The Ridge Eat and Drink

Inside The Ridge Eat and Drink, you’ll find delicious burgers, local brews and a Cheers-like camaraderie among customers — all evidence of how owner Dave Horn’s personality has come to life in restaurant form.

After purchasing Cahaba Heights favorite Mudtown Eat and Drink, Horn wanted to open a restaurant he built from the ground using personal ideas and inspiration. That dream became reality when The Ridge opened in 2011.

“I took what I’ve learned from owning Mudtown and combined it with all these ideas I’ve had for a restaurant since I was in college,” Horn said. “What came out of it was a great place to eat a burger  where everybody knows everybody.”

The Pimento Cheeseburger, the restaurant’s most popular, is topped with a melted jalapeño pimento cheese spread on a 100-percent Hereford beef patty. Horn designed the menu himself, but admitted the pimento cheese recipe came from his aunt.

Other burger favorites pay homage to Vestavia Hills High School (The Rebel Yell is two patties topped with bacon, a fried egg, cheeses and an onion ring) and a restaurant where he worked in Atlanta (The Blue Shroom comes with mushrooms, blue cheese spread and jalapeño bacon). The menu also boasts salads, sandwiches and entrees, including the Southern-inspired Fried Green Tomato Sandwich and fresh and spicy Fish Tacos.

While Horn is proud of his inventions in the kitchen, he said what turns his guests into regulars is the neighborhood atmosphere he’s created at The Ridge.

“One thing I really liked about Mudtown and wanted to replicate here was how comfortable everyone felt in the restaurant,” he said. “This is a place that everyone in the area likes to come and chat with each other. That’s more special to me than just having great food on the menu.”

The best way to create a neighborhood atmosphere in a restaurant, Horn said, is to get involved in the community. He encourages his guests and employees to just be themselves and gives discounts to members of police and fire departments. The Ridge also caters food to events at Vestavia Hills High School.

Horn began working in restaurants, and watching hours of Food Network programming, when he lived in Atlanta during college. Eventually growing tired of the busy lifestyle and traffic of the city, he moved back to Vestavia Hills, where his family lives.

He knew that no matter what, people would always need to eat, and that everybody would always love a good burger. So he bought Mudtown and brought in a burger-heavy menu — the same concept he now caters at The Ridge.

Horn said he couldn’t be happier with the restaurant he’s created.

“We’ve got a special environment here” Horn said. “Come by for a relaxing evening out and bring your kids. You won’t regret it.”