Memphis Bbq$$downtownMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-22:00
Calhoun's on the River at Volunteer Landing, the Copper Cellar group's barbecue and burger room overlooking the Tennessee River, runs baby-back ribs.
Signature: Baby-back ribs, Pulled pork
Order: A rack of baby-back ribs with a Smoky Mountain Brewery pour and a river-side patio table.
Tip: Patio seats fill on UT home football Saturdays and Vols baseball nights; weekdays are reliably easier.
Southern American$$beardenMon-Thu 11:00-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Aubrey's Papermill in Bearden, the Knoxville-born comfort-food chain's West Knoxville flagship, runs pretzel-crusted chicken and weeknight family dinners.
Signature: Pretzel-crusted chicken, Fried green tomatoes
Order: The pretzel-crusted chicken plate with a side of fried green tomatoes.
Tip: Sunday family dinners run busy; Tuesday and Wednesday weeknights are reliably easier.
Eclectic New American$$beardenTue-Sat 11:00-21:00; closed Sun-Mon
Holly's Eventful Dining on Kingston Pike, chef Holly Hambright's long-running Bearden room since 2006, runs a daily-changing seasonal menu of eclectic.
Signature: Seasonal dinner, Brunch plates
Order: Whatever Holly's kitchen is leading the daily-changing seasonal menu.
Tip: Menu rotates daily; call ahead for reservations and to ask what's on for the night.
Gastropub$$downtownMon-Sat 16:00-00:00; closed Sun
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV no-live-music neighborhood bar, runs a serious cocktail program and Southern-inflected food menu.
Signature: Smashburger, Craft cocktails
Order: The smashburger with whichever rotating cocktail the bar is featuring that night.
Tip: Walk-up is the only seating; aim for early evening on weeknights for the cocktail bar's quieter run.
Gastropub$$beardenSun 13:00-21:00; Mon-Thu 13:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-01:00
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.
Signature: Craft beer flight, Bar plates
Order: A rotating craft-beer flight with the bar's burger.
Tip: Saturday salsa nights run late; Sunday afternoon is the reliably quiet window.
American$old-cityMon-Sat 12:00-20:00; Sun 13:00-16:00
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.
Signature: Specialty hot dogs, Bottle shop
Order: A specialty dog build, plus a bottle off the rotating craft-beer wall.
Tip: The bottle shop runs longer than the kitchen; aim for lunch or early dinner before the Old City night crowd arrives.