It was really hard to decide on a rating for our experience. We were super excited to try the 1885 Grill while in town. We went early in the afternoon on a weekday, so it was very quiet. It was also a beautiful day so we sat on the patio. I love that they work with local organizations for fresh vegetables and meat! Our waiter was very nice and fairly attentive. But the food... For the good - the crab cake was delicious. It was like all crab meat with no filler and was very tasty. The pimento cheese was also SO yummy. You could tell it was made fresh and had a great flavor. The pita it came with was fine, a little over-grilled. I was not crazy about the fried okra. I wish the pieces weren't just cut in half, because to me they had that slimy okra texture inside. My gf said they weren't THAT bad, but I really had to push myself to eat them. The rosemary fries have a great flavor and were crispy (I prefer thicker fries but my gf enjoyed these). I LOVE mac and cheese and was super excited to try theirs. It was very creamy and had a good flavor but there was way too much cheese for the amount of noodles. Like the ratio was pretty off. Now for THE issue. My gf ordered the Filet Mignon, medium. It came raw and without the blue cheese compound butter. By the time the waiter came to check on us, I was half done eating. He took the steak to be put back on the grill and brought it back with a bowl of crumbled blue cheese. It was still raw inside. He brought us extra fries, but by the time it came back I was done eating. She asked for it to go and it was STILL RAW. She had cut it, so it was super obvious if you looked. The manager came and talked to us and they took it off the bill, but for a $40 filet mignon it should not take 3 tries to cook it right and it still not really be right. She said there are cold spots on the grill and they're training a new line cook, but it was not a good look... I'd maybe give more of a pass if they were packed, but there was no one eating inside and maybe two other tables of folks outside. read more

1885 Grill - Crab cake, pimento cheese and fried okra, steak with fries and mac and cheese - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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I love a good farm to table type restaurant!! Our party of 3 arrived shortly after they opened on a Sunday morning. Parking was interesting but available. Loved the ambiance and atmosphere. Kind of farmhouse sit-in kitchen feel. Our server was fantastic. He was able to give recommendations on the menu. He was attentive but not overbearing. The food was phenomenal. Breakfast being one of my favorite meals of all times is hard to go wrong. The fried green tomatoes were on point with the breading, thickness and flavor. The garlic cheese grits were so yummy. Loved my selection! It was beyond my expectations. They are certainly on my list as a must visit when I go to Chattanooga. read more

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We came here for an early dinner on a Monday. We were seated immediately and received our drinks. It took a bit for them to take our order and it took a while to get our food. We did share appetizers with the table. The hush puppies with honey butter are truly amazing! The chickens wings were different but good. The steak frites did not disappoint and that garlic aioli is divine! The pork chop was very good but not cooked to temp at the bone. The service was pretty good but not great. read more

1885 Grill - Steak Frites - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Back in town, we visited for the first time recently after knowing about the restaurant for a few years. We got an order of the hush puppies as an appetizer. They were okay, but for 5 bucks...what do you expect?‍. I would say the accompanying butter was supposed to be honey butter, but it seemed like regular butter to me! The server was polite, but I was scratching my head because she started with---"Let me go see what's not available anymore." Shouldn't she have done that before speaking to us?? The atmosphere is relaxed, but there isn't much to the decor. It was just casual.... there was brown butcher paper on top of white table cloths...kind of tacky really. It was busy, however, which added to the noise. Hubby and I both ordered the 1885 burger. Now, we are talkin'! The burger was delicious! . It was juicy and tasty. Just an all around fantastic burger. This alone is what will bring me and hubby back. The loaded baked potato was standard, but good too. It sounds like this experience wasn't great, but like I said, the burger alone is enough to go back to enjoy. read more

We have been to so many restaurants in Chattanooga. We have passed by 1885 Grill many times but haven't gone. We met up with a family member to visit and decided to give 1885 Grill a try. We are glad we did! It wasn't extremely busy when we arrived but had a ten minute wait. No biggie. While it was lively inside, we were able to relax and enjoy conversation. We ordered hush puppies with honey butter for the app. They were pretty good. We've had better elsewhere. Husband had the 1885 Burger with a loaded baked potato and I had the same with rosemary fries. The 1/2 lb burger is made with beef, bacon and brisket. It has pimento cheese, beef bacon, onion straws, lettuce and a house made mayo. The burger was incredible! Was bursting with flavor. The loaded baked potato was as one would expect. I didn't really sense any seasoning on the fries but they were still good. Would definitely go back! Server was kind and allowed us time to make up our minds about what to eat. Food was delicious and the company? Perfect. read more

