We visited The School House Restaurant and Tavern for dinner after a beautiful day on the Fresno County Blossom Trail. Located in a scenic agricultural area on the outskirts of Sanger, the restaurant is housed in an impressive original old school house. Check out the original plans of the school site and buildings posted in the interior hallway. The high ceilings and open layout make for a great atmosphere, though be warned: the noise level is quite high, as there isn't much to absorb it. Our server, Jacob, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable and friendly, and we especially appreciated that he included the prices of the daily specials upfront. Here's what we had for dinner: * Crab Fritters: Spectacular. The sweet red pepper sauce and the generous crab portions were beautifully presented. * Mixed Greens: A lesson in simplicity done right. It was perfectly dressed and easily shared between two. * Mahi Mahi: A standout special with a perfect sear and a moist center. * The Steak: Ordered medium and delivered as such, though it was a bit tough and felt "buried" under the heap of potatoes, onion rings, and asparagus. * Bari Lemon Olive Oil Cake: Do not let the name intimidate you! It was the star of the show. Moist, perfectly paired with fig ice cream, and large enough to share. The kitchen was unfortunately very slow. A large party of 20 on the patio seemed to back things up, leading to long gaps between our courses (though dessert arrived quickly). At nearly $200 for two, the pacing and the tough steak brought the experience down slightly, but the stellar service and elite appetizers/desserts still earn this a solid 4 stars. read more

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We chose this restaurant as a result of being diverted due to a fire. The restaurant is in a converted schoolhouse. Rreservations are recommended , but we simply sat at the bar. Pedro took excellent care of our drinks and food. The salmon with risotto was amazing. Food was delivered quick & hot. Enjoy the ambiance of the old school house. Remember to look up for all the amazing architecture. We enjoyed great food, World Cup and drinks! read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - Salmon risotto - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

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The menu is fresh from scratch. Service is excellent. Very attentive atmosphere is rustic and clean worth the visit. read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - out of town but not far. Everything is made from scratch. I believe it's worth a try for those that seek a fine experience. - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

My daughter said this is the best steak she's ever had in her life. I had the chicken and it was equally as good. Super tender, ingredients were fresh and cooked to perfection! Mike, our waiter, was super kind and helpful. Super cute restaurant that looks like an old school house. Well worth the price!! 10 out of 10 recommend if you're ever near Kings Canyon. read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - Inside - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

It has been two years since my last review- I come here about twice a year. It is definitely out of the way however, I consider schoolhouse a treat usually to celebrate something like a birthday, tonight I had one of my birthday dinners here. Upon being seated, I noticed they gave me a birthday card, which was a nice touch. I've had their espresso martinis which are pretty good, but I wanted to try something seasonal. I wasn't too familiar with pear flavored cocktails so I got the salty pear, which is Grey Goose pear vodka with pineapple and elder flower. It was an exceptional cocktail. The pear really comes through and mixes perfectly with the pineapple. The crab fritters were delicious. They reminded me of like a hush puppy, but way more elevated, of course. The romesco that they were plated on top of was equally delicious. I love their Wagyu burger, but I wanted to try something different so I opted for the chicken breast with yukon potatoes. Although simple, it was plated beautifully, and had great balanced flavor it was also very filling. Service was great per usual. I just wish that they gave you a free birthday dessert like most other restaurants, but I guess the recognition with the birthday card was good enough. Right now they have a seasonal pumpkin bread pudding, which sounds enticing. They also have a coffee drink menu with their dessert menu. At the bottom of the menu, they display local farms which they source their ingredients from. I appreciate that they remain a farm to Table establishment. I will continue to support the schoolhouse restaurant. read more

