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Alleia
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Diners Italian, Diners
25 E Main StChattanooga, TN 37408
(423) 305-6990
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Alleia
Review Highlights
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"Other amazing dishes: the beef carpaccio is my favorite..." In 3 reviews -
"If it is still there, get the pork shoulder." In 3 reviews -
"They have an interesting wine list as well." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Sia G.
Chattanooga, TN
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my faves in Chattanooga. Absolutely GORGEOUS building and decor. Italian food done simple and perfect. Bring a date to impress or a group of friends and sit in the middle at the family style table and watch the wood fired ovens bake up your pizza to perfection. The waitstaff is attentive, informed, & friendly.
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Review from Karen E.
Philadelphia, PA
11/26/2011
Alleia opened my eyes to fine dining in Chattanooga's up and coming 'urban' district. By day, rustic pizzas make it family friendly. At night, the decor becomes sexy, and the food matches adequately.
Your experience at Alleia's cannot be rushed - please, take time to savor and respect the culinary artistry. I had the quail, The Good Doctor had the duck - both dishes whispered delightfully in our mouths.
Alleia has no freezer - everything is fresh. Their bread comes from the popular Niedlove's Breadworks, just up the street. The chef is a five time James Beard Award nominee - we trust that the sixth time will be the charm. -
Review from Deanna G.
Dalton, GA
3/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of the best restaurants on the region! Great atmosphere, service and AMAZING food. Always worth the trip to Chattavegas for a good dinner!
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Review from Clint M.
Chattanooga, TN
12/29/2011
What a great place to eat! Pasta- excellent. Pork Shoulder- excellent. Definitely get the Taleggio before your meal. Also, when I do reviews and give my star ratings, I pretty much take into account food only but I will say that the atmosphere of the restaurant is really neat and based on our experience, the servers were incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly! I'd say this is a must-eat place in Chattanooga. (Also, it's not near as expensive as some make it out to be- $16-$23 per entree).
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Review from Shamara L.
Atlanta, GA
6/8/2011
MAKE A RESERVATION!!! That's my first word of advice. My hubby and I went here during our anniversary weekend in TN. When we arrived, I was starving and not happy that there was a 90 minute wait for a table. The hostess was super professional and offered for us to sit in the lounge area to eat or at least get an appetizer. Although we were sitting on a comfy bench, it was a tad bit uncomfortable trying to lean forward to eat and get my drink. Regardless of that, we had a great time. The waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations as to what to eat. We left satisfied and will definitely come back again.
The 1 start hit is for the exterior. We drove past the restaurant three times because neither the name nor street number was visible. The parking lot next to the restaurant was full, so we had to park in a rocky unpaved lot across the street. Won't wear heels next time! -
Review from Chatt F.
Chattanooga, TN
3/4/2012
A great meal and even better service. Iris is top notch and very knowledgeable. If you do decide to go, she is a real treat. I have been to Alleia several times and have enjoyed every experience. This time was no different. One appetizer I always have to have is the ricotta bruschetta with local honey...best around. My fiancé and I then split the grilled romaine salad with prosciutto, pear and cheese, delightful. For entrees I had the braised lamb pappardelle pasta. A heaping plateful, too good to stop eating it, but I had no more room. My fiancé had the scallop feature over saffron risotto and I only got one small bite because she loved it so much she wouldn't share. I just wish we had time left for dessert but had to run off to a show so my meal didn't feel complete without having the panicotta, but that was our fault.
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Review from Kathleen C.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2011
I was quite impressed with the decor at Alleia. The large wooden door, gas lanterns in the front, and the dark lighting and cavernous feel made for a unique restaurant.
A group of 6 of us visited Alleia for dinner during the week with no reservation. We were told that they only had to re-set a table for us. However, even though the table was set quickly (and we were standing in the bar not drinking), we weren't seated for quite a while. We had to ask what the status of our table was - it seemed as if the hostess had forgotten about our group. Atmosphere is a 5.
We were seated in front, which has a really nice atmosphere. The group of us ordered a 4-person portion of the charcuterie and cheese platter. This was massive! It could have served 10, but it was delicious and we polished most of it off.
I tried the cesear salad, which was good, but nothing outstanding and then had the prosciutto pizza. The pizza was delicious, though I was expecting it to be a bit 'fresher' - with a bit less cheese, and I think if they would have waited a bit to put the arugula on, it wouldn't have wilted as much. In any case, it was really good, but I could barely finish it. Their 'individual sized pizzas' are definitely not individually sized. I'm pretty sure it could have served 4 people. Food is a 4.
