Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Knoxville

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Knoxville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Connors Steak & Seafood - Knoxville

4.9

4.9 (4315)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Knoxville

About the restaurant

We specialize in fresh seafood and premium aged steaks, as well as gourmet salads, pastas and more! Enjoy a memorable evening with friends and family in our well-appointed dining rooms, or stop by for the lunch you and your associates deserve. Our friendly service and flavorful fare will keep you coming back for more.

Connors Steak & Seafood first opened their doors to the diners at the new Turkey Creek shopping center in Knoxville, TN. Combining a high quality menu with a comfortable atmosphere, Connors quickly became a favorite with fellow Knoxvillians. The rich, wood interiors, warm fireplaces, and "guest-obsessed" service continues to this day, and in 2011 Connors was recognized in the "Best Steak" category of the 2011 Metro Pulse Best of Knoxville publication. Connors Steak & Seafood is Knoxville, TN is AAA 3 Diamond Rated.

Top review

KarlaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Always delicious. Great service and wonderful food.

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4.9

4.9 (1127)

$31 to $50

French

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Northshore Brasserie is a family owned, full-service restaurant and bar serving French Belgian cuisine in a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. Over the last decade, we have become a Knoxville favorite known for hearty delicious food, and outstanding service. For dinner, we specialize in Brasserie classics, such as: steak frites, mussels, roast chicken, fresh seafood, and handmade pastas. We also take advantage of local produce and meats to create in season specials. Our bar has a vibrant, unpretentious atmosphere where locals and out-of-towners gather to enjoy craft cocktails, Belgian beers, and a selection of wines from around the world.

Top review

Crawford

Dined 4 days ago

Best restaurant in Knoxville! Food is amazing and service is wonderful!

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Wilder at Windy Hill Farm and Preserve

4.9

4.9 (100)

$50 and over

Contemporary Southern

Loudon

About the restaurant

Voted "Best Splurge Worthy Restaurant" by Travel Awaits.

Appalachian tradition is rich in grit, resourceful charm, and determination, which drives our culinary heritage. At Wilder, we cultivate farm-to-table ingredients transformed by an appreciation for international cuisine to offer a fun and unique approach to well-loved Southern staples.

20% service fee assessed on all charges. Additional tipping optional.

Limited reservations are offered nightly. Non-alcoholic beverages included.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Oysters and Shrimp & Grits were great starters. Sirloin and Elk chop excellent main dish selections

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Experience

Dinner at Wilder

Experience

Five-Course Tasting Menu

Tupelo Honey - Knoxville

4.8

4.8 (2665)

$30 and under

Contemporary Southern

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Tupelo Honey is a revival of Southern Comfort Food and traditions rooted in the Carolina Mountains we call home. We craft brunches, lunches and suppers that bring family and friends around the table and allow for conversations and cocktails to linger longer than usual. Always scratch-made, always responsibly-sourced, and always Southern.

Top review

Sam

Dined 2 days ago

We attended Tupelo Honey for a birthday with a party of 6. The staff were super sweet and the food was the best meal we’ve all ever had (seriously.), granted it wasn’t too busy given it was a Wednesday night. Regardless, I’d recommend this spot to anyone looking for really nice food at a relatively low price given the quality

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Popular dish

Tupelo Shrimp & Grits (gf)

Popular dish

Biscuits for a Cause

Popular dish

Honey-dusted Fried Chicken

Balter Beerworks

4.8

4.8 (84)

$30 and under

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Balter Beerworks is a scratch kitchen brewpub located in downtown Knoxville. We offer a welcoming environment that celebrates craft beers and made from scratch food. Every bite and every sip at Balter is crafted daily from scratch, using the freshest ingredients available. We are constantly refreshing food and beer menus to highlight seasonal delicacies. Balter offers a place for friends and family to reconnect in a space that weaves urban aesthetics with the history of an old service station.

Top review

TedVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Our server was excellent and the shrimp cocktail salad special was great!

