Texas swagger, wild game, and a well-traveled chef make for a unique experience in an iconic Old City saloon. Story By N. Brooks Clark | Photography by Ethan Smith Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 5 (September/October…

Three Knoxville Barbecue Spots Serving Up Unforgettable Flavor Story By Caroline Williams
Photography by Ethan Smith & Caroline Williams Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 5 (September/October 2026) You smell it…

The Restaurants That Stand the Test of Time Story & Photography By Ethan Smith Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 4 (July/August 2026) In a city that continues to grow and reinvent itself, there is something…

Trout roe to burrata, the Season’s dining room takes center stage, as Chef Jewell sets a new standard one detail at a time Story by Brooks Clark | Photography by Nathan Sparks Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 3 (May/June…

A Culinary Celebration Honoring Knoxville’s Finest Food Artists Story By Intro by Nathan Sparks | Chef Stories by N. Brooks Clark | Photography by Nathan Sparks & Micha Haas | Food stying by Chelsie Hall Appeared in Cityview…

A Guide to Knoxville’s Best Hot Dog Story By Ethan Smith | Photography by Nathan Sparks & Ethan Smith Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 3 (May/June 2026) There are men who fall in love with food in a fine dining…

In the quiet of the woods, sophistication takes its seat at the table.

Jim Saunders and Jimmy Loup’s latest venture soars with history, flavor, and flair.

An evening at Matt Gallaher’s Market Square rifugio lets the cuisine shine. There are restaurants that announce themselves with fanfare—brash décor, inflated adjectives, a signature cocktail named after someone’s grandmother. Then there…

Whether it's inside relaxing with a cold specialty drink or out on a patio with the warm sun beating down on you, that midday bite is the perfect break from the hustle and bustle. Dig in! I’ve been something of a creature of habit when…

Seafood is my go-to,” says Fiori co-owner Jesse Vose. “Especially Maine lobster.” His great grandfather Ralph Curtis was a lobsterman in Maine and his father even facilitates the supply blueberry juice from Down East, Maine. Vose grew…

Knoxville has been expanding its restaurant scene and that includes those for dietary restrictions. Over the past few years, new locations have been popping up like Benefit Your Life Bakery & Cafe as well as Small Comforts Kitchen.…

Chef Cory Giaquinta came to Bella after a year at the Dancing Bear Lodge. He comes from a big Italian family in Massachusetts. His father’s side is from Sicily. “I use a lot of my grandma’s recipes,” he says. “I add more basil, garlic, and…

Born in Athens, Tennessee, Chef Jared Martin set foot in his first commercial kitchen when he was 16, serving in an ice cream shop. Six months later he shifted to cooking food, and it seems he never stopped. Martin spent time perfecting…

Chef John Bryant was born in Johnson City and trained at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. He ran a catering business in Johnson City for eight years then joined Bistro by the Tracks two years ago. He is committed…

“He’s artistic and cooking is his art form,” said Chef Ian Carson’s mother, Rabbi Shoshana Carson of Heska Amuna Synagogue. “At P.F. Chang’s, the head chef took him under his wing.” Chef Spence Bender graduated from Bearden High and is an…

Born in Fountain City, Chef Robert McDonald III began cooking on his family’s outdoor grill anytime guests would come over. An actor at Central High, he had stints acting in New York and LA, then returned to Knoxville and his love of…

Chef Alex Gass started cooking with his mom, aunt, and grandmother for church. His first job was at Big Ed’s Pizza in Oak Ridge. He opened a couple of Aubrey’s for Randy Burleson, went on the road with rock bands, returned to Burleson’s…

Chef Darin Hoagland’s grandparents and mother ran a hunting restaurant in California. “The kitchen, with them, was my comfort zone,” he recalls. He went to culinary school at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, and cooked in…

Named this year’s Grand Champion, Chef Jeff Carter is a long-time culinary talent in East Tennessee. “I cut my teeth here (at Dancing Bear), for seven years,” he says. “This was my first job after Blackberry Farm.” He was executive chef 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…

Pizza that needs no razzle-dazzle to hype up its flavor. A lot of restaurants we cover here at Cityview are beautiful, upscale sit-down affairs. The salad fork on the far left and all that (I had to look that up, by the way). And don’t…

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…

Getting creative with eating healthy out on the town. I have a confession to make: I hate you, salad. And really, it’s not you, it’s me. Those cold leafy greens just don’t get me excited anymore. But that’s not to say I don’t want to…

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…

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…

Local sugary sweets to melt your teeth and your heart, and a lot more besides Rows upon rows of goodies – and suddenly you’re struck with the deadly question, what to choose? Not between the goods themselves, mind you – the choice…

There’s a lot more to Italian cuisine than pasta—but there’s also the pasta. Growing up, a night out at a nice restaurant with the family almost always meant Italian. Perhaps it’s just that my parents found that spaghetti was a safe…

