The Cooks’ House

The Cooks’ House in Traverse City is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, the intimate, cozy atmosphere envelops you, setting the stage for a truly remarkable dining experience. The emphasis on locally sourced ingredients shines through in every dish, with each plate offering a perfect balance of flavors, textures, and creativity. The tasting menu is a must-try, showcasing the chef’s passion for sustainable, farm-to-table cuisine. Every course is crafted with precision, from the delicate seafood to the expertly prepared meats and vibrant, fresh vegetables. Their wine pairings elevate each dish to new heights, creating a symphony of flavors that linger long after the meal is over. What truly sets The Cooks’ House apart is the attention to detail and the personal touch from the chefs and staff. (Dillion and Victoria were wonderful and kind). We were greeted with a complimentary glass of wine and warm wash cloth infused with Lemon grass to clean our hands. The service is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food. You can feel their commitment to providing a memorable dining experience from start to finish. If you’re looking for a restaurant that exemplifies the best of northern Michigan’s culinary scene, The Cooks’ House is a must-visit. It’s an exceptional dining experience that will leave you raving for days.

We had the absolute pleasure of dining at The Cooks' House in Traverse City, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment we arrived, the experience was elevated—thoughtful, intimate, and truly unforgettable. As vegans, we’re used to limited or uninspired options at fine dining establishments, but The Cooks' House went above and beyond with a personalized vegan menu that completely blew us away. Each dish was crafted with such precision and creativity that we didn’t just enjoy the food—we were genuinely astonished by how incredible it tasted. The flavors, textures, and presentation were all on another level. The service was impeccable, striking the perfect balance between attentiveness and allowing us to enjoy the experience. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable, walking us through each dish and making the evening feel extra special. And the drinks? Flawless. Thoughtfully curated and expertly crafted, they complemented the meal beautifully. It’s been over a week, and we still can’t stop raving about it. If you think you’ve experienced great food before, think again—this place will change your perspective. An absolute must-visit!

Amazing! By far the best place in Traverse City! The 5 and 7 course meals, with Amazing wine pairings are a must try. Fantastic friendly service, a cozy dining setting with an elegant yet homie feel. Bring someone special for a superior dining experience.

Really tasty food and fun cocktails. The staff was awesome and fun, I've come to really appreciate when it's clear the staff is having a good time. They were also very accommodating for my gluten free gf! My reccs: - Ramp martini (very unique and probably not for everyonee - Mushroom toast - w/e the Eggplant dish was Can be difficult to get a reservation for, so look in advance!

My husband and I came here during our last trip to Traverse City. The service was excellent with everyone being very attentive. We did the 7-course with wine pairing. Every dish was excellently seasoned and delicious. I would highly recommend!

Intimate setting with around 10 tables in the living room of an old house. Right at first look it seemed two crowded but once sat and the waiters teamwork serving made it seem plenty spacious. Each table was full on a Friday evening, and the two waiters and one bartender kept everything moving very smoothly. A well oiled machine. Service was as you would expect for the price range. Didn't have to ask twice and things came quickly. The chefs nailed it as well. My wife just got a couple of individual items and I did the 5 course with wine pairings. It was great and we'll definitely try to snag some reservations again next time we're in the area.

Dinner last night was PERFECTION! Been going to Cooks' House for the last 13+ years and it is always a culinary treat! Had six different dishes between the two of us and there was not a miss in any of them! Wine parings were fun and worked very well. Got dessert to go but it was also perfect! Keep up the excellent work, team! You are THE BEST!

What an incredible experience. Let’s start with the excellent service. Warm towels given as soon as you’re seated and our server offered knowledgeable recommendations, then offered subtle but constant attention throughout. We were pleasantly surprised by the mushroom tea and other ‘off the menu’ appetizers. Our food was superb and the portions were filling. Please stop here if you’re in the area!

All I have to say is 7 course & pairing AMAZING!!! One of my top 3 best dining experiences in the states, this place was pure magic. From the cozy atmosphere, to the incredible waitstaff & even better food, you cannot go wrong! Everything was cooked impeccably and the wine pairings were nothing short of perfection to accentuate the flavors of the food. Went for an anniversary dinner and everything was just wonderul! Will definitely be returning next time we're in Traverse.

