Aretha Frankensteins

Tried a quirky and quaint place for breakfast today. Have heard great things about this local eatery. Ordered the shrimp and cheese omelette and my wife ordered the sod buster omelette. The service was excellent, the food was hot and the coffee was on the money. Outdoor dining on the wrap around porch. Located in a quiet part of old town Chattanooga. The eatery is really geared for smaller crowds since it’s in a former home. I suggest getting there early since it fills up fast and the wait times can be up to an hour or more. Our wait time, for 2 people, was 12 minutes. If you are tired of eating at the same old restaurant chains, try this place out. They offer some unique dishes and southern cooking. It’s just a nice place with honest food.

As amazing as the food and service is, if you were a child of the 80’s you must experience the atmosphere here! There are so many layers of detail it is the best kind of sensory trip back in time. Plus, the pancakes are about 3/4 inches thick and very fluffy. They even have their own beer!

Read all these great reviews so we headed over and I am sad to write this review. We had no wait and sat on the wrap around porch. Cute, quiet neighborhood view. The waitress was abrupt (found out hostess didn’t show up & they were stressed). The food came out hot and looked good but there was absolutely no flavor to anything! The potatoes had heat but no taste- weird. The famous pancake had no flavor and we likened it to something that the pioneers would make at a campfire- like a cornbread type cake. While we sat outside the smell of garbage became strong and it was 73 degrees. The parking situation was kind of frustrating because most of the neighbors who live close to the restaurant have no parking signs at their house and there is no dedicated parking for the restaurant. I don’t mind walking and that did not play into my eval. I will not recommend putting this on your must eat list and I will not return. I adore the look and feel of the place and it has a great outdoor space!

If you are in Chattanooga, make sure to stop at Aretha Frankenstein. The slim stack has 2 thick and fluffy pancakes with a crisp outside. Make sure to add the blueberry melange to it. The sweet blueberry flavor sends your tastebuds over the edge. The waffle is nice and crispy. The decor is fun and vintage with multiple 80s and 90s cereal box pictures

Surprised that this lived up to the hype, but my food was excellent and the atmosphere backed it up. Very nice standard breakfast sandwich and the pancake with blueberry butter was amazing. No syrup needed the butter was perfect. The pancake was one of the best I have ever had. I was there early and had no problem getting a seat, but there is very limited seating so go early. They do serve coffee, but I see this as a place for food and a coffee and not a place to just stop for a take out fancy coffee.

The pancakes were amazing, the blueberry topping added a nice flavor to them. The biscuit and cappuccinos were great as well. It was a very cool place and the staff were very kind. We were in Chattanooga for the weekend and this was our favorite spot while there, definitely a must try!

The best pancakes you will ever have and I am an unofficial pancake connoisseur. They’re fluffy and huge. We bought a mix to take home. All of their other food is good and hearty. You get big servings. The restaurant is cute and funky. There isn’t a lot of seating so plan accordingly. We got there right after opening and when we left all tables were full.

Cory was our service and he was fantastic, friendly, and attentive. There is about enough street parking for the amount of seating inside. Decor is fun and whimsical. Would definitely recommend as an experience. Shrimp and (spicy) grits were tasty, would be amazing if they were spicy cheese grits (maybe next time). Biscuit was butter and fluffy. Pancakes were fluffy and thick. Food is good enough that I would bring people here for the experience, but probably not good enough that I'd want to fight for parking for myself.

Very welcoming loved the service all together but when we sat down our table wasn't clean very stick!!! The food was ok I got Grits,Pancake, and sausage. the pancakes were not what I expected them to be very much like cornbread, grits undercooked, sausage was ok just a lil after taste

Absolutely delicious breakfast. Get the fluffy pancakes. Just do it. Super adorable space, located in the heart of a residential neighborhood. Love the front porch and all the cool retro rocker decor. Breakfast was incredible and service was so good. We had a blast enjoying our breakfast, which came out hot with perfect eggs. This is 100% on our list of must-visit places!

Atmosphere is 100% spot on. Food is excellent. Get the scoop of blueberry butter. You'll enjoy it. Haven't had a bad food experience so far. Service has been the biggest concern here. The restaurant can get kind of chaos-y, even on slow days. Recommend timing for off hours and still planning to spend a big chunk of your morning here.

