I recently received Yelp Elite status. In truth, I remain somewhat unsure what to make of that distinction. 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. read more

The service was great as the staff were very visible, friendly and attentive. 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. read more

Must visit in Chattanooga. You have to make reservations and bring your own alcohol. Food and service was absolutely amazing.

I wanted to give this place a chance because my husband took me there for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. There was nothing French about it. Despite the chef being French. I could've made better tomato soup at home. It tasted like it was from a can. The appetizer appeared pretty but lacked flavor, and the main dish was a fillet and a lobster tail. The fillet they didn't ask you how you wanted it cooked so you basically got it however they cooked it which unfortunately mine was medium well so I exchanged it for my husband's, which was more medium unfortunately that meant I got a translucent undercooked lobster tail. The chef came over and said would you like it cooked more and when I said yes he just stared at me so needless to say I will not be returning to this poorly decorated outdated location that gave me undercooked lobster tail and overcooked steak for $130 and we had to bring our own wine. read more

A delightful experience. The food was fantastic. The sauces were world class. The staff was engaging but not intrusive. The atmosphere is entirely unique. Highly recommended. read more

What a hidden gem in Chattanooga! So special, so unique, our food was delish. Can't believe how long this incredible place has been around and I've never known about it! Took my friend from visiting from San Diego here to show it off, and also had my 40th bday party with my family here! Huge fan! What an absolute FIND! read more

We were very pleased with the French food, it was excellent! The service was great, and the inside felt authentic. We will definitely be back. read more

The food is always amazing, the service is always top notch too. I like the way it's a little Hidden gem on the mountain and completely unexpected. The Chef is a special treat and his table Visits are really appreciated. read more

Chattanooga's best kept secret. This is such a great place for date night. The old home that it's in is so quaint. Geraldine is so accommodating. You can tell how much she cares. Every course was spectacular. It a Pre fixe menu with 7 courses. BYOB and no corkage fee. We felt so special and to hear her talk about the exciting life she has led was so intimate. The menu is set but she always has at least 4 main course choices. I had the duck breast and my wife had the filet. The sauces were so good. Be prepared to pay cash or check because she doesn't take credit cards. We will return. This is our new favorite place. read more

La Cabriole - Duck breast - French Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

I attended a birthday dinner for my friend on Saturday night, with a total of 11 people, and was very disappointed. Most of my hot food was cold or luke warm. My escargot was delicious, but that was the only course that was, besides the cheese course, which was, well, cheese, at least one of which I can buy at Aldi for around $3. I had ordered the filet for my entree, cooked medium-rare. We were told the chef wouldn't cook it past medium doneness, yet my meat was medium-well to well with zero pink on it. The cut certainly didn't look like a filet since the meat came in two sections, separated by a small connection of fat. My entree was also cold. When the waiter brought my plate he said it was medium and he didn't have a medium-rare steak left, dropped it and took off. When I tried to voice my displeasure to the female owner, it was ignored. Overall, there wasn't enough bread on the table for everyone, nor enough salad to satisfy the diners. Guests had to take salad off their plates to give it to the birthday girl. I requested more bread and the waiter seemed flabbergasted that I would do so. For $100 per person this was utterly disappointing. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant, and definitely not for a party. read more

Very intimate restaurant set in a nice French theme. Bring your appetite as it is a true 7 course meal and every course was phenomenal.