One of the best meals I've ever had. We did the tasting menu and had some drinks. The place was able to substitute the vegetarian option amongst the three meats that were offered for the third course. Our friends did the wine pairing with theirs and said everything paired so beautifully. Here's what we had: - vegetable broth shot - amuse bouche - lavender breeze cocktail - tomato and cucumber gazpacho - linguine with hazelnut, pistachio and garlic cream sauce - butter masala - black lentils - chargrilled milkweed pods with fried egg sauce - raspberry chocolate tart

I grew up in this town but left in 1985. I've lived in California since and have eaten at a lot of great restaurants including the Laundry, Chez Panisse, Slanted Door and Mr Chows to name a few. This without a doubt rank's right there. I honestly never thought I'd have a decent thing to eat in this town other than bar food but now I know exactly where it is. If you're hungry for something exceptional look no further. I have never liked mushrooms, but the mushroom toast was my favorite dish. I can't believe I'm saying it. Thank you Jen and to the staff for a great evening Looking forward to going back.

Mario Batali's restaurant in Traverse City is a must when visiting the area. Small, quaint. Amazing service and food is top notch with wine pairings

Apparently, this restaurant, which is in a house converted to a restaurant, is a tough reservation to get. The last seating is at 8:30 and on a Tuesday night, the restaurant was full. Our table was ready for an 8:15 reservation and we were greeted nicely and offered two glasses of bubbly to celebrate our supposed anniversary. That was a nice way to start off the evening. The punk-folk music however was quite a detraction to the restaurant's ambiance throughout the meal. Most people seemed to be getting the multi-course tasting menu. We opted for the ala carte menu as we weren't interested in that much food and that long of a night (ala carte was two hours long itself). Began with two little glasses of warm apple cider served in a tray of hard corn. Then there was an amuse bouche - the puff pastry was boring, and the poached pear (substituted in to be GF) was OK. The whitefish came in a spicy curry with smoked/charred bok choy in a squash puree. That was a hit. The walleye less so - the "kimchi" tasted more like sautéed cabbage and the fried sushi rice was too buttery/oily and very crisp, like rice crispies. Overall it was boring. It needed some heat or acid to give the dish more life. The printed list of wines by the glass is small, although it was complemented by some other bottles open that they had open.

Its a small restaurant (literally just a house that's been converted) so the ambiance isn't the greatest. But the food is tremendous. Of the seven course we ordered, all seven were unexpected--in a good way. And of the seven, four of them (the parsnip soup, the gnocchi, the walleye, and the Denver steak) were among the top five dishes of that particular "type" I have ever eaten. This is one of the best meals you can order in a restaurant in the state of Michigan. Protip: order the 7 course tasting menu; it's an serious bargain at $104/person. And if you add the wine flight, it's only $16 more ($120 total) so that's an absolute STEAL. This has been added to my "Must visit in TC" list for every trip moving forward.

What an incredible experience. Let's start with the excellent service. Warm towels given as soon as you're seated and our server offered knowledgeable recommendations, then gave subtle but constant attention throughout. We were pleasantly surprised by the mushroom tea and other 'off the menu' appetizers. Our food was superb and the portions were filling. Please stop here if you're in the area!

We loved every second of the 7 course tasting menu. The ingredients were clearly local, the service was excellent, and everything was well thought out from the pace of the service to the flavors in each dish. I arrived 8 months pregnant and usually do not have the patience to sit through a 2 hour plus meal but this really was a delight. Such an unexpected gem! Thank you to everyone at The Cooks' Houss for sharing your evident respect and love for just plain good food. The restaurant is in a tiny house and you can hear all the conversations around you but I didn't mind this one bit, I was too focused on the food. Attached a ton of pictures below. We started with a radish that was out of this world. They served bread next and then brought the soup while you were still working on the bread which is an example of the really thoughtful timing because who doesn't want to dip the bread in the soup. Tagliatelle was some truly delicious homemade pasta... I wanted more!! Walleye and steak were perfectly cooked with unique flavors. Tomato course was so unique I couldn't even figure out the flavoring. And the bread and cheese ended up being one of the best dishes of the night. Dessert was also great, not too sweet, and they brought a little extra treat at the end as well. Thanks again... And would you consider catering my wedding? Lol! Not even kidding!

Upon visiting the area on my most recent journey up north, The Cooks House was somewhere that my husband said was a must try. Boy was he right. For those who are adventurous eaters who love fresh, wholesome ingredients this is your place! Also, in a house in downtown TC you get such an amazing vibe.

