Bistro at the Bijou is a new american bistro fine-dining restaurant in Gay Street, Knoxville.
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 dishes: Pre-theater menu, Tuesday live jazz
Must 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.
Address: 807 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
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.
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.
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.
