Lamar’s Restaurant
1018 E Martin Luther King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN, 37403
Lamar’s Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Chattanooga for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Chattanooga for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Chattanooga for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1018 E Martin Luther King Blvd
Chattanooga, TN, 37403 - Phone (423) 266-0988
- Website https://lamarsrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Daniel B.
The fried shrimp is awesome! The ambiance is retro...the velvet wallpaper reminds me of my mom's house in the 70's! The bartender/server is always polite and friendly, the food is always great! My one complaint would be the girl that kept on feeding the juke box and playing "Prince"...she sat right by it! Oh, and was cold in there!
(4)Jay K.
Hands down, the best Long Island Tea I have EVER had. Ever. Gerald is an awesome bartender - boy can he pour! It had to be midnight or 1 am when we arrived and the kitchen was still serving. I have no idea what time they close but the LIT's stop at 2am. The fried chicken was delicious and not just because it was the middle of the night. I'm pretty sure we dropped in on somebody's private party, but they were kind enough to let us stay. Even sat us near the bar.... As far as atmosphere goes, there's none lacking. Felt like going through a time warp.... Amazing. Velvet wallpaper, dim lighting, courteous staff & late hours - what more can a girl ask?
(5)Christin K.
Lamar's is tres cool. I'd heard a lot about it and it sounded like a place off the beaten path. So after having a few at hair of the dog, we headed down this way. First of all, it's not near other restaurants or bars, and the street isn't that well lit fyi. I was glad I wasn't walking by myself. It appears like you can find parking on the street pretty close by. There's a long set of stairs to get to the door, and the lights in the front are all turned off. You walk down a dimly lit long skinny hallway, sorta reminded me of a movie that Ray Liotta might be in. On the right there's a similarly dimly lit room with a few tables and a bar. I liked Lamar's for several reasons. 1. The wallpaper. Yea, everyone else is raving about it but seriously it is pretty cool. It's kitschy, weird, funky, kinda ghetto, and I like it. 2. Jukebox with nothing within the past 5 years in it. They had Aaliyah and I was like "Omg It's like my adolescense" and some white chick rolled her eyes at me like I was drunk but I WASN'T. I just really loved Aaliyah when I was 12 okay bitch? damn. 3. Kitchen stays open pretty late and the fries are delicious. 4. Drinks are pretty strong and they accommodated my request for a fruity girly drink and even put an umbrella in it. 4. Interesting people watching. And finally, it's laid back, kinda dingy and dirty, and a great place to hang out with your friends.
(4)Melody B.
The fried chicken is some of the best in Chattanooga! Swanky back lounge dimly lit and perfect for late nights. The drinks were excellently poured. But the drink prices were a bit steep. Expected for someplace upscale but i thought Lamar's would be more reasonable. I ordered a kahlua and cream. It came in a short glass full of ice and had maybe one shot of kahlua (if that) and a splash of cream = $7. More than 50% of the glass was empty. Skimpy if you ask me. But the chicken is worth a visit.
(3)Tara R.
This is easily my favorite place in Chattanooga. Its hidden gem quality reminds me of places in my hometown, Detroit. And yet, Lamar's distinct Southern-ness, plus a certain X factor, make it absolutely one of a kind. Don't be put off by the empty diner at the front or the long, dark hallway that leads you to the back room lounge. And if you can't dig the worn silver lame and black velvet wallpaper, I guess there's no hope for you enjoying this place. Unless you like strong drinks and fantastic fried chicken. Bartender Gerald is quite generous when pouring and he's a serious pro in every regard. Tip him well. Oh, and back to that chicken. It's perfect - tender, juicy meat coated in mouth-watering batter. All their fried goods are heavenly, and great for soaking up that booze. Add to that a jazz and R&B packed jukebox (the kind with CDs, not that ripoff digital nonsense) and you have a perfect night on the town. Show up well before 10pm if you can't deal with smoke and a tight crowd.
(5)Sally f.
glad i got to see such a unique spot. service was crazy slow, but if thats what it takes to get that AMAZING FRIED CHICKEN INTO MY MOUTH, ill wait. wow. yum.
(4)Arthur L.
