Calhouns was amazing. We had a family celebration of the 20th anniversary of my wife's blog. Hunter was our server. We called ahead to see if we could bring a special cake (gluten free) and they said yes. Dinner was nearly perfect with Hunter getting the orders correct and the timing was perfect. He brought us extra bread plates to serve our cake and extra forks and knives. Hunter never made us feel rushed even though we took a couple of hours for our celebration. The food was great. The staff was very supportive of our celebration as well and really made us feel welcome. We had a wonderful time. I highly recommend this location of Calhouns and thank you for helping us celebrate. read more

Dirty dishes and silverware incorrect orders watered down non-alcoholic beverages (or beverages served with no ice at all) food that wasn't fresh server didn't ask if we wanted drink refills hair on our food My family of 5 is experience all of this during our most recent visit. Safe to say we won't be coming back for a while, if ever. Our server explained that the restaurant lost a lot of staff and hired a lot of teens, thus the dirty dishes. Don't know how you explain everything else. The only saving grace was that our kids' meals were relatively inexpensive, so that kept our bill was affordable. Also, the garlic rolls were tasty and fresh. As I said, it will be a looong time before we're back. read more

I took my beloved here on our 5th anniversary. We sat out on the patio in absolute perfect weather. The view of the lake is just outstanding. On the specials that night was a ribeye steak with a choice of a side. We both opted for that and it was absolutely amazing. The steak was cooked perfectly. It was seasoned to perfection. I could not have made this steak any better if I did it myself. The service was wonderful. It was attentive without being clingy. I appreciated that greatly. We finished off the evening with strawberry shortcake. It was absolutely amazing. I would suggest bringing it home for later. It is just too much food at one sitting (trust me on this). It was an amazing night and I plan to be a regular here. When you see me on the patio, stop by and say hello... read more

Calhoun's - Perfectly seasoned ribeye and baked potato. - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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We dropped in on a cloudy and rainy day with our service dog and sat outside and enjoyed the outside patio tables the service was outstanding . The inside bar staff was very friendly as well as the several hostesses. Also the manager took the time to check on all the outside tables in the rain. And don't worry the Red umbrellas keep you covered at the tables so you were nice and dry the whole time. read more

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Came in to meet a friend and had a burger. The place was busy but we got seated pretty fast. The bbq bacon burger was amazing. Cooked perfect. The fries were real good too. Our server was very fast and friendly. The place was a bit cold inside ( had to keep my jacket on) but other than that,, it was a very nice place I'll come back to. read more

My husband and I visited that establishment last night with 2 other friends and had an awful experience. Firstly, we were told that the waiting time would be 10 minutes. We were seated around 20 minutes. That was understandable because they were very busy. Things went downhill very quick after we ordered drinks and food. My Raspberry Mojito did not contain any white rum or or any alcohol. It was also not sweetened at all. I had 3 members of my party taste it and they were all appalled as it tasted like soda water with some raspberry and a pinch of mint. I had to send it back which I had never done before at any other restaurant. My friends were mortified that it had happened. Furthermore, the food order was interesting. my husband received his meal first. The rest of the party waited a quite a while for their food to arrive. We all urged my husband to go ahead and eat so that his food would not get cold. The waiter was also surprised that only one member received his meal and noted that he had put the order in for all of us at the same time. The rest of the party completed their meal except me who was still enjoying my meatless burger when the waiter arrived. He proceeded to take their empty dishes. When I reached down to finish my burger, I noticed that he had taken away my meal as well even although I was still eating. I could not believe that it had happened to me. I was astounded. Needless to say, I will never return to this restaurant again. read more

Spot on for the person doing steaks tonight. They have always been thick and tough, but tonight we took our chance again and thank goodness it was cut thin and delish. Service was good as always. read more

The restaurant was very clean, and we were seated immediately near the window. The service was excellent. Bruin went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of. His welcoming disposition helped make the experience very enjoyable. Our meal was delicious and we will definitely be back. Thank you! read more

