Wow! Such a perfect experience in not just food but service as well! Such a quaint restaurant. The chef/owner greets every guest and the interaction after each course adds to the delight of the dining experience. We were a large group of 20 diners so we were able to have the restaurant to ourselves. The menu was set - Cheese and salami board Salad With fresh figs and aged cheddar Lemon cod and shrimp Filet mignon, roasted potatoes and vegetables Cheese cake with cherries. The service was impeccable and friendly. Each course was timed perfectly. The tomatoes in the salad were the best I've tasted in Tennessee. The flavor of the peppers under the lemon cod was delightful. The filet melted in your mouth. Every morsel of food was exceptional. The menu changes each evening he is open. Reservations are a must and a strong consideration to pay in cash eliminates the surcharge by the credit card company. Please feel free to bring your own wine. read more

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This hidden gem is absolutely worth the drive. Reservations are required and menu is always changing, so follow them on social. The food is filled with flavor and love as Chef puts his special touch on all things delicious. read more

Caramella Bistro - Personal Chefs Near Me - Kingston, Tennessee

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I had a reservation for last night, Friday 11/7, confirmed via text from the owner. We drove 45min, and arrived at the restaurant to find it locked up tight lights out. What?? Who does that? I hope he is fine, and if we ever hear back from him with a satisfactory explanation, I'll delete this one-star and cease telling everyone I know about it. Bizarre, disappointing, and wretched business move. read more

Amazing food!!! Can't say enough things about the chef and location... perfect for a date night! We love it here. Highly recommend! Be sure to make reservations as much time and preparation goes in to each course. It's worth it! read more

Caramella Bistro - Personal Chefs Near Me - Kingston, Tennessee

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It is extremely rare that I am at a loss for words. Amazing? Stunning? Bewildering? No, I got it.... Simply Irresistible. Have you ever seen the movie Simply Irresistible? As crazy as it sounds, Chef Andras, his wife, and crew really make you feel completely immersed in the experience, just like the movie. You can tell the passion that goes into the food. It truly is magical. This is going to be a long review, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. First and foremost, it is by appointment only. There are no menus. Chef's choice. When you walk in, they verify the reservation and seat you down. Chef Andras personally walks around to each table and introduces himself and what is being served. We met him and his wife and loved the brief conversation. They make sure to talk to everyone. I don't understand why other reviews talk about his demeaamor. He is very pleasant and personable. 1st course - Spinach Artichoke on Crostini. 2nd course - Caprese Salad 3rd course - Scallops and Mahi Mahi on a corn mixed with small pieces of jalapeños 4th course - Beef Tenderloin 5th course - Lemon cake topped with Blueberries. Now, I am not exactly sure if I labeled them correctly, but they were ALL just perfect. The scallops are amazing and flavorful. The beef tenderloin was mouth watering. There was absolutely nothing to complain about. My only issue was that I didn't take any pictures. Throughout the night, Andrad comes out and checks on everyone to make sure they are enjoying themselves. As stated, his staff consists of his wife, a waitress, and himself, and they do a fabulous job making sure you are ok. If you ever have a chance, this is a "must" experience. I want to thank them for an incredible night. We will be back soon... Hopefully, space permitting. Lol. read more

My one absolute for my wedding, other than the getting married part, was wanting extraordinary food. Caramella's delivered in a BIG way, and all of our guests have been raving about the wedding dinner and bridal brunch since our December 2023 wedding. Our ceremony venue didn't allow alcohol, so since Caramella's was close by and we knew we wanted Andras to cater, we decided to have our wedding dinner at his restaurant--it's a small place, and our 43 adults and 4 kids snugly but comfortably fit. Working with Andras from a catering angle was so different, in a good way--he was accommodating of one guest who had numerous and severe allergies, worked with us on the menu, reassured us that all of our special diet guests would be taken care of, put a lot of work into arranging the restaurant in the best way for our group, and went out of his way to make our lives easier (we live outside of town, and he arranged to meet me the week before the wedding to transport all of our alcoholic beverages to Kingston ahead of time). We paid and tipped him ahead of time (my MIL sponsored our food, and it was a 20% tip), and he upgraded our bridal brunch to the most extraordinary meal without being asked--roasted pork loin, Moroccan lamb chops, goulash with beef tenderloin tips, in addition to all the things we had talked about. If you go to the Caramella's facebook page on December 10/11, 2023, he took photos, and it's as good as it looks. We opted for a five-course dinner, which is his normal setup; he can work with any budget, but my husband really wanted a seafood course, and Andras works magic with seafood. We had sausage stuffed mushrooms, and Parmesan crusted squash for appetizers, wine poached pear salad with Brie and pecans, scallops and shrimp, and a choice of beef Wellington, Cornish hen, or a vegetarian orzo with chickpea curry, and tiramisu for dessert (we also had a cake from our favorite local bakery). It was $75 per person, and he didn't charge us for the kids. Alcoholic beverages are BYOB, but they have tea and coffee. Brunch was $30 per person. He had takeout containers that we and many of our guests utilized, and we had at least three more meals with our various leftovers. I can't say enough good things about our experience. The value for the money was exponential compared to what you get with a typical wedding catering setup. Go see Andras, you won't be disappointed. read more

