Cedar Ridge Distillery

Hard to beat for Sunday breakfast or brunch—whatever you want to call it. This was my first time at Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, and I’m already planning to go back. The setting is beautiful with great views, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. Now let’s talk food. The Sunday breakfast buffet was nothing short of outstanding. From fluffy scrambled eggs and seasoned potatoes to crispy bacon, savory sausage, biscuits and gravy, and even steamed vegetables—there was something for everyone. And the apple cobbler? It was warm. Like actually warm. I scooped into it and saw steam rising. If nothing else had impressed me, I’d still come back just for that. If you don’t eat out often, you might not realize how rare it is to find a place that nails the food, service, and atmosphere all at once. Cedar Ridge pulls it off. Highly recommend.

We took the distillary tour and then grabbed a bite to eat. The tour was interesting, tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Cedar Ridge is beautiful, with gorgeous views of the vineyards, hills, and little forested areas. And the food was excellent!

On a whim we visited Cedar Ridge Distillery. We had a large group, 7 adults and 3 children. Oh my gosh, what a great place and experience. Everything we had from food to wine to whiskey was outstanding. Our server was great and a special thanks to Ashton Johnson, the director of hospitality, she made our visit extra special. She is extremely knowledgeable of all facets of the operation. I did not mention it was my birthday but I feel like we got special treatment eventhough they did not know. One of my all time favorite Distillery tours and overall experience.

We had our son's rehearsal supper at Cedar Ridge last week, and had an excellent experience! The staff, the food, and the service was A++! I can't thank Emma and her team for making it a fantastic day for us! It's a fabulous venue, variety of great beverages and the options for the menu were top notch! Thank you Cedar Ridge Distillery and Team, you are amazing!! :)

An exceptional distillery and winery experience! The beautiful facility, camper-friendly parking, tasty food, and knowledgeable midwest-friendly staff made for a very fun afternoon. I highly recommend the tour to learn about how they produce their wine & spirits. The variety of samples they offered were fantastic. Loved their pizza and all the smoky smells from the kitchen.

Had the best rehearsal dinner at Cedar Ridge! For friends and family coming from all over the world, it was such a warm, comfortable space to reconnect and enjoy. The food, drinks and staff is outstanding. The pizza and sides absolutely delicious. The setting is beautiful. Thank you!

Pizza was fantastic! Sat outside. The scenery was pretty. Went with a friend. She ordered a wine flight, I ordered the "everything but the whiskey" flight, but substituted the rum for whiskey. We ordered 2 pizzas to share. The sever, Emily, was great, very nice, and very attentive. The only thing I did not like was the smell...kept getting whiffs of maybe old spoiled milk, or maybe it was the gouda cheese being cooked on the pizza since the woodfire oven for pizza is outside. The gnats and flies were a little crazy also, but it was 83 and summer. Not much you can control with that. It was $62 for 2 of us, 2 pizzas, a liquor flight of 3 and a wine flight of 3, plus a glass of wine.

On the 4th of July this year I attended a blues event at Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher. It is a real gem, hidden right off hwy 380 south of Cedar Rapids. All was superb except I left my expensive brand new prescription sunglasses on the table as the end of the night closed in. Surely the staff cleared the tables and it would be in lost and found....unfortunately I never reclaimed them. I'm not sure where they went but I called several times to see if they had been turned in. After 3-4 calls I struck out and then began talking to the general manager. I received Star treatment from the GM, and she was very helpful. They even checked the security camera to see if that would give a clue, but it didn't. I was so impressed with their staff and their GM in particular. She knew how to treat the situation properly and I can not ask for anything more than what I received. She even send a gift card and invited me back to eat and drink on her. It really restored my faith in the way business should be done and I felt like they had done everything. So I thought I'd let all of you out there know what a caring and professional outfit Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa really is! Go check it out, you will love the experience and their people. Thank you.

