Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in East Tennessee

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in East Tennessee? 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!

Primo

5.0

5 (180)

$30 and under

Italian

Chattanooga

About the restaurant

Primo, which opened in the spring of 2014, is restaurateur Nathan Lindley’s tribute to his own North Chattanooga neighborhood, presented as a classic American-Italian neighborhood restaurant. Taking its culinary direction from the traditional Italian restaurants of the Northeast, Primo celebrates the rich and comforting dishes that were inspired by Italian cooking and influenced by American prosperity.
As a casual neighborhood bar and restaurant, Primo does not accept reservations for a specific time. A limited number of guests may guarantee a waiting table at the 5:00 opening each night. Also, throughout the night guests may call ahead to the restaurant at 423.602.5555 to be added to the waiting list. The dedicated staff and lively communal environment make for a short and enjoyable wait. Come see us soon.

Top review

Baleigh

Dined on Aug 15, 2024

Primo always provides the most enjoyable dining experience with the most knowledgeable and friendly staff! Their food & wine selections are unmatched to any other restaurant in Chattanooga! If you’re looking for the perfect place for a date night, birthday, anniversary, or even a casual dinner with friends, Primo is the place to be!! Cannot recommend this restaurant enough!!

The Marlowe

4.8

4.8 (1451)

$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. Bistro by the Tracks 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

Stevevip

Dined 6 days ago

Great restaurant with great chef who continues to deliver excellent dishes! Staff was very customer centric and attentive!

Harvest Bearden

4.8

4.8 (1074)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Knoxville

About the restaurant

A new restaurant concept, "harvest - land, sea & vine," is located in Bearden at the corner of Kingston Pike and Mohican, directly across from Nama Sushi Bar. Harvest is open for lunch and dinner daily and features a unique brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. Our menu highlights aged midwestern hand cut steaks and premium fresh seafood selections along with several vegan, salad and house-made pasta options as well as daily chef specials.

Top review

Andrewvip

Dined 1 day ago

Best restaurant in knoxville. The steaks are incredible. Big improvement over their already stellar fare.

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Popular dish

Charcuterie & Fromage Board

Popular dish

Ribeye

Massey's Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (256)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Lookout Mountain

About the restaurant

Massey’s Kitchen is the community gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and drinks.

Our passion is authentic, made from scratch dishes reflected in our menu that provides housemade artisanal breads, pizzas, sandwiches and more all made with fresh ingredients.

We travelled to the Mediterranean regions in search of unique offerings and experiences. Massey’s Kitchen brings the flavors and culture of the Mediterranean to our local community through our open-air spaces, authentic menu and energetic atmosphere

Top review

Barbaravip

Dined 5 days ago

If you walk away hungry from brunch here, it's your own fault! The food was incredible and the portions huge with the prices being fair. What was the best, though, was our waiter, Luke. What a nice young man who represented the restaurant group very well. He thanked us for choosing Massey's Kitchen, but also took the opportunity to share the other restaurants they have in the group. He was so knowledgable and used the word "we" when talking about Massey's Kitchen and Square One, that I asked if he was part of the family who owns the sister locations! It was meant as a compliment to his professional and pleasant demeanor. Good job hiring competent team players!

P.F. Chang's - Knoxville

4.7

4.7 (96)

$30 and under

Chinese

Knoxville

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

James Morgan

Dined on Aug 23, 2024

Only real complaint if the insistence to provide a couple of tiny little romaine lettuce leaves for the lettuce wraps. We have to ask for more just to get midway thru the chicken.

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Experience

Lucky 8 Happy Hour (Mon - Fri, 3 - 6pm)

The Chop House - N. Knoxville

4.6

4.6 (435)

$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

John

Dined 2 days ago

For our anniversary we decided to eat at The Chop House. Are you looking for an excellent primerib or ribeye? This is the place to go. Fantastic service and out of this world good.f

Honey Seed

4.6

4.6 (61)

$30 and under

American

Chattanooga

About the restaurant

Honey Seed specializes in hand-rolled Montreal-style bagels and woodfired pizza. We are fresh, made from scratch and local. We are open 7am to 9pm daily.
Honey Seed also has a full brunch menu, salads, paninis, pizza starting at 12pm and burgers for dinner.

Top review

Bethvip

Dined 4 days ago

Great food and great service. @Logan took good care of us.

Calhoun’s Oak Ridge

4.5

4.5 (71)

$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

Lee

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Asher was very helpful in explaining menu items and helping us with selections. She was also very attentive throughout our meal. Outstanding service. Great food.

Watauga Brewing Company

4.4

4.4 (21)

$31 to $50

International

Johnson City

About the restaurant

Watauga Brewing Company has three stories: the Brewery (first floor), Courses Restaurant (second floor), and Basque Rooftop Bar (third floor). We've got the best views of downtown Johnson City, and our brewmaster makes all our craft beers in house. For excellent service and exceptional regional European cuisine, come try our latest seasonal menu at Courses Restaurant.

Top review

Suzanne

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

The food at Courses is outstanding. Everything we ordered was exceptional with the exception of one steak which was replaced without charge. I highly recommend Courses for date night or any other time.

Bravo Italian Kitchen - Knoxville

3.9

3.9 (916)

$30 and under

Italian

Knoxville

About the restaurant

Bravo Knoxville is an upscale-casual Italian restaurant right in Knoxville serving authentic pasta dishes, signature entrées, piping hot pizza, and delicious wine & cocktails amid Roman-ruin décor. Our family-friendly atmosphere is as inviting as our welcoming staff and we look forward to your visit at Bravo Knoxville located in Knoxville, TN - make your reservation or place an online order today!

Top review

Kristinevip

Dined on Aug 13, 2024

Great food with a lot of variety. Our waitress was friendly and responsive. Super nice at sunset outside!

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Popular dish

Lasagne

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