I have dined here 2 times. Chef Andras dishes are cooked to perfection. He is very personable and greets everyone at their table. The brunch has a great variety to choose from. I'm a foodie and Caramella's is a guilty pleasure I enjoy on occasion. read more

Always an amazing experience, when I visit I always find myself trying new foods and LOVING them. A must-do experience!

Caramella Bistro is absolutely fantastic! We've been to Hungarian night and Italian night dinners. The food is always delicious and you certainly do not leave hungry! The service is great! The ambiance is wonderful! Chef Andras is amazing! I highly recommend Caramella Bistro! read more

The woman who greeted me at the door to let me know they only take reservations was hardly a greeting, as she was extremely rude. If you are going to have a business like this, on the water, it begs to have an alternative place on the water for a typical bistro. Speaking to potential clients like they are less than scum is simply poor business and very unacceptable. It is bad business for the south, and for the city of Kingston. I mean I simply could not believe my eyes, as to how incredibly rude this woman was! I hope the City of Kingston acquires better planning in the near future. It is such a beautiful area to have such poor business behavior. I hope y'all will strategize on behalf of your clients, would be clients, your business and your city, if not for your sake, then everyone else's. What goes around comes back around. read more

made reservation for 4 & it was extremely awkward when we walked in because they didn't have the reservations correct. server was so rude. I had higher expectations & I'm really bummed that it wasn't what I was expecting. read more

I first learned of Caramellas from a longtime Kingston resident when we were randomly discussing restaurants. I was intrigued by his description of Caramellas. Here's what got me interested in driving from W. Knoxville over to Kingston for a 2-3 hour dinner: Caramella's is situated in a little stone and wood building on the lakefront in Kingston. It's the creation of Andras Bartha, the former personal chef to Arnold Schwarzenegger. For dinner, Andras presents a multi-course meal for a set price. There's no menu -- it's just the chef's selections. They are only open by reservation. In other words, they aren't open everyday for set hours. It's more like a private dining experience in which you book it well ahead of when you want to go. We decided to give Caramellas a try on the weekend before Valentine's Day. My wife made the reservation through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/andrascooks/). By the way, check out the Facebook page, Andras has some interesting posts about the food. On the day of the reservation, we ventured over to Kingston. There's ample parking in front of the restaurant or in the adjacent waterfront park. Upon entering Caramellas, we were greeted by Andras and asked about our reservation. Once he confirmed the reservation, we were offered a table. It's nicely decorated inside and reminds me of a cabin by the lake. Appetizers and drinks were immediately offered to us. Other courses included: roasted pear and cheese salad, homemade bread, mango coconut shrimp and cod, steak, potato & veggie casserole, and desert. It was a ton of food -- all of which was AWESOME. The meal was a long presentation (around 2-3 hours). But, you are never neglected and Andras lets you know what is coming next. Service was excellent. When the meal is over, you pay a fixed price (in this case, $30/person) for everything. Cash Only! So, hit the ATM before coming. The small restaurant was full when we went. Most everyone had been before and knew about how things worked (I feel like I'm letting the secret out). Andras is a bit of a character too. He must be for Schwarzenegger to call him, "the Hungarian god." You can tell Andras is a very confident person who knows he has skill in the kitchen. He strikes me as the kind of chef who would get angry if, for example, someone asked for ketchup and ruined how he felt the food should be seasoned. So, keep that in mind if you are the sensitive type. You are pretty much going to take it or leave it. But, if you like good food (as I do), I think you'll like his unique style and think about when you can come again. read more

