Try the club sandwich at Splitz Bar and Grill inside Pin Strikes Bowling and Laser Tag Entertainment Center.Whether it's burgers or steaks, meat-and-three or chicken salad, catfish or pot pies, traditional American food is easy to find in Chattanooga.
Backstage Lounge
5518 Brainerd Road
899-2695
Inside Holiday Bowl, the lounge offers a pub-style menu with sandwiches, salads, appetizers. Music -- DJs and live bands -- perform most Friday and Saturday nights. $
Bart's Lakeshore
5840 Lake Resort Terrace
870-0777
Selection of appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches (including boneless pork chop) and Angus burgers, wings and handmade Italian pizzas, plus entrée selections from broiler or grill menu featuring everything from spaghetti and meatballs to steaks, chicken and seafood dishes. $$
Bea's Restaurant
4500 Dodds Ave.
867-3618
One of Chattanooga's favorite all-you-can-eat places. Spin the huge lazy Susans to fill your plate with Southern cooking, and grab some cobbler for dessert. $
Bethlehem Bistro
200 W. 38th St. (in Bethlehem Center)
760-1495
One-price buffet offers a different meat each day, plus a variety of country-style, comfort-food sides. Dessert is included. $
Buffalo Wild Wings
120 Market St., 634-0468, and 5744 Highway 153, 877-3338
Burgers, salads, sandwiches, ribs and the house specialty -- wings -- in several levels of spiciness. $
Cheeburger Cheeburger
138 Market St.
265-4108
Supreme burgers, sandwiches and salads. Finish a one-pounder and get your picture on the wall, but the 7-ounce Semi-Serious is the favorite. $
Cherry Street Diner
701 Cherry St.
266-4484
Hearty Southern breakfasts (anyone for Bacon Cakes or Greek Omelets?) and waist-expanding lunches (perhaps a hard-to-find Monte Cristo?) are on the menu. $
City Cafe
901 Carter St. (Days Inn Rivergate), 634-9191, and 7641 Lee Highway (Best Western Heritage Inn), 485-8222
Tremendous variety of appetizers, soups and chili, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, chicken sandwiches, melts, Philly cheese steaks, stir-fries, American, Mexican, Greek and Italian specialties, and desserts (especially the work-of-art cakes) -- all served 24 hours. $
Cookie Jar Cafe
1887 Kelly Cross Road, Dunlap, Tenn.
423-949-5852
Nine entrees offered, or guests can create their own country plate from four daily meat choices, plus some 20 hot or cold sides. There's also a special daily entree, soup of the day, main-dish salads, burgers and sandwiches. $
The Cookie Jar Cafe in Dunlap, Tenn., has a selection of entrees along with traditional meat-and-threes.Countryside Cafe
8223 Mahan Gap Road, Ooltewah
344-8646
Neighborly restaurant serves up home-cooked meals from family recipes, including roasted chicken, skillet-fried okra and skillet-fried sweet potatoes. But don't forget the wide assortment of desserts. $
Dari Dip
302 W. Villanow St., LaFayette, Ga.
706-638-3274
Casual dining in family-type restaurant offers daily meat-and-veggie specials as well as drive-in fare, plus an ice cream treats menu. $
Diamond Billiard Club
3600 Hixson Pike, Suite 118
877-5882
The 10-ounce Angus burger is smothered in grilled onions and gravy. Specials, salads, sandwiches, steaks, chicken and pizza round out the menu. Bring a pool cue to play a round while you wait. $
Dinner Bell
3258 Chattanooga Valley Road, Flintstone, Ga.
706-820-9072
Meat-and-veggie specials, such as made-to-order chicken livers, plus a line of sandwiches and salads make this a favorite homespun eatery. $
Family Table
3904 Ringgold Road, East Ridge
698-8857
Casual family dining offers variety of items from Greek salad to Chicken Picatta to 1-pound Hungry Man Burger. Or try the soup, salad and pizza buffet. $
Fehn's 1891 House
449 Delaware Ave., Dayton, Tenn.
775-1892
Open Thursday-Saturday and the second and fourth Sundays, these third-generation restaurateurs serve up fried chicken and macaroon pie in a historic home. Beef or fish entrees and a special of the day are available, too. $$
Figgy's Sandwich Shop
805 Chestnut St.
266-8675
Often referred to as the best sandwich shop in town. A secret sauce accents the ham-and-turkey. The fruit tea and brownies also draw raves. $
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
401 Broad St., 531-8267; 5110 Hixson Pike, 870-7772; and 2020 Gunbarrel Road, 664-3500
Big and slightly smaller burgers and massive amounts of fries make this more than a run-of-the-mill burger joint. Also veggie burgers and hot dogs. $
Family Table in East Ridge has a variety of choices from American to Greek to Italian.Golly Whoppers Sandwich Shop
6337 East Brainerd Road
855-2001
Generous portions served up in specialty or create-your-own sandwiches. Salads, including the best taco salad in town, soups and delicious bar desserts (full square or bite size) also available. $
Herman's Soul Food & Catering
3821 Brainerd Road
624-5715
Southern cooking includes items such as Million Dollar Meatloaf, Famous Whiting Fish (grilled or fried) and Smothered Pork Chops With Rice. Or go for Clifford's Chicken & Waffles. $
Ivy Cottage
409 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga.
