Chef Erik Niel didn't invent the charcuterie board, but he definitely made every establishment in the city step up their game. It is always special when Main Street Meat’s pâté shows up alongside manchego cheese imported from Spain, but the bistro’s secret weapon is its impeccable oyster selection that puts any raw bar to shame.

Pickle Barrel is arguably Chattanooga’s most iconic pub, located in a historic flatiron building smack in the middle of City Center. Despite the dive bar vibe, don’t overlook the food — it’s extremely solid. With surprisingly clean bathrooms and a great people-watching roof deck, not much has changed here over the years except for it becoming non-smoking, and that’s a good thing.

This pizzeria in Miller Plaza is essential as essential gets. Its Neapolitan style is super light with crispy, bubbly edges, as it should be. Set your mouth on fire with the ‘spicy Bianca’ topped with fresh mozzarella, ricotta Pecorino Romano, olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chiles, then put that fire out with a scoop or two of handcrafted pistachio gelato.

No, you didn't fall asleep and wake up in the intro of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but with loud pink and green graffiti and gold thrones, that’s exactly the nostalgic swagger owner Tiffany Pauldon-Banks curated at Lil Mama’s. Undoubtedly the last thing you imagined you’d be eating in Chattanooga would be a Chicago-style hoagie, but it’s one of best things between two slices of bread in the 423.

Hurricane Katrina forced chef Mike to leave New Orleans and reach the corner of Market and Main Street in Chattanooga. Now, there are a million places outside of the Big Easy selling gator bites and shrimp po’ boys, claiming it’s Creole — but this place is undoubtedly the real deal. If nothing else, be sure to order both the gumbo and crawfish etouffee.

The feeling is light and airy, easy and breezy, but the mission here is serious: Whitebird aims to elevate Appalachian cuisine from its often misunderstood ‘podunk’ status to something a little more polished and pretty. Think venison but with rosemary, labneh, and green tomato chow-chow or buttermilk fried quail with Szechuan sauce — all sourced from the Tennessee River Valley and enjoyed from tables overlooking the river.

You know a place is something special when they list cottage cheese and peaches on the menu as “vegetable options.” At Zarzour’s, the word “old-fashioned” is an understatement, as Abraham “Charlie” Zarzour immigrated from Lebanon in 1918, and 104 years later his restaurant is still churning out its coveted cheeseburgers, chicken and dumplings, plus plenty of other greasy spoon delights.

In 2013, James Beard award-nominated chef Erik Niel created a carnivore’s paradise via sandwiches packed with house-cured Coppa ham, liverwurst, and chowchow. This is Tennessee, so please dabble in Main Street Meats’ mile-long whiskey list (over 280), and don’t forget to ask the butcher for a few beautifully marbled ribeyes to bring home to show off at your next cookout. 

Maria and Jose Parra started out in 2005 slinging tacos out of a food truck throughout the streets of the Southside. Now, their chic storefront Taco Jalisco Ania has the most stellar cache of mezcal, huevos ranchero for brunch, and is one of the swankiest taquerias to ever serve tostadas tinga.

As the name suggests, “Proof” is a bar; in fact, it’s a cocktail wonderland with bartenders performing alchemy on drinks made with bubble-gum-infused vodka, dill-infused gin, or house-smoked pineapple bitters. The “Incubator” is where chefs-in-resident are given the opportunity to hone their craft, so the menu can range from chef Kenyatta Ashford’s West African Red Red with coconut rice to pineapple-banana hummingbird cake by Mrs. Kendra Elmz. Desserts are always a standout.

This is one of the places Samuel L. Jackson would always stop to eat on trips back to his hometown. Since opening in 1966, Memo’s Grill has been a mainstay in Chattanooga’s black community. The locals will probably suggest the chopped Weiner plate or the chicken wings “fried hard.”

Larry Torrence said it himself: he’s the “designated fish fryer” at his family reunions — and that should tell you everything you need to know. His first location on MLK Boulevard couldn’t handle the demand for his perfectly seasoned, breaded, and fried catfish, tilapia, and whiting, so he opened two additional locations in the city for easy fried fish access for all his fans.

Newcomer the Rosecomb is already a favorite for modern versions of Southern cookout favorites like pimiento cheese and fried catfish, and even more centrally, excellent cocktails. Set in a 1920’s cottage in the historic Riverview neighborhood, the vibe is intimate and homey, with walls and surfaces dotted with antique, quirky touches. Outside, it feels more like a friend’s summer backyard party than a restaurant, in a good way. It’s 21+ only, even at Sunday brunch.

Perched on a hill overlooking the city, Sugar’s Ribs has made the bold claim of having the best barbecue in Chattanooga. These slabs of ribs that purists go gaga over are wood-fired on a grill invented by the owner — and the results are a pleasant duet of crunch and tenderness. There are six different sauces to choose from here. Oh, and bring a bib.

Just about every Southern city has its quintessential soul food spot, and Herman’s is just that in Chattanooga. Here, the smoked ham hocks are the size of a heavyweight boxer’s fist, while the rest of the menu is filled with dishes that harken back to those Sunday dinners at your Granny’s house after church.