Centre Street Cafe in Traverse City, Michigan

Centre Street Cafe, located between Hastings & S. Garfield maybe a little hard to find but once you have found it, it will keep you coming back for more.

Centre Steet has a loyal & big following so if you are going, try to get there just ahead of the lunch crowd since the parking is limited & the seating is a little limited also. Centre Street does a big carry out business & it is no wonder since the food is so good. And just remember Centre Street Cafe only serves lunches, so do not go there late expecting to enjoy a lite dinner. Jack the owner, prepares everything fresh right behind the counter, the menu includes sandwiches, wraps, huge salads & fresh soup made daily. I absolutely love the swamp soup which has a tomato base to it, but whenever I see the fish chowder on the menu, I dive right into that, has to be my personal favorite. When I worked in Traverse City, I always ordered carry-out & would eat my lunch at my desk. The smell of the fish chowder would linger in my office the rest of the day & anyone coming into the office would automatically know I had been to Centre Street. The fish chowder has a wonderful creamy broth & many different kinds of fish that manage to come together so well.

It is always great watching Jack make the sandwiches, using real chicken breasts for the sandwiches rather than the sliced pressed meat you get at some other restaurants. This just shows the quality & pride he puts into his lunches. Another nice thing is that all the sandwiches are served with tortilla chips & bean dip rather than your standard chips or fries. The quantities are very filling, so bring your appetite or maybe opt for a half sandwich & cup of soup. Expect to pay a little more for your lunch than you would if you had stopped at a fast food joint, but then again, this is not a fast food operation & the quality & quantity they provide is worth every penny you pay.

Every time I stop at Centre Street I am amazed at the number of carry out orders they have. I have seen cars actually back up to the door & open their trunks to have room for all the orders they are taking. I am not sure if Jack has ever considered having a delivery service, I am sure they would be keep busy. So whether you live in Traverse City or are visiting, I highly recommend you check out Centre Street Cafe for a wonderful lunch while you are in town. If you are from out of town, you may want to get carry-out & enjoy eating at one of the many beautiful parks that Traverse City has to offer. The bay is only a short drive from Centre Street & the during the summer months & into the fall sitting at a picnic table over looking the water is always fantastic. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.