I recently received Yelp Elite status. In truth, I remain somewhat unsure what to make of that…read moredistinction. Regardless, I owe this honor to a fellow Elite member who took an interest in my often stream-of-consciousness reviews, much like this one. Of course, I confess that I have never needed anyone's permission to offer my opinion. Opinions are like certain body parts: everybody has one. Although I certainly do not pretend to be a professional food critic, it seems altogether fitting and proper that one of my first reviews after receiving that designation should be about a place that is difficult to categorize and even more difficult to forget. La Cabriole has been quietly operating since 1982, when I was in the seventh grade. Somehow, despite having lived in the Chattanooga area from birth until 1997, I never discovered it. After nearly 25 years away, I returned in 2021 and finally found my way to La Cabriole in 2025. Although the Chattanooga dining scene has evolved considerably over the years, the city has not always been known for its international cuisine. French restaurants, bakeries, and similar ventures have come and gone. The owner at La Cabriole even remembered one and actually knew the manager at Paris Cafe, or some such French name, a place that I thought used to be on Market Street. The latest versions are Calliope Restaurant & Bar and Camila Bistro. Meanwhile, La Cabriole appears to have carried on quietly in the background, sustained by a modest but loyal word-of-mouth following. The restaurant is located on the northwest side of Lookout Mountain, at the end of Browns Ferry Road. When we arrived, we were thankful for the signage, as the place is a modest modular-style building with a deck. If I am being honest (#LaReyna), it is not grand or fashionable in the conventional sense. Inside, however, the restaurant has a warm, relaxed character that feels almost like a time capsule: French military uniforms displayed on mannequins, eclectic artwork on the walls, carefully set tables, and an atmosphere that is equal parts country restaurant, curiosity shop, and private dining room. My wife and I were one of only two couples dining there on the evening of our visit. Nearby, the staff was preparing a long table for a larger gathering the following day. The quiet of the room might initially make someone wonder what, exactly, they have wandered into. I want to believe that this uncertainty is part of the experience. Mrs. Geraldine Chardon, the owner and gracious maîtresse de maison, is the principal point of contact for reservations. She is pleasant, thoughtful, and unassuming. She opened the restaurant with her late husband, who was from France and trained as a chef. She came out to speak with us several times during the evening and remembered our telephone conversation when I made the reservation. The meal consisted of seven thoughtfully prepared courses. Each small plate arrived with care and purpose. Nothing felt hurried. Nothing felt careless. I had the duck confit, and my wife ordered the sea bass, if I remember correctly. As I recall, the soup was butternut squash. The chef also came out to ask how we had enjoyed our dinner. The staff was attentive, friendly, and genuinely invested in the experience they were providing. So, what is the verdict? Was it the single greatest meal I have ever eaten? I truly feel that is not really the point. The food was good, hot, flavorful, and objectively well prepared. Still, La Cabriole is greater than any individual dish. Its appeal lies in the totality of its parts: the unexpected location, the intimate setting, the quirky décor, the warmth of the service, the deliberate pacing of the meal, and the sense that the restaurant endures because, without sounding too sappy, Mrs. Chardon still seems to love what it represents. La Cabriole offers something increasingly rare: an experience with a distinct personality. It is the textbook definition of a curated experience. It feels personal. La Cabriole is openly eccentric, quietly charming, and entirely its own thing. In the end, this may be less of a conventional restaurant review than an overly nostalgic love letter to an unusual moment in time. Paraphrasing William Faulkner's famous line about the South: "Tell me about La Cabriole. What's it like there? What do they do there? Why does it continue to exist at all?" After spending an evening there, I think I finally understand.

The service was great as the staff were very visible, friendly and attentive…read more The food started okay with the first 2 courses, but the main course was not well. The steak was overcooked and tough covered in a salty gravy. The Lobster was literally served almost raw. When I pulled it from the brown shell it was translucent so we stayed away from consuming the lobster. There were 2 other tables stating the same. The bread was not fresh and didn't come with butter. We were not able to finish the main course and elected to pay and leave early. Again, it's not the service that was an issue.

Amazing food and service!!! We stayed at the Cloudland at McLemore Resort for an overnight parent's…read moregetaway. We had dinner at the Auld Alliance and it was seriously the best restaurant experience we've in a while. Oysters, bison tartar, aged ribeye with wine pairing - everything was fantastic!!! Our server Nico was wonder! Thank you for making it an extra special date night!