Came here recently and had a wonderful experience! First of all the space is beautiful especially the outdoor area where we sat. I enjoyed a flight of sweet wines which were all very good, my favorite was the apple cranberry or harvest blush. While I was here I also had the crowd pleaser punch and enjoyed sharing the butcher board and smoked gouda and ribeye pizza. For the drinks the harvest blush was definitely the sweetest - very much giving moscato. The atlas was more acidic and a bit dry, less on the sweet side, and the apple cranberry was somewhere in the middle - a nice sweet and fruity blend. The crowd pleaser punch was also yummy, heavy on the pineapple flavor and very little taste of alcohol if that's something you look for. I really enjoyed the butcher board and thought it had a nice array of options with cheese curds, Brie, a fruit spread, little pickles, a couple different meats, a yummy cheese spread, and bread. I was slightly underwhelmed by the pizza - but mostly because I was expecting the smoked gouda flavor but didn't think that really came through at all. The flavor of the meat was great though, ultimately I just wish it had a little more sauce on it, but otherwise a solid pizza. I would definitely recommend this spot for getting together with friends - such a fun atmosphere! I'll definitely be back!

Great wine flight and snacks! Would totally go back and try the pizza and all the other food! All the wine was exceptional! And live music was a great bonus. Such a fun Saturday spot!

Saturday lunch a few days prior to St. Patty's Day. I have only experienced Cedar Ridge once before with a flight of wine and amazing appetizers. So I wanted to give a whirl again and see about their entrees. Our party of three were seated immediately, with prompt serve getting our drink orders. You are able and to sample the bourns etc before settling on a final pick. I ordered a bottle of harvest blush wine and special their Ruben and kettle chip in leu of the holiday. The Ruben sandwich was delightful, chef's kiss, so yummy. As others in my party ordered the same and one other got a bacon pulled pork mac and cheese. Everyone was full and happy in this afternoon lunch. Not only was service on point, excellent food, but the ambience can really set the setting which is Cedar Ridge Winery does exactly that.

I was visiting Iowa City from out of state and while exploring we found ourselves out in Swisher. We stumbled on Cedar Ridge and were nervous at first because sometimes these little remote towns can be a little scary for outsiders. Ended up having a great experience. The place is packed and for good reason. The pizza is first rate, one is the best I've had. Drinks are great as well (I had the Iowa Mule which I really enjoyed). Service was super friendly and attentive. Pricing is more than fair too. An equivalent experience in California (where I'm from) with the caliber of food, service, and great views of the vineyards, would easily cost double or triple. Worth making the trip for sure.

We have enjoyed coming to Cedar Ridge since their opening and loved to see them thrive and expand. Their specialty dinners are always amazing and we enjoy live music from the fabulous outdoor spaces. Our server, Olivia, was friendly and professional and we enjoyed her pleasant demeanor.

I surprised my wife with a tour and lunch at cedar ridge and honestly we had a blast. The food was Devine, the tour was great and the tour guide was hilarious and fit right in with us! We had such a great time and can't wait to go back!

Really nice experience here. Been many times - from Saturday afternoon live music sessions in the sun, to chilly October fall outdoor dinners by the fire pit, also with live music, which seems to be one of their things. The food is really good even though the menu is not extensive. For example, the five cheese pizza is phenomenal and the little chips with the onion dip they do are great, but I really wish they had fries which is my only critique. I've tried the wine and whiskey they make there and while it's pretty good for Iowa, don't go into it thinking you're in Napa or Bordeaux, France.

First time visiting. Great service. I had a lovely meal and got to sample several whiskey and wines. Purchased 3 bottles.

Luv this place. Approximately 99.9 % I've eaten outdoors. Scenery is breathtaking. Wonderful setting. Food & drinks typically great (one exception-not great food for Easter brunch. Then again, no restaurant in the area does a decent Easter brunch.)

What is not to like about Cedar Ridge? Excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent service. Be sure to look ahead at what's going on that night - if there's a band it gets busy fairly early. My only wish is they would have some heat lamps outside on the 60 degree nights because once the sun goes down it gets very chilly.

Be aware! Cedar Ridge use molded serving board! they claimed that is wood discolored. see the photo yourself! The mold would cause liver cancer. They served foods with molded wood boards and show me multiple wood boards with black marks and claimed they are not molded.

