The Ridge Restaurant & Microbrewery Open

A new restaurant and microbrewery has opened in the former Eagles Ridge Conference Center above Leelanau Sands Casino. Owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, The Ridge will offer a "variety of classical dishes that highlight locally sourced ingredients from the Grand Traverse Region and afar," including fresh fish entrees, hamburgers, homemade truffle fries and steaks. Executive Chef James Broome - a Suttons Bay native - will oversee the restaurant.

The company will also feature a microbrewery with a "showpiece copper brewing system centered in the newly remodeled restaurant." Brewmaster Eric Karns has developed four signature brews for The Ridge, which will open with an eight-tap system that also includes two Elks Brewing craft beers and two hard ciders from Vander Mill Hard Cider and Tandem Ciders. A wine tasting room featuring Leelanau County wines is slated to open this fall.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11am-8pm, with hours expected to expand until 11pm.