Sylvan Table Menu: Sylvan Lake Farm-to-Table

Quick answers

Common questions about Sylvan Table, answered

The four things visitors most often want to know before booking a table.

The most-ordered dishes at Sylvan Table

Ranked by frequency of guest mentions across Yelp reviews and Yelp Popular Dishes. Because the menu is seasonal, not all items are available every visit -- but these six have appeared consistently across multiple seasons.

1Beef Short RibMost-mentioned dish across reviews; slow-braised and richly flavored.Entree
2Brick ChickenChicken pressed under a brick -- crispy skin, juicy interior. A Sylvan Table signature.Entree
3Bread ServiceHouse sourdough with cultured butter. Guests strongly recommend ordering it.Starter
4Gnocchi BologneseHouse-made potato gnocchi with slow-cooked Bolognese.Pasta
5Bee Sting FlatbreadThin-crust flatbread with honey-chili finish.Starter
6Apple CrispClassic Michigan apple crisp -- top-ranked dessert by guests.Dessert

The farm

What makes Sylvan Table different: a restaurant with its own farm

Very few restaurants in Michigan -- or the United States -- operate a working farm on the same property as the dining room. Sylvan Table does. Here is what that means for the menu.

On-site

3-Acre Working Farm

The farm sits steps from the kitchen. Rick Rigutto manages the 3 acres dedicated to vegetables, herbs, and seasonal crops that feed directly into Chef Gadulka's menu.

Sustainability

Gold PLEDGE Certification

Sylvan Table holds Gold-level certification under The PLEDGE on Food Waste program, upgraded from silver. Kitchen scraps are composted back into the farm.

Seasonal

Quarterly Menu Changes

The menu shifts with the seasons -- spring pasta gives way to fall braises. Dishes documented on this page reflect items that appear across multiple seasons in guest reviews.

Local

Michigan Farm Partnerships

Beyond the on-site farm, the kitchen partners with local Michigan farms sharing Sylvan Table's sustainability values to fill gaps in what the property can grow.

Browse the menu

Jump to a menu category

All five documented categories with item counts.

The documented menu

Sylvan Table menu: every documented dish

Dish names sourced from Yelp Popular Dishes and guest reviews. The menu is seasonal -- not all items are available on any given visit. Confirm with the restaurant or check the current PDF menus at sylvantable.com/menus.

About prices. Sylvan Table does not publish prices on any publicly accessible webpage. The restaurant's menu is distributed as a PDF on sylvantable.com/menus and as a printed in-house menu. No third-party delivery platform carries Sylvan Table. Based on the restaurant's cuisine category, Oakland County market, and guest accounts, entrees typically run $30--$55+ and appetizers $14--$22; a dinner for two with wine is generally $120--$200+. These are estimates only -- confirm current pricing at the restaurant or by calling (248) 369-3360.

Starters & Shareables 8 items

Pasta & Risotto 4 items

Mains 8 items

Desserts 5 items

Drinks & Wine 3 items

Seasonal dining tips

How to get the most out of a Sylvan Table visit

Because the menu changes with the seasons, the dishes described on this page may not all be available on your visit. The best approach is to go without a fixed agenda -- trust the kitchen and the season. A few tips from experienced guests:

The Bread Service is almost universally recommended as a must-order. The Beef Short Rib and Brick Chicken rotate but appear frequently enough to ask about. For dessert, the Apple Crisp earns the most consistent praise. If you see Baked Alaska on the menu, order it.

Menu changes seasonally. Items may not be available on your visit date.

Book ahead: Reservations via Tock are strongly recommended, especially Thursday--Saturday
Ask about the farm: Staff are happy to explain what the farm is currently growing
Bread Service: Order it -- house sourdough with cultured butter is a guest favorite
Wine pairing: The restaurant maintains a dedicated wine list; ask the server for a pairing recommendation
Dress code: Smart casual; the barn setting is warm but guests typically dress up for the occasion
Parking: On-site at the farm property

About Sylvan Table

A 300-year-old barn. A working farm. A seasonal American kitchen.

