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    Cafe 4

    4.1 (910 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Business Info

    CAFE 4 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe 4

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    Tennessee Cheesesteak with Mac N Cheese
    Bryson G.

    Wow! Came in here for lunch and was greeted immediately. The waiter was fast to welcome me and take my drink order, I went with a basic latte (which was actually well above average!). My waiter also helped me pick out what to have and it was a complete home run!!! I did the Tennessee cheesesteak and I got the mac n cheese instead of fries. The mean was delicious, and I left very full and satisfied. It was a great experience and I would absolutely recommend this place.

    Mac N Cheese , Fried Green Tomatoes , Low Country Shrimp & Grits
    Alexa G.

    I came here as a recommendation from my hotel staff and without a reservation I waited about 30 minutes. The staff was great and very kind. I sat outside but ambiance both in and outside was lovely. The food was just okay in my opinion. I got the fried green tomatoes which I thought were a little bland. The ones from Tupelo are way better. I also got the shrimp and grits which was pretty good. Nothing to write home about but good. The best thing by far was the Mac and cheese. It was very creamy and well seasoned. Am I glad I tried it? Yes but it's not so where I'm rushing back to. However, if I did I would definitely get the Mac and cheese with chicken or lobster

    Lara W.

    Many, many years ago I used to work on Market Square while in college, so the restaurants that have been around for over a decade are nostalgic and, more importantly, they tend to be consistently good. I took my wife to Cafe 4 on a Monday evening and we had a wonderful dinner. Our server, Quincy, was the perfect amount of attentive. We ordered the fried green tomatoes (to die for), the fish sandwich (sooo soft and good), and the braised short rib over cheese grits (all i can say is that I've got the leftovers in the fridge for lunch and I wish it was noon already!) I highly recommend Cafe 4 if you're looking for an upscale vibe that won't break the bank.

    Grilled Salmon
    Maureen N.

    Needed a place to eat while downtown. Cafe4 had good ratings online so we decided to try it. I ordered the grilled salmon after much contemplation. The greens was tasty but the salmon was just okay. I felt it needed something, maybe salt? Service was okay too. Didn't have to wait unendingly for our server. I tried my friend's linguine and wished I'd gotten it instead. Might try that next time if I return.

    Crispy Fish Sandwich
    Corrina Q.

    My friends and I were in the area, and we all wanted different things for lunch. We came into Cafe 4 and were sat very quickly. Our waiter was very kind and had some great recommendations. We ordered the Crispy Fish sandwich, Tennessee Cheesesteak (I always gotta try a cheesesteak in any establishment I go to), Fried Chicken and Waffles, and a green goddess salad with chicken and tomatoes. The crispy fish sandwich and the cheesesteak were VERY VERY DELICIOUS! My other friends ordered the other two dishes, and they agreed that their food was also delicious. I was genuinely impressed with how quick the service was and how attentive the staff was to our needs :) perfect place for lunch! I would love to try their brunch some day.

    Menu 4/2025
    Kimberley A.

    Came here without reservations and were able to be seated outside immediately. Because of the sidewalk, our table was very slanted, which was a bit of a pain, I ended up losing my fork. Our server, Hayden I think? Came over to greet us and take our drink and appetizer orders. The appetizer came out before the drinks which was a little backwards to me. Mojito 8/10 Decently made. I do wish the mint was mixed into the drink or muddled to add the flavor in, but other than that it was good. Fried green tomatoes 8/10 Flash fried, good breading and crisp on the outside. The apple salad and balsamic was good as well. A good bite. I just wish the tomato was pre-cooked for just a minute or two to get it a little softer. Shrimp & Grits 10/10 Shrimp was flavorful, seasoned well, cooked perfectly. Tails were still on. Grits were creamy and smooth, with a little cheese. Andouille was perfect amount of spice. Sauce was good, little heat, but overall a ton of flavor. Cafe 4 Burger 8/10 Ordered Medium rare, came out more of a medium with not really much pink in it. It was still cooked good and juicy. Im sure I tasted the umami sauce, but I feel like I would have wanted a little bit more. I didn't really taste the Parmesan cheese at all. Overall the entire bite had a good flavor.

    Moscow mule
    Anna Y.

    We came to Cafe 4 for a date night before a concert at Thompson Bowling. This was a great place to come to before an outing - plenty of places to go to after dinner for a drink as well! This Nashville hot chicken Mac and cheese was seriously insane... I am still reminiscing on it weeks later. It was a hard decision picking what to order because it all looked great. I definitely recommend the Mac and cheese and truffle fries!

    Amy H.

    Loved Katie. She made the experience even better. The food was ok. The service was superb. The ambiance is nice. It is quieter outside.

    Bennette I.

