Our family and friends have been dining at Sanders Ridge, quite literally since Opening Night; and I can testify to some of the most exquisite, imaginative, beautifully prepared and served food having come from this kitchen. If you remember the glory days of this restaurant, you may be very, very disappointed, now. It's been a little more than a year, and finding myself with a break in an increasingly hectic schedule, I decided to just take an evening for myself, and visit my old friends in Yadkinville. I had called ahead for reservations, but was told I didn't need one; and when I arrived the parking lot was disturbingly empty...as was the restaurant! A young couple was dining by a window; and I was offered ANY other table in this massive building! We're talking about Saturday night, at a previously well thought of establishment, where classically Country and Bluegrass bands entertained enthusiastic audiences of people willing to drive considerable distances for the Sanders Ridge experience! But, now...NO bright chatter of conversations (from area celebrities, authors and artists...National level politicians, even!) around candlelit tables, no warm wafting of cooking and baking smell...all gone!
I'll tell you about the food; and that perhaps explains part of the problem; but another problem is Staff. The third component, of what seems pretty much a disaster to me, is that the business, according to the webpage, changed hands about a year ago. a stated as well-credentialed Chef either bought into, or "bought" outright the Sanders Ridge Restaurant and according the the outrageous Bill is now The Hearth Restaurant. Sanders Ridge, the vineyards and winery remaining under the same ownership and operation.
So, let me tell you about the food. I first ordered a crab cake, which was very good; in fact, I called waitress over and said "This is really good: do me another, just like this one!" And the second was as good as the first. I ordered it sans the lettuce offered, so it arrives with a very good, but...familiar - tasting remoulade, and a color-mixed medley of fresh, fragrant miniature tomatoes (pic below). But...that is where, for practical purposed, the meal ended.
I'll use the comparison of Firebirds Ribeye, simply because Firebirds steaks are consistent, are instantly replaced should one luck into...a rare, unfortunate error on their part, and the charge for 14 ounces is in the same...general ballpark...about $26.00 for Firebirds (including a huge, fluffy baked potato stuffed with butter, sourcream, chives and bacon bits), with the "Aged Ribeye" at the former Sanders Ridge/The Hearth Restaurant coming in at...a few dollars more, served with my choice of some pleasantly grilled vegetables.
A question of "How is everything?" by a Waitperson at Firebirds answered AS I did at The Hearth with "Well, I'm struggling a bit with some serious gristle" would have been met at Firebirds with the manager rushing to replace the offensive cut with something more reasonable; at The Hearth the waitress went off...oh, God know where...finally returning with the young man who seated me, heard my complaint (we even discussed sourcing - whether commercial or expectedly a bit tougher steriod-free beef) and HE went off...God knows where...my thoughts being he'd return with a manager...or the Chef. They never did; and, the young couple having departed, an elderly couple with a grandchild leaving as well...not even sure they ate...the area I was in was basically abandoned. The cheesecake I ordered as the young man left me arrived and I allowed the remains of the steak (complete with pile of cut-away and partially masticated waste - pic. added) to be taken. The young man subsequently arrived with the Check and imperiously announced he was sorry the steak was "not up to my expectations," but that after all it was NOT "the filet mignon."
Well, Neil (former owner? partner?), there IS a reason your beautiful Restaurant's virtually empty...and nearly silent as a tomb, with wilted flowers on the tables. The wonderful, personable waitstaff you had is long gone; and there's little evidence reasonable customer satisfaction has ANY meaning, at all. I'll give it a star, just for the tasty, salted lemon cheesecake; but I would NEVER drive all that way just for dessert!
(Be sure to check the dates on the other reviews; most are from "the old days") read more