“Every day is mimosa day,” says Chris Coke, general manager of Ruby Sunshine Chattanooga. “Most people think about brunch as Saturday and Sunday mornings, early afternoons. Here, we do brunch every single day. You can get off work, walk in the door at 7:30 a.m., and grab you a mimosa.”
It’s a service, a lagniappe if you will, that’s made a lot of difference during COVID-19. Hospital workers and other third-shift essential employees, tired and stressed, are glad of a place to unwind after a long night, before they grab a short rest and hit the ground running again.
“We’re that getaway for them before they go home and rest,” Coke says. “It’s a service we provide our first responders.”
Ruby Sunshine, though, serves up joy for more than only medical personnel. The menu of New Orleans style brunch food is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
“We are based out of New Orleans, which has its own flavor,” Coke says. “We put a twist on brunch with our different approaches. We are a scratch kitchen, making your food fresh to order.”
This Fall, Ruby Sunshine’s scratch-cooked menu includes Fall specials like Pumpkin Praline French Toast and Gleason Grillades & Grits which $1 for each dish sold will be donated to the Team Gleason Foundation. For drinks, Fall 2021 offers a flight of four colorful mimosas and a Southern Belle Peach Tea featuring Sugarland’s Peach Moonshine. Mmm!
Then there are the standards: a variety of Benedicts, shrimp and grits, plenty of seafood dishes, and of course, biscuits and gravy. They also specialize in foods for special diets, so don’t be shy about asking for vegetarian, gluten-free or keto-friendly food.
Looking for Ruby Sunshine Crew
Coke says Ruby Sunshine is looking for krewe members as well as customers.
“The quality of life is great,” he says. “We are only open during the day. You start at 6:30 a.m. or so and finish by 4 p.m., so you’re free in the evening. Then we have competitive pay; we take care of our krewe as best we can.”
It’s an important message, especially for a store location that, as Coke notes, opened just before the pandemic hit, then had to shut down within months — only to come back stronger than ever last fall. Coke arrived just before the second opening and was an integral part of the process of hiring, sanitizing, and getting ready to serve the public once again. He’s seen first-hand how the company stands behind both its crews and its communities.
“We strive to get you away from the normal,” he says. “We try to take your mind off what’s going on outside. We want you to have fun, eat some great food, and tell your friends and family all about us.”
Discover the Magic
- Find Ruby Sunshine on Facebook or Instagram by searching “Ruby Sunshine” or “Ruby Slipper.”
- Weekends, join the wait list to get served at rubysunshine.com/location/Chattanooga.
- Apply for jobs rubysunshine.com/careers.