    After exploring downtown Knoxville, we wandered around Market Square for a good dinner spot. Cafe 4 was our pick as they had a large outside seating area. We waited a few minutes for a clean table. Drinks were ordered and came out fairly quickly. We ordered a small side of truffle fries as an appetizer and it was decent. 3 out of the 4 ordered the wedge salad with steak. The other ordered the cheesesteak with mashed potatoes and for dessert, the crème brûlée. The wedge salad was excellent and generously dressed. I can see why this is a crowd favorite. I did think that the steak (additional protein) was a small portion and a little overcooked, 4 slices of a steak. But I ate every bit of it, one of the best wedge salads I have ordered. The crème brûlée was just okay, not enough caramelization of the sugar crystals. I'd give the dessert a 3 but the service was top notch. Davis was amazing - he took great care of us!!

    Chicken sandwich with fries
    Michelle C.

    Enjoyed a visit here while visiting UTK. Definitely recommend making a reservation as it can book up with long wait time. Waitress recommended the cheese steak and it was good. A little messy, but good. The fries were very good too. Good meal, nothing over the top but good. Service was very good and attentive to water refills.

    Phil M.

    We were on our way to Florida when Hurricane Milton was on its way, so we decided to stay in Knoxville for a few days until the storm passed. One of our stops while in town was Cafe 4 in downtown Knoxville. We really enjoyed it. Cafe 4 itself was very nice, great patio and view of the downtown square. Service was very good, friendly, and the food was excellent. We tried the mac n cheese with fried chicken, and the Tennessee Cheesesteak. The downtown square is also very nice, great place to visit if you're in town.

    Lobster Flatbread
    Christie S.

    My husband and I ate here for lunch on Valentines Day. Service was fast and our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Our food was delicious. If you are in Market Square definitely give Cafe 4 a try. We have had great service and food every time we have eaten here.

    Tennessee Cheesesteak
    Katrena H.

    We walked here from the Hilton. There was immediate seating. The waitress, Sara, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower were absolutely delicious. The salmon was flaky and delectable. The green was seasoned to the tea.. like an auntie in the kitchen.. The music had great diversity .. The ambiance was casual and pleasant . The Steak sandwich was great for my picky eater ..

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great for a night out with friends! Was very accommodating to special dietary needs. Juliette, our server, was incredible!!!

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    5 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

    I haven't been here in a few years, and it's really showing its age. Food and service was good but the interior just felt a bit tired.

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    5 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The food was excellent and Jackson was a great server! Highly recommend the fish tacos!

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    5 months ago

    Noah M was a great server and managed to bring all our food and drinks and didn't get anything wrong and was so nice.

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Brandey was our server and she was delightful. The food was delicious. I ordered the chicken flatbread. Great atmosphere.

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    Page 1 of 23

    Cafe 4 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe 4

    What kind of cheeses are in the Mac & cheese?

    SHARP CHEDDAR AND GOUDA

    Is the patio heated in the cooler seasons?

    It is heated but I will never eat there again

    Is this place dog friendly?

    Hi Jen! I've definitely seen dogs on the patio!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    So I didn't actually get the chance to try a drink here: I came on Thurs around 3p because Google…read morelisted Thurs hours as 11a-2a. They are wrong, they don't open until 5 on Thurs and I had to get back to the airport by then! That said, there is an adjacent gift shop store that is also Alice themed - it was quite cute! I didn't buy anything but the clerk told me all this about the hours. I could see inside the bar and it looks really cute and fun - shame I couldn't actually get a drink because the menu looks awesome! Overall even though I didn't try anything I am certain this bar would be a great spot to hang in Knoxville if trying to unwind or hang around the social scene.

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    PostModern Spirits

    PostModern Spirits

    4.3(45 reviews)
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    We stopped here as part of the Whiskey Trail experience, and not only was it the worst customer…read moreservice of the 28 distilleries we visited, the female bartender (red hair, black glasses) was the rudest bartender I have met in my 20 years of being in hospitality. When we walked in, she glared at us as if we had interrupted something. She didn't greet us, didn't ask what we'd like to try, only gave us one word answers to any question that we asked. Never once smiled or tried to engage us. My friend was so frustrated with trying to get information from her that he stood up and almost walked out. I kept trying to engage her and even complemented her cute dress. Nothing. Stone face. I wanted to try the amaro flight and asked for it. She prepared it, set it in front of me, and said "so you'll want to close out now?" I told her "yes, that would be great, when I'm finished with my tasting". She proceeded to lean up against the bar with her back to us and didn't say another word. I had to get up and walk to the register, and when she finally turned around, I asked her "have we done something to upset you?" She said "no, why?" I said "because you seem REALLY annoyed that we're here". Her only response was to turn the register screen around and tell me the total. I'm so sad about this because I really wanted to taste other items and get a cocktail, but she was SO unpleasant and we felt SO unwelcome., Seeing all of the other great reviews, I can only imagine that they were with other people. I wish those other bartenders had been there.

