Tag: Chattanooga

There are several great bars and restaurants in downtown Chattanooga. I have tried several of them during my trips there. It was recommended that I check out The Pickle Barrel on my most recent visit. It is a corner building that has a cool look.

There is a spiral staircase that you can climb to get to their roof top seating. The staircase is a little scary when you come down because your eyes play tricks on you.

The views are great from the roof top. You can watch the hustle and bustle on the street or look at the beautiful building architecture.

It was lunchtime so I ordered a couple of things. The Pickle Fries were the first thing that came out. They were not even on the menu. The waiter recommended them. These were thinly sliced pickles that were dipped on a batter and deep fried. They looked like fried green beans when they came out.

The dill flavor of the pickle was amazing, especially in contrast to the sweet batter. There was a nice crunch to the pickles too. A dill dipping sauce came on the side. This added even more dill flavor. These were better than any fried pickle I have ever had.

When The Pickle Barrel was recommended to me, I was told I had to try the chicken wings. So, I made sure I ordered a few. They can be ordered wet or dry. I got them wet with the hot sauce.  I did ask for them extra crispy. They came out perfectly cooked the way I like them. The hot sauce was not hot at first but then the heat creeped up on me. It did make my nose run a little. The meat on the wings was juicy.

I also got one o their Stuffed Spuds. This was an extra-large baked potato that was loaded with chili, cheese, butter, and bacon. The potato came out piping hot. The chili was not spicy but had a great salty taste with lots of meat and beans. The cheese added creaminess and the bacon added crunch. It was a perfect add on topping to the chili. It was a filling potato.

The Pickle Barrel was a fun place to hang out. They have a large assortment of cocktails to choose from for an after-work event. This place is for 21 and older so keep that in mind when making your plans.

Check them out at www.picklebarreltn.com

Enjoy!

T

I was looking for a great place to have brunch in Chattanooga. It was recommended that I check out Stir.

They were very busy when I walked in the door. Luckily, I found seats at the bar.

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I was excited to find out that they had $1.00 mimosas. This was clearly a popular item because they kept popping bottles of champagne all morning.

Their brunch menu was interesting. They had classic breakfast items but also some unique dishes. I was excited to try the Breakfast Chicken Piccata. Chicken piccata is one of my favorite Italian dishes so I could not wait to see what the breakfast version was all about.

They cooked the chicken in a white wine beurre blanc sauce with capers. They put the chicken on top of scrambled eggs with spinach and breakfast potatoes.

The beurre blanc sauce soaked into the breading of the chicken cutlet. This made each bite of chicken full of flavor. The only downside is there was not a lot of extra sauce on this plate. The capers gave the chicken a nice bite.

The scrambled eggs also soaked up a little of the sauce, which was great. It made the eggs more interesting. The breakfast potatoes were seasoned nicely but did not have any of the piccata flavor. I ended up eating those with a little ketchup. It would have been better if the potatoes were chopped up into smaller pieces and cooked with onions and peppers.

I also got to try the Baja Omelet. This large omelet was filled with peppers, onions, and a blend of cheeses. On top they sprinkled homemade Pico de Gallo, sliced avocado, charred salsa, and a Mexican crema.

I loved all the flavors that this omelet had going on. The peppers and onions inside the omelet added nice flavor and texture to the eggs. The Pico de Gallo added a great fresh element. The avocado added a creamy texture that really popped in taste when combined with the charred salsa. This was a filling dish. There was really no need for the potatoes that came with it.

Before ending brunch, the bartender suggested we try the Expresso Martini. They used a local roasted espresso bean from Chattz Coffee. The martini has a nice frothy topping, and it was smooth in taste. It did pack a punch of coffee flavor.

If you like coffee this is a must try. It will wake you up.

The food was great at Stir. It looks like their brunch menu may change so I would check out their menu at www.stirchattanooga.com . Get there early because they do get busy.

Enjoy!

T

Chattanooga is a fun town that keeps growing every year. There is a fun Southern restaurant downtown called Flying Squirrel. They have a unique menu that I felt had an Asian influence in dishes and flavors. There were several items on the menu that came highly recommended.

