Worst restaurant experience of my life. I have been a server so I am understanding, but this place is awful. Terrible server. We were mostly ignored and the place was dead. We got a cold spinach dip that was not edible. We sat for almost an hour. When we asked about the food out server said the kitchen just started making it. We decided to leave and after we were a block away outside our server chased us down and told us the owner wanted us to pay for the burgers we never saw!
Review Source:I told my nephew that I needed two things when I arrived in Michigan. Walleye and smelt. He frequents this place several times every summer as he has a boat nearby, and swore this would be thee place for local smelt. I now concur.
Michigan smelt when fried up are about the size of a thick French fry. This was a huge plateful of perfectly fried, lightly battered wonderfulness. I crave these little delicacies on occasion, but Musso and Frank in Hollywood is the only place I know of in SoCal that always have them on the menu. Give me a shout if you know of any OC restos that carry them.
Service here, at least by our fresh face server was, shall we say, summer job
amateurish. When I asked her about the "whitefish", and specifically what fish it was  she flipped to her notes and started to read, " a flaky mild...." I bailed the poor girl out and just ordered up the smelt. She giggled and apologized as she stated she doesn't really like or eat fish. "Kind of weird, to be working in a fish place huh?" I guess I nodded and she giggled again, "not many other options in this little town." Well fish restaurant management is one option she may want to cross off her future career options. She was attentive at least, cute, and funny as well.
Apparently this is a locals favorite as well as a tourist hot-spot. Very busy on Memorial Weekend Sunday with lots of families. There is a fairly large bar in the center of the main dining room, so maybe it gets rowdy later with less kids.
My nephew and his wife both ordered the chicken gumbo that was on the specials board and raved several times how delish it was. So look to the specials board for some additional tasty items.
For me it was all about the smelt. I just need to find a source closer to home.
This place used to be terrific. Â For some reason the bar has always been better than the dining room. Â The perch was incredibly overdone as was the smelt. Â The wine was old and not correctly stored nor was it served at the right temperature. Â Hopefully, they will return to their old glory days.
Review Source:The Bluebird is a Leelanau institution. Â The Great Whitefish Superpower. Â Like many people, I visit anytime I am in the area.
They have a large dining room with a long row of windows overlooking the river. Â There is also a bar/tavern area. Â They serve local wines and dreamy cinnamon rolls.
I always get the broiled whitefish, which is served simply with salad and side. Â The fish tastes fresh and light and melts in your mouth.
This place is a must if you are in the area.
The food is fine - my wife had the whitefish and I had the perch. The restaurant is physically loveley, with nice views and friendly service. The salad bar is ordinary. But it gets 3 stars from me instead of 4 because the prices are so obviously too high. I had a generous portion of perch with nicely cooked green beans and the salad bar that in Chicago might cost $18, and that should cost $15 at the Bluebird - $21 is unreasonable. Their online menu says $19 - don't believe it.
Review Source:We started with the smoked salmon appetizer----delicious, the crackers that they use are special. I had the bluegill special for the day and it was outstanding. My wife had the whitefish and also said in was great. Service was perfect.
The setting for this place in Leland, Michigan is special with an historic village half a block away. Â The view from the windows are beautiful.
Some of the best smelt and walleye I have had anywhere. Lightly battered as opposed to the "here's something the size of a frickin' banana with a smelt somewhere inside" that you find at some other places. The batter is supposed to add some flavor and not supposed to be *the* meal.
A good place to drop by on your stroll thru downtown Leland and Fishtown. If nothing else, stop in and have the smelt basket.
I've been going up to Leland my whole life ... My parents met at "The Bird". She was waitressing (while taking art classes at the Old Art building during college) circa 1957. Mom served Dad a hamburger that resulted in me & my sisters (a few years later).
The Blue Bird must be on their 5th generation of the Telegard family by now -- since it has been in business since the 1920's. If I feel spendy, we eat in the dining room: Lake Michigan Whitefish  $19.  or Lake Michigan Perch  $21. If I am feeling frugal then it's Burgers in the Bar - where I always bump into some member of the Family.
