My husband and I visited Fire + Smoke in Knoxville on a whim, looking for somewhere different that…read moreneither of us had tried. We secured a same-day reservation, and it turned into one of the best dining experiences we've had in quite some time.
Don't let the unassuming strip-mall location fool you. Inside, the restaurant is intimate, beautiful and thoughtfully designed. Every table appeared occupied, yet it never felt loud or crowded. We could easily carry on a conversation without competing with the room around us.
We arrived early and started at the beautiful bar, separated from the dining room by a glass fireplace. My husband ordered an Old Fashioned, his usual benchmark at a new bar. Served over a single large cube, it was properly spirit-forward rather than overly sweet and exactly his preference.
I was intrigued by the Campfire Martini but don't particularly enjoy mezcal, so our bartender enthusiastically substituted bourbon. With chocolate liqueur, smoked marshmallow syrup, cream, cocoa and smoked graham cracker, it was rich and chocolate-forward while still allowing the bourbon to shine. My only minor critique was the lemon on the rim, which didn't quite complement the bourbon and chocolate. I suspect it works better with the original mezcal.
Our server, Rosa, personally came to the bar to tell us our table was ready. That small touch was the beginning of exceptional service.
We often share an entrée, so we chose the 14-ounce Prime New York Strip and asked Rosa for guidance on accompaniments. This is where she really distinguished herself. Rather than simply telling us what was popular or expensive, she could discuss ingredients, preparation, flavors and pairings. Her enthusiasm for the food was genuine, and her recommendations were spot-on.
We started with the Caesar, thoughtfully divided into two bowls by the kitchen. Crisp greens, freshly shaved Parmesan, excellent croutons, house-made bacon bits and a rich dressing where you could actually taste the anchovy made this an outstanding Caesar.
At Rosa's recommendation, we chose the smoked baked potato. She was absolutely right. Creamy and light with a distinctive smoky character and what tasted like rosemary-forward butter, it was far more interesting than I expected from a baked potato.
Then came the Prime New York Strip, ordered medium-rare and cooked perfectly. I'm particularly critical of restaurant steaks because I'm very comfortable preparing them at home. This easily ranks among the top three restaurant steaks I've eaten and may be the best New York strip I've had anywhere. It was seasoned beautifully without masking the quality of the beef.
The house-made creamy horseradish was wonderful with both the steak and potato, although neither needed anything added.
We were completely full when Rosa mentioned dessert. We agreed to hear the selections only for future reference. That plan didn't survive her description.
We ordered the crème brûlée cheesecake, and Rosa suggested substituting bourbon-infused ice cream for the usual lavender. It was an inspired pairing. The cheesecake had a beautifully brûléed top, and the ice cream was vanilla-forward with just enough bourbon to give it character. I'm not a huge fan of graham-cracker crust and thought it slightly overpowered the cheesecake; my husband thought the balance was perfect. Considering how quickly we finished it, he may have won that argument.
Rosa deserves special recognition. She was one of the most knowledgeable and genuinely helpful servers we've encountered in quite some time. She was attentive without hovering and never made us feel hurried despite a full restaurant. My husband actually commented that she should be training other servers.
Too often, asking a server for a recommendation gets you what's most popular or expensive. Rosa could explain WHY she recommended something. She understood flavors and pairings and genuinely seemed excited about the kitchen's work. That made a tremendous difference in our experience.
The menu changes seasonally, so a few things we'd seen in older reviews weren't currently available, including a bread service my husband hoped to try. Rather than a true negative, it gives us another reason to return.
Fire + Smoke feels upscale without being stuffy. We happened to be in shorts and felt completely comfortable, yet it would be equally appropriate for a special occasion.
Beautiful atmosphere, excellent cocktails, thoughtfully prepared food and exceptional service. The steak alone would bring me back. The smoked potato would bring me back. But Rosa and the attention to detail turned a wonderful dinner into a memorable dining experience.
We went looking for somewhere different. We found somewhere we're already looking forward to visiting again.
