Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Knoxville

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

The Marlowe

4.9

4.9 (1564)

$31 to $50

Continental

Knoxville

About the restaurant

You don’t have to go far for an exceptional culinary experience.

Reviewers say “consistently spectacular” with friendly “non-stuffy” service. The Marlowe simply is Knoxville’s answer to great metropolitan dining.

We proudly offer an extensive and diverse wine list featuring carefully selected whites and reds from the finest wineries around the world. Bistro by the Tracks is a recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, 2010.

Join us for an evening of dining that is at once casual and elegant. Reservations most appreciated.

Top review

StanVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Was an incredible experience from stepping into the door, ordering drinks and apps, to the entrees and desert! Fantastic cocktails wine service and food. Absolutely perfect evening!

Northshore Brasserie

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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Eggspectation - Knoxville

4.9

4.9 (10)

$30 and under

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Founded in Montreal in 1993, eggspectation is world-famous for elevated takes on comfort-food classics for brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. Eggspectation uses classic ingredients and bold new flavors to create memorable dishes in a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. When you are dining with the people who matter during the moments that matter, eggspectation is where memories are made. Our menu... *Brunch, including elevated takes on pancakes, French toast, omelettes, and Benedicts, where you will always taste the quality with free-range eggs, thick-cut bacon, and always 100% real maple syrup. *Lunch, including hand-crafted sandwiches and burgers, served on artisanal breads. *Dinner, including culinary adventures of seafood, steaks, lamb chops, pasta, and more. *Plus tastes from our home in Montreal, including poutine, crêpes, and duck confit. *Full-bar, available all day, serving all your favorite libations as well as our own signature cocktails and mimosas.

Top review

fred

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Food and service were both excellent. What more needs to be said?

Copper Cellar (West)

4.8

4.8 (447)

$30 and under

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

The classics of Copper Cellar have been refined over 40 years and offered in this West Knoxville fine-dining destination in a comfortable setting. From our steakhouse selections and premium seafood to our Award-Winning Sunday Brunch, the food is always special and delicious.
Cappuccino's side with Italian fare open Sunday - Saturday from 5pm - close. If Cappuccino's seating desired please note in special request box. If any questions, please call the restaurant.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 7 days ago

It is a wonderful dining experience. Great food, great service and most of all great ambience. I know people often want the restaurant to be updated, but it is a bit of a time capsule to an era where dining was a bit more of an experience. It was a great loss when the Cumberland Avenue Copper Cellar Down Under was lost due to progress. We were young and we were there when the first two opened. I hope this one remains as it is, as long as I'm around. If so, I'll keep dining there!

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!

The Chop House - W. Knoxville

4.7

4.7 (1831)

$30 and under

Steak

Knoxville

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

StevenVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The Chop House is back! This is our go-to restaurant and after a bump in the road at our last visit, everything is back to normal. First, a shout out to our server, Haley -very attentive and what a great smile! The dinners were excellent (as usual) - the chopped salad with salmon and the Chop House pork chop were served perfectly. We'll be back soon.

Chesapeake's Downtown

4.7

4.7 (1055)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Chesapeake’s Downtown 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, Chesapeake’s Downtown offers fresh seafood that’s sourced daily, local, handcrafted microbrews, an extensive wine list and prime-graded beef. Chesapeake’s Downtown is known for live Maine lobster, Maryland Crab cakes, a variety of fresh fish, and assorted oyster selection.

Chesapeake’s Downtown features a 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.

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

Top review

Pam

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

As always Chesapeakes downtown Knoxville is an awesome place to celebrate. Our waiter Mike was very attentive and cheerful and very honest if he didnt know an answer. All in all a great time and meal. Thank you for another memorable anniversary.

The Chop House - N. Knoxville

4.6

4.6 (499)

$30 and under

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

The Chop House is a top casual dining restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee, established in 1992. Known for its warm atmosphere, it's a favorite for both locals and visitors, ideal for special occasions or casual nights out. Renowned for exceptional service and delicious food, The Chop House offers a diverse menu, including perfectly cooked steaks from premium dry-aged beef, fresh grilled seafood like salmon and shrimp, and a variety of salads and pastas for lighter appetites. Don't miss their homemade desserts, such as Caramel Fudge Cake and Triple Berry Shortcake, for a sweet finish. Additionally, The Chop House features a carefully curated wine list and craft cocktails to enhance your dining experience. What sets The Chop House apart is its unwavering commitment to quality, using only the finest ingredients to ensure every meal is memorable. Come and experience the perfect blend of quality and flavor at The Chop House.

Top review

Patrick

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Great atmosphere with excellent food and service.

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.

Mimi's Cafe - Knoxville

4.0

4 (56)

$30 and under

American

Farragut

About the restaurant

Make any mealtime an event to savor. From sweet and savory breakfast dishes to mouthwatering entrées, crowd-pleasing to tempting desserts, every dish is made with care, just for you and your guests. Find exactly what you’re craving at Mimi’s.

Top review

Jacob

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Best I can tell Mimi’s uses open table as a waitlist App rather than serving as a true reservation. Arrived at my reservation time only to be told there would be a 20 minute wait. Walk-ins and reservations were just placed on the same check in list and were called for seating in order of arrival - reservation or not.

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Experience

Chef Prepared 3 Course Meal - 11am to Close

Experience

Wine Wednesday-All Day

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