Sleder’s Family Tavern Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Amy B.

    Interesting location/ memorabilia with the history of the place being the oldest restaurant in Michigan but that's about it. The food is on par with a big boys. Really nothing special and I even think big boys would have tasted better. Our waitress was really nice. And the hostesses were too. Mainly the food is just bleh which is why I wouldn't recommend it.

    (2)
  • Kimberly D.

    Have you "Smooched the Moose yet? That's the slogan at Sleder's. It's the oldest bar/restaurant in Traverse City. Located at the edge of downtown in an old charming house, Sleder's has various bison, deer, and the infamous Moose heads adorning the walls. If you "Smootch the Moose" they ring a bell for you. Came in on a rainy, cold August evening for a drink and a small bite to eat. The place was packed and there were all ages from young to old inside. Had the nachos and they were good but nothing spectacular. Good size portion (enough to share). Prices were decent and they made a good Citron and soda. The burgers looked pretty darn good so I'd come back for that.

    (3)
  • Megan H.

    This place looks cute with its history and all, but the food was awful. I had the cherry barbecue chicken which was dry and served with what appeared to be 2 boiled red potatoes. The potatoes had no seasoning and came with little packages of butter. The chicken looked ridiculous as if they put just enough sauce on top to cover up what it looked like. The rest of the table had the fried perch basket which they said was okay. They forgot to serve the slaw though. We're definitely not from this area, but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone.

    (2)
  • Peter C.

    On a recent family trip we went there with my nieces and nephews since it was recommended by a family friend. This place looks like an "Up North" bar with all of the creatures mounted on the wall (both fictional and real) with the attraction being that you have to kiss the moose. They have a few moose heads there but it is a tradition at this place to take the step ladder and kiss the moose. When you do the bartenders ring the bell and everyone in the front area watches you. This has the standard greasy spoon menu and a pretty extensive beer selection with tons of MI and Traverse City breweries represented on it. They do have a small section of Mexican food, which doesn't seem to fit in. The waitress was an older woman that was super helpful with the little kids and getting their food first to keep them happy while the adults drank and ordered. I had the Reuben that was good with some home made chips. Overall, it was a decent meal but you go there for the kids to be entertained or if you want to check out the items on the wall (very old time).

    (3)
  • Allison L.

    Fun. This place is fun. It's also loud. Very loud. From the huge families to the ringing of a cowbell (without warning) when someone kisses the giant stuffed moose in the back. That was fun. Lots of taxidermy. Prolly the most I've ever seen in a restaurant. For my PETA loving friends....don't go here. Ha! The history surrounding this place is awesome too. Really old timey feel. The booths and tables are old wood and squeaky (loved this!). The menu is full of favorites and everyday they have a specialty burger! I had the perch sandwich (a fav for when I visit N Michigan) and it came with cole slaw and chips. MP got the perch basket with fries and it came with so much fish I was honestly surprised he ate it all, well, not really. Super lunch!!! The food is delicious!! I've heard this is a place for burgers, so I will have to check that out the next time I'm there. The waitress was super friendly and has probably been working there for 30 years. Random: A family from the beach nearby was using this restaurants bathroom to change. Not sure if that's normal, but seemed a bit strange to me. There was sand everywhere. Otherwise, it was just what we were looking for that day, a casual and reasonably priced lunch....with taxidermy.

    (3)
  • Hayley S.

    I have very fond memories of coming to Sleders. I've been coming here ever since I was a little kid. This was my grandparents go to spot for dinner in Traverse City. It's pretty typical bar food with a few interesting things thrown in there. I distinctly remember my grandfather ordering the smelt basket every time we would come. They have burgers, sandwiches, ribs, fish and chips etc. Everything I've had has been great and they have a decent beer selection. They are also know for their giant moose head on the wall and you can "smooch the moose" and they will ring a super loud gong after you do. I've actually never done it because I have this awful memory of my grandpa holding me up to the moose face trying to get me to kiss it...and I just never felt like kissing a taxidermy moose head, but that's just me. Also Sleders is kind of hidden which makes a great place to go to on a Saturday night when you're starving and everywhere else is packed, you can usually get in right away here. I come every time I'm in Traverse!

    (5)
  • Katie D.

    Absolutly amazing deep fried pickles! Coleslaw is on spot! The cod basket and chicken basket is big but so good! Homemade fries make the meal complete!!!

    (5)
  • C H.

    This place has some of the worst food I've had in Michigan. The quality of the veggies was poor, everything is deep fried frozen food and doused in way too much dressing. If you want to save yourself a night of nausea and discomfort, avoid this place.

    (1)
  • Steve M.

    Fun place... love the 1800's ambiance. Went on a recommendation that they had some awesome hamburgers, and they didn't disappoint. Friendly, excellent service. Can't wait to return. Oh, and don't forget to kiss the moose... Went back again... burger was even better the 2nd time around. Love the saloon atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Bridjet S.