A funky little breakfast cafe on the edge of town, this spot came in handy on our recent weekend trip to Chattanooga. We were called here based on its hilarious name, but stayed due to its fun, punk-esque interior and friendly, laid-back vibe. After a bit of a wait supplemented by tasty pumpkin ales from the bar, we were seated and ready to browse their huge, varied menu. Everything looked so delicious and creative, it was quite hard to choose. After a bite of our shared table pancake with the most deliciously potent blueberry butter, I settled into my perfect Italian warm hoagie, complete with melty cheese and sour-dressed lettuce, affectionately called the Marilyn. A hidden alt gem in the most unlikely of places.

Visited this place while on a girls trip to Chattanooga. The food was good the parking wasn't bad but not good either. Our server was good but the lady at the counter wasn't as friendly as others and it stuck out. Would definitely try again.

This place has amazing breakfast and a cool vibe. Sat in front porch with wife and kids early Sat morning. Small place so limited seats. Get there early

Amazing on all differ levels still the best pancake I have had in my life I recommend this place to everyone!

So good! Best breakfast in a long time. I usually don't eat pancakes but I couldn't resist. We tried a few things on the menu and they make delicious coffee! Supper friendly staff!

Came on a Saturday at 11:30, parking wasn't easy but the wait was only about 15 minutes. Small inside but we were sat at a Pac-Man game table which was cool, inside was absolutely freezing with the AC which was nice but also made most of my food cold in 5 minutes cause it was blowing like crazy. Service was great once we were seated inside. I got an iced latte with my partner getting just regular coffee. I ordered a slim stack of pancakes, a side of bacon and a biscuit cause I wanted a little bit of everything. My partner got the polish sausage and eggs with cheesy grits and also a side of refried beans. The pancakes were super tall and fluffy but I thought a little dry inside. The bacon was delicious and the biscuit was my favorite, the slightest hint of sweetness was great and the texture perfection. My Partner didn't love the flavor of the polish sausage but the rest was great- grits were super cheesy. There's a lot of hype but would have been a little disappointed if I waited a long time to eat here for a slightly above average breakfast.

Just had an incredible dining experience at Aretha Frankensteins in Chattanooga! The food was absolutely delicious, from their mouthwatering omelette to their fluffy pancake with their fancy Blueberry Melange. The service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff making our visit even more enjoyable. The quirky ambiance of the place adds an extra charm, making it a truly unique dining spot. Highly recommend checking it out!

I took my daughter here and we loved it! It's a little place with nostalgic ambiance with yummy food! The server was awesome and he gave us great conversation and told us the story about the restaurant! I love a good story! We will definitely be back!

Okay, have you ever seen pancakes this fat before? I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm obsessed. I couldn't finish the pancakes, so I took the rest to-go and ate them cold as leftovers right out the fridge. It reminds me of corn bread, which I don't normally eat, but these were perfection. I also ordered the Sod Buster omelette (3 eggs with potatoes, onions, applewood smoked bacon, and cheese). Could have used more meat inside, but it was still delicious, especially alternating bites with the grits. I wasn't sure why the grits were labeled as spicy, but they were still well made. The servers were friendly, and the vibe was very casual. Like most places in Chattanooga, parking is hit or miss, so maybe the earlier the better.

What a gem! We thought they would be busy based on parking (which is hard to find!) but we were able to be seated right away inside! The vibe inside is so cool...very unique decor, very retro! Our waitress was very helpful with the menu! We ordered lattes and breakfast! The food was absolutely delicious! Two of us had the polish eggs with potatoes and one had the breakfast burrito. I was debating between the potatoes or grits and I am so happy I went with the potatoes!! Everything was absolutely amazing! We shared the waffle with ice cream after! Yum!!

What a great place! A hidden gem buried in a residential neighborhood. Great full menu yummy food (not just pancakes). Oh my goodness the coffee was amazing! Super friendly and attentive service. Cute and fun inside albeit small. They have a porch and patio for outdoor dining. They open at 8 AM and I recommend getting there early. As they only have street parking. I would highly recommend going!

Such a fun place to have breakfast!! Very quaint converted house. Good thing we were there when they opened, we got the last three seats at the bar. Between the three of us we ordered a variety of items, by far pancakes were the BEST!!! Bacon was extra crispy and eggs cooked perfect, waffle was yummy! Lara our server was very friendly and did a great job! Next time you are in Chattanooga you must have breakfast here!!!

Iconic staple to the city. I was almost turned off by the name, but it wasn't a Mary Shelley yarn. Get the mocha.

Looove this place. Always make sure & stop by here when I come to Chattanooga. Go early if you can, it gets busy & it's a very small place but worth the wait. I've loved everything I'm had from there, you can't go wrong & the pancakes & waffles are huge.

