Great little spot for a lox bialy and a latte. We got: -Potato blintz (not very flavorful but it went okay) -lox bialy (dill and scallion schmear, goood nova lox, red onion, cucumber, capers, tomato, sweet pepper relish and dill. served on an everything bialy. This was the star) -latte I'm deeply regretting my not grabbing a babka on the way out but it just gives me another excuse to head back! read more

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As a Michelin guide restaurant, Potchke has earned the right to "mess around in the kitchen", as they say. However, I wonder about the hype. Haven't had pastrami in a while so I had to order the Pastrami Reuben and the presentation was great with how it was stacked! Between the sauce and the sauerkraut the flavors were all good and I enjoyed the taste of the pastrami when I found it, but the bread to meat ratio was so high I mostly tasted the burned crust of the bread and very few bites of pastrami. It was one slice of pastrami, not a thin slice but not what you hope for when you bite into true Jewish deli pastrami, which are normally bursting at the seems with meat. Marble rye is hard not to burn and they did a good job for the most part, but I tasted more crust than I did pastrami, and for $18 I wonder if this sandwich was more a charge for the hype. The blintzes were also smaller than one would expect of a blintz but I absolutely loved the compote on top. read more

Potchke - Pastrami Reuben and a cheese blintz - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Absolutely phenomenal experience. We got the whitefish biale, the potchke salad and the turkey melt. It was all incredible. The bread was thick, soft, and pillowy, and everything tasted so high quality and thoughtfully made. I didn't get any pics because we had 2 kids and a dog so iykyk. We sat outside. The inside space is filled with beautiful plants, giving it such a cool natural and welcoming vibe. My parents brought us here (they come all the time and love it), and now I completely understand why. This is one of those spots you keep going back to. And honestly, I saw someone left a low-star review... I genuinely don't get it. If you're leaving anything under 5 stars here, you're just wrong. This place is that good. read more

Kitschy and fun ambiance. Self-service so be prepared to get your own waters, silverware, etc. That bit I didn't love. Good drip coffee. I ordered the potato blintz and was not disappointed. Bit on the pricey side for what it was but I suppose you're truly going there for the vibe. read more

Potchke - Potato blintz - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

You can find Potchke at 318 N Gay St Ste 103 Knoxville, TN 37917, I believe this is still Old Town (Old City?). You'll need to find parking nearby, luckily there are several lots that are free on weekends as is the on street parking - with a short walk you can view the fabulous train terminal, but I digress. I believe it's only open for breakfast and lunch. I didn't know what to expect of this place but it was recommended to me - entering you climb stairs only to descend once you're inside. The restaurant is at the base of the Regas building which looks a bit like an old Hotel (I believe it has fine dining? Not sure) - Potchke is around the right side inset a bit, I didn't see any visible signage from the street but once you get near the entrance you'll see "POTCHKE" in white lettering on the glass door. The restaurant has an old world cafe feel, it's a large space filled with tables with an elevated skylight making the whole place brightly lit and cheery. You order at the right - there are a few paper menus. What will capture your attention are the various baked goods in the cases below. I ordered the Pastrami Reuben - 1/4lb of hot, thick-cut PASTRAMI, POTCHKE dressing, sweet peppadew peppers, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese melted on POTCHKE marble rye bread... "BETTER THAN ZINGERMANS!" - this was indeed a well made sandwich, more than satisfying my appetite. I would have been happy with any of the bagels or the blintzes which looked devine. But of course I also order the Coffee Cake - rich, buttery, well spiced without being overly so - it went perfect with a great cup of coffee. When I was there, since it's fast casual, there really isn't any table service - expect to find what you need at the service bars (if you're lucky you might be able to flag someone down for a coffee refill but I just walked up and asked). The people at the counter were very efficient and seemed to enjoy their work and jobs. read more

