Diane and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary and decided to take a trip to Tennessee…read more We began with a five-day stay in Nashville, taking in all the sights, before heading to the Knoxville area and renting a house on Douglas Lake near the small town of Newport. After spending a couple of days exploring Gatlinburg and Dollywood, we decided it was time to check out some local restaurants. A search for "good bar food" in Newport brought up several options, and The Neighborhood BeerHouse immediately caught our attention. Their website looked great, the location was easy to find on Main Street, and parking was a breeze. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with a warm welcome from Tanya, the bartender. The place has an inviting atmosphere, and we chose to sit at the bar--our favorite spot when visiting somewhere new because it gives us a chance to get to know both the establishment and the locals. A couple of patrons even offered to move down and make room for us, which immediately made us feel right at home. The restaurant also has a separate dining area adjacent to the bar with low-top tables for those looking for a quieter setting. They offer 20 beers on tap along with a nice variety of bottled and canned selections. I kept it simple with a Michelob Ultra draft. The menu is extensive, featuring everything from skillets, brisket, fajitas, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and soups to a great selection of appetizers and sides. We noticed a nearby table enjoying what looked like giant fried logs. We soon discovered they were the restaurant's homemade mozzarella sticks--and MASSIVE doesn't begin to describe them. With so many tempting choices, making a decision wasn't easy. In the end, I decided to throw my dietary restrictions out the window and ordered the deep-fried hot dogs topped with chili, onions, and a touch of yellow mustard. They normally come with fries or tater tots, but I substituted homemade coleslaw, which was fresh and delicious. Then I really abandoned all self-control and ordered a side of bacon mac and cheese. It arrived in a cast-iron skillet, perfectly cooked with a crispy golden layer on top. It was absolutely amazing. The hot dogs were outstanding, the chili was flavorful and well-made, and honestly, it may have been the best meal I had during our entire Tennessee trip. Diane chose the Cobb Salad, loaded with mixed greens, onions, tomatoes, egg, turkey, ham, bacon, and generous slices of cheese, served with balsamic dressing. The portion was huge, and even she couldn't finish it. The Neighborhood BeerHouse is a wonderful place, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you're in the Newport area. The food alone is worth the visit, and they also host karaoke on Fridays for anyone looking for a fun night out. A special shout-out goes to Tanya, who was incredibly friendly, helpful with menu recommendations, and made our visit even more enjoyable. Great food, great atmosphere, great people. If you stop by, be sure to say hi to Tanya!

Went to have a beer and appetizers last night. Good crowd inside, but we immediately noticed the…read moremusic was a tad loud and the lights were way too bright. Got seated and after 15 minutes of still not getting our drink order taken we left. Disappointed.

The Drawing Room is a very classy lounge inside the Tennessean Hotel in downtown Knoxville. It is a…read moreplace to relax, chill, and contemplate the day. Once you settle in, you feel like this space could be anywhere. You could be in Knoxville just as easily as Nashville, New York, or Washington, DC. It carries that cosmopolitan type of feel. I highly recommend a visit just to unwind and relax. Don't walk here, run here.

We really wanted to love The Drawing Room, especially given its reputation and price point, but…read moreunfortunately this was one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had in a long time. The evening started with a small issue that was handled perfectly well: I ordered a glass of sparkling wine, and our server came back to let me know they were out. She offered me a taste of another option, I liked it, and happily ordered that instead. No problem at all. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. We ordered the arancili appp, which took a very long time to arrive. There were three pieces for the three of us, which was fine, but they were dry and just not particularly good. For dinner, my daughter and I shared the tenderloin and my husband ordered the burger. Our entrées arrived approximately an hour and a half after we ordered them. The tenderloin was cold. The asparagus was cold. The potatoes were cold. My husband's burger itself was actually good, but his fries were also cold. We had also ordered a side of truffle fries, which didn't arrive until roughly 20 minutes after the rest of our meal. Ironically, the flavor of the truffle fries was excellent--but again, they seemed like they had been sitting for far too long. That was the frustrating part of the entire experience: there were clearly some good flavors coming out of the kitchen, but the timing and execution were so poor that we couldn't enjoy them. I honestly couldn't tell whether the problem was the kitchen, staffing, service timing, or communication between the kitchen and dining room. The entire meal took about two hours, despite being a very straightforward dinner for three people. There was also a strange issue with the atmosphere. We were seated along the windows, and once the sun went down, our section became incredibly dark. There appeared to be lighting in the center of the dining room, but virtually none over the tables around the perimeter. We were essentially eating in the dark by the end of dinner. I actually felt bad for our server because it seemed like some of these issues were outside of her control, which made deciding on a gratuity uncomfortable. She was pleasant, but something operationally was clearly not working. For a restaurant at this price point, the experience simply wasn't acceptable. We spent nearly $200 for three people and waited close to two hours for food that was largely served cold. The most disappointing thing is that I think there may be genuinely good food here. Some of the flavors showed real promise. But an expensive restaurant has to be able to get the food from the kitchen to the table hot and in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not return.