We've always liked the St. Elmo area and decided to revisit 1885 Grill for Sunday lunch after several years away. The neighborhood looked great, but the restaurant has lost some of its spark. We sat outside on a nice day, and while our server was polite, his overly casual manner ("Hey, man") wasn't very professional. My St. Elmo Club was just fair, and my wife's grilled chicken salad was disappointing. The patio and interior both looked a bit tired. Overall, the food and atmosphere didn't measure up to what we remembered. We hope 1885 can return to form. read more

Bergen was our waitress On top of things had refills before even asking Food took a little while to get but once it came out let me tell you it was delicious also the sweet tea was yummy read more

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Photos on Yelp led us to believe the establishment is more upscale than it seemed as we sat for lunch. My fried flounder sandwich was very large, easy to split, but I really didn't care for the overall taste of the fish. The fried green tomato's were nice as was the fried okra w pimento cheese. read more

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Our experience here was more than 5 stars. Imagine there are a couple more stars there. Seriously, it was that good! I live in a foodie city (Asheville) and I'm spoiled with at least good and often great food. But the meal and service at 1885 Grill were among the best I've had in years. It's located in the cute little historic St. Elmo area of Chattanooga, near the base of Lookout Mountain (the incline is a couple doors down). This place is not fancy by any means. The atmosphere is homey. But what it might lack in ambiance, it more than makes up for in great food and service. We were there on a Monday night for dinner. Every inside table was full and despite looking like rain, even a few of the patio tables were occupied. At one point there was a wait. Our meal was not rushed at all, the pacing was perfect. There's a small bar inside, and the bartender was on the ball. They have a good wine list and several interesting cocktails (we had the Parkside Paloma - very nice). We were intending to order a vegetable-based appetizer, but our server noted they were having a special on chicken wings with their award winning bbq sauce (they have several trophies on display). We're not fans of sweet bbq sauce, but on the advice of the server, decided to give theirs a try. The wings were excellent. The sauce, while not spicy at all, was also not especially sweet. It was just very tasty. For entrees, we chose mushrooms and grits (with a stone ground grit cake in the center, surrounded by creamy grits) and a blackened trout filet. We were told the grit sauce was "very lemony", which it was indeed, but in a great way. It really took the grits, the mushrooms, the wilted baby kale, red peppers and capers all up to the next level of good. The NC trout was grilled about as good as you could ever grill a piece of fish. The outside was crispy (even the skin on the bottom was wonderful) and the inside was cooked through but still tender. I chose the two sides of french green beans (seasoned to perfection) and mashed potatoes with scallions and feta cheese (those literally took me to potato nirvana). Both entrees, well priced, with good portions, left us full, but still something on the dessert menu called to us. We decided a little slice of pie would be a nice way to end our wonderful menu (see the photo, "little" did not come into play at all). Our server told us they make everything there, including the key lime pie, which was served surrounded by raspberry sauce. We had never seen that before (it seemed more like what you'd do with a cheesecake). I love key lime pie so I wondered why surround it with raspberry sauce. Now I know why. It took everything I love about key lime pie and made it even better. In summary, this was fantastic food and service we will remember for some time at a restaurant that made us feel welcome and repeatedly exceeded our expectations. read more

1885 Grill - Blackened NC trout with french green beans and mashed potatoes with scallions and feta (front left) and mushroom grits 2 ways (back right) - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Don't sleep on the 1885 burger! Everything about it is amazing. From the creolaise, to smoked beef, pimento, and fresh beef. It was sooo good. The Mac and cheese was delicious too. Love how big the outdoor patio is, great for bringing a dog. Staff was friendly and food came out quickly. read more

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We stopped here on a Saturday for lunch and were seated right away inside. The restaurant was small and quaint, full of local history and decor on the walls. Service was veryyyyy slow considering they weren't too busy. We waited 20 min or so for drinks and for someone to take our order. But once the food came, wow! Excellent! We ordered the burger and fries and the BBQ chicken entree with macaroni and cheese. All fantastic! The sauce on the chicken was phenomenal; it was on the mustardy side but still sticky like BBQ. We would definitely come back here, and it was nice that it was close up Ruby Falls since we went there after lunch. read more

1885 Grill - BBQ chicken - phenomenal! - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Wings - pretty good but I wouldn't say the best ever. I love the crunchy-ness but the ranch left some to be desired. Pimento dip appetizer with fried okra - the fried okra is longer than the typical okra but still decent, especially with the pimento cheese! Hangar steak with fries - liked the garlic aioli, was a little overcooked but overall a decent choice with the flavoring on the steak. Parking is tough (location) and friendly service. read more

1885 Grill - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Great little community pub. Friendly servers and good food. I had their small steak and it was cooked to perfection.

