Fans won’t have to go far for food
Visitors to Chattanooga this week for the BlueCross Bowl will find plenty of options when it comes to places to eat, and the even better news is you won’t have to travel far from Finley Stadium to find them.
The closest, Naked River Brewing, 1791 Reggie White Blvd., is literally just a few steps from the stadium itself. Adults might especially enjoy the craft beer made on site, but there are plenty of menu options for the whole family. The fare is mostly upscale bar food with plenty of sandwich and appetizer options, but the entrees are good also.
You’ll find plenty of other options not far away up and down Main Street, as well, including:
Alex Thai Food & Noodle Bistro, 26 E. Main St. Thai favorites such as Pad Thai and sushi rolls are popular dishes for lunch or dinner here.
Alleia, 25 E. Main St. Italian pizzas and homemade pastas are the specialty at this popular upscale place for dinner.
Bluegrass Grill, 55 E. Main St. The lines are always long to get in here, making it one of the more popular breakfast and lunch spots downtown. It is known for the hearty Southern-style breakfasts and soups and sandwiches that it serves.
Conga Latin Food, 26 E. Main St. Pupusas — which are thick handmade corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and choice of meat — ceviche and other Latin favorites such as plantains, rice and beans and empanadas dominate in this Pan-Latin restaurant serving lunch and dinner.
Feed Co. Table & Tavern, 201 W. Main. Feed serves upscale traditional American cuisine such as the cornmeal fried catfish, St. Louis-style pork ribs, smoked chicken penne and steak options. It also offers several sandwich options such as a black bean burger or salmon burger.
HiFi Clyde’s, 122 W. Main St. Clyde’s has a little, or maybe it’s a lot of, something for everyone. Housemade chips, huge sandwiches and entrees, pingpong, TVs.
La Altena, 314 E. Main St. La Altena is a popular place for locals looking for a basket of chips and salsa and a plate full of refried beans, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.
The Local Juicery + Kitchen,
48 E. Main St. Six cold press juices are made daily including the Charcoal Lemonade, Sweet Heart Beet and Liquid Sunshine with orange, carrot, apple, ginger and lemon.
Main Street Meats, 217 E, Main St. As the name would indicate, meat is the star at this restaurant and butchery. It doesn’t get any fresher, and the burgers and sausages are special.
Neidlov’s Bakery & Cafe, 215 E. Main St. Whether you just want a bagel with juice or coffee, or a full meal, Neidlov’s is a good place to go for breakfast or lunch, and they have a Saturday brunch.
Slick’s Burgers, 309 E. Main St. Burgers and hand-cut fries are the stars here. Whether you want a burger made from certified Black Angus beef, lamb, turkey or veggies, Slick’s has it.
Southside Pizza, 612 E. Main St. You can order one of their hand-tossed pies whole, or you can choose to mix and match daily specials by the slice.
State of Confusion, 301 E. Main St. Located in what used to be an architecture resale shop, it is one of the more eclectic venues in town. The menu features wood-fired items, ceviche and a variety of cocktails. It’s a popular place for lunch and Sunday brunch.
If you are willing to widen your search for food even a couple of blocks off Main, you’ll find
several other places worth trying, including:
The Flaming Rooster, 1900 Broad St. If you like food that will take the top of your head off, this place has some of the best, and hottest, Nashville hot fish and chicken in town. They have milder versions as well.
The Flying Squirrel, 55 Johnson St. Located in an awardwinning building, the Squirrel is a great place to go for dinner, cocktails and Sunday brunch. The spicy miso brussels sprouts are a favorite, and they also offer a Japanese savory pancake and mushroom pastor tacos.
Pizza Bros Southside, 1817 Broad St. The fairly new pizza place is just a couple of blocks from Finley.
Terminal Brewhouse, 1464 Market St. Open for lunch and dinner, it offers everything from
Brewhouse Pot Roast Nachos to pizza to Buffaloaf.
Zarzour’s Cafe, 1627 Rossville Ave. This is the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Tennessee, and in addition to enjoying the freshmade meatand-two plates, or one of the best burgers in town, visitors can take in the character of the place and the people in it. It’s open only for lunch.
There are several restaurants along Station Street by the Chattanooga Choo Choo:
Stir, Frothy Monkey and
Nic & Norman’s are inside the historic complex. Stir and Nic & Norman’s are popular for lunch or dinner and Sunday brunch with large cocktail selections, while Frothy Monkey is good for breakfast and lunch.