6 stars! Wow - a fantastic 5-course tasting menu WITH equisitely paired wines for each course at $110! Plus delicious homemade bread, an amuse bouche and the most delicious mushroom tea broth that we will try to recreate at home somehow. The ambiance is a very non- pretentious small white house that you could easily miss if you blink (we did). The dining room is small and only seats at most 30 guests but you get exceptional service and the most amazing meal. I will be dreaming about that darn mushroom tea which I could sip all day, and the olive oil cake was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. For those of you trying to land a reservation at Alinea, save yourself the trouble and money - drive a few hours to Traverse City, get a hotel room, and have dinner at Cooks House. You'll still be ahead by at least $1K without any sacrifice in quality and you'll have a great night.

I've eaten all over the world, from dirt floors and dripping, newspaper-wrapped street food to literal curly mustachioed sommelier-staffed fine dining. The full spectrum from indistinguishable insects to indecipherable, deconstructed imitations and "elevated" versions of that same humble food. Once-white dishrags so worn there's more hole than thread to the cleanest white tablecloths with a higher thread count than my bedsheets. So when I tell you, from a place of some experience, that dinner at The Cook's House was the best meal of my life, I hope that such a seemingly brash and hyperbolic statement bears enough connection to reality that you see beyond the simple "5-stars" and act on any motivation this review might give you to make a reservation and experience the untold myriad of sensations offered there for yourself. The first important note is the incredible charm and knowledge of the staff. An easy-going greeting to comprehensible, anything-but-condescending description of the dishes and wine pairings, and jovial conversational nature, the front of house experience was as warm and welcoming as the first dish. Few restaurants truly achieve the much-coveted atmosphere of "home", and without pomp or contrived "hospitality", The Cook's House embodied these existential desires of every diner through sheer personality. The next is the perfect pacing of the meal. From the first bite of squash soup, which was an amazingly balanced "hearty", but not "heavy", the menu took twists and turns that were easy for the casual diner to follow, but didn't feel at all cliché or trite. Following the soup came a rigatoni that evoked the first of several "Ratatouille" moments for me. The beef and pork meat sauce conjured thoughts of the rich beef stock they must have used, transporting me immediately to a small alleyway pho shack in Vietnam that I return to in my mind frequently. Tiny, yellow knock-off Little Tykes chairs and a generations-old broth made that experience special, and somehow The Cook's House found a way to introduce such a lineage into a meat sauce with roots from centuries and continents away. The dollop of dairy in the center cut through the richness without overriding it, and the perfectly cooked rigatoni provided a textural difference that kept your interest in every bite. The protein course hit several interesting notes. With choices between a crispy, flaky, flavorful walleye and a tender but toothsome steak, I'd highly recommend bringing a friend and splitting both. The bone marrow mashed potatoes brought deep layers of umami to the party that felt two best friends meeting after a long time, but somehow still managing to finish each other's sentences. The real star of this show was the mushroom. Unassumingly placed next to the steak, the punch of flavor put the dish just on the right side of overwhelmingly rich. Any further, and the scales would tip too far for the body to handle, but The Cook's House kept their foot on the scale with a touch of acid in the sauce that walked the whole dish back from the cliff's edge with kind words and a stranger's hug. No dish was more thought-provoking or intriguing than the beets. Think for a second about the purpose of art: sure, some art is about literally replicating some life event in the visual spectrum, or freezing a moment in time, but what is art really aspiring to produce? Emotion. That's what this dish created. I honestly don't even know if I liked it, but the combination of beets, apples, cocoa, and micro greens challenged me to reconcile flavors and textures that bore such a close resemblance that they felt like seeing yourself in the mirror with hair parted in a different direction. You're the same person, but something about your reflection seems unfamiliar and somehow more attractive. This dish felt like taking a chance; not a desperate one, but a liberating, 500-Days-Of-Summer romantic whirlwind with a much happier ending. The final course was the second "Ratatouille" moment of the evening, and let me tell you that having just one is enough to bring the word "Michelin" to mind. Cornbread, simple syrup, poached apples, and whipped cream not only brought me back down to Earth after the beets, but brought textures and mouth feels so interesting so as to stand up to that complicated vegetable. The arrangement here could not have been more perfect. Everything, from the first step in the door to the rush of cold air upon re-entering the fresh November air in Traverse City, was perfectly executed without feeling contrived. In a world of chef's tweezers and farm-to-table condescension, The Cook's House provided more than just food, but a sensory experience matched only by it's effortless, but still hard-working, warmth of service. This experience alone is enough to warrant a trip back to the Third Coast.

