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Boccaccia Italian Restaurant

July 27, 2016

Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It’s a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner!
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Philip and I celebrated 15 years of wedded bliss on July 14! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years. Time really does pass so quickly, though I alternate feeling like we just started dating yesterday (because, you know, I was just a junior in college yesterday) and feeling like we’ve been together forever – because I’ve spent nearly half of my life with him.

Regular Chattavore readers know that we usually gravitate toward restaurants that serve bar food or diner food. Special occasions call for something a little more, well, special. We narrowed our choices for this anniversary down to three, ultimately deciding on Boccaccia, which Philip didn’t even know existed. Located in the Southern Saddlery building on South Broad Street, it’s certainly well-hidden. For those of you who don’t know, it’s on the south end of the building, on the side. There is pretty clear signage once you get there, and you can park in the lot right outside (there’s more parking in the back if that’s full).

We’re pretty paranoid so we made reservations even though we planned to arrive right when they opened at 5:30 (we’re basically elderly). The hostess told us it’s never a bad idea, as some days fill up faster than others. This day, we were the first into Boccaccia and were seated at a table for two in the corner of their dimly lit dining room. The hostess lit a candle in the center of the table for us and Chloe, our server, quickly greeted us and took our drink order. They didn’t have much of a beer selection and we don’t drink wine (sorry, wine lovers) so we both opted for water.

There are several appetizers, including prosciutto e melon (parma prosciutto and fresh melon), calamari fritti (fried calamari), and cozze en guazzetto (steam mussels in white wine lemon sauce with fresh herbs). We are big bruschetta lovers, though, so we decided on their version with buffalo mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, olive oil, and basil oil on grilled bread. The roasted tomatoes made a sort of salsa that was spread on the bread then topped with thick slices of the tender, mild, and slightly sweet buffalo mozzarella. The drizzle of oils on top added a nice flavor and, in my opinion, the flavor from the char on the grilled bread completed this appetizer.
Boccaccia
We each decided on a salad. Philip, of course, decided to go with his standard Caesar salad, while I chose the insalata di spinachi e arugula, which is a spinach and arugula salad with sun-dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, and lemon vinaigrette dressing. Philip’s Caesar salad was topped with housemade croutons and lots of thin slivers of salty fresh Parmesan cheese. His only complaint was that he would have liked for it to have more dressing. My salad was packed with fresh greens, dried cranberries, pungent gorgonzola, and toasted walnuts as well as a few grape tomatoes. The tart lemon vinaigrette was a great finish.
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Since Boccaccia is, obviously, an Italian restaurant, I knew that I wanted to order pasta. I was torn between the lasagnette Emiliana (lasagna with fresh pasta, béchamel, and meat sauce)($15) or the ravioli spinachi e formaggi (ravioli with spinach and a cheese blend, sautéed with brown butter, sage, and tomatoes)($18). Chloe told me that while the lasagna was delicious, her recommendation would be the ravioli. That was my first instinct anyway, so I decided to go with it. It was a generous portion of freshly made raviolis with a flavorful filling of creamy cheese and spinach. The brown butter sauce had a mild sage flavor and the tomatoes were a nice finish. A blanket of fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top complemented the whole dish perfectly. I found that the crusty bread that Chloe brought to our table was perfect for dipping into the brown butter sauce (though the herbed oil that came with it was also fantastic).
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Philip considered getting pasta as well, but he could not take him mind off of the filetto rossini, filet mignon covered with foie gras and a brandy cream sauce with porcini mushrooms for $33. He ordered it medium-rare and asked that the asparagus on the side be subbed with green beans (he doesn’t much care for asparagus). It also came with a side of roasted potatoes. The potatoes were roasted to a crisp and the green beans were just tender and perfectly seasoned. The filet…well, you might not expect much from a filet served at an Italian restaurant, but Philip declared it the best filet he’d ever had. It was thick and yet managed to be perfectly cooked through to a beautiful medium-rare finish. The knife cut through it like butter, and the foie gras and mushroom cream sauce provided a perfect rich highlight to the flavor of the meat.
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
To finish, there were several options, including tiramisu, lemon sorbet, and vanilla creme brûlée, which was our decision. The irony of ordering a French dessert in an Italian restaurant was not lost on us, but our dinner, our decision, right? It was a decent portion of creme brûlée, enough for us to share. The top was burnished to a candy-like crisp and sprinkled with powdered sugar. The custard was creamy and rich with vanilla flavor. It was tasty but I wouldn’t say it’s the best I’ve ever had (that honor still belongs to the now-defunct Chato Brasserie).
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Boccaccia is a beautiful atmosphere and we got wonderful service. There were plenty of people there by the time that we left, so it seems that they are doing a good business. The prices are on par with other similar restaurants – our total for an appetizer, two salads, ravioli, filet, and a dessert was 85.82 pre-tip. For us, Boccaccia is a special occasion restaurant, but we would love to go back. By the way, Boccaccia offers free pasta and dessert on your birthday (you must show your ID, and if your birthday falls on Sunday when they are closed, you can go the day before or the day after).