Went on a tour and got lunch at Cedar Ridge this past weekend. The tour itself lasted about an hour with a sampling at the end and included a complimentary tasting glass. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was glad to answer any questions the group had, overall was definitely worth the $5. For lunch, my fiancee and I both got wood fired pizzas and were extremely pleased with them both! Would highly recommend!

Man, dude! We were very happy w the service, the vibe, the dranks, and the food! I have been to other distilleries and wineries and Cedar Ridge is Top 5 in my book. The only disappointment I have is that my local liquor stores do not carry CR. :::sadface:::

Stop by while passing through last Friday. The front part of the house is really cool and I like the pictures on the wall of the winery over the years. Unfortunately the front part was full and they had to sit us in the back banquet room. I'm sure during the Summer with all the garage doors open it's a different experience but during Winter kind of felt like getting sat at the kids table for Thanksgiving. I tried a flight of whiskey and my wife did a flight of wines. I had the Original 86, Wheat, and Rye. I didn't care for the wheat or rye but the original was ok. We started with the smoked wings and they came out really fast. They could be served a little hotter, temperature wise and I wish they tossed them in the sauce instead of having it on the side. But they were very good and tender. Brisket sandwich was also delicious as well. They real miss is the pizza. I've had every style from coast to coast and this was my least favorite. Unfortunately it was a swing and miss on crust, cheese, and toppings.

Went here for the 1st time today and tried the Sunday Brunch buffet. We'd read & heard lots of great things about their brunch and they weren't wrong! First thing I loved was there's not an overwhelming amount of options. Just the breakfast basics + brisket & some salads & desserts. But everything offered was top notch and for an unbelievable price. The bacon, brisket, pancakes and bourbon maple syrup were my favorites. But everything was fantastic. The coffee was strong, and flavorful. Not watered down like most places. The seating area was roomy and all the staff members were nice and helpful. We will be back and plan to check out their live music and take a tasting tour next time!

Amazing! So cute, the sangria was absolutely delicious. Their events are crazy fun and all of the staff are knowledgeable and kind. The food was delicious and unique which is so fun.

As a long time Cedar Ridge customer i have to say the La Crescent White wine has been changed it is now considered their white reserve. It is no longer in its signature blue bottle and they changed the formulation yet they claim it to be their signature wine however it is NOT! It is terrible. It Has no nose or taste! Saying it is Meh would be a compliment. Disappointing to say the least. Everything else about CR was the same service and food and drinks were great.

Was packed and cold outside. Would LOvE to go back when warm out to look over the vineyard. Great atmosphere.

We attended a "murder mystery" dinner this weekend - our first time here. It was fun and entertaining and the food was very good (chicken, pork, salad, potatoes, chocolate mousse). Recommend you visit and enjoy. Also good wine and mixed drinks!

I ordered the pork ribs. Wife ordered the Mac and cheese . Ribs were very good, but I ended up eating her Mac and cheese .

So the family stopped off at the winery. They found it on Harvest Host, a website for RVers to hang out for a night and enjoy winerie, breweries, and farms. Based on the refills they seemed to enjoy themselves. we all hung out at the entertainment center outside behind the restaurant. At 6 there was live music. Lots of people there and I got a bunch of petting and scritches. Family said this will be a place to stop back and visit on every trip north. The staff were really nice and friendly to us 4 legged kind. I have to give it 5 peanut butter filled kongs.

I have always loved the cedar ridge bourbon, but now that I have been to the actual winery and distillery I am even further impressed. I was here for a wedding celebration and they did a great job catering to us. Additionally to that we were able to try quite a variety of food and drinks, and everything was better than the next. They had a tomato bruschetta that was out of this world, and while I'm usually an old fashion gal I tried the double oak barrel wine and it was phenomenal. The place is sweet, they have a bar at the front, a nice private dining room we were in, as well as general seating for guests. Everything was clean, and everyone was kind!