REMARKABLE! I made a reservation for two for a Saturday night without any issue. From that phone call up until we walked out of the building after dinner, the entire Cook's House experience was wonderful. Relaxing, delightful, cozy, warm, and opulent hospitality at its finest. We started with cocktails and ordered sharables straight away. The fried potatoes were a welcome warm-up with the inclement weather that evening. The rigatoni followed and both were exquisite. For entrees, we opted to go a la carte since the pork belly wasn't part of the tasting menus. Of the 5 entrees offered we ordered three... the beef cheeks, the pork belly and the walleye. Each was refined and unlike the others. What I most appreciated was the cook on the walleye, crispy skinned and flesh untouched resulting in a beautiful piece of perfectly executed lake fish. The pork was out of control...Gochujang, miso and parsnip flavors all nicely balanced. The cheeks were fall apart tender and nestled in a parsnip puree that was silky and delicate. I wish we had saved room for dessert but instead closed our night out with some French press coffee and final sips of our cocktails. Service was seamless and warm and the ambiance reminded me of the holidays with welcoming aromas coming from the kitchen, plenty of lighting and a soft warmth that comes with dining in a (former) home's front room. It was a a really enjoyable evening, one I hope I get to experience again when I'm back up.

Excellent and delicious dishes for all courses! Superb service and a great intimate atmosphere.

Simply put... this is the best restaurant in or near Traverse City. Had perfectly crisp pork belly on this visit, the 3rd or 4th. Arrived 10 minutes early for a 5:30 reservation to a warm greeting and choice of tables. Sitting at the table just below the "wine bar" happened to notice a wine from Barboursville winery in Virginia. For sure a rare site in Michigan. Not available by the glass but offered a taste. Nice touch. Must be a story behind this but forgot to ask. This is a very small place with some outside seating. Ambiance best descripted as eclectic. Great service, great food. Strong wine list featuring several Michigan wines as well as an international selection. A reservation note... reservations by phone no longer taken. If you check and find that online reservations are not yet open, call and someone will tell you how far in advance they will be open. Then be sure to make an early contact.

The review is long overdue. We go to the cooks house 2x per year when visiting Traverse City. The place is fantastic! The service is great and the food is great. The pictures from this review are from restaurant week. Somewhere like the cooks house which we normally do the 7 course tasting menu could skip on some of the extras but they don't as this place is always good. During restaurant week we were still given a warm towel to wash our hands, the extra appetizer and extra desert. This place is very special and a gem in TC.

Cooks House sets the bar for fine dining in Traverse City while eliminating the often cold and stuffy vibe of other fancy restaurants. Jen & Eric have created an amazing dining experience that merges everything great about eating, locally sourced ingredients, warm cozy close quarters dining, and impeccable staff. The dishes are incredibly well curated and plates come out looking like works of art. They have a ton of great wines and the staff will help you pair to your meal if you're trying to party that way. If you can't decide on a meal, I highly recommend the 5 or 7 course meals, you get to taste a lot of the menu and adding the wine paring really rounds out the whole experience. Just go, it's worth it.

My experience here was hands down the most amazing dining experience I've ever had. My husband surprised me with this reservation, and we did the seven course with wine pairings, because we don't normally splurge on restaurants but if we were going to do this thing we wanted to go big. My husband usually does not like squash, but the soup ended up being one of his favorites. My favorite was the walleye with the celery root and truffle sauce. My husband loved the steak but said he couldn't name it his favorite because eating it made him feel less of a man because he couldn't make a steak taste that amazing, LOL! The wines were so nice, they really did complement the dishes nicely but I was really surprised that I liked them all. Wish I could have finished them them all, but I didn't want to forget the food. I'm so inspired to elevate my home cooking with higher quality ingredients and more diverse flavors. Everything had the perfect melt-in-your-mouth or buttery crisp texture. Service was so attentive and pleasant. The table was very small as was the dining room, but not uncomfortably so.