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    You can find Kaizen at 127 S Central Ave Knoxville, TN 37902. This is in Knoxville's revitalized…read moreOld City. There's some street parking but most of it appears to be pay-to-park. There are several nearby lots also pay-to-park but some may be free on weekends. Kaizen appears to me to be more akin to an Izakaya than a noodle hosue, where you basically go for drinks and they supply some food to keep things going - it has a more expansive menu than an Izakaya (which tends to be yakitori and sushi) - Kaizen's menu features several noodle dishes which all looked very interesting. We started with the appetizers and ordered some mixed steamed buns and soup. All of the buns that I tried I liked quite a bit - some strong, distinctive flavors. For an entree I ordered the Koji-Cured Ribeye medium-rare - 12 oz sliced ribeye, gai lan, broad bean paste, steamed rice. The steak was cooked perfectly. The service was exceptional - the next night we tried Fin-Two Japanese Ale House across the street - this restaurant was my preference - the flavors seemed more authentic and the quality of the dishes better in my opinion.

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    Kaizen - Inside dining

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    Kaizen - Updated Mushroom Fried Rice

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    Kaizen - Yo.

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    Monkey’s Bar

    Monkey’s Bar

    4.6(5 reviews)
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    I love Monkey's bar!! It's the perfect meet in the middle between fancy cocktail bar and relaxed…read moreenvironment! Bartenders are so friendly and even let me sample a pre batched cocktail to ensure I'd like it! Will definitely be back!

    If you like near downtown and own a dog, this will become your go-to spot! It is pretty bare-bones…read moreinside, with a few high-tops and bar seating, a separate space you can step up into with more wooden tables and bench seating and not much in the way of decor. They have some really fun drinks with pop-culture references, a sizable list of mocktails, booze list galore, and keep beer flowing , too. The service is friendly and the prices in line (if not cheaper) with other bars downtown ($11-12 per cocktail). We loved that people are allowed to bring in their own food (they have a few snacks you can order) and that dogs are welcome. In fact, word has it that the bar is named after the owners' dog, Monkey, so it makes sense that they pass along their pup love to our community. Note that huge (but very sweet) dogs may be freely roaming and were knocking into people carrying full drinks and begging strangers for food. Also, we were with a group across from the bar and I will say that it was absolutely deafening. We were next to each other and were yelling, "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!?" They could use a few items to soak up some sound like cushions on the bench seating, some rugs, etc. It would also make the space a bit more homey and inviting.

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    The Vault - My knockout date for the night

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    4.2(51 reviews)
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    The Vault was our second stop on our cocktail hop night, and I'm so glad we found it!…read more First off, the interior is chef's kiss. The dark, glamorous aesthetic is stunning--perfect for date night or for impressing out-of-town guests. I loved the gold accents, layered textures, and thoughtful lighting. Everything worked together beautifully. We chose to sit at the bar to watch the mixologists work their magic. They were incredibly helpful in guiding us toward drinks that matched our preferences. I absolutely loved my cocktail--even if I can't recall the name--because it delivered the spicy kick they promised. We also ordered several shareable plates, all of which were delicious. We tried the Carnitas Tamales (shredded pork, ancho mole, fresh corn, masa, cilantro, yuzu arbequina oil), the Vegetable Empanadas (house-made pastry, wilted kale, roasted sweet potato, Oaxaca and cotija cheese, black bean purée, and adobo & chile-lime aioli), and a salad. I'd happily order any of them again. I did find myself wishing for a bit more heat, but I've learned that's hard to come by in Tennessee. At least the staff gave us a heads-up that the spice level is toned down. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu. The vibe is fantastic--and while they have a nice outdoor space, the interior is so eye-catching I'm not sure I'd want to sit anywhere else.

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    Fiori - Lobster Ala Vodka

    Fiori

    3.5(42 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Fiori in Old City downtown Knoxville is such a cute spot with an amazing ambiance--perfect for a…read moregirls night or a special occasion. The atmosphere alone makes it feel like a little escape. The service was good, and my friend and I both really enjoyed our cocktails and entrées--they were definitely the highlight of the meal. We weren't huge fans of the appetizers we tried, but we found out they're leaving the menu soon anyway, so that made sense. On a high note, the pistachio cream dessert was an absolute delight and the perfect way to end the night. Overall, a really lovely experience and I'd definitely go back!

    You definitely are paying for the ambiance. The food itself isn't anything to right home about,…read moreespecially for the price. But I will applaud that the portions are decent sizes. I wasn't blown away and felt like the flavors were lackluster. The pasta was an alright red sauce, flavors could've been a bit more complex and boldly fresh. The Arancini tasted like a bland mushy hushpuppy in marinara. The best dish was the salmon, if I had to recommend anything! Super flaky with a crispy fish, paired nicely with the salad and potatoes. Service itself was good and the drinks were just okay. I like that they have many cocktail options to choose from, but my drink was honestly straight juice. As someone who's lightweight, I was shocked to find that the portions for drinks for the little amount of alcohol for $15 is a bit absurd (I got the st Richard ride). I'd only come once for the ambiance but it's pretty disappointing for what you pay. 6.5/10

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    Cafe 4 - comfortfood - Updated May 2026

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