For a wonderful special dinner, give Boccaccia Italian restaurant a try!

Boccaccia is located at 3077 South Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37408. They are open Monday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. They are closed Sundays. You can call Boccaccia at (423) 266-2930. For more information, check out Boccaccio’s website. There is a Facebook page devoted to Boccaccia but it does not appear to be an official page.

Boccaccia Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
Boccaccia is a beautiful Italian restaurant located in Downtown Chattanooga. It's a wonderful stop for a special occasion dinner! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Filed Under: By Location, By Type, Downtown Chattanooga, Italian & Pizza, Restaurants By Mary // Chattavore 4 Comments

Full Moon Chattanooga (American Burger & Bar)

July 20, 2016

Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga’s North Shore, near Coolidge Park.
Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
You guys know me…I love a good burger, and any time that I see a new restaurant featuring burgers I get pretty excited. When I first saw the sign for Full Moon American Burger & Bar on the corner of Frazier Avenue and Market Street, I was intrigued; even more so when I read that it was owned by Krist Biba, owner of Hixson’s Italian restaurant, Biba’s.

Full Moon Chattanooga opened in May, but I wanted to give them a little time to work out any kinks in their service before we went in. We went for a visit late on a Saturday afternoon. Arriving at around 4 p.m., well past any lunch crowd but before the dinner rush, we were seated immediately. One server, Tyler (I think it was Tyler? Or maybe it was Taylor?) started us off with drinks and an appetizer then another server, Robert, took over from there.

Of course, the first thing that Philip noticed about Full Moon Chattanooga was the extensive line of beer taps behind the bar. In fact, he sat where he could face them. The beer list is impressive, but be warned: the  Full Moon lager is not a specially brewed craft beer. It’s Keystone Light. Funny.?Anyway, Philip ordered a North Coast Scrimshaw and was happy as a lark.

There are quite a few appetizers on the menu here at Full Moon American Burger and Bar. House made kettle chips, topped with bacon & cheese…Philly cheesesteak egg rolls…pretzels or pork rinds with beer cheese…and several more. You guys know I had to go for the fried pickles, though. The fried pickles were pickle chips, breaded and fried to golden, served with horseradish sauce, for $5.95. They were tasty but maybe a little too salty. The horseradish sauce was just slightly spicy; the horseradish lent flavor but not so much heat.
Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
The menu is further divided into salads & soups, burgers, pizzetas, sandwiches, and desserts. While I considered a Philly Cheesesteak, I ultimately decided that I came for a burger, so a burger I would get. The BBQ bacon cheeseburger sounded pretty tempting, and I had a good laugh at the Werewolf – a burger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches (I would never order that – I’d probably not be able to eat even a quarter of it!). I decided on the patty melt ($9.95), with Swiss cheese and grilled onions on grilled marble rye bread, with chips as my side.
Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
The burger was pretty large (I could only eat half) and cooked to my specifications. The onions were a little more crunchy than I prefer for my grilled onions, but they were a little sweet and pretty tasty. The Swiss cheese was melted nicely. I would have liked for the sandwich to have a sauce (patty melts frequently have a Thousand Island-style sauce). The bread was grilled with butter and was nicely crunchy. The house cut chips were a nice thickness, very crispy with no soft or soggy chips in there, and perfectly seasoned.

Philip thought about getting the Mediterranean Links, grilled veal and beef sausages on pita bread with homemade vegetable spread, feta cheese, and onions. He decided to go for a burger too, though, so he got a classic cheeseburger ($8.95) with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles, with bison instead of ground beef ($3.00 upcharge). He ordered fries as his side.
Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
We were amused by the fact that the burgers are branded – as in, the top of the bun is seared with a branding iron. There was a proper amount of toppings on the burger – not overdone. The condiments are on the table so you add your own. The burger was nicely cooked, well seasoned, and had a good flavor to it. I am pretty sure that the fries were frozen, but they were the kind that are battered so they’re extra crispy – pretty tasty.

