In my old age, I'm getting fussier about awarding five star ratings. Calhoun's is a great restaurant and I loved the food and service. If I could, I would give four and half stars. I'll let you know about the food, service, atmosphere and beverages. Smoked Beef Brisket Chili started my meal. A cup was sufficient as it was very well balanced between the amounts of meat and beans. Green onion and Frito s type chips topped it off nicely. Ale Steak was wonderful. It is a marinated steak with some creative ingredients and topped with Worcestershire Butter. I ordered it as rare as they would cook it, and was asked if I wanted it "Pittsburgh Rare". having never heard of this, Kim, my server explained that the steak is quick seared on one side, turned for another searing and plated. It was great. Their own brewed beer was very nice. I also ordered a hot Tennessee Today for after dinner and completely enjoyed it. After a two mile walk along the lake shore, I returned to the bar for another toddy to warm up. Kim, my server was a lot of fun. She had a great sense of humor and did something I rarely see. After giving me the check, she took a few steps back to avoid hovering over me trying to figure out how much of a tip I was leaving. When I complimented her, she said that she is trying to teach the younger servers about etiquette when waiting tables. There are great views of the lake which provide for a very open setting. Primarily, it is a Bar-B-Que restaurant, so it intentionally lacks the dark wood aromatic feel of upscale houses. So there you have it. I was there over ten years ago and loved it but was not a Yelper yet. Rarely do I get to Oak Ridge, but would return there in a heartbeat. read more

Awesome. Get a seat by the lake and watch UT Rowing Team practice. Food is great and customer service outstanding

My boyfriend and I went here to eat Prime Rib which is is their special at 7 p.m. they were out already??? It's really unacceptable. The fried green tomatoes and the drinks red beer and the chocolate martini were good. We were offered to pay more to get the ribeye and up charge $10 for shrimp to be added. This was very annoying since we came here just for the Prime Rib - very disappointing. read more

Famous ribs were very disappointing. Calhouns has a reputation for their smoked ribs. I ordered a slab and was very disappointed as the meat was burnt on one side and both were very dry. Even with more sauce they were still very dry and tough because of being overcooked. read more

Calhouns is our go-to place in Oak Ridge for a great dinner with fantastic atmosphere, and the service is usually very good. But tonight the service was especially excellent. Our server was Emily, and despite her heavy load, she was a true champ! She was prompt, professional, and extremely kind. And her kindness really seemed from-the-heart. Of course our ribs and steak were perfect, and all sides were delicious. The garlic rolls were hot and melt-in-your-mouth wonderful, and Emily kept them coming. We sat outside with friends as the sun set with the Clinch river before an autumn backdrop of colorful leaves and crisp, cool air. But Emily, with her warm East Tennessee accent and sincere friendliness made the experience unforgettable. You should keep her! read more

First time going to Calhoun's and we weren't disappointed. The food was very good. Menu has many choices. We went on a Saturday night. I ordered the prime rib sandwich. It was a thinner, but full cut of prime rib on a sourdough bread. Taste was perfect. Service was good. There was a little wait for the food to be served but we weren't in a hurry. Will definitely go again. read more

My wife and I visited on the 14th of March. We used the reservation app at approximately 6, for our arrival at 6:45. Upon arrival, the hostess could not locate the reservation. We decided to wait despite the reservation issue. We waited 45 minutes to be seated. The dining area had at least 8 tables open when we were seated. We waited 10 minutes to place drink and dinner orders. Then we had a 55 minute wait for our dinners to be served. My wife's ale steak was requested to be cooked medium; it was overcooked. I asked for medium prime rib and shrimp skewer. My prime rib was cold to the touch, and the shrimp were inadequately shelled and overcooked. We were surprised at the poor quality of the meal preparation, the excessive waiting times, and the overall disorganized staff performance. We have dined at this location many times before, and this was an absolutely poor attempt by the management of Calhouns. read more

Great food. The one in Oak Ridge has a great view on the water. Service was good. Have eaten in the restaurant side, bar and take out

This place was busy on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, so my wife and I opted to sit at the bar. The bartender was really short-staffed and overworked, but still managed to care for us sufficiently. I had their Red Ale and the Hickory burger (cheddar cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce). The food came out in a reasonable time. My burger was truly a taste above many others I've had in Knoxville. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my side of tater tots. They offer a slew of sides to please any taste. The bar area was busy but not too noisy. We enjoyed looking out through the glass and onto Melton Lake. We never felt rushed either. This was our second visit. (I forgot to write a review for the first one). We will definitely return again. read more

Absolutely loved the view of the lake from the restaurant. Our waitress was fantastic and food was delicious!

