The word “brunch” has been around for nearly 130 years, Merriam-Webster tells us. Late nineteenth-century Chattanoogans were eating steamed cracked wheat, broiled tomatoes, biscuits, ham toast and eggs for breakfast, according to an 1898 issue of The Chattanooga Daily Times. In 1900, the Daily Times often ran ads for Mother’s Oats, with the motto “wholesome, palatable and easily prepared.”
Today’s Chattanooga has swapped the wholesome porridge of the past for cheesecake-stuffed brioche French toast and breakfast burgers. In the last decade, a plethora of Chattanooga-area restaurants have added extravagant weekend brunch menus and booze specials to their repertoire. We’ve listed as many as we could fit on the page.
(READ MORE: More Chattanooga restaurants turning their attention to brunch)
BRUNCH ON A BUDGET
Big Chill and Grill
Menu highlights: Monte Cristo, Belgian Chocolate Chip Waffle, Shrimp and Grits
Best brunch drinks: $3 mimosas, poinsettias, bellinis, Chambulls; $4 frozen sangria, sangria swirl, Bloody Marys
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 103 Cherokee Blvd., Suite 1A, North Shore
More info: bigchillchatt.com
Southside Social
Menu highlights: Flying Scrambler, Waffle Delicioso, Grits Bowl
Best brunch drinks: $2 mimosas, $5 Top Tomato Bloody Marys
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 1818 Chestnut St., Southside
More info: thesouthsidesocial.com
HiFi Clyde’s
Menu highlights: Alabama BBQ Biscuit, Sunday Funday Torta, Country Benny
Best brunch drinks: $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas, Brunch Punch Love
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 122 W. Main St., Southside
More info: hificlydeschattanooga.com
Just Love Coffee Cafe
Menu highlights: Breakfast Taco Plate, Spinach Feta Womelette, Nanna’s Cinn Rolls
Best brunch drinks (non-alcoholic): Toffee Coffee, Strawberry Cloud, Watermelon Crawl
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m; Sunday, 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. (brunch served daily)
Location: 67 E. 4th St., Downtown
More info: justlovecoffeecafe.com/tn-chattanooga
FANCY BRUNCH
Old Gilman Grill
Menu highlights: Vegetable Omelet, Chicken and Waffles, Croissant Beignets
Best brunch drinks: Mimosa Bottle, Bloody Mary
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: 216 W 8th St., West Village
More info: oldgilmangrill.com
Forge Chattanooga (in The Chattanoogan Hotel)
Menu Highlights: Bourbon Pecan French Toast, Strawberry Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes, Whipped Feta Avocado Toast
Best brunch drinks: Bloody Mary, mimosa
Brunch hours: Sunday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon
Location: 1201 Broad St., Downtown
More info: theforgechattanooga.com
Civil Provisions and Bar
Menu highlights: Civil Sammy, Oatmeal Brulee, Steak & Eggs
Best brunch drinks: Best Behavior, Legendary Mary, Sweet Dreams (mocktail)
Brunch hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 720 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain
More info: civilprovisions.com
INSTAGRAMMABLE BRUNCH
Milk & Honey
Menu highlights: Fig & Prosciutto Toast, Rosé Waffles, Hodgepodge Hash
Best brunch drinks (non-alcoholic): Lavender Honey Latte, Dr. Feel Good juice, Ginger Peach Tea
Brunch hours: Daily, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kitchen closes at 3 p.m.; coffee and gelato served until 6 p.m.
Location: 135 North Market St., North Shore
More info: milkandhoneychattanooga.com
Hello Monty
Menu highlights: Monty Egg Wrap, Sweet Tea Brined Chicken Sandwich, Vegan Coconut Parfait
Best brunch drinks: Strawberry Limeade, Monty Martini, Southside Royale
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 306 W Main St., Southside
More info: hellomontyonmain.com
Frothy Monkey
Menu highlights: Vanilla-Cinnamon French Toast, Julie Bagel, Cali Toast
Best brunch drinks: Irish Coffee, FM Bloody Mary, Aperol Spritz
Brunch hours: Daily until 5 p.m.
Location: 1400 Market St., Southside
More info: frothymonkey.com/locations/southside-chattanooga-tn
Contributed photos / A variety of brunch menu items at The RosecombHIDDEN BRUNCH GEMS
The Rosecomb (21+ at all times)
Menu highlights: Grilled Coffee Cake, Catfish Sando, Huevos Rancheros
Best brunch drinks: Rabbit Rush, Florist Gump, Loose Agenda
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: 921 Barton Ave., North Chattanooga
More info: rosecombbar.com
Many gluten-free options are available.
