Is all this free time helping you work up an appetite? We’ve got you covered from breakfast to supper. Dig in.
Alleia, 25 E. Main St.
This dinner-only, Italian-focused restaurant offers house-made pasta and a brick oven that rips it at 750 degrees for their pizzas. Benton’s bacon, the premiere pork product of Tennessee that’s the first love of chefs nationwide, makes a couple of appearances in bacon-wrapped dates and on a pizza with ricotta and rosemary. Finish off your meal with home-made gelato. http://alleiarestaurant.com.
Main Street Meats, 217 E Main St.
Combination butcher shop and restaurant, Main Street Meats works with local farms to bring you sustainably and humanely raised meat. Their classic burger is legendary with house-made pickles, caramelized onions, bacon and Gruyere. The fries are made with tallow (beef fat!). And you can’t beat a place with pork rinds on the menu, served with harissa aioli just to kick it up a notch. http://www.mainstreetmeatschatt.com.
Public House, 1110 Market St.
Southern classics with a modern twist. Sweet-tea brined fried chicken, marinated mushroom and goat cheese grilled cheese and deviled eggs with bacon brittle. We’re all in. https://www.publichousechattanooga.com.
St. John’s, 1278 Market St.
The fresh, Southern-inspired menu at St. John’s features innovative creations such as shrimp and pimento cheese crackers, roasted pork belly with smoked peach jam and a seared duck breast with creamed corn, okra and chow-chow. http://www.stjohnsrestaurant.com.
Kenny’s Southside Sandwiches,
1251 Market St.
This fast casual breakfast and lunch place stars house-made meats and sides using local ingredients. Try the pork belly English muffin sandwich for breakfast or the brisket Reuben for lunch with a side of braised greens. https://www.kennyssandwiches.com.
Niedlov’s Breadworks, 215 E. Main St.
The café is open for breakfast and lunch and stars homemade pastries such as cinnamon rolls, croissants and scones for breakfast and inventive sandwiches and salads for lunch. Take some classic chocolate chip cookies with you for a late-afternoon snack. https://niedlovs.com/
The Flying Squirrel, 55 Johnson St.
Dinner is age 21 and over but everyone’s invited to brunch, including the kids. Check out the pimento cheese and bacon jam on crostini; the smashburger with smoked Cheddar sorghum-glazed onion and Dijon aioli on a Niedlov’s brioche bun; or the blackberry and fig shortcake with Chantilly cream. https://flyingsquirrelbar.com.
Whitebird at The Edwin, 102 Walnut St.
The Whitebird concentrates on Appalachian cuisine taken to a whole new level using local products from Tennessee Valley suppliers. Think about their version of Eggs Benedict with shaved country ham and pimento cheese, a rabbit pot pie and smoked beef ribs with a spicy vinegar BBQ sauce. www.whitebirdchattanooga.com.
– Catherine Mayhew