Our server was really nice, but considering the odd wait, I have to go with a 3 for service. I also had to wait a really long time for a glass of wine - it showed up almost as we were all finishing dinner, so I was unable to finish it.
Prices were reasonable and the food is fresh and flavorful. The quality of the meats and cheeses was very high. They have an interesting wine list as well. Value is a 4.
The bathrooms were quite nice, decorated well, and clean. I think there should be more ladies rooms (though, technically they can count as unisex I suppose). Definitely a 5 bathroom.
I would definitely visit again if I return to Chattanooga! A great spot in a lovely building in an historic part of town. -
Review from Kat J.
Portland, OR
2/3/2011
I have to say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in the U.S.
The first time I ever ate there I actually went alone. Alleia had been recommended to me by someone in a Starbucks when I mentioned that I was looking for an "Artisan Restaurant" and I was not at all disappointed. It was so delicious that I remember every moment of the meal. I was so impressed by the decorating and architecture and loved that I was seated, by myself, in this huge booth overlooking the kitchen so that I could watch the food being prepared.
I have since been back twice and have loved it every time. The wine has always been well recommended with the meal, the staff has always been extremely kind and helpful, they even googled a couple of camping sites for me the first time I went there and printed out directions for me so that I wouldn't get lost.
I live in Nashville but if I need a quick get-a-way to clear my head, I go to Chattanooga and am never disappointed by Alleia. -
Review from Kyle B.
Chattanooga, TN
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ahhhh Alleia, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
The food is superb. Our server took some time to explain how the chef was trained in Italy and brings his twist to classic Italian dishes. I was not at all disappointed by anything on this menu. It is more of an Italian-American fusion than classic Italian. We really enjoyed a pair of appetizers off the menu, and then I had one of the daily specials. Plenty of food filled me up in no time!
The place is very nice too. We were seated in this huge booth with a great view of the open kitchen. My only regret was not trying a pizza out of the wood-fired oven. There is a huge family-style dining table in the middle of the restaurant that could easily seat 30 people.
Our service was also excellent. Our server knew the menu very well and was able to make great suggestions and paired things well with the speciality drinks from the bar.
As others have said, Alleia is a great hidden gem in Chattanooga. The huge rustic door gives a very "exclusive" feeling when entering the place. I look forward to my next visit! -
Review from G L.
Denver, CO
12/17/2011
This is the most overrated, overpriced restaurant in Chattanooga, especially if you've ever been to an authentic Italian restaurant in any big city in the United States or have eaten the real stuff in Italy.
The food is okay. On three separate occasions, my pasta noodles have been undercooked. For any of the chefs or owners who may read this: al dente does not mean crunchy, and any noodle with the consistency of cardboard needs to be boiled for a few minutes longer. Since some of my friends native to the area like this place, I am occasionally forced to eat here, so after giving up completely on any dish containing noodles, I tried the pizza which is pretty good and properly cooked.
Any person reading some of these other reviews would expect a fantastic fine dining experience at Alleia. I beg to differ. The decor is nice but irrelevant if the food isn't up to par. If you really think this is amazing Italian food, do yourself a favor and don't ever eat in Italy, or even in a city like Chicago, because this is emphatically not what good Italian food tastes like. -
Review from shawn r.
Chattanooga, TN
10/21/2010
wow, just wow.
The food touches your soul, the environment and people touch your heart, and the experience itself is enlightening.
The staff are passionate about the dishes and drinks they serve, they look to try to create an amazing experience for you.
A true Chattanooga treasure. It's a sin to question to eat here or not. Just go.
If it is still there, get the pork shoulder. Be careful though, you could find nirvana in one bite. -
Review from Joey B.
Chattanooga, TN
3/15/2011
I was very impressed with the variety in the food. It really seemed to branch out from traditional Italian cuisine. I must admit, I half expected to get some red necks take on fine dining, but I was pleased.
However, my experience did start with a b*tch hostess with horrible people skills, then we were placed in a VERY unappealing back room. The bar area did look cute, and enjoyable, so I will request to sit there next time(if the b*tch will let us). So I give the food 5 stars, the service and atmosphere get 3....BIG PROPS for the music selection...I heard Tegan and Sarah during our meal, and it made me smile. -
Review from Sarah S.
