Meatloaf and sides at Cookie Jar Cafe. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)Sure you can make your own, but many Chattanooga area restaurants put meatloaf on the menu.
Food Network lists meatloaf as No. 5 in a list of the Top 5 Diner Dishes in the Country. And CNN names it 33rd in its list of "American Food: The 50 Greatest Dishes."
Wherever it's sold, most restaurants report this home-style classic goes fast.
At The Public House, meatloaf is the daily special each Monday, where lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. By noon, it's usually gone.
"We only make 15 of them [rounded, individual portions], and they sell out in 30 or 45 minutes," says General Manager Gene Tharp. "It's not something we do all of the time. It's a little labor intensified."
Theirs is made with a blend of ground beef and pork, mixed with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, egg and Niedlov's sourdough bread. They top it with a sauce made from tomato sauce and vodka. It sells for $11 and comes with the customer's choice of two sides.
Diamond Billiard Club's meatloaf. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)Marsha Bain, owner of Marsha's Backstreet Cafe on Brainerd Road, sells meatloaf only on some Wednesdays.
"It's a pretty popular item," she says.
The meatloaf comes with white beans, mashed potatoes, slaw or baked apples, along with soup and a glass of tea, for $10.
It's topped with ketchup and bacon. No gravy.
She makes it with ground meat, onions, celery and mushrooms, A1 sauce, garlic and breadcrumbs.
Lillie Mae's Place on Dayton Boulevard sells meatloaf on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Customers get meatloaf, two veggies, bread and a drink for $6.95, says server Kasey Wortman.
Karl Koeninger, owner of Karl's Family Restaurant, says his eatery makes the meatloaf from scratch every day using 80/20 ground beef, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
The meatloaf with sides at Track's End. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)The Terminal Brewhouse on Main Street serves a meatloaf dish daily, but it "ain't your mama's meatloaf," according to the menu.
It's made with bison, and it's filled with potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, house spices and topped with a balsamic glaze. It's served with whiskey baked beans and steamed vegetables for $15, says head bartender Justin Egbert.
City Cafe offers the dish every day for $12.45.
City Cafe, The Terminal, Karl's Family Restaurant and The Public House are included on a list of "The 15 Best Places for a Meatloaf in Chattanooga," at the Foursquare website.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6431.