There are places you go to eat because you love the food. There are places you go because you love the people. Every once in a while, both happen simultaneously. For us, The Longhorn, an ancient diner near the North Shore of Chattanooga, became our first foothold on “belonging” in Chattanooga.
Moving here without knowing anyone and feeling a bit homesick, we decided to give The Longhorn a try, hoping to find a replacement for the family-owned, greasy-spoon cafe back home we frequented for weekend breakfasts.
This Longhorn is not associated with the steakhouse chain. It’s a long-standing tradition in Chattanooga that’s been around since the ‘50s. True to its heritage, I imagine the interior doesn’t look any different than it did when it first opened.
The menu probably hasn’t changed much either. Hankering for simple eggs, bacon and hash browns (called “scattered taters” here), we were not disappointed. On subsequent visits, we discovered the pancakes are exactly the way we like them: fluffy without being crumbly, soft without being gooey, and nicely browned on the outside.
While I would return to the Longhorn just for the food, its real charm is the staff. It only took going there twice before they started looking up, smiling and saying, “Hey, guys!” when we walked in the door.
By our fourth visit, they were pouring our coffees (one regular, one decaf) before we sat down. There’s nothing like having someone remember you, look happy to see you and manage to remember what you drink, considering how many people these ladies serve every day.
To get the full experience of Longhorn charm, leave any high-maintenance attitudes behind when you walk through the door. You won’t find real butter or genuine maple syrup from Vermont, and no one will stop what they’re doing to seat you.
But if you come often and bring a smile, you’ll soon belong as a “regular.” If it’s slow, we update one another on weekend events and discuss what haircuts will look best on whoever wants to join the conversation. We trade barbs and tease one another. When people are waiting, those seated scoot down to make space.
The Longhorn is a place where people notice if you don’t show up for a while and ask where you’ve been when you come back. It’s a place that makes us feel like maybe we aren’t really just visiting.