When I told my foodie friends I was coming to Knoxville, this was one of the first suggestions everyone mentioned for something upscale. It did not disappoint.
I tried the whiskey flight and honestly each one was excellent. I decided to get a small plate and entree. I went with the little gyro tacos and they were great for something to start. Main course was the short rib and oh man… melted in my mouth so delicious. Definitely worth going. A little pricey but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Keftedes, Beef Short Ribs
Carlos Negron (Crazy Carlos)
I loved the food amazing drinks and service was amazing. We had an amazing dinner and the atmosphere was serene and comfortable for a great date and conversation. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mariana Tharp
Family favorite! Not only is the food delicious, the drinks and service are great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanakopita, Baklava, Lamb Chops, Beef Short Ribs
Fire
Probably the best food I have had in Knoxville in a long while. Not a single bad dish! I got the Feta Hushpuppies, Solomos, and the Bread Pudding. I can’t wait to go back and have it all again. Kate was my server and she was absolutely wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread Pudding
Kaylee Martin
The food and drinks were 10/10 amazing. Our bartender was Chris and he was the best i've ever had. He truly has a passion for making drinks and he puts a lot of effort into each one. Definitely recommend to everyone!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeff Bohanan
As always, Kefi exceeds expectations. Definitely get the flaming cheese appetizer every time. Brother-in-law requested this as we went to Kefi last time they were in town
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Titus Arthur
Great drinks! Well, some drinks are good. The margarita is good, and Pandora's box is fine; they have a watermelon drink with tequila (I forget the name) and it was not so great. Before I get to the bad, I must include that our server, Caroline, was PERFECTION. The staff here is incredible and takes the time to support one another, which was good to see.
Now the bad: the food should be better given the prices charged. For the sharables, the falafel was bland, and also not quite as crispy as I normally expect falafel to be; they sacrificed sufficient sauce for presentation, which ultimately highlighted how awfully dry and bland it was. The meatballs were okay, but suffered similar issues to the falafel. The octopus was liked by those who had it, and the mussels were fine.
For the mains: the Branzino is not something I'd recommend. The skin away from the edges is slimy and needs removed, which at the price charged, is work I don't think should be needed; a sharper knife may have hid the poor quality of cooking, but the butter knife provided couldn't cut cleanily in two different wasys: 1) it struggled to get through the dry surface of the fish to begin with, then 2) the slimy skin just got dragged by the knife along the pull. The sauce was great at least, which in part, saved the dry fish. The shortrib was better, but the polenta it's served on was bland. A ribeye was ordered by a third dinner mate who didn't make it through more than half of it, which seems review enough in itself.
These prices are too high for what I feel are mediocre dishes. I'm glad they look nice, but I can get the pictures of your food online for free; I want them to taste like it was worth the trip downtown to eat AND worth the price that Kefi is charging for them. Downtown Knoxville has tastier, more affordable places to eat in spades.
Wheelchair accessibility: The main entrance is steps only if I recall; not sure they have access for those in wheelchairs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
sarah miller
Super duper yummy!!!!! The cocktails, small plate, entrees, and dessert were all so delicious!! Our server Jillian was amazing and so kind! Perfect spot for a fancy date night or special occasion!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeannie Evans
The food was excellent. Large cocktail menu and Greek wines. Our server was kind and very attentive. The pace in which the small plates were brought out was great.
Dietary restrictions: Many gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A Estrada
Food- Some dishes were *extremely* good, but the grape leaves fell short (so dry and weird) and the desserts (just get more small plates instead!). The saganaki was also just okay. I think it was too thin a piece of cheese, I grew up eating this/make it at home and was underwhelmed. They were also a little stingy with the bread to go with the dishes, and the crostini were just okay (didn’t taste fresh) while the pita was very good. A lot of the other cheese dishes we had were delicious. Cocktails- Very, very good. Impressive that they have such a wide selection and pre-make them so that you can taste a bunch of different ones. Highly recommend the cocktails flights, almost everything we tried was top-notch and presentation was great too.
Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian small plates and salad offerings, in fact almost all of them were. Didn’t see any vegetarian entrees though.