We were at the top of Lookout Mountain in the area of the incline railway and decided to find someplace to grab an early dinner. We did a quick search and found 1885 Grill, which was very close to the bottom of the incline railway. We liked that the menu we looked at online reflected a nice variety of entrée selections. We initially called to double check if we needed a reservation, but we got a recording and thought since it was pretty early for dinner, we should be okay. We drove down the mountain to the St. Elmo area since we were not riding the railway. My wife and I were able to find parking in the lot next to the building and our friends found street parking. We were unsure of the ability to park in the lot so we inquired with the young lady at the hostess table. She was very helpful and friendly. She asked us for our license plate number and was able to validate our parking directly through the tablet she had with her. We really appreciated this service, it was the easiest parking validation we have experienced. We then provided our name and number and she told us there was a 10-minute wait for a party of four. We were very surprised to see how busy it was at 3:30pm on a Saturday. We only ended up waiting about 5 minutes before we were taken to our table. We were provided menus and our server Cheyenne stopped in and took our drink orders. When she returned, we were able to ask Cheyenne questions about the menu. She was happy to share her favorite items and was very friendly and helpful. My wife chose the Shrimp & Grits, ("half and half" as suggested by Cheyenne, Adluh stone ground grit cakes and creamy style grits). I chose the 1885 burger, when I inquired about the option of "beef bacon" described on the burger, Cheyenne told us it was beef brisket, which sounded intriguing, I also chose the mac n cheese as my side. Our entrees arrived in a timely manner and looked delicious. We dug in and were really impressed, everything tasted delicious. My wife is new to Shrimp & Grits and really enjoyed them especially the suggestion of "half and half" which provided both styles of grits. My burger and mac and cheese were equally delicious and I enjoyed the beef brisket on the burger which is not something I've tried before. We also noticed multiple awards displayed in the dining room and learned 1885 has won many awards for their wings. Cheyenne explained to us the wings are double fried and served in a Carolina gold sauce. Yum, sounds really good. We also learned that on Monday night they offer six award winning wings for just $5. We also learned the name 1885 reflects the founding year of the St. Elmo area of Chattanooga. Overall, this was a fantastic experience start to finish and we would highly recommend to others! read more

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We came in late afternoon which was pretty busy. It seemed like there were only 2 servers running the dining area. Our server was very nice but she took an order from the table that got seated after us and left us waiting. It happened again when we were ready to check out. She saw us but she decided to take an order from other table and then, gave us a check. We were waiting for about 10 minutes for nothing. The 1885 burger was delicious.The country cuban was alright. I would come back for the burger but I will do a takeout instead. read more

1885 Grill - 1885 Burger - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

This is the first restaurant where I have cleaned my plate. I left nothing. That means that the food was so very good, AND that they serve reasonable portions. I hate restaurants where a serving could feed an army. For appetizer, I got their plate of freshly made pimiento cheese (white cheese), fresh fried okra, and flatbread. I will admit, I didn't eat all the pimiento cheese and flatbread, because it was meant for two people. But I ate all of the shrimp and crawfish étouffée. Oh man! How was this Chattanooga? Tasted like N'Awlins! Bread pudding for dessert was oh-so good. Service was also superior. Nick was my server, and Tim Harris the "how are things tonight" checker-upper . Both made me feel welcome. Tip: Public parking next door is prohibitively expensive. But as soon as you walk into the restaurant, there's a QR code that credits the entire amount. Be sure to use it! read more

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The food was excellent. 1885 offers a delightful dining experience with its inviting ambiance and exceptional service. The menu features a range of delicious dishes that highlight fresh, local ingredients. Each bite is a testament to their culinary expertise. A must-visit for food lovers! read more

1885 Grill - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Solid patio... I normally don't give a three, but as I'm remembering this place, nothing stands out. Service was ok, food was decent and drinks were fine. Great location and I feel they should have capitalized on that more. Maybe that accounts for my average review read more