Nashville, TN
10/20/2010
I saw the menu online and was eager to check this place out as it is the only nice Italian restaurant in Chattanooga.
We ordered 4 different appetizers - mussels, bruschetta with ricotta, beef carpaccio, and the calamari. All of them were great but our favorites were the mussels and the beef carpaccio. Make sure you dip the bread in the sauce in the mussels if you get them. Delicious!!
Then we had the margarita pizza and lasagne with smoked mozarella. They were both good but how can you go wrong with pizza. Thin crust, enough sauce to just cover the pizza and high quality mozarella cheese with a large basil leaf all cooked in their wood fire oven. Amazing.
Next, yes we had more food, we had the pork shoulder and quail. For me, I'm not big on quail so this was good to everyone else but for me, I prefer duck. The pork shoulder was so tender and the outer crust was just perfect.
Ok, on to the ambiance, you can tell that the design had very careful thought into it. Grays, Browns, Velvet Red floor to ceiling curtains, wood and mirrors. The design is dark yet enough light to see each other. You are comfortable enough to talk normal and not worry about hearing the people next to you.
We went on a wednesday and the place was packed.
Service is what you expect at any upper scale restaurant.
Plan on spending more than your average restaurant but also take time eating and enjoying this place. -
Review from Kendra N.
Chattanooga, TN
8/5/2009
Alleia is not easy to find, or find your way into. The sign outside is a beautiful statue. Once inside, you will find a helpful hostess or host, a lounge area, a front dining area complete with chandeliers, and a 30 ft table for 'family style' seating. The side booths are huge and against the mirrored back wall is a glass and metal 6 ft candle stand brimming with white candles dripping as they wish. The kitchen is open to the restaurant and the servers bustle about. We had a gift card and a table for two. The menu is heavenly!
I had the quail and it was divine and beautifully prestented. They also house a full bar and make their own lemoncello and gelato in house. The waiter we had was exceptional and gave us a tour to the other areas. Try the lemoncello gelato. I have been craving it since we went.
I am going back for my birthday in a few days. It is that special a place.
Best of luck! -
Review from Jake S.
Arlington, VA
12/29/2009
It's fun to head back to the town where you grew up during the holidays to check out how much has changed. Chattanooga is trying to reviatlize its' Southside, and it seems to be working, if places like this are any indication.
I wouldn't exactly call Alleia Italian food; it's more like Italian-American fusion. But give it credit, because it knows exactly what it wants to be, and it succeeds. We begin with the atmosphere; it's unlike anything else in the whole city, really. Very dimly lit, with plenty of art, and thumpy, modern techno music. It took a little while to get used to (this place would more more at home in the trendy districts of NYC and DC than it is in Chattanooga), but it wound up being very enjoyable.
The important part is obviously the food, and Alleia didn't disappoint. I started with a Caesar salad, which featured home baked croutons (I think) and shaved Parmesan, and was quite tasty. My dad and I both got pizzas, which were excellent, but the star of the evening was mom's braised beef ravioli. Perfectly cooked, nicely seasoned, with sauce to die for.
The service was fantastic. Our waiter was prompt, checked back frequently, and was never overbearing. The prices were fair; not low, but definitely fair. The whole experience was grand, and I would not be disappointed if we came back here every time I was in town.
Welcome back to relevance, Southside. -
Review from Ryan C.
Acworth, GA
7/19/2011
The most enjoyable meal I had in Chattanooga. I was told by the concierge at my hotel that I didnt need a reservation. wrong! My wife and I sat at the bar, which ended up being great. The bartender was really personable and had a great knowledge of their wine menu. We had numerous regular customers come and go from the bar which all struck up a conversation with my wife and I. The Carpaccio was great, as was the Fresh Mozz and Proscutto app. Great ambience in a quiet corner of the city.
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Review from Carissa C.
Atlanta, GA
7/25/2011
Really enjoyed this little gem in the rough. Who would have known that a world-class restaurant would be tucked into the most undeveloped corner of Chattanooga? Great food, great service, great atmosphere... great everything. The food shines, but I also loved the interior design. I can only describe the vibe as Gothic dungeon/renaissance/garage. Highly recommended. Will be stopping here again for sure.
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Review from Dan R.
Chattanooga, TN
2/13/2011
I don't care how good your food is, Alleia. Your vibe gets under my skin. I can't help but see your affectations as snobbish and annoying.
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Review from Jeffrey C.