Spacious and cute outdoor seating, overlooking vineyard. Good food & service. Loved their flights!

Great Covid 19 precautions, all tables are spaced 6 feet apart! That said: Seriously such a beautiful spot, perfect for a mini weekday or weekend getaway. This was the perfect date spot for my boyfriend and I on Saturday. I called in advance to make sure they're not too busy and luckily we were seated right away at arrival! There's indoor and outdoor seating options, but I highly recommend the gorgeous outdoor. They had an awesome band playing live music, and the ambiance was perfect. Everyone was dancing, and cheering. Such fun vibes. If you choose outdoor seating, you'll get a fantastic view of the vineyards. Especially at sunset, the golden hour is magical. You'll get to see the moon rise and the sunset- what more can you ask for! The drink selections are great, I loved the la crescent. Hints of fruit and off-dry. For $7, they give you a very generous glass. My boyfriend got the old fashion, $10. Very strong, and he enjoyed it as well Our waiter was so kind and attentive. We enjoyed every minute of our date night here. If you're in Iowa City, this is a beautiful spot to spend your day or evening.

Beautiful views. Food was delicious. Nice service and fun ambience. Enjoyed the apps and bruschetta.

Great wood fired pizza. Can't beat the location with tons of great outdoor seating. The service is excellent as well.

Great winery and distillery in Swisher. Beautiful facility with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. You can sample wine, bourbon and other spirits at the bar. The food has greatly improved and they now have table side service which has really increased the appeal. Their pizzas are fantastic and cooked in a wood fired oven. I also recommend their meat and cheese tray. Don't forget to purchase a couple bottles of wine or bourbon on your way out. Try their fabulous Sunday brunch or catch live music on the weekend. Highly recommended.

I went with some friends and attended the Cedar Ridge Bourbon and Blues Festival. Live music was playing with different bands going on stage. It was a beautiful day and my friends and I ended up bringing out our folding lawn chairs and sat in the shade listening to the great blues music. We ended up staying for a couple of hours and had a wonderful time! Good music! Good beer and wine! Good people! I'm not much of a heavy liquor drinker but I do like a good wine and a great craft beer. I was able to find some decent craft beer on tap. I pretty much stuck to the Dankalope from Exile Brewing and to the Juice Factory from Reunion Brewery. Also, their Harvest Blush wine is my favorite and it tastes delicious. It was interesting while we were there a lady ended up having a seizure or passed out or something and the paramedics showed up. The staff at Cedar Ridge handled everything very well and appeared to try to help out as much as possible. There was indoor seating as well as an outdoor pergola and patio, or you could even sit right up next to the band. There were a lot of people dancing as well. And they had a specific menu setup for this event, which was fancy looking. We didn't order any food but it all looked very good, only problem was it was a little on the pricey side. I have been to Cedar Ridge Winery multiple times in the past for tastings, pairings, music events, and murder mystery dinners, all of which were so fun to attend. Overall, great event and venue! I can't wait to go back!

My family had noon reservations for Father's Day. We were seated promptly but then proceeded to stand in line for the buffet for over 15 minutes. When we did get to the buffet the plates were dirty, a large portion of the food was out or running low. We were very disappointed as we had heard good things about the brunch. Will not return for brunch especially on a holiday.

It's the best the Midwest has to offer. This isn't Napa, folks, but it's making a way and space for itself. You should stop, have a flight, take a walk, and enjoy a side of Iowa you likely haven't seen. The Green pizza was superb. Who knew a smoked tomato was magical?? The Iowa wine is as Iowa wine is. They like it sweet here. That's not my thing, but I enjoyed the Double Oak Reserve, a dry red blend with depth and lingering tannins. The rosé made for a nice after dinner finish. We took a walk through the vineyard and soaked in the beautiful scenery of rolling hills and warm sun. The Quintessential Bourbon is everything it's name implies. Serving it in a nose first glass was unexpected, yet not unpleasant. If you like bourbon, there's nothing not to like in this Iowa born bourbon. Go to Cedar Ridge and enjoy.

