I absolutely LOVE this place whenever we visit Knoxville! Perched on a hill overlooking the lake and boat docks, the views are absolutely amazing, both during the day and especially at night. It's the perfect place to relax, enjoy a great meal, and take in the scenery. Keep in mind, they do not take reservations, so come early! If there's a wait, no worries, they'll put your name down, and you can grab a few great drinks while you wait. You can even take your drinks outside, sit back, and enjoy that beautiful view. Once we were seated, we started with the Southwest Egg Rolls, packed with flavor and definitely worth ordering. The Spinach Dip with chips was another crowd favorite. Then came the Colossal Onion Rings... WOW! They were sooo good! And then, my least favorite... Brussels sprouts! If you know me, you know I'm not a fan. But if you like them, get them! Everyone else at the table loved them, so maybe I'm just missing something! They also bring out a basket of warm bread and butter, which was very good and didn't last long at our table. For my entrée, I went with the Barbecue Ribs, and they were fantastic, fall-off-the-bone tender, cooked to perfection, and full of great flavor. Others in our group had the Chicken Parmesan, which was also very good. I'll definitely be trying that one next time! The Ahi Tuna Salad was another winner. And the service? Amazing! Our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. If you haven't tried this place yet, what are you waiting for? Great food, great drinks, incredible views, and fantastic service. It's definitely one of my favorite stops when we're in Knoxville! Cheers! read more

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While visiting Tennessee, I was told I had to check out Lakeside Tavern for the views, and it definitely lived up to the hype! We went on a busy day, so there was a bit of a wait. We grabbed seats at the bar, ordered a couple of drinks, and watched the FIFA World Cup while we waited. I started with the Lavender French 75, and it ended up being my favorite drink of the night. It was light, crisp, refreshing, and absolutely delicious. Once we were seated, we got a table outside overlooking the lake, and the view alone made the wait worth it. We ordered the fried calamari to share, which was tasty, and for my entrée I went with the ribeye cooked medium rare with mashed potatoes. The steak was flavorful, tender, and had just the right amount of marbling. I tried a couple more cocktails throughout dinner, but I kept thinking about that Lavender French 75--it was easily the standout. A big thank you to our server, Nicole! She was friendly, attentive, and even played along with our jokes, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Between the beautiful lakeside view, great cocktails, delicious food, and wonderful service, I'd definitely come back if I'm ever in Tennessee again. read more

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4-Star Review We mainly ordered appetizers along with a cup of New England clam chowder, and as someone from New England, I have to say this was one of the most flavorful cups of chowder I've had in a long time. It was loaded with clams and packed with rich, delicious flavor. The calamari was good, but fairly average. I'd love to see it kicked up a notch with a touch of olive oil, garlic, and maybe even a hint of banana pepper flavor. Just an idea, especially since they absolutely nailed the chowder. The real star of the meal was the Ahi Tuna Wonton Stacks. The tuna was seared perfectly, served with real wasabi, and paired with fresh-cut cucumbers that made for a fresh, flavorful bite. The restaurant itself was clean, vibrant, and welcoming. The views overlooking the Tennessee River were beautiful, the bar was lively and full of people, and our waiter provided excellent service throughout our visit. The Caesar salad was okay, but it didn't stand out compared to the other dishes. Overall, this was a very enjoyable dining experience with fantastic views, great service, and a few standout menu items that would bring me back again. read more

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This was my third or fourth visit over the years but I'm just getting around to a review. Positives: THE VIEW. We were seated back a row or two from the windows but still had a great view of the lake stretching all across the back of the building. THE DRINKS. Daughter had the Spicy Strawberry Margarita mocktail, great flavor and fun to look at. I tried the Lavender French even though I don't care for gin. Light, easy to sip, tasted fantastic. THE DECOR. I lived in Knoxville for 23 years and truly enjoyed reading the photo captions and seeing history of the area. THE FOOD. Delicious, all of it. Fresh, flavorful, good variety. Come and enjoy it! read more

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Delicious food, excellent service and a beautiful view. We will be back! I forgot to mention that the portions were very large. Strawberry salad with pecans was more than I could eat. read more

