

Bar/eatery known for unique burgers & diverse beer options plus daily happy hour on food & drinks.
Hours
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Monday | 8 AM–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 428 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: (231) 995-0570
Website: http://www.tcbubbas.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: tablesready.com
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Bubba’s – Restaurant & Bar – Traverse City Restaurant
Bubba’s | Traverse City MI – Facebook
Bubba’s – Gluten-Free Restaurant in Traverse City, MI
Reviews
For the main course, I ordered the Haystack Burger — both a long-time favorite of mine and a recommendation from Stephanie, the bartender. I asked for it cooked medium, and it came out beautifully: a bit messy in appearance, fried onions spilling over the top, mushrooms and cheese melted perfectly across the patty. The first bite was absolutely delicious. The burger was juicy and flavorful, with the mushrooms, cheese, bacon, and onions creating a combination that just worked. The bacon was thick enough to add texture and flavor without breaking apart, and the fried onions were crisp, flavorful, and small enough to complement the burger without overwhelming it. The mushrooms and cheese could have stood alone as their own side dish — they were that good.
If there was one weak point, it might be that the burger itself felt like it lacked a little something on its own, but once combined with the toppings, everything came together beautifully. The bun wasn’t anything remarkable, but it held up well and didn’t detract from the burger. It’s easy to see why the Haystack is a favorite among both locals and regulars at Bubba’s.
Normally, I go for the sweet potato tots with garlic aioli, but they were out tonight. Fortunately, Bubba’s sister restaurant, Firefly, sent over a batch of sweet potato fries, and I’m glad they did. They looked slightly undercooked — lacking the deep brown edges you usually expect — but they turned out to be perfectly done. The seasoning brought out the fries’ natural sweetness and added just enough salt to make them addictive. The garlic aioli on its own was good but not exceptional; however, when paired with the fries, it became something special. The combination was so good that I had to force myself to stop eating before finishing them all.
Bubba’s sits on the east end of downtown Traverse City, a smaller restaurant with an interior that gives off a renovated-warehouse vibe — cozy but lively. The staff, especially Stephanie behind the bar, were friendly and welcoming, making it easy to strike up conversation with both staff and patrons. Prices lean a bit higher than other local burger spots, with most burgers landing in the mid-teens to low twenties, but the portions, quality, and sit-down atmosphere justify it.
There’s a large burger menu (which I hear are great) but also some amazing chicken sandwich options, which is what most of my group got. All were really good and so different.
There’s also a few pretty good sounding salad options as well.
My kiddo didn’t like the pretzel bites but they came with cheese and mustard sauce and another kid did like them. The tator tots and fries were good too.