Chattanooga, TN
4/27/2011
Great decor, but way too overpriced. If your main ambition is to be seen here, then have at it. However, of you want great Italian food, just go to Tony's.
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Review from David D.
Shelburne, VT
4/1/2011
This place has a very cool vibe, high ceilings, over sized lantern shades, wood, leather, black, dark, exotic, hip, relaxing. We found our self in a cozy booth in the main room. I had the pork shoulder with a fantastic tamarind glaze of some sort with a creamy parm risotto. Delicious, tender. Calamari, bacon wrapped figs with a brown sugar balsamic glaze. Whoa. Desserts were yum yum yum. This place is the best and I can't wait to return.
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Review from Sallie B.
Flintstone, GA
3/16/2011
Excellent! Outstanding food, decor & service - the BEST in Chattanooga...
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Review from Bethany W.
Chattanooga, TN
6/1/2009 1 photo
Really interesting restaurant featuring rustic Italian cuisine. They have a wood burning oven which they fire all of their pizzas in, and the ones that we've tried have been DELICIOUS! Other amazing dishes: the beef carpaccio is my favorite, with a little lemon & truffle oil. The quail breast I've also been craving since we ate there two Saturdays ago. This restaurant has been open for maybe 2 months, and they are doing it right. Another must visit in Chattanooga!
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Review from Brian L.
Santa Monica, CA
1/30/2011
Fantastic dining experience - this restaurant would be perfectly at home in Chicago or San Francisco, great ambiance & food, overall very impressed
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Review from Callie K.
Nashville, TN
3/2/2011
Alleia is fantastic. The servers are very helpful and are quick to offer suggestions and mention personal favorites on the menu. The food is fantastic and alwasy flavorful. Although Alleia is generally considered a relatively expensive/upscale restaurant, I believe that the quality of the food and the experience makes the price just right.
My one suggestion is to call and reserve not just any table, but a booth. There are some less than desirable tables in the restaurant that make you feel as if you are floating out in the middle of the restaurant. The booths are cozy and comfortable. -
Review from JR K.
Columbia, MD
10/29/2010
This restaurant executed everything perfectly. Decor, service, food. Stellar job!
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Review from Steffie S.
Franklin, TN
12/8/2010
We love this restaurant! It's great all around- from the bar to the dining. If you're in, try the Sicilian Lemonade created by Sarah, the bartender. Also, grab some mussels. The sauce is incredible! It's our first stop every time we are in Chattanooga and now that I have fewer reasons to be there, I have a feeling that roundtrips will become a necessity! This place is sooo great!
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Review from jeremy k.
Shreveport, LA
8/5/2010
Phenomenal food, excellent service. My father and I dined here on our way to Louisiana from Boston and were simply blown away. Everyone is very friendly and the space, ambience and decor are simply incredible. The menu is fit for foodies, and not a bit overpriced. Their table wine selection was also very well curated. This restaurant alone made my day and provided a fine first impression of Chattanooga for us.
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Review from Brenna S.
Atlanta, GA
2/14/2011
Great food and great staff. If you make a reservation, be sure to request the front room as it is much better ambiance than the back room. Though neither is bad!
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Review from Len R.
Chattanooga, TN
6/5/2011
Alleia
25 E. Main St.
Alleia has established itself as downtown's fine-dining Italian restaurant. Since opening, it has received many accolades for it's interior design and décor. The wait-staff has been unfailingly enthusiastic (almost effuse) and helpful.
Chef/owner Daniel Lindley describes the food as "Italian inspired" and rustic. The menu, which changes a little seasonally, lists 8 (or so) antipasti, salads and a soup, 6 pasta dishes -"Primi"- ( house made daily and available in half-portions on request), 6 "simply grilled" entrees-"Secondi", pizze and side dishes-"Contorni". The menu is written in the pretentious "insider" style, referring to a tomato sauce as "pomodoro", with repeated references to "balsamic," "reggiano" and "hand dipped ricotta" and generally not translating/describing the dishes.
Antipasti are relatively basic, easily assembled dishes; (unevenly) topped flat-bread, bruschette, and proscuitto with fruit. The steamed mussels were plump and served in a light tomato tinged broth with a dash of pepper-flake, great for sopping up with bread. The calamari are of excellent quality, lightly breaded , fried and served with lemon slices. Unfortunately, there is a consistent problem with poor coordination between cooks and wait staff; four of five times the calamari have been ordered they sat under a heat lamp so long that by the time they reached table they were only warm and had become soft and oily. The finely sliced beef carpaccio was properly dressed, light and elegant. Salads are nicely composed, but not out of the ordinary.
