Soccer Taco is a mexican restaurant in Market Square, Knoxville.
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.
Signature dishes: Carne asada tacos, Margaritas
Must order: Carne asada tacos with a classic margarita off the rocks list.
Tip: Late-night kitchen runs to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; Sunday closes earlier at 21:00.
Address: 9 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Sitar Indian Cuisine on Kingston Pike in Bearden, the long-running Indian buffet and dinner room, anchors West Knoxville's daily curry program.
Signature: Lunch buffet, Chicken tikka masala
Order: The weekday lunch buffet, or chicken tikka masala with garlic naan at dinner.
Tip: Weekday lunch buffet runs 11:00-14:30; dinner reservations rarely needed except Friday and Saturday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
