Do you have a growing list of restaurants you’ve been dying to try? Now, you have an excuse to eat out for a week and start checking them off! Chattanooga Restaurant Week is here to celebrate the city’s top-notch chefs and wide variety of local eateries throughout the community. Skip the grocery store July 9th-15th and explore 20+ restaurants highlighting local farms and seasonal ingredients.

With so many delicious restaurants to visit, here are a few tips to eating your way through the tastiest week around.

Puckett's Grocery and RestaurantIf you’re looking for a classic American or Southern-style eatery, there are plenty to choose from such as The FEED Co. Table & Tavern, Public House, or Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant. Puckett’s serves up authentic comfort food and a side of Southern hospitality with classics like their meat-and-three and famous slow-smoked BBQ. If that’s not your style, check out The Foundry located in The Chattanoogan Hotel.

If you need a casual and quick bite for lunch, stop by Slick’s Burgers, Southside Pizza, or Edley’s Bar-B-Que. At Edley’s, you’ll find a menu that’s a tribute to all things southern – but with a twist. With options like catfish tacos or BBQ nachos, you’ll definitely find a new favorite every time you visit. Other great lunch spots are Lupi’s Pizza Pies and Café on the Corner on Lookout Mountain.

Alleia_PastaElevate your dinners with a high-end dining experience at St. John’s Restaurant or Alleia. Chef Daniel Lindley’s Alleia boasts 7 types of house-made pastas and quality produce delivered from local farms. Other tasty options include St. John’s Meeting Place, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, or Hummingbird Pastaria.

If you’re feeling adventurous, there are a few restaurants that you’ll definitely want to visit during Restaurant Week. Check out Mrs. B’s Reggae Café, Adelle’s Crêperie, or 1885 Grill for a taste of southern, coastal cuisine. For an Asian-inspired meal, try Two Ten Jack, Fuji Steak & Sushi, and Totto Sushi & Grill.

Flying Squirrel_CocktailIf you’re looking for a great happy-hour special, check out The Flying Squirrel. Their cocktail and draft beer menus are constantly changing to keep things fresh and new. Other great drink specials can be found at Southside Social and Lakeshore Grille.

Finish the week at the FiveStar Food Fight at the Chattanooga Market from Noon – 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 15th. See 5 of Chattanooga’s local chefs battle it out live with two pounds of fresh meat (cuts are a surprise), fruits, vegetables, spices, cheeses, and more collected from the Market’s vendors. They’ll demonstrate their culinary skills using FiveStar cooking ranges and present their final dish to a panel of judges. This year’s chefs are:

  • Kelley Koppinger – Marriott’s TableSouth
  • Tanner Marino – Chattanoogan Hotel’s Broad Street Grill
  • Burt Brown – Flying Squirrel
  • Hardin Cowen – Solarium
  • Reed Trimble – St. John’s Meeting Place

For more information about Restaurant Week, click here.