Billy Sparks, director of food and beverage services for See Rock City Inc., opens one of the many umberellas at Cafe 7 on the bluff at the popular Lookout Mountain attraction.Lover’s Leap may soon become where lovers eat.
Rock City is adding an upscale restaurant that will serve Southern dishes on top of Lover’s Leap. Scheduled to open April 11, Cafe 7 includes only outdoor seating — patio chairs and tables are perched on the edge of the cliff where visitors aim to see seven states.
“The idea we came up with was to focus on regional food, by playing on the idea of the seven states and serving Southern food, but with a modern twist,” said Billy Sparks, director of food and beverage for See Rock City Inc. “It’s light; it’s fresh; it’s local.”
The restaurant will seat about 75 people and be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The space also will be available to rent for private parties, receptions and weddings.
Rock City built Cafe 7 in three phases over the past three years, director of operations Jeff Raabe said. The renovation work included expanding the patio and adding a 700-square-foot kitchen. The company spent about $1 million on the entire project.