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This will be my very first yelp review ever. I normally don't bother, but this is different as the food was mouth watering. I wish I was a good writer to describe the food. The chef from what I was told used to cook for celebrities. Well, it is worth every penny. His food is amazing. I really can't describe the experience. Actually, yes I can. I travel quite a bit around the world. At really high-end restaurants, they give you 5 courses. That is how they do it here. There is no menu. They advertise on their Facebook page and tell you what they are having on particular days. You have to text them to get a reservation. It can be hard as it fills up fast. Took me a bit, but totally worth it. WOW, just wow and wow again. I don't understand why people on here gave bad reviews when they didn't even eat. You can instantly tell he is foreign from Europe. My guess is somewhere around Germany, Hungary or Austria. People in the US don't really understand European mannerisms. It gets lost in translation. Anyway, he is very pleasant. Thank you for a great night. read more

Wow I don't know where to begin! The food is amazing and what a wonderful concept! The restaurant is quaint and very welcoming. Enjoyed talking with other patrons and the owner/chef is a wonderful person. He chooses the menu and boy does he nail it!! The best food I have ever had in this area. If you're in Kingston TN or anywhere near I would definitely try for a reservation it is an amazing foodie experience. Oh and it's BYOB which is great!! read more

Wow, hard to describe this restaurant! Fine dining in a small rural town on the lake. First, know in advance that it takes over a month to get a reservation - that's how delicious the food is and how unique the experience is. If you're someone who wants everything cooked special, etc then this might not be the place for you. There is no menu. You are pretty much going to get whatever the chef has dreamed up for that night. He's kind of an artist, and you need to be open to trying his creations. When we are there awhile back, the salad had a grilled apricot and vinaigrette drizzle. Who would've thought of that? But it was delicious! Next came a course of fish (shrimp, tuna, and cod). The shrimp was my favorite and was to die for. Next came the main course - fillet medallions, which were excellent. We all chose cheesecake with blueberries for dessert. Enjoyed this dinner so much! The chef came out and interacted with us and talked about what he was cooking. He's a hoot! The restaurant only holds around 40 people, but it was an enjoyable atmosphere as it overlooks the lake. Bring your own wine (no cork fee). Also, the price is a fixed $40 per person and payable in cash, so stop by the ATM before you go. The entire experience lasted a couple of hours, so this wasn't a quick in and out dinner. However, phenomenal food, great wine, a beautiful view, impeccable friendly service, and the company of good friends all made for a memorable night. We'll definitely be returning!!! read more

We drove there from Knoxville to pick up lunch. What a treat! We had Monk fish tacos that were out of this world. It was a soft tortilla but was Toasted and crispy. The fish was fresh and so tasty along with the sweet rice and fresh cubed mangos. Also added was sprigs of cilantro! So delicious. Since Covid-19, it was take out only, and we enjoyed eating at a picnic table looking at Watt's bar lake. My son had the gumbo and he said it was amazing. He ate it all before I could even try it. This is definitely worth the drive. Chef Andras is incredible! read more

What a treasure!!!! I had NEVER heard of this restaurant, but some friends of ours invited us to join them there. UNBELIEVABLE! For $40 a person, you will get more food than you can comfortably eat, and it's all delicious and gourmet. The menu is set for you, but you will NOT be disappointed. An appetizer, a seafood dish, a main course, a dessert....what more could you want. All in an intimate setting right on the lake. And if you are lucky, you will even get to be regaled by stories from the owner and chef, Andras Bartha. His life story would make a wonderful movie. They book up months in advance, so you better get on their calendar as soon as possible. DO NOT MISS IT! read more

My fiance and I made reservations to eat here last night, and it was phenomenal. The chef and sous-chef personally serve the tables and describe the dishes in the 5 course meal. We're looking forward to having Caramella's cater our wedding! They don't sell wine here, but you can bring your own. read more

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Had a magnificent time tonight at Caramella Bistro. Chef Andrea makes the experience fun and delicious. We waited for several weeks for our reservation and it was well worth the wait. The seating area is interesting and fun. The first coarse was smokes salmon that was smoked there and it was amazing. Then a pear salad with gruyere cheese and the cheese was so good with the salad. The a beautiful delicate cod with shrimp and a fresh tomato sauce. Then a chateaubriand filet with chanterelle mushrooms, roasted potatoes and squash. Then desert was a chocolate mousse sandwiched by a flaky puff pastry and a bit of leftover crime brûlée. No kidding people! Everything was spectacular! Amazing incredible chef prepared meal BYOB beautiful setting friendly staff.....this place is a jewel of a find! And the chef is very engaging and interesting. I highly recommend!! read more

Food was enjoyable. But arrogant chef should be locked in the kitchen until he learns some manners. He ruins the experience.