Sylvan Table opened in Sylvan Lake, Michigan as a direct expression of its owner Nicole Ryan's belief that a restaurant should be inseparable from the land that feeds it. The dining room sits inside a 300-year-old barn on a 5-acre property at the intersection of Orchard Lake Road and Middlebelt Road. Three of those acres are a working farm managed by Rick Rigutto, growing the vegetables, herbs, and crops that Executive Chef Christopher Gadulka turns into the evening's menu.

The farm-to-table model is not a marketing claim at Sylvan Table -- it is structural. What the farm grows in a given week shapes what is on the menu that week. Composting closes the loop: kitchen waste feeds back into the farm. The restaurant holds Gold-level certification under The PLEDGE on Food Waste program, recognizing this commitment in measurable, audited terms.

The culinary approach is New American: rooted in classic French technique, built on American and Midwestern ingredients, and unafraid of both comfort and refinement in the same dish. Brick chicken and braised short rib sit alongside hand-rolled gnocchi and seasonal risotto. The pastry team produces house-made desserts; the bar team crafts seasonal cocktails.

300+Year-old barn

5Acres on-site

3Acres farmed

GoldPLEDGE certified

The team

The people behind Sylvan Table

A small, tight leadership team that has built Sylvan Table into one of Oakland County's most-respected dining destinations.

Owner

Nicole Ryan

Founded Sylvan Table with a vision for a restaurant grounded in sustainable agriculture and community stewardship. Ryan's leadership shaped both the physical property and the restaurant's operational philosophy -- from PLEDGE certification to the farm-first sourcing model.

Executive Chef

Christopher Gadulka

Chef Gadulka leads the kitchen at Sylvan Table, translating what the farm and local partners produce into the seasonal New American menu. His cooking has drawn consistent praise from guests for balancing refinement with approachability -- the short rib and brick chicken are his kitchen's calling cards.

Farm Manager

Rick Rigutto

Manages the 3-acre working farm that supplies the kitchen. Rigutto's work determines what Chef Gadulka has to work with each season -- the farm-kitchen relationship is genuinely collaborative, with harvest schedules and menu planning developed together.

General Manager

Sadie Simon

Leads the front-of-house team. Guests frequently praise Sylvan Table's service in reviews -- Simon's role in building and maintaining that culture is central to the restaurant's reputation for hospitality.

Reservations

Book via Tock

All reservations are taken through Tock at exploretock.com/sylvantable. The restaurant does not take reservations by phone. Same-day walk-in availability is possible but not guaranteed, especially on weekends.

Contact

Reach the restaurant

Phone: (248) 369-3360. Email: info@sylvantable.com. Address: 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, MI 48320. The official website is sylvantable.com -- current PDF menus for Dinner, Drinks and Wine are posted there.

Context

How Sylvan Table compares to other dining options

How Sylvan Table positions itself relative to typical Metro Detroit fine dining and casual American restaurants.

Category	Sylvan Table	Typical Metro Detroit Fine Dining	Casual American
Setting	300-yr-old barn, working farm	Hotel / urban	Strip mall / standalone
Menu style	Seasonal, changes quarterly	Seasonal or fixed	Static, year-round
Ingredient sourcing	On-site farm + local MI farms	Local & regional sourcing	Mostly national supply chain
Price range	$$$	$$$	$$
Reservations	Required (Tock)	Recommended	Walk-in friendly
Sustainability	Gold PLEDGE certification	Varies	Varies

Price ranges are estimates based on comparable fine-dining establishments in Oakland County. Confirm current pricing directly with the restaurant.

Getting there

Location, hours & reservations

Sylvan Table is located at 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320, at the intersection of Orchard Lake Road and Middlebelt Road in Oakland County. The property is a working farm; the restaurant is inside the historic barn. On-site parking is available.

Reservations are required for most visits and are taken exclusively through Tock: exploretock.com/sylvantable. For general inquiries, call (248) 369-3360 or email info@sylvantable.com.

For the most current menu, visit sylvantable.com/menus to download the current Dinner, Drinks, and Wine PDFs.