Well Calhouns no longer has award winning ribs unless you get an award for being the worst. Dried and tough. I only ate them (part of them) because I had to wait so long to get them I was starved. Otherwise I would have sent them back. AND, the waiter brought my salad AFTER he brought the ribs. The baked potato was hard around the edges. So I didn't eat all the potato, I didn't eat all the ribs but the salad was good, If it hadn't been for the salad I would have left hungry. I doubt I will be back but if I ever do go back, I won't be ordering the award winning ribs. read more

Much better experience this time! I actually love Calhouns and thank you to all the staff working hard for the great service !! I appreciate you and I noticed the effort read more

Yes, we had a large party, party of 12. We waited an 1 hour and 40 minutes before we got our food. The manager said "Well the party was large". She did offer us a free dessert, but ran, so the waitress had to take the order. We watched several parties of six eat and go, before we got our food! No excuse, and the manager could have had a better answer!!! We are locals and wanted our friends to have a good experience!!! read more

Oh you must try their special red snapper! My husband ordered this tonight. It has tomato jam on top sitting on a bed of rice! The red snapper was perfectly cooked. We sat at the bar the service was amazing. I love the water view! Come on summer so we can sit outside at the water. When our food was delivered Sam brought it out and talked to us about the menu and how they fly their fish in. You can't get fresh fish like this that tastes this good. I love it when someone cares about their food and takes pride in what their customers think. This place is one of my favorites! read more

Overall rating a 4/5 based on at least 6-7 trips thus far. For the record, the past two have brought up our impression of the place as everything was completely stellar end-to-end on all fronts! If this keeps up we're going back to 5s all around! Food and drink: it's why you go, right? The salads an chicken are hard to beat. And most trips the meat is perfect, if not really good even on a bad day. Fave is probably the brisket bites. Location and parking: easy to find on GPS, and plenty of parking for sure. Drop those off who struggle with a walk at the entrance. Staff and service: was awesome our past couple trips, and hoping that only continues! Venue and vibe: definitely a staple place in Knoxville, and matches to all other Calhoun's look and feel. Will be back soon i hope! read more

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We have been ordering our Thanksgiving meal from Calhoun's for 3 years. Each year we order food for 20 people. This year the food was packed in front of us (yesterday) and when we began to unpack the food at home both pies (placed on a cardboard sheets and inside of cardboard boxes) slid to the side and were not presentable. For the last two years, the food has been outstanding . This year, the rolls were hard and the lumpy skin-on potatoes were terrible and extremely poor quality and did not rise to this restaurants normal standards. The rest of the food was delicious! read more

Great service, good chicken tenders! Right on the water! Good for family meals. Hopefully next time will visit by boat!

It was a beautiful day for outdoor dining! This is a perfect spot in Oak Ridge to eat with a view. At Melton Lake, there are lots of activities and events which makes this location sooo great! My husband and I took a road bike ride here to grab a bite and a much needed rest break. I ordered the Sweet & Spicy Wet Wings with bleu cheese and he ordered a Hickory Bacon Burger with fries. We both cleaned our plates! If we didn't have to ride our bikes back home, I would've ordered the Key Lime Pie for dessert. Our server, Sarah, did an excellent job providing service to us and made sure we had plenty of water while we were there and for the ride back (we refilled our water bottles). We made sure to give her a good tip! PRO TIP: There are two outdoor dining areas: one that the hostess seats you (under an awning) and another that is first come, first served (under the red umbrellas). There's a gate for easy access to these areas. read more

Calhoun's - Sweet & Spicy Wings - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The food was just okay, not anything special. We took out of town friends here for the view of the lake. The service was very good, we were seated quickly, though we did have reservations. We did seem to be rushed through our meal a bit, despite it not being super busy. I'd like to see dining encouraged instead of just eating. Our bill was delivered with no offer of dessert. We weren't asked if we'd like appetizers. Just a "ready to order" and then the check. read more