The prices were on par with similar restaurants. Philip got a “tall” beer, which turned out to be $8.50 (!), so don’t cringe when I tell you that our total pre-tip was $37.89 (remember we got an appetizer too). The burgers were good – not the best we’ve ever had (for that info, check out my top ten burgers list), but definitely tasty. The drink menu is good, so it’s definitely a good spot for tourists or locals alike looking for a drink spot. The atmosphere is pretty cool and our server, Robert, was very friendly and helpful.

Give Full Moon Chattanooga a try and tell me what you thought.

Full Moon American Burger and Bar is located at 61 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405. They are open Monday – Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. You can call them at 423-521-6666 or email them at info@fullmoon.com. You can find more information about Full Moon Chattanooga on their website, www.fullmoon.bar or their Facebook page. You can also follow them on Twitter (@fullmoonburger) or Instagram (@fullmoon.bar).
Full Moon Chattanooga, AKA Full Moon American Burger & Bar, is a burger joint and bar on Chattanooga's North Shore, near Coolidge Park. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Full Moon Burgers and Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: bars/pubs, downtown Chattanooga restaurants, sandwich/burger/hot dog restaurants By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

Roy’s Grill (Rossville)

July 13, 2016

Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Roy’s Grill was an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934 (with a few breaks along the way). Sadly, they closed just a few weeks after I published this post.
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
For many years, we really never went to Rossville Boulevard or beyond. There just wasn’t much to see there, as far as we were concerned. No dresses to be bought at the (now defunct) LaDean Shop or plasma to be donated at CSL. That area of town might as well have not existed; it never even entered our minds.

Then came Beverage World. I have no idea how long Beverage World has existed next to Big Lots in Fort Oglethorpe, but we’ve been going there for the last 3 years on Philip’s quest to try as many types of craft beer as possible. As we’ve driven down Rossville Boulevard so many times over the last few years, we’ve noticed Roy’s Grill, the cute little old-school diner right past where Rossville Blvd turns into Chickamauga Avenue, just over the state line, many times. Of course, it’s usually not open when we drive by.
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Last week, Philip wanted to check for a specific beer at Beverage World, so we decided to try out Roy’s Grill. We arrived at around 11:45 on a Wednesday afternoon, parking in the lot for Roy’s Grill customers behind the restaurant. As we walked up, we could smell the tell-tale scent of burgers searing on a flat-top griddle, always a good sign. We entered through the back door, into the dining room, and were greeted by Anita, who told us we could sit anywhere we wanted, including downstairs at the bar. We decided to go for the bar.

Once we chose a couple of bar stools (we were the only folks down there at the moment), we were greeted by Anna Sue, who took our drink order. Philip ordered a chocolate malt ($3.75) and she quickly set to making that for him, right in front of us at the counter using a classic milkshake mixer. The malts and milkshakes are served in a footed glass with the mixing cup alongside it…plus two straws in case I wanted to drink some. I have to say, Anna Sue makes a pretty impressive malt. Chocolatey and bitter with malt, just the way we like it.
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
I had heard great things about the burgers at Roy’s Grill so I knew that I had to give one a try. Since I didn’t need a half-pound of meat on a super-sized bun (i.e. the Super Burger), I decided to go with the junior burger, a 1/4-pound patty on a soft bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and mustard ($4.75). I omitted the onion, of course, and added cheese ($.70) and bacon ($1.80). The burgers are served with house-made chips, or you can get crinkle cut fries or onion rings. I went with the chips, because you all know I love homemade chips, but saw another customer with some fantastic looking onion rings and decided I would try those next time.
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
The burger was the perfect size for my appetite, and it was topped perfectly. The condiments and vegetables were portioned well so they didn’t overwhelm the burger or make it difficult to eat. The cook on the burger was perfect – a nice crust on the outside but still tender and juicy on the inside – and the American cheese was lightly melted but not gooey. The chips were perfect – thinly cut, crispy brown, and perfectly seasoned. This was a fantastic, classic burger meal.