First time trying this restaurant and they blew it out the water! During your wait there is seating outside and a path to the boats that were gorgeous! The wait time was spot on, 25 mins and we were seated on the porch which was beautiful We ordered calamari and spinach dip was delicious and we ate it all My daughter and I ordered the sirloin, me with a sweet potato and my daughter got a regular potato. I had a Caesar salad and my daughter a regular salad. My husband got the special which was halibut with asparagus and broccoli! Which he ate it all!!! We have become lovers of this restaurant!!!! Waytago!!!! read more

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First visit to Lakeside Tavern. I absolutely loved the waterside view, but the meal did not match the vibes. Sent my fish back. So dry and crumbly in mouth. Service was nice and took care of removing item from bill. Ordered sirloin with potatoes, flavor was good and temperature was correct. Worth trying but avoiding the pistachio trout. read more

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The food was very good and the prices were reasonable. The family and I definitely plan to visit again, very soon!!!

Ordered the Mediterranean Pasta once again. Only negative: the Parmesan cheese sprinkled in one small area of the dish; it melted into the spaghetti that created one small bite of cheesy noodles. Otherwise, great service and tasty food including the salmon salad that was filled with fresh avocados, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and a variety of greens and herbs. read more

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I've been to Lakeside a few times now, and I have to say -- I've yet to have anything less than an enjoyable experience. There's plenty of seating throughout the restaurant, and no matter where you sit, the views are lovely. But if the weather's nice, definitely grab a spot on the patio -- it's hands-down the best. As the sun sets, the atmosphere becomes absolutely picturesque. The waitstaff here has been consistently on point every time I've visited -- knowledgeable, attentive, and proactive without hovering. They've always made sure our drinks stayed full, our food came out just right, and that everything was satisfying. The bar deserves its own shoutout. Whether you order something from the menu or ask for a classic, they execute cocktails beautifully. I always feel confident ordering here, knowing I won't be let down. As for the food, I have to admit -- I've only had the trout for dinner because it's that good. It's become my go-to, and honestly, it's hard to find anything comparable elsewhere. We've sampled a few starters too -- the calamari was perfectly done, though I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the shrimp. Still enjoyable overall! I wouldn't hesitate to come back anytime, and it's definitely a spot I'd bring friends or family to. Just a heads-up: this place gets busy! There's usually a wait, and I'm not sure if they take reservations (something I'll check next time). My advice? Put your name on the list and enjoy a cocktail at the bar while you wait -- it's worth it! read more

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Great outdoor dining as we watch the season come to an end... dining outside.. view of the water .. umbrellas up and a friend to share the afternoon with .. chit chat and a few drinks... bread is always so good and a calamari appetizer!!! TIMEOUT AND ENJOY LIFE... server was attentive and had to tell her let us chill for a while.. then lunch!!! Crab cake sweet potato and broccoli... chicken on a nice salad and lunch was good!! Beautiful afternoon.. great dining and atmosphere and food is always good !! Beautiful restaurant and good service .. an all around great pick! read more

Lakeside Tavern - Lavender cocktail and patio dining - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

The food is delicious. The ambience is amazing. The views are spectacular. The staff is always friendly. You can take your boat here. I recommend a reservation. I do wish that they would bring back their Sunday brunch. All in all one of my favorite restaurants. read more

What a way to start a girl' trip! This place has some incredible views, and if you can snag a seat outdoors on the patio and time the sunset just right, you will have recreated our experience! Magical. Our waiter was super kind and thoughtful - he never intruded but always seems to make sure our cocktails were good to go, water glasses refilled and plates removed as needed. Excellent service. The food was amazing as well - I love the bread starter with butter. Who can't appreciate crispy crust with a fluffy doughy center? Perfect, IMO. I ordered their Strawberry salad and loved every bite. The chicken was tender and juicy and paired well with the sweet strawberry bites. What a wonderful space. The sunset from our table was gorgeous - take a look at the pics. This is date night material, lol. And the grounds as we made our way to our cars just highlighted all the great spaces for our next meal here. read more

Went for lunch. Lakeside dining with a beautiful view. Plenty of parking. Service was adequate. Lots of warm bread with butter which was great. I ordered the salmon. Everything tasted fine but the salmon I got was a very very small portion with minimal sauce. Others in my group got much larger pieces of salmon with plenty of sauce. I didn't say anything because I was in a group as someone's guest. The key lime pie delicious. read more