The parpadelle- a wide, flat ribbon noodle- with veal breast was dressed in a rich and flavorful veal jus sauce, although chunks of veal had to be cut to be manageable. The goat cheese ravioli benefited from the contrast of the tangy cheese and a simple slightly sweet tomato sauce. The pasta carbonara ( charcoal makers' style) had crisped dice of tasty pork-but not the smoked pork-jowl that is traditional- and was tossed in an egg emulsion sauce, not with fresh egg yolks. It was an interesting dish, but far from a true carbonara, lacking the pleasantly unctuous mouth-feel and rich egginess of the real deal.
Sweet, succulent sea scallops were superfluously draped with pureed peperonata (sautéed red bell peppers), but the swordfish benefited from the same sauce. The high quality lamb stood out against it's sauce, but the mild pork tenderloin, unevenly cooked, was lost beneath the currants and grilled red cabbage. The pizza was judged very good. Entrees were served with "risotto" - an Italian pilaf-like dish - which is made daily, not per order. The resulting dish is more like rice gruel; there is no real texture, certainly not al dente or creamy, and no discernible flavor.
The house made gelato was chiffon-like, lacking density, richness and intensity of flavors; wild berry was best, the hazelnut tasting more of almond extract and chocolate then filbert. The panacotta was fine and the flourless chocolate cake dense and rich.
12-14 wines are offered by the glass. Eclectic, with an Italian focus, the wine list is adequate, but with a generally high mark-up , up to 3 1/2 times retail.
Dinner of two antipasti, 1/2 order of pasta, two entrees, wine, a desert and two coffees totaled $120 without tax or tip.
Alleia presents as rustic. There is no great complexity to the food, nor any need for fancy technique. Success requires quality raw product, good conceptualization and consistent, focused execution. The product quality at Alleia is beyond criticism. Conceptually, the product can get lost in superfluous or out of balance flavors, and serving a rice casserole as "risotto" is just ignorant. Execution is inconsistent; without an expeditor coordinating and supervising, too many errors slip by. Compared to Lindley's other two restaurants, Alleia could be much better.
14-Mar, 11 -
Review from Max P.
Chattanooga, TN
8/11/2010
Amazing food and better service. Nice bar area as well.
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Review from Matt M.
Buellton, CA
4/8/2010
Recently opened, this is fresh and hand-made Northern Italian cuisine housed in a modern-rustic setting... full-on heavy wood appointments and exposed brick walls. The wine list is completely Italian- giving it some nice outside the box options as well as plenty of the classic Italian wines. As good as the food has been on this trip, this was the highlight. Melted taleggio on a black truffle flat bread drizzled with truffle oil was the opening act... I don't want to try to butcher through a description other than to say it was amazing. A beautiful fresh mozzarella and vegetable in balsamic salad gave way to the main course- quite simply a ricotta ravioli in fresh pomodoro and pesto sauce. The ricotta was fresh and creamy, yet light at the same time- perfectly accented by the tangy pomodoro and pesto. It was simple and perfect. I wanted to skip dessert, but could resist their tiramisu. Served in a tumbler with a mint garnish, it was so good that I almost cried tears of joy while eating it! I may have to plan a weekend in Chattanooga to get another crack at Alleia...
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Review from Emily D.
Knoxville, TN
3/17/2011
This is a great place for a romantic dinner or intimate dinner with friends/family. I would not recommend this place for young children though. It's a little difficult to find this place unless you are familiar with the area (it's right behind The Terminal brewhouse). It almost feels as though you are entering some "underground" restaurant since the front door is a giant solid wood door that blends in with the building. I would call the atmosphere posh, yet comfortable. The selection of food is so great, it really hard to decide what to get. I had the papardelle with veal and my husband had the nightly special of diver scallops and butternut squash. We shared the dishes and they were both fantastic. Best scallops i have had in a long time. They make a great vodka martini with the cutest lemon twist i have ever seen. Wine selection is down right amazing since they have such a variety in prices. This makes it affordable if you don't want to drop a lot on a bottle of wine or makes it fun if you do! Gelato for dessert, a must. Certainly not a cheap dinner out, but you can keep the cost down or up depending on what your splurge factor is for the night (another plus). This place seems popular, so I would suggest reservations several days in advance, or eat later in the evening.