Philip contemplated getting the Reuben, but ultimately decided to go with the meatloaf special, which Anna Sue enthusiastically encouraged. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the menu board with the vegetable specials listed, but I didn’t think about it. The special comes with two or three vegetables, your choice. Philip decided to go with the white beans, mashed potatoes and gravy (made from scratch), and fried okra (hand breaded) ($10.45).
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
This was definitely a generous portion of food. The meatloaf was a little chunky with onions and green peppers, but not overly so, with a thick layer of ketchup on top (I prefer ketchup-topped meatloaf to tomato sauce or gravy-topped meatloaf). It was well-cooked – cooked through but still tender, not tough or overcooked. I didn’t try the white beans (I don’t eat them…a little too mushy for me), but Philip said they were very tasty. The mashed potatoes were creamy and kind of “mid-thick” – not stiff but not runny – with a nicely seasoned brown gravy. The fried okra was some of the best we’ve had in a restaurant. The breading was more of a batter, perfectly seasoned with what I thought was sort of a buttermilk flavor, and the okra is deep-fried to a perfect crisp. The meal was served with a square of cornbread, which is Southern-style (i.e. not sweet), soft but not too crumbly.
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
The thing that impressed me most about Roy’s Grill was the employees. Anna Sue (on the left) and April chatted with us and every other customer without being intrusive. They were so friendly and enthusiastic. As each customer came in, they were quickly greeted. Many were obviously regulars, as one of the ladies would hand them a drink without even needing to ask what they’d be having. The atmosphere at Roy’s Grill like a homey throwback to a different era. The prices were good too. Pre-tip, our total was $22.95 for a whole lot of food PLUS a malt.

Roy’s had been around since 1934 (though they were closed for several years during that time). When you walked in the door, you felt like you’d been transported back in time – in the best way. Sadly, in August of 2016, Roy’s Grill announced that they would be closing due to financial difficulties.

We would have loved to return to Roy’s Grill for some of their great food and atmosphere!

Roy’s Grill is located at 116 Chickamauga Avenue, Rossville, GA 30741. They are open Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can call them at 706-956-8317. You can learn more about Roy’s Grill (including their full menu) at www.roysgrill.us. You can find their daily specials listed on Roy’s Grill’s Facebook page.
Roy's Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
Roy's Grill is an institution on Chickamauga Avenue, having been around since 1934. One visit and it's easy to taste why they've lasted so long! | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Filed Under: Diners, North Georgia/Fort Oglethorpe, Restaurants Tagged With: CLOSED restaurants, diners, North Georgia restaurants By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

The Daily Ration (North Shore)

July 6, 2016

The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner.

A few months ago, news broke that the popular breakfast/lunch spot The Farmer’s Daughter would be shutting down as the owners moved on to other things. In its place, Bitter Alibi owners Matt Skudlarek and Jason Bowers would be opening a restaurant with the same hours and similar offerings, thus furthering their quest to take over Chattanooga (just kidding!). I saw a lot of people expressing distress on social media, not so much over the coming restaurant but over the closing of one of their favorite dining destinations.

I was pretty excited, though. I love The Bitter Alibi and had a feeling that these guys would bring the same awesomeness to this location (for the record, I loved The Farmer’s Daughter, too, but had no apprehension about Matt and Jason carrying on the great food and atmosphere). It didn’t take long for them to get the place up and running, but then, The Farmer’s Daughter was a fairly new restaurant, so I guess there wasn’t a lot of work to be done, at least as far as getting the space ready for diners.

We dropped in around lunch time on a Wednesday. There were several tables occupied but we didn’t have any trouble finding a table. Menus adorn the tables and a drink menu sits right in the middle. The space is open and airy, with lots of wood and a coffee bar to serve those who come in bleary-eyed and in need of caffeine (they serve Velo coffee, so I was certainly tempted, but talked myself out of a coffee soda or iced coffee).

The Daily Ration menu is small (both in physical size and in number of offerings), with 12 breakfast items on the front and 7 sandwiches, a handful of sides, and several a la carte items on the back. The items on the menu seemed like sort of a mix of the items offered on The Bitter Alibi’s brunch menu and the items offered by The Farmer’s Daughter. Corned beef hash, ham and eggs, a DIY omelette, and avocado toast were just a few of the items available on the breakfast menu. The sandwich menu included a nod to the Bitter Alibi (The Bitter Alibi burger), a pimento cheese sandwich, a traditional Reuben, and a beet Reuben, which the lady at the table next to us was eating. It was very…beety.

