Background: Big River Grille & Brewing Works "was born out of a passion for fresh, hand crafted beer and premium, made from scratch regional cuisine." It began right here in a historic trolley barn, just steps away from Ross's Landing. As the restaurant notes, "Along the Tennessee River, in days gone by, it was here that fresh grains and produce were offloaded for use by local merchants including mills, markets and of course - breweries." The towering Chattanooga Brewing Company was just to the south in Chattanooga's earlier history, but Prohibition toppled it.
First Impressions: Big RIver Grill is everything people love about a brewery. From the industrial decor to the groovy music to the laid back atmosphere it brings locals and travelers alike together. The kitchen and servers were clearly understaffed but that's the situation at about every eatery.
Food: The food was great. The menu had variety and the tea was deliciously sweet. I had the Bacon BBQ Burger which was unusually thick and juicy in the best ways. Their signature mac and cheese was gooy and herby and the fries were well cooked. The best part was the chocolate ecstasy cake. It was big with a wonderful mousse in the middle and ice cream.
Overall: I got to sit by the kitchen and watch everything come out and I can’t wait to try the wings and pizza. The staff, while small, was so kind and even gave me my cake for free since I had to wait for it. Big River Grill is the perfect stop to just relax in downtown Chattanooga, have a locally crafted beer, and eat some divine chocolate cake.