The Charred Cauliflower were cut into bite size pieces that were breaded in a spicy chili batter and deep fried till crispy. They covered the cauliflower in a sweet ginger cream. The ginger flavor was subtle but helped sooth the heat from the chilis in the batter. They tossed the cauliflower with toasted hazelnuts that added extra crunch. There was also a hint of lime juice and mint. The cauliflower had great flavor and were still tender on the inside after being fried.

The Spicy Miso Brussels Sprouts were amazing. The brussels sprouts were chopped up to make them easier to eat. They were charred up perfectly so there was a nice crispiness to them. They were covered in a glaze made of honey, orange, mint, and a miso-sesame mayo. The earthy flavor from the miso-sesame complemented the bitterness from the brussels sprouts. The honey added a subtle sweetness.

The Karaage was a Japanese fried chicken. They chopped up tender pieces of chicken and tossed with a black garlic molasses, Japanese mayo, and togarashi (a Japanese chili pepper mixture). This dish was the spiciest I tried this evening. The garlic molasses added a great sweetness that complemented the heat of the togarashi. The Japanese mayo was creamier than a typical aioli. It too helped calm the heat with adding some tanginess.

The final item was the House Cut Fries. These were fresh cut fried that were covered in garlic and spicy seasoning. The fries were crispy and slightly sweet. They were not too spicy; however, they used a ton of garlic. All this garlic made the fries so flavorful that no ketchup was needed.

I enjoyed all the dishes I tried at Flying Squirrel. I would love to go back and try several of their other dishes on the menu. They also have a beautiful bar that you can sit at for a nice, crafted cocktail.

Check out their website at www.flyingsquirrelbar.com

Enjoy!

T

Downtown Chattanooga has really grown and redeveloped over the last several years. They have so many restaurants and bars to choose from. If you are wanting good pizza, then Community Pie is a must visit.

They have many pizza options to choose from, pus you can create your own. All their pizzas are cooked in their wood fire ovens.

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During my visit I ordered the Little Italy pizza. This pie included Italian sausage, pepperoni, fresh Ricotta cheese, Calabrian chiles, fresh garlic, basil, and pecorino Romano cheese.

The crust had a great crunch and charr on it because of the fire oven. It added a slight smoky taste. This is the best way to have pizza cooked. The sausage had a fantastic fennel taste to it. The pepperoni was extra crispy because of the oven too. I loved crispy pepperoni. The Ricotta cheese added a creaminess to the pizza; it also helped calm the spiciness that came from the Calabrian chiles. The chilies were smoky and spicy and packed a punch of heat.

This was a delicious pizza. The one thing I wanted to note about their red pizza sauce, it does contain bacon. It adds a great flavor but obviously would not be suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians. They do have other sauce options.

If you are in Chattanooga and get hungry, stop by Community Pie.

Visit their website at www.communitypie.com

Enjoy!

T

If you’ve ever driven in interstate 75 through Chattanooga, you have probably seen billboards for Sugar’s Ribs. My advice to you is make sure you visit. It’s the perfect spot to stop and stretch your legs from your journey.

They are located at the top of a hill that overlooks Chattanooga and the Tennessee River. If you listen closely you might hear the sound of a steam boat floating by.

When you walk in you are presented with their menu on the wall. Their options are simple but it can still be hard to decide because everything sounds and smells good.

The typical meat I usually try at BBQ restaurants is the pork, so I had to keep the tradition going. Their pork butt sandwich has nice pieces of bark included, which is sometimes hard to find in pulled pork.

I also tried the fajita bites. They are apparently sell out quickly so since they still had them available I jumped at the chance to try them. The flavor of the beef was smokey and crispy around the edges. The meat was very tender considering that sometimes fajita meat can be tough.

You definitely have to make some time to eat at Sugar’s www.sugarsribs.com   and while you are there make sure to stop by and see their pet goat.

While you are in Chattanooga, stay a while and explore what this city has to offer.

There is an awesome aquarium downtown. There are 2 buildings – one for salt water fish and one for fresh water fish.  www.tnaqua.org

Another place to visit while you are in town is Ruby Falls. You journey deep down the inside of Lookout Mountain to see the largest natural waterfall. A beautiful sight. www.rubyfalls.com

Enjoy!

T