Where Top Chefs Go for Dinner

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Writer: Merrell McGinness

Zagat and Michelin may have their place, but to really learn the flavor of Chattanooga you need to consult the insiders. With discerning palates and limited leisure time, the city’s own chefs and restaurateurs can off er the best guide to uncovering the city’s dining gems.

So digest their suggestions below before your next night on the town. From the unexpected hole-in-the-wall to the upscale toast-of-the-town, there’s something for every appetite (and wallet).

Bruce Weiss, left, enjoys the intimate atmosphere of Terra Nostra

Bruce Weiss

OWNER OF RIVER STREET DELI

CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT FOR 15 YEARS

BEST KNOWN FOR: Carefully crafted daily specials, such as the Stromboli and the brisket of beef.

TOP PICKS: Terra Nostra and Chef Lin

When dining out, Bruce Weiss likes to take an off -menu approach. “If I know the place, I’ll just tell them to bring me some food,” says Weiss. One of his favorite places to do so is Terra Nostra, a tapas restaurant located across the street from his New York-style deli on the North Shore. Th e eclectic menu satisfies Bruce’s adventurous eating style, and the intimate atmosphere allows him to sample the chef’s talent. “I love the fact that it’s a small, family-run business and the family is always there.”

But when the New York native misses his former Chinese neighborhood, he heads over to Chef Lin Buffet off South Terrace Road for some of the city’s best dim sum (stuffed dumplings).

Mike Monen

CO-OWNER OF TACO MAMACITA

LIFELONG CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT

BEST KNOWN FOR: Innovative taco combinations such as the Loaded Gyro, which features thinly-sliced lamb meat, a Baja white sauce, pepperoncini peppers, pico de gallo and feta cheese, as well as margaritas featuring house-made sweet and sour and freshly squeezed juices.

TOP PICKS: St. John’s Meeting Place, Sushi Nabe and River Street Deli

When Mike Monen isn’t dreaming up new flavor combinations to go inside flour tortillas, he enjoys the creative talent of other chefs in the city. For lunch, he frequently heads across the street from his own tacqueria to River Street Deli, where he enjoys whatever special is on the menu. “Bruce puts a lot of time and creativity into his specials, so I let him tell me what to order,” says Mike.

For dinner, St. John’s Meeting Place tops the list because of its “comfort food meets fine dining” approach. The tender and flavorful braised beef cheeks and duck confit are among his favorites. Another top dinner spot is Sushi Nabe, where Mike relies on the chef’s imagination for his dinner choice.

Michael Vasta

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR BACK INN CAFÉ, REMBRANDT’S AND TONY’S

CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT FOR 9 YEARS

BEST KNOWN FOR: Back Inn Café’s shrimp and grits — made famous by one of Rachael Ray’s travel cooking shows — which features tasso ham and baked grit cakes that spend time in the fryer, all topped with a tasso cream sauce.

TOP PICK: Fuji Steakhouse

As a longtime fan of Asian cuisine, Michael Vasta’s top restaurant pick is actually a newcomer to the city: Fuji Steakhouse by Hamilton Place. Referring to it as comfort food, Vasta enjoys the artistry and interaction of hibachi-style cooking.

“For me, hibachi brings in a different angle of cooking techniques, and Fuji has a great set of chefs in a relaxed atmosphere,” says Vasta.

Open for just a few months, Fuji won Vasta over with its high quality ingredients and friendly atmosphere. His dinner selection usually includes either the filet, shrimp or scallops, which are all seared to perfection and served with fresh vegetables and fried rice.

Erik Niel

CHEF/OWNER OF EASY BISTRO

CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT FOR 9 YEARS

BEST KNOWN FOR: An impressive selection of oysters from the East, West and Gulf coast (available for just 25 cents on the half shell on Thursday nights) as well as seasonal cocktails featuring made-fromscratch syrups and fruit/liquor fusions.

TOP PICK: La Altena

While Erik Niel’s New Orleans upbringing inspires the menu for his own bistro-style eatery, his high school and college years in Texas regularly send him to La Altena in Chattanooga’s Southside. “It’s my comfort food,” says Neil. “They cook traditional Jalisco-style Mexican, which makes me feel like I’m at home.”

Among Niel’s top picks are the carnitas, the braised pork butt with charred onions and jalepenos, and the Mexico City tacos, which feature corn tortillas, carne asada, pico de gallo and avocado. Equally tempting is the Mojado Burrito, which includes chorizo, beef and beans wrapped tightly in a tortilla covered in red salsa.

Karen Haygood

CO-OWNER OF CANYON GRILL, BOATHOUSE ROTISSERIE AND RAW BAR AND SUGAR’S RIBS

CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT FOR 14 YEARS

BEST KNOWN FOR: Signature wood-fired grilling technique, which was developed by her husband and co-owner, Lawton. After pioneering the method in his former Dallas restaurant, he briefly sold his wood-fired grills to top chefs across the country, including Wolfgang Puck.

TOP PICKS: Chattanooga Billiard Club, Sweet Basil, Sushi Nabe and Boccaccia

Karen Haygood and her husband, Lawton, primarily dine on the premium fresh fish and vegetables served at their 13-year-old restaurant, Canyon Grill. But when the couple gets a hankering for a burger, they head to Chattanooga Billiard Club in downtown Chattanooga. “They use ground chuck so it has just enough fat to make it juicy, and it’s always cooked just right,” says Karen.

Other favorite dining spots include Sweet Basil for their crispy duck, curry and pineapple; Sushi Nabe forits nightly specials; and Boccaccia for their “delicate and melt-in-yourmouth” meat lasagna. “We like to eat at places that off er something different from our own restaurants,” explains Karen.

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