Ruby Sunshine Restaurant

Ruby Sunshine is a bright spot in downtown Chattanooga. Located at 405 Market Street (near the corner of Market and 4th) this little gem is within walking distance of the Tennessee Aquarium, the Walnut Street Bridge, the Chattanooga Riverwalk, and many other places of interest. In other words, it’s perfectly located if you are looking for a great place in downtown Chattanooga for brunch.

The business hours are listed as 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. making it the ideal place to grab a hearty breakfast or brunch for workers just getting off the third shift, for business people heading to 9:00 office hours, or for visitors to Chattanooga who are early risers and ready to get the day underway. And, of course, for #oldladiesontheloose.

The first any of us knew of Ruby Sunshine was back in the dead of winter. I happened to see a small clip of an interview with the owner/manager on television. It sounded interesting enough and featured a taste of New Orleans. All I could remember was the menu sounded great and the restaurant was located downtown.

We stumbled on it by accident. During a morning walk on a day that was freezing cold, we saw the sign (to the left) and a bench to rest upon. Who could pass up a picture with an arrow pointing to “the place” that claimed Pour Decisions Made Here?

Anyone who keeps up with #oldladiesontheloose knows we have made some “pour decisions” in our time. We followed the arrow and peeked inside.

After a bit of a debate, we decided to hold off any pour decisions that required being indoors. After all, none of us had been vaccinated and COVID was spreading like wildfire. We added the restaurant to our “if we ever get to go into a restaurant again” list.

With spring in the air — and perhaps, a little too much pollen in the air — Tawnya and I walked past Ruby Sunshine this morning on our daily walk. Outdoor seating was available. A good sign. But, we had miles to go before we could stop to make any decisions. So, with almost 10,000 steps, figured by the time we got back to our cars we would have them, we decided that today was the day. And, what a great decision we made.

Always on the lookout for a good brunch spot (our favorite meal of any day) we started at the top of the menu, the section referred to as “Benedicts.”

I ordered the Eggs Cochon, described as “Slow-cooked, apple-braised pork debris served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, finished with hollandaise.”

Tawnya chose the Eggs Blackstone described as “Applewood-smoked bacon and grilled tomato served over a buttermilk biscuit topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise.

Our plates can be seen in front of us in the pictures above. Okay, so if you aren’t hungry, this may not be the place for you. Of course, I am sure you can share. But, I can guarantee you will leave stuffed.

Anyway, Ruby Sunshine was a great find and a restaurant that is sure to be visited and revisited many times by the old ladies. By the way, for those of you who are keeping count, please note that I ordered unsweetened iced tea and Tawnya had sweetened iced tea. Guess since we didn’t make any “pour decisions” today we will definitely have to return and try again.