The owners of the Southern Star restaurant plan to open a restaurant atop Signal Mountain by the end of summer.
"We saw a need for a new location and another option for a place to eat on the mountain," said Nancy Adams, who with her husband, Rick, owns the Southern Star restaurant on the Southside downtown.
They have been operating a take-out unit on Taft Highway atop Signal Mountain since 2007"We have outgrown our space a little bit and we've always wanted to do something different," Mrs. Adams said.
The Adamses said their new venture has yet to be named, but it will be in space adjoining the take-out facility. It will be able to seat 70 to 80 people.
The Broad Street location downtown will remain open. Several customers at lunch Tuesday said they are excited about the possibility of a sitdown location on Signal.
"It'll be nice to be able to stay up on the mountain and not have to come down," Kate Rolen said.
Cheryl Murphy said she enjoys the convenience of the downtown location for lunch, but added that a new unit on the mountain would be ideal for family meals after work.
While the new restaurant will still serve Southern charm and goodness with every plate, Mrs. Adams said customers can expect a slightly different and more upscale dining experience.
"It'll still have the Southern flavors, but there won't be a printed menu," she said. Instead five to six menu options will be displayed on a chalkboard that will change every night. The new location will also serve wine.
But the biggest change is that the new location will be open Saturdays.
"I think Saturday will be our busiest day," Mrs. Adams said, adding that for now only dinner will be served that day at the mountaintop restaurant. It will be closed Sunday and Monday.
Fast fact
New Signal restaurant
* Tentative opening: Late summer
* Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11a.m. to 9p.m. (only open for dinner on Saturday)
* Menu: Five or six options that will change daily
Mrs. Adams' four favorite menu items
* Fried chicken
* Banana pudding made dailyl from scratch
* Baby back ribs
* Any fried vegetable