We were in Knoxville for the weekend and wanted something different. The highest rated restaurants…read morewere, for the most part, located in Knoxville's Old Market Square. When we looked at Not Watson's menu and saw scallops, Philly-steak eggrolls along with calamari for starters, we were hooked. After parking in the garage very close to the Square, we walked in around 4:15. The restaurant was already full and bustling. Luckily, we were seated quickly by a welcoming host. The inside of the restaurant is cool, dark and inviting. The store is not a dive but has a pleasant character about it that makes the experience very cool. Should you come during dinner hours, plan on a wait. Nathaniel was our waiter and he was great. He was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us a little requested guidance on what was on the menu. We started off with buffalo wings and corn ribs for appetizers. We ordered the Philly steak eggrolls, tater tots, and fish and chips for entree's. The corn ribs were unique and original. They take a piece of corn, quarter it and then fry the pieces-they were delicious!! Oh, as Nathaniel helpfully noted, this appetizer could feed four people easily. The wings were juicy and meaty. The egg-rolls were first rate. My wife and I split that as an entree. Between the corn and egg-rolls, we had plenty of food. The tater tots were good but took a backseat to the delicious corn and egg-rolls. I didn't forget about the fish and chips...my son ordered that and he loved them! I had a bite and they were some of the best fish I have had. We recently had fish and chips in the Mayfair area of London and this fish was every bit as good as that fish. The batter was very good- not a beer batter but awesome nonetheless. And the portions? Huge!! Whatever food you like, come hungry because there is no shortage of it! We didn't have any dessert simply because we were stuffed and there was plenty left over. Overall, it was a great dinner in a cool place with a great waiter. Next time you're in downtown Knoxville, don't miss Not Watson's Kitchen & Bar. Thanks, Not Watson's!!!

This place was awesome! We visited Knoxville, and was looking for a restaurant to enjoy a lunch! it…read morewas also the World Cup day which made it even more exciting! Definitely kid friendly! The food was incredible! The weight staff was awesome! They definitely have TVs everywhere if you're wanting to watch something specific! The corn ribs were amazing!! One of the Best silky smooth Philly cheese steaks, I've ever had!!!

When we say big things come in small packages, this place delivers fully. Great drink…read morerecommendations, with styling on the notes each tequila can bring, we matched our drinks to the meal. Taco of the day was pork belly, and wow! Fried Mexican Cornbread was more like a corn flapjack, but absolutely delicious, especially with the flavored butter. Shishito peppers with cotija, mmmmmmm. One of a kind spot, what a tesoro (treasure)!

As usual, Chismoso delivered. We eat here every 2 to 3 months. Last night we ordered the taco…read morespecial (2), the shrimp app, the cabbage, and the papas bravas (potatoes). While everything was excellent, as we've come to expect, the cabbage stole the show. The unique flavors are one of the things that keeps us coming back. It goes without saying that the service is spot on, the spicy marg is special, and the vibe is cool. We love the Photo Booth too! Corbin and staff are welcoming and friendly. Highly recommended!

Food: one of the best country fried chicken/steak I've had. My wife's jambalaya noodle. 4.5/5…read more Service: 5/5. Is it a southern thing? My waiter, long hair, tall... You know who you are. All star. If his manager is reading this, he took care of a dad with restless kids. Ambiance: nice aesthetic. Can't say much. Old style bathroom feel 3/5

Unfortunately, Southern Grit was pretty overrated in my opinion. The chicken had a somewhat…read moreartificial taste, and what's described as "fried chicken" is essentially a dried-out chicken tender. That was definitely not what I was expecting. The Old Fashioned was also a major disappointment. It had virtually no sweetness to it, which completely threw off the balance of the drink and made it hard to enjoy. Overall, I expected a lot more based on the hype. Maybe it was an off night, but between the food and drinks, I wouldn't be rushing back.

The food and service are both outstanding. Highly recommended for a date night. I look forward to…read morenext visi.

Wow. Has to be one of the best places I've ever eaten at. In town for parent's weekend with the son…read moreand chose JC because it had nice reviews. Honestly did not know what to expect. Took our son and two of his dorm mates. All freshmen used to cafeteria food. One said as we sat down, "the food here smells great." Ambiance gets nice scores. Service is top notch. And the food was nothing short of outstanding. We decided to go with the chef special plan. A fixed menu that everyone at the table has to go with to do. Not sure that was going to work with three college guys. But they each picked something that likely stretched what they were used to. Standouts were the starter ribs and oysters. Everyone liked their second choices so no clear winner there as all finished in first place. My wife loved her trout nd I got a taste and had to agree it was terrific. They boys - no shock here - all went for the steak. I did too and can report it was perfectly cooked and wonderfully savory. The peanut butter chocolate dessert was rated the best but I also enjoyed my blue cheese cheesecake. When I say service was impeccable, it was not only due to our waitress who was attentive, informing and fun. But every time dishes were cleared a group of servers appeared like magic and cleared dishes like a well rehearsed ballet. Really enjoyed the experience if you cannot tell by now. Highly recommended.

First visit was tonight for dinner. Found Pete's on the Google map. Had a great hamburger…read moresteak...large grilled steak and tasty. My husband had the double cheese burger and onion rings. Ice tea was fresh and dining area was clean and not too crowded. Love it yall.

Never in all of my years of ordering a steak of any kind, has this happened before. They cut into…read morethe steak several times to check for doneness. I showed the server and she refused to let us pay for our meal. I tried to pay for what we did eat, but she wouldn't let us. That was the good part of the experience.

One of the families favorite local places to eat! Great service, scrumptious meals, and prices that…read moreare hard to beat! Country fried steak is amazing, and dont get me started on the biscuits and gravy... totally mouth watering!! Stop by for the warm family atmosphere, leave full, and still have money left over!

We love the Kountry Kitchen! It's always busy, but never much of a wait. And we never mind because…read moretheir breakfast is soooo good!!!! Friendly girls that work there!