If one of the Chattanooga area's newest restaurants – Cafe on the Corner – was a two-act play (lunch and dinner) the curtain would rise nightly to near sellout crowds on Broadway.
Now in its fifth week, the critics are giving two thumbs up to this Contemporary Southern Bistro on Lookout Mountain owned by Ruth Oehmig with her son Sven Lindroth as the executive chef.
Longtime Lookout Mountain resident Susan Yates said, “The Cafe is fresh, friendly and lovely and the food is marvelously delicious.
“All the meals are perfect, the help is cordial and Ruth is a charm and always a delight!''
The fried green tomatoes “Cafe on the Corner style'' – panko-breaded with sweet pepper jelly and basil aioli – are receiving standing ovations, while the Crab Stuffed Trout and Shrimp n' Grits are making curtain calls.
''Jody and I were the first customers for lunch on opening day at the Cafe on the Corner,'' said Dr. Bob Clark, former Lookout Mountain, Tn. mayor.
“The décor is very attractive, the service was excellent and the menu appropriate and delicious, We welcome and support our new restaurant.''
Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (but closed on Sunday's for family time), the Cafe features good, basic southern foods with an around the world flair.
“I am living off adrenaline and going all day, but the first few weeks have been wonderful,'' said Ms. Oehmig, who was born in Louisiana, lived in Riverview from age nine through her college days with stops in Chicago and Boston and currently resides on Lookout Mountain.
Cafe on the Corner at 826 Scenic Hwy, anchors the Lookout Mountain, Tn. business district and for longtime Lookout Mountain residents (baby boomers and up) its locale is the old Massey's Grocery Store.
Once inside, patrons are impressed with the beautiful brick interior and hardwood floors, accented by white tablecloths and candles on every table with an inviting fire place, perfect for the early days of winter.
Whether its a quiet dinner for two or a party of 10, “Ruthie's Place'' offers something for all ages.
“With Christmas upon us, we welcome holiday dinner parties as well as a meal for four or six as old friends reunite or young adults are back home from college,'' Ms. Oehmig stated.
“We do recommend calling for dinner reservations (423 825-5005).''
Lunch includes Cafe mac-n-cheese (chicken, bacon, mushrooms, swiss and jack cheeses), along with a good variety of sandwiches from fried grouper to hamburgers to grilled ham and pimento, plus a tempting choice of hearty and healthy salads complemented by the soup and specials of the day.
Tasty soups and appetizers include shrimp and sausage gumbo, tomato tart and tempura fried okra, and starting at 4 p.m., the dinner entree list offers seared scallops, asparagus pasta, meat loaf, pork chop and more.
“People are going crazy over the smoked pork spring rolls and we are selling out of our seared scallops most nights,'' Ms. Oehmig stated.
Deserts, home made by Sven's wife Laura, offer customers a sweet way to top off a fine dining experience, including white chocolate banana bread pudding, caramel cake served Oehmig style, warm apple cobbler and peppermint cheesecake.
“You can get anything you want at 'Ruthie's Place,''' said Lookout Mountain resident Ted Caldwell. What a wonderful addition to our community.''
Heading the team of three chefs, Lindroth and company (20-25 employees) blend traditional Southern foods – meat loaf, pork chops, roasted chicken, and a variety of seafood's, including tasty shrimp and grits – with a dash of New Orleans, a splash of Chicago cuisine, a good dose of unique Charleston seasonings and one has a special night out.
“I want to take traditional southern foods and give it my own spin,'' said Mr. Lindroth, 33, who graduated summa cum laude from culinary school at Charleston's highly acclaimed Johnson and Wales University in 2003.
Mr. Lindroth blends his own flare and tastes with some of this and some of that – Caribbean, Jamaican, European - along with the aforementioned American tastes.
He must have the Midas touch in the kitchen as the lunch crowd is steady and the dinner crowd – with numerous repeat customers – makes Cafe on the Corner the place to be for fine dining after dark.
“The food is what brings the people back three and four times and we want to offer very good, hand-crafted food,'' he stated.
Ferris Robinson of West Brow, Ga., said, “The fried green tomato blt is divine. My brother was in town from New York recently and was incredulous over it.
“And I love the beet salad and the collards are very good. Yum!''
Mr. Lindroth and the Cafe offers lots of specials – excellent clam chowder with potatoes, leek, and bacon was on the lunch menu on a recent Friday – and has plans for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and more.
“Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to a good variety of ethnic foods which was a great inspiration for a young man,'' said the Boston area native who had so many authentic foods at his fingertips, including the great Spanish and Latin markets and Chinatown.
Mr. Lindroth draws on his impressive knowledge from working with top chefs in Charleston, New Orleans, Montana, Chicago, Europe and the Caribbean.
Ms. Oehmig, with her Chicago corporate background, enjoys the business aspects of her latest venture.
“I have been planning to have a restaurant since early 2008 and this spot on Lookout Mountain is the perfect place for us,'' she said.
“We'll be around for a long time.''
But the dream of owning a restaurant goes well before Ms. Oehmig's corporate Midwest life and Mr. Lindroth cutting his teeth – as well as quality, fresh produce – at the side of world-class chefs.
''While Sven was growing up, we always talked about owning our own restaurant,'' said Ms. Oehmig who is a graduate of St. Jude's, GPS and Dominican University in Chicago,
“Sven gained his love for fine food and cooking as he spent many days and nights as a young boy in the kitchen with my dad, Bill, who just loved to cook.''
Bill Oehmig, the longtime owner of the Chattanooga Farmer's Market and one of four Oehmig brothers along with Lew (the golfer), Von and Dan helped set the table for Cafe on the Corner.
“I can remember dad cooking on Sundays in our home in Riverview for all the Oehmigs whether it was great boiled shrimp or bar-b-que or chicken and what a great time that was for me,'' Ms. Oehmig stated.
And she wants to continue to provide a great meal for others as she views catering a big part of the Cafe on the Corner menu. Executive catering – day lunches for businesses – is a huge piece of the business puzzle.
And while the menu has its day-to-day offerings, Ms. Oehmig wants to present weekend steak specials, and take advantage of seasonal specials at great prices.
“Sven and I are fortunate to have great contacts in the food business and are constantly looking for that something special to offer,'' she stated.
While her place has received high marks from greater Chattanooga area guests, she gives her own kudos to The Strauss Company for being a major player in opening the doors in late November.
“John Straussberger and his employees did a marvelous job and in under four months had the Cafe completely re-done from top to bottom and ready for us to open just before Thanksgiving,'' said Ms. Oehmig who bought the property in June.
“Their knowledge and attention to detail of what we wanted was incredible.''
And the attention to detail mother and son have put into the food and one's overall dining experience is the same – incredible.
Place: Cafe on the Corner
Style: Contemporary Southern Bistro & Catering
Location: 826 Scenic Hwy., Lookout Mtn, Tn.
Phone: (423) 825-5005
Hours: Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fri. and Sat.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Dinner Reservations: Recommended
web address: www.cafeonthecornerlookoutmountain.com
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net