Calhoun's on the River. I think I liked Calhoun's... actually, I know I did. Great day with oldest daughter Jordan and the Granddogs, Elbert & Sally. I learned that Knoxville hosted the 1982 World's Fair, so we walked around the old fairgrounds and then down to the river. Beautiful area and a perfect day to just hang out. At Calhoun's, I loved our waitress, sitting out on the deck, my blackberry margarita, and the chicken tenders with honey mustard. The bacon-wrapped burnt-end brisket was tasty too, although a little dry. Maybe that's just part of being burnt ends. Honestly, I thought most of our food leaned a little dry for me -- except those chicken tenders. Maybe in Tennessee, the barbecue sauce is supposed to do more of the heavy lifting. Either way, great food, great weather, great company, and a very good day all around. read more

See all

Server was nice. Food took a while to arrive, and it was cold! Ribs tuff and overcooked, pulled pork cold and no flavor. The chicken tenders were okay but also overcooked. My wife and I were in town for a wedding and decided on Calhoun's because it was where we had our first date 32 years ago. This time was a little disappointing. Server and manager were overly concerned that our experience was not up to par and offered to cook another plate. They did take our entrees off of the bill, so kudos for trying to make it right. Sounds like Calhoun's needs a better kitchen manager. Front of house staff was great read more

Unfortunately I did not take any photos of our food, but we had 2 amazing flavorful salads. My wife had the Turkey Creek Salad which had Romaine and spinach with smoked turkey, sun-dried cranberries, honey roasted pecans, feta cheese, strawberries and honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The smoked turkey was full of flavor. Lettuce was fresh. Strawberries were surprisingly ripe in off season. The balsamic vinaigrette dressing was full of flavor. I had the Smokehouse Salad which had Grilled chicken, country ham, bacon, tomatoes, egg, onion and cheese with honey mustard dressing. The country ham on this salad was amazing. Chicken was juicy and flavorful. The meal included some cornbread muffins, rolls (flavored with garlic butter), and oh my what a flaky biscuit! Service was fast, friendly, and the food was excellent. They have a wide range of options on their menu to satisfy the pickiest of eaters. read more

We came here while we were in the area for spring break. Overall, it was nice having a table near the water and the food was pk. We had one member of our party where the server completely forgot to input one of the adult meals. His meal came out as the rest of us were finishing up. Not a huge deal but I was a bit surprised that he wasn't offered a discount or something to make up for the fact that his meal was just forgotten. Our server seemed a bit overwhelmed and it was hard to get refills or even the checks. Ok spot to eat but definitely don't be in a time constraint. read more

We had a great experience visiting Calhoun's. A lot of the enjoyment came from having a fantastic server. She is one of the managers but was serving when we visited. She was delightful and brought a lot of fantastic energy. I had the oriental chicken salad, which was delicious. My husband ordered the catfish and spinach Maria, which he really enjoyed as well. Excellent service, excellent food, and an incredible view of the Tennessee river! We had the Rocky Top potato skins as an appetizer, and they were incredible! read more

Calhoun's - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

It was a nice location, but the service was slow, and the food was terrible. My wife's fish and chips were so overcooked you really couldn't taste any fish only burnt crust. The sweet potatoes were cold and greasy. The "barbecue" brisket was more fat than meat. The closest the brisket came to barbecue was the little container than was served with the BBQ. Nearby tables sat with dirty dishes waiting for the servers to buss the table which made the service slow. Based on the food presented I can only assume the kitchen was understaffed or not experienced. read more

Calhoun's is a good BQQ and ribs restaurant in a great location on the river. It is casual and relaxed, but nice. We decided to eat at Calhoun's before a UT basketball game. The wait was 45 minutes, but we were able to grab a couple of bar seats pretty quickly. We ordered the Bacon-Wrapped Brisket Burnt Ends as an appetizer. It had really good flavor, but the meat was a little dry. I'd give this a 8/10 rating. For the meal, we spilt the Calhoun's Trio, which had ribs, pork BBQ , fried chicken strips and tater tots. The ribs were really good (8/10). The pork BBQ was good (7/10). The fried chicken strips were cooked well, but didn't have a lot of flavor (6/10). The tater tots were really good and perfectly crispy (8/10). Calhoun's has a full bar and local beer on tap from Smoky Mountain Brewing. read more

