I'm not really a coffee drinker, so I hadn't paid much attention to The Meeting House in Red Bank, which opened in late 2014 in the town's oldest building.
But I've learned that The Meeting House isn't just a coffeehouse.
"Our passion is threefold - coffee, food and people," says the website.
If you go
› What: The Meeting House, 3912 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank.› Phone: 423-902-3338.› Website: Facebook and redbankmeetinghouse.com.› Hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.› Price range: $4.50-$7.50.
I like food. I like people. I like a little coffee with my sugar and creamer. OK, coffee, for me, is never going to be a reason to go. But I had two of The Meeting House's three passions covered. So in search of lunch recently, I detoured into Red Bank.
The easiest way to find The Meeting House is to head east on Morrison Springs Road off Corridor J. At the stoplight at Dayton Boulevard, you'll be smack dab facing the building. The Meeting House occupies the middle space of a red-brick row.
There's limited street parking on Dayton Boulevard, but there's plenty of parking around back. I didn't notice the sign on the door when I first pulled in, but the red umbrella shading a table on the patio helped me figure out I was in the right place.
THE FOOD
The lunch menu's not extensive, just six main sandwiches ($6.50-$7.50) and a grilled cheese for kids ($4.50), a couple of salads and soups in season.
But breakfast is served all day, so there's always the option of an egg, bacon or sausage croissant, Belgian waffles, oatmeal, quiche or a traditional breakfast plate with wheat toast. Prices range from $4.50 to $7.50. The most unusual item on the menu is probably the Breakfast Bowl ($6.95), made with roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, sauteed spinach, gouda and a fried egg.
The Snacks menu, also served all day, offers just two selections: a hummus plate for $5.75 or chips and house-seasoned kettle chips with a spicy dipping sauce for $2.75.
I'm not shy about getting my fill, so I ordered what amounted to two entrees: a veggie quiche ($6.75) from the breakfast menu and a spicy chicken sandwich ($7.50) from the lunch menu.
The quiche came with a side spinach salad, and I opted for a side salad, instead of chips, with my sandwich. Yes, I realize that's a lot of spinach, but I yam what I yam.
Here's how it went down: both salads, half the sandwich and the whole slice of quiche.
The spicy chicken sandwich contained slices of chicken, cucumber and avocado, smeared with spicy mayonnaise and served on grilled sourdough.
Spice is a relative thing, of course, but I didn't find it all that spicy and wouldn't have minded more of the spicy mayo. The cucumber slices were quite thick, so there may have been a cool as a cucumber counterpoint at play.
What I especially liked about the sandwich was how soft the bread remained even after it was grilled. Crispy but not tough. All in all, a satisfying sandwich. I ate half and saved the rest for later.
The quiche was flavored with spinach, tomato, onion and cheddar. The eggy insides were soft enough that I wondered if it had been made with egg substitute or was maybe a second-day quiche that had lost some firmness in the fridge. It tasted good though, and I would order it again.
The salads were spinach leaves topped with a balsamic vinaigrette and shavings of parmesan. Simple but tasty.
I had sweet tea with my meal, but for you coffee drinkers, the website boasts of Mayfly Coffee from Signal Mountain and direct-trade Counter Culture espresso.
THE SPACE
The Meeting House occupies a large space that can be accessed from doors in front and back. The black-painted ceilings are industrial and open. Lots of light flows in from the front windows facing Dayton Boulevard. There are plenty of four-top tables in the widest expanse of the room and a row of two-tops hugging the wall across from the counter and dessert case near the back entrance.
In the front of the room are several furniture groupings anchored by mismatched leather chairs and sofas. A small cabinet holds a few board games. There's a small stage backed by a tall cross.
The place began to fill up as I sat there eating, and it was interesting to see how people were using the space. Several had laptops out. Some were just there to eat. One guy came in and sprawled across one of the armchairs.
The vibe reminded me a lot of The Camp House in downtown Chattanooga. Turns out, both places have the same parent organization, Mission Chattanooga. On Sundays, both become places of worship.
There was a steady hum of traffic from Dayton Boulevard while I ate, but for the most part, The Meeting House felt like an oasis of calm.
THE SERVICE
The young lady working the counter approached to take my order, her register finger at the ready, as soon as I walked in the door. She gave me my tea and, later, a to-go box for my leftover sandwich half. A guy from the kitchen, maybe the one who cooked the food, brought out the plates.
Both were pleasant and friendly, but not overly chatty. I got the feeling they help when needed but otherwise stay out of the way. I don't have a problem with that.
VERDICT
I like this place. Even with the limited menu, there are other dishes I'd like to try, and the atmosphere couldn't be more relaxing.
My only regret was that I didn't take anyone along to share the experience. Next time, I'll plan to meet someone at The Meeting House.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.