We had dinner reservations to celebrate 4 friends who came in town for their birthdays. One of the guys heard about the place from his coworker and said we had to go! So we arrive just about 15 minutes early but were immediately seated. It was a bit confusing about where the host stand is since there are two entrances... but no problem because the owner was at the bar to greet us. The customer service is top tier! The venue is beautiful! But the food ... left something to be desired. I ordered the pot roast based on recommendations from the waiter. He also recommended the greens over the green beans. I also added a side of mashed potatoes and fried corn. So first, the plate came out messy (see pic). It would have only taken a second to wipe off the edge of the plate. Then the pot was appeared shredded and covered in thyme and rosemary. Both over powered the meat. I'm wondering if I had the last piece and they covered things up with the extra seasoning from the bottom. My friend also ordered the pot roast and although hers was also chopped, she did not have as much thyme and rosemary- although she complained that it was too much. Next the greens tasted unseasoned and undercooked. The fried corn was not fried but were kernels of sweet corn in some type of cornstarch slurry - awful! The mashed potatoes are boxed but edible however the white gravy was not good. I missed on the menu that the gravy is white - it should be brown. Finally, we received a piece of cornbread- it was very dense but sweet. My friends liked it but I did not. My friends had a mix of feelings from "it was good" to "just ok but I won't take my left overs home." Needless to say I also did not take my left overs home. One saving grace about the meal was the fruit tea! It was delicious! I also ordered two chocolate covered strawberries for dessert and I wished I ordered more! Since it was four friends birthday- the singer (yes there was live music) called out their names and sang a rendition of "Happy Birthday". This same singer had the room up and dancing on several song! She did a wonderful job. Plus the restaurant provided a free dessert to each of the four birthday friends! They all enjoyed their desserts! So the verdict... the venue is beautiful and a vibe for a Saturday night but unfortunately I won't return for the good. There are much better spots for soul food at much cheaper price point! read more

Davis Wayne's - Pot roast with greens, cornbread, fried corn, and mashed potatoes with gravy - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

We have eaten here numerous times and always have excellent service and amazing food. I love the family photos on the walls, the big smiles and friendly hellos from all of the staff, and the food options. I grew up eating southern home cooked meals and this place offers dishes that remind me of those memories. If you've not tried this phenomenal location, do yourself a favor and stop in! read more

Davis Wayne's - Peach Please Martini Very good! - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Dinner here consisted of soul food, live music by DLY2 and great vibes. I absolutely loved the chill and laid back vibes here. Live music is always a sure way to make a dinner outing better. The restaurant really truly reminded me of a family hangout. My food was that if a Sunday dinner and I really loved it all. The staff felt so familiar despite it being my first visit. Service was amazing. I would visit again whenever I'm in town again. read more

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The ambience is amazing! Staff is wonderful! Jayden was so friendly & attentive! I enjoyed my meal, which was the roast beef, though it was a little over-seasoned. Lotsa thyme & rosemary. It was also a tad too chopped for me. I like more a chunks, but it was still good. The flavors were present. The glazed carrots & roasted potatoes & onions were a good balance for it. Loved the cornbread! And the mac & cheese was a "YES!" The lamb chops were delicious. Not gamey at all! That hibiscus tea was EVERYTHING! They also had live music. read more

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Second time coming to this restaurant. This is now my favorite place to eat at Cambridge square! All the food is delicious with big portions. The service is excellent. The vibe is happy and James is an amazing person that makes you feel like family every time you go. I will be definitely coming back and bringing anyone who comes to visit us! LOVE LOVE LOVE this amazing restaurant. read more

Davis Wayne's - Ox tails, sweet potato casserole and collard greens with cornbread....soooo good! - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 (Note) The food was absolutely FANTASTIC! would go here all the time, but i would get fat so i cant. read more

The service was great and the mood and decor was awesome too. The only thing was the flavor of the food. The quality was great but all the food tasted the same. They used the same seasoning for every single dish. The seasoning was fine just wish they had more variety. read more

I always have the best service when I go! Everyone is amazing and so helpful. The food and drinks are always amazing! If you have not stopped by you definitely need to. read more