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School House Restaurant & Tavern thank you kindly for hosting a wonderful evening!! Upon arriving I was thinking did I really just drive an hour for meatloaf and to socialize. Oh well, let's do this, I was ready to absorb whatever the night had to offer. I walked in past the brick walls with iron on the windows and was stunned at the anount of delicately stained wood there was inside. I could see a bar to my left and a dining area to my right. I was pleasantly greeted by a front end hostess and I stated what I was here for and got all checked in for the YELP event. I was quickly shown to a private room for a sit down meal with white linens. What a lovely surprise in the middle of nowhere! We were greeted by the hosting staff at the original bar which boasts to be approximately 100 years old. The wood work and craftsmanship was really spectacularly preserved and showed right through the shiny polish. At the end of the bar sat the neon sign that reads, "YELP Central Valley North and decorated across the bar white different cocktails ready to be chosen. I selected a pomegranate margarita and really enjoyed tasting the salt flakes delighting my tongue as the sweet liquid rolled right on by. Hmm, tequila. I was quickly informed where my seat was, directly behind me, as I sat taking in the lighting. The table was adorned with candles and flowers along side a dish with piped butter. Most people won't notice the butter, but I've decorated a few tables for fundraising over the years and appreciate small details! The table was set in a formal manner. I looked down and noticed the menu placard was directly in front of me on my plate. I thought to myself, all this for meatloaf. Moving on, while engaging in quick introductions and chatter amongst the other guests, we enjoyed a tour inside and out for photo opportunities. I caught some pictures of plants, some fountains and caught a quick glimpse of the sunset over the well thought out garden area. Group and individual pictures were taken and back inside we went to enjoy our meatloaf dinner. Once seated, we were greeted with an introduction of a farm to table experience and how each ingredient was micro sourced from a close by farmer. Ok, now my expectations of said meatloaf are really elevated. I love a good meatloaf and am tired of people touting how good this restaurant and that restaurant is when technique isn't present or we are paying high end for frozen and or packaged food. I hope Chef pulls the farmer in the Dell out of his little hat and the meatloaf Gods are on his side for this one. Im intrigued and curious. Im hoping to be shut up by this meal. At this point, I dont know whether to be excited or to leave and make the hour and ten minute drive back home. I've written one bad reciew and it was for House of Prime Rib in SF. I slammed them on technique for serving FLAT AS A PANCAKE Yorkshire Puddong and PRIME RIB without bark. This restaurant better check all the boxes and the meatloaf should at least be better than mine. First plate comes out with whipped feta and Pita, ok.. Im feeling this, the flavors are playing with each other. Im getting salty, creamy, sweet, soft, crispy, tangy, crunchy all in one bite. Ok Chef knows how to tickle my tongue. MEATLOAF. Meatloaf is why I drove out here? Well Chef showed me he can play with flavor and textures.. I pick up the menu excited for what is next. Salad. Arugula salad. Looking forward to an arugula salad with fresh peaches read more

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Location: School house Restaurant Date: September 28, 2025 Service: Dining In Earlier today, I decided to surprise the family with a dinner night out no cooking for tonight. This was my family's first time at this establishment and singer they were super excited to go there. The drive there was not too bad. I made reservations online a week ahead. Once we arrive, we greeted at the door and seated immediately to our booth. The area was quiet dining area which is super grateful for us. We ordered a different variety of foods. Everything was great. Jacob was our server for the evening. Once the main entrées arrive, we ate them immediately no leftovers. We really enjoyed the vibe of the restaurant the history that that's within the building. We will definitely order from them or dine in them in the future. Check out the photos attached to this review. read more

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I attended this restaurant and right from the start, the hospitality stood out. I made them aware of my egg allergy (and anything containing eggs), and instead of just removing things from the plate, the chef went above and beyond and created a special shrimp dish just for me. That kind of care and attention doesn't go unnoticed, and it made me feel valued as a guest. Before dinner, we were given a tour of the restaurant. The building itself has a lot of history--it once was a schoolhouse, and inside you can still feel the character of the past through the details and decor. The outside is beautiful as well, with a huge tree, benches built around it, and a wall filled with greenery that makes the patio space feel warm and inviting. As for the food, everything I tried was delicious and beautifully presented. The Whipped Feta appetizer with toasted pita, pistachio, and pomegranate reduction was flavorful and a perfect start. The Arugula Salad with peaches, goat cheese, almonds, and citrus-vanilla vinaigrette was fresh and balanced. My custom shrimp entrée was outstanding--savory, perfectly cooked, and paired with a smooth potato purée and colorful sauces. For dessert, the Bari Lemon Olive Oil Cake with fig ice cream and pistachios was light, citrusy, and the perfect finish to the meal. Between the thoughtful food adjustments, the warm atmosphere, and the sense of history in the building, I had an amazing time. School House Restaurant is the kind of place that goes the extra mile for their guests, and I would absolutely return and recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