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This is an excellent spot if you're looking for something that's pretty exciting. I came here in search of yummy bagel sandwiches. But I was blown away at the cute cafe aesthetic and just the whole vibe of this spot. It was bursting with great light, and all the hip, gorgeous people I've started to associate with Knoxville. I was accidentally given a salad, instead of the two lox bialys I'd ordered. It was a happy accident, as I woke up and ate that gift from the universe the next morning. The pickled veggies, okra, and mustard vinaigrette were everything my heart desires in every day life, but I'd doubt I'd order a $13 salad unless it was a splurge day. The chais had some good spice to them, but were a touch watery for me. Otherwise, I was super happy with the texture of the everything bialy. I happily ate that while running errands during my first visit in Knoxville. What I do know is if I lived here, this would be a regular stop for me. A kind gentleman told me the pastrami was where it was at, and I oogled the babka muffins in the glass display. There was even some merch that looked pretty tempting. So, how did this rank compared to my favorite bagel spot? It was great, but not quite as close. The fresh toppings definitely made up for it, though, so I walked out very happy about the gem of a spot I'd found thanks to YELP! read more

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This was as authentic as getting a bagel in NY! Service was great! Setting was clean even there was a very steady flow of business. So wonderful I can't wait to return and try other options. read more

I've been going to Potchke since it was a pop-up restaurant, and I couldn't praise it more. While the line has gotten much longer over the years, it's personally still worth the wait for me. The inside ambiance is amazing-- it looks like you're in a cozy millennial home, you can get 5 cent seltzer in a large glass bottle, and the glassware is all reusable. The food is to DIE for and reasonably priced! Several amazing vegetarian options (the dip platter with an everything bialy is a personal favorite of mine) and a beautiful pastry assortment as well. This may be my favorite restaurant in Knoxville. Make sure to get there around opening if you want to avoid a wait. read more

Potchke - Green goddess frittata!!! - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We enjoyed a light lunch at Potchke which had a different vibe than I had expected. It was very warm and welcoming environment. Self-serve water and other items for your table. My spouse had the everything bagel with lox and cream cheese but what was different was they put sliced cucumbers on it as well. The bagel was tasty but very messy. Be sure to gather a lot of napkins when eating this sandwich. I decided to try the lemon flavored blintzes with strawberry and almonds. Delicious. We had a hard time locating the restaurant as it was set back with a very small sign on the window. I would highly recommend a sign from the main road leading/pointing to the restaurant. Definitely worth the visit. read more

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So good as always! Amazing food, ambiance and service! It's always a treat! Potchke is one of our fav spots in town! read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Enjoyed lunch here to celebrate a couple birthdays. Food was delicious and all naturally sourced. The salads were great, you could tell veggies came from a garden. Green goddess dressing was good too. Enjoyed the turkey sandwich, can be split by two given generous portion. They have both outside and inside seating. You place your order and food is delivered to the table. Great experience, would come back again. read more

Potchke - Ice vanilla Coffee - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This place single handedly convinced me to want to move to Knoxville from Miami. The Miami food scene is pretty strong, so I was worried about the food scene in Tennessee when visiting the area to contemplate a potential relocation. Potchke did not disappoint! The sandwiches and soups were awesome. My only regret is that I didn't have more room in my stomach to try more, especially the baked goods for dessert. read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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This place really is hard to find, because there's not really a sign outside of the deli. The service was alright, I have a service dog and I felt like I was met with stares and suspicion when we entered. At the counter the server said she had to "awkwardly" confirm whether my service dog was real (even though she has a service dog insignia on her leash). The food itself was not that great. The bread on my turkey melt was dry and not worth the money. My mom said that her bialy was salty and the bread wasn't that particularly special either. Sort of disappointed since we were highly recommended this place. The good part were the juices we got. Even though they were almost $3/each. In total we spend nearly $50 for food that was dry and lackluster. As someone who recently moved from LA, the bagels, bread, and sandwiches are better there. And ironically cheaper--considering LA is known for their higher prices. Tried this place out to show my Jewish boyfriend a good bagel place when he comes to town, but it looks like we'll be going elsewhere. read more

Potchke - Lox Bialy (front) and Turkey Melt (back). Both of bread was dry and lackluster. - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We were driving through Knoxville and as usual I had to scope out yelp for what was available. I picked up a pastrami Reuben. It was very good but a little heavy on the sauerkraut ( but that's a thing for me may not be a problem for you). THIS IS NOT on the menu. You must ask for it. The bread tasted fresh made and the pastrami also. Pastrami was thick sliced, tasted homemade and really delicious. Note.: the deli is inside of a business building call the Regas building. Look for that when you drive up. There is no sign for the Deli on the road. Ordering over the phone was easy and pick up was easy as well. read more

Potchke - Pastrami Reuben to go. It was good. - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Best bagels EVER!!!! The dill and green onion cream cheese is delicious on the everything bagel.

