Where to eat downtown Chattanooga..local style?

[charlestonrealtor]

I am going to Chattanooga in August with family. We are staying downtown near the river and would like to eat at some good places. Any suggestions. We are food lovers and like local and eclectic and not touristy or chain food! THANKS!!

[shallots]

The Mount Vernon Restaurant, about a mile south of down town on the main road down to Lookout Mountain.
It's an institution (in a good way) and has good food (I've eaten there every five years or so since 1975). I early on discovered their sweet celery salad dressing and have shared that discovery with many friends.

[josiahq]

Mt. Vernon is gross. The food is frozen and basic. Years ago it was the only non-fastfood "upscale" restaurant in Chattanooga, and it's currently only popular with an aging demographic that also vacations in Pigeon Forge & Branson, Missouri.

Best restaurants in town are easily St. John's & The Meeting Place. St. John's is the more expensive (and formal) of the two. Fantastic food (much of it local), great service, great ambiance. Easy Bistro downtown across from the aquarium between Mellow Mushroom & Ben & Jerry's is a close third.

Cheaper more relaxed fare can be found at Mojo Burrito & Lupis. If you take the electric shuttle to the Choo Choo, walk a block around the corner either way on Main Street, you can find great Sushi from Hiroshi's, or excellent breakfast from Bluegrass Grill (again, fresh local food). A half block past Bluegrass Grill is Niedlovs, a bakery that serves great sandwiches, but it's their bread that will change your life.

[charlestonrealtor]

thanks!! that was the response I wanted. If you ever travel to Charleston I'll tell you where to eat.

[jenniferGA]

I agree with Mount Vernon, and you may also want to check out The Blue Plate (close to where you're staying), Southern Star (Get there by 11:30 or you'll wait a very long time for a table), Main & Mocha for a light lunch, or Hiroshi's if you like Japanese Food. Chattanooga is full of great locally-owned restaurants!

[charlestonrealtor]

Thanks for the input!!! Any suggestions for dinner?? Mount Vernon the best? Years ago we ate at the Loft. Is it stil there and good?

[josiahq]

The Loft closed several years ago. Mt. Vernon is just Waffle House with tablecloths.

[Grey00]

For a wide range of food at any meal time try the 24 hour City Cafe - located at the Days Inn downtown. Bring your appetite and save room for the cakes shown as you walk in - you won't believe it. Steady crowd day or night, not much atmosphere, but good food at a reasonable price.

[grounded]

I second the City Cafe. While a diner attached to a downscale Days Inn doesn't sound like a great dining choice, the food here is really, really good. We especially like the Greek items on the menu -- the spanakopita is outstanding. Haven't tried the cakes but they're fantastic creations to ogle as they rotate in the display case.

[mkelley]

I added this to the Chattarati blog and a couple of suggestions were added...some of the same folks came here to comment. http://chattarati.com/2008/07/03/brea...

fyi: Mt.Vernon is better than suggested.

[mkelley]

We've linked to this from Chattarati.com and some additional suggestions came up...some from the same people.http://chattarati.com/2008/07/...

[charlestonrealtor]

thanks for the link...very interesting, besides the Chili's and Olive Garden rec.

[shallots]

How about a Chattanooga 'classic lunch': a cold RC and a moon pie?

[TNBear]

Mount Vernon is nothing but heated up (usually) institutional food service fare. I would not go there again, nor ever recommend it.
For my money 212 Market is the best in town, they are the first green restaurant in the state of Tennessee and source as much as possible of their food locally. They are family owned and located near the Aquarium, they had the foresight to open there before the Aquarium was finished. They have been given the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator for at least the last five years.
Across the river in North Chattanooga on Frasier Ave. is Terra Nostra, owned by a couple who live locally although they are both from Ecuador. Tapas style fare with both a set menu and daily specials.
Hiroshi's on Main is the benchmark for sushi in Chattanooga, and just down the street is Taco Rico which sounds Mexican but is actually Salvadorian. Their papusas are killer and the chicken tamale in a banana leaf is one of the best I've ever had.

[BonAppetiTN]

I have to agree with TNbear.....212 is the best for inventiveness and quality.

[crewsweeper]

Second Hiroshi's for sushi.

If you're tired of sit down try Lupi's pizza on Broad Street. Custom made pizza and good beer selection.

Tony's Pasta Shop serve decent Italian and has a nice selection of Italian wines you can try by the glass. But it's not for everybody. And Big River Grille is a reasonable brew-pub choice in the area.

Will have to give Taco Rico a try when we're back in the fall.

[Onlytraveltoeat]

Hinnen's (193 Chestnut St) just down from the Aquarium is the best in town for steaks. Local owner, great steaks/meat and good atmosphere.
St John's (1278 Market St) is a don't miss (the chef/owner trained at Commander's Palace) and most of the food is grown locally by speciality farms.
212 is highly recommended, but I have not been. Big River Grille is a good brew/pub and has grown to Jacksonville/St Augustine area of Florida (under different name).
Mt Vernon has not been a good place to eat in over 40 years.

