A spectacular new restaurant in Guild, Tenn., will most certainly awaken your senses, both visual and gastronomic.
It is the centerpiece for John (Thunder) Thornton’s new development, River Gorge Ranch, in Marion County, just 25 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
That scenic drive takes you along the Tennessee River until you begin the ascent up the mountain. The restaurant sits high above the Tennessee River Gorge. “Built on the mountain from the mountain, every element, from the locally quarried stone to the hand hewn timbers, was chosen to honor the land it stands on,” Mr. Thornton said.
The entrance to the restaurant pays homage to the awe-inspiring view. The Tennessee River Gorge is spectacular as it has as its backdrop the grey-blue mountains of Appalachia. Hand hewn timbers reach for the sky, forming a cathedral effect opening on the breathtaking vista.
The stone entrance floor of the vast entrance serves as a basis for a recreation of the Tennessee River from Ross’s Landing as it winds along, ending in actual waterway.
Local landmarks are tastefully identified all along the glass ribbon: Walnut Street Bridge; Baylor School; and Signal Mountain, ending with the glass ribbon sculpture literally pouring itself out into the magnificent river itself.
Now, let’s get down to the food. Absolutely delicious! You’ll find everything from pizza and steaks to chicken piccata and seafood. Delicious salads, gourmet sandwiches and fantastic burgers round out the menu. Extravagant brunches are served on the weekends.
Chef Allan Ubas and general manager Jason Miller keep the standards high. Riverdance is the newest link in the chain operated by Chattanooga Square One Holdings, which also runs Stir, State of Confusion, Massey’s Kitchen and Top of the Rock, as well as eight other restaurants in four different states.
Ubas has longtime experience with Square One. In 2016 he started as sous chef at Stir, moving up to executive chef at State of Confusion. Last October, he stepped into his role at Riverdance. He and Bill Heckler developed the menu, so you might say this restaurant is his baby. And he is receiving rave reviews.
Gather a group of friends and treat yourselves to a delightful experience. Lunch is really fun, but dinner (and experiencing the jaw-dropping sunset) is top notch, superb, delicious, delectable, luscious and every other adjective there is to describe perfection in food!
It’s definitely worth the trip, to say the least.
Inside the restaurant itself, which can seat up to 700, you’ll find tasteful leather booths and open tables that again take advantage of the view through a wall of glass, floor to ceiling windows. Choose seating in an outdoor dining room or on the more casual patio with firepits and comfortable chairs. A gigantic painting of an osprey hangs over the main stone fireplace. It was created by artist Carylon Cooper. There is also an event space that is perfect for weddings. How about gathering friends and family to celebrate your “I do’s” on top of the world!
by Judy Rowland
It is the centerpiece for John (Thunder) Thornton’s new development, River Gorge Ranch, in Marion County, just 25 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
That scenic drive takes you along the Tennessee River until you begin the ascent up the mountain. The restaurant sits high above the Tennessee River Gorge. “Built on the mountain from the mountain, every element, from the locally quarried stone to the hand hewn timbers, was chosen to honor the land it stands on,” Mr. Thornton said.
The entrance to the restaurant pays homage to the awe-inspiring view. The Tennessee River Gorge is spectacular as it has as its backdrop the grey-blue mountains of Appalachia. Hand hewn timbers reach for the sky, forming a cathedral effect opening on the breathtaking vista.
The stone entrance floor of the vast entrance serves as a basis for a recreation of the Tennessee River from Ross’s Landing as it winds along, ending in actual waterway.
Local landmarks are tastefully identified all along the glass ribbon: Walnut Street Bridge; Baylor School; and Signal Mountain, ending with the glass ribbon sculpture literally pouring itself out into the magnificent river itself.
Now, let’s get down to the food. Absolutely delicious! You’ll find everything from pizza and steaks to chicken piccata and seafood. Delicious salads, gourmet sandwiches and fantastic burgers round out the menu. Extravagant brunches are served on the weekends.
Chef Allan Ubas and general manager Jason Miller keep the standards high. Riverdance is the newest link in the chain operated by Chattanooga Square One Holdings, which also runs Stir, State of Confusion, Massey’s Kitchen and Top of the Rock, as well as eight other restaurants in four different states.
Ubas has longtime experience with Square One. In 2016 he started as sous chef at Stir, moving up to executive chef at State of Confusion. Last October, he stepped into his role at Riverdance. He and Bill Heckler developed the menu, so you might say this restaurant is his baby. And he is receiving rave reviews.
Gather a group of friends and treat yourselves to a delightful experience. Lunch is really fun, but dinner (and experiencing the jaw-dropping sunset) is top notch, superb, delicious, delectable, luscious and every other adjective there is to describe perfection in food!
It’s definitely worth the trip, to say the least.
Inside the restaurant itself, which can seat up to 700, you’ll find tasteful leather booths and open tables that again take advantage of the view through a wall of glass, floor to ceiling windows. Choose seating in an outdoor dining room or on the more casual patio with firepits and comfortable chairs. A gigantic painting of an osprey hangs over the main stone fireplace. It was created by artist Carylon Cooper. There is also an event space that is perfect for weddings. How about gathering friends and family to celebrate your “I do’s” on top of the world!
by Judy Rowland
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