1. Ryan and William were amazing at the bar. William was our waiter and he did a fantastic job. 2. The food was top quality. 3. The drinks were over the top and William is an amazing bartender with deep knowledge on how to make drinks taste appropriately. 4. I've been coming to downtown Knoxville for a long time and never knew about the Kennedy, will make it a regular stop for me now. read more

See all

Awful customer service. The restaurant's AC went out two days prior to my large party's reservation. At no point was this communicated during their reservation confirmation call and in fact, the corporate manager, Monica Green, actually explicitly directed her staff NOT to tell diners of the AC not working (as told to me by an unnamed employee). You can imagine our surprise, and sweaty discomfort, as my group of 16 showed up for our reservation and the internal temperature of the restaurant easily exceeded 85 degrees, making dining there completely out of the question as the heat/ humidity was unbearable. What a slimy bait and switch tactic and talk about an unbelievably shortsighted business mindset. I organize dinners, meetings and events for a large company in the Eastern Tennessee area. Not only will this restaurant never make a dime from me or any of my colleagues, but we will tell everyone we know about this horrible experience and the deceitful tactics of management. We completely understand that the AC going out is out of management's control but intentionally not informing diners of the intolerable temperature was a calculated and deliberate choice. What a shame. Best of luck to you, Monica, you're going to need it if this is how you run a business. read more

The Kennedy is a must-visit if you're in Knoxville! It's located in the Old City in a really cool historic building that adds a lot of character to the experience. We had a 6:45 PM reservation and were seated right away. Our server was amazing--friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us some excellent recommendations. We started with the Devils on Horseback, and they were incredible. The bacon-wrapped dates were the perfect combination of sweet and savory. For my entrée, I had the spicy rigatoni with chicken. It was absolutely delicious, packed with flavor, and the portion was huge. My wife ordered the pepperoni hot honey pizza, and she loved every bite. If you enjoy cocktails, don't miss the Prickly Pear Affair. It was light, refreshing, and one of the best cocktails we've had in a long time. Great atmosphere, outstanding food, excellent service, and a fun location in the heart of Old City. We'll definitely be back! read more

The Kennedy - Entrance - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Kennedy in Knoxville is a whole VIBE! I was on my way out so I did stop in as soon as they opened at 11am. The food was an easy 10/10, dishes fairly priced and worth it. The service was 10/10, and the ambiance? Absolutely to die for! And I have to mention the blueberry margarita -- easily one of the best I've ever had! Great food, great drinks, beautiful atmosphere... Kennedy definitely did not disappoint! Definitely will visit again when back in Knoxville. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

We returned to the Kennedy this evening for the 2nd time and were fortunate enough to have Jason waiting on us again! At the recommendation of some friends, we tried a new appi and re-ordered the crispy rice/crab appi which Jason recommended the first time and they were all fabulous. The crispy rice crab appi was as good as we remembered and teh bacon wrapped fig stuffed with goat cheese, served on a plate with a tomato based sauce and pesto was 5/5, great flavor combo! We had the fish special, Wagyu burger (with the onions and aoli) and a cheese burger. The burger at Seasons used to be my favorite, but now the burger here takes 1st place. We opted for some shredded cheese on our fries which was a great addition. One side of fries was not quite as fresh and crispy as the other one, but we didn't finish all of them anyway. The flourless torte was rich and amazing and enough goodness for three of us to share. Jason does a great job of recommending foods and is prompt and attentive We look forward to our next visit at the Kennedy and plan to ask for one of his tables. read more

See all

Everything about this place was great. The atmosphere, service, food and drinkall fantastic. read more

The Kennedy - Delicious sandwich - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Very nice place. Looks beautiful with a gorgeous bar. Reservations are a must as they usually do not have availability without one. We had the tomatoe burrata and spicy rigatoni. Both were delicious. read more

See all

Just very solid. Drink pour was good. The hamburger was good but wasn't particularly hot. Good onion rings. read more

The Kennedy - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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. read more

See all

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)! read more

The Kennedy - Devils on Horseback - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

The food was delicious and the service from Liza was incredible. Very knowledgeable on the menu and had great recommendations!

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

If I could rate this NO STARS I would. Walked in asking for a table for three, the hostess said there were no tables for at least 1.5 hours. When there were numerous tables available. She looked completely indifferent to her job. The place was half empty and she turned away guests. Tupelo Honey down the street was amazing. Great food. Amazing service. Will definitely visit again. read more

Went with friends and we really loved it. Amazing service and delicious food! We all got chicken Cesar salads and the dates for an appetizer. Loved the atmosphere as well! Reservations were very easy to make as well. read more

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. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

We went to dinner on a busy Saturday night. We did not have reservations and was told it would be o we an hr wait for two. We lucked out and got seats at the bar. They have a good selection of draft beers as well as unique cocktails. We had the spicy rigatoni with blackened chicken and the pepperoni hot honey pizza. Both were very flavorful and delicious. I got the honey ranch to dip the pizza in and it was a very tasty addition. Everything that we saw looked amazing. The wait staff were attentive. It had a nice ambiance with some TVs around the bar area and seating options down and up stairs as well as a small patio area. Would definitely recommend this place, but maybe get reservations if you're going on a weekend night. read more