[sonya123]

I had the most delicious Paella at the restaurant below. It's a seafood restaurant and it was packed for dinner with a long wait for a table.

Blue Water Grille
224 Broad St
Chattanooga, TN 37402
[phone]

[scrumptiouschef]

I'm fortunate enought to be enjoying a couple nice meals in Chattanooga soon.Breakfast and lunch/early supper.

Not interested in fancy places at all.Heard there's been a downhill slide at Bea's?How are these choices?

Aretha Frankensteins
[phone]
518 Tremont St
Chattanooga, TN 37405

Memo's Grill
430 E Martin Luther King Blvd
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-267-7283

Petunia's Silver Jalapeno
309 Signal Mountain Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: [phone]

Zarzours
1627 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga, TN
423-266-0424

Innside
800 Chestnut St
Chattanooga, TN 37402
[phone]

Does Innside have a horseshoe shaped counter? If so then I'm completely sold.Any other old/early 20th century places I'm missing out on?Prefer to stay in the downtown area but can branch out at the drop of a hat for good chow.

[browneyedgirl83]

Aretha Frankenstein's is worth a visit. Great food, creative yet classic breakfast, good coffee, and Guinness on tap. Bring your appetite, the portions are HUGE. I live about 40 minutes away, and when family comes to visit we like to take them to Aretha's. If you like The Flying Biscuit in Atlanta, Aretha's is similar in atmosphere, quality and menu.

[lilchynaqt]

I joined my husband on a business trip to Chattanooga. We have eaten at Aretha Frankenstein's and St. John's Meeting Place so far. Aretha Frankenstein's was good, but was not worth the hour long wait for food. The pancakes were huge, but the omelet and potatoes were nothing special. The biscuit was also rock solid as some other reviewers have stated.

St. John's Meeting Place was delicious. We were more than satisfied with every single dish we ordered. Our waitress recommended the beef cheeks and duck confit and both lived up to the hype. The creme brulee was rich and creamy. Everything a creme brulee should be.

[nekst]

St. John's is definitely a good choice. If they still have veal hanger steak on the menu, get that--delicious. I would skip the venison, which I didn't enjoy much at all.

[bang4urbuck]

Some great restaurants in Chattanooga are:
1.River City Deli- A truely great deli, but dont argue with the owner, you will eat the food the way he fixes it! But trust me, it is delicious!
2. Choo Choo Barbecue- Smoked barbecue, Homemade BBQ sauce, YUM!
3. Lili Mae's Place- It is right outside of downtown Chattanooga, in Red Bank. This is a local favorite. I reccomend going on Tuesdays or Thursdays to get their Fried Chicken Special. Best in Chattanooga!
4. Steve's Landing- Near Soddy Daisy, next to the marina. They have the most AMAZING ribs in Tennessee, plus everything else there is delicious, plus it's not to bad on the wallet. The most expensive thing is a rack of ribs for $17.99. It is my favorite!
Hope you find these helpful!

-Ban4urbuck

[Bigley9]

Based on this thread my traveling Chowspouse chose 212 Market for dinner tonight. Here is her email to me:
Hi - 212 Market in downtown Chattanooga is fabulous! You have scored again.

My dinner: Grey Goose martini (which i had asked for up and very, very cold) was poured at the table to keep it cold! Love that.

I had a cup of the seafood bisque - a signature soup for them -heavenly.
Then,

Spinach Stuffed Tennessee Trout
Polenta, local squash, mushrooms and red pepper coulis 20
Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Napa 2005 24 ½ bottle

and the "sampler" dessert: small slice of double choc torte w/raspberry sauce, tiny creme brulee, and small slice of their cheese cake with chocolate sauce.

Service was so warm and wonderful. We had a great conversation with our server, Stephani, about eating local, seasonal, humanely raised, etc. She was obviously a foodie. Nice.

Please give them a positive word on Chow - there could have been more diners for a Wed evening!
Thanks Hounds (and 212 Market!) for once again making me look good

[Evrett]

If you like sushi try Sekisui (www.sekisuiusa.com) on market street. Upscale place with indoor waterfalls yet most of the rolls were around 6 bucks and they had an extensive happy hour.

[conOsewer]

Town and Country was the Best. Its now a Walgreens.
Leonards had the coldest beer in town and made a fried bloney sammige that would make a poodle slap a pit bull. Its boarded up.
Bea's was a great lazy susan meat and three that kept the mashed taters and okry commin. Its closed.
M&J Supermarket had great meats.
Remember the Tiki Hut?

[TreyCo]

I have no clue where conOsewer got that Bea's is closed....it's definitely not. Bea's has good chicken, but sitting at a large table with strangers isn't my style....especially some of the clientele there. Champy's now has Chattanooga's best fried chicken, catfish, tamales, and ice cold 40oz beers.

[TNBear]

I second TreyCo regarding Champy's. I do not care for Bea's at all, the one time I ate there the chicken pieces were miniscule and not all the good.