My server Anna went above and beyond for us in the lounge tonight in Bearden. I've never had the quality of service like she's given. Not only was she extremely personable, helpful and kind, she was fast and precise. I definitely will be back to this location more just to have the five star dining experience we had with miss beautiful Anna! read more

This location does not compare to the one on the river. The location on the river is the only good Calhouns in the Knoxville area that has high standards. This place was so yucky. Food tasted insanely mid, rancid, and gross. Way overpriced for garbage food. Trashy staff. Outdated as well. Don't go here for any special dinner. Last resort only. read more

Mixed family reviews on this one. Picked the location because it was in walking distance after a great Vols game. Good family atmosphere and the service was pretty good. Had the chargrilled shrimp. Slightly cold and bland. When I asked for cocktail sauce, I was told they didn't have any. BBQ sauce on the table made it taste fine. Husband had ribs and he said they were great. Also, no complaints on the burgers. The beer on tap was served in a plastic cup and certainly did not stay cold and it wasn't finished. Maybe just pick something other than the shrimp. I think this one is a hit or miss. If I could have given it a 3.5, I would have. If I have options, I wouldn't choose to return. read more

Terrible! Restaurant empty. Now I know why. Took forever for just ok food. Took forever to get bill. Smelled of sewerage and the bathrooms are disgusting! read more

I came here with a group of people and the service was outstanding! The service was a five star. The food... Definitely left a lot to desire. I got the ribs and they were not very flavorful, not very good at all. I asked for barbecue sauce but it's like vinegar Based barbecue sauce, was not sweet so I took them home and I ended up just giving them to my dog. read more

Calhoun's - Ribs not very good - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Very clean restrooms and restaurant. Service at the bar was a bit slow, but the bartender was efficient and friendly. Food here is always excellent and I particularly like the daily specials. The only negative thing, and this is common in many restaurants, is that the bottles of condiments on the counter (BBQ sauce, ketchup) are always nasty. I got there just as the place opened, the the bottle tops weren't cleaned from the previous day. I went to pour some BBQ sauce on my onion rings and large chunks of dried up, black matter fell off the bottle onto my food. Very unappetizing. I went to the men's room, got paper towels, and cleaned off the bottle myself. read more

The salads at Calhoun's have always been good. Then they changed to spring mix. So I order salads with "Romain lettuce only". Lots of bad lettuce in there. And lots of spring mix hiding in there,!too. So disappointing. read more

Calhoun's - Yucky lettuce - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Calhouns has been a family favorite place to dine for over 30 years. We recently ordered catfish for dinner. Was shocked to see the 3 pieces of fish that were half the size each of the catfish we have previously ordered. Only 5 Shrimp on a skewer. Pretty sure there used to be a half dozen. Lastly, I think they have changed the spinach Maria recipe. Food cost way up and we see quantity and quality go down. Sad. read more

Smelled musty upon entering. Bathroom area--excuse the frankness--smelled like poop as you're walking down the hall. Food was fine, but not great, and everything had cheese and/or bacon on it (even the house salad). Hard to find a healthy choice. Service was efficient, not overly friendly. read more

We ordered to go, and the food was beyond on point! Still tasty in the hotel room! Must be even more amazing if dining in!

Enjoyed the Brisket sandwich, tender and flavorful, and the Turkey Creek salad. They could have done a better job on the turkey but still everything else was delicious. Our server, Lexie, went above and beyond to provide excellent service, an extra plate, personable and ensured extra bbq sauce was at the table. The restaurant was very clean and nice...see pic. read more

Calhoun's - the dining area of the restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Always been a favorite because of price and what you get for it. The menu has a great range of food mostly known a steak and bbq place. Best bbq sauce anywhere! read more

Pay attention to the help you hire bc the Kingston pike location is the worst for inconsistent service or food quality!

