The restaurants worth a reservation in Knoxville, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Knoxville: bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
21 places
Order Whichever Appalachian-sourced wood-fired protein the kitchen is leading the night's menu.
J.C. Holdway on Union Avenue, Joseph Lenn's wood-fired Appalachian room since 2016 after his Blackberry Farm run, anchors Knoxville's chef-driven downtown.
Order Whichever pasta the kitchen is rolling that day, plus a hand-pulled mozzarella plate to start.
Emilia on Market Square, chef Matt Gallaher's Emilia-Romagna-inspired Italian room since 2016, runs handmade pasta and house-pulled mozzarella a block off.
Order Steak frites at dinner or a Saturday jazz brunch plate with the daily happy-hour pour.
Lilou Brasserie on South Gay Street, Aaron Thompson and Jessica King's French room in the old Sapphire space, runs all-day breakfast and jazz brunch.
Order Whatever the kitchen is rolling for pasta that night, plus a glass off the Italian-leaning wine list.
Osteria Stella on West Jackson, the Aaron Thompson and Jessica King Italian room above Brother Wolf, runs Italian dinner service in the Old City.
Order The pre-theater bistro menu, plus a wine pour off the shortlisted list before the curtain.
Bistro at the Bijou on South Gay Street, attached to the historic Bijou Theatre, runs a pre-theater menu in one of downtown's oldest buildings.
Order A round of steamed buns with the chef's noodle bowl of the week.
Kaizen on South Central, chef Jesse Newmister's Asian-fusion room in the Old City since 2016, runs steamed buns, ramen and rotating chef plates a block.
Order A morning cinnamon roll with grits, or the smash burger at dinner.
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the long-running Southern brunch and dinner room in West Knoxville, works with East Tennessee farmers.
Order A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the burger and bourbon room running since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with a bar pouring more than 300.
Order A falafel sandwich with hummus, plus a side of the daily Mediterranean salads.
Yassin's Falafel House at Marble City Food Hall, Yassin Terou's Syrian counter named Reader's Digest Nicest Place in America in 2018, runs falafel.
Order The Mahasti pizza with the sun-dried tomato pesto, or the veggie sandwich at lunch.
The Tomato Head on Market Square, Mahasti Vafaie's Persian-American pizza and sandwich counter since 1990, is downtown Knoxville's longest-running.
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Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville Downtown Area
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The Hillside Hotel
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Order The sweet potato burrito with black beans, or the rotating Sunspot bowl of the season.
Sunspot on the Cumberland Avenue Strip near the University, the multicultural Southwestern and Caribbean room since the 1990s, anchors the UT dining scene.
Order The fried chicken biscuit with sweet tea, or the Shoo Mercy double-biscuit plate.
Tupelo Honey on Market Square, the Asheville-born Southern kitchen that brought its biscuit menu to downtown Knoxville, runs all-day brunch with fried.
Order Maryland-style crab cakes with the daily fresh-fish preparation.
Chesapeake's Seafood House on Locust Street, part of the Copper Cellar Family Restaurants group, runs Maryland-style crab cakes and fresh fish.
Order Carne asada tacos with a classic margarita off the rocks list.
Soccer Taco on Market Square, the long-running Mexican counter on the plaza's south end, runs tacos and margaritas with World Cup broadcasts and weekend.
Order The weekday lunch buffet, or chicken tikka masala with garlic naan at dinner.
Sitar Indian Cuisine on Kingston Pike in Bearden, the long-running Indian buffet and dinner room, anchors West Knoxville's daily curry program.
Order A rack of baby-back ribs with a Smoky Mountain Brewery pour and a river-side patio table.
Calhoun's on the River at Volunteer Landing, the Copper Cellar group's barbecue and burger room overlooking the Tennessee River, runs baby-back ribs.
Order The pretzel-crusted chicken plate with a side of fried green tomatoes.
Aubrey's Papermill in Bearden, the Knoxville-born comfort-food chain's West Knoxville flagship, runs pretzel-crusted chicken and weeknight family dinners.
Order Whatever Holly's kitchen is leading the daily-changing seasonal menu.
Holly's Eventful Dining on Kingston Pike, chef Holly Hambright's long-running Bearden room since 2006, runs a daily-changing seasonal menu of eclectic.
Order The smashburger with whichever rotating cocktail the bar is featuring that night.
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV no-live-music neighborhood bar, runs a serious cocktail program and Southern-inflected food menu.
Order A rotating craft-beer flight with the bar's burger.
Marble City Pub on Jack Dance Street in West Hills, the craft-cocktail and beer bar between Salsarita's and Sticky Rice, runs a Knoxville rotating tap list.
Order A specialty dog build, plus a bottle off the rotating craft-beer wall.
Curious Dog on West Jackson, the brothers Weidenhamer's hot-dog counter in the historic JFG building, runs over 30 specialty dog builds since 2009.
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