The idea that it might be busy on a Tuesday night never crossed our minds but there was a large party in the function room so we waited 20 mins. Eventually we were given a large booth and examined the menus. The young boy cleaning the booth behind us began to complain over the headset that he did not want sex with the manageress any time soon. Eventually the food arrived. My ribs were old and leather like. My loaded baked potato was minus cheese and also tasted old. The other meal of fish and chips was the complete opposite, large hot and tasty. Wonder who I pissed off. The new European payment machines screw you into tips at 18, 20, 25 and 50 percent. While our waiter was worth the money I wondered how much was kept by the restaurant? This is the last time we will visit. Hopefully another company buys the place. read more

Second and will be my last visit to Calhoun in Oakridge TN. Service and beer selection was good. I ordered the rack of ribs as well as two other people did in our party, once we got them they were dried out and tasted like cardboard with BBQ sauce on them, "Nicely" complained to the Manager which he told us that was the last of the ribs that Calhouns had and would remove the ribs off our bill. He offered us other selections of food items but nothing else not even a apology. My wife's food was good with no problems so the score was 2 at best. Date was 10-1-23 time about 6:00pm read more

Came here after ACRA regatta. Great location and view right at the starting line looking down the race course and Lake Melton. There were a lot of people here and waiting but they generally moved things along. We had a quoted 40 minute wait and it ended up being about 40 minutes. The young male waiter seemed like he was very new as he was unfamiliar with the menu items and drinks. Basically useless when asking any specifics about an item or for recommendations. We started with fried green tomatoes. They were pretty good. I had the grilled salmon and it was a big miss. It must have been frozen and had some weird sauce. Just was not good. Mashed potato's were so so. The lady had brisket sandwich and the brisket was very tasty from the bite I tried. The corn pudding was ok. I had a slice of key lime pie. Not bad but it was heavier then I like. Had the frozen margarita and it was alright. So menu seems very hit or miss. read more

The best thing about Calhoun's is not necessarily the food but the location as it is overlooking Melton Lake where rowing competitions take place. The way that the restaurant is situated provides a beautiful view and at sunset it was definitely something worthwhile to see. The restaurant is large with a front bar area and tables then a back restaurant area and a wraparound patio. Calhoun's serves up Southern and Barbecue food at reasonable prices and we had a good experience here. We came on a Friday night and it was absolutely packed. We got a buzzer and were told it would be about 30-40 minutes but luckily it was more like 20. Our waitress was super sweet. She was very patient as the place was super loud and answered our questions we had about the menu. Indoors it was difficult to hear even the people seated across from me. I'm not sure how that sort of thing can be overcome as it seems to be just the acoustics of the place. Our waitress brought out a basket of bread and corn bread muffins. I wasn't impressed by the corn bread muffins. It was a bit dry and didn't have too much flavor. This is Tennessee. We take pride in our corn bread--step it up Calhoun's! I settled on the Char-grilled shrimp over rice which is served with a side. I got the Tennessee corn puddin' as my side which was slightly sweet, creamy and delicious. The shrimp was pretty good, and they were served on skewers. I did like the rice which also had a slightly sweet flavor. Everyone else in my group seemed content with their choices as well. It did not take too long for the food to come out which I appreciated, in spite of it being busy. Overall a good experience and the view was my favorite part. read more

Calhoun's - Grilled shrimp over rice with a side of corn casserole - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

We had lunch outside on the deck at this waterside restaurant. Huge fans provide a constant breeze. Just great. I had the BBQ pork sandwich. It's big. Heavily stacked with meat. Cole slaw served on the side but I put it on the sandwich. Really good. The fries were good too. All around excellent experience. Perfect place for a summer lunch. read more

The food is good. The staff are helpful and friendly, and the view is relaxing and beautiful. I've been there twice now, and I've enjoyed both visits. Additionally, they serve up good drinks in the bar, but their beer selection could be broader. read more

Nice scenery and good food and service. The Oak Ridge location has a beautiful view of Melton Lake with a dock.

sitting in Calhoun's right now. the music is so loud I can't even hear the waitress or my friend. Music is nightclub music. this is miserable. I won't be back. . read more