Amazing fried chicken and more ! The best fried chicken breast I've ate in a while, crunchy , not oily nor dry - Loved it ! Grits cake is a must try along with shrimp and creamy grits . Our waiter Timmy was wonderful - he made great recommendations. Thank you, everything was delicious !!! read more

1885 Grill - Fried chicken - Very Tasty . Loved it ! Than you for recommendations Timmy ! - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Tried to spot for the first time. Was vacationing in Tennessee with the family and found this place. I ordered the fish with string beans and the rosemary fries.. The fish was tasty and the string beans were crispy and well seasoned. Loved! My husband loved as well. The restrooms were clean and service was on point. read more

1885 Grill - Rainbow trout blackened with a side of rosemary fries and French green beans. Delicious!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

We happened to swing by as we were checking out another local attraction and I am so glad we did! We sat outside on the patio and we were greeted by Alan. Alan was excellent! So friendly, provided some great suggestions and very attentive. Great customer service! I had a peach sangria - delicious! Along with the fried green tomatoes. So good! My husband tried the empanadas and it was very good. We only stopped by for a drink and appetizer but I would definitely go back next time I am in the area. read more

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The best wings ever. Stopped in here with another couple on a random afternoon. It wasn't too busy, but they must have been short-staffed, as we had to wait for a seat. No biggie though - we just went to the bar and were served by a friendly bartender. I got the blueberry mojito and the bartender sold us on their "award-winning" wings, which were on happy hour when we stopped in. I'm so glad he sold us on those wings because they are truly some of the best wings I've ever had in my life. So good! I'll definitely plan to come back here to try more of their dishes & drinks! read more

1885 Grill - Blueberry mojito - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Like many other reviews said, it was just "okay" service wasn't great and food wasn't anything special. Location is great and so is the ambience but there are too many other great places in the area with awesome service and food to consider coming back read more

1885 Grill - Bowl of Crab Bisque - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

The food and service are wonderful here. The house special 1885 burger was one of the best I have ever had. The server "Emma", was helpful and knowlegable. The only down side was very limited, and expensive parking. read more

Everything is always sooo good. I have to say I would eat my weight in the okra and mashed potatoes and I hate mashed potatoes. 1885 is exceptional. read more

Beautiful, cool, light breeze on a Sunday afternoon, perfect day to sit out and we did. Soothing entertainment added to the relaxing vibe. Did not disappoint. Again, Simba came along, he was welcomed with a bowl of water, which he appreciated after our little hike on Lookout Mountain. The crab bisque I had was a little salty but thank goodness it was a small cup. I wish there was bread provided to dip but it was just a cup. :( My main was shrimp & crawfish Ettoufee, the sauce was tasty, the garlic bread that came with it was tasty too. My rice was under done and therefore was grainy/crunchy. Overall a nice crunchy meal. Will be back for the soup though. read more

My husband and I had just went to Rock City on vacation from florida and we were starving! we found this place, they had a short wait when we got there but it didn't take very long! All of the staff we encountered were very lovely and accommodating. Especially our waitress she was the best! I got the southern fried chicken and my husband got the grilled trout. We ate everything on our plates it was so flavorful and delicious. our waitress said nearly everything is made in house and it definitely tasted like it! the collard greens are made with turkey legs they smoke in house. We definitely recommend and will be back in the future hopefully! Also the sweet tea was delicious, veryyyyy sweet but good. read more

1885 Grill - grilled trout, collard greens cornbread and a plain baked potato - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Me and my husband were spending a few days in Chattanooga and this place was close to our lodgings so we chose it for an early dinner. We added our name to the waitlist a little before 6 and was given a wait time of 30 to 45 minutes. We got a couple of drinks and sat outside to wait. The restaurant was not quite full but and they did have many families waiting to be seated. after about an hour, I went back up to the hostess stand and ask how the weight was progressing and how much longer it should be. she responded- "We were next to be seated", so my husband and I got another drink and went back outside. After about 30 minutes my husband started getting very annoyed and we were both getting very hungry. We looked around and noticed both inside and outside that the restaurant was thinning out quickly, so I went back up to the host to stand to inquire about our table. She looked kinda surprised to see me and started anxiously explaining why we had been there over two hours for a table of two... someone else came over and offered us free hush puppies, and that we would be seated in a moment. So, we were seated at a table outside finally. My trout was OK. My husband said his salmon was undercooked. We both felt very hurried and rushed to eat because we were now nearly alone in the restaurant. I truly felt that we were not treated as valuable guests because we were not locals. I even asked the manager if we were excluded from the waitlist on purpose because of that, or because of us being senior citizens. The atmosphere did have an air of everyone knowing someone and with us being tourist in the area we knew no one. I cannot recommend this restaurant if you are a tourist, because I really don't understand what happened, and what we could have done as diners to have had a normal dinner experience. read more

