When you walk into Table 2 restaurant, you immediately feel as though you are in for a treat – and this place doesn’t disappoint! The atmosphere is very cosmopolitan and modern but at the same time warm and cozy. Built in a renovated brick building on the corner of East 11th and Houston Street, behind Warehouse Row, the bar and dining room are comfortable and inviting.
The restaurant and bar area were both mostly full on a Wednesday evening. My friend and I were immediately seated at about 6:00. Service was excellent – all the servers were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.
The wine list was extensive and included wines in all price ranges by the glass or bottle. Domestic beer is served on tap along with a good selection of imports. There is a full service bar and the menu described several specialty drinks that sounded very good for another visit. An excellent, moderately priced wine was recommended by our server and we both enjoyed it.
The dinner menu includes an intriguing mix of great-sounding appetizers, soups and salads, pizzas and entrees. The pizzas are offered at lunch and dinner and are cooked in a wood burning oven. Flavors include Chicken Pesto Pizza and Smoked Salmon Pizza, as well as the more traditional Capri Pizza, made with San Marzanno tomatoes, Italian basil, house mozzarella, roast garlic confit and extra virgin olive oil.
The list of starters is equally interesting. We started with a selection of fresh oysters on the half shell. The oysters are very fresh and good. We also shared the Crab Rolls. The two large rolls are served cold and made with lump crab meat, rice noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts and a lemon grass dipping sauce. The Crab Rolls are great – a good-sized portion that is very light and a perfect starter to the meal.
The choice of salad is difficult because they all sound so good! From the Bibb Salad, made with Bibb lettuce, nicoise olives, naval orange segments, pine nuts, feta cheese and orange blossom honey cumin vinaigrette, to Baby Spinach Salad, made with organic baby spinach, gorgonzola cheese, candied pecans and aged balsamic vinaigrette, they all sound yummy! We chose to split the Mixed Greens Salad which was wonderful – organic baby greens, roasted beets, Bonnie Blue Goat cheese, spiced walnuts and just the right amount of solera sherry vinaigrette.
Fresh Bouchon’s Onion Soup is always on the menu as well as the soup of the day. We tried the Bouillabaisse made with lots of fish in a wonderful savory tomato-based broth.
After the soup we shared the Hot Rock Surf and Turf starter. You absolutely MUST try this when you visit Table 2. It includes a selection of Hawaiian fish, several ounces of Kobe beef, fresh ginger and a choice of dipping sauces, all served alongside a Hot Rock – a slab of rock heated in an oven for several hours to a temperature of close to 800 degrees. You cook the fish and beef yourself on the rock and then dip the food into your choice of sauce. Not only is this dish delicious (four very distinct flavors of sushi-grade fish and incredibly tender Kobe beef), it is fun! The portions of fish and beef were generous, making it a perfect appetizer for two to share.
Entrees on the menu include several seafood dishes, pork, lamb, beef and chicken ranging in price from $14 to $24 on the regular menu. Daily specials are also available. On the advice of our server, we ordered the Spicy Korean Barbeque and the Pan Seared Destin Red Snapper (a special of the day.) We had each dish divided on to two plates for an extra $2 fee.
These dishes are also wonderful. The Spicy Korean Barbeque is very tasty – grilled and braised beef short ribs in a delicious (not too spicy) barbeque sauce served over sticky rice and Napa cabbage Kimchee. The sauce is perfectly balanced by the tangy Kimchee and then grounded with the sticky rice. We both agreed that the flavors were incredible. The Pan Seared Destin Red Snapper was fresh and good, and served over cumin and coriander scented balsamic rice, and covered with pineapple salsa.
Although we were both completely full by this point and had plenty of leftovers to take home, we decided to try some of the house-made ice cream. Be sure and ask your server about the ice cream because the flavors are not listed on the menu. The most intriguing, which we decided to try, was the Rosemary ice cream drizzled with 20-year- old balsamic vinegar. It is wonderful – rich and creamy ice cream with just a hint of rosemary aftertaste contrasts nicely with the slightly acidic vinegar topping. Another definite item to try!
We ended the meal with Stormy Monday, a yummy flourless brownie topped with house-made vanilla bean ice cream. It was incredibly rich and satisfying!
The atmosphere of the restaurant is very pleasing. The background music is definitely low enough to enjoy table conversation. The food is served on beautiful hand made pottery. The walls are exposed old brick which contrasts nicely with the modern flavor of the décor and lighting.
There is seating at the bar as well as table seating in the bar area. The main dining area contains about 12 tables as well as three cozy nooks along the back wall, perfect for a romantic evening. There is also another room for dining, which can be reserved for private parties up to 28. Table 2 offers catering for parties of 5 to 500.
The management of Table 2 has big plans for the near future. Outside seating with several open fire pits will soon be available. The upstairs of the building will be open for lunch and dinner meetings. There are also plans to offer cooking classes for private groups in the new upstairs space..
Table 2 is open every day at 11:00. Reservations are not accepted. Parking is no problem with curbside parking outside the restaurant as well as the Warehouse Row parking lot across the street. The restaurant’s telephone number is 756-8253 and the address is 232 East 11th Street, Chattanooga.
Table 2 is well worth a try. With excellent service, food and atmosphere, I think that this restaurant will become one of your favorites for a romantic evening with someone special, a meal with business acquaintances, the celebration of a special event or just dining with friends!