Delicious!!! The pork absolutely melted in my mouth, the bread basket was phenomenal, great service! read more

Calhoun's - Pork plate with mashed potatoes Hickory Smoked BBQ Pork Plate* - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

I don't normally write reviews, but my experience at Calhoun was so bad I felt obligated. The service was horrible. We waited nearly 20 minutes just to get water, and the server acted like we were inconveniencing them just by being there. No greeting, no smile--just pure attitude. It took forever to get our food, and when it finally arrived, it was lukewarm and looked slapped together. We tried to get someone's attention multiple times and were blatantly ignored. It honestly felt like they didn't care whether we were there or not. I've had better service at fast food joints--and at least those are quick and polite. Calhoun might think their name is enough to keep people coming in, but with service like this? No thanks. I'll be telling friends and family to steer clear. You lost a customer. read more

For the first time EVER and I have lived in Knoxville my whole life I was very disappointed with Calhoun's. Everything was up to par until we got our food. I got ribs and my wife got turkey and dressing. Our food was not hot and was barely warm. The bottle of bbq sauce on the table was bbq water so the server got me the sauce from the kitchen, also bbq water, not the nice rhick sauce on the ribs. So I stopped eating and decided to bring the ribs home to eat some store bought Baby Rays on them. The spinach Maria was waaay too spicy. And $7.30 for 2 iced teas is ridiculous. read more

Just one question: Why - WHY are restaurants so stingy with coleslaw?? I had a brisket sandwich that was piled up with brisket, a mound of tater tots - and the slaw was about two tablespoons in a condiment cup. What's up with that?? Isn't that the cheapest thing on the plate? Okay - enough ranting. All that food was really good. Golden, crispy tots and cool, creamy slaw (did I mention we need a bigger serving?). The brisket is great - just enough smoke (not overpowering), tender and juicy (lots of fat in there). A very good representation of what smoked brisket ought to be. Oh - and it's a good thing the sauce comes in a cup on the side. (A) you don't need it - the meat is good on its own, and (B) it's pretty oily - there's a bit of an oil slick in the cup when you open it. I would certainly go back, and maybe ask for two or three servings of slaw :) read more

Calhoun's - Brisket sandwich with tater tots and (a sample of) coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Food 4/5 - We stopped here for lunch on Thanksgiving and had a good experience. The Oriental Chicken Salad is my absolute favorite thing so when I'm back visiting we have to stop here for this salad. The burger was made to order and good. Service / Ambiance 4/5 - It was busy that day in the restaurant but we got a table right away. Our server was very helpful and kind. Our food came within timely manner and we were pleased with both our meals. read more

Calhoun's - Oriental Chicken Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Came back again and greeted by a sweet young lady "Elle" or "L" and Francine I believe that was her name excellent greeters and helpful and fun. Burgers and fresh broccoli were excellent My friend had chicken Love this restaurant because of excellent staff and food read more

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One of my fav Knoxville stops is Calhouns on the river. Bread is great, white chili yummy and food is good. Wait staff is always friendly.

The ribs were good but not great, fries were cold. The broccoli was a good choice. The bartender Barry was great and friendly to talk with. read more

Calhoun's - Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We have been to two of the other locations. We were not at all impressed with the food at this one. Ribs were dry. Were they out all day? Sauce on the table tasted vinegary. It was 5:00 on a Friday and they had already run out of rolls which we then had to wait for. And the place was empty. Avoid this location. A disappointment. read more

If you like beer, you will probably enjoy Calhoun's more than those of us who couldn't care less about a pilsner or a pale ale. The beer is apparently good. Moving on. The decor is an odd mix of quasi-Tuscan with flashes of retro diner and metallic accents here and there, and you'll always find pallets of brewery supplies on the floor between the vestibule and the seating. It's a confusing melange of styles that fails to create an identity or "experience" for diners. The food is reliably good but nothing exceptional. The summer lemonade (a featured cocktail of whiskey, lemonade, and Sprite) was refreshing--tart and sweet but overpriced at $9 for such a lightweight cocktail. Overall, paying $15 and up for entrees you can get anywhere will keep me from being a regular. The only menu item worth repeating regularly would be the Turkey Creek salad, although it is typically over-loaded with cranberries and candied pecans. Pick some of them out, and you've got a delicious salad that can stand on its own even if you skip the vinaigrette. Ultimately, Calhoun's is about the comfort of consistency; it's the guy you can call for a date and know he's never too busy for you but also never going to sweep you off your feet. It's your old reliable, and let's admit it...that counts for something. read more

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Calhoun's on Bearden Hill is one of our favorite of the Copper Cellar group in East Tennessee. They include Copper Cellar, Calhoun's, Chesapeake's, and Corner 16. Each has a unique atmosphere and a little different offering on the menu but the food and service are second to none. Calhoun's has great bread offered before the meal and a full stocked bar with all your favorite liquors, wines, and beer. The appetizers are top notch with potato skins, burnt brisket ends, nachos, and more. The menu features ale steak, teriyaki chicken and rice, burgers, loaded salads, white chicken chili, bar-b-que and more. The service is excellent and the food is always perfect. Choose Calhoun's for dining out, take-out, or catering for large orders. They do not disappoint. read more

