50 Best American Restaurants in Knoxville

“First time here and it did not disappoint.Definitely get the hush puppies to start. We split the ribeye with potato puree and brussels as sides. Food was fantatsic.The service and atmosphere was even better. Davin was our server and I couldn't say enough positive things about our experience. Will be back for sure!“

“Our server Meghan was very sweet. The only thing that I can say negatively is that the girls are one step from being strippers. The outfits need to change and resemble respect for women. I would never want my daughter to work in place that dresses like that. A business needs to have dignity and respect for everyone. I’m not sure that we will come back. Again Meghan did a great job!“

“nick and j's is a great place to eat! all meals are delicious! can not find a better burger! made with FRESH MEAT NOT FROZEN! best burger in town!! all food is great!! gotta try! you will not be disappointed!! breakfast is great too! lunch specials daily!!“

“We needed a burger and a quick old fashioned! This place was packed and they still turned out our food and drinks fast! The well whiskey was good too. I should have gotten the whiskey flight! Buffalo trace , welled reserve, Blanton’s, and to finish it off with some Taylor! Man, that sounded like a great choice! This is place is on my Must revisit!“

“Came to 71 South after my son in law took us on a tour one night. My wife and I stopped in for dinner one night and it didn’t disappoint. The food is remarkably amazing and the staff is very friendly, unlike a certain place just up the street from here. My wife and I love it so much that this is now our place to come once or twice a month. If you’re nearby, stop on in and give it a try. You will not be disappointed.“

“We got into town about 10pm and wanted some dinner. Everything was closed except for Carolinas Ale House. They absolutely exceeded expectations for being the only place open. The service was fantastic and the food was delicious! My wife got the Tropical Shrimp bowl and I got the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Recommend both!“

“Point B is a well thought out concept from indoor to outdoor seating, comfort, creative menu options with plenty to choose from, gourmet cuisine, brunch daily, excellent lighting, tasty drinks, great wine selection, friendly staff, excellent spot to take friends, clients, kids, or to have a larger group on a special occasion, and great date night spot. I love brunch, lunch and dinner there! It’s always my go-to!“

“Excellent food and service!! We had the rustic pork chops and the chimichurri pork tenderloin! Both were absolutely delicious! We sat on the patio and enjoyed getting to bring our Golden Retriever with us. Our waitress was excellent, very attentive, made good suggestions, and even brought our dog a bowl of water. We look forward to coming again!“

“I spent two days in Knoxville on a trip out west and had the pleasure of having dinner at Not Watson's. The food was delicious! I had the blackened mahi with smashed potatoes and a braised kale salad and it was fantastic! The flavors were amazing and it was seasoned just right. The host and bartender were really nice too!“

“We had a beautiful, romantic anniversary dinner here just a few days ago and the food and service was amazing! Thank you Jenna! My only complaint was I decided to take my lamb home so they boxed it for me and when I got home to eat my food, they didn’t give me any mint sauce so unfortunately I didn’t eat the lamb. I would definitely highly recommend this place. The atmosphere was great just wish I didn’t have to waste my lamb.“

“Such a fun place. Food is really good for the type of place it is. I love that they have their menu and you can order from Bit Burger and it is delivered to you at Token.People that take your orders are always friendly and take good care of your food and drink needs.Lots of fun games to play.Parking: Lots of spots, but most are across the street in the open lot.“

“Placed an order online and went to pick it up in the “curd-side” pickup (the name is adorable). Service was fast and my food was accurate and very fresh. The cheese curds are so good and my burger was perfect.Parking: I got curbside and there were a couple of spaces for that. But if I were to dine in, the parking lot seemed very full.“

“Mooyah...burger joint par excellence! Everything I have ever eaten there is fresh (prepared after you order) and perfectly seasoned. Service is friendly and engaged with the guests. But wait, there's more. I challenge you to try their chocolate shakes which are not dispensed out of a machine. I'd be shocked if you didn't say, "The best I ever had!"“

“One of my besties really wanted to eat downtown on a Sunday afternoon so we decided to give this place a try. We are already planning to return next weekend. The food and service were outstanding. We both got the same sandwich, but different sides, and shared them. A gentleman at the next table let me snap a picture of his shrimp and grits and he said it was delicious. What is not pictured is the bowl of brussels sprouts slaw; an unusual, but super yummy, crunchy, fresh dish, that I plan to re-create at home. You owe it to yourself to eat here, at least once. Their regular dinner menu is completely different from the weekend brunch menu, according to our server, Grecia, who was knowledgeable and personable. Plan to eat here soon - and thank me later!“