    The inside is a very neat, old time saloon that has been around since the 1800's. Everything inside the main bar area looks as if it has been here forever. It does have lots of character with the wooden barstools, old wood floors, tin ceiling, and giant moose taxidermy everywhere. Even the bathroom sink and toilet seemed like they may have been around at the turn of the century. The menu had plenty of variety. Looking around at everyone else's food, it all looked very fresh and yummy. We both had the burger and fries. Burgers are 1/2 pound of fresh ground daily, hand formed beef. A 1/2 pound burger is too big for me, but I polished off over half of it and loved every bite. The fries are hand cut and deep-fried to perfection. My husband prefers his fries a little more done, but I loved them. Will go back again and have no problem recommending Sleder's.

    (4)
  • Russell H.

    Sleder's has a fun atmosphere and good food. There are lots of stuffed animal heads on the wall, so if you are the sort of person who would get all upset about the poor animals then maybe this ain't the place for you. With that said, the food and service were both great. I had the Reuben sandwich, and it was one of the best I have ever had. My wife opted for a burger, and she was equally happy with her meal. I noticed that a lot of folks here appeared to be locals, which is OK with me. I like to go where the locals go when I'm out of town. Overall a great experience, and a nice break from the 'trendy' places that seem to be all over Traverse City.

    (4)
  • Steve F.

    The atmosphere is great! The service is fast and friendly. Three diners, two newbies. We had the Chicken Wings, an Old Timer with French Fries, a Wet Burrito and the Pacific Cod dinner. Would have liked the fries crispier. Burger was great. Wet Burrito was huge and delicious! The Cod was tasty! We kissed the Moose!

    (4)
  • Stephanie W.

    Every time we take a trip to Traverse City we have to visit Sleder's and smooch the moose. I'm not sure how many people have smooched him, but I'm sure it's plenty. There were 6 of us in our party and the restaurant was busy. We didn't have to wait long to be seated though. It did take our waitress awhile to get our drinks but to her credit she was waiting on a table of 25 (or some insane amount of people). We order the appetizer of Smelt, which was fried crispy but not crunchy. You could still taste the smelt and the tarter sauce added a little something extra. Some of us ordered burgers, two of us ordered salads, and one person ordered the massive nachos. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and they were all pleased with how everything was prepared. I can only speak for my meal, which was the Sleder Burger which is 1/2 pound ground chuck served with your choice of cheese (I must have cheddar on my burgers). I asked for medium well and it came to be perfectly and still juicy. I'm pretty sure I gobbled it up without even breathing. Shame on my, I know. The fries and cole slaw were nothing fancy, but good nonetheless. Our family loves to dine here because of its history and atmosphere. The staff is always friendly and the food is always good. I can't wait to come back in July!

    (4)
  • Snipey C.

    A pretty decent place to grab a burger and a beer, but they have too high an opinion of their hamburgers. Not really a top ten in a lifetime burger, but a solid one. Slabtown beats it hands down. Their ads annoy me a little by unnecessarily trashing arugula as some kind of food for snobs. Somebody might want to tell them that there are some people in the world who will eat a burger as well as a mixed green salad. Anyway, this place serves up some OK greaze, but not really the kind of place I would take people to in search of an interesting or noteworthy meal.

    (3)
  • Mike W.

    The pros: (as noted in most reviews, the atmosphere was very unique, historic and nostalgic). The service was also very good. The cons: in general, the food quality was fair to average. The buffalo burger (ordered medium) came well done and dry. The steak was cooked correctly, and, although juicy, had no seasoning. The fries were pretty bad (my kids wouldn't eat them, if that says anything), and they were soggy. Overall: a decent experience, prices were ok, but I likely won't go back only because the TC area has so many excellent options for dining.

    (3)
  • Tee G.

    Old, filthy dirty, below average slow staff, and over priced below average food! Please don't fall for the Moose attraction! I find it hard to believe that the health department hasn't shut this place down! The owner obviously doesn't care and no legit management on duty! At all costs avoid this place!!

    (1)
  • Amy K.

    I had been here ten years ago and decided to try it again on a return visit with family. What a disappointment. The host was rude and service was slow. Not the worst fish (deep fried cod) I've ever had, but the other entrees ordered were nothing to write home about. The chicken burrito was bland and boring. The fries were soggy. We sat in the room off the main dining room due to the strong smell of cigarette smoke in the air, and the atmosphere was definitely lacking. The only positive was that we didn't have to wait for a table, but judging from our dining experience, I can see why. It may be an "institution," but do yourself a favor and try one of the other quality restaurants in Traverse City. History and the moose can't save this place.

    (2)
  • Derek H.

