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!