“I've been going here since the early 80's. Absolutely LOVE this little gem and so happy that they are still going strong. Still looks the same but that's part of its charm...takes us back to the good 'ol days. The Vols Bacon Cheeseburger is a must try along with their fried catfish (excellent tartar sauce and hush puppies too) and breakfast items. Our favorite sides would be fried okra/tomatoes, coleslaw, tater tots, fries, & pinto beans. Meatloaf is pretty good.. just a little too sweet for me. I need to try more, but it's so hard to not order the BEST burger or Catfish in town. ?“

“Great little place that supports our military. I had a cheeseburger which was very good, my wife had a Philly cheese steak which was top notch. Our server whose name was Sarah was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely return and recommend to others.“

“This place is wonderful! The food is delicious and they have something for everyone here. We love D&B!Kid-friendliness: They gave my little girl 3 sheets of stickers to keep her busy while eating. She ended up spilling her drink and before I even had a chance to get up one of the staff was at our side moving our food to another table and cleaning the mess up.“

“Parkside Grill is consistently an excellent experience for dining. It is one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. The food is delicious with a wide variety of items on the menu and VERY reasonably priced - the salads are amazing! The service is always fast and friendly. I recommend the salmon avocado salad or blackened salmon dish with two sides, each priced at $15.99. They have an outdoor patio for dining and a spacious indoor seating area.“

“Lou is a true gem. My husband and I decided to give Lou's a try after a recommendation from his co-worker that he had the best steak and cheese and pretty much everything. My husband and Lou bonded over both being from New York and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. My husband had the steak and cheese and I decided to go with the chicken cheese steak based on Lou's recommendation and we split both subs. Everything was hot, fresh, and mouthwateringly delicious. The housemade tea and lemonade was phenomenal and our fries were perfectly seasoned hot and fresh. I will definitely be a repeat customer. You will be doing yourself a great disservice if you do not visit this establishment and give this wonderful human being your business.“

“Found Austin’s by accident while traveling through Knoxville. Wow! Everything was great and reasonably priced buffet! We live in Myrtle Beach SC and have been back 2 more times while traveling. That makes 3x in 8 months. Highly recommend!“

“Absolutely amazing experience. We visit the area often as my parents live nearby. This was one of the best meals we’ve had! Michael, our server was fantastic. Attentive but not overbearing. We enjoyed some appetizers (Brussels) and the artichoke dip. We then split the schnitzel. Everything was seriously perfection. Let’s not even talk about the warm crusty bread with whipped sweet butter. Could have eaten just that and been completely satisfied! Then our waiter asked if we wanted desert. We were so full but had to at least look. Could not pass up the crème brûlée chocolate cheesecake. oh-emm-geeee! Also the drinks we enjoyed—slushy concord colado and the cold fashioned. They were spectacular! We will be back before we head home and will be dreaming of this place until our next visit! (Be sure to check out their happy hour specials! We came early on a weekday and it was not crowded but I imagine it would be crowded later or on weekends).“

“This was our first visit to First Watch. We had three in our group. Our food and drinks were delicious. We plan on going back.Vegetarian options: Options available.Parking: Parking in front and around nearby businesses.Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible seating.“

“You bet your Baklava I love this place!The food and service is excellent. The Reuben sandwich and onion rings are Delicious . The BAKLAVA…. Oh my goodness, it is out of this world❣️?❤️ if you passing through, don’t pass on the opportunity to stop here.“

“Me and my buddy were going to grab lunch and found this place by accident and it was some of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Fries were also so good. Everything had a homemade style too it and it was very fresh. Best bang for your buck type of food“

“We had a ladies birthday luncheon in which 24 women attended. Corner 16 staff treated us wonderfully! Helped set up tables, service was wonderful and food was as tasty as ever! Thank you Corner 16 staff for helping to make our girls day special!!!“

“My wife and I have lived in the Farragut area for over 20 years. Elkmont Station restaurant was phenomenal in every category! The ambience, service, variety of entree's and last but not least quality of food. If you’re looking for the highest level dining experience, I highly recommend this restaurant!“

