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School House Restaurant & Tavern

School House Restaurant & Tavern

The rustic yet elegant feel of the School House provides a warm and inviting fine dining experience, and the modern cuisine creation of Executive Chef Ryan Jackson is one the finest experiences throughout my travels of the world.

My wife loves the Grilled Brie appetizer with mouth watering fig and olive tapenade, local honey, bacon, and toasted baguettes. If you taste nothing else, this is worth the trip to the restaurant alone. I’m a fan of the Grilled Artichoke with the house made dipping sauce followed by the the wedge salad with baby iceberg, bacon, pickled red onions, gorgonzola cheese, and the best buttermilk dressing you’ve tasted. For the entrees, the tender Roasted Half Chicken is phenomenal, along with the Braised Short Rib with parmesan polenta, baby spinach, almonds, cranberry gremolata, and thyme jus.

For dessert choose the Pear Bread Pudding with vanilla bean ice cream. You’ll be surprised with the basil and balsamic reduction on the side, which is an unexpected and unique addition. A close second win for dessert is the Apple Cobbler with the shortbread cookie crumble accompanied by ice cream.

School House Video Episode

Dine Out Along the Road did a great episode on the School House and enjoy watching.

The School House also features private dining for weddings, hosts large scale events, all while featuring their fine catering. The full bar and excellent wine selection is second to none in the region.

It is wise to make reservations which we’ve done on Yelp and over the phone. We have always had great luck finding a lovely table with incredible service that rivals any high end restaurant.

Executive Chef Ryan Jackson

You may have heard of Chef Ryan Jackson with his background in San Francisco and as a renowned chef in Napa Valley. He has also been peer nominated with Best Chefs America with only 1% of Chefs in America making the distinguished list.

I let the seasons dictate my menu and never manipulate the ingredients. I showcase one particular seasonal ingredient for a dish and let it speak for itself.

Chef Ryan Jackson

You can taste the local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients from local farmers and the bounty of the central valley. Chef Ryan Jackson’s upbringing as the son of fruit farmers in neighboring Reedley is evident is his fine cuisine. You see this in the use of local Bari Olive Oil with the serving of fresh bread. You can’t miss the the local honey from Burketts with sweet hints of citrus groves, sage, and buckwheat blooms. The fresh delicious fruit and raw ingredients from Mountain View, Nicholas Family Farms, and Centerville Fruit Station provides the School House with a clear advantage in serving locally sourced fine food.

Location

The School House is located just 20 minutes east of Fresno along the gateway to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on the 180 in Sanger.

School House Restaurant and Tavern

1018 S Frankwood, Sanger, CA. 93657

(559) 787-3271

Pros

Chef Ryan Jackson is a national treasure.

Local fresh ingredients from the valley are sublime.

A great location on the 180 for those heading into the north entrance of the Kings Canyon section of the Park.

The Pear Bread Pudding with vanilla bean ice cream gets an A+

Cons

Meals can be pricey, but are worth the cost, especially prepared by a legendary chef.

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