Gathered with some friends to share some food, beverages and fellowship. We were so impressed with the service, food and the overall feeling of this wonderful restaurant. My smothered pork was outstanding, the beverages were just right, and the music complemented the meal. We are planning to visit real soon again with another couple. read more

We stopped in for dessert to go. It's kinda hidden so we weren't exactly sure. Oh my goodness the chocolate covered items were fabulous. And the chocolate covered bacon was out of this world. The workers were polite and gracious. What a delight to find this place! read more

A real upscale soul food restaurant MEAT + sides all cooked in house with love Fabulous decor not often associated with this type of cuisine Friendly, attentive service My Smothered Pork Chop was great, sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes were excellent Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, and you won't be disappointed read more

The atmosphere is exactly what I've been looking for. The service is unmatched. I'm more upset that I am just finding this venue. This is going to be my new personal favorites. read more

I went at the recommendation of someone. I was told they have a tradition of taking a photo of all new comers. I thought it was cool. Plus heard it was good soul food. It was easy to find and there was plenty of parking. They also have live music on the weekends. Since, I don't eat beef or pork and allergic to fish, I ordered baked chicken and sides. I got greens, fried corn, Mac and cheese, and dressing. It also came with cornbread. Overall the food was good. The baked chicken wasn't super seasoned just a piece of baked chicken. The sides were all good. Really enjoyed the flavor. Also got this cake that was really good. Nice family business which has the family feel. People friendly. Music was good. My only disappointment is I didn't get a photo. I follow their page and everyone else that was with me was spotlighted that night as newcomers. No one mentioned to me about a photos. read more

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This is a beautiful black owned restaurant in Chattanooga! The food is service is top tier. Most importantly, the live music sets the tone for the perfect t evening! They are only opened for dinner read more

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I had the absolute please of checking out this restaurant on a Friday evening. I discovered this place from a tik Tok video sent to me advising of must try places in Chattanoga TN. This restaurant is located in Cambridge Square in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Davis Wayne's has a prime location on a corner in the square. I am not sure if the restaurant takes reservations, but we walked in and had no problem being seated within a few minutes. We were seated at a table next to the most lovely couple. We talked with them about he food. They raved about the chocolate covered strawberries and even had two sent to our table so we could try them. This is an example of the family like environment present at this restaurant! Not only are the staff a pleasure, but so are the patrons! It appears that all staff do all jobs. While we did have a wait staff, everyone chipped in to help. If someone noticed that my glass was empty they filled it up! It was refreshing to see staff that actually take pride in what they do. Regarding the food: I tried the wings with a side of Brussels sprouts and fried corn. My date had the salmon with Mac and cheese and potatoes and onions. All meals come with corn bread. The wings and salmon were amazing! I would order both again. My Brussels sprouts were cooked to perfection, and they are my favorite side item. Overall I enjoyed my meal. Some things to note: they don't deep fry any of the food, they also do not cook the vegetables in pork! This is a big deal for me since I am not a red meat eater. Now let's talk about those strawberries that a guest ordered for us! Oh my gosh- when I tell you it was the best chocolate covered strawberry I have ever tasted. The strawberry itself was so big and full of flavor. Adding the amazing chocolate to it only elevated the taste! You have to try these when you visit! They are dipped in house daily! This was hands down one of the best dinning out experiences I have had in a long time. It was refreshing to walk into a restaurant and feel like you have known the staff for decades. Not only are they personable, but they also pride themselves on providing recommendable customer service. I highly recommend checking this spot out if you are in the area! read more

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This place is amazing!!! Had turnip greens, pintos, sweet potato casserole and the cornbread is to die for!!! Nice ambiance and best service! A must have if you love soul food!!!! Will be back soon! Yummmmmm! read more

Overpriced unseasoned food save your money and cook at home if you want some soul food. Everyone is very Customer Service friendly and the restaurant was very clean. The environment was nice because they had entertainment there that day but if you're just looking for good old-fashioned Southern soul Food, you might want to venture out and find one farther out in Chattanooga or in Cleveland because that has not arrived in Ooltewah just yet. read more

