Aubrey's is a favorite staple in Powell (and other locations throughout Knoxville), and I have loved coming here to eat for years. There are many things about it that I love, one of which is that it isn't a national chain restaurant, though locally the owner has opened several now, but the food is consistently great, and you can never go wrong with ordering anything off the southern-comfort menu. I've tried almost everything over the years, but I always gravitate back to a few of my all-time favs, depending on my mood. Their steaks are tasty, though overpriced in my opinion. (All of the menu prices have crept up over the years, but whose hasn't? They are good about offering various coupons if you watch for them.)
Sides to love:
1. Parmesan spinach (can vary in consistency but always delish) tops my all-time list of da bomb sides
2. Thick cut potato chips (I order mine extra crispy!) are actual potatoes cut and deep-fried like chips but thicker...paired with their buttermilk garlic dressing, it is a treat!
3. Baked yellow squash is amaze balls. I can't describe it, other than a tasty concoction of squash (and I don't LOVE squash) in a casserole-type mish mash of savory goodness. Warning: sometimes it is so fresh I could eat a whole pan; other times, I can tell I'm being served last week's leftovers (believe me, I've had it enough times I can tell when it's dry, crusty, and tasteless).
Runner Ups (with a smaller crown):
1. You can never go wrong with a loaded baked potato -- seriously, it's a potato, yes, I understand, but they're typically always fresh, fluffy, and hot, teeming with loads (get it??) of all the toppings you want on the top, and their shredded cheddar cheese is the BEST because it is thick and flavorful, you can actually taste the sharpness of the cheese--it is seriously awesome (the cheese is on their house salads too).
2. Soups, of any kind are always delicious here, and the only reason I didn't list them as a must-have side dish is because the selection varies daily. They always have tomato bisque, my personal favorite, and baked potato, which is thick and creamy.
3. Cinnamon apples are tender and peeled (no skin here!), and they have a unique flavor of cinnamon, sugar, and something else I can't quite determine. They're actually light in my opinion, and I like to eat them as "dessert" with a bit of bread when I'm done with my meal if we don't order dessert.
4. I would be remiss in not mentioned the fries because they are very good and seasoned. My husband loves the sweet potato fries, though I personally don't eat them since I'm not a sweet tater person.
5. Sautéed mushrooms look disgusting; however, I've been told by my husband and other family members that they're fantastic. I will trust their judgment.
Entrees:
1. Lemon Lime Grilled Chicken is the tastiest, perfectly-marinated, juiciest, most tender chicken I've ever put in my mouth. Ever. And it is like that every. Single. Time. (And you can't beat the value of what you receive with this one, it's enough for me and my husband to share, and it comes with two sides since we sub the rice it's served over typically.
2. Thunder Road Burger features the best, homemade pimiento cheese to be found, coupled with fried tobacco onions, it is burger perfection!
3. Pizza Rockefeller may be on the Appetizer list, but it's fulfilling enough for a meal and delicious enough for an entree. Serve it up with a dollop of sour cream for even more yum!
4. Peanut Crusted Catfish is in one word-divine. Dip it, slather it, or just smear it with the lemon caper sauce...
You can't leave without topping off your meal with the Praline Cheesecake. I would put this against the Cheesecake Factory's any day...it is by far the best cheesecake I've had anywhere, and I've had a lot of cheesecake! read more