Sardis City doesn't have much to it — except for .
The combination of restaurant and petting zoo has made a name for itself in Northeast Alabama.
Enjoy dinner with a view while eating from the wild-game-inspired menu as exotic animals approach the the restaurant — and sometimes even your table.
"I can bring my grandson, and we can pet the animals," teacher Mary Waterhouse of Asbury said. "I can also bring my whole family, so we can eat a nice dinner."
The concept started 25 years ago when owner Terry Turk and his wife opened a small deer farm.
"We kind of got caught up with an obsession of animals," Turk said.
Now, the farm is home to more than 300 exotic animals — everything from black bears, to an ostrich, to kangaroos and camels.
"You can see a wildebeest. I mean, where are you going to see that?" joked regular customer Bob Collins of Rainbow City.
Turk said his business has become a destination.
"We got a lot of people who drive three to five hours to come to the restaurant," Turk said. "On Thursday night, we get a lot of locals, and we get a lot of locals on Fridays around lunch, but outside of that, it's mostly travelers coming in."
It's no doubt a quirky concept, putting a quiet place on the map.
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