Sanders Ridge Restaurant

A coworker recommended this place to try the wine so we decided to go for my birthday! The drive down the road to the restaurant and tasting room displays the vines and the view is beautiful. The restaurant is all wood and so gorgeous inside. The center of the room is a grand fireplace that exudes warmth. To the left are a few tables and to the right is a bar where you can do tastings of their wines. We did a flight of wines and bought a souvenir glass. We loved the peach mango wine and bought a bottle of that as well. We decided to sit down for lunch once we looked at their menu.
I love love tomato basil bisque and when I saw it on their menu, I knew that I had to try it. It was the best soup I’ve ever had! The texture was perfect and creamy, the croutons were ridiculously fresh, crispy and tasty, the shredded Parmesan cheese topped it off. It was just amazing! My husband ordered the pimento cheese croquettes and loved them. I am not a fan of pimento cheese but you could taste that this was made in house. The croquettes were fried and not greasy at all. The sweet chili dip that accompanied it really tasted great with the croquettes. My husband had the hearth burger and I ordered the crab cake salmon burger. That hearth burger was again the best burger I’ve had. It was cooked medium well (I prefer medium rare to medium but it was my husband’s burger) and just ridiculous flavors to it. The brioche bun was toasted and had the usual burger set up on it with be exception of this fancy cheddar cheese. The char on the burger added a nice crunch to the burger. The meat was just absolutely delicious! The crab cake salmon burger was allll real crab and salmon. The brioche bun was also toasted and had a chipotle remoulade on it as well as lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions. You could taste this was all real crab meat. No fillers there! Both burgers were served with HANDCUT FRESH FRIES. you could taste that they just chopped those potatoes up just for you! This was the best meal I’ve ever had and I could not be happier with my birthday meal. We will 100% be back during the spring to sit on the porch overlooking the lake. This place is a little bit on the pricier side but so worth it. Every ingredient on that plate tastes fresh and fantastic!

Very nice Knottypine facility in a beautiful setting. We arrived in 1 PM on Thursday and we’re immediately seated. The wines we ordered with lunch were very enjoyable. There were about 10 people dining in the restaurant at the time with two servers. Unfortunately, the wait time for our two sandwiches was far too long. There was only one very young looking cook with a helper. The sandwiches took 35 minutes too arrive. Not a motivator for ordering more wine.
The food was very good but plan on a leisurely lunch or dinner if you are in the area for wine tasting.

Was there for lunch this weekend. If you enjoy over-​priced, average food, then this is the place for you. Won’t go back.

Took my daughters for a special Sunday brunch before the military sends them to Puerto Rico. I have had several wonderful brunches there in years past, and was confident that the food would be fresh, delicious, and «special,» even for my vegetarian. Unfortunately, this trip did not match my expectations. The Mimosas, as always, were wonderful, however, there was no easy vegetarian option, even the omelets were served with a side of bacon.
After discussions with our fantastic server, she requested a spinach substitution for the ham on the Benedict. As there were no other side options, she agreed to take the bacon side, knowing the rest of us would rescue her from having to eat it. Remember, our server had already discussed the fact that this was for a VEGETARIAN with the chef. Imagine our surprise when the plate arrived with the substitution as ordered, but the bacon was draped across the entire plate – benedict, home fries, and all.
The food was good, but certainly lacked the creativity and aesthetics of our previous experiences. Our meal was much closer to the country breakfast we could get at Cracker Barrel (with considerably less investment) than the special brunch we were hoping for.
Sanders Ridge is a lovely place, with enjoyable wines and atmosphere. The serving staff is professional, knowlegeable, and accomodating. I will certainly return to enjoy a bottle of wine by the pond, but not likely for brunch.

We went on a Friday night and had the New Zealand venison «Osso Bucco» with risotto and spinach. The venison was cooked beyond perfect. It came off the bone without as much as a hesitation. The flavor was warm, subtle and melted in our mouths like butter. Given the lack of experience of pairing wine with venison we bowed our expertise to Chef Christian. The red he recommended was a wonderful compliment to the dinner (Big Woods I think it was). The gravy was to die for and I wanted more to go with it all.
My only «complaint» is that the restaurant closes at 9 and coming from Winston-​Salem it can be a push on Friday night to make it there. But that is totally personal and I cannot hold it against them.
Can’t wait to go back!!!

Food is excellent! Three stars because they got the order for one member of our party wrong twice on the same visit! Great atmosphere and good wines!

I took my office to Sanders Ridge restaurant for our Holiday party. The entire experience was above my expecataions… coming from a corporate setting in UpTown Charlotte, I was not sure what to expect but Starr and Staff were friendly, fun, and very attentive. Everything from the wine tasting to the fantastic handpicked dishes, to the attention Starr gave my whole party made this an excellent choice.
The food is 6 out of 5 star without the price tag. Would recommend to large groups, small groups, and all people.

Quite some time ago, at a previous job, my colleagues and I went on a retreat to Sanders Ridge. It was only a single day retreat — filled with a day of planning for next year’s goals, brainstorming and drinking wine and sampling the goods from Sanders Ridge!
It’s a really lovely restaurant with a large sitting area with comfy chairs and couches and plenty of beautiful wood throughout. Service was on point the whole day and throughout our meals, I don’t ever recall needing to ask for anything whatsoever. The menu was locally inspired and creative — I would agree with other reviewers that it reads sophisticated Southern. The fried green tomatoes were especially delicious. For my meal, I went with the apple and brie chicken sandwich, which was the perfect amount of substance and flavor.
If you get a chance, definitely take part in the wine tasting. I was more than impressed with the varieties and quality of wine that came from Sanders Ridge! The owners and managers of this restaurant are incredibly knowledgeable about the wine, potential pairings and guiding you through each tasting. If you’re in Yadkin Valley, Sanders Ridge is an excellent stop!

Make sure to plan a stop here for lunch (or dinner) during your trip to the Yadkin Valley Wineries.
The Sanders Ridge Restaurant (formerly known as Big Woods) is collocated with the Sanders Ridge Winery in a beautiful wooden lodge. The food is «sophisticated southern» with tasty treats, including fried green tomatoes and grilled pimento cheese sandwiches. Another good option is the apple & brie chicken sandwich. And, if they have sweet potato fries, get ‘em. Yummy! In addition to the meal options, you can enjoy wine from the winery, which is an obvious choice (and perk).
The service here was very nice, and you could tell that the folks working there took pride in their work and in the establishment… you don’t get that too often where I live now: (
As I mentioned in my tagline, while you’re en route to check out the various wineries in the Yadkin Valley, try to time your visit to Sanders Ridge so that you can do both tastings and a meal. Since many of the wineries aren’t near food options, Sander’s Ridge is perfect for cooling your jets and getting some food on your stomach before heading back out for more vino.