This Calhoun's is a splendid property on the river in Oak Ridge. The menu is like all other Calhoun's. Great variety of barbecue, chicken, fish, even pork chop. All of it is great. Well prepared, generous quantities. BUT at this time (December 2021) we are still in the middle of COVID which is life threatening. Our server had a mask but was wearing it on his chin. We pointed it out and he admitted that they make him wear it to be mean. Why are they mean to you, I asked. Because I'm not vaccinated he replied. If I had not been with three other people I would have left right then. I will not return. read more

This place has a beautiful view of the lake where we make a must do when returning to the area. Sat outside overlooking the lake at a quiet time of day. Food was very good and service friendly as usual. Happy memories there. Had grilled shrimp, chili, side of beans, all good. read more

Calhoun's - Regrettably forgot to take pictures of the food - grilled shrimp and house salad, baked beans and chili - all good. Did not disappoint. - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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People who grew up in Knoxville have nonodea what good food is. I hear locals rave about Calhouns, but I've been there several times and the food is similar to what you get at Applebee's. I'm from Texas, so when I saw that they had "brislet" I immediately ordered it. They do not have brisket - they have pot roast. It tastes nothing like brisket. No bark. No smoky flavor. Gross. Nothing else is even average. The only nice thing is the location in the river. read more

I can't believe that servers would continue to work here. The kitchen can't keep up with the number of diners here. I arrived at 630 and left at 845. It took an hour and a half to get my dinner. I was part of a group of maybe 15 but that's no excuse. I've been to other places like this like Ye Old Steakhouse, and Chophouse . I will never go to a restaurant that makes everyone wait over an hour And still gets cold food. read more

Very good food and excellent service would recommend this place to anyone downtown. It sometimes is hard to get parking at this location but worth it. read more

My sister and I went to Calhouns on the river in Oak Ridge-in January- The view is amazing and it was winter. The brisket was a definite 5 stars the hickory smoked chicken was a little dry. Service was excellent! We would go back agai. Would love to see it in the summer read more

We were excited to try some Tennessee BBQ after seeing all of the photos on the website. We appreciated the honesty from the wait staff but to be told not to order the brisket after 6 PM was concerning. We went against the recommendation, and we were surprised when the brisket came out looking like pulled pork. Just different coming from Texas. Love the location. read more

Maybe the quarantine has clouded my judgement but today's meal and service was pretty top notch. The wings were some of the best I have ever had (naked with the thunder road sauce). And believe me I have Eaten my fair share and about a dozen others share. Followed that with a double pork chop dinner with a loaded baked potato and sautéed spinach. A solid old fashion and numerous varieties of local craft beer in a comfortable atmosphere deserves 5 stars... at least today read more

Calhoun's - View from deck - Southern Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The parking lot is huge. The restaurant is huge. The view of the water and mountains is spectacular. But that's where the kiddos stop. The menu was expansive. It smelled great. We were seated immediately and the wait began. After some amount of time I ordered a water. 10 minutes later it arrived and my order was taken, a bbq pork sandwich and a salad. You would think that a salad would come first; but no, after a prolonged wait everything came together - a different waiter delivered it - and then left without checking to see if everything was okay. It wasn't. I had to ask for pepper, and the bbq sauce that was supposed to come with the sandwich. There was no smoke to the pork. And the sauce was not to my liking - perhaps it might be to you. The waiter had trouble figuring out how to use the payment machine at the end. I was convinced he had charged my card multiple times and had to wait a couple of days to confirm it wasn't. I really had hoped this place would have been a pleasant experience. It wasn't. I came back to the area several times. I found other places to eat instead. read more

Great food. Great ambiance. Always a good time a Calhouns. Got the pulled pork sandwich, and it was delicious. Recommend before a big game.