Hands down the best meal I have ever had in my life! And the best dining experience to date. Me and my husband heard recommendations from our coworkers & decided to make a reservation before making our way there - and boy was I glad I did! I got lucky but they were book for 2 weeks when I was asking for another availability! Now for our experience: 1. Service: was fast, well timed that our food, drinks & everything emerged into a perfected experience. It was as if every single portion of the experience was calculated to a tee, to get us the most satisfying culinary experience. 2. Atmosphere: a cute cozy house feel that brings warmth with a clean cut image. A very quaint environment with an all white canvas. Loved it. 3. Food: Now for the best part! We decided to go for the 5 course meal with a bottle of wine of our choice! It was really the best meal of our lives & I am not hyping it up! They started out with giving us a vegetable tea with olive oil drizzle which had a very nice brothy texture & the vegetable broth was delicious! The amusebouse came out with kale chips & a side with onions and mushrooms which was like nothing I had ever tasted. It was absolutely delicious, vingery and tangy We had our first part of our 5 course: the potato & leek soup with chevre & vegetable ash: just perfectly thick with a lovely creamy texture Next was a tagliatelle aglio olio pasta, greens with white anchovy - the parmesan cheese flavors, olive oil & chili flakes and the herbs making a perfect blend for the best pasta of my life! Now for the entree: I had the Ruby trout & my hubby the flat iron steak, both were amazing. The Ruby trout was so crispy on the outside and so soft and melting in the mouth! The flat iron steak was a perfect medium rare with all the juices oozing out! Next course: roasted beets & fennel with creme fraiche which was deliciously roasted & went so well with the fennel and the creme fraiche that held everything together Lastly the dessert: grilled parsnip cake with grilled apples, cultured cream & miso caramel - and we kicked the platter clean. It was just the perfect sweetness After which an assortment with sweets came to us & we were left satisfied For the overall experience and food we had, the price was actually very reasonable.

Had a fantastic 7 course dinner on Friday. Every bite was so satisfying. The care they put into every course was apparent . Our server, Dylan, was a rockstar. Our cocktails were perfect! Jen is amazing, I am so happy to see her business thriving!

We had the pleasure of eating here on our first trip to Traverse City. I'm becoming a big fan of pre fixe menus where you choose how many courses you want. It gives you the chance to try more things and the smaller portions are perfect. The menu changes regularly so you may not be able to order what's pictured here. Every course was delicious with layers of flavors. They tasted even better than they looked which is saying a lot because they were picture perfect.

A quaint space full of good spirit and delicious food. There is a humble feeling to this place, even though I think they prepare some of the best food. I love their parsnip soup and pork entree. Their wine selection is fabulous as well!

Eric Patterson and Jen Blakeslee have done an amazing job in creating one of the premier restaurants in Traverse City. Often it takes a month or more to get a reservation. They have purposely kept their footprint small, and service top notch. As for the food, it is mouthwateringly good. The menu is always interesting. If you like meat and potatoes and overcooked vegetables, this is not a restaurant for you! The Cooks' House challenges your palate and offers you adventures in eating. We had roast duck breast and denver beef as our entrees, and both were perfectly done: the sauces were delicious, the meat fork tender. My duck was served on a bed of rice with dates and complimented the duck nicely. My husband's beef was served with Fava beans, also a perfect pairing with the beef. The salads were delicious. We would love to have ordered one of their interesting deserts, but we were stuffed with the good food we had just eaten. The wine list is lengthy and offers great variety. We cannot say enough. If you are headed for Traverse City, call and get a reservation at The Cooks' House. If you live in Traverse City, and like fine food, you already know about this place. It is excellent in every way.

This might well be (probably is) a lovely place to eat if it's still in business. From the outside it looks extremely cute. But on the night my daughter and I made a reservation online and received emailed confirmation of our table, when we arrived, it was assuredly closed and another bemused couple on the doorstep who had also made a reservation were equally stranded, dressed up for dinner, with no place to go. I hope the owners are ok.

We have tried to go to dinner here twice in the past 2 months to no avail. This last time we called for a reservation and no one called to tell us that ou had a private event tat evening and couldn't accommodate us. To say the east we will not be back......

A top notch experience every time! We discovered the original restaurant 13 years ago and make it a priority to get a reservation (usually a month or two in advance) when we visit TC. It might be a small restaurant but it comes with a mighty meal and excellent experience. The service is fantastic and the 5 or 7 course meal (with wine pairing) is a journey for your taste buds! Highly recommended!

One of the best meals I've ever had. We did the 7 course tasting menu and every dish was absolutely incredible!

4.5 stars. Great service, very good food. Solid wine list with several local wines. The wine pairing is a good value, so I definitely recommend that with the 5- or 7-course dinner. Reservations are a must, as it is a very small restaurant.

