About The Bluebird
For over 80 years, The Bluebird has been the gathering place in Leland for locals and tourists alike. From the casual 100 seat bar, to the more elegant, scenic dining room on the banks of the Leland River, The Bluebird tradition of excellence is always apparent. Long known for the finest whitefish, walleye, and perch in Northern Michigan, The Bluebird is constantly striving to raise the level of quality across the board, to include the finest steaks available, Prime Rib, and a variety of other meat, chicken, and seafood entrees. The menu contains many timeless favorites, and the nightly specials offer our chef’s the opportunity to stretch their culinary “legs” and try new ingredients and cooking styles. The finest quality wine, beer, and spirits are also a priority. Of course we take great pride in our devoted, trained, professional staff, some of whom have been with us for over 30 years! A trip to The Bluebird will reward you with a great meal and a great time, at a reasonable price.
The Bluebird is closed on Mondays in the Fall & Winter; until June 17, then open 7 days a week.
Also, check out our history and consider us for your wedding rehearsal dinner or other special group occasion!
Our Famous To-Go Pizzas
Grab a pizza and head to the beach! 🍕
The Bluebird Food Facts
Great Lakes Fish
The only Great Lakes Whitefish we serve is FRESH Whitefish. It is very rare indeed that we can’t offer fresh whitefish, as we have cultivated reliable sources through the years. From late Fall to early Spring, feel free to call ahead. We also specialize in Great Lakes Walleye, Perch, and Smelt, and only serve the best available. In April, we make the drive to Big Stone Bay Fisheries in Mackinaw City to pick up freshly netted Smelt! Word quickly spreads and we pack the Tavern with smelt enthusiasts from all over Northern Michigan.
Meats
Only top quality Steaks and Prime Rib make the grade for us. Our Burger is fresh ground daily at NJ’s Market in Lake Leelanau, and our burgers are a full half pound, pre-cooked weight. Our smoker is active year-round, where we maple-smoke pork shoulder, ribs, brisket, and occasionally fish. We take our BBQ very seriously!
Bakery
We have our own baking department and create all of our buns, rolls, pizza crust, desserts, and pastries. The only bread we purchase is extremely high quality sliced breads from Bay Bread in Traverse City. Our Pizza has become a Leelanau Country favorite, with fresh dough, our own sauce recipe, the best mozzarella, and generous portions of the freshest toppings available.
Farms
We support local farms and producers whenever practical, buying directly from farms near us including: Jim Bardenhagen Farm, Bardenhagen Berries, Bakers Acres, Bay Bread, Big Stone Bay Fishery, Bunny Hop Farm, Cherry Capital Foods, Carlson Fishery, Leelanau Cheese Co., Leelanau Coffee Roasting, NJ’s Meats, Norconk Asparagus Farm, Kolarik Farm, Kellenske Farm, Mitchell Omena Farms, Winoweicki Berries, Hawley Farm, as well as numerous other Farm Market vendors, and many local foragers.
Wine, Beer, Cider
The Bluebird has featured local wines for over 35 years, and we proudly stock the largest selection of local wine in the area. As far as wines of the world, you will find an eclectic, intriguing number of gems on our list that may surprise you. Aged Bordeaux, Rhone Valley classics, and mature California Cabernet Sauvignon? Look no further than our climate controlled cellar. Local and regional beer and cider are a focus, with an ever-changing selection to pique your interest.
Miscellaneous
When the maple trees begin pushing sap in the spring, we gather a few hundred gallons and boil it down to make our own Maple Syrup that we use for special recipes of all kinds, not just dessert and breakfast. Spring also signals early season mushrooms and wild leeks, and our foragers get to work combing the woods for these treasures. We are partners in a local Vineyard, Verterra Winery, and always pull a few lugs aside at harvest time to make our own jams and jellies that have a unique concentration and character.