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It's a fun sports bar that's family friendly with really great staff and good food. Quiet for a Friday night but it wasn't football season either. The bread basket was delicious and I had the trio plate which was awesome!! It's fun and open, dark but not to the point you can't see your food or your company. The chicken tenders were my favorite with the ribs coming in at a close second. I was too full to have dessert but it looked good as well. read more

Calhoun's - The Calhouns Trio - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

I went on Xmas 12/25/24 and took a friend. I ordered prime Rib for 36.00. It comes with only one side. So I got a loaded baked potato. I tried the potato first and it was between cool and warm. Not a good first step. Then my prime rib...Over cooked and dry. What was worse was it was not even close to being just warm. I have never been a fan of this place and these are the reasons why. It was only my 3rd time in 30 years... About every 10 years I think well maybe it will be better this time...What a joke. read more

Food was overall good. Prices are a bit higher than most places. I got the steak & shrimp, steak and mashed potatoes was great. Shrimp was burnt and black, they just crumbled and was so rubbery from being cooked too long. Nachos for appetizer was good, i feel like for the price they could've given more meat. Overall it tasted good though. Wish shrimp was better because the entree was NOT cheap. for 2 people, it was $85... overall food 7/10. Price will probably make me not come back lol. That's expensive and the food portions was not worth it. If you're wanting cheap, i would go elsewhere. Service was ok, restaurant was not that full and it took waitress a bit to refill drinks. . read more

Calhoun's - loaded nacho appetizer - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Calhoun's provided a solid dining experience! I really enjoyed the bacon wrapped burnt brisket ends.... most of the Yelp reviews mentioned this app! It's definitely a MUST try! Thank me later. Our server, Tara was very helpful and attentive. She answered any questions we had about the menu. As I've mentioned in a few of my recent reviews, I have really been into old fashions lately. The ones from here were well made and were $6 and not $10 like the menu stated. The happy hour was restricted to the bar/ lounge area only , so I was surprised with the price since I wasn't seated at the bar. A pleasant surprise!!! For my entree I ordered the chargrilled shrimp meal. Two generous skewers of wonderfully grilled shrimp served on a bed of rice with a side of braised spinach. This meal was fantastic - I literally ate everything expect for the shrimp tails! Had I sat long enough I just might have devoured them too! I was so satisfied and full from this meal. I would definitely order this again and again! I must say that the complimentary bread was random. It consisted of biscuits and muffins.... didn't go with anyone's meal. Nice touch if you a bread person. Although this is a chain restaurant , I wasn't opposed to coming here since there's isn't one in Alabama. I believe they are TN based. The service and food did not disappoint. The decor was a little "drab" but that's likely the feel they are going for. Other than that, Calhoun's was GREAT! read more

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Nice bbq joint with wide open spaces, big bar area and a variety of booths and tables to sit in. My colleague and I ordered the kick back burger for lunch. It's a good sized burger and comes with a choice of buns. He got the classic sesame seed bun and I got the wheat bun. It comes with pickles, a leaf of lettuce, tomato and onions. The kickback sauce has a tangy hint to it with a little "kick". The burgers were cooked as ordered and the waitress kept the sweet tea and water coming. He ordered some sort of cheesy spinach as a side and I got a coleslaw. The coleslaw was alright but had chunks of ice in it. It must've been sitting in the refrigerator for quite some time. A bit on the pricey side but it a good lunch. read more

Calhoun's - Kick - back Burger - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

A former supervisor at my previous job mentioned Calhoun's as having the best wings he's ever eaten. I forgot where the location was but I saw this out of the corner of my eye as I was planning to drive somewhere else. U-turned it around to get here since wings were on my mind. They serve whole wings smoked with sauce on the side. Wings are large and do not disappoint. Love the smokiness and they are the right consistency and texture. Get it with the Thunder Road Sauce. Not sure if they are the best I've had since I'm a snob about wings but these definitely rank up there. Paired it with a side of broccoli since I gotta have veggies. Overall a fine meal. Beers come in two sizes: pint, and mug. Go with the mug since it's literally two pints for only an extra couple of $$$. There's a microbrewery built in so they serve handcrafted beers and they do not disappoint. Bartenders and staff are nice and will strike conversation with you. I dig that kind of hospitality. There's several locations of this joint in various parts of Tennessee so you can find one if you're in that state. Very impressed. See what happens when you listen to your boss!? read more

