Chattanooga’s Local Restaurants: North Shore

Edited 11/13/20 – Due to Covid, be careful when dining out! I can’t vouch for how well the restaurants below are handling virus precautions but make sure to still support your favorite restaurants by ordering take out or delivery! Don’t get sick but don’t let these local businesses die out. I removed a few that I could tell were gone but didn’t add any new ones that may have sprung up, so let me know if there’s something new in town I should add.

While Chattanooga certainly has more chain restaurants than you can shake a breadstick at, the city really shines in its wealth of independent, mom-and-pop restaurants. I truly believe we should make sure places like these stay open! Sometimes it’s hard to remember them when Chick-fil-a is calling your name, so I’m making lists of Chattanooga’s Local Restaurants.

In my last post, I listed all the restaurants I could think of in the downtown area, now we’ll tackle north of the river, through to Red Bank and Hixson.

NORTH CHATTANOOGA

FRAZIER AVE

POBLANOS MEXICAN CUISINE–I’m still a little bitter about Pisa Pizza no longer being in this spot, so I confess I haven’t tried this restaurant. They serve Mexican on the upscale side with some outside deck seating.

BELA LISBOA RESTAURANT–This is possibly Chattanooga’s only Portuguese restaurant, serving food with Mediterranean and North African influences, i.e. cinnamon, saffron, garlic and lots of seafood.

BASECAMP BAR & RESTAURANT–This tiny bar serves around 50 different craft beers with a rotating tap of 6 beers, plus southern-inspired comfort food. You’ll find a lot of sandwiches and burgers but also some surprises, like pot roast and pimento cheese risotto.

OPA–If you are an adventurous eater, you’ve got to try OPA! First of all, the small dining room and back alley make you feel completely transported, and when you get there, the owner *might* ask you a few questions but then he’ll just start bringing you food! You don’t necessarily order, you just get what you get (and pay what you pay.) It’s all a bit of a surprise and I completely adore it.

TOTTO SUSHI & GRILL–Go to Totto for excellent sushi and hibachi Japanese food. There’s something for everyone here and it’s all very well done.

BREWHAUS–Chattanooga’s only German-American “gastropub” serves German favorites like warm potato salad, spaetzle, schnitzel, and ale with a party patio overlooking the river.

TACONOOGA–The husband & wife team that runs this authentic Mexican restaurant puts an emphasis on high-quality ingredients, including making their own tortillas and growing their own herbs. Northshore is their original location, but there is also one in East Brainerd.

GOOD DOG–You can get gourmet hot dogs, frites, and top them with specialty ketchups at this fun spot! There are even special tables to hold your paper cones of frites.

RIVER STREET DELI–This New York-style deli is open during the day with special Friday night dinner via reservation.

CASHEW–Next to the deli is a plant-based vegan cafe with entrees and even baked goods. five-course dinners are occasionally offered and you can purchase whole cakes and more to go.

SUSHI NABE–Probably the other big sushi place in town besides Sekisui/Tokyo Chattanooga, Sushi Nabe is the only restaurant actually inside Coolidge Park.

TACO MAMACITA–This “fresh-mex” tacos-and-margaritas restaurant is bright and happy inside and has a great front deck with string lights. From the same folks that bring you Urban Stack and Community Pie, they also have Milk & Honey gelato a few doors down.

BIG CHILL & GRILL–The quintessential bar is usually crowded, so they must have the good stuff in there! Cheap margaritas (to-go, even) and trivia games, and dress-up events seem to be de rigueur here.

FIAMMA PIZZA COMPANY–This new spot on North Market serves up Neopolitan & Sicilian pizza. I just looked it up and Neopolitan is cooked panless for a charred crust, and Sicilian is usually cooked in a square pan.

FOODWORKS–Progressive southern is the fare at this old knitting mill location. This used be my favorite restaurant, but I haven’t been for a while. They still have sweet potato chips with blue cheese fondue as an appetizer–yum!

EMBARGO 62–This is the only all-Cuban restaurant that I know of in Chattanooga, I’m only sad that it took the place of a wine & cheese restaurant that I really liked! The food tastes homemade and the bar is excellent.

SLUGGO’S–This funky vegetarian cafe has expanded over the years into a really fun spot. You definitely won’t go home hungry! There’s nothing rabbity about the food here.

MIKE’S HOLE IN THE WALL–Plenty of the places on this list are literal holes in the wall, but only one has it in the name! Go here for craft beer and southern meat & three for lunch, pub entrees at dinner.

NIKKI’S DRIVE IN—(NOTE: Nikki’s had to close in 2020 due to rezoning – I’m not sure if they are closed for good or will relocate. Either way, it’s sad!) This old-fashioned diner has been open since 1940! (And they still only take cash.) Come here for fried gulf coast shrimp and beer-battered onion rings. Pretty much everything is fried, but gosh it’s a lot of fun.

