Universal Joint Chattanooga

Arrived to a “seat yourself” sign - which is what I did. It wasn’t until 10 mins after that we even received menus to begin looking. Two different servers came over asking for drink orders. It seemed like they didn’t know who had our table. 15 minutes after that we received our drinks. A few minutes later the OTHER of our two servers came to take a food order. My party got two burger meals and a side of tater tots. Finally, 50 minutes after we received our first drinks, we got our food. My Burger never came with the side of ranch sauce that I requested, so I asked not one, but both of our servers in hopes that I would receive it from one quicker than the other. After I finish my entire burger, neither of our servers were back with the ranch. I myself work at a restaurant so I am not one to judge under small circumstances, however, the service should not be this pitiful on a tuesday afternoon.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

If you are in Chattanooga and looking for a laid back spot with incredible food and atmosphere, Universal Joint absolutely delivers. The outdoor patio is one of the best in the city, relaxed, welcoming, and perfect for enjoying a sunny afternoon. The vibe strikes that rare balance between casual and cool, where you can unwind but still feel like you have found somewhere special.

The food was outstanding. The burger was cooked perfectly, juicy, flavorful, and topped with thick, crispy bacon and melted cheese that brought everything together. The sweet potato waffle fries were a standout, crispy on the outside, soft inside, and seasoned just right. You can tell they care about quality and execution, not just speed.

Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and the overall experience felt effortless from start to finish. Whether you are grabbing lunch with friends, enjoying a casual date, or just relaxing with great food outdoors, Universal Joint is a must visit. It is the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

UJ will be my home bar from this point on.

First time eating here and it was delicious. The whole party loved everything they had. The drinks are very good as well. Our waitress was super sweet... we all loved her vibe and service was great. Great location for dinner before a show!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nice place to chill with friends and have lunch and a beer. Bring your 🐕☺️. Just a quiet place to chill

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Great chicken wings!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Universal Joint Downtown Chattanooga absolutely nailed it with their very first drag brunch! The energy was incredible, the queens were iconic, and the food was genuinely amazing—everything was fresh, flavorful, and worth coming back for. 🥂✨

Only tiny note: next time, definitely have more champagne on hand because that crowd was READY 😂
Such a fun, inclusive vibe and an unforgettable experience. Can’t wait for the next one!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sweet Potato Fries

This was our first time visiting Universal Joint and we were very impressed with the whole atmosphere. We were there for a drag brunch, which just increases my respect for them. Great food, great service, and great feeling of community. Looking forward to many more visits!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Love this place!! The food was amazing and the LOVE Drag Brunch was SO good!! We will definitely be back to see Kevin and the staff!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, drinks, and service!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was my second visit to the Universal Joint. Great place in downtown Chattanooga. It's an old service station, oil change place from many years ago. Myself & a couple other Motorcoach driver's cam in for lunch. We all had Burgers, Fries & Tater Tots. Everything was delicious. There is also outdoor seating on the large patio available. Our wonderful server was Crimson. She was very polite, professional and just a Sweetheart.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Universal Fries, Smokehouse Burger

We had Crimson as our waitress. She was wonderful with a great smile and beautiful personality.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We go there because it's right by the Walker and it's an easy combo. That will change from now on. The brisket nachos were pathetic. Well at least the chips weren't stale and my wife's tater tots were crunchy, other than that it was a waste of money. You know there are a LOT of burger joints in Chatt. A LOT! Go somewhere they might care.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 2

I walked in the restaurant while it was empty and instead of seeing how they could help. Everyone seemed shocked to have a customer, they were just sitting down eating looking at me hoping they wouldn’t have to work. When I told them I had a DoorDash order they all let out a sigh of relief. I will never eat here if this is the team running the “Joint”

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

On New Year's Eve, it was packed the service was still spectacular. We will be returning again very soon.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5