Went here for my birthday celebration and was not disappointed! From the ambiance to the service and most importantly the food, everything was stellar! My favorite food is Mediterranean and to see a fancy touch to it was absolutely amazing. This is my all time favorite Knoxville restaurant. My husband and I shared a main entree which was the chicken and rice. We also tried the spanakopita which was the best my husband has had which says alot because we have tried many. Their drinks are also very good and one left me feeling tipsy. You will not be disappointed with this restaurant!
Emily Jackson
I want to start by saying that our server, Hannah, was excellent! The 2-star service is on management.
I have been to Kefi several times and really enjoyed it, but tonight's visit was very disappointing. I made a reservation through the website. In special requests, I requested a regular height table or booth (no bar height / high top). This is due to a medical issue. I also verified it when I called the restaurant later to make a slight change to the reservation. I did not specify that it was for medical reasons since it didn't seem to be an issue and didn't feel like getting into my person business. When we arrived, 2 of the people in our party were already seated and they were at a high top table. When the waitress came back, I pointed out that I had requested a lower table. She spoke with the manager, who came over and asked if the request was "for accessibility reasons". I told her that it was not an accessibility issue but it was a comfort/health issue for multiple people in the party. She walked away, came back, and informed us that due to having other reservations they were unable to move us but would notate our account for next time. At this time (5:30pm) most of the tables were still empty, and assuming not every party had requested a low table, they could have easily moved us and put a different party at the higher table. We decided to just deal with it since we were excited for our meal, but I ended up standing for the last 30-40 minutes of our meal because I was in so much pain from the tall chairs. It also caused comfort issues for the my pregnant sister. During our meal, everything was delicious. The only issue with the food was that the pastitsio came out completely cold. It had been put in the oven but not heated through. When I brought it to Hannah's attention she immediately took it back, had a new one prepared, and had it comped. She was extremely attentive and friendly during our meal and if any of us do go back, it will be because of her.
Extremely impressed! Absolutely everything was top notch. The service was excellent and every dish was cooked/seasoned to perfection. We loved the lobster pasta, and the cocktail flight tray was on point. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanakopita, Bread Pudding
Uri Shatten
Well worth the visit if you are in the area. The staff are extremely friendly and the food was out of this world. The chef even modified one of his recipes for the table, which just took the experience to the next level.
When I told my foodie friends I was coming to Knoxville, this was one of the first suggestions everyone mentioned for something upscale. It did not disappoint.
I tried the whiskey flight and honestly each one was excellent. I decided to get a small plate and entree. I went with the little gyro tacos and they were great for something to start. Main course was the short rib and oh man… melted in my mouth so delicious. Definitely worth going. A little pricey but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Keftedes, Beef Short Ribs
I loved the food amazing drinks and service was amazing. We had an amazing dinner and the atmosphere was serene and comfortable for a great date and conversation. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Family favorite! Not only is the food delicious, the drinks and service are great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanakopita, Baklava, Lamb Chops, Beef Short Ribs
Probably the best food I have had in Knoxville in a long while. Not a single bad dish! I got the Feta Hushpuppies, Solomos, and the Bread Pudding. I can’t wait to go back and have it all again. Kate was my server and she was absolutely wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread Pudding
The food and drinks were 10/10 amazing. Our bartender was Chris and he was the best i've ever had. He truly has a passion for making drinks and he puts a lot of effort into each one. Definitely recommend to everyone!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As always, Kefi exceeds expectations. Definitely get the flaming cheese appetizer every time. Brother-in-law requested this as we went to Kefi last time they were in town
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great drinks! Well, some drinks are good. The margarita is good, and Pandora's box is fine; they have a watermelon drink with tequila (I forget the name) and it was not so great. Before I get to the bad, I must include that our server, Caroline, was PERFECTION. The staff here is incredible and takes the time to support one another, which was good to see.
Now the bad: the food should be better given the prices charged. For the sharables, the falafel was bland, and also not quite as crispy as I normally expect falafel to be; they sacrificed sufficient sauce for presentation, which ultimately highlighted how awfully dry and bland it was. The meatballs were okay, but suffered similar issues to the falafel. The octopus was liked by those who had it, and the mussels were fine.
