preferred dish. We paired it with a lovely bottle of chianti and then finished the meal with two desserts: spiked rum cake with sorbet and a creme brulee. Again, both hit their marks. Service was excellent start to finish and the entire experience felt like a Michelin star restaurant -- consistency between all our plates and service was phenomenal and our best dining experience in recent memory. Very solid 5 stars and with a reasonable bill (under $250 including wine, desserts and tip, but no cocktails)

Wow! First trip to the area and we are SOOO glad we were able to get a last minute reservation at Blu. The ambiance is beautiful, service was superb (Nick) and the food was excellent! We shared the whitefish (best we've ever had, still talking about it days later), shrimp cocktail, salmon and gnocchi. Wine selection was on point. Would absolutely recommend Blu. Many thanks to the chef and team there for such a special night!