Can I leave 6 stars? This place was outstanding. We did the 7 courses and it was worth every Penny. This is a culinary experience and each course built off the previous one. Highly recommend. Give yourself about 2.5 hours to dine. Outstanding.

10/10 recommend! Not only is the food incredible, but the ambiance and experience are top notch. From the second we walked in we were treated to 5 star service, everyone going out of their way to make sure we felt welcomed and comfortable. Our drinks were made to perfection and brought quickly. As we waited for our dinner, and before and after appetizers, our waiter brought us "treats". Just little bites of something. One of them was a scallop over mango salad and wow was it delish! I ordered the selection of cheese with the honeycomb for an app, so good. They had a GF substitute for the crackers too. Dinner for me was the pork belly, and you guys- you need to order this!! The flavors were amazing. I love their seasonal small menu. We will definitely be back when we visit again!

One of the best damn meals I've ever had. Came here with my wife on a trip to traverse city. We had the five course tasting menu and shared a bottle of wine. We probably should have splurged on the wine pairing, but we wanted to save some money for bourbon tasting. In the grand scheme of things the cooks' house Is really worth it and not expensive for the world of fine dining. The food is perfectly seasoned and we were happy with each stage of the tasting menu. The vegetable tea with olive oil had a deep and rich flavor. The kale chips were crunchy and salty but the acidity from the pickled mushrooms and veggies balanced it nicely. The potato leek soup was just delicious and the warm bread that came with it was a perfect compliment. My wife and I were already feeling full but the pasta that came next was so damn good we finished the bowel. It had a great garlic flavor to it and it was simple but just pure in flavor and really delicious. The fried anchovies on top were also really unique and had a lemony zest too it. I don't even really like anchovies and I thought the whole thing was delicious. My wife got the rainbow trout which was perfectly cooked with this amazing crispy skin and the vegetable has underneath made it just really flavorful and an explosion of flavor. I got the steak which also probably the best damn steak I've ever had. This was way better than those overpriced steaks you might get at Ruth's Chris, chop house in Ann Arbor, or Morton's. It came with a massaman curry which was also delicious but I actually just liked the steak by itself. It was perfectly seasoned and really tender, cooked medium rare. The beets and creme fraiche that followed were delicious. Perfectly cooked. Tender. Broke apart easily with just my fork. The dessert was a high note. A parsnip cake with a pan fried Miso sauce and creme with caramel sauce on the side. The cake was crunchy but tender and moist on the inside. It was incredible! My wife and I pretty much licked every bowl and plate clean Definitely recommend this place. Definitely coming back with friends and family next time. Hopefully COVID ends soon!

Enjoyed a lovely meal in an intimate, cozy setting. You definitely need a reservation as the house the restaurant is situated in only has about 6 tables. We called a few days before to see if there was availability for 3 on a Saturday night since we made a spontaneous decision to take a trip to Traverse City, and we lucked out as someone else had canceled. They have an extensive wine list from many regions and a huge range in price points, which we greatly appreciated. We treated ourselves with the 5-course meal, so it was nice to offset the pricier meal with a more affordable bottle of wine. They put a lot of thought and attention in the details, including a bunch of small starters that are included in all courses. (ie. mushroom tea, roasted chestnets, bread, duck confit, kettle corn - which were all great!) Each course was plated so beautifully. Their menu does change (not sure how frequently though), so not sure if this even matters, the hanger steak (main entree) didn't quite live up to my expectations -- Partly because I wasn't sure what hanger steak would look/taste like, but also it was pretty bland for a meat, it could've used more seasoning. Wouldn't call it the best meal of my life by any means, but our servers were great, the atmosphere felt home-y and clean, and we were definitely stuffed and satisfied by the end. Still would recommend for a date night or treat your parents or friends. It's a lovely experience!

Truly extraordinary experience. Quaint tiny house with French vibe. Five course meal that is so special it will leave you feeling like you are in heaven, Paris or New York City. The flavor combinations are inspired. Lots of nuts and herbs/greens. On a short list of the best meals I've had in my life. Excellent wine pairings and highlighted some local wines.