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Hands down the best food experience I've had in awhile. I love that this restaurant has so much history. Our waitress was actually kind enough to give us a paper detailing how they came about. The decor is awesome because it still had some old school chairs from when it was a school. How many times can you say you ate in a school cafeteria and got top notch service and delicious bites. We ordered a lot of things to share. Our waitress was kind enough to course our food out for us. My favorite was the mushroom ravioli and the meatloaf. Both were cooked to perfection and kept me wanting more. We didn't get to try dessert so I'll definitely be back for that. read more

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Our first visit was on Mother's Day and we had a great time. The latest was for my wife's birthday. I made a reservation a couple days ahead and we had no wait when we got there. Got a cute booth and excellent service. She had the duck special and I had the crusted pork loin and both were delicious. They have a good selection of mocktails for her and wine for me and we topped it all off with the bread pudding... added a few lbs! Highly recommend this place! read more

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Food was decent and the place had a nice atmosphere, but service was a bit slow during our visit. Overall an okay dining experience.

I have eaten at the Schoolhouse before in their tavern/bar area, but this was the first time in their dining room area. A very rustic vibe in this previously real old Schoolhouse with old student's desks in the hallway to wagon wheels as lights on the ceiling in the dining room. We were seated in a booth in the dining room, and between the hostess, waitress among other staff, service was impeccable. I was so disappointed I missed the Yelp Elites dinner party recently, I told my husband I wanted to come here for my birthday. We were greeted by a birthday card at our table. The food!!! I had the salmon with corn risotto. Let me tell you, it might just be the best salmon dish I have had at a restaurant. The risotto was light, not starchy, but full of flavor, cooked just right and had serrano oil on top . The salmon had a flavorful crust on the outside but still a moist interior. My husband ordered the Waygu burger with garlic fries, and they were excellent as well. Since it was my birthday, we ordered dessert. I was anxious to try the caramelized pear bread pudding. Unfortunately, this was a little dry to me and I could not detect the pear. The ice cream on top helped, but it was still too dry. Our waitress graciously offered to exchange it. My husband on the other hand ordered the chocolate truffles with almond toffee, chocolate hummus, spiced rum and coffee ice cream dessert. He was in heaven. The truffles were obviously homemade here with the chocolate hummus tasting like the inside of a candy bar he said. He basically licked the plate clean. Even though my dessert wasn't 5 star this time, I can tell by everything else we had this night this restaurant goes above and beyond for every ingredient in their dishes, and I am looking forward to next time. read more

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We had a wonderful date night at this restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Our server, Cindy, was fantastic -- incredibly attentive, welcoming, and made excellent recommendations throughout the evening. We started with a wedge salad, which we shared. While the dressing could've used a touch more flavor (perhaps a bit of salt), it was still a refreshing start to the meal. I ordered the clam chowder as my entrée, and it did not disappoint -- creamy, flavorful, and elevated even more by their delicious homemade hot sauce, which paired perfectly with the chowder. My husband had the chicken breast, which was tender, juicy, and very well-prepared. One standout touch was the bread and dipping oil -- truly one-of-a-kind and a great complement to the meal. We appreciated the excellent service, quality of the food, and the overall welcoming atmosphere. Looking forward to visiting this establishment again in the near future. read more

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We had very good attentive service. The food was very good. Fish and chips with a champagne combo was unexpected but worked. If you are one of those who needs their salmon undercooked in the middle, you need to speak up. My salmon was well seasoned but dry all the way through. I know that's good for some people but it's a no for me. I traded dishes with my hubby who had linguine and it was actually a perfect night. read more

