bars/pubs Archives - Page 2 of 6

Wine Down Ooltewah

December 27, 2016

Wine Down is a wine bar in Ooltewah, Tennessee that also has a great beer list and fantastic lunch, dinner, and brunch menus!

I’ve been meaning to go to Wine Down for a while now. Actually, for the longest time I assumed that they didn’t really serve food, aside from some appetizers/finger food type things. I was wrong. Then, I was concerned because I, well, don’t really like wine. That was silly, because it’s totally okay to go to a wine bar and not drink wine. But…you can also ask your server to make a recommendation for something that you might like.

We decided to go to Wine Down for lunch during the week before Christmas. We were the first diners in the place, arriving a little after noon. Our server, Molly, told us to sit wherever we liked, then she filled our water glasses and reviewed the specials with us. We decided to order the deviled egg of the day – bacon and feta. Philip ordered a Dogfish Head Midas Touch for $5 (Wine Down has a pretty impressive beer list), and, on Molly’s recommendation, I ordered a glass of Caposaldo sparkling peach moscato ($8.50). And guess what? I liked it!

We were served 4 deviled egg halves ($7). They were stuffed with a filling that, in addition to the traditional mayo/mustard included feta cheese. They were topped with large chunks of thick, chewy bacon. The salty bacon and feta was the perfect foil for the creamy filling. They were delicious!

I wanted to order something fairly light and the soup and sandwich combination ($9) seemed perfect. The soup of the day was mushroom bisque, which sounded delicious. While the French dip sandwich sounded amazing, I was torn between the sun dried tomato sandwich (burrata mozzarella, spinach, and pesto on Niedlov’s ciabatta) and the grown-up grilled cheese (4 cheeses – local smoked cheddar, Irish porter, midnight moon cheese, and creamy montchevre, bacon jam, and green tomato on Texas toast. The soup was creamy but still had a little texture to it from the pureed mushrooms. The mushroom flavor was strong and satisfying, and I was surprised at the little bit of spiciness in the soup. The sandwich was buttery and crunchy, the cheeses melted perfectly. The bacon jam lent a little sweetness, and while I don’t typically like goat cheese very much, I liked the tangy pungency of the montchevre on this sandwich.

Philip decided to go for the WDO burger ($11) with Wagyu beef, Red Dragon dijon cheese, bacon jam, and caramelized onion aioli on a Niedlov’s bun. Philip chose the fries as his side (the other option was a mixed greens salad). The burger was pretty much gigantic and it was cooked perfectly. All of the flavors worked well together and Philip commented several times about how tasty the burger was. The fries were hot, crispy, and peppery.

There were a few other tables occupied by the time that we left. I have a feeling that nights and weekends are their busy time. The atmosphere at Wine Down Ooltewah was casual and relaxing and Molly was an excellent and attentive server. I was very happy with the variety of foods available (the dinner menu is different from the lunch menu) and with the quality and flavor of the food. And I found a wine that I like (baby steps)!

Wine Down Ooltewah is a great place to go for a relaxed but slightly upscale lunch or dinner, especially if you want a great glass of wine!

Wine Down Ooltewah is located at 9431 Bradmore Lane Suite 109, Ooltewah, TN, 37363 (in Cambridge Square). They are open Monday, 4-10 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for brunch. You can call them at 423-531-WINE(9463). You can find out more about Wine Down Ooltewah on their website, or their Facebook page. You can also follow Wine Down on Instagram.

Happy Birthday, Tremont Tavern!

December 7, 2016

Chattanooga’s most popular burger spot, Tremont Tavern, turns 10 this month. They’re celebrating with a weekend full of fun!

When I decided to write a top burgers in Chattanooga list, I discovered just how passionate Chattanoogans are about burgers. Honestly, I was a little taken aback by how strongly people felt about their burgers. It was an eye-opening experience.

Over and over again, I have been told (or read, or otherwise heard) that Tremont Tavern has the best burger in town. Indeed, it is one of my favorites too, and with good reason. Huge burgers made from house-ground beef with any number of toppings – how could you go wrong? Plus, there’s the whole tavern/place where everybody knows your name vibe.

Dustin Choate, Tremont Tavern’s owner, set out in 2006 to create a new beginning for himself after a dissatisfying stint in the corporate world. We all know about restaurant failure rates, and at the time that Tremont opened, the area wasn’t exactly a prime restaurant location. It would seem that the odds were stacked against the survival of a hole-in-the-wall dive bar in a previously vacant building…but the odds can be wrong. And wrong they were.

Instead, Tremont turned into a destination for Chattanoogans and out-of-towners alike. What started as a tiny two-room bar has more than doubled in size – but that doesn’t mean there’s a lot of space. That just means more people can squeeze in, and squeeze in they do. On a recent visit, Philip and I could only find seating at the minibar in front of the windows – there wasn’t a table to be had.

