5 Foodie-Recommended Restaurants to Visit in Knoxville, TN
A local shares where to find the best food in town.
Mandee McNew and her husband, Eric, know a thing or two about Knoxville, TN’s, food scene. Ten years ago, they started Knox Foodie, a blog that highlighted their favorite local restaurants, and the pair has been dialed in to the local food scene ever since. Eric also runs Flavory Studio, a restaurant marketing and food photography business, while Mandee works as a physician’s assistant. Together, they love trying new foods and restaurants.
“When we first started Knox Foodie, there were only a handful of locally owned restaurants in the area at the time, and we frequented those places and wanted them to stay around, so we started talking about them on social media,” Mandee says. “It’s been great to see the food scene grow so much here over the past 10 years. There are so many amazing places to try now!”
Livability asked Mandee to deliver the scoop on her favorite places to dine today. Ahead, find five foodie-recommended restaurants to visit in Knoxville, TN.
1. Kaizen
Cuisine: Asian
Price: $$
Kaizen is an apt name for this innovative Asian restaurant, as it loosely translates to “continuous improvement.” The eatery changes its menu frequently, and its bold interior colors create a fun atmosphere.
“The changing menu is exciting. We like to try new things, and there are dishes at Kaizen that push us out of our comfort zone a little bit,” Mandee says. “But every time they have a new General Tso’s special, we have to go. It’s so good!”
Must-Try
- Side: According to Mandee, Kaizen has “the best fried rice in Knoxville,” and as an Asian staple, it’s always on the menu.
- Appetizer: The Dry Fry Eggplant comes highly recommended, as do the steamed buns.
2. A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
Cuisine: Sourdough pizza
Price: $$
A Dopo Sourdough Pizza is known for its unique crust, which is made from a naturally fermented sourdough starter, rather than yeast. The result is a thin bottom layer, yet very bubbly crust, which gets the perfect char when baked in a wood-fired oven – it’s very much a Neapolitan style. With a laid-back, relaxed, come-as-you-are environment, it’s no surprise locals love this place so much.
“We spend every special occasion there,” Mandee says. “The food is so good, and the people are awesome.”
The pizzeria is owned by Brian Strutz, a former chef at Blackberry Farm, a luxury resort, and his menu has something for everyone. Besides pizza, A Dopo serves delicious gelato, which is made in-house. (Fun fact: They also make their own mozzarella!)
Must-Try
- Appetizer: This dish isn’t on the menu but can still be ordered: the roasted olives. They’re roasted in a lemon olive oil with chiles and roasted garlic, and they are divine.
- Pizza: The Spicy Greens pizza features a white pizza sauce with kale, housemade mozzarella, Calabrian chiles and lemon.
- Dessert: Get the gelato! The flavors tend to change, but a favorite is cherry mascarpone, which is made with amaretto cherries and a mascarpone gelato base.
3. J.C. Holdway
Cuisine: Appalachian
Price: $$$
Owned by Joseph Lenn, former executive chef at Blackberry Farm and winner of the James Beard Award, J.C. Holdway is the perfect place for a date night. The menu is a mix of vegetable-forward, Appalachian-inspired dishes with some American and Asian influences, as well.
“They switch up their menu seasonally,” Mandee says. “But if they have a whole fish on the menu, that’s what I order because it’s always delicious.”
Must-Try
- Appetizer: The pimento cheese is fantastic, and it’s served with housemade flatbread crackers. Also, the smoked trout dip is served with made-in-house barbecue potato chips.
- Entree: Try the Farm Egg. It’s the best chicken and dumplings you’ve ever had! It has rich chicken stock and vegetables with a poached egg on the top. And, of course, anytime there’s a whole fish on the menu, you’re in for a treat.
4. Oliver Royale
Cuisine: American
Price: $$$
This upscale, casual eatery is a great place to grab some food or a drink before seeing a show or hanging out downtown. Located in Market Square, it’s owned by the Oliver Hospitality Group, and is located next to the Oliver Hotel.
“If you want a cocktail, this is definitely the place to get one,” Mandee says.
The cocktail menu changes seasonally, but they’ve really mastered some of the classics, like their old fashioned and Manhattan, which are always available.
“They also use as many local ingredients as they can get their hands on, as far as food goes,” Mandee says. “They always have some type of pork belly dish that’s always really good.”
Another hot tip? They serve up an amazing brunch, and their pastries are especially good, so don’t skip out on the biscuits!
Must-Try
- Appetizer: There’s usually an appetizer that features seasonal vegetables – expect to be wowed by the visual presentation, not to mention the taste.
- Entree: The pastas are fantastic, especially their ramen, which you wouldn’t expect at an American restaurant, but they are delicious.
- Dessert: You can’t go wrong with any of their desserts, but Mandee loves the strawberry shortcake.
5. Sweet P’s BBQ
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price: $$
With two locations – one downtown and one in the Fountain City neighborhood – Sweet P’s is serving up double the deliciousness. The downtown location is more fast-casual, while the one in Fountain City is full service. They smoke everything in-house and offer an abundance of mouthwatering sides to go with whatever meat you select.
“They have daily specials Tuesday through Sunday,” Mandee says. “My favorite is the smoked meatloaf on Tuesday.”
Also pretty cool? The restaurants are decorated with tons of memorabilia from the 1982 World’s Fair, which co-owner Chris Ford attended as a child. At that time, he purchased the fair logo, and it’s now a core part of the restaurant’s branding.
Must-Try
- Side: The Sautéed Greens & Things, which is collard greens mixed with carrots, black-eyed peas, celery and bacon. The mac and cheese is also fantastic.
- Entree: The wings and brisket are both excellent, but if you happen to go on a Tuesday, you’ve got to try the smoked meatloaf.
- Dessert: The banana pudding is out of this world!
This article was sponsored by the Knoxville Chamber. Learn more about the amazing quality of life Knoxville offers at LifeRedefined.com.
