Game day has arrived; you’ve been waiting for this all year. Decked out in your orange and white overalls and getting ready to head towards Neyland Stadium, you suddenly get a game-day craving for game-day delicacies. You’re thinking a burger, or maybe BBQ—no, maybe you want wings. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered with restaurants, both close to the stadium and on the way there, that can provide you with all your tailgating favorites.
Sweet P’s Downtown Dive
Looking to pack the perfect game day meal? Sweet P’s Barbeque and Soul House offers a number of meats, sandwiches, appetizers, and more to complete your game day meal. Choose from a variety of meats sold by the pound or by the sandwich. You could pack their huge smoked Wings, flash fried and tossed in spicy garlic BBQ Sauce or soul rub. If you want to change it up a little, try their BBQ Burrito, stuffed with BBQ pork or chicken, pintos, slaw, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. A great on-the-go meal for the big game is their Sweet P’s Sampler: a BBQ pork or chicken sandwich, ¼ rack of ribs, beef brisket, and three sides.
410 W. Jackson Ave, 37902
(865) 281-1738
Mon: Closed
Tue-Thu: 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 11am-9pm
sweetpbbq.com
Gus’s Good Time Deli
If you’re up for a good time, check out Gus’s, conveniently located on Cumberland Avenue. Stop in on your way to the game to pick up a Good Times Favorite like their Philly Steak and Cheese: thinly sliced rib eye steak with grilled green peppers and onions, mayo, mustard and provolone cheese, served with fries. Or snack on their Cheese Bings: breaded cubes of cheddar and pepper jack cheese deep fried.
815 Melrose Pl, 37916
(865) 525-9485
Mon-Sun: 9am-4am
Dazzo’s Pizzeria
Touch down in Dazzo’s Pizzeria for one of downtown Knoxville’s best gourmet pizzas. All of you Vols fans out there should try the Knox-Patch Pie: hot garlic sauce, prosciutto, goat cheese, caramelized onions, and oil-cured black olives. Dive into Italy with the Fat Tony, which features roasted garlic sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, black olives, banana peppers, and mushrooms. If a sandwich strikes your fancy, grab a Classic Italian: ham, salami, pepperoni, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and banana pepper served cold.
710 Gay St, 37902; (865) 525-2105
Mon-Thu: 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: 11am-10pm
dazzospizza.com
Yassin’s Falafel House
Craving something a little different on game day? Yassin’s Falafel House is just the spot for you. Grab a Falafel to go: falafel wrapped in a pita with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and homemade tahini sauce. For those of you with a bigger appetite, try the Falafel Sampler Plate, which includes falafel salad, homemade hummus, and baba ganoush with a side of pita. Or pick up their Gyro, a favorite crafted with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, chickpeas, and olives topped with gyro meat and homemade tzatziki sauce.
706 Walnut St, 37902; (865) 387-8275
Mon-Sat: 11am-9pm
Sun: Closed
Big Kahuna Wings
Don’t miss out on the tailgating headquarters: Big Kahuna Wings. Whether you are tailgating in the comfort of your home, out on the town out west, or driving in to the stadium, stop by Big Kahuna. Choose from Wing Mania, which feeds 15 and includes 100 traditional wings, two pint sauces, and four pounds of BKW chips. Or grab the Pork Party, a 10-person party, with three pounds of smoked BBQ pork, buns, one bottle of BKW original BBQ sauce, and two quart sides. For larger parties, order their Big Kahuna Tailgate Party, which feeds 30-50 and includes 100 traditional wings, two pint sauces, five pounds of smoked BBQ pork with buns, two bottles of BKW original BBQ sauce, four quart sides, and eight pounds of BKW chips.
12828 Kingston Pike, 37934; (865) 288-7891
Mon-Thu: 11am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10:30pm
Sun: Closed
bigkahunawings.com