One of the area’s long time locals loves one of the area’s newer establishments. By day, Lori Moreland is a well-known banker but in her leisure time she can be found at Bardenay on the pond at Riverstone Village. "I like to sit on their deck on a sunny afternoon," says Lori. The water feature and walking/cycling paths add to the visual atmosphere of the Bardenay deck. So what are Lori’s favorites on the menu? "The salads are fresh, fruity and taste wonderful!" she said without hesitation. "My favorites are Pear Spinach and the Panzanella Bruschetta salads." Lori also raves about the appetizers, especially the smoked trout spread.

The menu features eight specialty salads, including grilled yellow fin tuna and ahi sashimi. The dinner menu entrees lead off with a 14-oz rum pepper rib-eye steak with a Bardenay Rum demi-glace. Fish, chicken and pasta dishes are also available.

The cuisine is expansive but it’s the beverages that take center stage. Bardenay is a distillery of vodka, rum and gin so it’s no surprise that their drink menu is a cocktail cornucopia. Lori loves the Lemondrop Martinis and for a festive touch, the Big Bang is a summer treat. Made with Cherry vodka, Stoli Vanilla, Absolute Raspberry, huckleberry puree, cream, cranberry, lime pineapple and guavabana juices it’s like dessert for the over-21 crowd. Their signature drink is the Ginger Rum Cocktail, featuring ginger-infused Bardenay Rum, perfect for an evening on the deck.

Friendly service, a relaxing atmosphere and good food and drink make Bardenay one of the most popular places to be as summer sizzles.