Goat cheese and mushroom strudel at Mountain Cove Grill. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)More Info
MOUNTAIN COVE GRILLAddress: 1010 Dougherty Gap Road, Chickamauga, Ga.Hours: Thursday and Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday through Wednesday.Phone: 706-539-1511
From the pastoral farmlands and Appalachian foothills that surround Mountain Cove Grill to the restaurant’s minimalism-meets-bucolic interior design, “We’re trying to make a statement out here,” chef Calli Stoker said of the Chickamauga, Ga., restaurant.
Ambiance aside, Mountain Cove Grill is all about elevated eats, with a menu that specializes in both country classics and fusion fare. For example, two of the restaurant’s most popular dishes are the sausage and gravy – Calli’s specialty, for which the secret ingredients are patience and love, she said – and the shrimp and grits, made with an Asian jalapeño sauce. But now, as the summer winds down, Mountain Cove’s kitchen is shifting focus.
“We’re trying to go more on the fresh side of things,” Calli said.
Every week, Mountain Cove now features a different fish special. Past examples include trout, rockfish, Alaskan flounder and red snapper, to name a few. After her 14 years of culinary experience, Calli said she appreciates the challenge of creating a new dish every week.