Amazing Lox Bialy! Always just as delicious as the first time. This is one of my go to dishes. read more

Potchke - My husband's Rubin marble rye. - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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I REALLY wanted some babkah when I was driving through. I ordered it online to pick up. When I got there, I was told that the babkah had been sold out for hours. If that was the case, their ordering website should have reflected that. It was a big let down, especially as I was coming from a super small town with only grocery store bakeries. I really miss my Jewish deli and bakery! We ended up getting something else but it just wasn't what I had been craving. read more

This is a gem of a deli- old school portions amazing food and great character cafeteria style dining. Will definitely return- we had the banker... yum; Quiche and salad All great. Good counter staff too! read more

As soon as I walked into this restaurant, I knew it would be like no other. One of the first things I noticed was its Michelin plaque on the wall. The environment in this restaurant was another thing I noticed. Its bright colors and beautiful paintings on the walls made the room feel warm and welcoming. Once we walked in, we were immediately given a menu. We sat wherever we wanted and looked through the menus. Once we decided what to order, I got up and ordered at the counter. When the food was ready, they brought it over to us. Speaking of the food, it was delicious and definitely deserved the Michelin plaque on the wall. The bialy was to die for, and the potatoes blintzes were even better, which I didn't know was possible. Something I noticed on the menu was that the dishes were given names like "bat mitzvah showstopper" which I found quite funny. The menu opens backwards, which shows much attention to detail since the Jewish prayer books are read backwards. Overall this restaurant is perfect for all ages and the environment and food is spectacular. I highly recommend. read more

This is a popular location for brunch. So, it was high on my list. I went with two friends who had never been here, like me. I ordered the potato blintz. It was an interestingly unique dish. It's actually difficult to describe, but it was enjoyable. However, it needed a kick, perhaps some spice, because it felt a bit lacking. We also ordered a savory pastry to share. Sadly, I do not remember the name, but it was delicious. Next time, I will try a sandwich instead. read more

Potchke - Potato blintz - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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When we arrived at Potchke at around noon time on a Tuesday afternoon, we could see that Chef Laurence Faber has quite a culinary following. The outside was buzzing with happy lunch couples and the inside was getting quite crowded as well. I got in line, while my better half grabbed a seat along the windows. I like how airy and bright the inside of Potchke is, with many live plants lining the windows and a whole lot of retro vibes. There's also a fireplace nook room where you can sit and enjoy your meal and read a book/work. Being a Ukrainian native, I wanted to try the borscht on my first visit. I loved the flavor and how Chef Faber added mushrooms to his version, but what bothered me was that the veggies were half raw!! I've tried many variations of borscht growing up as a child in Ukraine, and the grated veggies were always fully cooked. I ended up taking half home, and cooking it all the way through. I loved the pampushki (bread rolls) that the borscht came with so much and they reminded me of the ones back home. My cappuccino was absolutely heavenly, one of the best that I've had in Knoxville. I do want to come back to Potchke and try the matzo ball soup next time and also their famous babka. Will update my review when I return! read more

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I love Potchke in downtown! It's delicious and everyone is very friendly. The ambiance inside is great for work and play. There is bar seating against the window if you wanted to be productive. There's also many of tables to gather with friends. My favorite sandwich so far is the mushroom Reuben. I also enjoyed the matzo ball soup and chocolate babka. For drinks, the matcha tonic is pretty unique. I also like the taste of their lattes! I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. (Flip the menu over to see the "secret" offerings. Sorry for not keeping it secret). read more