Calhoun's - Bacon-wrapped Brisket Burnt Ends - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

I don't leave many negative reviews, but this one just couldn't be ignored. This particular Calhoun's gets a ton of business because of proximity to campus, and it seems they really just don't care because they know they'll get fans coming in. A friend and I were going to a game awhile back and decided to grab dinner here beforehand. We got a booth in the bar area and placed our orders pretty quickly. I chose the cheeseburger and fries, while my friend selected the chicken tenders. It took ages for our food to arrive, and then my burger had no toppings (lettuce, tomato, onions, pickle, etc) - just a squirt of ketchup. Not even any fries. There was no real remedy to the situation because we couldn't find our server. Because of time constraints, we just ate as is. And then it took awhile to get our check and pay. I'll avoid this place as much as I can. Maybe just for drinks prior to a game next time? read more

Calhoun's - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We had such a lovely time at Calhoun's on the River. It was a perfect day to sit on the deck and enjoy the views and weather. The menu for the deck is more limited than inside the restaurant, but we still got some amazing food items. We enjoyed the spinach artichoke dip, bacon wrapped beef brisket burnt ends, and wings tossed in the sweet and spicy thunder road sauce. Everything was delicious! Our server was quick and friendly. Would absolutely recommend! read more

See all

Sitting on the deck was amazing so I think that's why most people go because the food was just mid and the service was super slow. Took forever to get our beers out and our sweet potato fries were barely warm so maybe better if they were hot. The ribs were good. The soft pretzel was amazing and the view is what you go for... read more

Supper here at Calhouns on the River was very enjoyable. We went early because this place gets busy. (I highly recommend going early.) I really like the room overlooking the river. (Actually, it's perched out over the river!) The menu has a lot of delicious choices, so it's hard to recommend just one. Our waiter was good and took excellent care of us. read more

Experience was better than the food. I would only come here for the vibes. Staff was great all in all

May be a controversial opinion, but I believe Calhoun's is a little overrated. While the service is generally solid (typically a rotating door of college and high school students), there are times where you're waiting for the check, wondering if your food got lost, or are just served the wrong order (but then again, these things happen). As a vegetarian, there are very few options that are worth the price or hassle-- there's a very "fine" veggie burger, a Caesar salad that has tasted spoiled on occasion, and a kid's grilled cheese. The ambiance is generally solid-- there's great trivia and singo nights, and you can't beat catching a Vols game on the river. I will say-- the bread is PHENOMENAL, their garlic knots and beer muffins in particular. Calhouns just is not my thing! read more

Came in on a Saturday night after a UT baseball game. Expected it to be busy, but I guess because it was Easter weekend it wasn't. Still had to wait 10 minutes because they were "cleaning tables", but okay. Got seated, waiter took our order pretty quickly, but then the wait started. Had to ask for silverware and bread. I guess our order was complicated--a house salad and a fried chicken salad. We waited at LEAST 45 minutes for it. Waiter kept apologizing and said he would have his manager come speak to us. The manager never showed. By the time we got our food, I was so upset I couldn't eat half of it. Maybe we didn't look rich enough? Maybe we didn't like UT students? Whatever it was, I was EXTREMELY disappointed. Used to love this place, but tonight it broke my heart. I will NEVER go back. read more

Great service and amazing food! I wish I remembered the waitress' name. Great Southern lady!

This place was Great. The server Audrey was so nice and accommodating to one of the kids Food allergies. The Catfish was the best I've ever had. The lean prime rib was for tasty. The Chicken wings were plump and very tender! The river view was pretty. But not accommodating to large groups that want to sit and eat on the outside patio on the river. We had a group of 10. Overall experience was a 10! read more

Fantastic location near downtown Knoxville on the River. We were greeted immediately by the host and even quicker by our super friendly server. It was a cold non game day so we had a great seat indoors overlooking the water but we were told come game days there could be a several hour wait and that their parking lot is rented out so please keep that in mind. I have the Veggie Burger and it was delicious- they took a different spin with Monterey Jack, Avocado and their own aioli and it was a nice change! (My thanks to the chef) I've been a vegetarian just over 8 years and this meal sat well with me which means the kitchen does a great job with eliminating cross contamination- it's so nice when that's the case! Husband had their house wings and said they were some of the best they have had! We will definitely be back when we are in town again! read more