SideTrack Restaurant
Menu highlights: Eggs in Purgatory, Quiche Lorraine, Biscuits & Gravy
Best brunch drinks: Pimms Cup, Hugo Spritz, Draft Espresso Martini
Brunch hours: Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 3514 Hixson Pike, North Chattanooga
More info: sidetrackhere.com
Elsie’s Daughter
Menu highlights: Chilaquiles, Salmon Benedict, Sirloin Hash
Best brunch drinks: Nightshade, Featherbells, Sweet Leaf
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 1404 Rossville Ave., Southside
More info: elsiesdaughters.com
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Margarita and mimosa flights at Ruby SunshineBOOZY BRUNCH
Ruby Sunshine
Menu highlights: Sweet Heat Chicken, French Toast Bites, Berry Chantilly Pancakes
Best brunch drinks: Bacon Bloody Mary, Sazerac Sipper, Boozy Iced Coffee
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends (brunch available at all times)
Location: 405 Market St., Downtown
More info: rubybrunch.com/location/chattanooga
STIR
Menu highlights: Oysters, Baja Omelette, Lobster Crab Cake Breakfast
Best brunch drinks: Mimosa Mason Jar, Wild Moon Child, Flower Power
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: 1444 Market St., Southside
More info: stirchattanooga.com
Bitter Alibi
Menu highlights: The Ol’ Standby, The Cumberbatch, Brunch Burger
Best brunch drinks: Dirty Drunken Chai, Mean Green Martini Machine, Peach Fuzz
Brunch hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 825 Houston St., Downtown
More info: thebitteralibi.com
Outpost Bar & Restaurant
Menu highlights: Breakfast Burrito, Trout and Grits, Breakfast Sandwich
Best brunch drinks: Appalachian Vacation, Tom Collins, Ginger Vortex
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 342 East Main St., Southside
More info: outpostcha.com
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Tupelo Honey’s Cathead BiscuitSOUTHERN SPIN
Tupelo Honey
Menu highlights: Mac-n-Cheese Waffles with Asheville Hot Fried Chicken, Smoked Salmon Grit Cake and Eggs, Avocado Sunrise Scramble
Best brunch drinks: Mimosa flight, Not Another Espresso Martini, Peach Don’t Kill My Vibe
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (brunch served all day)
Location: 1110 Market St., Suite 121, Downtown
More info: tupelohoneycafe.com/restaurant/chattanooga
1885 Grill
Menu highlights: N.C. Rainbow Trout Hash, Breakfast Croissant Sandwich, Bananas Foster Waffle
Best brunch drinks: Blueberry Mojito, Strawberry Smash, Dirty Elmo
Brunch hours: St. Elmo: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Ooltewah: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Locations: 3914 St. Elmo Ave., St. Elmo; 9469 Bradmore Lane, Suite 101, Ooltewah
More info: 1885grill.com
Feed Co. Table & Tavern
Menu highlights: Strawberry Short Stack, The Company Benedict, Short Ribs & Grits (Sunday only)
Best brunch drinks: Cereal Killer, Frozen Head & Struggle Bus Bloody Mary, Peach Moon
Brunch hours: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 201 West Main St., Southside
More info: feedtableandtavern.com
ETHNIC BRUNCH
State of Confusion (Latin American, New Orleans, Carolina Lowcountry cuisines)
Menu highlights: Traditional Muffuletta, Peruvian Ceviche, Chicken Fried Chicken & Eggs
Best brunch drinks: $3 double mimosas, $18 mimosa carafe, $6 aguas frescas mimosas, $20 aguas frescas mimosa carafe, $5 Bloody Marys
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: 301 E Main St., Southside
More info: soconfusion.com
Mayan Kitchen (Latin cuisine)
Menu highlights: Benedictos (Eggs Benedict with a twist), The Mayan Skillet, Huevos con Chorizo
Best brunch drinks: Tequila flight, margaritas, sangria
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 507 Broad St., Downtown
More info: mayankitchen.com
Lakeshore Grille (French cuisine)
Menu highlights: Filet Mignon Benedict, Cheddar Crab Omelette, Brunch Burger
Best brunch drinks: $4 mimosas, $12 mimosa carafes, $6 Bloody Marys
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: 5600 Lake Resort Terrace, Hixson
More info: lakeshoregrille.com/index.html
Embargo 62 / El Embargo (Cuban Cuisine)
Menu highlights: Breakfast Empanadas, Cuban Sloppy Joe, Torrejas (Cuban French toast)
