Easy Bistro in the News
1225: Erik Niel, Chef/Owner of Easy Bistro & Bar, Main Street Meats, and Little Coyote
This in Erik's second time on the show, previously joining us all the way back in 2015. Erik grew up in Louisiana, Virginia, and Texas, before finally settling in Chattanooga after attending Johnson & Wales.
But the Fire Burns Hot: Easy Bistro Turns 20
On May 16, 2005, the Chattanooga Fire Dept. responded to an alarm in the 200 block of Broad Street, just up from the aquarium. It was a rainy afternoon. There, firefighters found a young chef, outside getting soaked, trying to silence the alarm. (Thankfully, no fire.)
Top chef rates Chattanooga restaurant scene
Chef Erik Niel came to Chattanooga to watch football 25 years ago and never left. That's a good thing. When the history of the city's 21st-century restaurant scene is written, Niel and his wife, Amanda, will have their own chapter.
The Best Restaurants In Chattanooga
This fun-loving city on the Tennessee River is a favorite travel destination, not least because of its roster of great eateries. Whether you’re looking for creative takes on seafood or some of the tastiest baked goods around, you’ll find them in Chattanooga’s best restaurants.
Tall boys, $9 burgers and life-changing hospitality: an honest conversation with Erik and Amanda Niel
The visionary couple talks about stress, caring for others and the greatest hindrance to Chattanooga's restaurant scene.
At Easy Bistro & Bar and Main Street Meats in Chattanooga, Tenn., everyone gets tips
At first glance the tipping system at Easy Bistro & Bar in Chattanooga, Tenn., appears tricky. Servers get a percentage based on a points system, which increases when they excel in their jobs and stick around for a while, and the back-of-the-house makes a portion of the tips, too. But after two-plus years, owners Amanda and Erik Niel see the benefits of their approach, and so do the employees.
BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM ATLANTA
Finally, revel in the Chattanooga food scene, which doesn’t get enough clout when compared to the culinary likes of Charleston, Atlanta, and Nashville. From Easy Bistro & Bar, currently reopening in Chattanooga’s West Village, to the plant-based menu at Southern Squeeze, to Alleia, by James Beard-nominated chef Daniel Lindley, you’ll eat very well in this city.
Your Weekend Guide to Chattanooga, TN
There’s plenty of good reasons why Chattanooga is dubbed The Scenic City. Tucked away in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains along the Tennessee River, Tennessee’s fourth largest city is rich with natural marvels. Whether you’re leisurely taking in breathless views from Rock City and Ruby Falls, or cycling down Chattanooga’s Riverwalk and Stringer’s Ridge, there’s endless ways to...
15 AMERICAN CITIES THAT SECRETLY HAVE GREAT FOOD SCENES
When you’re a small city two hours from Nashville and Atlanta, it can be hard to get the attention you deserve. Chattanooga flies under the radar but keeps a lot up of aces up its sleeve -- its outdoorsy, affordable, and a dammed delicious place to spend a weekend. Start with back-to-back meals at restaurants by James Beard semifinalist Erik Niel. His charcuterie is aged in-house at Main Street Meats, and he sources cheeses and beef from Tennessee farms. Then, it’s on to Easy Bistro & Bar for a Southern style brunch -- order the bacon omelet, tomato pie, and buttermilk biscuits.
EAT LIKE A LOCAL IN CHATTANOOGA, CHEF ERIK NIEL’S GO-TO GREASY SPOONS
Between Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the famed choo-choo, Chattanooga is widely known for its attractions. Lately, the city’s culinary culture has begun drawing raves, too. “Chattanooga food is at a breakout moment,” says local chef and James Beard-semifinalist Erik Niel