In order to make sure we could get into this small, very popular gourmet eatery in downtown Traverse City, we made our reservation a week in advance for the first seating on a Friday evening. There are exactly 24 seats in the intimate dining room of the unassuming 100 year old home a half block off Front Street. The Cooks' House opened here eleven years ago with a mission of bringing gourmet cuisine and exceptional service to the Traverse City area. Eleven years later, their mission remains true to form and Cooks' House remains wildly popular with both locals and vacationers from downstate and beyond. I loved the way the owner, in jacket and tie, made the rounds touching base with each table. Nice touch! The servers were equally gregarious in explaining the various dinner courses in the 5 or 7 Course Tasting Menu offered this night. My better half chose the 5 Course complimented with a glass of local Traverse City Rose while I ordered a la carte. We both enjoyed soup...mine a White Bean and Red Wine while my wife tried the Roasted Heirloom Tomato. It was over the moon and a great start to our dinner. Other courses were equally creative and delicious including my Walleye and her Great Lakes Whitefish. Both dishes were served with a unique combination of fresh veggies. The Cooks' House provided a wonderful experience highlighted by creative cuisine and attentive and welcoming service in a comfortable, homey ambiance. In my book, that is a combo you can't beat with a stick. Five big ones!

This has been a favorite of ours for quite some time, they just became a part of some wonderful family memories too. We haven't been able to take our toddler to many restaurants due to the pandemic but we really wanted to teach him about the excitement of dining together and the behavior that goes along with it. The whole team at The Cook's House was beyond gracious and loving to our kiddo, making the fanciest Shirley Temple we've ever seen. The parental side of the dining experience was outstanding as always, food, drink, service, environment - everything en pointe, can't wait to go back!

Traverse city native here that had never been to the cooks house! Sad but true. I'll now have to make a visit annually, if not more frequently! This was an exquisite intimate experience. My family of four arrived for our reservation, and were created with glasses of bubbly while we were waiting for our table to be cleaned off and reset. Some tasty nibbles were brought out, compliments of the kitchen, right when we sat down. I ordered the tasting menu with wine pairings and it was delicious. Definitely the way to go if you're wanting to try a little bit of everything. As a sweets lover, the dessert was my favorite and they even brought out little cookies and shortbreads for the rest of the table as a parting gift. All in all, we were very well taken care of here and the food was top notch. Can't wait to go back!

Amazing food and amazing experience. Cozy and intimate setting , with beautifully prepared Delicious food. Tasting menu with wine pairings is a must. Chefs are lovely. We had their food at a pop-up at Frame. Had to experience the actual restaurant as well. Service was outstanding.

Dined here a 3-4 month ago. It was good- not great. But- made four reservations for the summer months JIC- Called several months ago wanting to confirm my reservations. A person who identified as the owner/chef told me, "... No, we have no reservations for you on the dates you mentioned- we had a few bad staff members and they must have screwed up again...." Very disappointing. So- 6:45P this evening- Voicemail from The Cooks House, telling me I as 15 minutes late for my reservation. Really??????? (Previous discussion was at least 15 minute conversation - BTW. Telling me I had no reservations.) And No call yesterday or today to "confirm" the reservation I was told didn't exist months ago. But, they had my number to call my and imply I had "stood them up..." WOW. LOSERS. With all the restaurants struggling The Cooks House does not deserve the time of day- or your business. Good- NOT over the top cuisine in any measure- and cleary gross incompetence from the top down. Traverse City can do MUCH better.

Amazing meal- can stand up to any la fine dining restaurant. Good job chefs! I would absolutely come back and recommend this to any local or out of stater.

Had an amazing time and an amazing meal! My husband did the 7-course wine pairing meal and I picked 4 items off the a la carte menu. Every single dish was perfectly done. I especially loved the beef cheek and potato and leek soup.

Amazing spot for a one of a kind dining experience in Traverse. Everyone in my party ordered a 3 course meal and everyone of us practically licked our plates clean. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back.

Excellent food Quaint environment Cozy setting close to your neighbor but we had great neighbors at the table next to us

A little nage with that? YES, PLEASE! I've never had nage- let alone the nage of heirloom tomatoes, but I'm sure glad I did. Some friends and I made a visit in late October - flying in from all around the country for a weekend of whisky, good food, and fun. The servers were attentive and extremely knowledgeable, and we will all be back next year (or sooner)!