One of my favorite restaurants ever! Maybe #1. The food is great! Just ate the most tender steak of my life! The staff is always super and makes a great effort to serve you. The overall customer experience is great! I highly recommend this restaurant!!! They also have a private boat ramp which is so fun. My girls ask to come here and take the They separate your side dishes in small bowls so they don't mix read more

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

This Calhoun's is perfectly situated to take advantage of the river view. The view is great and the only restaurant in Oak Ridge to have this sort of earlier view. I give Calhoun's a 4 star rating because of the ambience and a few particular dishes. I'm a fan of the ribs and just love the bbq sauce. There are a few salads that hit the mark as well. Not to mention, the bread is really good. read more

WORST EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE!! I used to work here and come here often for Trivia on Wednesday and by far this Tuesday was terrible. Our server Ari had no idea what she was doing. We had to ask for the manager several time and even had a bartender come check on us because she could tell we had terrible service. The manager Dale, was nothing more than useless. We waited almost 2 hours for our food. When it came time for the check, the server charged us for both a mixer and a house vodka which equaled out to about $17 for a mixed drink. I will never sit in the dining again, only the lounge. The lounge is probably the best place to sit in the restaurant. The lounge servers are so quick and know exactly what to do. read more

You know, BBQ that's right down the street from me? Not bad. I think this place has real hopes. I hope this place does well considering that the BBQ isn't bad and also that it's basically my backyard I'm sure if I ever have a craving and too lazy to go downtown, this will most likely be my substitute. The restaurant that took over from Riverside Grill is Calhoun's. You know, the BBQ chain. So when the opportunity came when a coworker asked out if I wanted to go out to lunch, I agreed and went on the small adventure and have more content to write about in Yelp. I wasn't the biggest fan of Riverside, so I was pretty happy to see another restaurant take over this location as it's really close by. Riverside's brunch wasn't the greatest so this was exciting to get BBQ here. So what did I order for lunch? I ordered the Calhoun's Trio. It came with ribs, a couple of chicken fingers, and your choice of slaw or side with a salad. I got the mac n cheese. Overall, it was just okay. I mean the BBQ isn't something to be amazed by I would rather have Sweet P's if I were to choose. But, it's right down the street! The interior changed a good amount. I realized there were more TVs. We only sat in the bar room so I didn't get to tour the rest of the restaurant so I can't really comment on it. But what I heard was that they put another million on this place to get it ready for opening. It was pretty packed for lunch and I saw that they were paving another parking lot right next to the restaurant so obviously it'll do good. When it's regatta season is open, I'm sure this place will be booming. read more

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

The food was good and the service was excellent. There are plenty of options to choose from. Overlooking the water was especially nice.

This used to be a great place to eat! Our food last night was not good. The service was just fine, but the food has changed. It seems like the cooking is bad. Weird salad, undercooked burger, weird tasting mashed potatoes, and the cut of the sirloin steak was bad. We ordered a baked potato with everything and it was lukewarm. It's so disappointing! They have a great location here, and a great space! Please do better read more

Food wasn't that good. The ribs were dry. Service was good for a busy restaurant so even if the food is bad too the staff, they work hard.

There was only one host that wasn't capable of of making decisions to seat people. We were the first ones there.

Wow! Amazing view and great price. I am beyond shock this does not have a five star. Service was good. I had to try everything! And I love me some side dishes. Must have, bake beans and grilled shrimp. Ans Oh the Spring Fling cocktail was refreshing. read more

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Food was horrible, bland and gnats were swarming. Ask manager to replace food and she had a horrible attitude. This place has gone downhill, fast! read more

We have dined here several times and the food and service has always been great, but today was different. We called yesterday and got a reservation for a group of less than ten. We were told when placing our orders that they were out of several items, but it was fine with us. Our teas and waters were brought with minimal ice, which quickly melted. The food was brought out in an acceptable time and was very hot and tasty. However, we were told we might not get bread (finally did after we were halfway through eating, and had to ask twice for it), we had to ask for refills, and asked for ice for our now warm drinks, but never got the ice. We didn't see our server again until she brought our check, which we had to ask for. I realize that there was a regatta on the lake and they were really busy, but management should have been prepared for it. Also, several servers were standing around talking instead of taking care of customers (ours included). I only gave three stars because the food was really good (all our party said so). We will return, but next time we will check to see if a regatta is taking place. If so, we will dine somewhere else. This lunch was for my wife's birthday, but she was very disappointed with the service and she never complains. read more

We set next to the water, lots of glass windows to enjoy the view. Tennessee Bar-B-Que ribs, pulled pork and chicken. Burgers, steaks, catfish, shrimp and more. Started Onion Rings. They were very good, but is was an app meant to be a side with a meal. Wife got Goat salad which was huge with chicken. She said it was very good. I got the full rack of baby back ribs. They were good, but not great. If you have had really good smoked ribs then these are average. Place looks like it could be part of a chain, someone in town recommended and it is OK. read more