The Area
RECCOMMENDATIONS, PICNICS, AND MORE
Best Locations For Dining
Thriving downtown Chattanooga has been hailed as one of the South’s top travel destinations, and it has even been listed by New York Times as one of the Top 45 Places to go in the World. Not only is Chattanooga a breathtakingly beautiful city, but it also home to a variety of amazing dining choices that will complement your adventure to the Scenic City. In fact, thanks to the recent tourism spotlight, the number of Chattanooga restaurants has skyrocketed. Highlights of the Chattanooga dining scene feature tasty versions of the finest southern delicacies, including BBQ and fried chicken, as well as a huge variety of ethnic foods and local fare that will please any palette.
DINING
Lookout Mountain
Cafe on the Corner
For a modern twist on traditional, Southern classics, enjoy a meal at Cafe on the Corner. Savor favorites like their Café Mac, crafted with grilled chicken, bacon, and three cheeses topped with a savory cream sauce. Or, sample something on the lighter side like their sweet, Candied Pecan Salad while sipping a glass of wine on the outdoor patio, ideal for taking in the warm weather of Lookout Mountain.
Canyon Grill
Canyon Grill is a quaint restaurant that offers a secluded, intimate dining experience. Strings of lights draped across the ceiling set the stage for their upscale cuisine featuring the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. If you want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with your meal, the establishment encourages you to bring your own beer or wine to enjoy during your visit.
1885 Grill
You’ll find the finest seafood in the area at 1885 Grill. Enjoy their coastal cuisine for dinner or Sunday brunch, and be sure to pair entrees like their Fried Flounder Sandwich with Southern sides including hushpuppies, stone ground cheese grits, or sautéed green beans.
HAVE A DAY OUT
Chattanooga
In Tennessee, as with many other places in the south, good old-fashioned barbeque is a thing of beauty, and it’s no different in Chattanooga. Our city is home to a melting pot of Barbeque styles, but generally speaking you can count on finding sauces that are a mix between the sweet and thick flavors Kansas City Barbeque, and the tangy, zippy flavors of Piedmont. For our own little spin, you’ll often find sauces spiked with Tennessee whiskey. Sugar’s Ribs, where the ribs are nice and crunchy on the outside, yet falling-apart tender on the inside, is a great place to test out Chattanooga Barbeque. Other local favorites include Shuford’s Smokehouse and “Best of the Best” winner Rib and Loin. Should you get a hankering for some soul-soothing fried chicken while in Chattanooga, then you’re in luck. For some old-fashioned, fresh chicken, head to Ms. Bea’s, where the recipe and preparation
are top secret, but guaranteed to be made from scratch using Ms. Bea’s original recipe. Located just at the base of Lookout Mountain, it’s hard to go wrong with fried chicken from Mt. Vernon’s, but if you’re up for a slightly more swanky ambiance, then head for a little southern comfort at the Public House.
There’s so much more to Chattanooga dining than barbeque and fried chicken, to the point that the choices are overwhelming. Other tried and true dining favorites in Chattanooga include the locally sourced food at 4-star restaurant St. Johns, the contemporary American cuisine and updated Southern favorites at 212 Market Restaurant, the eclectic Taco Mamacita’s, the exquisite view over the Tennessee River at the Boathouse, the celebrated Appalachian flavors at TerraMae Appalachian Bistro, and the savory, innovative cuisine at the Big River Grille and Brewing Works. The dining options in Chattanooga rival just about any town in the Southeast, and feature many celebrated local chefs with award-winning recipes just awaiting your discriminating palette.
