River Inn Restaurant is on Suck Creek Road. Click to enlarge.
photo by Janet Wilson
The River Inn Restaurant (Suck Creek Country Club) located at 2134 Suck Creek Road is now under new management. At the time we were there, the new owners had been open for three months. More than anything else, we were anxious to test the service, which in the past had proven to be much less than customer friendly.
We were given a choice of being seated inside or outside. We chose to eat on the deck, which was in the process of being screened in, complete with cover so you will still be able to sit there when it’s raining. There were quite a few customers, but finding a table was no problem.
Our server was prompt in arriving at our table, cheerfully taking our drink orders – we were getting good “vibes” about the service. When our server, Misty, returned with our drinks, she was ready to take our order.
There are 10 different appetizers, but since we are trying to eat a little lighter these days, we easily narrowed it down to the ones that were not fried – Oysters on the Half Shell ($6.25 for ½ dozen); Shrimp Cocktail ($6.95); and Beer Boiled Peel-N-Eat Shrimp ($8.95 for ¼ lb.). We decided to share a Shrimp Cocktail which turned out to be jumbo Shrimp.
We enjoyed the taste, as well as the fact that they were not soft (limp) and watery as some we have been served – but – why is it that everywhere you go,they always give you an uneven number?
Our cocktail contained five shrimp, so we couldn’t share equally. I have also noticed that when places serve rolls for two people, you are served three rolls. I wonder if they have ever heard the story of the guy with the fork in the back of his hand as he was trying to grab that “last” piece of chicken.
River Inn offers several salads – such as Seafood Salad ($7.25), which is a Seasonal Seafood mixture served on a bed of lettuce.
Wayne decided he wanted to try the New England Clam Chowder. The Chef was not willing to make an exchange regarding his accompaniments. For his entrée, Wayne ordered the Hamburger Steak (10 oz., $8.95) topped with onions and mushrooms. It is served with a choice of potato, fries or vegetable of the day, either slaw or salad, and rolls or hushpuppies.
The dilemma was that Wayne wanted to trade off the Baked Potato and Salad for the Clam Chowder. My question is “why not”. According to the menu, the Baked Potato is $1.75, as is the House Salad – a total of $3.50. The soup was only $2.95. I could understand it if you wanted to trade a cheaper item for a more expensive one, but it looks like they wouldn’t mind replacing a $3.50 item with a $2.95 – it saves them, doesn’t it?
Anyway – Wayne did order the Chowder and said it was delicious, and he would definitely order it again. He commented on the large chunks of clams in the rich and creamy chowder, accompanied by small cubes of potatoes.
I ordered the Chargrilled Rib-eye Steak (12 ounces) for $15.95. My accompaniments were the salad with a smidge of lite dressing on the side and the vegetable of the day, fresh turnip greens. I would have preferred that the greens be drained a little better because they were so full of water that every time you took a forkful, you dripped all the way to your mouth. My steak was good to perfection and I would definitely order it again – quite tasty.
We opted not to have dessert but were told by our server that they do offer homemade desserts.
Hours for the River Inn are Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.; and on Sunday from 12 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
To answer our original question, yes, the new owners do seem to be working toward a more customer-friendly atmosphere, and the food is good – so why not give them a try.
ChattanoogaDineOut.com has submitted this article to Chattanoogan.com for publication. It may not be reproduced, all or in part, without the expressed written consent of Chattanooga Dine Out.
Chattanooga Dine Out is devoted solely to reviewing restaurants in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. For a complete directory of area restaurants, visit CHATTANOOGA DINE OUT