Sometimes the best travel adventures are the ones you don’t plan for, and that was certainly the case for the tiny Greek restaurant I found on a sweltering June afternoon in Chattanooga. We were looking for a place to grab lunch, one last hurrah to cap a fun wedding weekend and fuel us for the drive back to Birmingham. When we came across a Greek restaurant called Opa, we had no idea what we were getting into.
Located just steps from the Tennessee River, the exterior of this restaurant immediately transports you to the Mediterranean. Look for the tiny, whitewashed house that seems just a bit out of place next to the traditional brick condos that surround its coveted spot on River Street. Follow the stone path into the cozy indoor dining room, where you’ll find all the hallmarks of a classic Greek taverna, from rustic tables to framed photographs of swoon-worthy Greek locales. The white-brick walls and flowers on every table only add to the ambiance.
Credit: Tara Massouleh McCay
Opa’s Legendary Patio
But the real star of the show at Opa is the dreamy dining patio that transports you straight to Greece, no passport or trans-Atlantic flight required. Giant shade sails soften the harsh summer sun, giving everything a soft glow. In the evening, the entire space is crisscrossed with twinkle lights. One wall is entirely covered in bamboo, while ivy adorns a trellis overhead. Tables are set with white tablecloths, folding chairs, and vases of colorful blooms. The stucco walls and windows plastered with images of Greek mountainsides and islands could lean cheesy, but somehow only add to the atmosphere. Call it wanderlust or suspended disbelief, but by the time our lunch was over, I had nearly forgotten we were in southeastern Tennessee not southeastern Europe.
Credit: Tara Massouleh McCay
A One-Of-A-Kind Experience
Don’t expect a typical dining experience at Opa. There are no menus, the drinks are unlimited (including the house wine), and everything is served family style. On my first visit (back in 2020 when the restaurant still took walk-ins and served lunch), we sat down to a sweating carafe of tart-sweet pomegranate tea that perfectly cut the richness of our still-bubbling Saganaki appetizer. For the main meal, we dined on gyro meat and baked chicken served with salad, roasted veggies, and rice. I can’t quite remember dessert, but I think it was some sort of chocolate cake paired with a digestif. Since we came in for lunch, the usual theatrics of the place were dialed down a bit, but we still got to break a couple plates and yell “Opa!” on our way out.
Credit: Tara Massouleh McCay
When I returned in 2023, this time with a group of 10 women for a bachelorette trip, I found the same impeccable vibes, only done to the extreme dinnertime. The courtyard’s golden-hour glow gave the evening a magical quality, and the food was just as tasty and fresh as I had remembered. Judging by the increasingly loud chatter and giggles, the constantly refilled carafes of house red wine were a hit amongst our group—and the rest of the diners that night.
By the time the last plate had been cleared, we were more than ready for the main event: dish smashing and dancing. Tables were pushed to the perimeters of the courtyard, ceramic dishes were passed out to all diners, and once the unmistakable twang of bouzouki started blaring over the loudspeakers, the plates started flying. There was dancing around (and on) the tables. Once ground was completely covered with shards of tableware, folks journeyed from their seats into the center of the room for more dancing and merrymaking. I would recommend closed-toe shoes as you’ll likely be dancing on and around lots of broken glass.
How To Experience Opa
Opa is open for dinner only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and only with reservations. Reservations can be made for 2 to 45 guests (the max capacity for the restaurant). Expect to spend about $100 per person for the full experience including dinner, drinks, dancing, and plenty of plate smashing.
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