Start Restaurant, Thrive, Repeat

In my 7 months living in Chattanooga, I have almost rounded out a food conglomerate. Milk & Honey, Taco Mamacita, Community Pie, Urban Stack, and Clyde's on Main are all owned by the Monen family. My previous post was about Taco Mamacita and Milk & Honey (both of which I've eaten at MANY TIMES), so this post is about the others I have visited.

I went to Urban Stack and Community Pie (on different days - I'm not quite that gluttonous!) with my friend Dell. Now that Dell isn't busy educating the children of tomorrow, she has more time to spend with me trying out different restaurants!

Urban Stack (www.urbanstack.com) is located downtown in what used to be the Southern Railway Baggage Building. The site is really cool - lots of exposed brick, cool modern updates - all right next to train tracks. The menu is full of many different kinds of upscale burgers. They also have an extensive drink menu. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted but I had the waiter's help. I was trying to decide between the New Yorker (imagine a Reuben ON TOP of a burger) and the N. Carolina Chili Cheeseburger. He recommended the chili so that's what I chose. It wasn't bad but it wasn't my favorite. 

 I don't like pickles so I didn't eat those. The slaw came on the side but I felt it was better ON the burger. The chili wasn't bad but it was kind of bland. The whole burger itself ended up being just a "meat-fest". Honestly, that sounds kind of appetizing but somehow it wasn't. I would've liked a bit more flavor, a bit more texture. I think the pickles would have added to it but they're just not my thing. The fries were really good and the bun is local (from Niedlov's) but it overall wasn't that satisfying. I only ate about half. Interestingly enough, better as leftovers....
I would definitely be up for trying Urban Stack again, but next time I'm going for the Reuben. Dell had a regular cheeseburger with regular fries and I think she enjoyed it pretty well - just not super exciting.

Next time, maybe we'll both be a little more adventurous! Urban Stack DOES offer Milk & Honey Gelato but only in the form of milkshakes. :(

Let's move on to Community Pie. Community Pie (www.communitypie.com) offers traditional New York Style and authentic Neopolitan pizza. They use special "deck ovens" to bake the pizzas. One great thing about this restaurant? There's a mini Milk & Honey right inside!! I ordered the "Drunk Pig" but the waiter suggested the "Vodka Pie" which was made Neopolitan Style. I decided to trust him and I was rewarded.

The Vodka Pie has vodka sauce (duh), ricotta, homemade fennel sausage, mozzarella, parmesan, and red pepper (I nixed the red pepper). It was delicious. The "burnt" areas of the crust - I'm sure they're called something fancy but I don't know what - added a nice taste to the pizza. The vodka sauce was wonderful and I especially loved the ricotta. This pizza has a nice thin crust (my favorite!). I ate about half the pizza and took the rest home...where I then finished it on the same night. Add to the delicious pizza a dessert of Milk & Honey served in a cute little glass bowl? You've got yourself a winner! I will definitely be going back. 

Now I just have to check out Clyde's....