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 (4301)

$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

DouglasVIP

Dined 2 days ago

i love the flavor of their steaks and the fried mushroom appetizer is super.

Discover more

Tupelo Honey - Knoxville

4.8

4.8 (2658)

$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

Stephen

Dined 2 days ago

Inside is LOUD- fortunately an outside table was available and it was the evening was cool . We were pretty quickly greeted by our server, Bronson. Who was exceptional and really added to our positive experience. The queso dip was very good and the pork entree was good. The sides of rosemary potatoes and collard greens were very good as well. The chicken and waffles was a little disappointing, only in that wife didn’t care for the over enthusiastic application of black pepper. It was fine for me but she left most of it for take home. Waffles were good. We had a nice evening but really the thing that helped give it 5 stars was our server- he was so attentive that I felt like we were dinning in a “better” restaurant. Our second visit and we won’t hesitate to return.

Discover more

Popular dish

Tupelo Shrimp & Grits (gf)

Popular dish

Famous Fried Green Tomatoes

Popular dish

Biscuits for a Cause

Chesapeake's West Knoxville

4.8

4.8 (1781)

$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

JohnVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Great food and excellent service. Waitress Autumn was fantastic!

Balter Beerworks

4.8

4.8 (80)

$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

Frankie

Dined on Jun 8, 2025

The service and the food was absolutely fantastic!! The Chicken Ranchado is a must get!!

Fleming's Steakhouse - Knoxville

4.7

4.7 (969)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Your Knoxville Fleming's is located on Parkside Drive, in the Colonial Pinnacle Turkey Creek Shopping Plaza. Fleming's in Knoxville is an outstanding choice to enjoy an exceptional Prime steak, glass of wine or handcrafted cocktail. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, hosting a business dinner or simply wanting to enjoy a night out - we will create a safe and memorable evening in our Dining Room or Outdoor Patio. If you prefer to enjoy your fine dining experience at home, you can order and pay for lunch or dinner online and then pick up curbside or select from one of our delivery partners.

Top review

PaulVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great experience as usual. The little hearts and card were nice touches for our anniversary. Food was prepared to perfection.

Discover more

Sips of Summer Wine Dinner

The Chop House - Kodak

4.7

4.7 (809)

$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

KoryVIP

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

The Chop House, particularly this location in Kodak, is consistently excellent. Service is always superior and the food is great. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a great meal that is reasonably priced.

STIR - Knoxville

4.7

4.7 (811)

$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

Kimberly

Dined 6 days ago

We enjoyed our meal and the service. It’s a trendy location with parking nearby. The only negative was the amount of gnats flying around.

Calhoun’s Oak Ridge

4.6

4.6 (100)

$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

David

Dined 5 days ago

Very impressive Buffet! Great way to treat Dad on Father’s Day!

201 Café and Wine Bar

4.5

4.5 (28)

$30 and under

American

Oak Ridge

About the restaurant

Experience distinctive dining with Mediterranean and European-American flavors and enjoy a professionally-staged local music venue. Our bar offers wine, specialty cocktails, and house-made infused liquors. Each menu item is crafted to order using fresh, whole ingredients. Join us for live jazz on Friday nights and a mix of music on Saturdays, from dance to amateur performances. Come for the food, stay for the music!

Top review

Kat

Dined on May 24, 2025

It was a great evening. Justin took excellent care of us. Dinner was tasty, the drinks were spot on, & the band was rocking!

Calhoun's Bearden Hill

4.1

4.1 (79)

$30 and under

American

Bearden Hill

About the restaurant

Calhoun’s Bearden is located at 6515 Kingston Pike, very close to I-40/I-75 (Papermill Road Exit) in West Knoxville. This is the home of our custom-built, steam-heated microbrewery where we handcraft specialty beers to the taste of Tennesseans. The brewery’s copper kettles can easily be seen from most seating in this contemporary atmosphere. 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

Sherry

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

It was a most pleasant experience. The food was good and our server Blake was great. I don’t usually go to this location, but I will from now on.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Knoxville

Explore more Diners' Choice lists

American