The Kennedy - Spicy rigatoni - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

The creepy server wanted to know if if I been there before and wanted to know what I had ordered last time. Well, I definitely won't be ordering more than I did last time because of the creepy vibes I got this time. read more

The Kennedy - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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. read more

See all

When you're on a date night with my wife. Was very very impressed. We were on our way to a movie and we had had a late lunch so we only sampled the various appetizers but we were pleasantly surprised. Nice variety and absolutely delicious offerings. We will definitely come back here for a full dinner! Atmosphere was very nice slightly dark very very nice decor service was excellent. Attentive but not too attentive if you know what I mean. I can also imagine that this place would be very good for something like a business lunch or business meeting over happy hour drinks. Great atmosphere great food and I will definitely be back read more

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. read more

The Kennedy - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

The drinks are amazing but the food is nothing special. It's good but just didn't blow me away. The service was so good but still gave me a creepy vibe. Overall a good experience!! read more

We were sat at the front behind the podium since we had no reservation, yet others seemed to be able to walk in and get a booth etc. We were one of those tables where no one would claim us. So after seeing 2 other tables getting waters etc. We kept trying to get someone's attention to find out who was our wait person. We finally met her and things were a bit slow but she did have a big table to deal with. This was my final meal visiting TN for the first time and it was Good. Had the Half French Dip and Half Chop Salad. Was so good! And a starter....I can't recall. Then there is this delicious Purple~Prickly Pear Cocktail that I had to try. Refreshing but on the tart side but nice, rather than being sickly sweet. I would give it another go. Nice inside but would never accept that table again and I would probably ask who my server is before I commit. (I was heading to the Airport afterwards so... bit panicky). And yes, our server apologized profusely... when it was time to pay. read more

See all

Atmosphere is great.. service is not good.. rude.. from hostess to wait staff .. needs training from Ritz Carlton ..

Sat at the bar and service was fantastic. The bartender was so nice and made great recommendations. I had the burger and fries which was so good. The drinks on the menu were a little sweet but they can make whatever you want. Atmosphere was really nice and it wasn't to crowded read more

The Kennedy - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

The good news 1st. Sitting at the bar for drinks is a 5-star experience. Good cocktails and the bar staff have great service and are friendly to talk with. But just about every thing to do with our dinner was low quality The Maitre d (or host mgr) has poor customer service skills. He is the wrong person to be in that position. Sometimes I would suggest to have him train at one of better dinner houses in Knoxville, but his attitude is such I'm not sure he would understand his deficiencies. Overall, he does not treat guests as if they are the lifeline for a restaurant. He made no effort to make us feel he was glad we came to The Kennedy and when we left he made no attempt to thank us or ask how our experience was. If he is not replaced the restaurant will steadily lose customers. The food quality was poor. The salmon on top of Brussel sprouts tasted as if someone in the kitchen poured molasses on top of the Brussel Spouts. Then after it was sent back with the request to re-do the dinner without the sweetener it came back (after a very long delay) with a huge plate of Brussel Sprouts that were completely dried out. It seemed like the people in the kitchen attempted to make up for the poor taste by giving a helping size 3 X as normal. The crab on noodles was a "C" at best. The crab was stringy and the noodles were very bland. If people at coming for drinks and appetizers it probably is a good choice but if someone wants a quality dinner experience I was told by 2 locals who come downtown a lot to eat at Lonesome Dove Brass Pearl JC Holdway (the best chef) Oliver Royale ( we ate here and the food quality and service were exceptional) Osteria Stella Emelia read more

When researching Knoxville eateries the Kennedy came highly recommended. And for GOOD reason! The food was very tasteful, prepared and presented well. The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. The decor and atmosphere was perfect for a leisurely lunch date with friends. Bright sunny front windows make it a cheery sunlit spot to eat. The warm light surrounding the bar in back and various seating options were great. Layout design of the whole venue was wonderful. A must experience when in Knoxville. read more

See all

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

The Kennedy - Wagyu Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

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 read more

The Kennedy - The Wagyu burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

So, both the food and the service were great. With a caveat. We had a drink at the bar and waited for takeout. The drink was OK, and i got a pizza which, while the bottom was a little soft, was an excellent pie. My wife got a salad, and emphasized no cheese, she has an allery. Of course we are back to our hotel room before we find out it's filled with shredded cheese. So instead of a nice meal we spent an extra 15 minutes fishing shredded cheese out of the salad so she could eat it. So really a five star, except that they screwed up an allergy on a $108 check bill and pair of drinks. In their defense we did not leave the hotel and hike the two blocks back to complain (it was storming), but for the reputation and price we thought we didnt need to double check our order before we left. This the three instead of 5. read more

