Classic down-home, family-owned and operated Southern “meat 'n three”
Though Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant in downtown Chattanooga has been slinging biscuits and barbecue at Aquarium Way since its grand opening in September 2015, the restaurant’s roots go all the way back to the 1950s, and a little grocery store in the village of Leiper’s Fork, Tenn. Ever since then, the tried-and-true eatery been focused on providing friends new and old with great food and Southern friendliness.
A Tennessee landmark with decades-old roots, the family-owned business picked Chattanooga as its first location outside of Middle Tennessee because of the founder Marshalls’ close ties with the city, and for its vibrant (and growing) downtown scene.
Throughout the years, Puckett’s has built its name on hosting live, local musical acts and Southern staples. The Chattanooga location, which has quickly become a favorite among locals, delivers just that—all the while serving up heaping sides of hospitality, too. Really, it seems like not a whole lot has changed since the restaurant launched a formal dinner & music program 10 years ago.
If you’ve dug into the menu already, you know their dishes boast of their Tennessee heritage, with Puckett’s own special spin. That’s why for breakfast you’ll see sweet potato pancakes topped with pulled pork and a downhome take on the eggs benedict; at lunch it’s a fried green tomato B.L.T. or heavy helpings of meat-and-three classics; for dinner it’s grits topped with blackened sautéed shrimp, Cajun fried chicken over a bed of hot waffles or grilled salmon brushed with a moonshine glaze.
And if you’re looking for an authentic home-cooked dish, that’s where Puckett’s takes its pride. The secret to their barbecue—chicken, pulled pork, ribs that fall off the bone, too—is the 18-hour process, one that includes slow ‘n’ low cooking over cherry wood and a wrap that mimics the sous vide tradition.
Fortunately for Chattanoogans, some of their mouth-watering goodness is up for grabs this holiday season…so you can feel like you’ve taken a seat at the Puckett’s table, no matter where you are.
Puckett’s is offering an extensive to-go menu throughout the months of November and December, with options such as whole turkeys roasted, smoked or fried; smoked buffet hams slow-cooked in the Puckett’s smoker (nicknamed “Ruby”); cherry-smoked pulled pork; smoked racks of baby back ribs; and more.
Customers can expect the same made-from-scratch dishes on the Puckett’s holiday pick-up menu that they find at the Chattanooga store. Even better? Many of the classics are old Marshall family recipes that have been handed down over the years.
When it comes down to it, Puckett’s is a community kitchen—and you’ll feel that when you’ve had your first experience. Make them a part of your family tradition this year with Puckett’s specialties like cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, giblet gravy and homemade pies. We can just about guarantee it’ll be a holiday meal you and your family won’t forget.
Puckett’s is taking to-go orders through its website at www.puckettsgro.com/holiday or by phone (423) 708-8505. The restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information about the restaurant, go to www.facebook.com/puckettschattanooga.