Calhoun's - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Had a great lunch after landing in Knoxville! Awesome views of the city & quality BBQ. My favorite was the White Chicken Chili! read more

See all

Steak was very good. Ambiance was great and the service was great. Don't order the ribs. They were really bad. They took them off the bill so that was fair. They were waaaayyy overcooked. read more

Being from Texas I'm very picky when choosing places with award winning in their food's description. I'm a dry rub guy when it comes to ribs, that being said the ribs were good. The show was stolen however by the bacon wrapped brisket burnt ends. Definitely worth a stop if you're visiting Knoxville read more

Seating outside has a great view of TN River. Service was very good and friendly. It's a very busy place but we got there around 11:30 for lunch and was seated immediately. But the tables filled up quickly. Food was good BBQ pork sandwich, BbQ chicken and kids had chicken fingers. Fish n chips were ok. read more

We sat at the bar for a drink and the bartender was very attentive and quick with the drinks. Drinks were all reasonably priced. Our server was attentive, answered all of our questions and her two recommendations were spot on! Great service! The food came out quick - was hot and tasty. The restaurant has an old world charm and the view of the river was the perfect setting for a lovely dinner. Would definitely visit again when in town. read more

Calhoun's - House salad with cheddar cheese dressing - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Came in for a lunch in Summer on a Saturday. Service was fine, they let us sit in the atrium. It was a beautiful view and the best thing of our meal. We ordered an appetizer that looked good but was OK. Overall, good and bad with our order. My wife got the Hickory burger medium and it was good; my son had the Kickback burger medium-well and I had the Kickback burger medium. Their tater tots are amazing! Unfortunately, my burger was ULTRA RARE, I mean severely rare. I did not catch it until I removed the bun. I called our waiter over and asked if that was medium, his response was, I can make it medium. I am not sure of that burger was cooked more than a minute. They took the burger tartar away and brought me a new burger, which I couldn't finish. Overall, a mediocre meal. read more

Calhoun's - Burnt Ends - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Love the food, the drinks are delicious Chelsea is the best! Also the location is absolutely gorgeous. I highly recommend the pork chop!

Had reservations for three people at noon on a Saturday in June. Perfect spot to meet your college student for a meal. We asked for a table in the river view room. Beautiful scenery and a river boat drifted by the windows. John L was our server. He's friendly and knows the menu well. Appetizer: bacon wrapped burnt em Two of us got the Kick Back Burger. One with baked beans and one with tater tots. I got the Hickory Smoked BBQ Burger with tater tots. read more

See all

Service was slow, server had attitude, the ribs and pulled pork was dry, the first piece of brisket served was a full slab of fat, not even edible, sent it back and waited 20 minutes for a replacement , luckily the chicken tenders were pretty good! Hence the 2 stars. If you asked me the difference between the sahara desert and a rack of calhouns ribs, i couldn't tell you the difference. Will not be back. read more

Ate at the on the river location today, the food and service, especially the service, was excellent. Today I even took time to talk to the Manager after my experience. I told him how good my Server Nathan was, also how friendly and nice the outside Bartender Chelsea was. I ate at the Loudon location before and it was awful, bad food and bad service. Too many times I write bad reviews, it is refreshing when I finally get to write a glowing review. Nathan and Chelsea, thanks for a great experience today. read more

First time dinning here. Food was excellent (burnt brisket ends with bacon & BBQ sandwich) and our server Tiffany went above and beyond. She got us out early for an event we had and was very attentive and friendly. Would definitely stop here again next time we're in town! read more

This place is usually pretty consistent and amazing servers. We have eaten their Southern Salad and Ribs, which you can never go wrong. We have even gone on Thanksgiving a couple of years and that was great as well. I would not suggest eating on the outdoor eating area. It was almost like the food was prepared ahead of time and then just sent out. Not hot, or even warm and not very appetizing. read more

The view is nice by the water, but the actual place is not up to par, it's needs an upgrade. It was sour in there and the food was bland and tasted like Apple Bee's. Our waitress Kristy was pleasant. read more