The food was delish and good portions. We got 2 appetizers and 2 entrees to split among 3 people. The brie cheese with fig jam was soooo good; spreadable and sweet. We asked for more bread for the brie. The Brussel sprouts were so flavorful as well. Cioppino was full of seafood and shrimp linguine was creamy and flavorful! Cocktails were refreshing. Service was prompt and very friendly. There were too efficient and kept trying to clear our plates when we were still working on our shared dishes. Maybe that was their subtle way to tell us we were nearing our 2 hour dining window? I made the reservation on their website the night before and it was easy. We chose the dining room for the ambiance; the tavern looked small and dingy like a prison from the pictures. Only downside to the dining room option is that we only have access to the dining room menu, whereas the tavern seating gives access to both the tavern and dining room menus. Hopefully they'll change that so we don't have to choose between ambiance or getting limited menu access in the future. Their menu changes with the seasons, which is good and bad. I saw pictures on Yelp of previous menus and was excited for duck and lamb but didn't wanna get my hopes up; neither were on our menu when we went on 2/22/25. I guess they re not in season Will have to come again when it's duck or lamb season, whenever that is. read more

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Wonderful pit stop for me on the way home from the National parks. It was such a gem to find! Food quality and portion was amazing Intimate setting albeit in a school house Friendly service Thanks. read more

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Service (shoutout to Jacob) here is standout. Very classy and extremely nice and attentive in the good way. Knowledgeable and helpful, and there to truly service you for the experience. The old school house charm makes this place so fun. You'll find little things like the drink names pay back to the school house feel. The main dining is in the multi purpose room with stage and all. They have the old school house decor and feel everywhere. The bathroom even has little cards you can hand to staff member if it needs a little extra attention. The food menu changes with different fresh ingredients and great flavors. And everything I've had here visit after visit has been great. Tonight we had the white bean soup appetizer special, mahi mahi with pistachio citrus risotto, delicious! And the wagu burger...a gourmet burger to the tee. Burger came with garlic fries and they were some of the best I've ever had. Skinny and crispy with garlic that stuck to them and didn't fall off in just the perfect amount. The caramelized pear bread pudding was amazing. It has a small hint of basil which compliments the flavor so well. Enjoyed a salty pear cocktail which was fantastic. Also ordered kids side of fruit and it was a great assortment of nice fruit, no cheap fruit here. The entire kids menu is so much better than the standard awful kids menu most restaurants have. Overall great experience and worth the little drive to get out here! read more

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So this is a tough one. If I lived in the area I'd give it a five star review. If you live in Fresno or a place with a similar selection of restaurants it would be 2-3 stars. The food is straight out of the 80's New York pistachio crusted tenderloin, basically protein with a starch and a bit of sauce. My wife ordered a cod polenta which was tasty but I'd be surprised if she got more than 3 ounces of fish with it. Another low point was the cucumber salad which tasted like Trader Joe's tzatziki with lettuce. Lastly, their homemade ice cream and bread pudding are a hard pass next time. The ice cream was riddled with ice crystals which were very off putting. And their pear and pumpkin flavors, two different bread puddings, had no flavor of the fruit that they were named after. So I didn't love the table we were seated at. The room has tables along either side of the room with a few smaller table in the middle of the room. We were seated at one of the small tables in the middle of the room despite the dining room never being more than 2/3 full. The service was fine for the price point but not outstanding I had to ask more than once for refills on ice tea. Overall I would not return. read more

Honestly, I don't know how this place is rated so highly... First of all, the food is decent, but nothing spectacular. The burger was supposed to be amazing, but I've had better gourmet burgers--it was definitely overpriced. Also, the fries were super salty, which drowned out the garlic. My wife got the fettuccine, which was pretty basic... again, not worth the price. Everyone else's food was also decent, but for what you pay, I'd rather go somewhere else. The vibe was kinda cool, but for the prices, you'd expect it to be more upscale, maybe. The bar looked pretty cool though. Our waiter was nice, but we brought a cake for our dad's birthday, and they were crazy enough to charge $5 per person for a cake cutting fee...WTF is that lol usually you'd get a free dessert or something for a birthday, but we ended us paying $35 extra. I've never had a place charge for bringing cake for a birthday... Definitely not coming back here...sorry. read more