It’s pretty much undeniable that Tremont Tavern set the bar for burgers in this town. They’ve not only won local accolades, being voted the Best Burger for the 2016 Times Free Press Best of the Best, but they’ve also been recognized in Garden and Gun as one of the best burgers in the South. The burgers and the beer are not the only good things about Tremont, though – they have a small but varied and well-crafted menu and everything on it is good, as far as I can tell. The fish and chips and Reuben that we had on our recent jaunt certainly were.

And the atmosphere is pretty much unmatched. Like Waffle House, Tremont Tavern is one of those places that everyone just fits in, regardless of who you are. It might be a tavern, but it’s cool to take the kids; everyone in the neighborhood does it, for sure. It’s just as great of a place for a casual date or a night out with friends, though.

Tremont Tavern is turning 10 this month. They’ll be celebrating Friday and Saturday (12/9 and 12/10) with food and drink specials and live music from Mike McDade, Gabriel Newell and Jordan Hallquist & The Outfit on Friday and BJ Hightower, Slim Pickins, TJ Greever and Danimal Pinson on Saturday. Don’t miss your chance to stop by and say happy birthday! And be sure to have a burger while you’re there.

Tremont Tavern is located at 1203 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37405. They are open Monday 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday, 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. You can call Tremont Tavern at (423) 266-1996. You can find more information about Tremont Tavern on their website or their Facebook page.

Lakeshore Grille

September 21, 2016

Lakeshore Grille, located near the Chickamauga Dam, is out of the way & easily overlooked, but they serve good food with great views of the Tennessee River!

I love it when you guys suggest recipes for me to make and restaurants for me to check out. Have I mentioned that before? I’m pretty sure I have. Yeah, I’ve definitely mentioned that before.

A few weeks ago a reader emailed me to let me know that her favorite burger in town was at Lakeshore Grille. To be honest, Lakeshore Grille wasn’t even on my list – or even my radar. I knew that it existed, but that’s about it. Tucked away far from any main roads, Lakeshore Grille never even crossed my mind.

As per usual these days, since Philip doesn’t get home from work on Saturdays until 3 or 3:30, we arrived at Lakeshore Grille around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. There were a few patrons inside, but it was pretty empty. We contemplated sitting outside (they have ample outdoor seating) but it was pretty hot so we decided to sit inside by one of their huge windows instead. Our water glasses were filled and Philip set to checking out their beer list. He ended up ordering the Sam Adams Octoberfest, which he was pretty happy about.

The happy hour menu was set out on the table and spinach Gouda dip was calling my name. I rarely order it because it’s so easy to make at home for much cheaper than you can get it in a restaurant, but at only $4 for happy hour the price was right. I wouldn’t have ordered it, though, if I’d realized that a complementary basket of house-made potato chips drizzled with a just slightly spicy white sauce and sprinkled with chopped chives would be delivered to our table. We made quick work of the chips (because we hadn’t eaten since breakfast at 8:30). They were warm, crunchy, and well-seasoned, and the creamy sauce was a delicious addition. The spinach Gouda dip was a small portion, served with crisp baguette slices for dipping. It was tasty but not really anything mind-blowing.

Jane and Ken (the readers who emailed me) highly recommended the “Laney” burger ($12), with smoked Gouda cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, and roasted red pepper aioli on a kaiser roll. The burger was well-cooked with a nice grilled flavor. The onions were just a little bit crunchy…I like for my caramelized onions to be super-soft and syrupy, but they still tasted good. Smoked Gouda is always a welcome addition to just about any savory dish. I would have liked for the burger to have more red pepper aioli; I couldn’t really taste it. I thought that the lettuce and tomato on the side were unnecessary – with bacon and caramelized onions, you really don’t need cold toppings. The fries were pretty standard – frozen, good but nothing special.

Philip considered the shrimp and grits ($16), but their shrimp and grits were not the cream-based style that he likes best. He ended up deciding between the sausage and shrimp penne ($14) and the catfish and fries. Eventually, he settled on the catfish and fries ($13). Typically, I think of fried catfish as being breaded in cornmeal before frying, but this was dipped in a peppery batter. It was well-seasoned and crispy, drizzled with a chipotle aioli that made it just a little spicy. Like me, he thought the fries were pretty good.

The decor in Lakeshore Grille was minimal (there was a cute little Chattanooga-specific display right when you walk in) but the place appeared clean and well-kept. The view of the marina and the river was really all we needed to keep us entertained, especially as we watched a family come into the marina with their very excited dog on the boat. The staff was friendly and our service was good. The total pre-tip was $36.05, so comparable to similar restaurants. I would definitely go back.

Lakeshore Grille has good food at decent prices with a great view!