The scenes and atmosphere is what gives this venue 5 stars. The old fashioned I had was also very good. I was disappointed in the chicken wings as they looked a lot better then how they tasted. They weren't particularly flavorful and were not crispy at all. All in all though this place was a great experience.

We went for brunch & stayed for the complementary tour! Absolutely outstanding food! Our favorites included: thick sliced bacon, maple bourbon syrup on the pancakes, biscuits & gravy, and eggs! It was all delightful, we are looking forward to returning again soon. During our visit, there was plenty of room for social distancing and all staff and guests wore mask when not seated at their table. (Masks removed for photo at the end of the tour)

This place is awesome! I'm not much if a drinker and I still enjoyed myself. The drink sampling was amazing, the tour was short but informative, the location is beautiful! I really appreciated the fact they had food available. I'd definitely come again if I'm ev er in town. If you like sweet drinks... APPLE CIDER IS THE BEST AND SO IS APPLE CRANBERRY . For the rum drinkers.... LOST PIRATE WILL GET YOU LOST AT SEA LOL.

Update - Cedar Ridge changed up their menu recently which I was excited about! New on the menu are "grilled cheese" Sandwiches, a few new apps, and pizzas. I decided to try the grilled cheese - sweet and salty (Brie, Turkey, apples) served with chips and dip. I referred my decision after the first bite. This was more panini with minuscule amounts of cheese. My sandwich had ham and not turkey and maybe two apples slices. The majority of the flavor was the ham...the chips were likely bagged chips (was thinking they were now making homemade chips) with an onion dip. The two of us at our table who ordered the sandwiches were both disappointed and it took more than 30 minutes to receive. The other two at our table had pizza and wings which came out 20 minutes before ours. I wish Cedar Ridge would have stuck with pizzas and added more options of pizzas than adding in sandwiches....

Cool place! We went here for a wedding. The setting is great. The wedding was outside on Oct 1. They had cute fire pits going, plenty of outdoor tables and chairs, and a neat little area for the actual wedding. Once the wedding was over we went inside and they had the garage doors open to the outside. They closed the doors since it is fall and it was a 530pm wedding. The old fashioned was one of the best I have ever had. The food was good, especially the spinach and artichoke dip. We want to go back sometime on our own to try the wood fired pizza. The pork and chicken on the buffet was good and included potatoes and a corn type side. The ranch that was served with the salad was amazing! Overall, cute place, great old fashioned, and convenient location. We live an hour away but it is easy to get to.

Just magical! Cortney was a stellar waitress and made our dinner experience memorable. Beautiful lush rolling hills with grape vines, incredible wine, delicious food. I felt like I belonged here. Will definitely visit again when I'm in the area.

The owner did a great job with the place. It is beautiful. The wine was AMAZING (I believe we got the "Reserve Red''). And the pizza was delicious. Service could use some improvement.

Another HH site.. great rv parking. Location is easy to find..winery sits amongst the grape vines.. very welcoming.. we sat outside since we had our dog. My hubby had a flight of whiskey and I had an Old Fashion...the menu made it hard to make a choice..we had an appetizer of burnt ends queso and we had fantastic pizza, wood oven..yum! The service was good, outdoor seating is plentiful. A very unique restaurant/winery/distillery. Take the time to experience a fine glass of wine, locally made whiskey or an Iowa distilled vodka with a pizza that is charred to perfection in the wood oven.. I can't wait to return.

Had an awesome date day here! The pizza is so good, as is the chips & queso. We have been back since our first experience! Definitely recommend getting a couple flights of wine

Our group of seven ate here for Sunday Brunch. The brunch buffet is in the large open room in back. Lots of tables so it will accommodate quite a few. The buffet itself was great. Flaky biscuits with creamy sausage gravy, tender brisket, fruit salad (honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes), doughnut balls, meaty bacon cooked perfectly, tender green bean, sausages, pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, etc. Everything was delicious! Servers brought beverages and refills as needed. It's a gorgeous setting, though the day we were there it was too cold to linger outside. We really loved it and look forward to going back.