When Chef Ryan makes soup, my husband and I are so happy! His soup is always DIVINE. He coaxes so much flavor out of every ingredient, and I wish I could better describe the rush of yummmmm that every spoonful brings. Last night we had the most delicious tomato soup--heaven in a cup--with Brie/white cheddar cheese sticks. Yes, that is just as good as it sounds. I want it as part of my last meal on earth. In short, if soup is on the menu at Schoolhouse, order it! I love how so many Schoolhouse dishes both honor and elevate the classics, making them a combination of nostalgia, surprise, and delight. read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - The most delicious tomato soup--heaven in a cup--and Brie/white cheddar cheese sticks. - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

Went to dinner with my brother last night at the Schoolhouse...Our food was worth every bite! Thanks to the Chef who cooked the meal and all the service was very on point! I ordered the Sea Bass Special with Gnocchi and my Brother Had the Pork Lion dish. All the sauces were so good! We left satisfied!Thank you! I love leaving a restaurant where you feel good about spending the money read more

I truely enjoyed this place. Great service and atmosphere. Food and drinks were awesome. A great escape away from the hustle and bustle of life. A historical building with interesting information to read and walk around the premises. Highly recommend this place to lunch with friends or for a romantic date. Casual settings. read more

Finally trying this place. Dark and woody when you walk in. Old nostalgic smell. We were walk-in's and were sat immediately. It wasn't too busy in the Friday night we came in. We ordered the clam chowder, braised duck, and halibut. This was before they changed to mahi mahi, which is another fave fish of ours. The clam chowder was rich. We had a lot more potatoes than seafood and we've always loved Pismos clam chowder - The restaurant here in Fresno and not in literal Pismo. Great taste, just not enough balance with limited seafood. Husband enjoy the duck although it was a little dry. Not many places offer a braised duck here so this was a must try. The halibut was cooked nicely and came out hot. I wish it had more flavor. There was something missing. Maybe more of a richer, creamier sauce? It's definitely far out there in Sanger which I'm sure makes it a local favorite and I love that. It's just a bit too far off the beaten path for us. read more

I was not expecting the refined and sophisticated food at this old school house. Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. The school house may be old, but it's very charming and well kept up. Our waiter was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. He even gave us the history of their famous meatloaf recipe. The food was so good, there were no leftovers. What we ordered: + Mahi Mahi on top of green bean, potatoes, leeks and topped with crispy onions. The fish was cooked perfectly and the green bean were still crunchy. + Meatloaf with potato puree. The meatloaf was so good with no bread crumb fillers. It was just the perfect blend of various meats (sausage, short rib, and a few more I can't remember). The potato puree was divine. + Apple crisp with vanilla bean ice cream. The perfect ending to a wonderful meal. We live 2.5 hours from Fresno, but would come again to eat here. read more

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On vacation in California. Husband found this on Yelp, driving back to Fresno from the Sequoias. OMG. So good. We had pomegranate margaritas, delicious. Shared porcini mushroom ravioli and Wagyu burger. Dessert was the caramelized pear bread pudding. Five star food. Best dining experience in a long time. If I could give our server, Heather, more than 5 stars I would she was amazing. read more

Did B-Day dinner here for the first time for my son. Ambiance was great. I do have to say that we literally had the worst seat in the house at least for the first 15 minutes. Sun was directly in my eyes. While they were apologetic, there was no offer to move us. Drinks were real good. Food was also good, but all our meals were initially cold. I must say that they provided a new meatloaf plate (and split it). My son's meal was just rewarmed. I didn't send mine back, as I was hungry. Asked our server if they did anything for the birthday boy and he said we will put a candle in whatever you buy. Additionally, they do not do Military discounts. They did take $20 off for the inconvenience of cold food called a "hall pass" and graciously provided us passes for the future. Maybe if we try it again, they could earn more stars. read more

