Bubba's

Bubba’s in Traverse City had me hopeful, but the ranch fell into the “meh” category. No smell, a nice herby appearance, and a flavor so subtle I couldn’t decide how I felt about it—like it was trying to be something but forgot the assignment halfway through.

The menu called it Lemon Dill Ranch (served with the Cajun fried pickle fries), but when I asked for a side of regular ranch (seen with other food items), the server told me it’s just the same ranch they use for everything. That was confirmed when it came with the wings, too. So… was the lemon dill just marketing? There was a slight citrus note, but nothing bold. I could tell it wasn’t completely store-bought, which saved it from a lower rating, but I wouldn’t rush to order it again or base my food around it.

Now, the Cajun pickle fries were actually solid. Crispy, seasoned, flavorful. But let’s be real, they deserved a better ranch. The honey sriracha wings were heavy on the ginger, which isn’t really my thing, but I know someone out there is into it. Me? I was there for the sweet tots, those little nuggets of heaven were hands-down the star of the show. The burger? Hilariously messy in that “you’re definitely going to need a knife and fork and a moment to collect yourself” way.