Dining Out

Seafood is my go-to,” says Fiori co-owner Jesse Vose. “Especially Maine lobster.” His great grandfather Robert Curtis was a lobsterman in Maine and his grandfather still ships blueberries to him from the family blueberry farm. Vose grew up in Harrington (pop: 962), a shipbuilding and seafaring town in the region Mainers call “Down East,” whose “aeyah” accent was immortalized by the “Bert and I” record—as in, “The Bluebuhd slithuhred out into the hah-bah.”) When Vose moved to Lenoir City with his mother and stepfather at…

The Kennedy blends the lively atmosphere of a sports bar with an upscale dining experience. Located at the corner of Gay Street and Union Avenue, this historic building has undergone a remarkable transformation. For 34 years, through 2010, it was the elongated Arby’s. Then came the full building renovation and the fancy Café 5, followed by the Blackhorse Pub & Brewery from 2018 to 2023. It now houses a sophisticated yet inviting destination under the ownership of Chad Kennedy of Kennedy Concepts, owners of Puckers…

The Marlowe’s sophisticated vibe lives up to its Raymond Chandler-esque name. The night was as thick as a conman’s promise, and the streetlights of Knoxville’s Central Street flickered like the last gasps of a dying star. We found ourselves standing before The Marlowe, a joint at 1123 North Central Street, the kind of place where the clink of glasses and murmur of low conversations promised a temporary escape from the city’s hard edges. Walking through the arched doorway, we were greeted by an atmosphere that was…

Pasta alla ruota headlines a Tuscan-inspired menu in downtown Maryville. We began our Tuscan journey at Bella in Maryville with one of what would be several specialty cocktails, this one the Venetian Old Fashioned, made with Old Forrester 80, turbinado sugar, bitters, Meletti Amaro, and garnished with a Luxardo cherry “This drink is smoked with cherrywood,” said bar manager Makayla Williams, “which seasons the flavor of the bourbon.” After sampling a few of Bella’s Meatballs Pomodoro and focaccia, it was time for…

STIR artfully combines the vibes of an oyster bar, scratch-made food, and a by-the-stadium watering hole. It’s hard to keep up with developments in the Old City. With the baseball/soccer stadium set to open next spring, STIR is the newest, snazziest, and largest pre- and post-game destination, located on the ground floor of the Stockyard Lofts. “When did that go up?” asked a member of our party, innocently enough. The original STIR restaurant, known for its scratch-made dishes, oyster bar, craft cocktails, and…

Bistro by the Tracks Bearden brings updated sophistication to the old Orangery building Everyone comes in with fond memories of The Orangery,” says Bistro by the Tracks Bearden General Manager Will Oakes. “We think we’ve taken this beloved spot to its next progression.” Owned by local restauranter Randy Burleson, this new location of Bistro opened its doors in late January of this year. The storied building on Homberg Drive that was previously the home of both The Orangery and Kitchen 919 has been completely…

Lilou’s Belle Epoque vibe and French cuisine, wines, and cheeses combine for an elegant cultural sojourn A gentle rain falls as the streetlamps cast shadows on the sidewalks and you enter the doors of Lilou, walk past the desk of the boutique Hotel Cleo, and peer inside to see walls covered with gilt-framed paintings. Is that Salvador Dali at the bar? Is that Hemingway arguing with Gertrude Stein at that far table? Walking into Lilou is like a trip to Paris. Co-owner Jessica King spent years collecting…

Anaba offers welcoming authentic Japanese cuisine on Northshore Drive The moment you step inside the doors of Anaba, you’re greeted with a warm “Irasshai,” Japanese for welcome, from the team of chefs behind the sushi bar, led by General Manager Young Woo Cha, 32, who’s been with Anaba for 10 years. “I make sushi. I do everything,” says Cha, who came to the U.S. from Seoul, South Korea, as a boarding student in his sophomore year at the Kings Academy in Seymour, where he was a midfielder in soccer. He then played…

A high-end southern prime steakhouse fills a niche on Northshore Drive Tucson, Arizona, native Mandy Glenn was new to Knoxville when she tasted Fire + Smoke’s prime tenderloin tartare small plate, Japanese kuroge wagyu New York strip, and hand cut beef tallow fries. “I was with an Australian guy who hadn’t had tallow fries in forever,” she says. “I called the next day and said, ‘I want to work here.’” Now an enthusiastic, knowledgeable server, Glenn recently brought on her younger brother Micaiah as a host. Fire +…

Fire & Salt gives Chef Alex Gass a stage for his culinary creativity When you walk into Chef Alex Gass’s Fire & Salt restaurant in Oak Ridge, you are immediately charmed by the staffers’ camaraderie. “It’s a family environment,” says hostess Eden Frazier, whose sister Jayley is a pastry chef. They and a dozen or so others came with Gass from Walnut Kitchen in Maryville. When Gass told them he was starting a restaurant, they said they wanted to be a part of it. It’s an atmosphere reminiscent of the TV series…