With a chef-led menu, house-made pasta, a raw oyster bar, and a wine and cocktail program that’s earned national attention, our restaurant in West Village Chattanooga makes savoring the moment easy.
Easy Bistro & Bar originally opened as Easy Seafood in 2005 in a historic space on Broad Street. Owners Erik and Amanda Niel were just 26 and 24 at the time, driven by a shared passion for food and hospitality. The restaurant became a creative space where Erik explored French technique and local ingredients, always with a focus on seafood—a style that remains central to his cooking today.
Nearly two decades later, Easy Bistro has grown into one of Chattanooga’s most beloved restaurants. Now located in the heart of West Village Chattanooga, the space reflects our evolved identity: stylish, warm, and designed for sharing good food.
Our menu moves away from traditional courses and embraces a shareable experience. With guidance from our chefs and servers, guests can mix small and large plates to create a meal that’s collaborative and completely their own.
Raised in southern Louisiana, Erik grew up surrounded by people who cared deeply about food. Fishing on the bayou taught him to respect ingredients and understand flavor from the source. That philosophy still shapes his cooking.
Erik studied business at the University of Texas at Austin before attending Johnson & Wales Culinary School in Vail, Colorado. After moving to Chattanooga, he worked at Southside Grill and St. John’s, where he developed his own approach to food and hospitality. In 2005, he and Amanda opened Easy Bistro & Bar. In 2014, they also took over Main Street Meats, which they transformed into another Chattanooga favorite. Their latest endeavor, St. Elmo's Little Coyote, opened in the fall of 2023.
Erik has twice been named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast.
Amanda’s background in hospitality and business is just as essential to Easy’s identity. Raised in Chattanooga, she comes from a family of entrepreneurs and developed a strong work ethic early on. While completing her degree, she worked in fine dining—where she met Erik—and later held a business role in New York before returning home to help launch Easy.
Today, Amanda oversees operations, marketing, events, HR, and the guest experience at Easy Bistro, Main Street Meats, and Little Coyote. Her vision continues to shape what Easy feels like.
801 Chestnut Street sits at the corner of 8th, minutes on foot from the Tivoli, the Westin, and most of downtown. Here is what to expect before the curtain and after it.
Easy Bistro is proud to call West Village Chattanooga home. This revitalized corner of downtown is one of the city’s most walkable and charming destinations, lined with art installations, boutique hotels, and elegant restaurants.
A few steps from the Westin Hotel and the twinkling lights of Chestnut Street, Easy Bistro fits right in with the neighborhood’s relaxed, upscale energy. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or looking for a weeknight spot that still feels special, West Village makes the perfect backdrop.
Easy Bistro sits a few blocks south of the Tivoli Theatre in downtown Chattanooga's West Village, which makes us the obvious dinner stop before a show. The walk over is about five minutes.
Most Tivoli productions curtain at 7:30 or 8:00 PM. That gives you a real 90-minute dinner window if you book on Resy for 5:30 or 6:00. Enough time to share a raw bar tower or half-dozen oysters, split a wood-fired entrée, and walk out with room for a coffee or a cocktail before the show. Chef Erik Niel's Michelin-selected menu is built around shareable small and large plates, which helps when you're timing a meal to a curtain. Ask your server for the picks that come out fast. They know.
For tighter timelines, start at the raw bar counter or grab a high-top at the bar. Order oysters, a chilled seafood plate, and a glass from our wine list. You'll be paid up and walking to the theatre in an hour.
About a five-minute walk. From the Tivoli's main entrance on Broad Street, head south a couple of blocks and cut east toward Chestnut. You'll pass the Westin Chattanooga on the way. Look for us at 801 Chestnut Street, on the corner of 8th, in a room with high ceilings, drapery, and a raw bar that greets you at the door.
Our kitchen runs Sunday–Thursday 4–9 PM and Friday–Saturday 4–10 PM. On show nights we prioritize seating anyone reserved for 5:30 or 6:00 so you're out in time for a 7:30 or 8:00 curtain. If your timing is tight, mention it when you book on Resy and we'll pace the courses.
Our private dining room is visually and acoustically separated from the main dining space, and it's a good fit for a post-show reception, opening-night dinner, or hosting out-of-town guests after a Tivoli event. Menu and beverage packages are custom, and we can pace the meal around your arrival time. See the room and packages on our private dining page.
Where do I park?
West Village has metered street parking on Chestnut, 8th, and Market Streets. The Westin garage and 800 Market Street are the closest paid options and both are a short walk. Easy Bistro doesn't offer valet. The Westin's valet stand a block away is a good backup on show nights.
What's the dress code?
There isn't one. Most guests land somewhere in the smart-casual range. Jeans and a jacket read fine, and so does a dress. If you're headed to the Tivoli after dinner, we blend in with whatever the show calls for.
How far in advance should I book?
For a Friday or Saturday, at least a week out. For a Tivoli show night, book as soon as your tickets are confirmed. Same-night walk-ins are welcome at the raw bar counter and the bar top when tables are full.
Can I bring a group?
Yes. Groups of six or fewer book through Resy. Seven to twelve, email us at [email protected] so we can coordinate a table or a section. Thirteen and up, ask about our private dining room.
Do you accommodate gluten-free or allergies?
The kitchen handles most allergies and dietary needs, gluten-free included. Flag it when you book so the chef can plan the menu around you.
Are kids welcome?
Yes, at any hour. We keep a short list of simple plates that work well for younger diners. Ask your server.
Is there an oyster hour?
Every day, 4–5 PM. Featured oysters are buy-one-get-one, and you can walk in without a reservation.
Do you validate parking?
Not on a standing basis. If you're heading to a specific event, ask your server on the way in. We sometimes coordinate arrangements with nearby garages on busy show nights.
Reserve on Resy for dinner, private dining, or an oyster-hour visit. Our current menu, wine list, and cocktail list are on our menus page.
The Westin sits at 801 Pine Street, one block from our door at 801 Chestnut. That is about a two-minute walk, no car and no parking deck. Stop in for oysters and a cocktail before a show at the Tivoli, or make dinner the whole evening and walk back whenever you are ready. Weekends fill up, so reserve ahead and ask the front desk to point you toward 8th and Chestnut.
