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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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 !!!
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.
1 year ago
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2 years ago
Stopped in here during our trip into town. Thought it was going to be an average meal but everything exceeded our expectations. The burgers were amazing. We tried their fried green tomatoes, pimento burger and regular burger. The creamed corn was delicious. The bartender and server were very pleasant and knowledgeable. read more
2 years ago
It was okay, nothing to jump up and down about. You have to get a flashlight out to read the very tiny print on the Brunch Menus. C'mon now, spend more money on getting menus you can actually read. And increase the lighting, very dungeon-like. Frankly, I think it's overrated. The HOITY TOITY crowd seems to like it. I ordered a breakfast. Small portion of scrambled eggs and no butter for our toast. Server Suzanne was very nice and polite. One of my friends ordered a dessert and Suzanne forgot all about it, so we cancelled dessert and cashed out. It's was 92' outside so we sat indoors, not much cooler inside. I will go back when it's cooler and sit outdoors. BTW. Acoustical Music was advertised, but there was none ! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I had dinner here with friends who highly recommended this restaurant. We ordered the fried green tomatoes and award winning wings. They were so good I forgot to snap pictures before we devoured them. Our server Kattie was nice and helpful when suggesting what sides were the best for our meals. I ordered their flounder dinner with collard greens and creamed corn. The flounder was lightly fried and it was tasted like I was eating a delicate fish. The way it was fried was perfect, not too crunchy but also not too soft that it fell apart. Their creamed corn came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. But their collard greens were everything I was looking for in taste. I wish I would have ordered an extra side of them just so I can take them home and eat them later. My husband had the 1885 burger and it was humongous but equally delicious. Our son had the kids hotdog and slice apples. The hot dog was a good portion for a three year old and he enjoyed the apples that came with the plate. Service again was great and the food was amazing. Restaurant was clean and spacious. They have an upstairs that we didn't explore but hope to the next time we come back. read more
I can't say enough great things about this local find. We were driving home and swooped off the interstate to find a bite to eat with our kids but the area is next to the interstate was just too jam packed. So I found this restaurant on yelp called ahead to see if they could seat a table of 7. When they said yes, we drove there in seven minutes. This place is near the incline tram in Chattanooga so we parked there for $2 and walked down to the restaurant. This is a great local spot with lots of options on the menu. I had the veggie stack burger (really yum) with a side of creamy grits, my son had the kids shrimp and mashed potatoes. He said they were the most flavorful potatoes he ever tasted. Hahaha! My other son had a HUGE 1885 burger dressed in everything you can imagine. Be prepared to take a huge bite out of this. I can't say enough about our server she was extremely nice and very helpful with all 5 kids we had at our table. My only mistake was not trying the okra pimento cheese. Hopefully next time! read more
3 years ago
Excellent bar service - local craft beers & I had an excellent Old Fashioned. Food & prices were on point. 5 in our party this evening. Grilled shrimp entree, Airline Chicken entree, Shrimp & Grits entree, one in our party had Froed green Tomatoes as her entree, and Grilled Ribeye. Appetizers of pimento cheese & fried okra. All our food was exceptional- except the ribeye. Was reported as under seasoned. Ordered medium & came very very rare. Only disappointing thing about tonight. As a Southern grown man, I'm a connoisseur of southern fare - Collard greens. Man... some of the best greens I've ever laid my lips on. Hush puppies were good! Such a tremendous dinner tonight! Excellent server, service, ambiance & FOOD! Love it! read more