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…

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…

Even though we are only halfway through 2024, Knoxville has plenty of new restaurants that have joined the ranks. Whether you’re looking for southern barbecue or authentic ramen, there is something here for everyone. Humble Hog …

Knoxville chefs raise the bar in culinary excellence Beginning with our first event in 2007, Top Chefs has been a way for Cityview to shine a light on some of the finest culinary talents in East Tennessee. I don’t think we had any idea…

HIS STORY Chef John Bryant trained at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. He ran a catering business in Johnson City for eight years then joined Bistro By the Tracks Catering two years ago. Last year, Bryant…

HIS STORY Chef Alex Gass grew up in Oak Ridge, inspired by his mother and aunt’s cooking for their church. He started at Big Ed’s Pizza and Aubrey’s. Gass (guitar), Associate Chef Billy Krebs (bass), and his son, Assistant Manager…

8 restaurants all $20 and under Don’t want to cook at home, but also don’t want to break the bank dining out? We’ve got you covered. Even though eating in is usually considered the price-efficient option, eating out can be just as…

HIS STORY Chef Darin Hoagland’s grandparents and mother ran a hunting restaurant in California. “The kitchen, with them, was my comfort spot,” he recalls. After culinary school at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he…

HIS STORY Originally from Yakima, Washington, Chef Deron Little started cooking with a master chef at 15. He was a chef for hotels and country clubs, and a resident chef at Greenville Technical College in South Carolina before…

THEIR STORY Chef Lucas Trombley, a Massachusetts native who grew up in Canada, attended Le Cordon Bleu in New Hampshire and worked under Jesse Newmister before catering for national acts on tour. He serves as Executive Chef of The Mill…

HIS STORY Chef Robert McDonald grew up in Fountain City and got into cooking after his family built a gas grill into their back deck and he started grilling burgers for friends. McDonald was an actor at Central High and had stints in…

THEIR STORY A Knoxville native, Chef Noah Goodfriend spent time with the Pizza Kitchen on Northshore, Downtown Grill & Brewery, and in the Earthfare kitchen before joining Point B for its opening in 2022. Chef Chris Cummins, a…

HIS STORY Chef Jared Martin set foot in his first commercial kitchen at age 16, serving in an ice cream shop. Six months later he shifted to food. Martin spent time perfecting his craft in restaurants across the region, connecting with…

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…

Pick out a great outfit and brush up on your wine knowledge—we’re heading out for date night in East Tennessee For first dates, third dates, or sometimes only dates, East Tennessee has a variety of eateries that will help set the mood…

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…

From cozy warm dishes to melt-in-your-mouth desserts, East Tennessee's food scene has become synonymous with comfort When was the last time you said the word comfort and not immediately said the word food right after it? As the cold and…

From Knoxville classics to smalltown favorites, East Tennessee is chuck full of opportunities to eat the best BBQ around Barbeque is an American staple and a Knoxville favorite. While we’re not known specifically for a type of barbeque…

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…

The year is far from over, but 2023 has brought fresh eateries for us all to indulge in To say I’m impressed with the 2023 additions would be an understatement. From a renovated church to a multi-level brew pub, East Tennessee…

Rooftop spaces in East Tennessee offer a unique environment to kick back, relax with a drink, and enjoy the view To see and be seen. A view from the top is a summertime fave in East Tennessee, but with only a handful of rooms with a…

Sit back and enjoy Koyo’s multi-course tasting menu At Koyo, on Clinch Avenue just off Market Square, Executive Chef Chris Bowman wants you to experience an evening of carefully curated courses and wines. “Omakase” refers to a…

Every year, I think there is no way Top Chefs can get any better, but every year it does. That is due to the chefs who pull out all the stops to create innovative offerings that wow their guests. This year, three new restaurants joined the…

Jesse Newmister is a chef comfortable in many genres. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, he yearned to break away from the regional fare. “Any cuisine that’s not German in Terre Haute is exotic,” he laughs. Newmister was exposed to Filipino and…

Oliver Royale Executive Chef Darin Hoagland’s culinary lineage goes back to his Grandpa Joe Bettencourt, who gave up life as a Yellowstone-type cattleman to become owner and grill cook at Marty’s Inn, a hunter’s restaurant in Newman,…

Lonesome Dove Executive Chef Jason Scott once wrote in his personal notebook, “If you cook with passion in your heart, success will always follow.” No coincidence that he has “passion” tattooed in red on the inside of his right bicep and…

Fire & Salt Chef and Proprietor Alex Gass grew up in Oak Ridge, helping his aunt, mother, and grandmother feed hundreds at the Kern United Methodist Church. He also cooked with his mother’s catering business and explored the art of…