TLDR: fantastic meal, great service, cozy ambience. Definitely Michelin star quality and one of the best meals I've had in a while, especially given quarantine. We made a reservation a week in advance and had a table inside, right by the kitchen so we got a peak of the chefs cooking. It is a smaller place that fit our party of 6 and 2 groups inside and a patio outside for more seating. Upon seating we were given warm hand towels with disinfectant/sanitizer, which was a really nice touch. We ordered off the menu as opposed to the 5/7 course menus so here's a run down of what we ordered: Radar pappu charu soup: great flavors and packs a punch. One of our friends notes that it had the same spice profile and balance as something her South Indian mom makes and gave it a thumbs up! Sweet corn elote soup: delicious and very light with a good body. We really enjoyed this appetizer soup. Cabbage melon salad: crunchy, acidic, and umami from the fish sauce. I really enjoyed this but a friend felt there could have been a bit more fish sauce. Squash Creme Brulee: really interesting and balanced with smooth decadence of the custard and refreshing lightness from the Bhel puri and vegetables on top. Mixed greens with croutons: a solid side salad, but definitely not as exciting as the others. Milkweed pods and wild mushroom: this was my favorite. Holy cow, loved the pancetta, the delicious buttery mushrooms, and the milkweed pods add a bittersweetness that really brings home the farm-to-table concept. Heirloom tomato with eggplant sorbet: I love tomatoes, and this simple dish of sliced tomatoes is anything but simple. The eggplant sorbet was interesting but mild so the predominant flavors were the anchovy and Parm. Walleye: I thought the fish was overdone and after the buffet of side dishes, just fell short of expectations. Half chicken: would definitely order this again. This was my favorite main dish. It was seasoned well, with crispy skin and cooked perfectly. The grilled cabbage was delicious with it. Rabbit leg and stuffed saddle: the flavors from the braise were spot on, but the meat was a bit on the drier side. I think with rabbit in general, it could be a hit or miss due to the gamey and lean nature of the meat, so that's something to keep in mind when deciding on a main. Hanger steak: this was really good, especially if you're like me and enjoy medium rare and a solid beefy taste (sorry, not sure how else to describe it). We were too stuffed to get desert but were still given a small sweet treat with our bill, which was also so delicious. For the amount and quality of food we ordered, the bill was pleasantly affordable. I feel like we got a 10 course meal at a Michelin star restaurant for the price of a nice dinner. This place is perfect for a romantic date or a place for friends to catch up over great food. The service was timely, attentive, and very friendly. I felt that the smaller plates were the stars as opposed to the main dishes, but overall we were really pleased with it all.

Amazing food and drink. Every detail tended to. White corn soup with sweet peppers and crème fresche stole the show. The Black Cod was succulent. They have earned their reputation and I will return often and recommend to all in my orbit.

This location and the general poor condition of the building were a turn off to visiting for dinner, especially during Covid. I'm getting less patient with the establishments that don't care for their property and make important improvements in maintenance. Every time I think of eating here the reminder of the outside of the small building bothers me.

When I travel/vacation I like to find restaurants with tasting menus with wine pairings. I really wanted to like this restaurant . A casual atmosphere with gourmet dining. My wife ordered the 5 course and I ordered the 7 course , both with wine. We were about finished with the first course of asparagus soup before the first glass of wine arrived. To be fair most of the courses were good and the wine was well paired. The walleye course was a bit bland and served with a sauce that resembled tartar sauce. The steak dish was my least favorite . The steak was not even cooked to rare. Just seared on both sides. Chewy and I had to trim off some fat. The wine selection overpowered the dish which was surprising as steak is easy to pair. This is not a bad restaurant . However for the price I would expect a higher quality of food and service.

It's no Trattoria Stella, let's just establish that right away. Not even in the same stratosphere. It was hyped to be special and was just mediocre. This may be unfair to them but they are in the same town as one of the best restaurants in the entire country and... they just can't match up. Sorry.

Wow! Probably the top five best meals I've ever had. We did the pairing menu. Generous pours. Amazing dishes. Great service. This was such a treat. The espresso was great too. Perfect date night. It is so exciting that you can have a meal like this up north. Better than any meal inns fancy big city but with a distinct northern Michigan flare.

Wonderful service, food was cooked to perfection, we were seated right away, and enjoyed their 7 course meal! The zucchini creme brûlée and the spiced cake for dessert were phenomenal! So glad I got to experience this as my first dinner in TC! Highly recommend and definitely coming back

Delicious fine dining located in a quaint little white house. The atmosphere is quirky cool. It's small and romantic. We eat there every year for our anniversary as a treat when we visit TC. The 7 course tasting menu is a must! Great wine list. Only thing is I wish they'd switch up the menu a little more. We visit around the same time each year and the menu is usually very similar to what it was the previous year.