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Meet the Chef: Riverdance’s Ubas serving up classics with a twist

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / Executive chef Allan Ubas stands inside Riverdance, a restaurant situated just outside the gates of the River Gorge Ranch community in Guild, Tenn. Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / Executive chef Allan Ubas stands inside Riverdance, a restaurant situated just outside the gates of the River Gorge Ranch community in Guild, Tenn.

By Anne Braly March 17, 2026 6 min read

Riverdance is the newest addition to River Gorge Ranch, and, since opening a month ago in Guild, Tennessee, an area off the beaten path for many Chattanoogans, it has already attracted a large following. But, says chef Allan Ubas, it’s not just about the majestic mountain views high up on the Cumberland Plateau. It’s about a menu that “celebrates classic dining in America,” he said.

“That guests have a unique, five-star experience while they are eating, and that they enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and the view. That’s what brings them here. I mean, the view is so beautiful up here,” he said.

At 55, Ubas, a native of the Philippines, brings extensive experience, having been passionate about cooking since childhood.

“I always watched my mom cook Filipino when I was younger,” he said. “So I grew up in the kitchen and learned to enjoy cooking.”