Chesapeake's West Knoxville

4.7

4.7 (1789)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Chesapeake’s West derives much of its authentic Eastern Shore qualities from décor that features genuine nautical antiques and artifacts. Pairing this cozy, seaside ambiance with welcoming service and fresh ingredients has made it the perfect spot for creating memorable moments.

As part of the Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants, we offer fresh seafood that’s sourced daily, local, handcrafted microbrews, an extensive wine list and prime-graded beef. We are known for live Maine lobster, Maryland Crab cakes, a variety of fresh fish, and assorted oyster selection.

Chesapeake’s features a raw bar, Sunday brunch, and happy hour in the bar/lounge. Full menus — including gluten free options are available and can be enjoyed on our patio. Free onsite parking and a courtesy shuttle is available for local hotels.

Whether you come for the food, the drinks, or the atmosphere, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.

Buffet only on Easter, Mother's & Father's Days, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Top review

Brandon

Dined 1 day ago

Always good service and good food. Will continue to go there for seafood

The Chop House - Sevierville

4.6

4.6 (1841)

$30 and under

Steak

Sevierville

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Chop House® restaurants, where we strive to provide each guest with friendly service in an inviting environment. Our service and our food is guaranteed!

Established in 1992 by Mike Connor with the help of family and friends, The Chop House® has become one of the premier casual restaurant concepts in the Southeast, with 12 locations spread across 4 states.

Our number one goal is to provide a superior dining experience to every guest. We do this by providing guest-obsessed service and generous portions of delicious food using the freshest ingredients.

Top review

Bryan

Dined 2 days ago

The food was solid. Our server, Conrad, was top notch. He made the evening better.

Calhoun’s Oak Ridge

4.6

4.6 (101)

$30 and under

American

Oak Ridge

About the restaurant

Located along the banks of Melton Hill lake, Calhoun’s Oak Ridge sits along the beautiful Oak Ridge greenway with every seat in the restaurant offering a view of the water. This location is accessible by boat, has a a covered outdoor dining patio as well as seating around the fire pit with a panoramic view of Melton Hill Lake. Calhoun's has become a place where friends and family gather to celebrate what’s good in their lives while they sample some of Tennessee’s best BBQ, ribs, steak, and sandwiches. So come on down and experience the best hospitality and BBQ around.

Top review

Sally

Dined 7 days ago

We had a fantastic server . She was energetic and friendly and humorous. We like to sit outside and look at the water. It was quiet and peaceful. We enjoy the quality of the food as well.

STIR - Knoxville

4.6

4.6 (824)

$31 to $50

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

STIR is the perfect restaurant to sip a craft cocktail over a dozen oysters, enjoy a night out, or meet for lunch. Located in the heart of Old City, the restaurant is an open-air concept with a large, heated outdoor patio. We are open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Great food starts with fresh, local ingredients. Our kitchen prepares everything from scratch, and our signature raw bar is stocked with fresh oysters and seasonal seafood. STIR is famous for craft cocktails. We freeze and carve 300-pound blocks of artisanal ice in-house, age certain cocktails in oak barrels for richer flavors, and place others on draft for crispness and carbonation. The result: categorically elevated cocktails. Our passion for fine spirits also compels us to find and share rare bottles, many of which are extremely difficult to procure. We welcome Knoxville to enjoy our unmatched cocktails, fresh seafood, and classic dishes in an atmosphere of genuine hospitality

Top review

Deborah

Dined 3 days ago

Incredible food, drinks and service. Thank you Maleigha for making our daughter's birthday celebration so special.

The Drawing Room

4.5

4.5 (18)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

The Drawing Room is a one-of-a-kind experience nestled within the walls of the premier luxury hotel, The Tennessean. Open to the hotel guests and those not staying at the hotel. Leather lounge seating and well-appointed decor are just the start as you enter this intimate setting. Join us for breakfast, dinner or our famous Afternoon Tea! Enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail while basking in the warmth and elegance of this must try Restaurant. Make your reservation today!

Top review

Greg

Dined 7 days ago

the servers were very good and considerate. Food was also excellent. Would recommend the restaurant to anyone.

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Experience

Afternoon Tea Service

Experience

Gatsby Tea

Experience

Nutcracker Tea Service

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