Beautiful view highlights this local place overlooking a marina. Eve though there was a line we were seated in 30 minutes. Service is fast; our waiter did forget our salad though. Hawaiian steak was tender and flavorful - a hit! Jerk chicken was okay. The key lime dessert was amazing! read more

Lakeside Tavern - Key lime dessert - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Came to the Lakeside Tavern with my spouse and father during the Christmas holiday. The food was good and I regret not taking pictures. The server brought us bread and butter that was delicious. I had the citrus shrimp over rice with a side salad. My father and spouse had the veal parmigiana with different sides such as rice, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, green beans. We opted out of dessert as we were full. I would definitely reserve a patio table when we return during warmer weather. The outside space has some beautiful views. read more

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The Service is PERFECT! The food is always delicious. The views are beautiful. The best part; you can come casual or dressed up and feel welcome. read more

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Oh man! I told my husband this is now my new favorite place to eat in Knoxville! Everything about it was wonderful- the atmosphere (we ate outside on the covered patio), the service, and the FOOD! Oh man, so very good!! We were there for lunch. We split the Caribbean Jerk Chicken. It comes with sweet potato casserole and broccoli. The chicken came split from the kitchen. One plate had the sweet potatoes and the other had the broccoli. We split those on our own. I almost forgot one of the best parts-the freshly baked bread! It was so soft and came with some whipped butter. Curse you Lakeside Tavern-we would have had a healthy meal without it. But thanks for indulging us! We also both ordered the side salads sans the feta! The dressing--mine was lite raspberry vinaigrette and my hubs ordered the honey mustard --tasted homemade and were delicious. Our server was Chris and he was a great server!! Note: As you're driving through the beautiful area to get here don't assume that the prices are too expensive. The lunch menu is very expansive and very reasonably priced. No idea about dinner however. read more

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With stellar views high above Fort London Lake, this is a sprawling restaurant features excellent service and a tremendous variety on the menu. It's a little secret only locals tend to know about. The snapper was the special of the night, and I love fish! Unfortunately, the snapper I ordered came out overcooked, dry, and partially burned. Even prepared correctly, the quality of the fish was not great. The fries are stellar and highly recommended as are the onion rings, some of the best I've ever had! The key lime pie was unique and not exactly like the authentic versions in Florida. But it was different in a good way, full of flavor with multiple textures. It was very tasty and recommended for fans of key lime pie. They don't take reservations and get very full by 6:30 p.m. on any night. So I'd get there early! read more

Lakeside Tavern - Snapper - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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We had an excellent dinner and experience here! Highly recommend . Great food great atmosphere! We hit open mic night which was great!! read more

I'm giving it 3 stars, which was a score elevated by our server being attentive and prompt. The blackened chicken and andouille pasta is weak. It had some Cajun seasoning added, but that's not "blackened", and there are a couple good local butchers to get good andouille from, rather than Hampshire Farm from Kroger. The fish and chips were below average, as they were soggy and greasy. Disappointing given the setting. .... How can they NOT have a Sunday breakfast or brunch menu at least? read more

Interior was very nice and the hostesses/hosts were very friendly. Server seemed distracted when dealing with us. We never even got a bread basket even though other tables around us received them. Food was good. The pasta portions were giantic, ribs were fall of the bone and the burger was delicious. read more

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My husband and I came for Valentine's Day this year. As usual, the crab cakes are delicious. The bread is good and the crème brûlée was yummy. We got the strawberry cake and brought it home for the kids, it was good. The servers were nice and the ambiance and outside the lake is beautiful. read more

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An oldie but goodie! It has been years since we ate here still as wonderful as my memory!! The best wedge salad in Knox county for sure ! The burger is not too bad either make sure you say yes to the bread ... great views of the lake from any seat in the house. read more

Lakeside Tavern - Lake view - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Great service, great food. Amazing bread! That I asked for some to go and made French toast the next day! Highly recommend! read more

Lakeside Tavern - Schnitzel with mashed potatoes and broccoli - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Great service, great food, great view. The pizza is amazing! The bread is so good! The bartenders are our favorite. We eat in the bar every chance we get. It's our date night favorite. read more

Great menu, great food, reasonably priced with a variety of options. Beautiful scenery and welcoming service, a bit slow but adds to the relaxing ambiance. Would love to stop in again on my travels. read more