The belly BLT, with tomato jam, Bibb lettuce, and aioli on a challah bun, was almost too much for me to bear, but in the end I decided to go a little less traditional and ordered the Asian breakfast bowl. At $10, the Asian breakfast bowl starts with a base of white rice. The rice is topped with glazed pork belly (you can also choose tofu), house kimchi (which I got on the side), pickles, sesame seeds, and a soft boiled egg. This was a very well balanced dish, with the sweet stickiness of the glaze on the melt-in-your-mouth pork, the intense spiciness of the kimchi, the chewy rice, and the ooziness of the egg (which was actually a hair past soft-boiled), plus the sour bite of the thinly sliced pickles, which are also house made. It’s difficult to go wrong with pork belly (I mean really!) and everything in this bowl worked fabulously together.
The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
It’s difficult for Philip to pass up a good pancake, so as soon as he saw that their flapjacks ($7)were served with Bourbon maple syrup, his mind was made up. He added two eggs ($3), scrambled, and an order of bacon ($3) to round out his breakfast (well, brunch, since it was almost noon). The two buttermilk pancakes were huge, sprinkled with powdered sugar. They were soft, sweet but just a little salty, and tangy from the buttermilk. The maple syrup had just a hint of Bourbon flavor that amped up the interest factor a bit. The bacon was cooked well – crispy and chewy, as bacon should be – and the eggs were scrambled nicely, not overcooked or dried out.
The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
One of Philip’s friends went with us, and he ordered Granny’s chicken salad sandwich ($10). The chicken salad is made with mayonnaise, celery, and grapes and is served with lettuce and tomato on a challah bun. Sandwiches are served with your choice of side; he chose the kale salad, which was tossed in a vinaigrette and sprinkled with tomatoes and cheese. Now, I don’t know this friend well enough to eat off of his plate like Brian who went to Two Ten Jack with us, but I did take a picture of his food and interrogate him about it in the car (that’s just what you get when you dine out with me). He said that the chicken salad had a good amount of mayonnaise – not dry but not heavy – and that the flavors were good. He told me that he really enjoyed the kale salad.
The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
The Daily Ration is not The Farmer’s Daughter. The vibe isn’t the same, and I don’t really know how to describe how they are different. It’s not a bad thing that they are different, they’re just different. The food was just as good as any that I had at The Farmer’s Daughter. I read a couple of negative comments from Yelpers about service here (and one about butter – ha!) but you have to remember that The Daily Ration is still in its infancy and the servers are still getting their sea legs and learning the menu. Our server, Charlie, was awesome – friendly, helpful, and attentive. Our total for my breakfast bowl and Philip’s flapjacks, bacon, and eggs was $23.90 pre-tip. I would consider The Daily Ration’s prices to be on par with similar restaurants in this area of town.

If you’re looking for a new place in Chattanooga for breakfast/lunch (or dinner Thursday – Saturday) check out The Daily Ration!

The Daily Ration is located at 1220 Dartmouth Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405 (beside Tremont Tavern) and has its own parking lot. They are open for breakfast/lunch Tuesday – Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight. You can call them at 423-362-5070. You can find The Daily Ration on the internet at thedailyrationchattanooga.com. You can also like The Daily Ration on Facebook and follow @thedailyration on Instagram.
The Daily Ration Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
The Daily Ration is a new restaurant in the North Shore/River View area of Chattanooga that serves breakfast, lunch, and, on the weekends, dinner. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: breakfast restaurants, brunch restaurants, downtown Chattanooga restaurants By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

Southern Star Chattanooga

June 29, 2016

Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere.

There’s something deeply comforting about a traditional Southern meat-and-three restaurant. Daily specials scrawled (okay, carefully written) on a blackboard, friendly servers, homemade desserts, and a hometown feel make a place like this inherently cozy.

Southern Star Chattanooga is just such a place, except that you might imagine the traditional Southern meat-and-three being on the main street block of a small, sleepy town. Southern Star Chattanooga is…not. Instead, it’s located in Downtown Chattanooga. Arrive much past their opening time (11:00 a.m.) and you’ll have to wait for a table (and, perhaps, a parking space). We were lucky to get there by 11:15 last Wednesday, snagging one of the coveted “Star” spaces in the parking lot and a table near a window – and a blackboard.

Southern Star Chattanooga bustles with servers in their Southern Star t-shirts and big smiles. I’ve never had bad service there, and I’ve been there a lot. Our server, Cassidy, was no different, quickly taking our drink orders, delivering our gigantic tumblers of water, and answering our questions about the menu. The menu here is small, leaving lots of room for the specials. A handful of starters, a few salads and sandwiches (including a burger that used to be a special only), and just a smattering of entrees decorate the one-page menu. If you can’t find anything there, you are probably not out of luck.