The food here is good but their sweet items are definitely the star of the show. Their blueberry butter that comes with the waffles and pancakes is delicious and sugary. Seating is limited but once you're sat the staff is attentive. The staff was very friendly to dogs and even brought out some bacon for free for our dog.

Came here for breakfast during our trip at a friend's recommendation. I had the pancakes since they are a popular item and my partner had an omelet. He really liked his omelet but unfortunately I do not remember which one it was . I had the short stack of pancakes, side of bacon, and a dirty chai. These pancakes are thicc and they were really good but I could not completely finish my food. I was full. The place is small and the decorations are really fun. Old cereal boxes, band posters from the 60s and 70som the wall, skateboarding skeleton hung like a chandelier, and Saturday morning cartoons played on the tv. We were seated at a defunct Pac-Man gaming table which is fine for us but if you're tall, it would be uncomfortable. Our waitress was nice and attentive. The only issue I was not aware of was the parking. They only have street parking and it is located next to a small business complex a residential area. The businesses had reserved parking with warnings about $250 fine and a threat of booting. We drove around for 20 minutes trying to find a place to park but some of the residents are clearly fed up with people blocking them in or blocking their mail boxes. We finally asked one of the employees of the neighboring businesses and we were given permission to park in one of their spots but I wouldn't make this a habit. We had drove straight here from out of town and I was going to go elsewhere if we couldn't park.

12/21/24 @1:51pm. I can't rate the food as i just sat by myself at the bar and was ignored. Left after several minutes of sitting there while people 3 stools away we're engaged frequently. My menu was closed after viewing and being given water, just sitting there at the bar. Seemed small, cramped and dirty. Wouldn't recommend for large indoor party

Such a fun spot! This place is everything you would want out of a modern diner. Quirky with lots to look at on the walls. Friendly people. Awesome, reasonably priced food. I ordered a fat stack of pancakes and my husband got the biscuit plate. These pancakes are literally like a layer cake from a bakery without any frosting. They are DENSE. But soooo delicious! A real treat. The biscuit was phenomenal, but a surprising highlight of the dish was the spicy potatoes. It lent some nice depth of flavor to the meal. We did have a long wait on a Sunday morning and we had trouble finding parking. But that is to be expected for such a small place. I consider this to be one of Chattanooga's best kept secrets! A must visit!

Pro: Fun ambiance. Super friendly staff. Biscuits & Pancakes are a MUST. Con's: The building is a house in a neighborhood so street parking only. There's only 5 tables and bar seating may not be best for large groups. I hear it gets busy and might have lines but we went on a Tuesday morning so we just walked right in.

It was a fun place to visit and the service was good but it really needs a cleaning and there is no other way to say it other than the food was just awful. I wouldn't recommend it.

Aretha Frankensteins is a MUST VISIT when in Chattanooga. We were visiting for the weekend and knew we had to get breakfast here. My biggest tip is to arrive early! The inside is very small and seating is only about 5 tables and the bar stools. When we arrived, we were told it would be a 30-45 minute wait. Truly, it didn't seem over 25 minutes before we were inside at the cutest little table-- a converted Ms.Pac-man machine. While the small table didn't have ANY leg room, it was worth it to see the colorful retro game light up across our breakfast table. Our server was friendly and fast. I ordered the slim stack of pancakes, the blueberry melange, and a side of bacon. I got a chocolate milk to drink. All. Were. Amazing. The bacon had a great flavor. The chocolate milk was rich and cold. Personally, I didn't love the melange, but it sure was pretty. The pancakes were truly the largest, thickest breakfast cakes I'd ever seen. They tasted so good and it was fun to dip the thick stacks in syrup. The consistency was a lot more dense, similar to a cornbread rather than a fluffy pancake-- but they were delicious. It was a completely different texture. The inside is decorated with eclectic horror themed artifacts from movie posters to old cereal boxes. The entire experience was such a vibe and I am glad we found this cute bite for breakfast.

We were visiting TN and stopped here for breakfast. I can't say enough how delicious everything was. Portion sizes were large and we had so much left over that we couldn't take with us because we were traveling. The place was very busy and we waited 20-25 minutes for a table. It was a really cute place and everyone was very helpful. The pancakes were sooo good and fluffy.

Terrible pancakes. Burned. Hard as rocks. Terrible eggs and biscuit hard as a rock. No fresh juice. Terrible food. Awful. Don't go here.