706-638-2787
Chicken salad a specialty, but sandwiches, grilled items, meat-and-veggie dishes and desserts also available in this favorite lunch-only spot. $
Kay's Kastle
8804 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
332-3310
Old-fashioned ice cream parlor serves up 20 flavors of ice cream, treats such as banana splits, plus items such as footlong hot dogs and sandwiches. $
Marsha's Backstreet Cafe
5032 Brainerd Road
485-7911
A no-frills, homestyle cafe with burgers, sandwiches and daily meat-and-veggie specials. Repeat customers swear by it. $
Melon Patch
2697 Johnson Road, Chickamauga, Ga.
706-375-7300
Home cooking at its best. Homemade rolls, hash-brown casserole and sweet potato pie draw raves, but also try the zucchini casserole or any of the fresh vegetables. $
Mount Vernon
3535 Broad St.
266-6591
Upscale Southern fare includes handmade dishes made with fresh seafood, certified black Angus meats and homemade pasta. Or choose from the Daily Healthy Choice Option and array of fresh salads. Don't forget a slice of amaretto pie. $$
Nikki's Drive Inn
899 Cherokee Blvd.
265-9015
Known for its burgers, chicken livers and fried shrimp, the restaurant is a Chattanooga institution. Fried or grilled grouper other good choices as well as the onion rings. $
Park Place Restaurant
2891 Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
706-861-5368
Meat-and-three with homecooked meals of fried chicken, pork, Salisbury steak, baked ham and more than 20 side items. Specials are changed daily. $
Pigeon Mountain Country Store
Georgia Highways 193 and 341
706-539-2999
Barbecue with a view is the specialty, but guests also can sample the locally raised, grass-fed longhorn beef burgers, ribs, Abita root beer on tap and excellent soups. $
Porter's Steakhouse
827 Broad St.
643-1240
From ocean fresh seafood to finely prepared steaks, the restaurant in the Sheraton Read House has an option for every palate, including vegetarian fare, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. $$$
Countryside Cafe in Ooltewah has an extensive menu of country cooking, along with daily specials.Riverside Catfish House
18039 Highway 41
821-9214
Open Friday-Sunday. Catfish in several varieties, but diners also can select from frog legs, prime rib, shrimp and chicken. Top off dinner with homemade coconut cake or Earthquake Cake. $
Southern Belle
Ross's Landing
266-4488
Select from three breakfast, six lunch and eight fine-dining dinner options, all while cruising the Tennessee River on a riverboat. $$$
Southern Burger Co.
1110 Market St.
825-4919
Advertising "gourmet" burgers, Southern Burger offers Bleu, Jalapeno, Habanero Jam and Veggie burgers and more, or you can just build your own with goat cheese, balsamic caramelized onions and other ingredients. $
Southern Comfort Steakhouse and Nightclub
511 Broad St.
386-5921
Southern comfort food meat-and-three lunches are standard, but there also are homemade soups, salads, wraps, a bison burger and skewered grilled tiger shrimp over linguini in wine-herb sauce. $
Southern Star
1300 Broad St., 267-8899. (Other take-out-only location, 1210 Taft Highway, 886-7004).
The menu has mainstays such as the warm Milano pasta salad, but the daily Blue Plate specials -- meats, sides, soups and specials -- continue to draw patrons. $
Southside Saloon & Bistro
1301 Chestnut St.
757-4730
Low-priced daily lunches include burgers, sandwiches, salads and specials, and items such as wings, nachos and other bite-size morsels on the weekend. $
Splitz Bar and Grill
6241 Perimeter Drive
710-3530
Wraps, sandwiches, burgers and salads along with a variety of finger foods to nosh on, plus drinks, desserts and a kids' menu, on tap inside Pin Strikes Bowling and Laser Tag Entertainment Center. $
Station House
1400 Market St. (Chattanooga Choo-Choo)
308-2481
All steak, ribs and seafood choices include salad bar and all-you-can-eat fresh shrimp -- plus entertainment from a live band and your personal singing server. $$
Southside Saloon & Bistro has lunch specials starting at $6.50 in addition to a regular menu featuring Southern comfort food, burgers, sandwiches and salads.Steve's Landing
1145 Poling Circle, Soddy-Daisy
332-4098
Try the Kickin' Chicken, catfish or ribs in comfortable, casual location on the river at Pine Harbor Marina. Come by car or boat. $$
Terrace Grille
2 Carter Plaza
756-0002
Wide variety of items for breakfast and lunch, but at dinner select from mouth-watering dishes such as the ribeye, Pasta Provencal or Lemon Chicken Breast. $$
Track's End
3435 Amnicola Highway
The diner-style restaurant, decorated in black and white and Coca-Cola memorabilia, specializes in Philly cheese steaks and burgers but also offers breakfast around the clock. On-site pastry chef makes desserts almost daily. $
Tremont Tavern
1203 Hixson Pike
266-1996
The Tavern Burger is the favorite in this nonsmoking Riverview lunch-dinner venue, but there are other burgers, sandwiches, paninis, wraps and even a quesadilla from which to choose. Plus you can select from more than 100 brews and listen to music with friends several nights a week. $
Wally's
1600 McCallie Ave., 698-4643, and 6521 Ringgold Road, 899-6151
Open since 1937, the memory-making restaurant serves Southern cooking at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Meat-and-veggies a specialty. East Ridge location offers full menu or buffet. $
Zarzour's Eats & Jackie's Treats
809 Market St.
305-0366
Something for everyone, from sandwiches and burgers to soups and salads. Specials include bourbon-glazed chicken, lasagna and home-cooked veggies. Breakfast also served. $