Maybe top 3 experience I've ever had. Comparing to Charleston, Savannah, Chattanooga, Memphis…read more We came last year Valentine's weekend with less planning and sat at the bar. Cocktails solid, we ordered a couple of appetizers and were underwhelmed. The cold sausage spam like substance was off-putting and we left. This year I'm so glad we came back. Honestly outstanding filet and salmon. The best piece of fish I've seen. Thick and not overdone. The steak was maybe the best I've ever had. Tender. Not oversalted/the chef clearly doesn't smoke which I can tell. The broccolini were beautiful - smoky flavor and crisp/not overdone. Beside myself this is better and more classic dining than many of my favorite options in Chattanooga with Michelin nods. Kudos to Sam. So impressed. We'll be back. The fries even were just out of this world. Bravo - keep it up. The venue is amazing and having a stellar restaurant makes this place a MUST. Chef's kiss - bring em out they deserve a hug!

One of the best gyros I've had in Huntsville with flavorful and fresh ingredients. They have a lot…read moreof options to choose from on their menu so I'll be back to try more.

A must try spot for lunch or breakfast located within Lowe's mill center. It was a bit of an…read moreadventure to find where exactly this was located but well worth it. There was a longer wait for our food but so worth the wait. The crepes are a bit thicker than what I'm used to and extremely huge! I'm so happy we shared the Dracula crepe. It was absolutely delicious, the crispy cheese at the top makes it. I recommend getting both the garlic sauce and pesto. The very berry smoothie was delightfully refreshing. They have ample tables right outside where you order at their counter and the food is brought to you.

We recently tried Mazzaras this week and it was amazing. We…read morehad the roasted vegetables salad. The eggplant appetizer. And two delicious entrees. We made reservations and were seated on time. Our server was friendly and very helpful with recommendations. They don't have many cocktail options but they do have plenty of wine & some fun wine flights! This is a perfect place for date night, or a good place to try to show some people from out of town that hsv DOES have some hidden gems. So far this place & purveyor have been our favorite places in town!

The service and the food were excellent. Reasonable prices based on the quality and portion sizes…read more A suggestions to make the restaurant even better would be to add table lighting. canned ceiling lights are inadequate and lack ambiance.

I recently dined at Chop House, and I must say, the experience was outstanding! From the moment I…read morewalked in, the atmosphere was inviting, with great vibes and an excellent selection of music. The service was top-notch, earning a solid 5 stars. I ordered the chicken with spinach cream sauce pizza, accompanied by a medley of vegetables, including broccoli, mushrooms, and sweet red peppers. It was absolutely delicious! I had the pleasure of sitting at the bar, where the bartenders, Christian and Elijah, provided attentive and exceptional service. They truly made my dining experience memorable. Chop House has only been open for two weeks, but they are already impressing with their food and service. I can't wait to return and try more of their delicious meals.

Our friends love Connors. They never had a bad meal there. They always order prime rib so if…read morethat's what you want you're safe. I ordered cilantro grilled shrimp it was so dry I couldn't eat it all. The broccoli and baked potatoes was much better. My husband ordered the rib appetizer. He said they were very good. Service was good but I had to ask 3 times for a gf menu. And then there were. Items on it like, shrimp and grits, but you can't have the grits. Strawberry shortcake, but no cake. I couldn't have the reduction sauce on my shrimp. It wouldn't have helped anyway. This is a beautiful restaurant and 14 people fit nicely in a quiet area. For a date it would be an ideal place to go. If you eat prime rib.

Overall my trip to Amerigo was good! Service was amazing…read more Quick service, drink refills top tier, and food was yummy! The cheese fritters are a bit smaller than we remember. The place was very clean and well kept. Wait staff was well dressed and as previous mentioned amazing! Will be back. All food is listed below in pictures & the total price before tip was $95 for four adult meals.

I think i finally found the dish I like from here after trying many. The Chicken Cannelloni is…read moredefinitely a favorite now and i like the Alfredo/red sauce combo. The chicken and spinach filling is delicious and the noodles are perfectly cooked. The Caesar salad has a nice twang to it and it was very well chilled which I really prefer. The Bruschetta is my favorite appetizer and i love the olives with the balsamic glaze and cheese, it's different but very tasty. Not really a fan of the scampi or the angel hair pasta dishes since those seem to be overcooked each time, but the cannelloni really did it for me this time. The service is great, drinks were constantly being filled and wasn't in a rush to order. Each waitress/waiter has been nice and attentive. The atmosphere is nice, laid back, nothing fancy, but just a nice casual dining experience. On super busy night it can be a bit loud, but if you go early for lunch or their early bird dinner specials it's perfect.