Mon--Wed: 5 PM -- 9 PM
Thu--Sat: 5 PM -- 10 PM
Sunday: 4 PM -- 9 PM
Address: 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
Phone: (248) 369-3360
Reservations: exploretock.com/sylvantable
Parking: On-site

Related on Menupedia

Other notable restaurant menus

If you are exploring the farm-to-table and New American dining landscape, these Menupedia pages are the closest reference points.

Common questions

Sylvan Table -- frequently asked questions

Quick answers about the menu, location, hours, reservations, and what makes Sylvan Table a special-occasion destination in Michigan.

What kind of food does Sylvan Table serve?

Sylvan Table serves New American farm-to-table cuisine in Sylvan Lake, Michigan. The menu is seasonal and changes based on what the restaurant's own 3-acre on-site farm and Michigan partner farms are producing. Signature preparations include brick chicken, braised beef short rib, house-made pasta (gnocchi Bolognese, lamb ragu), and farm-driven vegetable sides. The restaurant occupies a 300-year-old barn, lending the dining room a distinctively warm, rustic character.

Where is Sylvan Table located?

Sylvan Table is at 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320 -- at the intersection of Orchard Lake Road and Middlebelt Road, in Oakland County. The property is a 5-acre working farm; the dining room is inside a historic 300-year-old barn. Parking is available on-site. Phone: (248) 369-3360.

What are Sylvan Table's hours?

As of the most recent published schedule: Monday through Wednesday 5 PM -- 9 PM; Thursday through Saturday 5 PM -- 10 PM; Sunday 4 PM -- 9 PM. Hours can shift for private events and holidays. Confirm current hours with the restaurant at (248) 369-3360 before visiting, especially on holidays.

Does Sylvan Table take reservations?

Yes. Sylvan Table accepts reservations through Tock (exploretock.com/sylvantable). Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends, as the restaurant is a well-known destination dining spot in the Detroit metro area. Walk-in availability depends on the evening's bookings.

What is Sylvan Table's price range?

Sylvan Table is a fine-dining destination restaurant priced in the upper tier for the Detroit metro area. The restaurant does not publish prices online -- they are available in PDF menus on sylvantable.com and on the printed in-house menu. Based on the cuisine category and comparable Michigan fine-dining establishments, guests should expect entrees in the $30--$55+ range, appetizers in the $14--$22 range, and a full dinner-for-two with wine running $120--$200+. Verify current pricing directly with the restaurant.

Who is the chef at Sylvan Table?

The Executive Chef is Christopher Gadulka. The restaurant is owned by Nicole Ryan. The farm is managed by Rick Rigutto, and the dining room is led by General Manager Sadie Simon. The kitchen works closely with the farm team to shape each season's menu around what is growing on-site.

Does Sylvan Table have its own farm?

Yes -- the farm is one of Sylvan Table's most distinctive features. The restaurant operates on a 5-acre property with 3 acres dedicated to an active working farm. The farm grows vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients that feed directly into the kitchen. The restaurant also composts kitchen waste back into the farm, practices it describes as 'closing the loop on material use.' Sylvan Table holds Gold-level certification under The PLEDGE on Food Waste program.

What are the most popular dishes at Sylvan Table?

Based on Yelp's Popular Dishes data and guest reviews, the most frequently mentioned items are the Beef Short Rib, Brick Chicken, Bread Service (house sourdough with cultured butter), Gnocchi Bolognese, and the Bee Sting Flatbread. For dessert, the Apple Crisp and Maple Walnut Cake are most cited. Note that because the menu is seasonal, not all items are available year-round.

Is Sylvan Table good for special occasions?

Sylvan Table is widely regarded as one of the Detroit metro area's top special-occasion restaurants. The barn setting, seasonal tasting-style menu, and attentive service make it a popular choice for anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations. The restaurant also offers private dining options for events -- contact the restaurant directly for private event inquiries. Reservations via Tock are strongly recommended for any weekend visit.

More restaurant menus on Menupedia

Full menus, prices, combos, and signature items for restaurants across the U.S. -- fast food, fine dining, coffee, bakeries, and more. New restaurants added on a rolling basis.

Browse the directory How we work