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On way to Knoxville, found Calhouns, had some great menu items... We were sat promptly, drinks took forever, forgot straws, they took forever, got the bacon wrapped burnt ends, was excited... mediocre at best, no actual " burnt" on burnt ends, bacon poorly cooked, sauce was good.. Had 6 wet wings, supposed to be cooked crispy, they were complete mush.... Underneath, the chicken was cooked well, the sauce was good.... Any chance the food had was destroyed by the worst service I have ever received at a restaurant anywhere, anytime. Server was a younger boy, "S" Sad.... Other servers clearly noticed his issues. read more

I'm driving cross country from DC to CA and I wanted to slow down in Tennessee specifically to enjoy the food. After doing a lot of research Calhoun's came up as a top location for BBQ in the city. It has several locations but this one had the best reviews so I banked on this one. It did not disappoint! I had BBQ chicken with spinach Maria and a baked potato and it was fantastic. I sat at the bar and loved the vibe. Locals chatting away, everyone knew the bartender by name (Barry) which I loved. I can tell there were some regulars here. I highly recommend this place and it's right off of the freeway if you're headed west so it's a great stop. Barry was fantastic and a true treasure. Come to see him at the bar, he is beyond wonderful. read more

Calhoun's - a plate of food on a counter - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

I'm disappointed with my experience at this location. I called over an hour before they closed to place a pick up order and they told me they weren't able to do it because they had just taken their last order. I feel this is unacceptable for a restaurant to say they close at 10 and stop taking orders over an hour before closing. read more

I rarely get a taste for red meat but a good charbroiled burger is something I'll make room for - and Calhoun's in Bearden did not disappoint tonight. My server, Kylie, was very sweet and accommodating. I had some special requests and she met each of them with a smile and gracious manner, which is really appreciated. The fries were piping hot, the ranch dressing cold and creamy, and the substitution of Monterey Jack cheese was perfect. I know they're lauded for their ribs, but the burgers are big, juicy, and totally worth ordering! read more

Calhoun's - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Traveled to Knoxville for work and this restaurant had good reviews. Not sure where these people have eaten barbecue, but this place was a huge disappointment. The best thing was the broccoli. I tried the ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and their cheese plate. My meal came with a Caesar salad that was not good. The sausage on the cheese and sausage plate looked and tasted old. The meats(ribs, brisket and pulled pork) were all dry and only had flavor because of the sauce I had to coat them with. I will stick to Memphis barbecue. I might get shot there but I will die full of great barbecue. read more

It was different than what I had thought it would be. I went by myself so I sat at the bar. The bartender was incredibly nice - great guy. I wanted to try the wings and an app. I had the wings naked with their signature sweet and spicy sauce - awesome - the blue cheese dressing was real home made and had chunks of blue cheese. I also had the potatoes skins that have brisket on them - awesome as well. Good setting. Good bar food - at least what I tried. read more

Calhoun's - Rocky Top Potato Skins - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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It was my first time eating here. The service was great actually. The food just wasn't all of that. The wings weren't crispy and the fried pickles were way too greasy. The bill came up to $31.00 and some change. I did enjoy the beer. That was about it. read more

Calhoun's - The amount of grease I had to take off of them. - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Good service, nice atmosphere and really good menu items very reasonably priced. Good music too. read more

My son is a lover of the ribs, the pork ribs, and he's never had Calhoun's, which advertises the Best Ribs in Town(TM) so naturally we hit it at 11:30am on a Sunday, hoping to beat the crowds. We make it in, get a booth quickly, and get our order in. . .he's going full rack of ribs and I'm taking it easy (I *think* with a "Southern Salad"). . .six hours later. . .I'm STILL full. That Southern Salad ought to be advertised beside the ribs, full stop. I LOVED it. . .onion rings and chicken tenders, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, all the salad requirements for a traditional salad most places in the South, but this one? WHAM BAM! So good. (And the boy loved his ribs. . .almost finished them!) read more

Tradition!! Best place to hear a Vols game if your vibe is sipping cocktails and looking at the River. Brings back a thousand great memories for those who attended UT. read more