Mode's Bum Steer

Night II took the Kings to one of Traverse City's most storied dining rooms — Mode's Bum Steer, a downtown institution that's been slinging steaks and burgers since long before any of us had dad bods. Dark wood paneling, vintage photos, a fireplace crowned with longhorns, and menus so classic they practically creak when you open them. This was old TC at its finest.

The bar sandwich started strong. The Maître D' assembled a proper pre-game bar, and the group arrived at Mode's in high spirits — with an unplanned pit stop along the way to help a stranger fix a bike chain. The kingdom does not pass by a person in need.

The waiter said the best burger on the menu was the house burger — a beef patty with Canadian bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and coleslaw on the side. It looked the part. The Stack scored well. The burger arrived looking like a proper institution burger should.

Then you ate it. The Canadian bacon was the story of the night — abundant, assertive, and polarizing. The Treasurer called it out. The Scorekeeper called it out. The Enforcer didn't like it at all and didn't hide it. The Maître D' and the Historian, meanwhile, were busy giving out 4s and 5s, finding plenty to love in a burger that most of the table found underwhelming.

The bun got soggy. The architecture didn't hold. The drip was low. The patty was solid but overwhelmed by its supporting cast. The fries were serviceable, nothing more.