RIVERVIEW

ARETHA FRANKENSTEINS–I’m not sure how many breakfast/burrito/beer places there are on the planet, but Aretha’s makes it work. The pancakes are stellar (you can purchase the mix in most local grocery stores), the biscuits are huge, and everything is good. Be prepared to wait for a table.

VINE STREET MARKET–You can get whole cakes or a sandwich for lunch at this little bakery in the heart of Riverview.

IL PRIMO NORTHSHORE–Along with decadent Italian meals, this refined restaurant also offers catering and take & bake for chef-quality meals at home.

LAS MARGARITAS MEXICAN--There are several Las Margarita’s around town, but this might be the original. It’s certainly the most popular. Enjoy those margaritas on the rooftop terrace.

TREMONT TAVERN–Chattanooga’s first craft beer destination also serves fantastic burgers. It’s pretty much the definition of delicious hole-in-the-wall bars.

THE DAILY RATION–This is a breakfast & lunch only spot by the folks that run the Bitter Alibi downtown. Look here for biscuits and burritos.

RED BANK

DAYTON BLVD

SOFA KING JUICY BURGER–The focus on this fun burger joint is obviously the burgers, but also the liquid nitrogen milkshakes. Occasionally, you may see a cloud of smoke over by the mixer, while they freeze your special concoction.

CRUST PIZZA–The original location (and the best) of the home of the Isis veggie pizza, my favorite. superfamousecrackerthin crust is what you’ll get here, but they don’t skimp on the quality toppings.

MOJO BURRITO–Here’s the Red Bank location of this Chattanooga favorite, with a great dining room and back patio. I feel sure you can get a week of $2 tacos if you visit all the Mojo’s in turn…

EL ARCA DE NOE–This Tienda Y Taqueria named for Noah’s Ark is a small grocery selling some of the best tacos in town.

DUB’S PLACE–This tiny kitchen serves up old-fashioned burgers, fries, and milkshakes, plus some really good root beer on draft. I’ve always enjoyed my food here. There’s a small counter inside (mostly for waiting for your food) and a few picnic tables outside.

LILLIE MAE’S PLACE–This is a quintessential southern no-frills good home-cookin’ restaurant. If you have a southern grandmother, this is what it would be like to eat at her house.

 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN BLVD

NOOGA Q SMOKEHOUSE GRILL–This tin shack holds some pretty good BBQ (though for my money, I might go down to Shuford’s instead.) This place is good for groups and has a drive-in.

SHUFORD’S SMOKEHOUSE–The BBQ in this cabin tucked at the bottom of the mountain is basic, but always good. I feel sure they’ve been around for a while, and with good reason.

BIG TABLE–This homey restaurant almost does feel like dining in someone’s house, except they’re a much better cook than you. They specialize in desserts and also do catering.

RIVER DRIFTERS–This brand new riverside cafe is from the same folks that ran the Cheeburger Cheeburger downtown. You can sit on a deck overlooking the Tennessee River and rent a stand-up paddleboard before or after your meal. The burgers look similar to what you could get at Cheeburger. No word on frings.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN

HUMMINGBIRD PASTARIA–Up on Signal Mountain, this small but elegant Italian restaurant is sure to please. The menu changes frequently so make sure to visit throughout the year!

FORTUNE HOUSE–There used to be this great Chinese restaurant in a log cabin up on Signal that I loved in college. I was so impressed that they made their own duck sauce! I’m not sure if this is it, but it is the only Chinese to be had on Signal. Reviews vary. I feel sure I am missing several Mexican restaurants in this vein.

OFF THE GRILL II–I’m not sure where there’s an Off The Grill I, but this one is a food truck that operates on Signal Mountain, serving everything from ribs to grilled steak & shrimp, lobster ravioli, and more. It looks yummy! And I have to like a place that has a “tea du jour” with a different iced tea flavor a day, I presume. Looks fun.

BREAD BASKET–While not technically a restaurant, you could manage a breakfast out of this wonderful, wonderful bakery. Otherwise, come here for full-sized cakes, bread, cookies and other sweets. If we’re going to talk about food on Signal Mountain, it’s too good for me to pass over!

HIXSON

SOUTH HIXSON PIKE

SIDETRACK RESTAURANT–I’m going to call this Hixson, though the website claims it’s in North Shore. Once you’re past the S-curves, I feel like that’s pretty much Hixson. This new restaurant from the owners of Canyon Grill, The Boathouse, and Sugar’s Ribs opened last fall and has a focus on wood-fired pizzas and chicken. Reviews have been good but not great, but maybe they’ve had time to work out the kinks by now.