My friend and I were visiting the area and our hotel recommended this restaurant. The location was definitely desirable on the water. We arrived for dinner on a Saturday evening and the wait time was approximately 30 minutes. Parking was readily available. I ordered the hot Tennessee toddy as my cocktail and the citrus was way too strong. Then, I ordered the beef brisket plate with green beans and spinach maria. The green beans were too crunchy, so I asked to get the broccoli instead. I definitely recommend the beef brisket. We ordered key lime pie and the macadamia nut banana pudding for dessert. The desserts were tasty, key lime is very sour, but that's expected. read more

Calhoun's - Key lime pie - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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The food was pretty good. Stopped in with a few coworkers for lunch and decided to pick up the combination platter so that I would have something to save for dinner. The barbecue is nice and smokey. We also tried the bacon wrapped burnt ends which was good. I would definitely return if I'm ever in town craving barbecue. 4 Stars read more

Calhoun's - Ribs, pulled pork, and grilled chicken tenders - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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Great the vibe for the restaurant are great and there was rowing going on outside on the river so we got some free entertainment and we had a dog with us and they completely accommodated us with outside seating and even brought us a water bowl for our pup so great review but the only problem was some miss communication with the seating but that was fine so it's a great restaurant. read more

Calhoun's - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Had dinner here last night with our Cali expat friends...great atmosphere and a great view over the lake while dining. The fried catfish was lightly breaded, delicate, flaky and delicious. I had a pork chop with bake sweet potato and slaw. DELICIOUS! The wait staff was attentive and friendly which made for a great and relaxed meal. read more

KUDOS,and thank you so much to Asher for providing supreme quality customer service at Calhoun's on the River! We started to order the best appetizer ever: the spinach artichoke dip! The staff is definitely on top of the refills! The view of the Melton Lake near the Calhoun's is amazing! I ordered grilled salmon with spinach Maria:creamed spinach. I highly recommend all to stop by and visit this incredible dining experience in Oakridge, TN! read more

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My parents were in town helping us with our move and requested this place. We were admittedly skeptical of the Cahoun's hype but had a really good experience! I have since been back twice, once for take-out and the other time to meet a friend and dine on the patio overlooking the water. The vibe is casual, seating ample, and the outdoor area has such a beautiful lake view. I feel like I can now say that I have sampled the menu. Does this make me a Calhoun's guru or food critic? ;-) I've tried the fish/chips, burnt ends, prime rib, pulled pork, brisket, caesar salad, Turkey Creek salad, soft pretzels, burger, smoked wings, and an abundance of their sides. Of these, my family and friends all agree that the pulled pork, burnt ends, and caesar salad are amazing! In the complimentary bread basket, you will probably fight over the biscuit. The garlic rolls are also soft and flavorful but we would pass on the dense corn muffins. The cole slaw, fries, sweet potato, and apples are really tasty sides. Also a pass next time will be the pretzels (taste just like the freezer section Super Pretzel brand), brisket-fatty and chewy both times we ordered it. The prime rib was also fatty but it was very tender and cut thick, which was unexpected. The Turkey Creek salad was fine, as were the fish/chips, wings and burger. The type of meals that you think "this was good and satisfying, but I don't know that I HAVE to order this again." In general, I have been so pleased with the food, ambiance, and service at this location. I will probably continue to bring my out-of-town visitors here, too. read more

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We came as a big group (15 people) on Wednesday for lunch. Parking was fairly easy. The ambience was great and the view of the Melton lake is awesome. I can't believe I've been to Melton lake so many times but haven't eaten here. The service is awesome. We got bread before our entree. I got the Oriental Chicken Salad and it's the best salad I've had in a long time. It's so well balanced with greens, proteins and a little carbs (rice). The honey vinegarette dressing garnished it to the finest. Will love to come back and try more food. read more

Calhoun's - a bowl of food on a table - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

We had Asher as a waitress outside and she was AMAZING! I have been to many restaurants and this was the best service I've ever had! She didn't miss a beat and was so quick & sweet! Normally on a patio you get forgotten about but she made us feel like celebrities with top of the line service! read more

My family loves going here when we're around the state. Lots of fun good times. White stuff is great. Food is amazing.

