The Scenic City has been cultivating a beautiful and delicious food scene for years. Access to farms, diverse talent and thriving population growth have resulted in some fabulous restaurants. Here are 12 spots to check out in Chattanooga.
AWARD-WINNERS
Little Coyote: The Michelin Guide came to Tennessee last year with the launch of the American South Edition. All three of Erik and Amanda Niel’s restaurants received a Michelin nod. Easy Bistro and Main Street Meats were both awarded with Michelin recommended status, while Little Coyote landed a prestigious Bib Gourmand award. The delineation recognizes innovative restaurants with accessible price points. Little Coyote is known for its tender, smoked barbecue; warm, daily-fresh tortillas; and creative cocktails.
Calliope: Chef and co-owner Khaled AlBanna is a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef: Southeast category. Calliope was also represented on The New York Times “50 Best” late last year. The menu is inspired by AlBanna’s Palestinian and Jordanian heritage, serving a seasonally rotating menu that has featured everything from falafels enveloped in preserved mango tahini to tender, juicy lamb shank with loaded, flavor-packed spiced rice, roz hashweh. Beverage director and co-owner Raven Humphrey creates complex cocktails that feature traditional spirits like anise-flavored arak.
Niedlov’s Bakery and Cafe: A semifinalist for the James Beard Award for outstanding bakery landed on a list with 19 other bakeries from around the country. Niedlov’s has been in Chattanooga since 2002 and was purchased by husband-and-wife team Erik and Lauren Zilen in 2015. The bakery is known for artisan bread, pastries and slow-fermented pizza dough, along with serving as a cornerstone in the Chattanooga restaurant scene as the Zilens support many local farms and businesses.
The Rosecomb: The Michelin Guide also recommended Chloe Wright and Ryan Smith’s charming bar and restaurant, which is located in a historic bungalow with a spacious garden in the North Shore neighborhood. Their menu hails from Appalachian-inspired ingredients and includes fresh seasonal salads and smashed potatoes covered in cheese, with half-off bottles of wine on Tuesdays.
LOCAL FAVORITES
Keystone Breakfast and Lunch: Dom Santora and Alec Mason opened their grab-and-go restaurant last year, providing options for early-risers in the Scenic City. The menu offers everything from hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches to hoagies filled with spiced meats and an array of bright veggie sides and creamy house-made dips.
Old Man Rivers: This cozy restaurant by owner Alex Rivers and executive chef Andrew Millsap offers big heart and local, seasonal ingredients. Sit on the porch for brunch, or gather by the fireplace for the weekly changing dinner menu.
Little Venezuela: Marlon Lugo and his mother, Amarilys Blanco have been making crispy arepas chocked full of tender meat and cheeses along with yuca frita and tequenos.
Uncle Larry’s: This is an institution in Chattanooga. Larry Torrence has several locations around the city where you can order a tilapia sandwich with some slaw or perfectly fried catfish or a pork chop sandwich.
Ox2 Buns and Noodles: Sean Yang is the owner and chef of Ox2 which has taken the city by storm. Hand-pulled noodles, elastic, chewy and delicious. Steamed soup dumplings with seet and salty broth, rougamo with spiced beef and scallions. You cannot go wrong, everything on the menu is delicious.
Moe’s Soul Food BBQ: Owner Derryl Moore has owned Moe’s #1 Real BBQ SF Market since 2016. Moore said he cooks the wings in corn oil so they are perfectly crispy — the salty, crunchy exterior of the fried chicken shattering over juicy meat. The turnip greens are melt-in-your-mouth good, and, with the addition of hot sauce, they truly captured all five flavor profiles in one bite — sweetness, saltiness, slight bitterness of the greens, sourness with the tang of the hot sauce and umami.
ON THE MOVE
Oui Oui Boulangerie: Parisian baker Johann Tremor gained a devoted following last year as he introduced the Scenic City to his handmade, authentic French baguettes, canelés, croissants and pastries. He sold those delicacies through his bread subscription program while in preparation for opening a boulangerie. You can find goods from Oui Oui at Studio Ours, Petal and Pour and now in Tremor’s own brick-and-mortar: Casa Cool x Oui Oui Boulangerie at 338 E. Main St.
Wei To Go: In Chattanooga, the humble little food truck Wei To Go serves piping hot bowls of gu lao pork, sweet pineapples mixed with crunchy bell peppers, and spicy Sichuan popcorn chicken with hot chili flakes and peanuts bejewelling the dish. Find them online or on Instagram to see where their next pop-up location is.
Contact restaurants reporter Lyric Lewin at llewin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6216.