Best brunch drinks: The Sweet Cubana, Not Abuela’s Cafe, Bikini Mimosa (Almost Bottomless)
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 301 Cherokee Blvd., North Shore
More info: el-embargochatt.com
Massey’s Kitchen (Mediterranean Cuisine)
Menu highlights: Breakfast Pizza, Banana Walnut Pancakes, Over Easy Burger
Best brunch drinks: $5 Bloody Marys, $2 double mimosa, $12 Mimosa Jar
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: 826 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain
More info: masseyskitchen.com
Stevarino’s Italian Eatery and Pub (Italian Cuisine)
Menu highlights: Sister Schubert’s Casserole, Breakfast Pizza, Brunch Panini
Best brunch drinks: Struggle Bus Bloody Mary, Groovy Mimosa
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 325 Cherokee Blvd. #100
More info: stevarinos.com
COZY BRUNCH
The Daily Ration
Menu highlights: Balsamic Avocado Toast, Brunch Salad, Fried Chicken & Grits
Best brunch drinks: Eldermosa, Chai Delight, Virgin Mojito
Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with daily brunch
Location: 1220 Dartmouth St., North Chattanooga
More info: thedailyrationchattanooga.com
Old Man Rivers Table & Tavern
Menu highlights: Heart-Shaped Biscuits and Gravy, Verlasso Salmon, The Crabby Patty
Brunch specials: Rotating Belgian Waffle, Rotating Omelette (changes each week)
Best brunch drinks: Mimosa (flavor rotates each week; examples include cucumber lime, pomegranate lemon, mango pineapple), Struggle Bus Bloody Mary, Irish Coffee
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 118 Cross St., North Chattanooga
More info: oldmanriverschatt.com
HEARTY BRUNCH
First Watch
Menu highlights: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Elevated Egg Sandwich, Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl
Best brunch drinks (non-alcoholic): Mint Mocha Iced Coffee, Blazing Dragon juice, Kale Tonic Fresh Juice
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Locations: Hixson, North Shore, Gunbarrel
More Info: firstwatch.com
Staff photos by Matt Hamilton / Avocado toast, the Jack Benny and other brunch menu items at Big Bad BreakfastBig Bad Breakfast
Menu highlights: Fried Oyster Scramble “Hangtown Style,” Creole Omelet, Biscuit “Crumble”
Best brunch drinks: Fresh Squeezed Screwdriver, Breakfast Margarita, Manmosa
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., (Brunch served all day, every day)
Location: 313 Manufacturers Road, Suite 119, North Shore
More info: bigbadbreakfast.com/locations/chattanooga
Mike’s Tavern
Menu highlights: Whiskey Berry French Toast, Chicken Salad Croissant, Crab Benedict
Best brunch drinks: $2 champagne and mimosas, $5.50 build-your-own Bloody Mary
Brunch Hours: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 5211 Highway 153, Suite 103, Hixson
More info: mikestaverntn.com
Maple Street Biscuit Company
Menu highlights: Sticky Maple Biscuit Sandwich, Bluegrass Grits Bowl, Squawking Goat
Best brunch drinks: The Sunrise Mimosa, Berry Fields Mimosa, Peach-Berry Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Locations: Downtown, Gunbarrel
More info: maplestreetbiscuits.com
Contributed photo / The view from Scottie’s On The RiverBRUNCH WITH A VIEW
Scottie’s On The River
Menu highlights: Lobster Reuben, Pork Chop & Eggs, Fried Chicken & French Toast
Best brunch drinks: Build-your-own Bloody Mary and mimosa bar, margaritas, Raspberry Champagne Mojito
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 491 Riverfront Parkway, Downtown
More info: scottiesnontheriver.net
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Whitebird’s Nooga BennieWhitebird
Menu highlights: Prosciutto & Egg, Peach Crepes, Nooga Bennie
Best brunch drinks: Bucket of Bubbles, Scarlet Ibis, Italian Finch
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 102 Walnut Street, Downtown
More info: whitebirdchattanooga.com
CLASSIC BREAKFAST
Farm To Fork
Menu Highlights: Chocolate Chip Pancake Platter, Strawberry Pecan Waffle, Smoked Java Brisket Omelet
Best breakfast drinks (non-alcoholic): Mango sweet tea, cherry tea, orange juice
Breakfast hours: 7 to 10:30 a.m.