A beautiful summer evening deserves a visit to Davis Wayne's. The warm breeze brought us here. The welcome was just as warm. We opted for the outdoor dining due to the beautiful decor and fresh air. We selected four sides each since it is evening and we thrive on a vegetarian diet. There was southern flair on every selection without carnivorous oils. For those who enjoy other nutritious options, there are plenty of options on that side of the menu too. There is even a bar, live music and desserts aplenty. So if you are craving accessible dining, drop in to Ooltewah's Cambridge Square and sit yourself down at Davis Wayne's! read more

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It was our first visit. We found this place in the Chattanooga catalog at a rest area. My husband had the pot roast with mashed potatoes, fried corn, and green beans. I had the smothered pork chop, Mac and cheese, and Brussel sprouts. We would definitely eat here again. The service was great and everyone was super friendly. It definitely had a family vibe. Live music was pleasant too. read more

Food was absolutely divine! The service was impeccable. Loved the ambiance! Great place to eat if you want soul food with a twist!!

The ambiance, service, staff, atmosphere, drinks, and food and are all outstanding. Do not ask for salt/pepper because the dishes are already perfectly seasoned and you do not need to habitually add additional. While I just went for my first time after being referred by a work colleague, I will be returning and certainly recommend this dining establishment. read more

Amazing Upscale soul food .... We had the pot roast, pork chops, & Chicken Parm: all well seasoned and huge portions .... Great sides: fried corn is wow! Super cheesy Mac. Fresh greens were well seasoned. .... Super attentive and friendly service ... Cool vibe with live music the night we went. read more

Cool Setting. Friendly Team. Beautiful Friends. Amazing n Talented Live Jazz and a Thoughtfully ever-changing crafted menu by a Creative Culinary Team to present what's done best... Doesn't get much better than that. Thank You and Continued Success to the Davis Wayne Fam n Friends! Xoxo read more

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I read one of their posts that said, 'we treat our customers like family,' it's true, they really do!! You'll feel like you just showed up for dinner at you aunt's, grandma's, or cousins house. Such a welcoming environment! You need something, just stop any of the employees and ask. You really don't have one server, the whole crew is your server. The food??? OMG next level. I hesitate to say it's like your grandmas food because I can't cheapen it down to sounding like Cracker Barrel. It's NOTHING like Cracker Barrel. Think of the best southern/soul food you've ever had then multiply that a million times. This will be a weekly spot for our family. LOVE LOVE LOVE read more

Davis Wayne's - a man behind the bar - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Wonderful ambiance And service And of course the chocolate cake So relaxing with beautiful live music playing read more

Came here with my mom to Cel her birthday last week. The food was great! My mom had the pot roast, and I had the jerk pork and both were flavorful and I ate every bite! The lemon cake for dessert was delicious as well. Alyssa was our server and she, along with the other staff we encountered, were all pleasant and did a great job keeping my drink full! Will definitely try this place again and bring the rest of the family! read more

It's really good soul/country food. Well prepared. I just wish the menu wasn't so small. Would have liked more choices, but I understand as a small business, you probably have to keep things managable. I'll be back. read more

I dream about the sweet potato casserole from here. Seriously such a great place! The salmon is my favorite dish, I wish it was on the menu permanently, but it is available often enough as a special. It is seriously the best salmon I've ever had! The customer service here is great too. It is rare to find a place that handles their to go orders as well as they handle customers dining in. read more

Worth the price. Greeted as we walked in and every moment until we walked back through the doors was top notch. First our waiter took notice of the mention of a headache and say it's away from the light and speaker. We also noticed he even turned it down. He was incredibly in tuned to our needs and accommodated them so do well. He took a genuine interest in our day. Our food: we ordered filet mignon, sweet potatoe casserole and macaroni and cheese with cornbread. We can't eat much so we always share. read more

