For those of you who have never heard of The Big Table, you are in for a wonderful surprise when you go for a visit. Located in a small house at the foot of Signal Mountain, this restaurant is run by David and Karen Loveless, who prepare all the food onsite using only the freshest ingredients available. David and Karen offer an incredible variety of delicious dishes at The Big Table. In addition to the regular menu, chalkboard menus display innovative and extensive daily specials which reflect what is fresh and available locally. David serves as chef, while Karen bakes the bread and creates the wonderful desserts. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, making you feel right at home.
The regular menu includes New York Strip Steak that is certified Angus beef; it is grilled to order and served with the sauce of the day. Other daily entrees include Pane Chicken (two 3-ounce chicken breasts flattened, dredged in flour with panko, then lightly sautéed, and topped with the sauce of the day), and Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (pulled chicken blended with cheese, tomatoes and chilies in a sour cream sauce, rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with a red enchilada sauce). Pot Roast that starts with a smoked beef brisket and then is cooked with potatoes and carrots and smothered in a brown sauce and Grilled Fajita Marinated Chicken Alfredo served over the daily pasta are also available daily. The casserole of the day was Chicken with Artichokes in a creamy sauce.
In addition to the regular menu, the specials when I visited the restaurant with a friend included: Rainbow Trout Panko crusted with Almonds; Jumbo Shrimp tossed with Penne, Spinach, Mushrooms, Asparagus, Tomatoes and Feta; Atlantic Salmon oven-roasted and served with Pesto; Pork Tenderloin Schnitzel with Mushroom Marsala Sauce; Fresh Lump Crab Cakes; Blackened Tilapia with Pineapple-Cranberry Sauce; and Grilled Filet of Beef Tenderloin. Entrees are served with your choice of the soup of the day or The Big Table Salad, made with field greens, strawberries, pears, feta and walnuts dressed with sweet raspberry vinaigrette, and two vegetables plus fresh-baked bread. On the night we were there, the soups available were Black Bean Chicken, a very good and light soup with a Southwestern flavor, and Beer Cheese, a rich and satisfying soup with a wonderful flavor. The vegetables were creamy corn mashed potatoes (These were great!) and crisp French green beans.
We tasted almost all of the entrees offered and were not disappointed by any. The Jumbo Shrimp were delicious – not overcooked and delightfully combined with the pasta, vegetables and cheese. The Pork Schnitzel was also very good – a lighter version of traditional schnitzel made with lean pork tenderloin and delicately seasoned. The Grilled Beef Tenderloin was excellent-juicy and tender and cooked to perfection. The Trout Panko, breaded and pan-fried and served with a delicious roumalade sauce, was excellent. We also tasted the Crab Cakes, and they were wonderful – even to my Maryland-raised friend! They are served with the same delicious roumalade sauce that accompanied the trout.
Karen’s desserts –provided a perfect ending to a great meal. New York style Cheesecake served with fresh strawberries, Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake, and Double Fudge Cream Cheese Brownies were delicious. My favorite, The Big Table Trifle, is a light pound cake, layered with blueberries and raspberries and a creamy vanilla pudding with a raspberry sauce – yum!
The Big Table does a brisk business in meals to go – in addition to the regular menu items, there is a casserole of the day that is offered for take-home with rolls, soup or salad for a reasonable charge. Soup can also be purchased for take-home by the pint or quart. The Big Table also offers catering, and the restaurant is available for private parties.
Lunch at The Big Table offers a variety of sandwiches, a casserole of the day, soups, and salads. The restaurant offers soft beverages and bottled beer and also welcomes patrons to bring their own bottles of wine for a small corkage fee. The Big Table is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 am until 8 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 11 am until 9 pm for lunch and dinner. It is located at 118 Cross Street between Merv’s and Champion Cleaners. For questions about daily specials, take-out, or catering, call Karen or David at 423-634-0772 or visit their website at www.bigtable.net Pull up a chair at The Big Table – you’ll be glad that you did!