The New York Times Names This Traverse City Spot One of America’s Best

The New York Times recently released another of its '50 Best' lists, this time for the best restaurants in America, and one Michigan spot made the list!

The Best Restaurant in America Named by The New York Times

Since this list features the best 50 across the nation, it's a pretty elite list. And although there are 50 restaurants on the list, there's not one from every state. Some states are not represented on this list at all, while others had multiple showings.

This Michigan restaurant must be pretty darn good because it's the only Michigan place that made the list.

The Only Michigan Restaurant on the NYT List

If you want to try one of the best restaurants in America (and by extension, Michigan), a trip to Traverse City is in order. There, you'll find Modern Bird.

Modern Bird first opened in July 2022 and serves contemporary American food.

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Here's why it was chosen as one of the best by The New York Times:

In Traverse City, where the farm-to-table scene is strong, the chef Andy Elliott plays with textures in ways that leave a lasting impression. He runs this perch with his wife, Emily Stewart; they met while working at Boka in Chicago, and she makes the breads and desserts. Each dish calibrates contrasts, using local produce from the Leelanau Peninsula.

If you look at Modern Bird's social media, the dishes are very intricate, sophisticated, and artsy looking. Definitely not dive bar food by any means.

READ MORE: Two Michigan Eateries Make the 2025 List of the Best Restaurants in the U.S.

If you want to check out some delicious upscale dining, Modern Bird seems to be worth the trip. It has a rating of 4.8 stars on Google, and 242 reviews.