Lakeshore Grille is located at 5600 Lake Resort Terrace, Suite 300, Chattanooga, TN 37415. They are open Tuesday – Thursday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can call them at (423) 710-2057. You can read more about them on their website, lakeshoregrille.com and on their Facebook page.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Stir Chattanooga at the Choo Choo

May 18, 2016

STIR Chattanooga is a fairly new restaurant located at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo, specializing in unique cocktails (and ice!).

Last Saturday was my first official Chattavore dining experience since ending my restaurant fast a couple of weeks ago. I’m planning to start in the month of June alternating between blogging about new restaurants and doing return reviews of restaurants I’ve already written about. I also decided to get more reader input about what restaurants I try.

This past weekend I posed the question to my Facebook followers: should I try STIR Chattanooga, Two Ten Jack, or Café on the Corner? Two Ten Jack got several votes but STIR was the clear winner. We headed down for a late lunch, parking on the street on Rossville Avenue and walking around (they were offering free valet parking at the Choo Choo but we like to park and walk when possible). We were seated quickly, initially choosing a seat outside for better lighting. The weather was fantastic. However, we quickly discovered that it was way too windy to sit outside and we moved inside to a hightop table.

Our server, Taylor, brought us water and glasses and took our drink orders. Philip was pretty disappointed with their beer list – only six beers on draft and a handful of canned and bottled beers. He tried a sample of the Tennessee Brew Works and ultimately decided to stick with water. I don’t often order drinks out, especially when they are over $10 (!), which I’m seeing more often. However, since cocktails are their specialty, I decided to order the CoCo Choo Choo, with rum, gin, grapefruit juice, orange juice, coconut cream, and cumin ($12). It was served over crushed ice (ice is a big deal – they have an ice chef who designs the ice and checks in on the processes regularly, and they have seven – that’s right, seven – varieties of ice). It tasted very tropical and did not have a strong alcohol flavor (I kept stirring it to keep the alcohol well mixed in).

There were several appetizers on the menu that sounded delicious, including the seasonal dip trio (with hummus, pimento cheese, and smoked salmon spread), fried green tomatoes (I was already planning to make those Saturday night, so we took a pass), and fish tacos (which the couple next to us were eating, and they looked amazing). We didn’t want to fill up on an appetizer, so we decided to split an order of the crab bisque ($6.50), with crab, sherry, basil oil, crostini, celery leaves, and micro basil. Taylor had the kitchen split the bisque between two bowls for us to make it easier for us to eat. The bisque was fabulous – creamy with plenty of sweet crab meat and a deep flavor from the sherry. The basil oil finish was very nice and the crostini was the perfect dipper.

I considered getting a burger, but ultimately decided it wasn’t what I wanted. I was stuck between the fried chicken sandwich, with mayonnaise, turnip slaw, and house pickles on a Niedlov’s bun, and the fried shrimp, served with fries, turnip slaw, and Stir sauce. I asked Taylor for her recommendation and she told me that, while the shrimp was very popular, she would recommend the chicken sandwich ($10.95), which she described as kind of like a gourmet Krystal Chik. Um, SOLD. I don’t know if you guys know how much I love Krystal, but I love Krystal. She was not wrong…it was like a Krystal Chik in the very best way. It was gigantic (so not like a Chik in that respect) and the chicken had a wonderful, well-seasoned breading that was fried to golden brown perfection. I had never had turnip slaw – had never even heard of it – but it was fabulous…thin shreds of turnip in a creamy sauce. House pickle and mayo completed the sandwich. The fries were house cut, skin-on, and deliciously crispy. We told Taylor to recommend to the chef that they add fried chicken to their menu as a stand-alone entree. It was just that good.

Philip took one look at the menu and decided what he would order. I am sure that you guys can take a guess…yes, that’s correct: shrimp and grits ($12.95). The shrimp and grits were composed of stone ground white cheddar grits topped with shrimp, mushrooms, green onions, and a sauce made from shrimp stock. Now, Philip’s shrimp and grits preference is a cream-based sauce over fried grits cakes, but he is definitely a lover of all (well, most) types of shrimp and grits and these were no exception. Everything was cooked just right and the grits were creamy, tender but with a little bit of a bite, and well-seasoned. The more he ate, the spicier it got (I assume it was seasoned with a little cayenne, but I could be wrong about the source of the spice). He told Taylor that he would order them again.

Because of my $12 cocktail, our order was a little more pricey than usual at $46.95 pre-tip. It was worth it, though. Taylor was a great server (we got to talk to her quite a bit and she was so much fun!). the atmosphere is beautiful, and we really enjoyed the food.

We will definitely go back to STIR Chattanooga!

STIR Chattanooga is located at 1444 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN. They are open Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 12 a.m., Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m., and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. You can check out their website (stirchattanooga.com) and their menus (stirchattanooga.com/food). You can also like STIR Chattanooga on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (@STIRChattanooga) or Instagram (@stir_chattanooga).

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