I love this place so much, but my god, turn down the music. The lunch crowd is fighting for our lives just to chill a bit before going back to the office. Aside from the aural assault, Potchke is a delight every time. Standout menu items: fussed up matzoh ball soup, secret menu sandwich, pickle me up shot read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Out of the way, off the beaten path... they definitely need better signage. Early Saturday morning looking for my coffee so I'll take the hit on that one. Once we got in, I was drawn to the "secret" menu written in Sanskrit (not really, but on the back) because I'm drawn to a hot pastrami bagel. A cute quaint place with what looks like a good following. My bagel was delicious. Her lox bialy was great. My cappuccino & her chai tea latte were both delightful. We also ordered the chocolate babka to go, on which we snacked for the rest of our travels... very nice. We also ordered the whitefish salad as a side & it had too much celery, onions & capers for our liking which overpowered the fish. The staff was friendly and helpful. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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The Lox Bialy was so good, the flavor of the salmon, with the perfectly cooked bialy was excellent. My wife got a vanilla latte with oatmilk and it was very smooth. The employees were friendly, and the whole restaurant has a cool vibe with the decor. Will definitely be going back! read more

Potchke - Vanilla latte with oatmilk - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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We have been coming here for 4 years and have a special place in our hearts (and stomachs) for Potchke! Amazingly friendly staff and kitschy atmosphere make for a great breakfast/brunch/lunch. Just discovered that they have gluten free options which is a huge bonus. Recommend everything on the menu. Smoked white fish bialy pictured. Also had a "pickle me up" (pickle juice) to help nurse a slight hangover. read more

Potchke - Smoked White Fish Bialy - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We went here for a brunch. It was so good. We will definitely be coming back! Everything was flavorful and fresh. read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Great place once you find it! It's in the right side, pink brick part of the Regas building. No sign but it is there. Great food. I had an amazing bialy with lox and cream cheese. The wife had potato blintzes, delicious. We shared a borscht and I am sad to say that no one told us the sour cream served with the bread was supposed to go in the soup. It suffered without it for sure, but my wife googled borscht and discovered what it was for. We added it to the last few bites and it changed everything. So disappointed that no one told us, but we will know next time! read more

Potchke - Don't forget, the sour cream goes in the soup. They won't tell you this. - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Bottom Line Up Front: A 30-minute wait for food does not live up to the quality of the food expected of a 5-star rating. *Food - 4 stars *Service - 3.5 stars *Atmosphere - 5 stars I came here on a Saturday at 2pm and was really excited because of the reputation of Potchke in Knoxville which led to the 15 minute wait to order and another 15 or so for the food. I ordered the Bat Mitzvah Show Stopper and simply put, too much bread for too little smoked trout salad. My friend's sandwich also had the same issue with very little meat. Interestingly enough, he shared that he had come before and did not have this issue. The dish that we did order which was on point and super tasty was the Potato Blintz. The atmosphere was very lively and energetic and the setting was great with a lot of natural light. I would be willing to try again, hoping that next the sandwiches would have a better meat to bread ratio. read more

Really love this spot. Food is always fantastic, you can't go bad. Their beef bacon is halal! Their service is very fast and quick! I also love the ambiance and vibes of the space itself. I tried both the bagel spot and the original location and really love both of them. Also, the owners are extremely responsive via email and very down to earth. read more

This hidden gem was absolutely worth the trip. The ambiance is bright, fun, and inviting and the food is delicious. Many menu options can be made gluten free. I had the lox bialy sandwich which they put on a what seemed to be a homemade gluten free bagel that I was pleasantly surprised by. The portions are large so bring your appetite! I also had an iced latte which was good, but nothing special. I was excited to find canned Gatorade here too! Highly recommend making a trip to Potchke. read more

Sandwich was one of the best I've had! Line was long but moved quickly! Will be returning again! read more

Potchke - Turkey Melt (without the red onion, tomato, and mixed greens) - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

The food is so good!!! We sat outside with our pups and the staff was very accommodating! Would highly recommend recommend checking this place out. read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Had this on the list forever, and knew they were at least somewhat vegan friendly, but no idea about if they could also do gluten free. The menu pretty much says you have to discuss with the cashier, which we did. For vegan and gluten free, the Hebrew Hero can be both vegan and gluten free (confirmed the GF bread is ALSO vegan) as well as the Mushroom Rueben, but with that one they'd need to take off both the sauce and the cheese, then it would just be mushrooms on bread, which was neither recommended nor sounded good. The Potchke Salad without any dressing also is vegan/GF. The Rip and Dip sandwhich on GF bread subbing avocado tartine for the labna. Also, the Borsch(t) without the sour cream and rolls is also vegan GF. I got the Hebrew Hero on what I'm hoping was gluten free bread that was also vegan. The bread seemed too good to be both GF & vegan though! The sandwich was outstanding. I also got a house made strawberry fennel soda at the cashier's recommendation. My husband got the rip & dip entree and we shared a borscht soup, all made vegan. It's also a great coffee shop. The interior is spacious with a couch seating area as you enter and the rest is table and chair seating that is welcoming. Everything was incredible, fresh and delicious. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. This will definitely be the first of many visits. read more