Chef Deron Little started Seasons Innovative Bar & Grille in 2013 and made it a perennial Top Chefs contender and winner. “He’s very traditional, very innovative, a purist,” says his protégé, Austin Altena. “He’s also a very good…

Bistro By the Tracks Chef Robert McDonald III grew up in Fountain City. His grandfather Bob was a TVA engineer. His father Robert practices family medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Robert III started cooking when his family put in a…

Noah Goodfriend started bussing tables at O’ Charley’s in high school. He waited at TGI Friday’s and Mellow Mushroom, then applied at the Pizza Kitchen on Northshore. “They didn’t need a waiter, so they put me in the kitchen,” he…

Knoxville’s old school restaurants are still here for a reason and we’re stepping in to taste their legacies If everything old is new again, then these Old School Knoxville restaurants are the trendy up-and-comers on the restaurant…

Point B is a little bit of Paris in Knoxville Owner Daniel Goss likes to tell both the long and the short versions of the founding story of Point B. The condensed version starts in the dark days of the pandemic lockdown in March 2020,…

From burritos and tamales to ceviche and everything in between, Knoxville’s Mexican cuisine is not to be missed. When an ethnic food becomes a staple of American cuisine, we all benefit from the world’s flavors and cultures. East…

Oysters on the half shell and signature cocktails bring NOLA to Market Square The French poet Léon-Paul Fargue wrote, “Eating oysters is like kissing the sea on the lips.” Knoxville’s only raw bar, The Brass Pearl, opened on Market…

You know them, you love them, you can’t live without… their FOOD! Dolly, Guy, Trevor, Blake, Paula, Drew, and Peyton all have local eateries and hangouts that have been swarmed with customers all hoping to get a peak at the…

East Tennessee’s latest restaurants have us lining up for a spot at the table There are few things east Tennesseans love more than a new restaurant. And buddy, do we show up. Crowded foyers, loaded tables, and the fight to survive that…

Bella offers authentic Italian cuisine—and the flaming Pasta in the Wheel! Bella occupies a building in downtown Maryville that was built in 1925 as a J.C. Penney, whose name is memorialized in a mosaic at the front door. For 20…

Local eateries boast both food and fun all in the same location. Date night anyone? Lots of places are just dinner. You eat, you go home. But if you want more than just a meal, East Tennessee has eateries offering all sorts of fun,…

Japanese-style pub Kaizen offers an informal, peaceful atmosphere When you walk into a restaurant and see one of Knoxville’s top chefs enjoying a birthday dinner with her family, you figure you’re in for a good meal. “I would come here…

Get ready for an epic summer of food and fun on Knoxville’s outdoor patios The top three things you can do 10 months out of the year in East Tennessee are golf, ride motorcycles, and dine outside. Knoxville restaurant patios are open…

Osteria Stella offers a true Northern Italian dining experience From the bustling Jackson Avenue sidewalk in the Old City, walking into the softly lit, stylishly designed interior of Osteria Stella feels like stepping into another…

Knoxville chefs raise the bar in culinary excellence There is no question that all of us here at Cityview are thrilled with the outcome of this year’s Top Chefs competition. The times we live in called for some major changes in order…

Downtown Knoxville’s event center, The Press Room, provides a space for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions with in-house catering from Spaces in the City’s City Catering. In the culinary driver’s seat of this company is Chef…

Sipping on wine and munching on small plates in Knoxville’s wine bars A rapidly growing segment of the population has found wine bars a cozy and comfortable place to indulge in the fruits of the vine. From curious novice to established…

Located in the heart of Knoxville’s Old City, Lonesome Dove provides upscale urban western cuisine to a historic part of the region. Inside the kitchen is Chef Jason Scott who works tirelessly to bring the menu—curated by chef and owner,…

Located inside the Avalon Country Club Clubhouse, T-Prime Steak and Seafood brings fine dining and exceptional views together under one roof. Chef Danny Wilhoit has reimagined the menu here, creating upscale American cuisine for…

Located at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro—part of the Oldham Hospitality family—brings the mountain air and southern flare into the lodge and onto the plates of locals and tourists. Chef Jeff…

Cityview 2022 Top Chef 2nd Runner Up The Oliver Royale has been a staple part of Market Square dining offering guests American cuisine in an historic atmosphere. And crafting its menu is Chef Darin Hoagland, a California native who…

Cityview 2022 Top Chefs 1st Runner Up Offering fine dining in Bearden, Burleson Brands’ Bistro by the Tracks offers a unique mix of French-inspired contemporary dishes and Southern fare. Heading up the kitchen and culinary artistry is…

Cityview 2022 Top Chefs Champion Seasons Innovative Bar & Grille opened in 2013. Featuring American cuisine in a sophisticated yet casual atmosphere, Seasons is the brainchild of Chef Deron Little, who has made a name of himself…

