Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining Knoxville.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Knoxville.
J.C. Holdway on Union Avenue is Joseph Lenn's wood-fired Appalachian dining room since 2016, the top of Knoxville's chef-driven dinner tier.
Signature: Wood-fired Appalachian plates, Local trout
Order: The chef's wood-fired Appalachian protein of the week with a tasting-menu glass pairing.
Tip: Reservations open about a month out on Resy; the dining room sits about 50, so book early for Friday and Saturday.
Emilia on Market Square, chef Matt Gallaher's Emilia-Romagna-inspired Italian dining room since 2016, runs handmade pasta and hand-pulled mozzarella.
Signature: Handmade pasta, Hand-pulled mozzarella
Order: Whichever pasta the kitchen is rolling that night, plus a hand-pulled mozzarella plate to share.
Tip: OpenTable opens about three weeks out; Tuesday to Thursday dinners turn faster than weekend Saturdays.
Lilou Brasserie on South Gay Street, the Aaron Thompson and Jessica King French brasserie in the old Sapphire space, runs full-day French service.
Signature: Steak frites, Weekend jazz brunch
Order: Steak frites at dinner or a Saturday jazz-brunch plate with the daily happy-hour pour.
Tip: Daily happy hour 16:00-18:00 is the easiest entry; brunch sits at 10:00-14:00 on weekends.
Osteria Stella on West Jackson, the Aaron Thompson and Jessica King Italian room above Brother Wolf, runs Italian dinner service in the Old City.
Signature: Pasta, Wood-fired Italian
Order: Whatever the kitchen is rolling for pasta that night with a glass off the Italian-leaning wine list.
Tip: Sunday dinner is the quieter night; pair with an aperitivo at sibling Brother Wolf downstairs.
Bistro at the Bijou on South Gay Street, the dining room attached to the historic Bijou Theatre, runs a pre-theater menu and live jazz Tuesdays in one.
Signature: Pre-theater menu, Tuesday live jazz
Order: The pre-theater bistro menu with a glass off the built wine list.
Tip: Time the reservation 90 minutes before showtime; Sundays run quieter than Friday and Saturday.
Chesapeake's Seafood House on Locust Street, the Copper Cellar group's downtown seafood room, runs Maryland crab cakes and fresh fish in a historic setting.
Signature: Maryland crab cakes, Fresh fish
Order: Maryland-style crab cakes plus the daily fresh-fish preparation.
Tip: Pre-theater dinner runs faster than the post-show seating; OpenTable opens about three weeks out.
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the long-running Southern brunch and dinner room, runs Wednesday-to-Saturday dinners sourcing from East.
Signature: Smash burger, Local-farm dinner
Order: The smash burger at dinner with a cocktail off the seasonal list.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday for dinner; Sunday is brunch only and the kitchen closes Monday and Tuesday.
Holly's Eventful Dining on Kingston Pike, chef Holly Hambright's Bearden room running a daily-changing menu, anchors Knoxville's local-source eclectic.
Signature: Daily-changing menu, Brunch plates
Order: Whatever Holly's kitchen is leading the daily-changing menu with that night.
Tip: Menu rotates daily; call ahead for reservations and to ask what is on the board for service.
Discover the flavors of Knoxville on a guided food tour. Enjoy tastings at local restaurants, learn about the city's history, and explore the neighborhoods of Market S...
Sail through Knoxville's scenic waterways. Relish a three-course meal at your private table while enjoying a breathtaking sunset.
Cruise along Knoxville's riverfront while enjoying a delicious meal. Relax in comfort and take in sights like Neyland Stadium.
Editor picks in Knoxville include J.C. Holdway, Emilia, Lilou Brasserie, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.