You don’t have to ponder the age-old chicken/egg question at The Egg & I, whose name alone shows you where this restaurant stands on the issue.
The Egg & I specializes in a wide variety of breakfast items, including — surprise, surprise — omelettes, benedicts, scrambles and just about any other food items with eggs you can imagine in any shape, form and fashion.
If you’re not a fan of eggs, however, don’t let that deter you from enjoying a tasty breakfast (or lunch). This restaurant also has a wide variety of options that don’t include anything egg-related, including pancakes, salads, sandwiches and even burgers.
The Egg & I is fairly new to the area, opening in the East Brainerd area about six months ago, according to our waiter. The franchise hatched in Colorado in the late 1980s, and there are only a handful of The Egg & I locations in Tennessee, mostly around Knoxville and Nashville. After trying it for the first time, I’m glad they decided to nest in Chattanooga.
THE FOOD
For my first experience, I ordered a Spinach Bacon Mushroom Omelette. I don’t believe in going to a place with “egg” in the name for the first time to order a burger, and I don’t go to a steakhouse to try the chicken. My omelette was served with a choice of grits or ranch potatoes and an English muffin. While I am from the South, I’ve never been a big fan of grits, so I stuck with the potatoes.
I have to say, I do appreciate a good omelette. But past experience tells me that restaurants sometimes go with a mountain of eggs and get a little stingy with their fillings. I am happy to report that this was not the case at the Egg & I. My omelette was incredibly hot, fresh and oozing with cheese and all the right stuffings. The English muffin was buttered, fluffy and full of flavor (and possibly also fat, but I’m sure they would hold the butter on request).
Some of the restaurant’s featured favorite menu items include the Santa Fe Huevos, Parisian Benedict, Cambridge Skillet and the Belgian Waffle Eggspress. All of these favorites and more are under $10.
I’ll also take this opportunity to commend their drink options. They brag right on the menu that their juices are 100 percent pure squeezed and their coffees are made with 100 percent premium, high-grown, pure Arabica beans. They also offer classics such as hot tea and hot chocolate as well as specialties such as strawberry lemonade. I am a sucker for iced, flavored coffees, and the iced vanilla coffee I ordered was a delicious, sweet pick-me-up.
They also make everything to order. The attention to quality is apparent throughout the food and drink choices, and it was so delicious that I’ve been itching to go back to explore some other items on the menu. If you decide to do a sampler of just about anything, you can order sides or build your own breakfast omelette.
THE SERVICE
The service was very friendly and helpful. We were seated immediately and received everything in a timely manner.
I didn’t have enough time to contemplate great life questions such as whether my glass was either half full or half empty, because it was always just full. It’s the kind of place that the managers come by to check in and see how everything is going for you and strike up a conversation, which is how I found out how long the place had been open. It looked very clean, and the employees were all very accommodating.
THE SPACE
This restaurant is on the first floor of a four-story office building on Gunbarrel Road. It’s easy to find, and the inside is spacious with comfortable seating. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy and can seat about 130 people. They want you to feel like Mom or Grandma are cooking up a home-cooked meal for you, and it shows. To boot, it has convenient and free parking, and who doesn’t love that? We didn’t have any problem getting waited on or seated, but my lunch date told me that it tends to get crowded on Sundays with the after-church crowd.
THE VERDICT
Delicious. I would definitely go back, and I could see myself doing that very soon. Every aspect of this dining experience not only met but egg-ceeded my expectations. This restaurant is good for any occasion (OK, except maybe dinner; they’re only open for breakfast and lunch).
Kids menus are also available, and they also offer reservations (free with food purchase) for a private meeting room if you’re looking a venue for your next business meeting or gathering. If you’re in a hurry, they also offer food on the go for call-in orders.
Contact Alaina Akens at 423-757-6390 or aakens@timesfreepress.com.
Alaina O'Neal 