Food makes a triumphant return to the historic Regas Square Marble City Market is Knoxville’s first culinary marketplace. Emulating the European food hall concept, the market serves up everything from donuts and ramen to kimchi and…

The Oliver Royale blends debonair décor with flavorful dishes in Knoxville’s downtown When you walk into The Oliver Royale on Market Square, you’re really entering the Jersey Lily Saloon. That’s what it was in 1876, when the Kern’s…

A winter’s feast by Chef Danny Wilhoit at the Avalon Country Club The Avalon Country Club has relaunched T-Prime Steak & Seafood, the formal dining room in the clubhouse, which is nestled in the Avalon subdivision off Hickory…

Whether sitting down or taking to go, you won’t be able to get enough of Knoxville’s breakfast scene You can debate if breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what’s indisputable? Breakfast. Tastes. Good. From sweet to…

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” – Frederico Fellini I am stating this at the outset: pasta is my favorite food. Nothing comes close. Growing up, spaghetti was the only meal that kept me and my brother quiet at the…

Jeff Carter, the original Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro chef, has returned to his roots Before anything else, make a note to visit the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro in Townsend and order Executive Chef Jeff Carter’s North Carolina…

At Brazeiros, fine dining meets a Brazilian tradition of generous offerings of carne If you get movie star treatment from owner Vilmar Zenzen at Brazeiros in Bearden, it’s because he’s had practice. After he launched a…

Locally grown shops prove java and ambiance go hand in hand Coffee is in an era called the Third Wave. Mass-produced and nationwide coffee chains were so Second Wave. Production origins and methods that are fair and sustainable pervade…

Historic downtown character enhances a flavorful Knoxville experience Knoxville’s historic Old City has become a walkable foodie tour, where cultures and cuisines collide to bring a variety of tastes sure to please all palates. I’ve…

Finn’s Restaurant & Tavern makes diners feel at home—even with the ghost With his light green eyes, close-cropped red hair and tall, trim frame, owner Jon Ferrie of Finn’s Restaurant & Tavern could fit easily into a Colin…

A Celebration of Culinary Artistry The smell of fresh-baked muffins wafts out of the oven as I pull out a fresh batch. “Are they done, mama?” my four-year-old, Lincoln, asks as he patiently waits to taste his creation. Chocolate…

Seasons Innovative Bar & Grille Chef Deron Little opened Seasons Innovative Bar and Grille in 2013 amidst a long career in the culinary arts. He combines seasonally inspired and classically prepared American cuisine. A…

Cazzy’s Corner Grill Cazzy’s Corner Grill has been part of the Knoxville community since 2012, serving up classic American cuisine set in a contemporary restaurant design. Inside Cazzy’s kitchen is Chef Annie Fletcher. Fletcher…

The Walnut Kitchen Down on High Street in Maryville, you will find The Walnut Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant serving up locally grown produce and Tennessee beef. There inside, building the menu with a musical flair, is Chef Alex…

Kefi Over on Jackson Avenue in downtown Knoxville, we find Kefi, Jim and Lori Klonaris's Mediterranean restaurant rooted in classic and creative Greek dishes. And inside Kefi’s kitchen you will find Athens, Tennessee, native Chef Jared…

Vida Vida is Jim and Lori Klonaris’s newest fine dining venture in Knoxville, offering Pan-Latin dishes with accents of Asian cuisine. The man behind this new space’s menu is Chef Jonathan Gatlin. A New Orleans, Louisiana,…

Dancing Bear Appalacian Bistro A drive to Townsend will bring you to Dancing Bear Appalachian Lodge, where the Bistro, set amongst the Smokies, serves up regionally inspired dishes in a rustic setting. Working behind the scenes here is…

Bistro by the Tracks Bistro by the Tracks is a French-concept bistro combining contemporary and Southern fare. The restaurant is part of the Burelson Brands lineup of restaurants, and has Chef Robert McDonald III leading the culinary…

Sunspot Nestled on Cumberland Avenue by the University of Tennessee is Sunspot. Part of the Burelson Brands team of restaurants, Sunspot offers up a combination of Southwestern, Caribbean, and Latin American cuisines. Behind the menu is…

Testing out some local takes on an American classic Burgers are my second favorite food ever. (Watch this space for a future food battle to find out my favorite). Few things are more American than the classic hamburger. Add cheese,…

Maryville’s Diamondjack Wine Bar evokes the spirit of speakeasies past    Tucked into a two-bedroom Craftsman house on the edge of downtown Maryville, Diamondjack Wine Bar combines the intimacy of its interior design, the bonhomie of…

Recent restaurant openings offer everything from whiskey to fried Oreos One wouldn’t think the past year was the ideal time to open a new restaurant, but that didn’t keep these six new enterprises from opening around town. With varied…