Sunday, September 16, 2007

Where to eat in Chattanooga

All American Food choices

Big River Grille is a very nice large sized brew bar/restaurant and offers affordable diverse dining and several excellent beers brewed on site. Just a tumbling pass away from the TN Aquarium and Bell South Park.


Big River Grille
222 Broad Str.
Chattanooga TN, 37402
423-267-2739
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The Blue Plate is another new eatery in town and features nicely presented diner style food in a very hip, modern atmosphere. They may have the best breakfast/brunch menu in town and they serve it any time of the day. Be also sure not to miss the fish tacos, they are excellent indeed.


The Blue Plate
191 Chestnut St
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-648-6767

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Hennen's is a fairly new restaurant in downtown Chattanooga near the Tennessee Aquarium and close to the Chattanooga Waterfront. Offering steaks, seafood and a great wine selection in a very nice atmosphere, Hennen's is sure to become a favorite.


Hennen's
193 Chestnut St.
Chattanooga TN, 37402
Phone: 423-634-5160
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The Blue Water Grille is a newer dining hot spot in town and is a great addition to the Chattanooga life style szene. With its great American menu, stunning decor and unique outdoor/indoor bar it will surely stay a popular choice for a long time to come.


Blue Water Grille
324 Broad Street
Chattanooga TN, 37405

Phone: 423-266-4200

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Taco Mac offers one of the largest selections of beers in Chattanooga (51 on on tap and 190 in bottles) plus the best wings in town. Well known for a well-rounded lunch, dinner and late night menu.


Taco Mac
423 Market Str.
Chattanooga TN, 37402
423-267-8226

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Great Pasta and Pizza restaurants

Lupi's Pizza offers amazing football-sized calzones, bubbling pizzas and meaty lasagnas served in cozy booths surrounded by neon and pop music. Also try their bread dipped in greasy love (parmesan and olive oil)and their great house salad.


Lupi's Pizza
406 Broad Str.
Chattanooga TN, 37402
423-266-5874
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Tony's Pasta is located in the Bluff View Art district and offers an excellent variety of Italian delights in a nice atmosphere. Home made pasta and fantastic bread and olive oil dip are favourites among regulars and new customers alike.



Tony's Pasta Shop & Trattoria
212 High St
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-265-5033

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Pisa Pizza in North Chattanooga offers great pizza pies and are well known for their baked chicken ziti, slathered in melted cheese.



Pisa Pizza
551 River Str.
Chattanooga TN, 37405
423-756-7492
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Restaurants with European flair


Terra Nostra is the only Tapas style restaurant in Chattanooga. It offers a fantastic selection of Tapas items, and a incredible wine selection in a very creative environment.


Terra Nostra
105 Frazier Ave
Chattanooga TN, 37405
423-634-0238
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The Meeting Place offers a stylish big city atmosphere combined with a very creative menu.



St. Johns Meeting Place
1278 Market Str.
Chattanooga TN, 37402
423-266-4571

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Table 2 is the newest chic restaurant in town. Just opened in December and gives Chattanooga a whole new dining experience in a cool atmosphere.

The outside of Table 2



The inside at Table 2 and note the 3 cool booths with curtains in the back.



Table 2
11th and Houston
Chattanooga TN, 37402


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Burritos and other Mexican delights

Las Margaritas has a wide selection of tex-mex and other dishes and are well known for their margaritas. They also have a great roof-top bar and are located in North Chattanooga about 2 miles from downtown.



Las Margaritas
1101 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, TN
(423) 756-3332
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Mojo Burrito lets you build your own burrito from the ground up. Choose the flavor of the wrap to the style of the rice and salsa. Excellent Chicken, steak and vegetarian choices available. Just moved from downtown, but still well worth the little trip.



Mojo Burrito
Dayton Pike and Signal Mountain Boulevard
423-266-2255

Great coffee shops in Chattanooga

Greyfriars is a small very cool coffee shop downtown and one of my regular spots. Rare coffees, barrista eggs, muffins, bagels, croissants and other deserts in a great atmosphere, and an easy walk away from the aquariums and other downtown attractions. (Free WiFi):


Greyfriar's
406-B Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423)267-0376
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Stone Cup is one of my favorite coffee shops in town. They offer on-site roasted coffee, breakfasts, sandwiches and great desserts, served with a close up view of Coolidge Park and the Walnut Street Bridge.(Free WiFi):



The counter of Stone Cup



The view out the back



The Stone Cup
330 Frazier Ave
Chattanooga TN
(423)265-5010
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Rembrandt's is a very beautiful coffee shop with great outdoor seating in the art district. Fantastic deserts, sandwiches, salads, coffee and a great selection of tea:

The outside of Rembrandt's



The counter of Rembrandt's



Rembrandt's Coffee House
204 High St
Chattanooga, TN
(423)265-5033
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And for those who can't get away from Starbucks, even though there is no reason to go there. (Pay for WiFi):

Starbucks
827 Broad St
Chattanooga, TN
(423)643-1242

Where to ride your bike in and around Chattanooga

Road riding

If you are bringing your bike to this amazing riding area, the Chattanooga Bike Club has all kinds of great rides and routes on their site, and they are a great resource.