My wife and I came to this restaurant during a mini-moon right after our wedding. There is no set menu and the owner, Ms. Geraldine, spoke with me to ask about dietary restrictions/allergies/dislikes/preferences etc. and then had some suggestions for our reservation. THE BREAKDOWN *1st Course - Cream of wild mushroom soup (delicious) *2nd Course - Pesto & spinach ravioli with a red sauce and shrimp (delicious) *3rd Course - a) filet mignon with bourbon sauce, accompanied by red potatoes and mixed vegetables (delicious, perfectly cooked to medium rare temp, perfectly tender and flavorful) b) salmon filet in a white sauce accompanied by red potatoes and mixed vegetables (delicious, perfectly cooked, fresh and flavorful) *4th Course -salad with a mustard-seed based dressing (wasn't crazy about this but that's my pallet) *5th Course - Cheese and Grapes (4 different types of cheese and grapes as a compliment/pallet cleanser) *6th Course Dessert - blackberry streusel. I can't even describe to you how delicious this was or the flavor combination but it was delicious. *7th Course Coffee and zachocolate ***Decaf is an option! The venue was very intimate and the setting is gorgeous. We brought our own wine and it was truly a leisurely, pleasurable dining experience. Ms. Geraldine sat and spoke with us for a while about getting started and how she and her husband met and a little of the history. It was like being invited to someone's home and then making you a 6-course meal from the heart. It was delicious and quaint and it was perfect since we had been the only ones to book a reservation. read more

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What a quaint, little establishment. The restaurant yells France with all of the nostalgic pieces. A great and rare jewel here. Mrs. Geraldine was a delight and her stories kept us entertained throughout the evening. The food was amazingly authentic and delicious. My only regret is not taking any pics while there. We will definitely be back! read more

La Cabriole is one of the most delightful French cuisine restaurants I have have the opportunity to review. Tucked away on a 35 acre farm in the Lookout valley of Tennessee offers an experience reminiscent of the French countryside. The venue is unassuming, but once inside one feels the warmth of a family in France welcoming you into their home. With lace tablecloths and surroundings of the memorabilia of one who once taught dancing horses is definitely unique. Starting with a tasty lobster bisque we moved on to an incredible skewered shrimp with a piquant sauce accompanied by a zucchini and gnocchi ragout. It was delicious. We chose the filet with a peppercorn sauce with tiny carrots and broccoli. The filet was cooked to perfection and oh so tender. And again the sauce out of this world. For the salad, the chef presented tiny fresh lettuce with a light vinaigrette. Remember, salad comes after the meal in France. The cheese tray was marvelous as was the grand finale of chocolate cake surrounded by A raspberry coulee. The ambiance was peaceful and not your loud industrial restaurants. I was given a single red rose as it was my birthday. I cannot say enough about this romantic and delightful experience. I loved how the chef and hostess spoke of their experiences as they shared a glass of wine with us. This is a must if you want a romantic and delicious dinner read more

It is really hard to find fault with a one woman operation especially when that woman could clearly be a member AARP for more than 20 years. Having said that I will keep my criticism to a minimum A couple things to keep in mind: (1) Do not be in a hurry. We arrived at 7pm and left just after 10 pm. This is a seven course meal that is spaced out. You will get your moneys worth trust me (2) BYOB: Bring a bottle or wine, or two for you alcoholics out there. Otherwise the only option you will have is water (3) You must make a reservation, and you must bring cash Nestled in a quite neighborhood in Lookout Valley sits a mobile home that has been converted into a quaint French countryside restaurant. There are many things that go together a make sense, but Lookout Valley+Mobile Home+French Dining just seems implausible. For as bizarre as it seems she makes it work. It doesn't feel fake or pretentious, but rather feels like going to a French Grandmothers house for dinner. We are seated at a small table that is completely set as you would expect in a setting where seven courses are served. We were served a roasted red pepper bisque with hot paprika. We enjoyed very much and the hot paprika helped wake up the palette. Next was a quiche dish which we found to be very good. Our next dish was the main entree. I selected filet of beef after having many choice such as rabbit, rack of lamb, or salmon. My wife chose the Salmon. The filet was served with a red wine sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans. The mash was not what I typically think of when I think of mashed potatoes. These were a bit chunky and not as smooth; however still very good. The quality of beef was not great; however she got the temp just right. My wife chose the Salmon, The quality of the fish was not great, but the flavors was good. We were then served a salad and cheese course. The cheeses were a great selection. We really liked the honey goat cheese. The salad had a great homemade vinegrette and was just the right size to accompany the cheeses. For dessert she served us a upside down pineapple bundt cake. It was really good and looked like it came straight out of a French bakery. Overall our experience was great. This was a great get away from everything and just allowed for my wife and I to spend some time together and unwind. read more

