Starting this summer, downtown Chattanooga will have a new form of entertainment to offer local and tourists alike, Eats Food Tours. The start-up will provide entertainment focused on showcasing local restaurants in a tour format on the Chattanooga Double Decker Bus. Tours start July 12 with a Farm to Fork theme tour as well as Boozy Brunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The idea of EATS started at the 2012 spring 48 Hour Launch hosted by The Company Lab.
The business plan behind EATS won the competition, and the team waited a year to officially launch the business. The team is made up of three female veteran entrepreneurs of local endeavors.
“We really believe restaurant tours are the missing component to Chattanooga’s food scene. We have so many independently owned, thriving restaurants that make our city dynamic and a true food destination. Our goal is to show case those great eateries to locals and tourists”, stated Elizabeth Wells, co-founder of EATS Food Tours.
Over a dozen local restaurants have come on board to participate in the tours, including Fork and Pie Bar, Easy Bistro, Elemental, Terra Mae, Blacksmith Meeting Place, Honest Pint, Terminal, Hair of the Dog and many more.
Patrons can purchase tickets via EATS’ website. Once a ticket is purchased, patrons are instructed to meet on the date of their tour at the Tennessee Aquarium parking lot. The Double Decker Bus will tour them around to four of Chattanooga’s best restaurants. The two and a half hour tour will include samplings from each restaurant along with a full scenic tour of downtown and an educational experience within each restaurant from the chef or proprietor of the eatery.
Tours officially kick off on July 12, but tickets can be purchased now in advance. The Farm to Fork tour is $65 per person and the Boozy Brunch tour is $55 per person.