One of the more anticipated restaurants to open in Chattanooga in some time, Bona Fide Restaurant and Bar, will officially open its doors to the public today, July 31st. The upscale, modern, and chef-driven neighborhood restaurant is located in the city’s Southside district at 55 Johnson Street, the former home of the architectural landmark that housed Ernest Chinese and Flying Squirrel.
Bona Fide has an always fresh, rotating, seasonal menu, with eclectic flavors and dishes, ranging from succulent housemade pastas to savory entrees and elegant small bites. There is also a wide-ranging dessert menu and extensive beverage offerings, including craft cocktails, wine, and beer, amidst a host of other incredible non-alcoholic options.
The culinary team is made up of head chef Joey Milenkovic, Pastry chef Estela Felipe, owner of The Boneyard, Jared Padovani, Rachel Holland, and beverage director Garth Poe. From the start, the entire experience was about more than just opening a restaurant; the team wanted to place value in craft, community, and partnership, which ultimately became the heart of the restaurant and led to multiple collaborations with surrounding restaurants, bars, and spaces.
As part of their soft opening series, I was invited along with my partner to attend last night to experience the restaurant in person before it opens to the public, and, let me tell you, it did not disappoint. When I say this was one of the top five dining experiences I’ve had in my life, I am being dead serious…