What was the first thing we noticed about the restaurants in Chattanooga?
The servers. Without only one exception, they were nice, friendly and provided excellent service. When you compare the dining experience to (for example) Nashville, Chattanooga’s servers were just superior. They didn’t prod or hurry you and they didn’t keep you waiting on your check forever.
Awesome.
During our weekend, we ate at several places and enjoyed them all. Well, actually that applies more to ol’ Hammerhead.
The Blue Plate
We can agree on our favorite: The Blue Plate, located on Chesnut Street near the Tennessee Aquarium. The restaurant is like an American diner with a contemporary twist. The Blue Plate, owned by Rob Gentry co-creator of the Big River Grille, serves comfort food made from scratch.
Our server, Casey, filled us in the restaurant’s eco-friendly approach. Everything is prepared from fresh ingredients obtained from local producers.
As a homegrown Chattanooga restaurant, The Blue Plate supports local farms and suppliers and serve the best from Bluff View Bakery, Niedlov's Bakery, Coldstone Creamery, River Ridge Farms and Stone Cup Coffee.
We enjoyed breakfast there Sunday morning. I had the ham and cheese omelet with hashbrowns. It was perfectly prepared and was neither bone-dry or rubbery. It was delicious with finely chopped ham and a liberal amount of cheese. The toast was incredible. You forget what bread from a fantastic bakery tastes like.
Betty Lou, predictably, had the french toast. She quickly proclaimed it “the best I have ever had.” And that was no exaggeration.
City Cafe
We tend to like restaurants that a fun and maybe a little crazy. That is why we delighted with Chattanooga’s City Cafe. It is a diner-style restaurant that’s opened 24-hours a day. It has a huge menu that covers just about any type of food from country to Greek.
Our server Sandy was ever so helpful as we scoured the menu that has more than 360 items including deli-style triple layer sandwiches to steaks.
Betty Lou was astonished at her owner of chicken cheese nachos. She declined to be photographed with the towering plate of food. I went tradition with a burger and home fries. The fries were thicker than steak fries and cooked with savory seasoning.
Good, filling food served in a fun atmosphere.
Desserts are the specialty City Cafe. They are custom-baked by “George.” Most of the cakes are a foot high and the variety is endless. Wow!
Big River Grille
Big River started in Chattanooga in the Riverfront district and is still serving up great food and beverages. Once again, our server was fantastic and would answer questions about menu items very candidly. We went for the pepperoni pizza and it was great. Crunchy crust, lots of pepperoni and cheese with a nicely spiced sauce.
Yep, Betty Lou could have lived there.
Sticky Fingers
Located near the Jack’s Alley stop on the Electric Shuttle, Sticky Finders is another homegrown Chattanooga restaurant that is known for having the city’s best ribs.
Betty Lou’s no fan of barbecue, but I made the call and loved the restaurants pulled barbecue with a variety of sauces. The pork was nicely smoked and was fresh and not dried out. Very nice. You could tell the restaurant is very popular with Chattanooga residents.
Betty Lou had the chicken fingers and didn’t particularly like them, but like I always say, “when you go to a B-B-Q joint you should eat barbecue.”
I enjoyed it.
3 comments:
Sounds good! I'm planning a vacation to Chattanooga and will have to try out some of these restaurants!
Sticky Fingers is only good if you have never had real Texas barbecue. Otherwise it is on a par with Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays. I have never had a good meal at the City Cafe. Granted, we have only been there for breakfast but we gave it 2 chances and both times it was awful. never again.
Table 2 is very nice. 212 Market is expensive but worth it. Blue River is okay but more of a casual beer drinking kind of restaurant rather than fine dining. The sister restaurant next door, Blue Water is much nicer with a wonderful seafood menu.
Thanks for the recommendations! My husband and I are going tomorrow. We will defiantly be trying some of these!
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