“Toby W served us our delicious dinner and he was amazing! Thank you Toby for serving us no different than other especially when we are deaf and you handled our order beautifully! We will be back and hopefully will see you!I had Knox Burger with fries, my hubby had Big Tex burger with onion rings. They were big portioned so the prices were reasonable. This is at Powell location.“

“Wow, what a gem this spot is! Let me begin with the service, Danielle, unbelievable! Southern hospitality, outstanding attitude and efficient! The restaurant business as a whole has declining service...but not here! Every person at Holly's was smiling and seemed to love their jobs! Food, yum! My entire party loved their meals! I had a great salmon bagel! Prices are very reasonable! Today was a nice spring day so we enjoyed the patio! This is a must for a great breakfast or brunch!“

“Steakhouse burger was dry, burnt, and no bigger than a 1/4 pounder. Brisket sandwich was ok, better if it had more meat than peppers. Waitress made numerous trips to table due to forgetting something, or bringing the wrong thing. Overall, not near worth the price considering quality, quantity, and service.“

“Enjoyed a coworker meetup at Tupelo Honey at Market Square. We made a reservation as we had a large group, and the service was excellent, despite it being a very busy night with a festival happening in the square. The restaurant was very clean with a nice charm. Any version of the chicken and waffles is amazing, and the banana pudding is the best I've ever had!“

“Ordered the nachos and check menu for ingredients and I said nothing about cilantro. Nachos came out with a huge pile of cilantro. Server was very understanding and had them re made, and they where great. Ordered burgers no tomato and onion with double fries and got tomatoes and onions on the burgers and fries and coleslaw not a big enough of an issue to send back. Burger where amazing, fries are perfect. I wish the menu had cilantro warnings on foods. FYI the Pico is he heavy with cilantro as well.“

“Nice little mom an pop restaurant the food is really good the service is awesome an the portions are definitely worth the money. An the people that come in here are great as well. It's just a great place to eat. an the culture of it just reminds you of how it should be without all the hustle an bustle of fast food. You won't meet a stranger in here!! Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself!! Your going to love it!!Kid-friendliness: This restaurant is just a great place to take your family“

“First time at Sami's Cafe and looking forward to my next visit there. I seated myself and was impressed with the fast and friendly service at this restaurant that is open for breakfast and lunch only. My order as a first timer at most restaurants is a club sandwich and french fries with a Dr. Pepper. My waitress placed took the order and it wasn't no time before she brought me a club sandwich that was unbelievable, lightly buttered toasted bread packed with all of the essentials that make a great club sandwich paired up with perfectly cooked crinkle fries. The sandwich was large enough that half of it went home with me for a late evening meal. Thanks Sami's Cafe for an awesome first visit and meal.“

“Good Food! Good Service!Our waitress had the iconic southern charm, and was a great listener. She knew the menu very well, and was experienced.The environment was warm, and they play classic rock, if you're into that type of music.The food was perfect, and the Lemonade was amazing, though it's $2 per refill.I would check this place out! I got a recommendation from a lifelong local.Parking: Parking was easy, the lot had lots of spaces, and there was lots of room, almost no walking to get in.“

“I have been getting the Reuben with Swiss sandwich at Jacob's for many years and have always said it was the best Reuben sandwich in Knoxville. However today was not the case. My sandwich although good did not have the Swiss cheese that makes it so gooey and excellent.(I did ask for it with the Swiss cheese!) I also ordered a small order of onion rings and a side salad. The salad in the past always has crackers included, but were not included today for some reason. Also, prices have gone up! Jacob's has always been a great place to eat and the staff very friendly. Maybe just an off day?? Hate to see prices go up and quality go down!“

“We enjoyed our breakfast. We had a group of seven. The waitress was great! The food was good, and the portions were large. The atmosphere is like a diner. I recommend this location for breakfast.Parking: It was busy the Saturday we visited, but there was plenty of parking.“

“This place is great! I've been there twice and both times were yummy. The chicken sandwich I got had bacon, cheddar, chipotle mayo and bbq sauce. All of the flavors went really well together. They have a nice patio next to a brewery. I think you can even order their food to the brewery which is nice!“