This is my favorite place to eat in the roane county area!! We go here quite a bit and the chef never disappoints. The food is fresh and cooked to perfection. Caution: if you are in a hurry, this is not the place for you!! The experience is one seating, five courses and lots of ambiance including stories from the chef. Our server was lynn, and she was awesome! I overheard another guest asking what was in the salad dressing and lynn replied "he just whips it up" indeed he did!! Simply delicious it is byob, the whole thing takes hours of relaxed dining. You might even meet some sweet puppies. Send the chef a text and get on the list, it's worth the time and is a delicious value. He also did catering for our daughter's bridal shower and it was perfect. Andras and his team took care of everything and food was spectacular. We need to eat gluten free and that is also not a problem. Chef Andras knows his stuff. I highly recommend caramella!!! read more

I wish I could give a zero! We drove 45 minutes in the pouring down rain only to be turned away. We had a reservation for four but the owner/chef allowed someone to have our table that showed up on the wrong night. He would not even take responsibility! He said this is neither your fault or mine. It was his fault. He should have turned them away! read more

Amazing food, amazing environment. One of our favorite restaurants in the U.S. Since we live live in NYC and only travel here to visit family, we are exposed to fantastic restaurants. This is one of our favs of all time. Love the way the food is served, and Andras is awesome. read more

We are on a road trip & this place caught our eye. When we stopped the owner went out of his way to feed us!! This place is AMAZING & worth the stop!! If you see this place STOP!! You will thank me later. read more

The food isn't bad at all but the owner and staff are the worst people I've ever encountered. The last time I ate there the waitress was very rude and made snarky comments to me. My drink stayed empty the whole time as well. I was still going to leave her a tip but I only had large bills so I asked for change. She told me that they didn't have any ones in the restaurant which I don't believe. I think this was a ploy for me to leave her a 5 dollar tip because most people wouldn't leave without tipping something. Since she was so rude to me the whole time i decided she didn't deserve a full five dollars so I didn't leave her anything. Upon noticing this the owner and head chef chased me into the parking lot (I was 16 or 17 at the time) and cursed at me like a sailor till he was red in the face. I told him his waitress was awful and didn't deserve a tip to which he replied that it didn't matter. He then told me that my parents raised me wrong and that I had better go home and ask to be taught some manners. I also saw him before this at a party he catered. I asked him for civil ware to eat his food. He told me that I couldn't have any and I was uncultured. He said his food was so tender that it didn't require civil ware to eat. read more

We had heard great things about this restaurant. Our experience tonight lived up to our expectations. Friendly staff and owner, and excellent food. Plan on spending several hours enjoying dinner. read more

If you are looking for good, run-of-the-mill food, just keep driving. Caramellas is a unique restaurant with some of the best food I have ever had. The taste is rivaled by both the atmosphere of the restaurant and the personality of the owner and chef, Andras Bartha. I guarantee you this will be an experience you will not soon forget. read more

The food is fresh and amazing. Perfect evening spent each time we go with family and friends. No where else in this area can you get the personal one on one service with the talented Chef Andras. read more

I rarely give 5 stars, but this place is amazing. I almost don't want to say how great it was in fear that I won't get reservations in the future ( booked two months in advance now). The chef came out during our 5 course meal to ensure everything was perfect and the waitress was outstanding!! I loved the Cod with lobster sauce and scallops and the rest of the meal was outstanding. Happy to give 5 stars and will be back read more

What a gem in this tiny town. Wonderful service and amazing food. Greeted and seated right away. Fixed price 5 course meal. Everything was prepared perfectly. The chef and owner was very friendly and obviously in his element. Definitely someone who enjoys what he does. Reservations are required and must call well advance . read more