But here are a few of my favorite rides in and around Chattanooga:



The 3 States 3 Mountains Metric Century - 62 Miles
Description: road description
Map: map pdf

The Burkhalter's Gap loop
Description: road description
Map: map gif

The Suck Creek Loop (very hilly)
Description: road description


Another great loop from downtown is the W Road loop, where you basically climb Signal Mountain via the W Road, then cruise along the oh so beautiful Brow Road, before descending down Signal Mountain main road. From downtown this takes a bit more than an hour.



Mountain biking

The Raccoon Mountain trails

If you are a mountain bike fan you must experience the new fantastic trails on raccoon mountain. This is a brand new trail system in Chattanooga and it well worth a long trip to ride these trails. More details if you click here.



Edwards Point to Mushroom Rock

Another very nice mountain biking area is on Signal Mountain and most locals call it the Edwards Point ride. Find a very nice map of the trails right here.

The overlook from Edwards Point

Bike shops in Chattanooga

When you come into town you may look for a spare tube, a quick fill or a tune-up. The shops below should all be able to assist you with those needs, but River City Bicycles on 112 Tremont Street could help you to even get on a brand new Litespeed.(Litespeeds are handcrafted just outside of Chattanooga)
River City is located right in the heart of North Chattanooga within walking distance or a quick ride from the heart of downtown.

River City Bicycles
112 Tremont Street
Chattanooga, TN 37405
1-800-499-0503


Other bike shops in Chattanooga:


Owens Cyclery
1920 Northpoint Blvd.
Chattanooga, TN 37343
423-875-6811


Suckcreek Cycles
501 Cherokee Blvd.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-266-8883


East Ridge Bicycles
5910 Ringgold Road
Chattanooga, TN 37412
423-894-9122

Running or hiking in Chattanooga

There are plenty of choices to run/hike/walk in and around Chattanooga but here are 3 very nice choices.

Downtown Chattanooga Riverwalk

The Chattanooga Riverwalk runs along the Tennessee River from downtown all the way to the Chickamauga Dam near Highway 153. It is great for runners and walkers of every fitness level, and while bikes can be there too, runners and walkers do have the right of way. It is an almost ideal place for people with jog strollers. Total length about 9 miles.

Directions:
Easily reachable on foot from downtown hotels. Can be started right behind the Aquarium or right at the sculture garden in the Bluffview Art District. If you drive there, park near the 200 block of High Street.

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Lookout Mountain Guild-Hardy Trail

The Lookout Mountain Guild-Hardy Trail is a walking and biking trail located on the side of scenic Lookout Mountain and provides access to a multitude of trails on Lookout Mountain, the National Park Service land and Reflection Riding. The GH Trail winds through forested mountain slopes littered with historical ruins, Ruby Falls, and the Cravens House.

Directions: From Downtown Chattanooga, take I-24 to Lookout Mountain/Broad Street exit. Take Broad Street to Tennessee Avenue and make a right turn onto Ochs Highway after The Incline. The Ochs Highway trailhead parking lot will be on the left.

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Walk or run the Bridges

Fom any of the downtown hotels it is quite easy to do a nice walk or short run of the downtown bridges. Go up either 1st Street or 2nd Street until you hit Walnut Street, turn left and go across the stunning pedestrian Walnut Street bridge. Turn right onto Frazier Ave until you get to the Veterans Bridge and then turn right on it. Veterans Bridge eventually turns into Georgia Ave and you'll stay on it ontil you get to 4th Street. Turn right on 4th and you'll get back downtown.



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More choices for running and hiking are listed on the http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com
website.

Things to do in Chattanooga

The TN Aquariums and IMAX theatre



The beautiful Chattanooga Aquariums are right in the heart of downtown. You can also see the latest IMAX movies at the IMAX 3D Theatre:
Chattanooga Aquarium and IMAX Theater

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The Creative Discovery Museum



If you travel with kids, the Creative Discovery Museum might be your ticket. This "hands on" creative museum is fun for kids and adults:
Chattanooga Creative Discovery museum
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The Hunter Museum

The Hunter Museum is located in the Blufff View art district and offers magnificent pieces of art and a stunning view of the Tennessee river and North Chattanooga.

The Hunter Museum
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Bell South Park

Built in time for the 2000 season, and following the tide of new ballpark construction that has swept the nation, Chattanooga's baseball showpiece is a sight to behold and within easy walking distance of the downtown restaurants.
Bell South Park is home to the AA Chattanooga Lookouts and offers a great baseball atmosphere.


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North Chattanooga / Frazier Ave

Frazier Avenue between North Market street and Georgia Avenue offers a very unique shopping experience with all kinds of neat little shops and restaurants. Plus Coolidge park is right betwen Frazier Ave and the river and is great for families with its fountain and the large indoor carousel:



Google map of the area

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Chattanooga Civil War sites.


If you are a history buff, the Chattanooga area has several spectacular Civil War sites:
Chicamauga / Chattanooga Civil War history

Where to stay in Chattanooga

Here are a few choices for hotels which are in easy walking distance from the main attractions downtown. Basically next to all the bars, restaurants and the aquariums downtown.

Courtyard Marriott
200 Chestnut Str.
423-755-0871

Clarion Hotel
407 Chestnut Str.
423-756-5150

Hilton Garden Inn
311 Chestnut Str.
423-308-9000

Residence Inn Downtown
215 Chestnut Str.
423-266-0600

The bed and breakfast below is close too and has an amazing view over the river.

Bluff View Inn
800-725-8338
http://www.bluffviewartdistrict.com

Plus this is a nice bed and breakfast choice downtown:

http://www.mayorsmansioninn.com