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Me and my boyfriend had an amazing experience here! We walked in at 5, were seated promptly, and had consistent, friendly service the entire time. To top off the service, the food was phenomenal. Fresh and complex flavors, so fantastic! Everything was just delicious. We will be back! read more

Food is impeccable but they do not value their customers! No dessert for bdays. A scoop of ice cream with a handwritten happy birthday sign and candle doesnt cost a lot!!!!! Lol its a shame. Might as well go to flemmings or ruths considering price and mediocre service. Hospitality is so important for loyal customers. Potential for Michelin worthiness. read more

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The food was amazing. Really the best in Fresno county. The service perfect. The whole building is just unique, incredible tavern area and amazing dining room. Truly an old school house. We will come back for sure read more

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All around this place surpassed my expectations. It was pretty cool as far as the history goes. I do dig that it's a bar/restaurant. The food selection menu wise wasn't very big. Very selective menu if I had to say so. But almost every single item that came out wasn't only delicious but presentation was on point. Coming from a fine dining background working both FOH and BOH I always hold places that say they high standards to that same standard. Most times I'm let down and disappointed. Not with this place. Genuinely blown away with the talent your guys have in the kitchen. I promise I never say things like that. The servers, brought the ladies food out first. Which shows the place has etiquette, (not that I should speak on that I'm a red neck for crying out loud ) then the guys food was served. No one needed to ask for refills and they weren't pushy with how they checked in on us. It was enough to know "hey if we need something she'll be back around quickly" but not like "Christ let me eat my food!" Kinda way. Haha all around I would say this place is a 9/10. Only complaint was how loud it got and the prices of the food seemed although it was delicious and very much worth the drive over there just a bit too pricey. But I get it. Good food takes good ingredients. Didn't mean to wait 10 years to try this place out but I'll be damned it was worth the wait. If I was on death row, this place would be the calm for my last meal. ‍ read more

The food was amazing and the staff was absolutely wonderful. Loved learning the history of the restaurant.

Amazing service and the food was artfully served and quite delicious. The appetizers were great, the special Mahi-mahi sooo good. The salads yummy and my steak was very tasty. Nice wine list and DO NOT leave without trying the olive oil cake with fig ice cream. Out of this world! Setting is a converted old school house cute but loud. So ambiance a four star. read more

A cozy atmosphere that is charming and nostalgic sets the scene for wonderful service. From the hostess to the server and the busser, each person was friendly, attentive, and authentic. A rare treat at even the upscale restaurants in our area. The menu had great options at fair prices. Delicious entrees came out quickly and the cocktail menu had many seasonal choices. Dessert was also tasty and plated nicely. We will definitely come back for more memorable meals! read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - Strawberry Shortcake dessert. - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

One of the absolute best places we've ever been in the Central Valley. We went here on our date night, food and service was top tier.

I give the service a 5 but the food 3.5. Nothing special just okay. Pork loin was kind of dry and salty and broccolini was okay but really nothin special. I always wanted to try this place out. Pass by it on the way back from Fresno. Finally did and probably wouldn't go back. read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - Pork Loin with broccolini - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

Great food and great service! It's off the beaten path but well worth the drive! We can't wait to go back in the winter to dine outside!

Awesome old schoolhouse turned restaurant and event space. Perfect for celebrating your special occasion read more

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Neat place! It's an old school house. We had dinner in the tavern and there was live music. My shrimp fettuccine was very good. The sauce was light, not over powering like some Alfredo sauces. Service was impeccable. We had the opportunity to meet a few of the employees there. read more

School House Restaurant & Tavern - Shrimp fettuccine - New American Near Me - Sanger, California

Always a good place to go and enjoy a wonderful time and food with the family and friends.

This restaurant is a cute place off the 180 freeway. It's a literal school that was turned into a restaurant. They only take reservations and the service was good. Our waiter was very polite and knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant and the menu. The food was amazing and worth the price (place is a bit pricey). We ordered a cup of clam chowder and the mushroom ravioli for appetizers. For our main dishes: we got the chicken breast and braised short ribs. For dessert: we got the strawberry shortcake and the chocolate truffles. Everything we ate was delicious. read more

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