That, of course, is because of the ample options on the blackboards. Daily, two meats, several homestyle vegetables, a quiche of the day, and several dessert specials will almost certainly yield something that will make your stomach grumble. Fried chicken and meatloaf topped the special board, followed by such vegetables as mashed potatoes with (brown) gravy, fried yellow squash, garden peas, white beans, kale salad, and collard greens. The quiche of the day was broccoli cheddar, and desserts such as red velvet cake and chess pie rounded out the menu.

Philip jumped on the fried chicken bandwagon. I was disappointed for a split second. Their hand-breaded chicken tenders are amazing, so I could only assume that their fried chicken would be too. Alas, when we are doing blog posts, I try to order something different from Philip so we can give our opinion of multiple menu items.

Like I said, my disappointment lasted only for a split second, because if I didn’t get the fried chicken I knew that I was going to order the quiche and Star salad combo. I always try to find an excuse to order the Star salad, with mixed greens, bleu cheese, candied pecans, and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s so simple, but flavorful at the same time; I would venture to say that it’s one of my favorite house salads. I love to order the quiche, too. Let’s start with the fact that this is a slice of quiche that would feed a family of four. You will not leave hungry. The pastry crust is some of the best that I’ve had: tender, flaky, buttery, perfectly browned. The filling was brilliant, with a well-balanced mixture of tender broccoli, cheddar cheese, and an eggy custard that was firm (as in, not runny) but not tough.
Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
I made Philip promise that he would let me try the fried chicken, and he agreed. It was crispy, tender and hot on the inside, and perfectly seasoned – perfectly seasoned – inside and out. For his three sides, Philip chose mashed potatoes with gravy, white beans, and fried squash. The mashed potatoes were wonderfully creamy and the gravy an excellent savory foil for the creamy, comforting texture of the potatoes. The squash was cut into thick half-moons, breaded in cornmeal and lightly fried. It was a little thicker cut than you might expect, but well-seasoned and tasty still. I didn’t try the white beans – great northern beans are too mealy for me – but Philip said they were well-cooked and seasoned and delicious.
Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
As we got ready to leave, we asked Cassidy to bring us a box of 9 of their shortbread cookies with almond icing and a slice of red velvet cake. Southern Star Chattanooga makes all of their own desserts in-house, and it shows. The shortbread cookies are amazingly buttery, tender but with a little bit of a snap when you bite into them. The almond-flavored icing is a little crusty and gloriously “almond-y”, with the butter and almond flavor blending beautifully. The red velvet cake certainly looks the part of the Southern classic – a huge wedge of red sponge thickly spread with cream cheese frosting, lightly sprinkled with pecans. The cake was just a bit crumbly, but everything tasted wonderful.
Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com
Southern Star Chattanooga is a downtown hotspot, particularly at lunchtime. Their food is fresh and flavorful, and with the blackboard specials you could visit for weeks and never eat the same thing twice. In the heart of the city, they’re serving up Southern food, their slogan being “Put some South in your mouth.” Indeed. The prices aren’t too bad either – for our specials plus cookies and cake, our pre-tip total was just under $32. You can also get some of your favorites, such as chicken salad, pimento cheese, and entrees to take home.

If you’re looking for Southern comfort food in downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga is your place to find it.

Southern Star Chattanooga is located at 1300 Broad Street #300, Chattanooga, TN 37402. They are open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9.m. (closed weekends). You can call them at 423-267-8899. You can find their menu on their website, www.southernstarrestaurant.com/downtown. The Facebook page for Southern Star Chattanooga does not appear to be active at this time.

By the way, Southern Star has a second location on Signal Mountain, which I haven’t visited yet but hope to this summer.

Southern Star on Urbanspoon

Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Southern Star Chattanooga serves homemade Southern comfort food in a welcoming atmosphere. | restaurant review from Chattavore.com

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: downtown Chattanooga restaurants, Southern cooking restaurants By Mary // Chattavore 7 Comments

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About Chattavore

Hi, I'm Mary! Welcome to Chattavore, a destination for people who want to feed themselves and their families well every day! Life can be crazy, which means that getting dinner on the table can be a challenge (more often than not!) and my mission is to take all your favorite recipes and figure out how to serve them on a Tuesday.

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