The food was good.. just wish the pasta had a little more seasoning especially the grilled chicken. The Hawaiian sirloin was chef kiss i love ribeyes. But this sirloin was probably the best. The spinach dip was delicious. Love how the restaurant is near the water. There was such beautiful views: read more

Lakeside Tavern - Spinach dip - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Ordered the "Tavern Chicken"; it was horrible. Way over cooked, stringy and dry. Could hardly saw through the bottom of the cutlet, it was so overcooked on the bottom. read more

Updating my review as I have revisited several times and have had much better experiences. Perhaps its what I ordered the first time. Highly recommend their Hawaiian/Teriyaki steak and their clam chowder. Their complimentary bread is also always good. My only complaint is they removed the caipirinha from the menu, but maybe they did because it's not something most Knoxvillians would know how to pronounce or order - but they were wonderful. read more

The manager was actually so rude. The attitude was crazy and disrespectful. If you're going to be spending a ton of money on an expensive dinner and want good service then don't go here because they will treat you like you're nothing. I'm really glad we wasted an evening. Do better lakeside tavern. Go somewhere else. read more

Staff has a horrible attitude and zero customer service skills. If you are spending the money you deserve some respect from the staff.

Wish they took reservations! Waiter failed to turn in appetizer order! Entrees were good read more

I have always enjoyed dining at Lakeside Tavern with my family and friends. The food is usually very good as well as the service, however, my wife and friends did not have a good experience for lunch today. My egg roll appetizer was not up to usual standards and my grilled barbecue chicken sandwich was terrible. The chicken tasted like a patty that had the grill marks already on it. The tomatoes had little or no taste and there was almost no barbecue sauce. I cut the sandwich in half and picked at only one of the halves. No one even asked me if there was anything wrong with the meal. My wife snd friends were also very disappointed today. Lakeside tavern is normally quite good and I will return again, just probably nit for lunch. I also recommend not ordering the barbecued chicken sandwich, the egg rolls or the beer pretzel. However, the dipping sauce was very good. read more

Not too long ago, my son took me and the family out for lunch at the Lakeside Tavern. We ordered three appetizers .My granddaughters had steak. It looked delicious and I had the almond Troutt, which was also delicious and everything was cooked to perfection. The waiter was very attentive to our drinks. As It was the day before Mother's Day, we had to wait a little bit for our main entrées to be served. There was one little hiccup, and that was that my son's salad did not come out before the main entrée was served.., It wasn't a big deal. We had already had a lot of food and we're taking some home anyway so We just asked for it to be packaged to go. The atmosphere was casual. It's nice to sit outside and see the lake and the staff was friendly and efficient.. The food, everything was delicious. read more

Very nice Restaurant beautiful view of the lake. Food is spectacular little on the pricey side and service is hit or miss.

Came for dinner with friends. I think maybe I ordered wrong because they sang the praises. Unfortunately, my cilantro shrimp was less than desirable as it tasted far too salty and not enough cilantro or lime. Even as request for extra sauce yielded indeed the sauce was quite salty. The bread that comes complimentary however was PHENOMENAL! Our server Connor was very kind and we did enjoy the views from the patio! read more

Lakeside Tavern - Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

we had a group of 11 people (all adults). our service was moderately slow but adequate. There were several appetizers ordered. Two appetizers were spinach dip and chips. The chips were almost inedible because of heavy salt. We mentioned to our server but was just told that it happens sometimes. we all ordered a variety of entries and came to the conclusion that nothing was exceptionally good. I would like to say to managers to work on quality of food and also customer service skills of your servers. read more

This place has a view of the lake. So relaxing and enjoyable. We did notice another guest dealing with a yellow jacket and actually getting stung! The employees were on it trying to figure out where the nest is so that should get fixed. We had the bread as an appetizer and the swordfish and shrimp with sides of rice, mashed potatoes and broccoli for dinner. All were very good. The mashed potatoes were with the skins - so very good! Our waitress Nicole was very attentive too. She told us that they have drink specials during the week so we will have to return sometime. Check it out! They have both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Lakeside Tavern - Specials for the day! - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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We go to Lakeside often. We've consistently had good service, good food, and enjoy the ambiance.