Location: 120 General Lee Dr., Ringgold
More info: farmtoforkga.com
Aretha Frankensteins
Menu highlights: Fat Stack, Elephants Gerald, Super Dave Scramble
Best breakfast drinks: Irish Cue-Ball, Irish 8-Ball, Shot in the Dark! (non-alcoholic)
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (breakfast served at all times)
Location: 518 Tremont St., North Chattanooga
More info: arethas.com
Kenny’s
Menu highlights: Croque Madame, Breakfast Burrito, Avocado Toast
Best breakfast drinks (non-alcoholic): Mocha, cappuccino, apple juice
Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 1251 Market St., Downtown
More info: kennyssandwiches.com
The Co-Op Frosé & Eatery
Menu highlights: The Classic Egg, Whipped Ricotta Toast, Meat Lovers’ Sandwich
Breakfast hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Best brunch drinks: Frosé! (Rotating flavors include such greats as habanero lime, prickly pear, Big Orange Crush, strawberry OG, wild raspberry, peach mango)
Location: 1301 Dorchester Road, Suite 109, North Chattanooga
More info: thecoopsi.com/location/chattanooga
Bluegrass Grill
Menu highlights: Mediterranean Frittata, Pesto Omelet, Cilantro Lime Hash
Best breakfast drinks (non-alcoholic): Cold brew from Mad Priest, chai tea, hot apple cider
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (breakfast all day)
Location: 55 East Main St., Southside
More info: bluegrassgrillchattanooga.com
VEGGIE-FRIENDLY BRUNCH
Sluggo’s
Menu highlights: Tofu Scramble, Summer Squash Omelet, Vegan BLT Sandwich Plate
Best brunch drinks: Mimosa, Vegan White Russian, Merciful Mule
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 505 Cherokee Ave., North Shore
More info: sluggos.weebly.com
Honey Seed
Menu highlights: French Toast, Smoked Salmon Benedict, Baja Omelet
Best brunch drinks: Strawberry Mint Lemonade Mimosa, Mango Jalapeño Margarita, Peach Bellini
Brunch hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: 1705 Market St., Southside
More info: honeyseedchatt.com
Southern Squeeze
Menu highlights: Morning Shred Bowl, Elvis Waffle, Bangin’ Bagel
Best brunch drinks (non-alcoholic): The Saint Smoothie, Strawberry Lemonade, Southern Gentleman Smoothie
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (breakfast available all day, except waffles available only until 3 p.m.)
Location: 1301 Dorchester Road, Suite 101, North Chattanooga
More info: southernsqueeze.com
THE BUSINESS OF BRUNCH
Local
Chattanooga restaurateur Jason Bowers owns Bitter Alibi, Daily Ration, Civil Provisions and other local establishments. When Bowers opened Bitter Alibi a decade ago, he says there weren’t many places for brunch in the Scenic City. He added a brunch menu to the dive bar a year after opening.
Bowers says brunch was a fun way to be creative with food and reimagine the menu’s Latin American and Asian-influenced dinner favorites into a brunch menu.
“We always say, ‘Put an egg on it, and it’s brunch,'” he says.
A few years later, Bowers further immersed himself in the brunch scene when he opened Daily Ration, which mainly serves breakfast and lunch.
Brunch can be great for restaurant staff, he explains, because the crew working brunch can be home by mid-afternoon with similar financial success as servers working a dinner rush at a fancy restaurant.
“It’s a huge revenue boost for us at Daily Ration,” Bowers says.
Preparing the food for brunch, however, can be a bit of a pitfall, he adds.
Bowers says deciding what to bring in for the morning menu can be hard because the materials for brunch don’t sell well in the evening, so they must be used for that meal only. He doesn’t want to over-purchase, but he also wants to differentiate it from the weekday menu.
“Yes, it can be a little headache to have a separate menu, but you give people a price point that’s a bit more approachable,” Bowers says. “Most restaurant people have a love-hate relationship with it because nobody wants to get up on Saturday or Sunday morning, but we try to make it fun.”
(READ MORE: Chattanooga area restaurant owner’s ventures climbing to six)
Chloe Wright opened The Rosecomb in June of 2021 and introduced brunch to the Chattanooga bar and restaurant in February of 2022. At first, the bar was closed on Sundays, but Wright, her husband and their small team soon sacrificed their day off to hop on the brunch train.
Ingredient overlap, hours spent preparing deviled eggs (a Rosecomb staple) and having bacon on hand for both the dinner and brunch menus are critical parts of the business’s brunch mechanism, Wright says.
Wright has Celiac disease, so she has to be creative with her menu. Rosecomb has gluten-free waffles and coffee cake for brunch that she says most people can’t tell apart from a regular waffle or coffee cake.
“Everything that’s on our menu is either inherently gluten-free or can be made gluten-free,” Wright says.
Franchise
Tupelo Honey, originally founded in Asheville, NC, in 2000, now has over 20 locations across the country —including the downtown Chattanooga location. For over two decades, the brunch menu was only served on Saturdays and Sundays. This year, Tupelo Honey started to offer brunch every day because the items reminiscent of weekend brunch were outperforming lunch items even on weekdays, according to Amanda Stevens, senior director of marketing for the franchise.
“Brunch is definitely our busiest day part,” Stevens says in an email. “Brunch is — and always has been — our bread [biscuit?] and butter.”