RICE BOXX–I love this place! Usually, an extensive menu is not the sign of a good restaurant. But everything I’ve tried here, I’ve liked. Maybe because it comes from an honest place on the part of the chef–his Japanese heritage, Chinese upbringing, and Thai friends. Therefore, you can get Japanese hibachi, teriyaki, sushi, above-average Chinese dishes, and Thai curries.

CHEESE DIP MEXICAN GRILL–You had me at cheese dip. Get your Mexican burritos, tacos, and quesadillas here and follow it up with a personal-size flan.

RAFAEL’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT–Rafael’s is sort of an easy Italian plus Greek restaurant, not fussy at all. It’s great for a weeknight family meal.

LITTLE TOKYO EXPRESS–I’m a HUGE fan of this restaurant! I love to get steak & shrimp and smother them in white sauce. It’s probably a good thing I live farther away now.

TACO TOWN–This is one of those hole-in-the-wall taco places tucked into a Mexican grocery, and as such, it is wonderful. It reminds me of La Altena downtown.

HWY 153

FORMOSA–Formosa is THE best Chinese in Chattanooga! A bit on the pricey side, but almost always worth it. I would go to cheaper places only to end up back here. It’s all the basic stuff just done really well. I like how the menu indicates what region of China each dish is from.

FUJI STEAK & SUSHI–This looks like a hibachi “show” restaurant, like the nearby Ichiban, serving beautiful sushi rolls and high-quality meats. It can get a bit pricey.

DOMINICA’S CARIBBEAN KITCHEN–This place looks amazing! This couple started cooking out of a food truck and have expanded into a storefront. The menu reflects the mix of cultures in the Caribbean–Dutch, Spanish, French, British, African, Indian, and Chinese.

NOODLES & PHO–I’ve heard that pho is the new chicken noodle soup for young, hip people with Vietnamese restaurants nearby. You can get the popular soup in many different incarnations here, along with Bánh mì and rice dishes.

SOHO HIBACHI–Hixson sure does love its hibachi places! And I can’t blame them, I do love white sauce. This small local chain (with locations in Fort O, Rome, and Calhoun, GA) serves everything from chicken to filet in both hibachi (flash grilled) and teriyaki (sweet glazed) styles.

LAS MORELIANAS–Blink and you’ll miss this authentic Mexican restaurant tucked into another tienda. The link advises to walk in the door at the left, take a left at the cash register, and then a right. If you make it, then you are in for some fantastic food!

NEW YORK PIZZA DEPARTMENT–The NYPD (“in dough we crust”) serves up authentic New York style pizza, and even has gluten-free options!

MIDDLE VALLEY

THE CHEF & HIS WIFE–I included the Middle Valley area just so I could talk about this place. And technically, it’s not even a restaurant. Chef Timothy and Shelley Mulderink prepare healthy American meals, both fresh & frozen, that you can walk in and purchase, order online and pick it up, or have your order delivered. They have lots of special-diet meals and some of their foods can be found in local supermarkets as well. Their smoked gouda pimento cheese is to die for! Hands-down the easiest way to get healthy food on your dinner table without having to resort to pizza or fast food.

DIXIE BBQ–This is a festively-decorated walk-up BBQ spot with mostly great reviews.

NORTH HIXSON PIKE

ICHIBAN–Chattanooga’s own hibachi “show” restaurant–this is the kind where you sit (possibly with others not in your party) around a flat grill while a chef flips your food around a bit before he cooks it. Honestly, it’s always fun and the food is delicious. Both this location and the one on Brainerd Rd also serve sushi.

J. GUMBO’S–This cajun restaurant is a chain, but I like it so much, and it has such a mom-and-pop feel, that I am going to include it anyway. You can get spicy voodoo chicken or sweet bumblebee stew served in huge bowls with buttered grilled bread. It’s yum!

NICK’S PLACE–There must be a lot of New Yorkers in Hixson! This authentic New York deli serves up what some call the best sandwiches in town.

BIBA’S ITALIAN–Biba’s is a small chain with four locations, one next to the Hixson Publix. They serve homestyle Italian and garlicky buttered rolls, so what else do you really need to know? El Metate next door is pretty much the Mexican version of the same thing– a small chain with decent-to-good food.

SOURDOUGH CUPPA JOE–I *do* love this place! It’s mainly a coffee shop, but they also serve great house-made baked goods, sandwiches, quiche, and frozen custard, so I’m sure there’s a meal in there somewhere.

SOUTHERN RESTAURANT–I’m not really sure if this is one location or several generically-named restaurants, because I know there’s one on Dayton Blvd in Red Bank as well. They seem to be small southern-food (obviously) joints serving old-fashioned meals with no pretensions whatsoever.

So what have I missed! Let me know in the comments!