The Rise of Locally-Sourced Restaurants in Chattanooga

One thing that Chattanooga isn’t short of is amazing food, that’s for sure! But another perk of living in the valley is the privilege of being surrounded by home-grown resources from our farmers. We wanted to highlight some of the farm to table restaurants around Chattanooga that pride themselves on using locally-sourced ingredients in their delectable dishes. There are so many more than what’s on this short list, but these are some we’ve tried ourselves and know they are worth sharing!

Chattanooga

1. Main Street Meats

Main Street Meats: A Staple in Chattanooga’s Farm-to-Table Scene

Located next door to the famous Niedlove’s Bakery, Main Street Meats has quickly become a staple in the Chattanooga food scene since its opening in 2014. Main Street Meats is most known for its fresh charcuterie boards, burgers, and butcher counter at the front of the restaurant. That’s right, you can actually pick up your own meats to cook at home if you’d like! 

2. 1885 Grill

1885 Grill: Locally-Sourced Dining in St. Elmo and Ooltewah

A gem of St. Elmo, 1885 Grill is a prime date-night restaurant that is highly rated for their burgers, steaks, and seafood. Enjoy their patio on a summer night while a local musician plays! They also have a location in Ooltewah for all of our Bainbridge Park, Magnolia Farms, and Farms at Creekside folks! They make sure to keep their calendar packed full of live music as well as weekly specials for food & drinks!

3. The Feed Table & Tavern

The Feed Table & Tavern: Downtown Chattanooga’s Farm-to-Table Experience

If you haven’t heard of The Feed Table & Tavern yet, we’d be surprised! Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga in the Southside district, The Feed offers an elevated farm-to-table experience that is greatly due to their partnerships with local farms and grocers. This is no surprise though, because The Feed was a joint-idea by the owners of 1885 Grill and Tremont Tavern which are another pair of amazing Chattanooga staples. Their restaurant space is also very versatile – whether you’re just wanting to enjoy a beer at the bar top or have a quieter space for date night or a dinner party. When you visit, make sure to try the catfish, burgers, or fried green tomatoes!

North Georgia

4. Farm to Fork

Farm to Fork: North Georgia’s Hidden Gem

A local favorite that not many north of the border know about, Farm to Fork opened their 2nd location on Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold, GA in 2017. Their mission is to serve the freshest ingredients they can, with only the “ice and shrimp” being the only frozen items. Farm to Fork grows some of their own vegetables but mostly sources their ingredients from farmers in Chickamauga. Offering a traditional American-style menu, Farm to Fork is a great place to go with family or even a date night. They also often have music, trivia, and other events going on which is a perfect pairing with their delicious meals! This restaurant is not far from our community The Fields at Huntley Meadows!

Cleveland

5. Aubrey’s

Aubrey’s: Community Stewardship and Local Ingredients in Cleveland

Priding themselves in ‘Community Stewardship’, Aubrey’s first started in Knoxville, TN and offers an elevated version of the southern comfort food you love while giving back to the community. Aubrey’s sources most of their ingredients locally – from vegetables, fruits, meats, to seafood. When you go, make sure to try their Grilled Salmon Tacos or Rattlesnake Pasta. Their portions are large – just how we like it in the south! They also often host events and fundraisers for local schools, teachers, and athletes. For our folks at The Trails at Freewill, make sure to check this restaurant out – you won’t be disappointed!

Why Choose Locally-Sourced Restaurants in Chattanooga?

If you’re looking for a home around Chattanooga, North Georgia, or Cleveland, make sure to reach out to us to learn more about our designer communities that are local to many of these amazing restaurants you read about above. Call us today at (423) 757-7687 or visit our Communities page here.

Chattanooga’s landscape is unique by every definition – hills, mountains, fields, farmland; what more could you need? You never get bored of the view here, that’s for sure! This is why Chattanooga is known as a huge outdoors activities hotspot in the region. Whether you’re an avid hiker, mountain biker, runner, kayaker, or even rock climber, Chattanooga has something for everyone. 

Though a lot of the hiking trails are on the western half of the city around Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain, folks in East Chattanooga shouldn’t fret – there are some great mountain biking, hiking, and even paddling spots for y’all too! We put together a short list of the best hiking trails in East Chattanooga- some of which we love to hike ourselves!

image source: https://parks.hamiltontn.gov/148/Enterprise-South-Nature-Park

     1. Enterprise South Nature Park

If you haven’t already heard about this gem, we’d be surprised! Enterprise is only 10 minutes northwest from East Brainerd and downtown Ooltewah, and offers multiple trails across the park. Enterprise has a variety of paved and unpaved trails for mountain biking, road cycling. And it also has spaces perfect for picnics and small events. Birdwatching is an easy hobby to pick up here too with a wide variety of bird species that call Enterprise home! 

image source: http://www.catoosarec.com/elsie-a-holmes-nature-park.html

       2. Elsie Holmes Nature Park

If you enjoy learning about history and taking in some beautiful nature, then definitely give this spot a visit. Just over the Georgia border in Ringgold, Elsie Holmes features over 2 miles of trail way that is great for hikers, walkers, and runners. Families can come out to enjoy this park at the playground or spend the afternoon fishing along South Chickamauga Creek. Just 10 minutes from East Brainerd and about 20 minutes from Apison, Elsie Holmes has a little something for everyone in the family.

image source: https://www.mtbproject.com/photo/7013584

        3. White Oak Mountain Trail System

This trail system features over 12 different trails ranging all difficulty levels for the avid mountain bikers and hikers. Located in beautiful Ooltewah which is just 10 minutes from East Brainerd, White Oak Mountain is a natural gem nestled right behind Southern Adventist University. Be sure to check out popular trails like the Dogwood and White Oak Ridge Loop when you go!

image source: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/wolftever-creek-greenway/photos

       4. Wolftever Creek Greenway

Wolftever Creek is located outside of Ooltewah in a small suburb called Collegedale and is known as one of the ‘hidden gems’ of the eastern hiking scene. The greenway runs for over 2.5 miles and along the way you can enjoy a variety of activities. Maybe fishing at the pond or take in the sounds of nature while you hike and birdwatch. And if you like art, be sure to stop by Veterans Memorial Park for a look at the flags and sculptures to learn a bit of history. 

image source: https://www.chattanoogaaudubon.org/audubon-acres.html

      5. Audubon Acres

One of our favorites for those who love to be immersed in nature and enjoy the wildlife. Audubon Acres is home to over 130 acres of land to explore. It offers many walking & hiking trails and paddling in South Chickamauga Creek. They also host summer camps and monthly events for all ages. It does cost $6 a person to explore, however, this site is full of rich history and ‘diversity of animal and plant life’, making it worth your while. Audubon is only minutes from Gunbarrel Rd in East Brainerd, basically in your backyard!

Chattanooga offers an abundance of outdoor activities, many of which are nearby to our communities. All of our communities are thirty minutes or less from Downtown Chattanooga, making them favorable to home buyers who want to explore the city. Check out our quick move-in page to see what homes are available now, and begin your own Chattanooga adventure today!