For the mains: the Branzino is not something I'd recommend. The skin away from the edges is slimy and needs removed, which at the price charged, is work I don't think should be needed; a sharper knife may have hid the poor quality of cooking, but the butter knife provided couldn't cut cleanily in two different wasys: 1) it struggled to get through the dry surface of the fish to begin with, then 2) the slimy skin just got dragged by the knife along the pull. The sauce was great at least, which in part, saved the dry fish. The shortrib was better, but the polenta it's served on was bland. A ribeye was ordered by a third dinner mate who didn't make it through more than half of it, which seems review enough in itself.
These prices are too high for what I feel are mediocre dishes. I'm glad they look nice, but I can get the pictures of your food online for free; I want them to taste like it was worth the trip downtown to eat AND worth the price that Kefi is charging for them. Downtown Knoxville has tastier, more affordable places to eat in spades.
Wheelchair accessibility: The main entrance is steps only if I recall; not sure they have access for those in wheelchairs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Super duper yummy!!!!! The cocktails, small plate, entrees, and dessert were all so delicious!! Our server Jillian was amazing and so kind! Perfect spot for a fancy date night or special occasion!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was excellent. Large cocktail menu and Greek wines. Our server was kind and very attentive. The pace in which the small plates were brought out was great.
Dietary restrictions: Many gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food- Some dishes were *extremely* good, but the grape leaves fell short (so dry and weird) and the desserts (just get more small plates instead!). The saganaki was also just okay. I think it was too thin a piece of cheese, I grew up eating this/make it at home and was underwhelmed. They were also a little stingy with the bread to go with the dishes, and the crostini were just okay (didn’t taste fresh) while the pita was very good. A lot of the other cheese dishes we had were delicious.
Cocktails- Very, very good. Impressive that they have such a wide selection and pre-make them so that you can taste a bunch of different ones. Highly recommend the cocktails flights, almost everything we tried was top-notch and presentation was great too.
Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian small plates and salad offerings, in fact almost all of them were. Didn’t see any vegetarian entrees though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanakopita
Restaurantji Recommends
Went here for my birthday celebration and was not disappointed! From the ambiance to the service and most importantly the food, everything was stellar! My favorite food is Mediterranean and to see a fancy touch to it was absolutely amazing. This is my all time favorite Knoxville restaurant. My husband and I shared a main entree which was the chicken and rice. We also tried the spanakopita which was the best my husband has had which says alot because we have tried many. Their drinks are also very good and one left me feeling tipsy. You will not be disappointed with this restaurant!
I want to start by saying that our server, Hannah, was excellent! The 2-star service is on management.
I have been to Kefi several times and really enjoyed it, but tonight's visit was very disappointing. I made a reservation through the website. In special requests, I requested a regular height table or booth (no bar height / high top). This is due to a medical issue. I also verified it when I called the restaurant later to make a slight change to the reservation. I did not specify that it was for medical reasons since it didn't seem to be an issue and didn't feel like getting into my person business.
When we arrived, 2 of the people in our party were already seated and they were at a high top table. When the waitress came back, I pointed out that I had requested a lower table. She spoke with the manager, who came over and asked if the request was "for accessibility reasons". I told her that it was not an accessibility issue but it was a comfort/health issue for multiple people in the party. She walked away, came back, and informed us that due to having other reservations they were unable to move us but would notate our account for next time. At this time (5:30pm) most of the tables were still empty, and assuming not every party had requested a low table, they could have easily moved us and put a different party at the higher table.
We decided to just deal with it since we were excited for our meal, but I ended up standing for the last 30-40 minutes of our meal because I was in so much pain from the tall chairs. It also caused comfort issues for the my pregnant sister.
During our meal, everything was delicious. The only issue with the food was that the pastitsio came out completely cold. It had been put in the oven but not heated through. When I brought it to Hannah's attention she immediately took it back, had a new one prepared, and had it comped. She was extremely attentive and friendly during our meal and if any of us do go back, it will be because of her.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Keftedes, Saganaki, Spanakopita, Octopodi Grilled Octopus, Beef Short Ribs
My third time here and Kefi is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Extremely impressed! Absolutely everything was top notch. The service was excellent and every dish was cooked/seasoned to perfection. We loved the lobster pasta, and the cocktail flight tray was on point. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanakopita, Bread Pudding
Well worth the visit if you are in the area. The staff are extremely friendly and the food was out of this world. The chef even modified one of his recipes for the table, which just took the experience to the next level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5