Page 90 - Cityview_May_June_2014

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noxville is home to a lot of traditions—

and not least of these are the family-owned-and-operated restau-
rants that sprang up in the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s—the best of which
are still around today and going strong. These locations and fami-

lies—along with their host of loyal customers—make up a big part of
what Knoxville’s all about—both on the food scene and at the heart of things.

for our special food Issue, Cityview teamed up with the down-home-cooking-

loving Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who shared with us why he loves
these restaurants (the resounding cry of everyone we interviewed was, “Tim

Burchett? Yeah, he’s in here all the time.”). We hope you’ll pay a visit to any of
the restaurants you haven’t tried before—or that you’ll revisit somewhere that The Lunch House

brought you a smile when you were just a kid growing up in Knoxville.
Opened: 1993
Location: 3816 Holston Drive

Known for: Fried Chicken, Biscuits
and Gravy, and Pan Fried Potatoes

What You’ll Spend: $5-10
Cardin’s rive-In
man, and he and his wife Pauline
Cash Only
intended the location as an outlet
Mayor im Burchett says:
Opened: 1959
to sell the fish he caught. But W.H.

“If I order a plate of chicken and dumplins, Location: 8529 Asheville Highway also bought an ice cream machine,
Known for: Cheeseburgers, Fries, and and soon the restaurant was go -
I know I’m done for the day. By the time
my next meeting rolls around, I’ll be look Milkshakes
ing strong. Located at a beautiful -
What You’ll Spend: $7-8
spot off Asheville Highway in
ing for a couch. Anything good enough to Strawberry Plains, Cardin’s is now
put you into a food coma is worth trying.”
Mayor im Burchett says:
run by Wilma Cardin, assisted by
her daughter Melinda Roberts
At the Lunch House, the yellow
“Cardin’s is a staple of the Carter commu
-
and about 25 employees—some
nity. I love seeing families there spending
of whom have been with the res and orange booths make a cheer
time together and talking to friends. My -
-
ful color against the wood paneled
taurant for 30 years or more. “We favorite is their cherry shake, and the
have such a loyal group of clients,” crinkle cut fries are cooked just right—but wall, while the back dining room is
-
decorated with pictures of custom
says Wilma. “People can bring it’s not a trip to Cardin’s unless you feed ers and friends. “We have a lot of
their kids here and sit out at the one to the birds.”
repeat customers,” says Joyce Col -
picnic tables and not worry about lier of the restaurant her mother,
their kids making too much noise. In 1959, 11-year-old Wilma Cardin
You can hear all the laughter—I Gladys Daugherty, founded in the
humble white clapboard building helped her father, a disabled veter
-
just love it.”
an, to build the small restaurant by
that sits just where Magnolia Avenue
becomes Asheville Highway. Many the side of the road that is known
Mon-Thurs: 5 a.m.-11 p.m. today as Cardin’s Drive-In. W.H.
Fri-Sat: 5 a.m.-12 a.m.
of those customers—including P.J. Cardin was a commercial fisher
-
Clapp (better known now as Johnny

Knoxville) and his family, as well as
lawyers, judges, and Knoxvillians
from every walk of life—have been

coming since the restaurant opened.
Some of them, says Collier, come

every day. Collier’s daughter, Misty
Bullock, is the current proprietor,

upholding the restaurant’s philoso-
phy of “trying to do things right” by

cooking everything from scratch and
treating their customers like family.

“We have a good time—we’re always
fussing and arguing. It’s just like
home!” says Collier.

Mon-Sat: 6 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sun: 7 a.m.-11 p.m
.

88 cityviewmag.com
may june 2014