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The Kennedy

4.5 (248 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order The Kennedy Takeout or Delivery

The Kennedy Photos

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THE KENNEDY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Upscale
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Kennedy

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Jared M.

Simply put: amazing food, helpful staff, fun vibe inside and good for small groups. I was a sucker for the chicken and carrots and must admit I may have stolen a couple bites off another plate (I asked!). Kidding aside, would recommend a visit and supporting a good option in Knoxville.

The wife's cocktail.
Anthony L.

Well, we rolled into Knoxville a little late for happy hour -- which, frankly, should be considered an act of negligence in our household. God knows happy hour is more than a time slot; it's a way of life. But fate, or maybe thirst, led us across the street to a place called The Kennedy. The building looked like it had been around long enough to have some stories of its own, the kind of place where you half expect to find George Washington's initials scratched into a brick somewhere. Inside, the lighting was soft, the vibe relaxed -- like folks who had nowhere to be except exactly where they were. The menu looked fine enough, but then we saw the cocktail list and realized we'd struck liquid gold. They had more seasonal craft concoctions than I've seen since that time my brother Sean decided he was a "mixologist" and nearly burned down the garage. Now, the "TK" Old Fashioned? I swear if heaven has a minibar, that's what'll be on it. And my wife -- bless her sweet soul -- took one sip of something called "Milk and Honey Bath Time" and announced it was the finest thing she'd ever tasted. The only time I'd heard her sound that happy was the day I agreed to buy throw pillows without asking the price. The food was nothing short of remarkable. Her vegetarian pizza was apparently the best she's ever had -- and coming from a woman who once declared lettuce an emotional support vegetable, that's saying something. We parked ourselves at the bar, and I tell you, those three fellas behind it moved like they were in a NASCAR pit crew. Not a wasted motion -- shaking, pouring, wiping, laughing -- all like choreography dreamed up by a bartender who once studied ballet. By the end, we were converts. The Kennedy didn't just give us a meal -- it gave us an experience, the kind that makes you want to come back just to see what happy hour feels like in a place that already seems pretty happy all on its own.

The Wagyu burger
Jamie B.

The Kennedy is elegant, beautiful and the home of the GREATEST burger in Knoxville. When you're approaching The Kennedy it has such a classy look that draws you in, normally the look doesn't match the food but there is a reason that there is long wait on a busy night..... the food My lady and I both got the Wagyu burger and I got the upgraded truffle fries, we both took a bite of the burger simultaneously and said "wow" The flavors pouring out of this masterpiece made me go cartoonish in thought. Our service was provided by Sinjin and he was top tier professional and efficient, we are now trying to get a later checkout to come back tomorrow

Burger meal
Jose V.

The Kennedy was good, a bit in the pricey side, but overall can't complain. Mostly everyone's plate was good, however, my daughter ordered fillet mignon and was raw , we did asked for it to be pink, however over all, I can't be 100% Baden in me plate. My wife's salmon was hit on the dry side, my burger was good, and my other daughter's place was also good . Service was quick, and the ambiance was set to enjoy with some good quality family . Come check them out, perhaps you will have much better luck than me. I will try them out one more time and re-review them.

All White Pizza
Jacob C.

I usually don't exactly love fancy places, don't get me wrong they aren't awful, but this place is a great experience. The quality of the food is top notch, service is quite helpful and polite, and the overall atmosphere tones down the super fancy top, with TV's playing sports. It's overall a great experience.

Devils on Horseback
Robyn W.

We decided to do a little cocktail hop around downtown on a Saturday night. I had tried walking into The Kennedy before and was turned away--even as a solo guest--so this time I made sure to book reservations. Thankfully, we were able to grab an early seating on short notice. Our waitress was wonderful. She graciously tolerated our delays in ordering due to some emotionally charged conversation, and her sense of humor put us at ease. She even joked that she enjoys a good debate, which made us feel less guilty about our prolonged decision-making. Despite our slow pace, we still managed to get two rounds of drinks in on time! The cocktails were excellently executed. I ordered the Beneath the Olive Tree, essentially a classic vodka martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives. It was perfect--not too dirty, just balanced and flavorful. I had to remind myself to sip and savor. My friend had the Prickly Pear Affair and really enjoyed it as well. For snacks, we shared the Goat Cheese Croquettes, Devils on Horseback, and Truffle Fries. Every dish was delicious and left me wanting just a bit more. Although we moved on to continue our cocktail hop, this experience definitely made me want to return. Until next time--I'll savor the memories (and that martini)!

David C.

Such a cool, classy environment, even though there are TVs that might be reminiscent of a sports bar. Very fun and friendly staff. The bar food is excellent - don't miss the bacon-wrapped dates or the Brussels sprouts! Unfortunately a few of the cocktails missed the mark. The TK old fashioned left much to be desired. But, if Jared is behind the bar, you don't need to worry about a thing! Follow his lead with whatever he suggests!

Bone marrow
Sasha P.

