The Berliner at Sluggo's Vegan Cafe in Chattanooga TN

On this beautiful sunny day I had a craving for something different, so I went to Sluggo's for a German-style vegan sandwich. The Berliner came with grilled seitan slices on rye bread with kraut, grilled onions, Russian dressing and vegan cheezy sauce. Look at this box of deliciousness!

As a whole, this was a really good sandwich. All of the individual ingredients seemed mild in flavor, but the combination of those ingredients worked very well together. The presentation was good. The pickle on the side made this good meal even better. It was so good I would say eating it with every other bite should be the way to go. Excellent! I had to eat this sandwich quickly, because the bottom pieces of  bread were getting slightly soggy. The take-out box probably captured too much of the steam. I expected this sandwich to be a sloppy mess, but it was surprisingly clean and intact with only a couple pieces of kraut escaping the cheezy sauce.

I could not visit Sluggo's without getting a side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes with mushroom gravy. The chunky grilled potatoes along with potato skin and chunky mushroom gravy give plenty of texture to keep the mouth entertained. I picked up on a hint of smoke flavor, probably in the creamy gravy. It almost tasted like sausage gravy. I don't know what they do to the potatoes and gravy, but it's a real winning side item. I haven't been able to try all the other side items because of my addiction to these amazing potatoes.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to order this as a call-in order with curbside pickup. The service was friendly. The transaction was smooth and easy. This visit was great.  

Sluggo's is easy to find. From downtown Chattanooga, go north over the Market Street bridge, then turn left on Cherokee Street. Sluggo's is just a few blocks up on the right.

Lentil Patty Melt at Sluggo's Vegan Cafe In Chattanooga TN.

Today I made another visit to Sluggo's in Chattanooga TN. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic they were only doing curbside pickup orders. I walked there, so I placed my order by phone and waited on the bench in the front of the cafe. Today I ordered a Lentil Patty Melt on rye with a side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes with mushroom gravy. I also got a bottle of Boylan Black Cherry soda.

The sandwich was served in a take-out box with a pickle on the side. Everything about it was great! This included a lentil patty topped with grilled onions and mushrooms, a vegan cheezy sauce, vegan mayo, and mustard on toasted rye. I love the toasted rye. It stayed crunchy almost to the end. The lentil patty was soft with small chunks. The generous amount of onions and peppers were cooked to perfection and had a good skillet-cooked flavor. The creamy cheezy sauce was not as flavorful as I would prefer, but it did play an important part in the composition and overall taste. This sandwich offered a variety of textures and flavors that were perfectly pleasing. Even the pickle was great.

The side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes was larger than expected. This was almost a heavy family-sized portion. Fortunately for me, it was some of the best potatoes and gravy I've had in years! I ate half and saved half for later. The potatoes were partially smooth with delicious grilled chunks and a little bit of potato skin. The thick gravy was loaded with flavor and had an oily texture. This soul food side item was pleasantly peppery and spiced like a Thanksgiving meal. It completely satisfied my craving for real food. The presentation was not great, but this is southern comfort food. It was served exactly as expected.

This lunch experience was further enhanced with Sluggo's impressive collection of take-out drinks. I wanted to keep it simple and easy. I asked for Boylan's Black Cherry soda. It was served cold and fresh. 

Sluggo's Vegan Cafe has impressed me again with quality, portion size, and value. My meal was large and tasty with a final price that beats the competition down the road. The service was very friendly. Even with curbside ordering, this experience was completely positive and has left me with many reasons to return as soon as possible. Good job Sluggo's!

Sluggo's Veggie Plate at Sluggo's in Chattanooga TN

Here's the Sluggo's Veggie Plate at Sluggo's in Chattanooga TN.

Sluggo's Burrito at Sluggo's in Chattanooga TN

This was my first time trying Sluggo's in Chattanooga. Sluggo's specializes in freshly prepared vegan foods. They make all the sauces and faux meats in their kitchen. They use organic foods when possible. That all sounds fantastic to me!

I wasn't sure what would be the best menu items. I wanted to pick something safe, so I chose the Sluggo's Burrito. The menu says it's "grilled and filled with your choice of pinto or black beans, yellow rice, and salsa, topped with lettuce, homemade vegan cheezy sauce, and lime-soy cream. Served with chips and salsa". I added avocado and a cup of Harry's Homemade Chili. I'm not sure why I didn't receive chips and salsa. Maybe the addition of the chili was considered to be a substitute.

This was a large burrito. Everything about this meal was excellent! My favorite highlights included the refreshing and slightly tart lime-soy cream which tasted similar to ranch dressing, the creamy vegan cheeze which had a wonderful nutty flavor, the fresh black beans, and the hearty side of chunky chili. The tortilla was grilled and gave the burrito a slight greasy spoon flavor similar to that of foods cooked in old skillets. I'm not really into the grilled foods, but it did give the burrito another interesting layer of flavor. I would have preferred more vegan cheese, not because it needed it but because it was just so good. This meal was worth the price which was about $13. I would have liked to try the chips and salsa. It's no big deal though. I had plenty of food.

I really liked the food, but I was a unsure of the cleanliness of the restaurant. My first impression upon arrival from the rear lot was that it looked dumpy. Much of Chattanooga has a worn down dystopian appearance, and it was the back entrance, so I didn't let that scare me away. I climbed the deck stairs to the main floor and the brightly painted interior gave me more hope. The colorful minimalist artwork on the walls was impressive and unique, but the overall atmosphere of the dining room reminded me of the break room of a manufacturing facility. The incomplete detailing and building maintenance made it clear that the focus was on making great plant-based foods.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Sluggo's. I received great food with friendly service. There are many items on the menu that I'd like to try in the future. I'll try to return soon!