Situated in the small downtown area near the incline railway entrance, 1885 Grill is a cute Southern-style bar and restaurant that my friends and I tried for a late lunch. Ambience: nice and clean, with black tablecloths lined with paper covers to prevent excessive spills directly on it. There are some nice photos of historic St Elmos too. 5/5 Service: the servers were kind and personal and made sure we were taken care of. It was a bit slow, but there was a serious crowd in the restaurant. 5/5 Food: I had the mushroom and grits, with blackened shrimp on the side. I had the grits Skeeter style, which is half creamed and half fried grits. The grits were rich and creamy both ways, and I could taste the ample amounts of fat and butter they had added to the dish. The shrimp were perfect - extremely well seasoned and grilled to perfection. The sauce that was on the bottom had a lemon-y flavor to it, which both cut the richness of the grits as well as complemented the shrimp nicely. The mushrooms and kale rounded out the dish to give it body. The only thing I would have loved was a slightly smaller portion of grits - I had to loosen my belt by the end! Overall - good food and great service. Will be back to try other things in the menu too! read more
It was very highly recommended. So we stopped by after our visit to the Ruby Falls Caves. The service was great. The food was good, nothing amazing- slightly salty ( normally I don't prefer salty dishes). We were a group of 5- we got award winning wings, fried chicken, fish, steak frites, shrimps n grits read more
2 years ago
The ambiance at this restaurant is fantastic. My mom and I decided to visit for both the atmosphere and the food, and the outdoor area is lovely with pretty fairy lights and greenery. When we arrived, there seemed to be a wait, which was fine. We asked to be seated outside, but the host said he couldn't estimate the wait time and that he "would have to figure it out." We ended up being seated inside. (There were at least 5 empty tables outside.) Our waiter took our order but brought our Caesar salad without any silverware. We had to ask for utensils and an extra plate to split the salad, which took longer than expected. When the waitress returned, she still didn't bring what we requested and instead asked, with a noticeable attitude, if we still wanted to be seated outside. She mentioned needing to rearrange things to accommodate us, and we agreed that it was fine. However, she told us she was an indoor server, and yet, we later saw her serving other families outside. Even after all of this, the extra plate we asked for came with leftover cheese on it, which was disappointing. The food itself arrived quickly and was fine, but the service was unprofessional and careless. The silverware was filthy when it finally arrived, and overall, the servers came off as arrogant and inattentive. By the end, we found a blonde hair in our salad. (Me and my mom are both brunettes.) Also, they brought us the wrong check, which the total amount of $0.00. They came with the right check later on, and did not seem to care that we were unhappy with the service. read more
2 years ago
This is not Sesame Street kinda stuff. What an excellent dining experience. We sat in the patio area. The biggest issue was flys, but it was pet friendly and a gorgeous area. Everything was delicious and packed with flavor. The sangria flight was an excellent variety of paired flavors. Fried green tomatoes were not that heavy and the chow chow and sauce brought everything together. The empanadas were ok a bit greasy changing the flavor, the dipping sauce very good. Shrimp and grits were amazing the combo of creamy grits and the cake was on point as well as the mushrooms. Étouffée was also very flavorful and well put together. Everyone was super accommodating and the service was fast. Our waiter did an excellent job answering questions and sharing his favorites. read more
2 years ago
Great food, relaxed ambiance, indoor and outdoor seating. Taste and seasonings were on point. Can wait to eat my leftovers. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
This restaurant was recommended to us by the owner of the cabin we were staying at, and we gratefully welcomed the suggestion of a local. Since things are a bit different due to COVID, we called to make sure they were opened. As they were we made our way there for lunch. Now, we should have also asked if we could "walk-in"... when we got there, since they are limiting the amount of tables open for service, they recommend making reservations. But, we were lucky to be able to wait just 30mins before a table opened up. In the meantime we grabbed a drink and studied the menu. So many options! Once seated, inside, we noticed they definitely are practicing "social distancing" and cleaning thoroughly after each customer leaves. We were brought waters, asked if we wanted to order more drinks and after some recommendations by our server we got: Pimento Cheese Fried Okra - this was highly recommended by our server. If I'm honest, I wasn't sure I would like it but WOW! This was delicious! The Pimento cheese dip is so flavorful and the okra was perfectly cooked, even when not coated with the breading it was good. 1885 Burger - I just had to have their signature burger which also had pimento cheese in it, plus smoked bacon, fried onions, lettuce, a sort of mayo mix, and all in a soft fresh bun. With fries on the side. We told our server we would be sharing the burger and they cut it in half and divided the fries, bringing us out two plates. Not only was this burger amazing but the service was too! Knowing the demand is high and table were limited, we finished our lunch and paid as quickly as we could to give other the chance to experience this wonderful place, as we did. read more
