City Cafe Diner — Restaurant in Chattanooga

First time coming to City Cafe Diner and will be our last. Honestly wasn’t impressed with any part of our experience from the moment we walked in to the moment we left.

First off, the host comes off incredibly rude. Doesn’t seem like a pleasant guy to be around at all. I think he may be the manager or owner of the restaurant cause he went to the back and was barking orders at the staff a couple times during our visit. Definitely was off put by his demeanor, I don’t think he should be working in customer service at all. Or be managing anyone because I’m sure the staff hate him.

Also, our server Nolan seemed like an ok guy but he rarely came to check on us and even forgot to input my sisters appetizer order. When we asked about it he said he’d check on it but they didn’t even receive the food until we were done eating our main course. Not to mention the potato wedges looked dry and just had cheese thrown on top and most likely melted in the microwave. Poor guy probably hates his job.

Their menu is so big, you can easily get lost in the options. And I don’t mean that in a good way. Typically when restaurants can’t focus on a main theme for their menu offerings I’d bet that means most of the food is frozen and just heated up if ordered. The quality is typically lacking as well, which was the case with our meals.

My husband got the cordon bleu panini, I tried their four bridges panini and my son wanted to try their fettuccine Alfredo. I think between my husband and I, the fries were the star of our dishes. My son seemed to like his meal though. My sister got their eggs benefit and her husband got the monte cristo which he said wasn’t all that great.

Just based on our first visit I cannot recommend anyone trying this establishment. Not only was the food lacking, but the manager and service could also...

Let's begin with the factual: City Cafe Diner is a 24/7 restaurant in downtown Chattanooga attached to a Days' Inn. It features an expansive menu and an attractive dessert case. City Cafe offers table service, delivery, and, in my case, take out.

There's a famous saying that one of the hardest things to do in sports is win when you're supposed to. A corollary might apply to diners: one of the hardest things to do in food is be a little better than mediocre when it's expected of you. Everyone has expectations of a diner, and most of the time when those expectations aren't met, it's because of crushing disappointment rather than startling revelation. City Cafe manages to walk the line almost perfectly, offering quick service, hot food with fresh ingredients that can best be described as inoffensive.

I needed a late night snack when the Marriott kitchen was closed. I ambled up the way and placed an order for a Gyro to go, which was ready in about 5 minutes. The sandwich itself comes with french fries and tzatziki, and was covered with surprisingly fresh romaine lettuce. The meat itself was fine, though fairly standard "gyro out of a package" fare. It's not going to be competing with Yassin's in Knoxville for top honors in the Tennessee gyro contest of 2017. That said, it was a decent sandwich at a decent price at a time when nowhere else was open.

Would I go back? Maybe. It wouldn't be my first pick of dining in the area during normal hours, particularly with so many great restaurants in the area. But for what it is, City Cafe Diner delivers. If you find yourself at a nearby hotel in need of a late night snack, skip the hotel kitchen and grab something local. You'll be...

We were in town for four days attending a conference and found ourselves visiting the City Café at least once each day. Sometimes even more for a cup of coffee and one of the delicious desserts. Our group size varied, ranging from as many as twenty people to as few as four. Some days we stopped in as early as lunchtime, and other times it was close to midnight.

The menu options were amazing. There was literally something for everyone. Even the hardest to please of our group was able to have their favorites.

One waitress in particular, Kendra, stood out. She served us on multiple occasions and was consistently pleasant, attentive, and eager to go above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. The café itself was clean and inviting, with charming decorative touches that added to its appeal.

Unfortunately, there was one consistent issue that was hard to overlook. Each time we visited, the host or manager—a short man with a beard—displayed unprofessional attitude. He was unnecessarily rude to some of our group and other customers, but the way he spoke to his staff was unacceptable. He seemed to let the stress of busyness dictate his attitude. His tone was harsh and demeaning, creating a visibly tense and uncomfortable atmosphere for the employees. You could feel the energy shift whenever he walked by.

No one in a leadership role should make their team feel intimidated or afraid. When we asked about him, we were told he had been there for many years. It’s unfortunate, because I can only imagine how much more this café could thrive under stronger, more supportive management that values and...