We, a party of 2, visited Calhouns mid-afternoon on a Saturday and sat in the bar (as was suggested by the hostess, or we would need to wait...although we were the only people at the hostess stand) We ordered water, then beer, then our meal; we each ordered the same salad. We waited well over 15 minutes to get our beer, although the bartender was chatting with clients and co-workers. Several other tables in the bar started to fill, including a party of 5 and another party of 6. We waited and waited and waited. Our server walked by our table twice as we waited and told us our food would be out soon. Time continued to pass and three tables that were seated after us, not only received their food, but two of the three tables FINISHED their meals and were preparing to leave and we still did not have our salads. At that point, we were "over it" and the next time we saw our waitress, told her we would take the food to-go once it was ready. When asked what the issue was, our server said something about mixing up our tables order with another table, and she said she was sorry, even after it was pointed out that other tables were served and already leaving. Once again, "sorry" was all she could say. Finally, the bill came with the food and off we went. We've had better table service at McDonalds!!! read more

First time ever at Calhoun and the food is like any normal chain. Butttttt the service from Chris was absolutely amazing. He was so well mannered, respectful, communicated well, and absolutely attentive. We will go back just to be seated under him. The atmosphere is really nice the bar is awesome. Definitely a fun date night idea. I would axe throw and then eat and drink here. read more

Wow! Just when I thought the best Oak Ridge had to offer was Buddy's BBQ and I found my way to this resort like appeal of a bbq restaurant on beautiful Melton Hill Lake. Staff were attentive, patient and the food second to none. The ambiance has the feel of of upscale eatery but the prices were not that bad. Thank you Calhoun... read more

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The atmosphere on the river patio is excellent, but I cannot say I love this restaurant. I've had good meals there, but more that were unremarkable or just bad. Fish and chips is one of my hubby's favorite dishes, and it is always greasy and soggy, even when requested to be fried a little longer. It's an issue with the temp of the grease. It's a nice place to host a large group but the food, I'm sorry to say, is mostly non-descript, and we've been going there with friends (their call) for years. read more

On 06/13/22, some friends took us to lunch at this location. We usually like to eat outside, but it was stifling with 90% humidity so we chose to eat inside. And we are glad we did eat inside, because if we had been outside, we never would have met Jack, our server. The food here is always good, but when you have a good server, the meal is all the more wonderful. I had the Hickory burger and ordered a side of onion rings. My gosh, they were huge, not greasy, well seasoned and some of the best I've had. The burger was juicy tender and the entire meal was so large, I had to take some home (which was great because it provided an evening snack. My other dining companions had an equally great meal. We sat around the table and caught up what had been happening and we were never rushed to get out of the restaurant. (It was after the dinner rush, so there were only a few people in the dining room). Again, I get back to Jack. He is a wonderful server who takes ownership in a job he loves. He was attentive and friendly with a winsome personality. He is definitely a keeper -- a wonderful ambassador for the Copper Kettle dining group. BTW - he needs a raise. This is always a great place and we love to come here, but this afternoon, we had the best server ever. Thank you Jack!! read more