Calhoun's - Half slab - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Great riverfront location with wonderful views. Calhoun's has a pretty comprehensive menu, and the brisket was surprisingly good! Brisket can be hit or miss, especially if you're not at a strictly BBQ joint. Service was good too. read more

Best burger ever. Fun place right on the river. Great to watch games! Bartender was funny and our waitress was great dealing with 8 tipsy ladies! Knoxville is second home now so will be back!! read more

Calhoun's - Best Kick-Back Burger ever - Barbeque Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

waited two and a half hours got told ten minutes twice i had to wait an hour after both and they sat multiple parties before us

Calhoun's on the River in Knoxville delivers solid Southern BBQ with a side of scenic river views. The ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are flavorful, and the outdoor seating adds to the charm. Service is friendly, though it can get busy during peak times. A few inconsistencies aside, it's a great spot for a relaxing meal with a view. read more

See all

The service here was good for a super casual, friendly, fast paced experience. Our server was on top of everything, which honestly made me hopeful about the rest of the meal. Unfortunately, the food didn't come close to matching the service. The presentation was plain and unappetizing -- just overcooked meat plopped on a plate with zero garnishing or presentation value. The Caesar salad was wilted and sad. The potato skins were overcooked and overloaded with hardened cheese. Yuck! The BBQ pork was dry and had a weird, straw-like texture. The ribs were tiny and drowning in sauce, and the brisket was mostly fat. It all felt lazy and overdone at the same time. The kitchen really needs a major upgrade. The beer and complementary bread were good, though. Ok place for a drink, but I wouldn't come back for the food. Overall, the service was good. read more

Do not visit this restaurant. There were two mice in the women's restroom. I spoke to both the assistant and general manager who both dismissed the situation. The general manager stated that they have pest control out three times a week. They were both dismissive about the fact that there were mice in the establishment and it was out of their control. I am one disgusted that I ate in a place with mice and even more frustrated that there was zero accountability by the managers. Our server was very nice and apologetic. read more

Party of 4 arrived at 1pm, didn't seem busy inside but the parking lot was full! Ordered food and it took forever to get it. 2 orders of ribs, pork sandwich, chicken bowl. The server was friendly and we sat in the sunroom overlooking the river. Place was clean inside but the food was just ok. read more

Food 4/5 - I absolutely love Calhoun's: the food, ambiance, and views of the river. Our food was fresh and delicious. My personal favorite has always been the Oriental Chicken Salad. Service / Ambiance 4/5 - A must visit Knoxville restaurant. I absolutely love the view of the river. The service was attentive and nice. We also got our food fairly quickly. read more

See all

Food was a let down... The bacon wrap brisket was great, but the brisket alone is on the dry side. The baby back ribs and the chicken was dry and bland. I like the spinach maria. The chicken BbQ sandwich was bare... The service was a let down too... server no smile. We were thirsty... wouldn't refill your drinks and it was a tuesday night... not too busy. Also, our server didn't smile at all the entire time. The plus for me is location and the view, music and ambience. read more

See all

First, I am generous at 4 stars, as the location is absolutely beautiful on the river and there are lots of parking spaces in a lengthy parking lot, although it is a long way to walk for some of the spaces. You go inside and are quickly seated but then discover that their music coming over the speakers is so loud that people are hollering to be able to speak with one another at adjoining tables. They frankly need to turn the music down to a lower roar. This place is known for its barbecue and other good food so I selected the steak and shrimp special. The shrimp was grilled and fairly good size with an absolutely great grilled taste. The steak was supposedi to be a 7 oz but after the first two slices and bites of it the chewing became just that--chewy due to the tough sinew. After we ordered, and got our wine (see that foolishness below), I went to the closest bathroom, outside of the open kitchen entranceway. It was unclean and unkempt. Dave was our waiter. Server? Not so much. We ordered a $32 bottle of Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay, a favorite for us. He brought the wine in a stone wine chiller, and placed it and the two glasses on the table, gestured at the wine, informing us that it was a screw top and turned around and walked away without opening the bottle serving a sample or pouring any wine for us. I don't know who trained him but they certainly need to have a discussion with him on serving wine. read more

See all