Beast + Barrel: round 1

I guess it has been a while since I wrote a reasonably formal review of a Chattanooga area eatery...I would like to blame that on circumstances and claim that there just haven't been any new or interesting options to review, but that wouldn't be fair or true.  I'm realizing now that there are actually a few new spots in town that deserve a write up, as well as a few familiar haunts that could stand a refreshed review.

So with a little prodding from my Facebook friends, I'll make a sincere effort to turn this blog back "on".

My family had a dinner plan last night that involved making a pizza at home.  But as they say, the "best laid pizzas of mice and men something something..."  Let's just say that it turned out to be a good night to dine out.  Chattanooga welcomed a new restaurant last week, and in a spot convenient to my office, so we elected to try it out.

I should interject that I have a soft rule on new restaurants...I like to give them some time to work out the kinks before try them out.  Several obvious exceptions to this rule come to mind, like when an actual friend of mine is the restauranteur and I go early and often to provide support, fill a seat, and offer constructive criticism.

With that rule in mind, I have titled this review "round 1" because I fully intend to pay the Beast + Barrel a second visit in a week or two and this review will focus primarily on some obvious "pros" and will leave the "cons" mostly aside for the time being.

The space: for folks familiar with Chattanooga's North Shore neighborhood, B+B is replacing a restaurant/bar called North Shore Grill.  They purported to be a crab/shellfish kind of place as I recall, but their real Raison d'être seemed to be as a place for men and women of a certain age to meet other men and women of a certain age.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but their offering did not really speak to my family's needs at this point in time.  To my eye, they have done little in the way of physical remodeling, but the space is comfortable and open, with nice views to kitchen.  We sat on a patio overlooking Coolidge Park with views to the Market Street bridge.


The food: they are calling themselves a smokehouse, and there were definitely some menu items in that vein (a bone marrow appetizer, rib entree...), but due to some opening week supply chain issues, we were not able to sample our first choices from the menu, so I'll hold comment on the food until round 2.
The drinks: this section of B+B's offering is an easy "pro": their cocktail menu is separated into pre-/post-dinner, specialty, and classic concoctions and all are at a price point that stand in sharp contrast to the opening cost strategy taken bye some other newish Chattanooga spots.  They also offer wine on tap - this is a revolution whose time has come.  Just like beer can be kept fresh with a well designed keg and tap system, and can consequently offer bars the opportunity to offer reasonable per drink prices on a variety of interesting brews, these (relatively) new wine systems help ease the per glass cost on fun wines.  Alas, our first choice from this menu was also not available last night...but we will try again.
One unqualified success for the evening?  They offer a smoked corn side item, and our little connoisseur cleaned the cob in a way that would have made his great-grandmother Bernice super proud (although she may have also had choice words about his hairstyle...).