The Kennedy - In process of removing cheese in takeout on a cheese allergy order. (Dairy) - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Had a very brief but pleasant experience at the Kennedy the other day for a business meeting. The service was excellent and the appetizers we had were quite good. I really want to go back and experience the full menu and the entrees but the experience I had was very nice. Server was Knowledgeable about the menu and was very accommodating for one of our group who did not drink alcohol recommending some very delicious mocktails. They also steered us to some very nice appetizers that weren't too heavy and hit the spot: exactly what we needed! The service was attentive but not too attentive if you know what I mean. The server let us discuss our business and checked in just the right amount of times to make sure that our Waters were refilled and we had everything we needed. Again, I am looking forward to checking out this place one evening where I have more time and can experience the full menu and see what they have to offer. read more

What a fabulous evening at the Kennedy! We were greeted by the most vivacious server, Cera. She was welcoming, bubbly and communicative; my daughter and I felt as though we were meeting up with a friend we had known for years. We ordered a few of our favorite menu items- Devils on Horseback, The G.O.A.T salad, and the French Dip. The food was delicious! We were full but kept taking bites because it was so tasty. The best part of the night was truly Cera's friendliness. The next time we go in we will ask for her section, and you should too! read more

One of the best spots on South Gay St and a must for a night out in downtown Knoxville. The atmosphere is stunning -- beautiful decor, perfectly dimmed lighting, and a vibe that feels upscale without being stuffy. The Devils on Horseback appetizer is an absolute must, the Blue Crab Crispy Rice is incredible, and the Filet Mignon and Faroe Island Salmon are both beautifully done. The Prickly Pair Affair cocktail and Milk and Honey Bathtub drink are both standouts -- light, refreshing, and perfectly crafted. Open until 2:30AM on Friday and Saturday which makes it a great late night option too. Parking downtown can be a hassle but the experience inside is absolutely worth it. read more

We tried this new restaurant that is located in the Old Blackhorse space on Gay Street recently on a Sunday night. The motif is elegant casual. A very old space that has been updated. We tried the Devils On Horseback app which might be the best app in Knoxville, basically it's a Date wrapped in Bacon on top of a Basil Tomato sauce, sweet and savory and so good. I had the Chicken Parm sandwich substituting Onion Rings for the fries, the Onion Rings were good, but I prefer beer batter. The Chicken parm came out hot enough to burn the mouth which is good nothing worse than a cold hot sandwich. My wife hade the G.O.A.T. Salad the fried goat cheese croquets were superb in Spinach with a light balsamic vinaigrette light and delicious. The service was excellent and the deep craft draft beer taps were superb for a more elegant space read more

See all

Excellent friendly service- Jason was so personable and gave us good info about Knoxville (we are OOS- dropping our daughter off at UT). The food was AMAZING!! Try the Spicy Rigatoni and you won't be disappointed! Loved the experience and we will be back!! read more

We went based on what we were told and the reviews on here and have to say we were completely disappointed. Our server 'Chance' was at our table almost immediately, was friendly, courteous and a great start to our experience. The place was clean, lively and a great atmosphere. We ordered 2 VERY DELICIOUS drinks: "Prickly Pear Affair" and "Margarita Al Pastor"-BRAVO!!! My wife and I were literally 'Jonesing' for the French Onion Soup as everyone we spoke to recommended it. So we ordered it to share as an app and ordered the French Dip and Chopped Salad as entrees. Well, now our experience went south! Our entrees were served. My French Dip (I ordered Onion Rings instead of Fries) was very tasty!! The beef was piled in the roll and dripping with cheese. It was served with a small 'bullet' of au jus, a piquant and a tasty sauce for the Onion Rings. The Chopped Salad, for $16 was a COMPLETE RIP OFF. The size was more of a side salad, there was BARELY ANY bacon bits included, and was absolutely NO DIFFERENT than a quick salad you would make for yourself at home! Seriously, a VERY SAD EXCUSE for a $16 entree salad. Whenever either one of us has had a 'Chopped Salad' , it's loaded with fresh tasty goodies, a salad that you wouldn't want to make for yourself because it's too much to do. THATS THE KIND OF ENTREE SALAD I WOULD EXPECT, especially for $16! I give that salad a 1 out of 5. It truly angers me that a BS salad WITH NO DEPTH like this is even on the menu of a restaurant for more than $5-$6!! So you're thinking "What about that famous French Onion Soup that you REALLY went there for??? Well, we said the same thing because they forgot to bring it to us!!! We definitely repeated the order back to our server because we wanted to split the soup, thinking our entree portions would be a lot larger. So with all the hype, forgetful server and a Totally Crappy Entree salad, I'm going to give these folks a 3/5. We're here for 3 more days but we have too many more restaurants to try than to give them another chance! read more

The Kennedy - French Dip - Wine Bars Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Was there on a Thursday night in early March. Weather had warmed up but they didn't have their AC on. Unpleasantly warm inside. Service was spotty and inconsistent. Overall slow with everything. The highlight was the food. Had the French dip which was very good served with an especially flavorful Au jus. Would give them another try but this recent visit left me annoyed. read more