Punk rock Waffle House is the slogan and that is exactly correct! Every time I bring out of towners in, I always show them this spot for breakfast, and we are truly blown away every single time by the pancakes and everything else in between ! The decor is fabulous and they always have something interesting playing on TV. Service has been phenomenal because it's not fast food. It's fantastic food! Definitely recommend you try it out !

Insane greatness is a perfect description of breakfast items at Aretha's. This ain't your mama's IHOP. For one thing IHOP doesn't have a liquor license.

An interesting local favorite, I was surprised at how busy it was given the off-hour in mid-week. I was given a seat at the counter, so this was my first time eating inside. What an eclectic place! Service was slow, but expected based upon previous experience. My first food choice, waffles, was unavailable, so I "settled" for the pancakes, and since I use their mix at home, I'm more than familiar with that taste. The surprise was the sides I opted to try, the potatoes were incredible. This will very rarely be an option if you are in the mood for a fast meal, but it is if you have the time, worth the wait.

The best pancakes I've ever had! I got them with the blueberry melange. I only got the slim stack and that was definitely enough. My party also got the side of biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were very good but the gravy needed to be salted at the table. We also got espresso (very good) and a dirty chai latte (also very good). Lastly we got the IPA that Hutton and Smith made for Aretha Franklins. It was a nice and juicy IPA. The service was very good. We had attentive servers. The vibe was also great. Lots of band posters on the wall and old gaming stuff. I've seen several 1 star reviews that seemed mostly about the wait. We didn't happen to wait since we went for a late breakfast on a Monday, but when we went on Sunday the wait was an hour (we didn't have time to wait so we went elsewhere). That's not enough to give a place a 1 star review. Don't penalize places just because they're popular enough that they have a long wait on weekends because everyone has time to go out to breakfast.

Great service, the pancakes were a bit too much but overall worth trying. The Dave's scramble was bomb!

Went about 9am on a Thursday. Greeted and seated as soon as we walked in. Friendly server, told us about the place being it was our first time. We shared the short stack and polish scramble. Both were good. Potatoes had jalapeños and were too spicy for me. The 80's was our time and the posters and memorabilia were really cool and brought back lots of memories

Very small funky spot with amazing breakfast. The build your own burrito and grits were great but the true star is their pancakes! I have been using their pancake mix in my kitchen for years but never had the chance to make it up to their brick and mortar. It was worth the wait! The pancake was an inch thick and has an almost corn bread texture that allows the syrup to soak in without making it soggy. We were able to sit out on their patio and watch the birds flit around before it got too hot. Everyone was super welcoming and the funky vibes they have are amazing!

Everything went well! Tya who was our waitress was really awesome! The food was amazing! My Sisters and I was on our annual sisters trip and had a great time! I got the Elephants Gerald and was so good! Will come back again!

This spot is a Chattanooga mainstay, and for good reason! I honestly had not been here since before Covid, and when we were trying to think of a breakfast spot the other day, I remembered what used to be one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city. I'm happy to report nothing has changed and their pancakes still remain the best in the city, they literally can't be beat! My dad ordered an omelet that was stuffed full of meat and cheese that was also delicious! If you're ever looking for a classic breakfast spot in Chattanooga, this one's for you!

This is an interesting spot and it is also VERY popular with the tourist crowd even though it is a bit hidden away in a neighborhood. This is a smaller place and with it being so popular that often results in significant waits to be seated which also results in sometimes significant waits for your food. It took me multiple visits to this spot to finally be able to eat here and while I did enjoy my experience here it wasn't quite perfect. First off they don't have unsweet iced tea here and only offer sweet tea which is disappointing to me as I don't like sweet tea. My visit was on a Monday and I still had to wait an hour for a space at one of the seats at the bar which is quite a long wait for a solo diner. The menu here is quite concise but they also have a decent beer selection here. By the time I was able to eat it was well into lunch time so I tried one of their smothered burritos which was good and also unexpectedly VERY spicy, which as I enjoy spicy food that was a good thing but for folks that are not expecting such a spice kick that could be a big negative for them. The ambiance of this place is what really makes it a special joint and they really have built a pleasant place to enjoy some funky and cool flashback times to fun memories for many of us. Overall most folks should enjoy their experience here other than the wait times. My video review of Aretha Frankensteins is here: https://youtu.be/RnU9s7kOtEw

Great spot for breakfast. Pancakes lived up to the hype. Great coffee drinks as well. Seating is limited so not great for big groups.