2 years ago
The food was good. It can be a loud restaurant at times. The portion sizes are average and the service was good. read more
It's nice when a local tip pays off huge. We were leaving the place we were staying on a farm near Chattanooga when we asked the guy there, "what's a place you would recommend with local flavor and locals like." He said 1885 grill but wasn't sure if it was currently open. We called and confirmed they did, with distance seating outside, so we headed that way. We figured if a local recommended it, it was probably solid. We had the bad luck of showing up at 2 when it was "full". Only about 4 of 12 tables were occupied outside but that was the current rules. We ordered a couple of their cocktails and grabbed some extra seats that were out front in hopes someone would cancel their reservation. Lucky for us, people often do, as we got seats just a few minutes later. We got quick kind service, with a gal who gave us some good tips on the menu. Our food was out in no time. The burger was very good and made right to medium rare. I think the exceptional bite was of the fried okra. We both ate those us before anything else. It made us feel like we had a taste of the area and was really good too. We didn't hang out too long, and made our table free for the other hungry patrons. But we were glad we had trusted the opinion that fella that said 1885 was the place to go. I think he was right. read more
4 years ago
Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday and had a 35 minute wait but plenty of room to wait. 30 minutes we got seated and had a trainee and a server helping us. We ordered and I asked for no sauce on my sandwich and they got it correct on the first try.. I had also asked for a side salad instead of coleslaw and was told yes for a 1.50 up charge..which was fine and I wanted the honey dressing on it. When it arrived it had the lemon and when we got the bill they had charged us for the full salad. I pointed it and they did correct it....just watch your receipt read more
3 years ago
I was dying of hunger after a day of hiking and I needed food!!! I wanted something fast and filling! I saw this place on yelp and saw nothing but good reviews soo I had to try it for myself!!! And boy was I glad I chose this spot! All though we had to wait a little for a table the wait was well worth it!!! We started off with clam chowder and gumbo and the gumbo was soo good and flavorful!!!! But let me tell you about this burger! It was literally the best burger I've ever had!!!! It was a lot of food and didn't think I'd finish it but I had to cause it was that good!!!! Finger licking good!!! I wish I can get this burger again and again!! Definitely a must stop spot if you're in town!!!! Wish I remember the servers name cause he was very attentive! Can't wait to go on a road trip again just to spot here again! read more
2 years ago
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3 years ago
Finally checked out 1885 - St. Elmo after years of just never pulling the trigger! We had a good experience, nothing over the top. Very adequately priced & you'll get a very fair value in my opinion. I had the famous "1885" burger & it was loaded! The toppings were a lot, but tasty. The heavy toppings took away from the actual burger a bit, but still solid. My better half had the steak frites cooked Pittsburgh style. They did a fine job on it, nothing special. Rosemary fries & hushpuppies were tasty. Service was excellent, very tentative. Ambiance was solid, fun little bar area. All in all, very fair. I'd definitely go back, but won't rush! read more
2 years ago
I got the southern fried chicken and thought it was tasty. Our server was very accommodating. She kept bringing me a new soda before I asked for one. read more
4 years ago
Awesome place for the family Friendly and pleasant staff. Great food and variety. Worth the wait in a great place. Lllllllllllkkjhbhhgggggggggfghhgfgfggffcfgggfffttyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuh. read more
6 years ago
