by Jenny Gienapp
posted June 8, 2007
Sitting on the deck of Captain Jack's, across from the Incline, in the shadow of Lookout Mountain, watching hundreds of bikers fly by during the Tour de Georgia, enjoying a cold beer and hot wings, is about as perfect an afternoon as one will get.
Drive through downtown St. Elmo at the foot of Lookout, and you'll notice there’s a new place to meet friends for lunch, after work, or for a long summer evening. It’s not unusual to see a parking lot full at anytime of day, because Captain Jack’s has much to offer.
Opened just over a month ago, the bar and grill is the culmination of hard work and planning by co-owners Billy Blea and Jade Lockhart. Lockhart’s Fire and Smoke was started over seven years ago by Mr. Lockhart as a side business. The two owners have a combined 30 years of service as paramedics in the community. While continuing in their respective paramedic careers, they have found this to be a business in which they equally enjoy and excel.
Most recognizable for their booths at the Cornbread Festival, Chattanooga Market and other regional festivals, Lockhart’s Fire and Smoke has won countless awards for their barbecue. They continue to operate at the Market every Sunday, and had another outstanding showing at the 2007 Cornbread Festival. Over the years, they have catered events ranging from company lunches and retirement parties to full-fledged dinners and banquets numbering in the thousands.
Even though Lockhart’s will continue to operate as a catering and events business, Captain Jack’s will be the new venture for these two gentlemen. One can expect to find the same delicious offerings in a little different setting.
Obviously specializing in barbecue, one will find a refreshing array of menu items at Captain Jack’s. Most popular are the smoked wings with a homemade dipping sauce. The pork and chicken are smoked right on the premises, pulled, and served in a variety of ways. Whether it’s a plate of barbecue, a sandwich, or the signature “barbecue sundae,” one is sure to think it’s the best they’ve had. If vegetarian is your style, Captain Jack’s has a delicious veggie burger, salads, and starters that will satisfy your cravings. Not just run of the mill bar food, the menu does offer hamburgers, starters, salads, and a kids menu. And if you’re still hungry, Captain Jack’s offers several desserts, including their own homemade in-season fruit cobbler and banana pudding. Friday and Saturday nights the menu expands with fresh cut Rib-Eye’s and Caribbean entrées.
While feeding their customers is Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Blea’s specialty, they are pleased and proud of their beer selection. Specializing in regional micro and craft brews, Captain Jack’s is the only establishment in Chattanooga to offer Terrapin Beer, (Golden Ale and Rye Pale Ale), brewed in Athens, GA. This month, they’ll introduce the hard-to-find Avery IPA. They boast 21 beers on tap from classic European Imports to domestic specialties; with many more bottled varieties, amazingly yielding over 100 offerings.
Captain Jack’s offers a family-friendly setting with non-smoking dining inside and plenty of seating outside on the deck overlooking St. Elmo’s main thoroughfare. With live music on Wednesdays, and easy access to downtown and outlying areas, this is a fun, inexpensive option for lunch or dinner. For those needing to study or work, wireless accessibility is also available.
Captain Jack’s is open Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 a.m. till midnight.
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