The Boathouse is located at 1011 Riverside Drive. Click to enlarge.
photo by Ramona Bea
Hundreds of crews came to Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov. 5, to compete, rowing on the river. I had the best seat in the house for the Chattanooga Head of the Hooch Regatta, The Boathouse restaurant on Riverside Highway.
I started watching the event from Ross’s Landing in the morning and then decided to try the Boathouse for lunch. I spent the next couple of hours enjoying the regatta from their scenic back porch.
The temperature was perfect, the fall colors riotous. I leisurely sipped a cool drink and watched the skilled crews of the long slender sculls race by. I enjoyed calamari which is served in a very unique style at the Boathouse. Unlike the fried ringlets of squid that you are usually served, the Boathouse’s calamari is whole, very interesting to the eye and delightful to the tongue.
I moved on to the blue crab claws sautéed in garlic and butter. The succulent bites of crab melted in my mouth. After satisfying my taste for seafood, I ordered the VooDoo chicken with hot pepper dipping sauce, black beans with rice and pineapple for an entrée. I had to get the French fries with my meal. I can not go to the boathouse without ordering their French fries which are cooked in olive oil. If you want French fries, you might as well get healthy ones and these taste delicious. My entrée was very good. I have never had anything but a good meal at the Boathouse.
I stopped at the bar on my way out and spoke with manager Jesse Rogers. He proudly pointed out the new “viper towers.” The draft beer dispensers have the appearance of a cobra, hence the name viper towers. Their function is to cool the beer below freezing prior to being dispensed. I feel that I can safely say that the Boathouse serves the coldest draft beer in town. I enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the ice drop from the ceiling. It is a little weird but fascinating.
Other Boathouse exclusives include freshly shucked oysters at the bar everyday with half price oysters on Mondays. The back deck is heated in winter so you can enjoy spectacular views year round. They have several large screen TVs and shuffleboard in the bar area for your entertainment.
After stuffing yourself at the Boathouse, you can stroll along the river on the newly constructed Riverwalk which passes between the river and the restaurant. The Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar is definitely a restaurant not to be missed with an up and close personal relationship with the Tennessee River and serving incredible food.
Website: www.boathousechattanooga.com
Location: 1011 Riverside Drive
Phone: 423-622-0122
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday – Sunday
The bar is open until 11 p.m.
Parking: Ample
Reservations: Call ahead for priority seating
Alcohol: Full Bar
Smoking: At the Bar, on the porch, and there are a few tables for smokers near the bar area
Price: $10-20
Email comments to ramonabea@aol.com