Went during the week for lunch. Food was good. Had a bacon and cheese omelette- fluffy! The potatoes had a nice peppery spice. Nice staff. They needed to do much busing for more seating. Must be understaffed. Overall recommend. Not clear where to park since in a neighborhood.

I loved my experience at Aretha Frankensteins. We got there right when it opened and waited about an hour, but it was worth the wait. I loved the decor and it started many conversations at the table! I ordered the pancakes with a side of grits. I would not get the grits again but I loved the pancakes! They were absolutely delicious! I will be back for sure :)

Overhead music was so loud I could not engage in conversation with my table mate. Asked the waiter to reduce the volume. 15 minutes later volume was at concert level. Asked manager this time and after 10 minutes it was turned down. Still too loud for breakfast at 9:30 AM. Asked waiter to substitute a pancake instead of the grits and potatoes in the combo. She stated she wasn't allowed to do so. Breakfast potatoes too spicy hot, not edible. For 2 Pancakes, I egg and bacon combo, one coffee bill was 34.00 Will not return. Big disappointment.

One the most unique dining experiences ever! Love a coffee stout with breakfast, and then take a nap until lunch.

We went there were 4 of us and they were on a 30 minute wait to be seated! They seemed very unorganized and not ready for the day. We finally sat down and started to inform the server what we wanted and everything we asked for they did not have it! The food was ok? Not the best but we were frustrated that they were out of half of the items on the menu. Non the less we were hungry and disappointed, if we are I the area we might go back not sure .

Pancakes are wonderful, the grits are good if you like hot sauce, and the biscuits are underrated. Best to go with a small party early in the morning. We took eight, and they worked with us to make it happen. Service from the wait staff and behind the bar were great. Not great parking options. Wish they would expand.

Cute and kitschy punk horror themed restaurant . Food was amazing . We had sausage egg and cheese breakfast biscuits and the fried potatoes. Excellent flavor . Staff was friendly and attentive .

Very eclectic place. Seemed to be very busy which might have given the main worker there some anxiety. He gave off a very "New York" vibe. Food was good. We had the slim stack - which I could NOT finish!!! We brought it home and my boys won't leave me alone about wanting MORE pancakes (even though they ate them cold) We also got the biscuits and gravy which were nice. Nothing too special but we'll done.

I want to call this a hidden gem, but it's pretty well known. I love the unique atmosphere with bizarre comics and cereal boxes decorating the walls. I actually love that the seating is limited and the space is intimate. Get the pancakes (I would say pass on the blueberry melange, the pancakes are great on their own). Everything else is good, but the pancakes are fluffy and unique. After you try them in the restarting, stock up on the mix for at home. You can't quite make them like the restaurant does (I assume the atmosphere adds a little umph to the flavor) but the mix is still great to have on hand for a quick and easy breakfast. The hours have changed, call ahead if you aren't going for a weekend brunch to check if they are open.

I have eaten breakfast at Aretha Frankenstein's at least 50 times over the past twenty years. It has the best biscuits and pancakes anywhere. The omelets and fried potatoes are also spectacular. The food is very high quality. I can only imagine that the reviews are so low because the restaurant only has capacity for 25+ patrons at one time. Thus, you will need to have time to wait. Sometimes you can get lucky outside rush hours, but it is usually full. If you have time to wait, you will have the best breakfast available in Chattanooga.

What a cute spot in the middle of a residential area. The decor is as eclectic as it gets. There is so much to see inside you can spend an hour just browsing the random items and posters on the walls. I went on a Saturday and sat outside on the patio with a group of 5. The wait was very long. Definitely plan to spend 40 min waiting for a table. When we got seated and looked at the menu there were only a few items that did not have eggs, waffles and pancakes, I don't eat eggs. A few folks ordered omelets and the rest of us got the epic pancakes which seems to be their specialty. I wanted a waffle but the waiter informed us they were out of waffles. I added the melange but don't do it. The flavored butter was not worth the upcharge, was a bit grainy and did not add anything to the pancakes. The super thick pancakes are more like a yellow cake than your traditional pancake. I got the small stack of two and could only eat like half and even that was too much. I would definitely share it or just order one on the side and share it. Overall a cute spot for vibe and atmosphere but my brunch did not have me itching to come back. Checked off the list.

Good food, worth a little attitude. Fun, with an edge. Known for their pancakes and waffles. You can purchase the mix! Perfect for gifts! Avoid the omelets. My bacon and cheese was small (3 eggs?) and not filling. Spicy grits? Not so much.