    I had dinner Friday evening with my family. My wife and I both had burgers which were good. The menu choices are limited but there were several dinner specials available outside of the menu. The atmosphere of this old bar was very pleasant and the selection of local draft beers was great. I will stop back the next time I'm in TC

    (3)
  • Brad K.

    I recommend this place for a group gathering for drinks. The food is solid but the bar staff is great. Come here and KISS THE MOOSE.

    (4)
  • Megan T.

    My favorite tavern in Michigan. It was built by sawmill workers and the waiter/bartender we had was great! He had a lot to share about the different Michigan breweries and we had been to many of them. We love when locals know the area and can recommend different types of beer to try from the local breweries. The food was great too! I have the lake perch (fried) and loved it and my husband had the sausage and sauerkraut and enjoyed it too! It is not right downtown, but not far either! It was not crowded when we were they but I can imagine I may be crowded with the quality of food served. I would recommend if in the area!

    (5)
  • Debbie L.

    First I was given my coffee, poured the cream in and saw that it was spoiled. I decided on rootbeer........ They have Horrible... Horrible food!!!! I ordered a Chicken Wrap, hubby ordered the Buffalo Burger, and my sister ordered a cornbeef dinner..... I took one bite.... hubby took one bite...... sister opened the sandwich to see dirty lettuce and had them take it away without ordering anything else.... Sorry, but the food isn't even good enough for my dogs!

    (1)
  • Mikey G.

    Joy G. is correct in saying that Sleder's is an institution in Traverse City. I've eaten there ever sense I was a wee lad. Great local restaurant! Nothing about it is so extremely special that you have to stop by and see it. But thats what makes it so great. The booths and tables inside are small. There is quite a bit of seating if they open up both sections. The food is pretty good. The service is always above average. Great place to drop by if you don't want to get mauled by the Crowds.

    (4)
  • Jessica M.

    This place used to be great, we hadn't been in several years and we stopped in back in July...we were all very disappointing, the salads looked like something out of a cafeteria and my "half rack" of ribs with redskin potatoes was 4 ribs and 2 tiny boiled potatoes. Very sad as I have a lot of great memories of this place. We will eventually try it again and hopefully I can update my review, but as of right now it is only worth it for the unique atmosphere in the main dining room and to 'Smooch the Moose'

    (2)
  • Mark H.

    Sleder's is worth a visit for three reasons - "Blue Bacon Burger", cold beverages especailly very cold beer and you can "kiss the moose". How can you beat this? Nice family restaurant with good value and a nice staff!

    (4)
  • Andrea D.

    I like the history behind this place. We ordered an appetizer (cheese sticks) to start. Served with homemade marinara that is out of this world - chunky with tons of garlic and basil. For our main course, my husband ordered perch - great size serving, tasted yummy. I made the grave error of ordering the smelt/cod combo. No fault of theirs...but I didn't know that smelt would look like something out of my daughter's fishbowl sans head and dipped in light batter. I had to remove them from my plate and have the waitress take them away, right away! She was nice enough to bring me an extra piece of cod instead. The tarter sauce is also homemade and super good. If you're traveling with someone in a wheelchair - beware. Historic building, doors not much larger than 28"....makes it difficult.

    (2)
  • kaye r.

    Sleder's is a breath of fresh hair compared to the newer, bougier stuff coming to TC. I know its been around awhile but for some reason I didn't make it there until last year. I told my mom I wanted a good burger, and they delivered. The waiter and waitress were a bit quirky but added to the overall fun. Very family-friendly but you can also get a good drink. good selection of beer. Love it.

    (5)
  • James A.

    Good atmosphere, GREAT food. If you have been to TC and haven't been to Sleder's, you haven't been to TC. Buffalo burgers, great fish and chips, and smooch that filthy moose. Yum and gross.

    (4)
  • michael b.

    it may be a tc tradition but you can get better service, better food and better atmosphere elsewhere. We had the fried pearch and burgers, and overall we thought the food was greasy and bland (they make up for on quantity what they don't deliver in quality). Service was very slow despite the restaurant only being 1/3 full. only good thing is that it's smoke free now.

    (1)
  • Eva J.

    so kiss the stupid moose, have a beer and eat the santa fe sandwich or the ridiculous loaded fries. it's a greasy heart attack waiting to kill you happily.

    (4)
  • Tony L.

    Visited on advice from a friend. This is a very unique spot (a little off the beaten path from Downtown). My goal was a good burger and they delivered. The meat is freshly ground and perfectly cooked. I had the Sleder Burger which is your quintessential American burger (lettuce, pickles, mayo, etc.). What's nice is that the bun is light and airy. They have daily specialty burgers as well. The building is a bundle of oddities- but it is rich with history. Beware- the bathrooms are small and well worn.... Hard to believe it is Michigan's oldest restaurant given much older cities in Michigan but who am I to argue... Wait staff is very friendly- try to sit in the bar.