Potchke - Hebrew Hero sando, Borsch(t) soup and Rip & Dip main. - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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We recently ate at this establishment on a Saturday morning at about 10AM. This is a busy restaurant so get in line and wait on a seat to open. The service was excellent and the food was fantastic. We split a Matzo Ball Soup which was savory and hearty. We ordered the Cheese Blintz and Potato Blintz dishes. I thought the Potato Blintz was the better dish a beautiful combination of onions and Potatoes wrapped in a delicious crepe. My wife thought the Cheese Blintz wasn't as good as the one we had at Carnegie deli in NYC. Carnegie Deli has since closed so that comparison is moot. The ambience is interesting, multiple places to seat at the window and in a lounge area as well as traditional tables throughout. read more

Potchke - Interior and waiting in line - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Never had a bad bite! The mushroom reuben is beyond magnificent. Don't leave out the chocolate babka muffin. Seriously. Don't!

The Greek Goddess Frittata is so flavorful and a great vegetarian option. Everything I've tried so far at the deli has been amazing. So convenient and reasonably priced. This place really is a gem! Thank you! read more

How have I not written a review for Potchke!? It's one of my favorite places in Knoxville, and if you do a little digging on the internet you will see some big name magazines also agree on their love for this fabulous little deli. It's a Jewish Deli where Vienna Coffee used to be in Downtown Knoxville. Call it simple but I love the avocado toast. I make avocado toast at home but whatever they do to this one stands out, and I have to say a lot of it has to do with that delicious homemade bread. As soon as you walk in the aroma of freshly baked breads hit you. They have a daily assortment of babka's on display for you to order, and do yourself a favor and try one out. I normally am more of the savory person over sweet so I usually go for the Everything Babka. I mean damn, it's literal fire. Absolutely Delish! But in reality they are all really good, a mix between a muffin and a croissant I would say. Just pull it apart and dig in. Anything and everything I have ordered I have loved. Another favorite is the Smoked White Fish on a bially, or the Mushroom Reuben. Whatever the case, if you are in the area and can't decide where to eat, go check this place out. They are only open for breakfast and lunch so plan accordingly. They have indoor and outdoor dining, and the patio is pet friendly. Here's a little secret, get there early if you want a Babka, because once they are out, they are out for the day. And a lot of times that happens before 11am. And another secret, ask about their secret menu. You're welcome. I hope you stumble upon this fabulous little place and adore it as much as I do. And if you don't want to wait order your pickup order on the app Toast, however Toast doesn't always have everything on their menu online, just an fyi. Cheers & Enjoy friends! read more

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What did Knoxville do to deserve this haven of flavor? New York City level good... very impressed read more

Potchke - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

EDIT: Changed to 4 stars from 3 because of incredible customer service. Will try the sandwich again and adjust accordingly. There are so many raving reviews about this place that I can't help but feel this could be a fluke but it's my opinion nonetheless. Great atmosphere, staff seems really nice, food was just okay. I had the lox bialy which tasted fantastic on the first bite but then I realized it was just the salt. Could barely taste anything after the initial bite. I am at home chugging water while I type this out. The lox itself was great but there was almost none on one of my halves. I had to deconstruct everything to spread it around. In the $17 price range definitely one of the least-enticing lox bagel offerings I have had. The pastrami and mustard, one of my all-time favorite combinations, was pretty disappointing. The bread was okay, kinda dry. The meat was pathetic. It's just little strips of bone-dry bacon-style pastrami. Every little strip that I bit was pulled out with every bite. I had to put my sandwich back together like at least 5 times. Boldly claiming that it's better than Katz's is one of the wildest things I have ever heard. For $22 it's absolutely not it. Just my experience. It looks like plenty of people are in love with the place. But it's a posh take on New York deli that falls short for me. read more

Potchke - Lox bialy - Delis Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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