Quite often, a road trip to Knoxville means one of two things: the VOLS are playing, or the kids (teenagers) want to go shopping. Barring the usual attractions, Knoxville’s ever expanding culinary scene is reason enough to visit – especially the downtown area, a go-to spot for foodies and those who enjoy an urban atmosphere.
The ‘Old City’ holds appeal for favorite haunts like Patrick Sullivan’s and The Melting Pot; and the historic Market Square District is thriving as a culinary, arts and entertainment destination with new happenings and eclectic cuisine.
With flavors of ‘New South and Latino Fusion’, La Costa is a favorite on Market Square. The menu features organic produce, free range beef and chicken, and non-farmed seafood. La Costa’s youthful Executive Chef Jimmy Ooton (age 23) has a flair for creating unique and interesting dishes. Does wild salmon with avocado-tomato salsa over Yukon potato and roasted poblano pepper with romesco sauce and pan-fried spinach sound good? La Costa offers special dinner/wine pairings and Sunday brunch in a cozy brick interior. Their patio on the square stays popular even in chilly weather.
A true taste of Paris is found at Le Parigo just off the Square. Owner/chef Cedric Coant re-creates his fond memories of delectable food he enjoyed (and grew up cooking) in France. In the intimate atmosphere of his newly renovated restaurant, Cedric offers all natural products authentically prepared with great attention to detail, making Le Parigo a perfect choice for special occasion dining. “We want you to take your time and enjoy the moment,” says Cedric. French favorites such as steak tartare with foie gras, smoked duck breast, and mussels a la provencale are among many featured delicacies offered with a selection of perfectly paired wines.
The S&W Grand Café, opened in late 2009, has nostalgic appeal in the old S&W Cafeteria on Gay Street. Following a four-million dollar renovation, the art deco building, which had been vacant for 27 years, was carefully restored preserving its original look by Knoxville restaurateur Stephanie Balest. The new cafe features S&W Classics – updated versions of dishes served in the S&W from the 1930s through the 1950s – as well as creative contemporary cuisine.
Pairing food and music is a common theme in the Market Square District. Café 4 opened last year (next to The Tomato Head pizzeria) as an art deco-style restaurant/bakery/coffee bar with an entertainment venue known as The Square Room. A hip gathering spot with WiFi in the mezzanine coffee bar, Café 4 also offers Jazz Lunches and singer/songwriter events. Besides offering ‘comfort’ food with a novel twist, managing partner Lori Klonaris says the restaurant’s philosophy is also to embrace the arts and showcase local artists and musicians. “Music is the fabric of who we are,” she adds, “so we want to portray that flavor of Knoxville in the restaurant.”
Downtown Nut Brown (what a great name!) is one of several handcrafted brews you’ll find at Downtown Grill and Brewery, a place to “tap into good times.” Peek at the brewing process while sampling brews, as brew master Tommy Higdon explains the different flavor profiles from dark to blond ale. “The art is in formulating recipes to see what works best,” he says. “We have best sellers at both ends of the spectrum.” The variety of signature beers complements a wide ranging menu of pastas, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, Mexican and more. Downtown Grill offers a Jazz Brunch on Sundays with ‘Build Your Own’ omelets, frittatas and traditional brunch libations - from Bloody Marys and Mimosas to their own ‘Maria-tinis.’
If you find yourself downtown on a weekday, grab a sandwich and enjoy lunchtime music at The Knoxville Visitor Center, where WDVX Radio broadcasts live performances of Bluegrass, Folk, Americana and Traditional Mountain music weekdays at noon.
The downtown area offers much more to discover in the way of freshly prepared food, tapas and coffee bars, and it isn’t the only place to find great food. Some of the city’s well established classics like Litton’s, founded in 1947 (famous for burgers and desserts), still packs a crowd. West Knoxville’s upscale Seasons Restaurant and Northshore Brasserie, serving French-Belgian cuisine, are getting quite the buzz.
So, no need to wait for game day to enjoy Knoxville, though there are plenty of sports events to see most weekends. (Try an Ice Bears hockey game!) Whether you make a special occasion trip or combine an outing with cheering on the ‘Big Orange,’ no one will blame you if you skip the tailgate in favor of tantalizing tastes and new adventures.
If you go:
Many hotels are within walking distance of Market Square including Hilton Knoxville on West Church Avenue, which offers discount rates with breakfast on select weekends. Take a walking tour – Cradle of Country Music, Old City, and U.T. Sculpture tours available – and discover the area’s history museums, theater and boutique shopping. Exploring on foot is a wonderful way to discover Knoxville’s downtown, not to mention working off calories from all the good eats. Visit www.knoxville.org