I randomly discovered this hotel bar late one night as I was walking along in downtown Chattanooga…read moreand noticed their sign. On walking in I discovered this was quite an interesting and eclectic spot for an adult beverage. They do have a very interesting selection of beverages and the patrons were even more interesting than the beverages. You get excellent service here along with the fantastic ambiance. This is a very unique and fascinating spot in Chattanooga to investigate as part of your adventures in the downtown area. Overall it is certainly one of the more unique places I have visited in the Chattanooga area.

Need a place to wind down with a drink and a few close friends? Need an intimate spot for a cute…read moredate night and meaningful conversation you can actually hear? This is a spot for anyone who likes a great cocktail - no matter your age. Low lighting with tiny LEDs in the ceiling to make you feel like you are enjoying a night under the stars (without the summer heat or the winter chill). No idea what you want? Have one of the super friendly bartenders whip you up a beautiful drink with an infused ice cube to top it off. Matilda, we are very happy you're back! There are far too many bars in the area that are loud and stressful, but you have real class with an ambiance that beckons.

Made a quick trip to Huntsville for a weekend getaway. BeeZr…read morewas our first stop for a drink and a late lunch. Wife and I split the Philly-like steak sandwich and an order of wings. Both were great BUT drinks were king. Will go back next time in town! Had another experience at BeeZr before we left town. Grand opening of Jefferson Alley and BeeZr offered a special menu. Wife and I got the 2nd ever BeeZr Burger. It was delicious and it paired nicely with the drinks again. This place doesn't miss.

Seriously tough call on the rating here. I think I'll settle on a 3 but it was super close to a 4,…read morejust several minor frustrations added up. I came here with one of my best friends who was home for Thanksgiving to have a girl's day out. BeeZr advertises a nice-looking brunch on the weekends so we thought we'd try it out. She wound up not being able to meet until later in the afternoon but I'm not opposed to a late brunch, so we got there around 1. It was a gray and dreary day on Thanksgiving weekend, so I get it being slow, but the restaurant was literally empty except for us and the servers. We joked it was because we'd rented the whole building to treat each other. The vibe is...fine inside. It definitely looks and feels more like a brewery than a restaurant, with large equipment and a sort of dimly lit atmosphere and a few large TVs by the nice bar. They have a small patio on the square which is REALLY lovely and definitely would've been my preference if the weather was nicer. Our server was okay. He was soft-spoken and not unpleasant, but did sort of have a knack for appearing at inopportune times during the conversation. I get that it's not always possible to avoid, but a little more discretion would've gone a long way, especially since we were the only ones in there. Our food and drinks came out in a timely manner. My biggest frustration was definitely the menu and item availability. I pre-read it and came knowing what I wanted (bananas foster French toast) only to discover that they were running a limited Thanksgiving weekend brunch menu and therefore it wasn't being offered that day. The first thing my friend ordered also wasn't available. I had my heart set on brunch so I asked for the breakfast burrito instead. Our waiter had to go check and make sure the kitchen could do it. Turns out they could - yay. But then I asked for potatoes to go with it -- and there were no breakfast potatoes available. I went with fries instead. When my burrito arrived at the table, there was no salsa or sour cream, which was supposed to come with it. Any component part of this experience is not a HUGE deal, but it all added up to be rather disappointing. My friend got the bulgogi tacos, which came in an order of two sort of small tacos. She liked them and said they were really good. She also got first a French mimosa and then a classic mimosa; I also had a classic mimosa. Both were generic but enjoyable. My breakfast burrito was decent, but I really missed the salsa and sour cream. The bacon inside was cut into tiny crunchy pieces, which I liked. The eggs were cooked very well but needed more salt and pepper. I enjoyed the bright burst of peppers and some were even a tiny bit spicy. It was a large serving but I wish it came with some side item instead of me having to order one. The side of fries was generous and they were really good -- super crispy but still fluffy inside. I thought the bill was a little high for 1 mimosa, a breakfast burrito, and fries -- almost $40. The burrito alone was $18, which seems like sooooo much for a brunch entree with no sides. Idk. Maybe I don't do mid-scale dining enough. Overall, I thought the quality of the food was solid enough that I'd consider returning, but I'd call ahead to see if they had what I wanted to avoid frustration.