This was like sitting down at my little mommas tabke on Sunday! This is an incredible eatery and the location is perfect! This food is the heart and soul of Southern cooking, this is our life blood, the stuff we thrive on, done a bit healthier. We had pot roast, jerk pork and grilled pork chop. While all were fantastic, the jerk pork stole the show! And save room for dessert! Ain't many places you can get a lemon "cupcake" as big as your hat! read more

Experience home cooking without the prep and cleanup. Friendly faces serve the best dishes prepared just the way Mom would, if she would allow you to have whatever you want, not just what she felt like cooking. Outdoor patio gets even more love and the exterior is so adorable, my daughter had a photographer take some of her senior pictures here! read more

Davis Wayne's - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

Excellent food! Family-owned restaurant. They go out of the way to make your experience superb. We had the steak, potatoes and collards. Delicious! Apparently, on Thursday-Saturday, they have live entertainment. A wonderful experience. Highly recommended. read more

Davis Wayne is a meat and three/Soul Food, home cooking place with a full bar, hip vibe and nice dining attitude. The atmosphere is comfortable and fun. I have never had this happen in a restaurant. When it came time to order my wife and our friend both ordered the grilled salmon. When our meals came out everyone was served except my wife. The server said "she (the wife of the couple we were with) got the last piece of salmon. We can fix you something different. What would you like?" I kid you not. Running out of an entree is not unexpected. What was surprising is that they didn't say anything about being out of salmon until everyone else's food was served. Three of four meals on the table, one person with nothing in front of them. Inexcusable. Fifteen minutes later, she got served. The food, oh yes, the food. My grilled butterfly pork chop was so dry I'm glad I opted for the "smothered" version. The salmon looked good but was not finished. The sides were not up to "meat and three quality. The cheese broccoli was frozen broccoli microwaved with some cheese melted on top. The collard greens were good. The Mac and cheese saved the meal. The manager tried to rectify the problem of serving three out of four people and that was greatly appreciated. The server was nice and well meaning but overwhelmed. The place is new and we all know how hard it is for the restaurant industry right now. Some basic training for the wait staff and quality control needs to be instituted in the kitchen. Frozen and canned products aren't going to cut it. Lots to work on here. I hope they get it right. read more

Boy do I want to like this place. The ambiance is great... and that's about as far as my accolades for it can go. Cons: -staff that is just friendly enough that you can't quite complain, but you certainly don't feel welcomed -my husband had the wings and I had the parmesan chicken... both were incredibly dry. Incredibly! -the cornbread was also relatively dry and came out room temperature. Not enough to shout about, however when I asked for butter, I was told there was none in the restaurant to be had. Peculiar. -the sides are fine, but nothing special. Most particularly because of... -the prices. Happy to pay for great food with above average prices but this was not the case here. As a side note, two of our sides came out in bowls that were scalding hot. No exaggeration, it was like touching a hot stove when I went to move one. No warning at all given by the staff. I went home with blisters on two fingers. I may come back for an attempt at drinks at the bar because the ambiance was particularly cozy, but that's about as far as my intentions would go. read more

Highly recommend Davis Waynes!!!! The food was "SO GOOD!" And the customer service was 5 star!!!!! We will definitely be back! read more

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We had a party of 6 with reservations. We waited 30 minutes on drinks and was repeatedly ask what we ordered during this time. A 25% gratuity was charged to our bill and wasn't listed anywhere that it would be, so we were charged $75 for terrible service. Beware. read more

Had a friends birthday. We had a big party and they accommodated our reservation. Wonderful flavor, food seasoned to perfection. Kind staff.

This is my first visit and will not be the last! The food is awesome. The staff is the bomb, very friendly and they treat you like family. We went on a Friday and they have a Saxophonist who plays from his heart and that's true soul. You can't go wrong if you like food that's like your grandma made and passed the recipe down. Good prices and better food. A real delightful place to relax and enjoy your meal, great atmosphere. read more

Great food and service. They also have entertainment they is amazing. Would definitely be checking the wonderful place

Food and service was wonderful!! I like the variety of sides and entrees a lot! We all cleaned our plates. read more

Davis Wayne's - Live music - Soul Food Near Me - Ooltewah, Tennessee

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