I'm definitely a fan of Bluebird. Â It's always part of David and my vacation to Michigan. Â The food is quite good, the whitefish Bluebird style is a standout. Â The salad bar is good. Â
The view is terrific. Â Be SURE to request a window seat. Â
Service is friendly, good, not great, but hey it's a restaurant that is in an area that is very slow during the winter VERY busy during the summer. Â
Dressy casual and comfortable. Â Skip the t-shirt, upgrade to a polo shirt!! Â Slacks, not jeans, though they won't throw you out. Â Nice shorts are OK.
Relax and enjoy a nice dinner. Â Share with friends and you'll have a lovely evening. Â Not the least expensive restaurant in the area, not the most, but considering everything a GREAT value. Â Family friendly. Â Gay friendly.
A neighbor friend recommended Bluebird to us as a stop on our trip to North Manitou Island.  Enjoyed their brunch buffet on Sunday.  Ate around noon in a party of 3.  was kinda late for brunch but all the dishes were well stocked and fresh.  buffet items were immense especially their dessert selection: numerous  pies, cakes, fresh fruits, pastries...
Atmosphere was nice. waiters and wateriness were clean and polite. Â view of the river from every table.
weird observation. but important - all their tableware was very clean (and warm, been just machine washed).
We have been summering in Leland my whole life.  The Bird is tradition.  After 2 bad years at the bird I have decided to pass on this tradition.  Sure th view is nice.  The food average if that.  Service bad.  Pea salad from the Merch is just as good.  Fish spread -go to Carlsons and buy it.  Cook out your own white fish at home.  Pizza take out from the bar OK.  I plan to go to Falling  Waters instead from now on.
Review Source:The Bluebird was billed as a classic Leland establishment, and I think they rest mostly on these laurels to keep guests coming. Â To its credit, the view of the Leland River from the windows was great, so make sure to request a window seat for a view of the Leland river. Â But aside from its historical charm, the Bluebird was somewhat of a let down, especially for the price.
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Even though the fish was solid, something about the indoor atmosphere just wasn't right. Â Perhaps it was the worn out carpet or the Ruby Tuesday's style salad bar with iceberg lettuce, but it just felt like somewhere you go for dinner with your grandparents (in all honesty, I was there with my grandparents).
Food: 3.5 stars
That said, the local fish offerings were still good. Â The Walleye Oscar was particularly tasty. Â The Fresh Lake Michigan Whitefish was also solid, although the blackened version of this was served a bit too charred. Â In general, this is a quality spot to pick up some Lake Michigan fish.
Service:
Very nice waitress, but the hostess was quite pushy about making our party take its seats while one person was in the bathroom even though there were empty tables and no line. Â She also yelled at people later for standing in the wrong spot in the salad bar line. Â Reminded me of the middle-school lunch cafeteria all over again.
We were very excited to try out this popular restaurant and were VERY disappointed! We deemed it an "upscale Denny's". Overpriced for the quality. Our waiter was so awkward. They had a salad bar which didn't fit into the "upscale" appearance. VERY LITTLE servings, and not in a good/gourmet way. As we left, we saw what seemed like a GREAT restaurant on the lake up the street... wish we had chosen better!
Review Source:This place has been around forever and has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1923. Â It's the kind of place that, when I was a kid, we'd head to for a dress up dinner with our grandparents. It sits directly on the river, affording very pretty views if you can get one of those tables - I highly recommend that you make reservations ahead of time, especially in the summer.
Far more casual now, jeans and such okay, but still an old favorite and a must-visit when in Leelanau County. Â Steaks, lamb, chicken, etc. are all fairly good, but what people really come here for is the Whitefish. They prepare it a number of ways, but I've found that the more simple preparations are best - I generally stick with the broiled whitefish at this point, but the breaded is very good as well. Â Very flaky, delicate and fresh - I highly recommend it. Â In the winter they offer "Ethnic Nights," check their website for themses/dates.
Sides and veggies are fairly standard , soups are quite good, attractive and fresh salad bar is available with entrees for a few dollars more or as a standalone. Â I don't get a appetizers very often here as they have generous servings, but the whitefish spread is really quite good. Â Good cinnamon rolls. Very, very excellent wine list!!!!!
Quality seems to have declined just a bit over the years, but the staff is always great and the food (especially the Whitefish) is solid overall. Â I would give it 3 stars for the food and one star for the great views. Â A good place to come with the family.
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