One large apple = 116 Calories One large glass of red wine = 125 Calories Choose wisely. No matter the question I believe wine is the answer. I suppose it's fitting, because I also feel that Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery is the venue for any occasion. I've been here for a wedding reception, Friday night drinks and Sunday morning brunch. I honestly can't say very many negatives about any of those experiences. My visits have been with large groups, just me and my husband as well as with my kids. The brunch in my opinion is where it's at. $16.99 for a buffet style meal that includes prime rib, pancakes served with their amazing bourbon maple syrup and all the essentials; eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit-- you name it. But you guys, while the bourbon maple syrup has my heart; they have bottomless mimosas AND a killer sangria (that is also never ending) included in the price. Boozey brunches are THE BEST. Their wood fired pizza is tasty -- apparently on Wednesdays they have a buy one, get one half off deal which I will definitely need to take advantage of. I INHALED my Pepperoni & Peppers pizza with no complaints... rarely coming up for air until it was mere crumbs. They also have special summer hours through the end of August. They're open 7 days a week! Monday-Friday 11-9, Saturday 11-5, and Sunday 9-5. AND offer live entertainment almost weekly. It's kind of surreal to sip on a red wine, like their Five Seasons blend, gazing at a vineyard in the middle of Iowa. It's also kind of cool! They've got a stellar indoor seating area and a well thought out outdoor patio you must take advantage of. I've also noticed that they've been having more and more events like yoga, painting by the glass and a wine class meant to educate you, as well as let you taste some wine. Come check it out! But you've been warned-- parents, bring your own high chair they're lacking on the baby seating front. Parking can also be a bit wonky if you're going during a peak time.

It was fantastic. The wine was delicious and the wood pizza was great. We also had a great charcuterie board . The bread on the board was excellent

I've been wanting for many years to stop by Cedar Ridge and finally had the chance. Absolutely worth it in every way. We had an outside table with amazing views of the vineyard and a perfect early summer breeze. We ordered way too much food for a party of two but everything we had was worth it. We had two pizzas, a cheese and meat board, bread side and a wine flight. Pizza perfectly cooked, perfect crisp and crack. The meat and cheese board had no flaws to it whatsoever. It was a great experience all around and something I wish I had done sooner. Definitely recommend anyone who hasn't tried it to go out to Cedar Ridge and try it for yourself. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Great atmosphere! The fermentation smell took a minute to get used to but so worth it. I enjoyed both the wine choices and the bourbon choices. A great venue for a quiet afternoon with the ladies or date night. Staff was super accommodating and helpful.

Cedar Ridge is often a busy place, and for good reason. It's a delightful environment, tucked alongside the vineyards and farm fields. They have live music on a regular basis, which is a big draw. I'm a fan of just about all of their liquors. They have a number of tasty cocktails, but many of the selections are great to sip on their own. Combine that with a wide variety of wines, and your entire group can surely find a favorite.

Service was great! Nice selection of drinks. Live music on a Saturday would have put it over the top. Will be back.

Specific staff were pushing us out the door and said they could not accommodate our large party. Upon further investigation there were plenty of tables to seat us while there were not other guests waiting. They served us bottles in the parking lot when it was pouring rain and our group was incredibly disappointed. What really took the cake was when they offered to serve us food to eat off our laps. We will not be retuning.

Cedar Ridge is one of my favorite places in the whole Iowa City area! The vineyards are gorgeous and set the perfect scene for a night out or special occasion. The wine menu is extensive, but with complementary tastings, not overwhelming. My absolute favorites are the nine sixty five and demi sec. I think I could eat the smoked gouda and braised ribeye pizza every day and not get sick of it. I can't speak for any of the other pizzas, because I truly get this one every time and have no regrets. They frequently have live music too which is always an extra treat!

Class act all around. Live here but never been here before. So overdue. You did an amazing job hosting a special event in the morning and the service, food and beverage options where excellent. Just came back from visiting 2 out of State wineries and man, they've got some catching up to do. Keep on doing what you are doing. I am already hooked on a few of your fine wine and whiskey creations.