La Cabriole - Nice little touch - French Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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This is such an amazing and unique place to go to. If you want a wonderful experience then I would highly recommend going to La Cabriole. The food is absolutely breathtaking and the experience was one of a kind. Must go!! read more

I wanted to like this place and hoped it was somewhere we could return to regularly. But this was not the case, unfortunately. The ambiance and surroundings were quaint, vintage, and yes, even charming for an older mobile home. Table settings were nicely done. First course was a lovely soup. Then we got a small basket of store-bought bread served without butter until we had to ask for it. Shouldn't have had to ask for butter. The croissants were definitely the store-bought ones that come in a tube in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. The small baguette seemed also store-bought and not freshly baked. For $100 per person, I reasonably expected a much better bread service at a French restaurant! Entrees: this is where the big let-downs really began. The filet was ordered medium rare and came medium well. The cut of beef was unlike any filet I've ever had. Dry, chewy, overcooked, and without that typical filet grain. I agree with another reviewer's observation that they really need to spend a bit more on higher quality meat at this price point. The accompanying sauce was okay, but salty. The duck was again, not a prime cut, and while cooked as ordered, it was more chewy than it should have been. Accompanying vegetables were good, but child's portion size. I always prefer quality over quantity, but those portions were ridiculous. The salad was minimal but had good dressing. Cheese plate - well it's a cheese plate, 'nuff said. Dessert was of the flourless category, which I always find heavy and dense and disappointing. Let's talk about service. They charge a 20% service charge, which is included in the $100 per person. The service tendered was not worth the $80 for 4 people. With 3 bottles of wine for the table, I should not have to get up and retrieve a bottle off the sideboard to refill our glasses. Server really only appeared when there was a course being served, and did not check in between to see if we desired anything. A request for a little more bread (no one wanted the refrigerated-section-to-oven pre-made yucky croissants), was met with, "I'll go check but I don't think we have any more." Unbelievable. But what really peeved me was the chef coming out before the meal and inspecting our bottles of wine and critiquing each one, in his august opinion. This was rude, insulting and totally unprofessional. A man with so few social graces should be confined to the kitchen. Did it occur to him that maybe one of our party was not a wine connoisseur and didn't know what to bring? There was no need to embarrass one of our party like that. Overall, for $400 for four people, there are MANY other unique restaurants in Chattanooga that will provide a much better meal and more professional service. We won't be back, sadly. read more

First, the lady who runs the place is very sweet. This is no reflection of her personality. The food and dining experience is a different story. We are from Florida. We don't splurge on $60+ per person meals often, but since we were vacationing in Chattanooga, we thought we would. This place had a few good reviews so we gave it a shot. GPS took us to a double wide trailer on a farm. We thought that was odd, but we went inside. There was one other couple. We had no idea what we would be eating. The server/only cook was, again, very sweet, but she was not a French chef. We felt like we were visiting grandma's house. Our "7 course meal" consisted of (in this order, oddly): spinach quiche which did not seem to be homemade, tomato bisque (which was mediocre or possibly from a can), our main course (I got filet mignon and my wife got chicken piccata...not great), a very basic salad, cheese plate, cheap butter, stale bread from Publix, then a raspberry pastry (which was the best part of the meal). It felt as if she went to public a few days ago and these were the things she had left in the fridge to warm up. The ambience was weird. Again, it was a double wide trailer. The interior had 1980's decor that didn't really match a French theme. There was a glass Eiffel Tower on the table next to us, so that helped us feel a little more in the moment. All in all, I appreciate that this lady is running her own business, but this really is not the best way to do it. We paid $120 for two people (cash...because she doesn't take credit cards) and we would have felt bad paying more than $50 for both of us for our experience. It also didn't help that we overheard the server/cook saying to another guest that she brings in a cook and professional servers when she has more people. The cook that she was referencing has a French name and is listed on the restaurant website. That was one of the reasons I chose this place...a French cook. The lady who cooked our meals and served us is not French and, aside from her sweet personality, I would never suggest this place. read more

