Eating out: Malone’s Steakhouse opens at Hamilton Place

Malone’s, Chattanooga’s newest fine dining experience, held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Monday morning at its Hamilton Place location, just behind Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

The freestanding building is another addition to the Bluegrass Hospitality Group (BHG), co-founded by partners Bruce Drake and Brian McCarty, who also opened Drake’s in Chattanooga in 2019.

Shortly before the grand opening, McCarty spoke to members of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, media representatives and the public.

“On behalf of Bruce and the entire BHG team, we want to thank each and every one of you for being here,” McCarty said. “This project has been years in the making and so many people have made today possible. We are grateful to each and every one of you.”

Ryan Robinson has been named managing partner of the newly opened restaurant, having previously held the same position at Drake’s.

He said he was grateful for the opportunity, which also created other new jobs.

“We hired 255 great people,” he said.

He said the company supports its employees like family and enjoys giving back to the community. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, they announced that BHG raised more than $10,000 for the Chattanooga Food Bank.

Malone’s offers a unique dining experience. There’s the main steakhouse, which features a three-story bourbon bar with every bourbon, whiskey and rye imaginable on the menu, the adjacent indoor/outdoor patio bar called Harry’s American Bar and Grill, and both dining rooms offer menus featuring Aqua Sushi – another BHG brand.

I ate at Harry’s American Bar and Grill. It was spacious with lots of open seating, a huge full service bar, and plenty of big screen TVs for sports fans. The patio windows were open for the event, but the water mist fans kept things cool and comfortable without getting the tables, chairs, or people wet.

There was great music playing in the background. It reminded me of the patio bars I used to go to on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove or Key West, Florida. You know, the ones that are always on island time.

The menu at Harry’s is exactly what you would expect from a patio bar. Appetizers include potato skins, chicken wings, steak and chicken quesadillas, crispy fish sticks, chili and crab cakes. Harry’s offers a variety of salads, burgers, wraps and sandwiches, as well as chicken and fish platters. You also have the option of ordering a 21-day aged USDA Prime Beef from Malone’s or choosing from the Aqua Sushi menu.

When in Rome…yes, I’m in a steakhouse, sure, so I ordered the 4-ounce small filet with a side of their lemon parmesan broccoli. My meal came with an endless Lexingtonian salad with mixed greens, bacon, tomatoes, and a creamy herb dressing.

Lord, have mercy!

The steak was tender, juicy and perfectly medium rare. The broccoli was steamed just right, with a slight acidic note from the lemon and the sweet, salty and nutty kick from the Parmesan cheese.

The ambience was bright and inviting, and the staff were polite, fun, and quick to bring drinks and take orders. They knew the menu and were happy to help you choose if you asked.

If you have some room left, you can ask for the dessert menu, which is what I definitely did.

There’s a five-layer, giant chocolate cake, classic crème brulee and other delicacies. I opted for the vanilla cheesecake with strawberry chunks, almond slivers and a strawberry amaretto topping with whipped cream on top.

Yes! Bring it with a to-go box and thank you.

After dinner, I checked out the Bourbon Bar. I’m a rum fanatic, but my goodness, I’ve never seen such an impressive selection of bourbon and other liquors in my life. You could sit at the bar or at a table or booth and watch the games on the big screen TVs while sipping your favorite beer, wine or cocktail.

Malone’s main dining room offers several spacious booths, all with ample legroom, as well as a few tables here and there. The walls are lined with signed framed artwork bearing the names of famous artists, athletes, coaches and other dignitaries. The decor is a step up from the playful interior of Drake’s, but the environment still feels casual and inviting.

Malone’s menu will please any palate. I’ll have to go back and try the deluxe mussel tower or the beef carpaccio appetizer. Malone’s offers platters of fresh fish and seafood, homemade pastas and of course, prime steaks including Black Hawk Farm’s Reserve Label American Wagyu. You can also build your own surf and turf.

Dining at Malone’s is a premium experience without having to get out of your Sunday best – unless you want to.

Visit the restaurant online at: bluegrasshospitality.com/malones/chattanooga/