Went for breakfast and it was great! Everything cooked to perfection & very fresh!! Visiting from Texas & have told many people how great to food was read more

Was walking around St Elmo and decided to give this place a try. We chose it because of the cute outdoor patio and had no clue about the food or anything. Our server was very friendly and attentive. I ordered two appetizers for my main meal - beef empanadas and the hush puppies. The chimi with the empanadas was amazing. Hush puppies were delicious and the honey butter was an added treat. My husband ordered the Cuban sandwich with rosemary fries. Both were very tasty but the rosemary fries stole the show. Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Great food great service great staff I would really recommend. They have moved to Chickamaga Ga

This was a great lunch choice on our way from Nashville back to Atlanta. Saint Elmo is a quaint little town with cute shops right by Lookout Mountain and Rock City. Our server Lena was on point with all of her recommendations with the exception of one side that they replaced with no fuss. The baby okra with the cheese was a unique appetizer that we all enjoyed along with the hush puppies and honey butter. My husband and daughter each had the burgers and while Clarence devoured all of his it was a little too much for Lily to finish. I went all out on the trout and it was worth every penny lately blackened with the herb butter and was moist and delicious. We wish we'd save room for dessert but nonetheless did not. I really wanted that bread pudding, but with two hours more to drive I didn't feel as that would make it in the car well or that I would find room even within two hours as we are just stuffed. The manager even came by to check and see how her experience was, which is always a nice touch in any restaurant. We highly recommend stopping here if you're in the area or traveling by it's worth a small detour. read more

1885 Grill - 1885 Burger - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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We had fantastic food and excellent service. We went on a Saturday for brunch and were seated quickly even though we had no reservation, even though the restaurant was busy. The chicken and waffles dish was the best I've ever eaten. The grits were also amazing. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

No longer open. Paid for parking just to find out that the restaurant is permanently closed.

It's been 6 years since we were here, and it's still just as delicious! Servers are attentive and friendly, and the bartender is probably the same from years ago! I ordered the Patio Drink (watermelon & basil vodka, lime simple syrup, cucumber slices), and hubs got a Dirty Elmo (cherry vodka, bordeaux cherries, lime simple syrup, mint, and house made ginger beer). Super tasty cocktails! For the food, our kids got grilled chicken breast and Mac and cheese. For whatever reason, our kids were not thrilled w the Mac and cheese, (i tried it and it was delicious!) but the grilled chicken beat was gobbled up! It was cooked to perfection! My husband got the steak and frites w garlic aioli (terrific!) And I got shrimp and grits. They were superb! I ordered the grits combined creamy and a fried cake piece. It was perfect! Soooo delicious! Hoping to come again the next time we pass through town! read more

Holy moly, if you're in Chattanooga stop by 1885 Grill and enjoy the food, service and ambiance. Honestly didn't know what to expect but was completely pleased. I had the crab bisque with a house salad. Both were delicious. Perfect blend of spices and just the right amount of crab. The house salad has a balanced flavor of vinaigrette and sweet/salty with cranberries and feta cheese. The Mac n Cheese best I've had. Makenzie was our server and she was just the sweetest and attentive young lady. Thank you 1885 for a wonderful experience. read more

We had an enjoyable dining experience at 1885. The atmosphere was nothing special but the food and service were great. Started off we $3 glasses of Cabernet (evening special) and a wonderful salmon dip and water cracker appetizer (another special offer). The 1885 burger and rosemary fries were very tasty. Shrimp and grits with mushrooms dish was so good! read more

1885 Grill - 1885 burger and rosemary fries - Seafood Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Amazing food and service! We ate outside on a beautiful May afternoon! I had the crab bisque and their away winning wings! They truly are amazing! Hubby had their fried shrimp! Also excellent. Strawberry Basil Sangria was also very good! read more

Nice variety and flavor on the menu. I had soup and salad. All friends enjoyed their meals.

Great food! Awesome service! Nice variety on the menu. Dog friendly patio. Located very close to the bottom of the incline. read more