I traveled 7 hours in December of 2005 to get to Chattanooga from Illinois to see American Analog Set on their farewell tour. The friends I was staying with in Nashville knew nothing about the venue, as a search for "Lamar's Restaurant" only came up with a few hits which established that Lamar's had the "Best fried chicken and the stiffest drinks in Chattanooga". We left early from Nashville and our directions took us in front of a seedy-looking motel. We figured it must be the place, the sign said "Lamar's", but it looked like neither a restaurant nor a music venue. We walked in the front door and immediately got the feeling that perhaps we'd been a bit too bold. One of us suggested that we leave and maybe consult our directions once more. However, we were soon met by a man walking out of one of the rooms. We asked him if he knew where we could find Lamar's Restaurant, and he told us to follow him. Nervously, we followed him down some dark and narrow hallways which reminded me of every movie set in the 70s with a scene in a motel where a deal goes awry, tempers flare, and guns start blazing. Eventually we ended up in the foyer of the restaurant which was obviously closed. I said, "Um, if it's closed, we can like, come back". But the man ignored me as he walked around turning on lights, then he told us we could have a seat. At this point it was semi-obvious that the man must be Lamar himself. He walked behind the bar and asked us if we'd like a drink. Three rum and cokes please. We walked up to the bar and watched him pour, wondering just how stiff these drinks would be. He fills each glass up to the just under the brim with clear rum and ice, and then splashes each one with a bit of coke. "I add the coke just for color," he says and laughs. Asked if we would like some food, I take the lead and request the fried chicken. Lamar asks me, "Half or whole?" I went with the whole. We took our seats at the table and took in the 70s throwback atmosphere: velvet wallpaper, purple Christmas lights, dark green textured-glass candle holders, jukebox with 45s. We hit up the jukebox and queued about $5 worth of blues and soul. When the chicken came out I immediately regretted ordering the whole, it was still three hours or so til the show started and I was going to fill myself up with a whole chicken that's been submerged in bubbling oil. My fears were soon placated by some of the best chicken I've ever tasted (second only to Harold's in Chicago). We pretty much polished off our chickens, with cigarette breaks in between halves. The show itself was disappointing. The venue was actually downstairs from the restaurant and looked like my kindergarten room from the 80s. The disappointing part was that there was no stage, the room was small, and the local hipsters would not shut the f--- up. They were obviously there to look cool and knew nothing of either AmAnSet or Chris Brokaw, who opened. A legendary night, ruined by hipsters. I will never forget Lamar's though. I hope to visit again someday should I ever find myself passing through Chattanooga.
(5)Christian L.
I am an out of towner who was in for just one night and I had some friends take me here. Man! Awesome. Things to take note of: Wallpaper Fried Chicken Strength of Drinks
(5)Donovan K.
This place is an honest to God treasure. The vibe is straight out of the seventies. The walls have purple wallpaper with black velvet accents, no tables and chairs match, the lighting is dim or dark, it's cramped...but no doubt it is the best bar I've ever been to. One big thing: follow Mr. Gerald's rules. He does enforce them. He nearly threw out some guys for cussing even though they were dropping a ton of money for food and drink. The other bit of advice I have is to order the fried chicken and a White Russian. It was the best of both I have ever experienced. This place is well worth your time, don't be afraid of how it looks. You only live once and Lamar's is a necessary stop on the path to a complete and fulfilled life. Besides, alcohol and a deep fryer will kill off anything you need worry about.
(5)Len T.
I decided to try this place out after reading the reviews and very glad I did. I tried the jumbo shrimp and the chicken strips. Excellent! The shrimp were big and breaded just right. The chicken strips were good too. Will try a bigger chicken order next time. And the drinks were also on point.
(5)Luke T.
I will give a full review below, but if you have a short attention span, I can tell you everything you really need to know in this first paragraph. Here goes. I'm sipping on my caucasian, sitting at the narrow bar with my lady, who has just received an order of seasoned fries. After eating some fries, I feel something caught in a tooth toward the back of my mouth. I feel around with my tongue a bit and say to my company, "I got something stuck back there." Without a word, the bartender slides a shot glass my way. I look down and there's a toothpick inside. That basically sums it up. But there is more of note. The bartender stirred my white russian with an old-fashioned stir stick. You just don't see this type of service...Shaken or stirred?? I'm told this was a pimp joint back in the day. Like, for pimps by pimps. The walls are straight up velvet, so it's believable. It's so dimly lit, it has that perfect vibe, the exact same thing that is replicated in most of my favorite places across the country...Surly Girl in Columbus, Elbow Room in Pensacola, some places in NOLA, lots of places in Old Vegas, and now Lamar's in Chattanooga. You enter this shady looking motel, and there are booths for the apparent restaurant sitting unused to the right. Some of the booths still have fake cobwebs from Halloween. To the left are some very ramshackle restrooms ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ), then in the center is a hallway toward the back, where the lounge is located. The hall is basically lightless, the only faint glow emanating from a 50 gallon fish tank and a strange set of model houses ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… and yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). The jukebox still plays 45s, and features pretty much nothing but R&B and soul, nothing later than the mid '80s, I'd say. There's an entirely separate jukebox up front with the booths, but I doubt it sees much use. Oh, and apparently no one under 25 is allowed. As stated by a sign on the entrance door ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). I've been looking for a good, REAL dive bar in Chattanooga. This is the best I've found. If you look up dive bars in Chattanooga, you'll get results mentioning places like Hair of the Dog and the Big Chill. These ARE NOT dive bars. HotD is a bro-bar and the Big Chill is an "upscale" martini bar. Clearly, we have some issues with people knowing what constitutes a dive bar. In fact, I'm not even sure Lamar's qualifies, because the drinks here are NOT cheap. I'm still looking for somewhere to get a $2 pbr or $4 import in this town, but for now, and for environment, Lamar's will definitely suffice.