It may look like a hole in the wall but clean and very personable people. They are open on Saturday with reservations only. Waiting on food now. Soup was great! read more

This is Chattanooga's best kept secret! The evening was an experience, not just a dinner. A seven course meal customized to benefit your setting. The food was excellent and the service was so personable. Geraldine was an amazing treat to speak with but knew to give your intimate setting space. Where else could you get a great meal, incredible love story, inviting atmosphere, and hear crickets? Our dinner was closed with a genuine request for a guest book signing and a thoughtful rose. I truly believe an evening here is worth every precious moment and every hard earned cent. read more

Great place, amazing food! The cook, who was very nice, went out of his way to make me a vegetarian option for the entree. All the food was delicious! If you are planning a fancy dinner or just love good food give this place a try. It's pricey, but worth it. read more

Really, really bad. There is nothing French here. Serving 7 courses of bland food does not make your establishment "French". Absolutely nothing was prepared well, and the foil wrapped land o lakes butter should have prepared us for what followed. Was perhaps the most tasteless piece of meat I have ever eaten, and the salmon served next to me was so over cooked it was a crime. The BYOB service only extended to opening the bottle. You had to reach behind you and grab it off of a table if you wanted said wine in your glass. Give this place a miss. There are many better restaurants in Chattanooga. read more

Fabulous French country style food, menu is what Chef selects from the store that day. Warm home style setting out of Provence. Well worth the time and trip. Must bring your own wine but corkage is free. read more

La Cabriole is a really special and really unique restaurant in a rustic wood building on the outskirts of Chattanooga, about 10 minutes drive from downtown. It seems like a restaurant in the countryside of Europe. It is also different from any French restaurant that I have seen in Europe or any other part of the world, and I think any person from any place in the world would think that La Cabriole is a restaurant unlike any restaurant that person has seen before. I thought the food was excellent and the owner of La Cabriole cooked the food herself, brought the food to the table where we were sitting, and while we were eating desert she sat with us for a while and told us interesting stories about her life. read more

La Cabriole 1341 Burgess Rd Chattanooga TN C'est domage? Non, c'est merde! Not unlike the late and unlamented Café Francais, La Cabriole is a one woman operation. Madame is the owner, cook and server in a converted double wide that can seat around 40 people. Dinners are by reservation only with one seating on Fridays and Saturdays at $50 per person for a prix fixe seven course meal. Madame will, to some degree, accommodate your selection of an entrée, as long as the product is readily available at a retail outlet. We were the first to arrive, but had to await the arrival of the other four reservees before we were served a hot course. The appetizer was salted cashews, fresh from a jar. The soup was a lentil, which may or may not have been made in house, with good mouth feel although the garlic flavor was clearly dehydrated. A spinach quiche was nice with fresh garlic (albeit frozen spinach) in a commercial crust. The bread course (!!!!) consisted of sliced supermarket "French" bread, unheated, and soft-crusted. Our entrées arrived 45 minutes later, after a party of four, who had arrived after us, were served theirs. The pacific sole, which we had requested be sautéed, was broiled and arrived lukewarm with shriveled, over cooked green beans. The lamb chops were barely warm, poorly trimmed and devoid of any seasoning or much flavor. The accompanying potato, snap peas and baby carrots had been roasted into brownish oblivion. We left before being subjected to the salad and desert courses. Whatever this establishment might have been before the passing of the chef/owner, it currently has nothing to do with French cuisine, professional restaurant food, or worthwhile experience. Ambiance: Good Service: Less then poor Food: Execrable Value: None AVOID read more