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Chattanooga restaurant question:

Discussion in 'South Central - USA (TN, MS, AL, GA)' started by Gatorrari, Jul 2, 2006.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    Jim Pernikoff
    #1 Gatorrari, Jul 2, 2006
    I hope the Chattanoogans here can give me some advice.

    Next Saturday a close friend of mine from Pennsylvania will be stopping in Chattanooga overnight en route to Slidell, LA to do some hurricane relief work. He will be with a church group of about 32 which will include his wife and two sons, among others.

    I expect to drive my 328 up there to meet him, as neither he nor his family have ever seen the car in person. (And I know that the boys are chomping at the bit to get rides in the car!) They'll all be staying at the Howard Johnsons Plaza on Ringgold Road in East Ridge, and I have booked a room there myself to spend the night and drive back here on Sunday morning.

    The question is, can any of you recommend a restaurant for 32 tired yankees that would be quick, affordable, kid-friendly and tour-bus-friendly?
     
  2. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2001
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    #2 308GTS, Jul 3, 2006
    Did you want to stay on Ringgold Rd for the dining? I am never really out that way but I know there is Uncle Bud's Catfish, Chicken etc. (I haven't been there in years and last time was more $$$ than I thought it should be), Shoneys and then right off of the exit there is a Wally's rest. (a local rest. similiar to Country Place) Wallys has a decent sized parking lot. This is off the top of my head. I am sure someone who is near East. R. would know more places. I just don't get over there much.
    Let me know if you have some time on Sat. If so I will try to stop by and say hi.
     
  3. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #3 Gatorrari, Jul 3, 2006
    I think they'd be willing to go somewhere in the bus as long as it's someplace everyone could more or less agree on. Since they'll have ridden for 11 hours (!) I'm guessing they might not be too hungry, but then again I might be very wrong! Any eatery near Hamilton Place worth considering?
     
  4. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #4 Gatorrari, Jul 3, 2006
    I'll be in communication with my friend on Saturday (via his cell phone) to find out what time they expect to arrive at the HoJo. Maybe we can get several other F-cars to be there and give the bus a real Ferrari welcome!
     
  5. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2001
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    #5 308GTS, Jul 3, 2006
    Sure just let me know. My schedule looks good for next Sat. I will probably bring my GTB maybe the GTS. My GTB has quickly become my favorite car.
    Hamilton Place has many more options. Everything from Olive Garden, Sticky Fingers, Mall food court, Ruby Tuesdays (I think that is the name), not to mention all of the rest. on Gunbarrel Rd. Just keep us posted.
     
  6. drnknmnky1307

    drnknmnky1307 Karting

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    #6 drnknmnky1307, Jul 3, 2006
    If you call in advance you could do Smokey Bones or Famous Dave's if they like BBQ.
     
  7. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #7 Gatorrari, Jul 3, 2006
    I'm going to recommend Sticky Fingers to my friends. Unlike the other places mentioned, they are not in Atlanta, so the only one I ever ate at was the one at Hamilton Place. I particularly remember that it was quite kid-friendly, so it should be ideal. (I don't know how many kids will be on the bus, but they will have just come 700 miles, so a "kid-friendly" place is a must!)
     
  8. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #8 Gatorrari, Jul 3, 2006
    I'd say bring the berlinetta. Then they can get a quick lesson, not only in the differences between 308s and 328s, but also in the differences between GTBs and GTSs!
     
  9. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2001
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    #9 308GTS, Jul 3, 2006
    Will do. Just let me know what time you are going to be there and I will try to get there around the same time.
     
  10. familyman

    familyman Rookie

    Apr 6, 2005
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    #10 familyman, Jul 5, 2006
    Cracker Barrel :) My wife got me hooked on Cracker Barrel. Plus, you can actually get a bus in their parking lot

    (Sticky Fingers at Hamilton Place would require a bus to park in the Mall parking lot and then hiking it up and across the crazy roads around the mall)
     
  11. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #11 Gatorrari, Jul 9, 2006
    Thanks for everyone's help. In the end we wound up eating at Fazoli's because all the sit-down places had a minimum 45-minute wait. (This was after 8 PM on Saturday.) I know some of you will turn up your noses at Fazoli's, but I like the place; the pasta is adequate and the breadsticks are fabulous! But of course the best part was......no waiting! And in a group with 17 kids, a place like that is perfect. In the end, they had enough leftover pizza to take with them on the bus today.

    Thanks to Greg ("308GTS") for bringing his 308GTB to surprise the group. Needless to say, when the bus stopped in front of the lobby, all the boys in the group (about a dozen, ranging in age from 10 to 18) made a beeline to the two Ferraris. I think Greg will agree that their enthusiasm was "rampante"!

    I gave one of my friend's sons a ride to dinner, and the other a ride coming back to the HoJo. Then I gave my friend himself his first F-car ride this morning before they boarded the bus to continue on down to Slidell. I gave all the boys the chance to sit in the driver's seat, including one who was 6'7"! (Needless to say it was a tight fit!)

    And I decided to take the slow road back: I took US-41 all the way back to Kennesaw! I'll have a handful of photos later in the week.
     
  12. drnknmnky1307

    drnknmnky1307 Karting

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    #12 drnknmnky1307, Jul 11, 2006
    People who snuff Favoli's obviously have never had their breadsticks.
     
  13. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #13 Gatorrari, Jul 18, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    My friends got back to PA all right; they actually spent their week in LA gutting a once-flooded home (and doctor's office) in Chalmette. It was rather grim work; they needed to wear masks and gloves while working in the house. I don't think the kids in the group (in particular) will ever forget that.

    A couple of pics at the HoJo, alongside the church van:
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