This place exceeded my expectations!! As is typical, I was browsing Yelp for a place to try. 1885 had stellar reviews so I decided to give it a try. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 8:10pm. As we drove by we noted that this place was crowded. That is typically an indication that the food is good! We proceeded to find a parking spot. This is slightly challenging. We ended up parking on the side walk in front of the main entrance. We did not have a ticket on our car upon departure, so this must be ok. When we walked in we were immediately greeted by two staff. We advise that we were interested in dining in, but did not have reservations. Initially we were told that they did not have a table for us. Since social distancing is now I thing, I understood that they would not be able to seat us. We decided to get our food to go. I was determined to eat from here. After we ordered and went to the restroom we were advised that we could dine in!! We were placed at a table in a corner, and we were indeed at least 6 feet away from the next table of patrons. Additionally all staff members had on masks. They were clearly following the guidelines that were set in place due to COVID 19. Our waitress for the evening was Katie. She was friendly, attentive, and provided the best service. Throughout the evening she was constantly bringing glasses of water when she noticed we were about to finish a glass. She always told us what she was doing next, answered all of our questions and made sure we knew she was available to provide us with whatever we needed. Our first appetizer was the pimento cheese and okra. EVERYTHING about this was tasty. It was very clear that the pimento cheese was made in house. Admittedly it does not taste like your standard pimento cheese. The okra also had a great flavor. This came paired with 7 pieces pita bread. We asked for more bread due to us not having enough to pair with the pimento cheese. There is a small charge of 25 cents for 4 pieces. We ordered 8 for 50 cents. The appetizer cost $8.00. Next up were the award winning wings. When I tell you these things were cooked to perfection!! I don't know what the secret to them being crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth on the inside with a mouthwatering sauce!! OMG!! I am still thinking about the wings the day after my visit. They come with a few sticks of celery and ranch and/or blue cheese. The only negative is that these are more wingette's instead of a full size wing. For the price that makes sense. They are $10 for 8. For the entrees we had the mushroom and grits and the grilled rainbow trout. I was not crazy about the mushroom and grits. There was a strong taste of vinegar that took away from the other natural flavors I was expecting (capers and herbs). I would not order this on my next visit. The trout was good. The side of rosemary fries were ok, as were the green beans. To top off the night I had to try the bread pudding. The flavor for the night was s'mores. This was served warm with a house made whipped cream. The consistency of this bread pudding was not what I am accustomed to, but it taste great. I could not finish it all so I look forward to enjoying the rest today! I am eager to try some of the other entrees, so I will be returning. I think this place offers great value. You get quality and good tasting food at an affordable price with unmatched service. One final note. We were advised that they have several sister restaurants that are as follows: Tremont Tavern Parkway Pourhouse The FEED Co. table & Tavern I look forward to trying all of them! read more
2 years ago
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Great food and simply amazing service. I was truly wowed by the ribeye that I had. The cocktails were also refreshing and tasty. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I was really looking forward to eating here based on all the good reviews and recommendation from our Airbnb host. Unfortunately, I had a horrible lunch experience here. We came at 11:30am, 30 mins after they opened. The hostess wouldn't seat us, even though 2/3 of the restaurant was empty, because she said they don't "double seat" their servers. I asked her what "double seat" meant and she just stared at me. I don't understand why I had to wait by the hostess stand vs. waiting at a table for the server to be free when the restaurant was empty. She didn't even bother giving us a menu to look over until I asked another gentlemen for it. Overall, the food was great and the server was attentive. However, I wouldn't go back and wait 15mins to be seated when the restaurant is more than half empty. read more
2 years ago
More info about 1885 Grill
3914 St Elmo Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37409
Directions
(423) 485-3050
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http://1885grill.com/contact
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Ask the Community - 1885 Grill
Is it loud when crowded?
I did not consider it to be loud. We went when it was fully packed and even standing around the bar and were able to have a conversation at normal levels with no issue. They didn't have any loud music and it wasn't a wild crowd.
Are Reservations required?
No they are not required. Be prepared to wait though. It gets very busy.
Are they dog-friendly on the patio? My friends from out of town want to try this place, and I thought they were, but wanted to double check.
Yes
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