From Farm Stand to Table
The Rustic Table's journey began in 1985 when Margaret and Thomas Wilson purchased a small 15-acre farm on the outskirts of Countryside. What started as a hobby garden quickly grew into a thriving operation supplying fresh produce to local families.
By the early 2000s, their farm stand had become a weekend destination, famous for Margaret's homemade pies and Thomas's heirloom tomatoes. When their daughter Sarah returned from culinary school in 2012, she had a vision to transform the old barn into something special.
"I wanted to create a place where people could taste the difference that fresh, local ingredients make," Sarah recalls. "Not just a restaurant, but a connection point between our farming community and the families who live here."
Building Community
The renovation took nearly two years, with much of the work done by local craftspeople using reclaimed materials from other historic buildings in the area. The original barn beams still span the dining room ceiling, and the tables were crafted from wood salvaged from a neighboring 1800s farmhouse.
When we opened our doors in 2012 with just 12 tables and a team of five, we never imagined the community that would grow around us. Today, we work with over 15 local farms and producers, employing 18 people from our neighborhood.
Every menu item tells a story of the hands that grew, raised, or crafted it. When you dine with us, you're not just having a meal—you're participating in a local food system that supports our entire community.