Ugh. The food here was terrible. The river view did not make up for that. We ordered the bacon wrapped brisket burnt ends for an app, and my hubby ordered a hickory bbq burger with tots, and I ordered a cup of white chicken chili. The bacon wrapped burnt ends were like dried out, old brisket dipped in their weird tomatoey vinegary signature bbq sauce. My hubby's burger was under seasoned and the texture of the patty was mushy. And it was doused in their signature bbq sauce. My cup of white chicken chili was really watery and acidic. It tasted like chicken broth and tomato sauce with a few beans and chunks of chicken in it. There was a large melted wad of cheese that sunk to the bottom of the cup and lots of grease floating on top, masked with tortilla strips on top. I only had a few bites because it was so greasy and acidic. The complimentary bread basket was the best thing about the place. The biscuits were light and airy, and the cornbread was true southern style (no sugar). I ended up getting charged for a bowl instead of a cup. Ugh. Wish we'd noticed that on the bill! What an expensive and disappointing lunch it ended up being! Next time we're in TN, we'll steer clear of Calhoun's! read more

Calhoun's - Bacon wrapped burnt ends - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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This spot is as perfect as it gets. Great food, beautiful bar and a view that can't be matched! Highly recommended for a lovely evening dinner. read more

On a recent trip to Calhoun's, we both had salmon. I had the sweet potato side, and my wife had spinach Maria, named after most women from Latin America. We both liked our salmon. Tasty and cooked as requested. My wife really enjoyed her spinach Maria, like a cheesy spinach casserole. My sweet potato was fine. The bread basket is always good and this time was no different. Two of the many things done well in the south are cornbread and biscuits. Of course, the best part of the meal other than my scintillating partner and her intriguing conversation was the pretty view of the water, which you can't swim in but it still makes for lovely scenery while eating a meal at this restaurant. Good food, good conversation, and good scenery make for a good time. read more

We went to Calhoun's for Father's Day. Everything was great. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. Our prime ribs were cooked perfect. I just love this location. Beautiful scenery read more

Calhoun's - Prime rib loaded mash potatoes and spinach Marie - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The Hostess sat us outside directly beside the server station, and five minutes later sat the only other people outside directly next to us. The pretzels were good, but I got my Grilled Lemon Chicken and the bottom was so burnt it was literally inedible. The server was very nice though. read more

Calhoun's in the greater Knoxville area are terrible. Go to the Piegon Forge location if you want service from a Calhoun's who understands customer service. This location is very weird about breads, only wanting to provide on garlic roll. Never heard of any restaurant chain who provides limited bread. Most restaurants like Olive Garden, Carrabba's and Outback will even generously pack up bread to go after dining in the restaurant. Calhoun's has pretty much lost my business. read more

I came here with my family for dinner. Pros: We made a reservation so we did not have to wait. The restaurant had a nice view of the river. Cons: The server seemed nice enough at first but was not very available. We did not get the basket of bread until literally the end of our meal and only because we asked about it. He brought us our checks without asking before we even got the dessert we ordered. My party stayed talking and he never took our empty plates. Our orders included: -pulled pork nachos for appetizers which barely had any meat or cheese mostly corn chips. -For entrees we got Calhoun's trio, Hickory smoked beef brisket plate, and hickory smoked bar-b-que pork plate. The portions were nice size but lacked flavor and were served lukewarm. -For dessert we got the macadamia nut banana pudding. I think it had 5-6 slices of banana and a little sprinkle of macadamia nuts, it was mostly whipped cream and kind of plain vanilla pudding. Overall, it just felt like they were being very cheap quality-wise and the service was subpar. read more

I really like the Cherokee ale steak. Ambiance is nice. The steak has Monteray seasoning and can be spicey if over seasoned just something to think about if that's a problem for you just tell them to lightly season. read more

Time flies when you are enjoying life. We frequently stop in here at Calhoun's and I felt it was time for an update. They no longer offer the Monday burger deal, but it hasn't stopped us from enjoying the rest of menu. My only suggestion is to ask for honey with your biscuits. You can thank me later! Our favorite items are the Ale steak, the Ale Porkchop and the oriental chicken salad. Sometimes we just pop in for tortilla soup or chili when we aren't that hungry. Stop in for great views of the beautiful rowing course. read more