There's something special about Lillie Mae's Place.
It's not because of its cozy interior or its friendly atmosphere. It's not even because it offers the best home-cooked meal in Chattanooga outside of grandma's house.
It's because of its sense of home.
The menu at Lillie Mae's Place in Red Bank.If you go
› Where: Lillie Mae’s Place, 4712 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank.› Phone: 423-875-8999.› Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Lillie-Maes-Place.› Hours: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.› Price range: $4-$8.
Daily Specials
Most served with choice of two sides, bread and drink for $6.95.Monday: Stuffed bell peppers or homemade salmon pattiesTuesday and Thursday: Fried boneless chicken breast or meatloafWednesday: spaghetti with salad and garlic toast or veal parmesan with noodles and garlic bread (no veggies)Friday: 1 piece breaded catfish $6.95, two pieces $7.95, six pieces large shrimp $7.95
Lillie Mae's Place is at 4712 Dayton Blvd. in Red Bank.The staff is relaxed and caring. The food is hot and inviting. The dessert is sweet. The sweet tea is sweeter. I'd write that the food is better than anywhere outside of mom's kitchen, but that would overstate my mother's cooking.
It's the type of meal you can't get at a restaurant. Except you can - at 4712 Dayton Boulevard.
THE SPACE
The restaurant's exterior isn't flashy. It doesn't seek attention. It's a place you have to look for or already know exists. It's tucked away on a busy road, hidden in plain sight. But inside is warm and inviting. It's full of friendly faces where customers not only know the waitress but also her children and spouse.
You'll likely see several diners talking to old friends sitting nearby, reminding us Chattanooga just may be the biggest little city this side of Reno.
A sign hanging on the wooden counter below the cash register reads "$5 charge for whining," which goes along nicely with the restaurant's "Shut up and sit down breakfast." It's a subtle reminder of strict Southern roots accompanied by the softness and care so often displayed in families below the Mason-Dixon line.
Behind the counter hangs a long shelf filled with antiques and coffee mugs of all patterns, adding to the homey feel.
The side entryway opens into the larger dining area with about 10 booths and several tables in the corner. Additional quieter space in the back room is filled with 12 wooden tables surrounded by old wooden chairs I'd swear were taken straight from my great-aunt's dining room.
A sign hangs in the back room with "God's 10 Rules" listing the Ten Commandments in a way even a child can easily understand: "Put God first, tell the truth and be happy with what you have."
THE FOOD
The daily specials are the easy dinner choice. For $6.95, customers get an entrée, two vegetables, a choice of bread and a drink. The long list of 23 "vegetables" ranging from hash brown casserole or fried squash to mac-and-cheese and baked beans is a personal favorite.
The daily special was stuffed bell peppers or homemade salmon patties. I ordered the salmon patties, mac-and-cheese, hash brown casserole, fried cornbread and sweet tea.
There wasn't a disappointing dish on the table. The sides were better than the main course, but that speaks more favorably of the sides than it does negatively about the main dish. I will gladly go back for another helping of the salmon patties.
The hash brown casserole rivaled Cleveland's Farmhouse for best in the area. The addition of mac-and-cheese complimented the meal well, and the sweat tea tasted like it came out of my own fridge.
This was my first time trying fried cornbread, so I asked my waitress about it when my food was served. She explained how it was made and offered to replace it with another bread choice free of charge assuming I wasn't pleased - I was.
I finished my meal in a blissful peace comforted by the savory meal. I ordered a second helping of vegetables to go ($1.50), and my check was waiting on the table ready for when I finished.
I looked over the homemade dessert menu but was too full to want anything. I regretted the decision as soon as I walked out the door and made another trip the following day for the peach cobbler with a scoop of ice cream ($2.50 plus $1 for ice cream). The dessert was as good as any non-restaurant dessert I've eaten. Whether or not the peaches were truly fresh, they sure tasted like it. The vanilla ice cream wasn't anything special, but it was a nice topper to the cobbler.
THE SERVICE
The best part of Lillie Mae's is the service. My waitress was attentive, kind and prompt. The restaurant was full, something I didn't completely notice until I was leaving, which is a testament to the waitresses. My waitress treated me as if I were her only customer but wasn't overbearing. She met each of my questions with satisfactory answers gently explained and always asked if there was anything else she could do. My food was on the table less than 10 minutes from when I ordered.
THE VERDICT
Lillie Mae's Place reminds me of all the reasons so many move to this area. We often get caught up in the news of gang violence, whether or not the bike lanes are good for the community or the latest developments on the local school board - all important topics. But we all need a break from the stresses of life. We need a good meal and friendly faces. Lillie Mae's offers just that.
Contact Mark Pace at 423-757-6361 or mpace@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @THEMarkPace and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/THEMarkPace/