(5)Jennifer O.
This place has amazing food. Lamar's fried chicken beats every other fried chicken place I've tried in Chattanooga and that includes Champy's (I had to say it!). As many have reviewed, be mindful of the drinks and it is a professional bar set in velvet wallpaper, neon rope lighting, and a classic jukebox with some great jazz and motown. It's not a very big place, and the atmosphere is an experience. The drinks can be pricey, but the bartender is generous in his pour. Tip well! The biggest downside: It's hard to figure out when the place is actually open! I can only confirm evenings (later than 8pm) on Fridays so far.
(4)Kathleen B.
Don't let the exterior or surrounding neighborhood fool you; this is one of Chattanooga's gems. Go here for the bar...it's so kitschy. Well-adorned with Christmas lights, a small tree, and flocked wallpaper, it looks like something out of a bad (but good) holiday movie. Ask anyone who goes here, and they will warn you that the drinks are VERY stiff. We had friends in town, took them, ordered drinks...they are pretty heavy drinkers and couldn't believe how strong Lamar's makes theirs! Pretty good beer selection (Red Stripe, Bass, etc.) Haven't tried the food, but you can see plenty of people licking their fingers after devouring fried delicacies from plastic baskets.
(4)Jon W.
This was my last stop of the night after drinking at a few other places in Chattanooga with some friends. I didn't realize Chattanooga had such an amazing and divey late night bar. Lamars is no frills, with strong drinks flocked wall paper and low cheesy lighting. Also, the friend chicken was a pretty amazing take-out right after we closed down the bar. I couldn't ask for a better place to end my night in Chattanooga.
(5)Gordon P.
Very cool dive bar. Probably the best fried chicken ever. No need to order a double, you will have plenty of trouble trying to walk out of here. The drinks are strong!
(5)Danielle W.
I am so obsessed with this place. Best chicken in the world. My favorite bartender (Gerald!), heavy pours, a very interesting jukebox which may or may not be possessed (Everything from the Pixies and Portishead to Clarence Carter and Billie Holiday). Have a birthday coming up? Well on the sweet gold velvet wall paper lies a happy birthday banner thats up year round. I wish they would open up the back ballroom again so bands could book shows there (Of Montreal, Jason Isbell, and so many others have graced the stage) or maybe be open Sunday through Wednesday in addition to their normal schedule of 5pm- ? Thursday through Saturday. PS only newbies park on the street (MLK). Park around back.
(5)evan m.
I get the kitsch value of Lamar's: a quirky bar at the back of a seemingly abandoned restaurant. It feels like a David Lynch movie, and that's pretty entertaining. But the actualy experience wasn't so entertaining. Lamar's isn't quirky: it's actually kinda creepy. The empty front space and junk-filled hallway are pretty sketchy. Plus, the service is weird: unwelcoming and unpredictable. The bartender seemed really irritated that he had to actually serve us. And you have to keep you eye on the guy clearing tables or he'll sneak in and clear your half-full drink. To be fair, the fried chicken is really good, the wallpaper is really hilarious, and the drinks are really strong. It's worth visiting Lamar's for a drink and half a friend chicken. But keep your expectations in check.
(3)Max P.
Strong drinks, amazing fried chicken. Helps if you're already tipsy when you go. Don't mind the skeezy looking motel that is attached.
(4)Laura I.
The chicken is amazing, we ordered 4 pieces and an order of wings and fries and devoured ever last bit! I just drank a beer but it was a good one! lol. Will definitely go back.
(5)Jacob K.
If there is one thing you can definitely say about this place is that it has character. I have been here twice. Lamars has the strongest drinks you will find anywhere, I guarantee you that. They also have awesome fried chicken. I would almost say it was worth the hour I had to wait for it to be served. Lamars is located in the fringe area in Chattanooga where the ghetto-ish (but not too bad) area of Chattanooga meets the college (utc) area, so there is a pretty interesting mix of people there.
(4)Michael P.
My brother and I tried to go a couple weeks ago and they weren't open. Not even sure if they are anymore. Haven't seen the sign lit up in a while (not that I go that way often). Hope they're still in biz, haven't been there in years.
(3)