What a fun meal this was! We had a big group (12 people) and they managed our reservation perfectly. One big table with plenty of space for the thousand appetizers, entrees and drinks. Everything was flavorful, fun and fresh. There were some unique combos - the pasta dish was spicy and fun and delish - and we devoured everything. One of our friends did the bone marrow Buffalo Trace bourbon luge and that was just super wild and cool, I've never seen that before. Our server was attentive, got everything perfectly right, never left us waiting or wanting. I was really impressed and surprised - that doesn't seem to be the norm these days. The space itself was pretty big, deceptively big, and we were seated upstairs and away from the main room. It was great for us, as the smaller space was mostly our table and a few other small two tops. Loved it.

Cheese sauce for Philly on side, so pizza didn't get soggy + 1$ Hot Honey Ranch
Aleksys A.

The Kennedy is really a Knoxville treasure that needs to be protected at all cost. I have gone there on two different occasions and both times it was out of this world delicious. I will start with tonights visit since it is still fresh on my mind and will footnote the first experience. My boyfriend and I had a 7:30pm reservation on a Wednesday, we decided to get there a little early and we walked in at 7:15pm. The place was pretty crowded for a Wednesday, but they had a table ready for us, even though we were early. We were escorted to the back corner to a two top. I was facing a curtain which kind of sucks but that was probably the only negative thing I have to say about my experience. Josh was our server, and we basically knew what we wanted. My boyfriend loved the Pepperoni Hot Honey pizza, so he without even contemplating it, got it this time. I was in between a few things, but I ended up getting the Philly Cheesesteak pizza. I asked Josh about it, and he was honest, and gave a great suggestion to put the cheese sauce on the side (which was my main concern that would make the pizza soggy), I also asked for the Hot Honey Ranch for $1 more. Josh delivered our food and got everything perfect. He checked on us, he cleared the table to make room, and when i finished my drink, he anticipated my needs and got me another soda without me having to ask. That is what makes a great server, anticipating the needs of your customer. All in all, the Philly Cheesesteak pizza was good, but the Pepperoni Hot Honey is undeniably the best. I am glad i tried the Philly, but next time I would definitely get something else. Over all the food was phenomenal (my boyfriend was singing praises to the heavens between each bite, and the entire walk to the car and drive home) the service was excellent, and the ambiance was bustling/ energetic but the lighting soothed the mood. my footnote from our first experience there, service was amazing, great seating upstairs over looking the entire place as well. What I really loved and still think about months later was their Salmon. I am from Florida and am picky with my fish, but that had to be the best salmon (in reality fish) I have ever had in Tennessee (the entire state). They even asked how i wanted it cooked (medium rare) which I don't remember if I have ever had been asked how I wanted my salmon cooked before. it was tender and perfectly cooked, and not chewy/tasteless. 1000/10 will be coming back again.

Crispy rice cakes with blue crab
Pierce C.

I got spoiled staying at the Hyatt off Gay St. because it's so close to The Kennedy. I went here last year when I was here for work and I had to come check it out again. It's a really well done upscale restaurant and bar. The decor and tall ceilings makes you feel fancy but also casual enough to stop in for a quick bite and a drink. The bartenders have been awesome and have had great charisma. I met a couple new friends there and we decided to order Vegas bombs (which isn't typically on the menu of a craft bar lol) they sorted it out and hooked us up. The food was great across the board. The bacon wrapped dates are incredible, wings are on point, the salmon was cooked to perfection and the crab rice cakes were absolutely delicious. I definitely want to try more of the menu out. I heard the filet was amazing so I'll likely grab that next.

Wagyu Burger
Andrea G.

Food, ambiance and service A+ Bacon wrapped dates are fantastic and the wagyu burger was definitely top notch.

Tiffany T.

I moved out here for a project at work this year and this place was recommended by coworkers for me to try. It was primarily the women coworkers and I can see why. I've been here 2x now and I always see a group of women absolutely enjoying themselves. I came here on my own and even coming solo I had fun. Sitting alone isn't awkward and it's so cute inside.

Menu June 2025
Samantha G.

GET YOURSELF A RESERVATION!! This place is always packed apparently. Ambiance: Beautifully done interiors. I loved how they utilized the existing space and tall ceilings. Food: the main entree/food took about 30-40 minutes to get to our table. We were quite disappointed by that, especially since no one told us that it would take that long. 1) Goat Cheese Croquettes- DELICIOUS- order it! 2) Crispy Half Chicken- DELICIOUS! I loved the Brussels sprouts. The herbed jus from the chicken made for a great gravy for the mashed potatoes. The chicken was juicy and well flavored. Service: The service was alright. Our server was bouncing around everywhere. The restaurant was busy, but lots of empty tables at 8:30 PM. Not sure why the kitchen and service were backed up.

Fried Mushrooms w/ Honey Mustard dipping sauce

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1 month ago

Love this place. GOAT in Knoxville. Great food, better drinks, awesome ambiance. This place is a true staple

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

Very good experience here. Food is fantastic and service and atmosphere is incredible.

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2 months ago

The food is fantastic! Great variety on the menu. I recommend the French onion soup. Service is always top tier, too.

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Ask the Community - The Kennedy

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The Kennedy - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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