“Beyond impressed. I did take out for my main meal and tonight I treated myself to a steak. I'm a medium well person and when I got back to my room and decided to eat my dinner I cut in and little under cooked. But I had to heat it up. The fact I had a tender flavor morsel of heated up steak in my mouth I'm both lost for words and mad I didn't taste it the it's full fire. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Definitely a winner place in my mind.“

“This is a great little place! We came in because of the puns and stayed for the food. The customer service was great and the girl who helped us was so polite and kind while our kids entertained her. We got the deep fried ravioli, a pizza for the kids, the chicky parm and the mind grinder. We liked everything we got! We haven’t been to the food truck but if we see it we’ll definitely stop.“

“We recently held a private function at the Oliver Royal. The best experience anyone could ever hope for. The helped plan the event and menu options. That was great but the staff on the event night knocked it out of the park. Great folks that made it a very special evening.“

“Our waitress was Sherry and she was the best. Definitely will be back here. This was also Sherry's first day on the floor. I went back in to talk with the manager and let them know how well she did. She's very kind hearted. I hope when I go back this weekend she will be my waitress again...Thank you SherryParking: Parking was great at this time of day. I know it can get crowded but I've always been able to park up front.Kid-friendliness: Most certainly kid friendly...Wheelchair accessibility: There is wheelchair accessibility.“

“Not enough good things to say about Brown Bag! Honestly I can't understand some of the non-5 star reviews that say the food is just "ok." Brown Bag's food is excellent tasting AND healthy! Not to mention they are insanely generous with the Brown Bag Blessing program. To top it off, they give a crazy generous military discount. I've also had the catering several times and the food is great. Give it a try in restaurant or for catering and you won't be disappointed.“

“Five Stars all the Way! We always receive outstanding food, and service at our Knoxville Firebirds. I highly recommend it. The restaurant manager Mark goes above and beyond to ensure everything is served at high standards. Thank you for such great hospitality.“

“The Central Ave location has a beautiful, inviting interior, comfortable seating, and we loved that the tables came from local Smoky Mountain Vintage Lumber! Michelle made us feel welcome right away, provided top service, and guided us through our first visit with solid suggestions. We started with Oysters Rockefeller and an incredibly rich Irish potato soup, then moved on to the duck and scallops for our entres. All were flavorful and beautifully presented. We shared an espresso cheesecake for dessert and enjoyed every bite.“

“We discovered this spot for breakfast and it feels like we hit the jackpot every single time. The food is just delicious and everyone there is super friendly. I am confident if you give this place a try that you too will find your permanent breakfast spot. Enjoy!!“

“Friend's all love it maybe I was expecting a little more. Atmosphere was cool but the bathrooms were in rough shape when I was there. I always envision that a restaurant's kitchen is as clean as the restrooms. Food was pretty good I was not a fan of the wing's or the pizza but I'm spoiled from eating at some other places. Service was really friendly and very attentive. I can def see why it's packed in the afternoon.“

“I’ve gotta say, one of my best memories in a while has got to be coming to Pelicans. My friends and I were looking for a hangout spot after church and THIS IS IT. It is just a great place overall. I even got two things while I was there haha. I started out with the strawberry lemonade flavor. After that I went back for blue raspberry. It’s really good!! They have over 100 flavors I think and good variety too. Very family friendly atmosphere and the employee who served us was super nice and friendly. They have games in the outside area and plenty of seating. Gotta say, we will definitely be back here again!!! Can not recommend this enough! Thank you Pelicans Team for making our Sunday even more special!“

“This is hands down the best WF I have been to. Super clean. Everyone in uniform. And professional. The line cook who was on, was busy, but her quality of food was great.But MVP goes to Cholee. Super nice. Calls the menu you in a radio announcer tone. Her customer service was above and beyond.The rest of the team worked well. Great job everyone!“

“Management of a location can make all the difference! Walking into this HBH on a busy Friday before Easter, all the employees were upbeat and engaging with the guests. When it was my turn, I was greeted with a sincere smile and assisted to ensure all my needs for the holiday were met. They had plenty of sliced ham for those not needing to feed a crowd and to go items for anyone needing lunch. The east side will now be my go to location! Thank you team for the great service!!!!“

“Had only been here once before years ago and decided to come for lunch the other day. Food was very good flavor wise but everything was very heavy tasting - seems like they use a ton of butter and oil on everything. Service was fine, the greasy food was just not my style.“