    (4)
  • Cydney C.

    I've been coming here for years, ever since i was a kid. The staff is friendly, food is great, and they have a pretty good beer selection including local crafts. You can stop in and "Kiss The Moose".. something they're known for. And be sure to pick up an "I kissed the moose T-Shirt" to let everyone know. I've never done it.. always seemed like a touristy thing to do. I might be wrong about that. Sleder's is located right off of Division in a residential area. If you stress out over parallel parking be sure to keep an eye out for their parking lot across the street. If you stop in, try any of their sandwiches (they're always awesome). Other favorites of mine include the caesar salad and hot wings.

    (4)
  • Gary M.

    While visiting, I ate a delicious burger! The beef is very well flavored. However, the service is lacking in focus (but was friendly). Food was delivered and there was no silverware, napkins, or condiments on the table. Shouldn't that have been put on the table first? It would have been nice so I didn't have to look at my food and not be able to eat it. Server said he would get me silverware, but stopped at another table to check on them first. Hello? I'd like to eat now! Bartender also doesn't understand what the word "neat" means. So she walks over to our table and asks us what that meant. Really? I give no further comment.

    (2)
  • Christy H.

    Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Service was good. Atmosphere was ok. Food was typical bar food.

    (3)
  • Dominique K.

    I love the sense of history about this place, which traces its history back to the late 1800s when workers at the local sawmill built the bar largely out of scrap from the mill. And it even remained operating during Prohibition because of its waterfront location and a supposedly laissez-faire attitude around town about its continued operation as a tavern. The whole kiss-the-moose thing is a little cheesy, and not my style, but its a tradition at this place. They ring a big bell behind the bar whenever someone goes up to kiss "Randolph", so you won't miss the chance to watch tourists look silly at any rate. Sleder's is a basic burger-and-beer local joint. They use a lot of local ingredients and have two of my favorite bar eats on the menu-Fried Pickles and Olive Burgers.

    (4)
  • Stephen H.

    Decent, interesting, historical. Rustic, full of animal heads. Nothing to write home about but good for a slow lunch

    (3)
  • Michelle w.

    Quality of food takes a back seat to the ambience and history of this place. Very average food.

    (2)
  • Emily K.

    A couple weeks ago, right before the Holiday's my husband and I were out shopping and wanted to grab some food---but weren't super hungry. We decided to go to Sleder's and get something yummy. It being 4:00pm and not many customers at the time- we got to sit wherever we wanted, had a great server! We ordered the nacho's supreme. They were HUGE, enough to share (which we did) and topped with lettuce, taco meat, crisp veggies, olives, cheeeeeeese, and sour cream. A perfect combo. I have thought about these specific nacho's ever since eating them on this day. We inhaled them and were perfectly satisfied. Our bill came out to $13 in the end, since my husband got a soda. So cheap! I come here often in the winter months- a nice change of scenery. The Buffalo burgers are THE BEST here, and are nice and lean :) They have fresh soups daily- the clam chowder is amazing. And now that all restaurants are smoke-free...it's SO nice to sit anywhere in the place and relax for a great night out :) Don't forget to "kiss the moose"

    (4)
  • dustin s.

    Succinctly, a real local's place in Traverse City- an institution. Great bar area, homey dining room, always welcoming. Moose head on the wall (along with other taxidermic fauna) rounds out decor. Good beer selection at the long wooden bar that has seen it's share of frosty drinks pass over it. Favorite item: buffalo burger made with local bison (before it was chic). Visit to TC is incomplete without a visit for a pint or a bite. Friendly folks offering honest food to a grateful customer base. The combination is what most restauranteurs aim for...Sleder's has it nailed without trying too hard.

    (4)
  • David M.

    I try and go where the locals go as a general rule and when I was a local here, this was always a great choice. Still is. Interesting, old historic place with good food and drink. It's a blast in the summer out on the patio. The bell, and the moose are fun but go because of the history, the good food and because it's a little off the beaten path.

    (4)
  • Joy G.

    Sleder's is an "institution" in Traverse City. EVERYONE knows about Sleder's. It's a nice place to get a decent inexpensive meal. The restaurant has personality and lots of history. Of special interest besides the good food is the focal point of the restaurant-- the moose. It's a local tradition to kiss the moose that hangs on the wall. The french fries are great, the people are nice and it's cheap. It's a great place for groups and families. There's a homey and lively atmosphere. If you visit Traverse City, I really encourage you include Sleder's on your itinerary and don't forget to kiss the moose!

    (4)
  • Judith L.

    Good food. Love those Sunday afternoon concerts!

    (4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Sleder’s Family Tavern

Share with your social network

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.