Top Restaurants in Knoxville & Vicinity

ravinglog   -   Great Pizza! Disappointing Staff. If you want excellent hand tossed crust then you have found the correct place. My advice is to get takeout and eat i ... more

ravinglog   -   Great Pizza! Disappointing Staff. If you want excellent hand tossed crust then you have found the correct place. My advice is to get takeout and eat it at home or in your hotel room. You will get what is best about this place (the food) without having to deal with the staff. I came with my son and daughter to eat. We were seated under a fan outside. We ordered drinks and I told the waitress we were all going to go to the restroom (my kids are too small to go on their own). I came back to the table and the unapologetic hostess sat another family there and wanted to move us to a table that was not under a fan on a hot day (inside was crazy busy). I asked for the manager and he quickly put us inside where a table had just become available. The food was great but when we had finished the pizza, our waitress decided that she did not want to offer any more drink refills. Also when an embarrassing situation such as the table snafu occurs, many restaurants will offer a discount off the bill to say they are sorry. This place did not. Despite the lousy dine-in experience, I would definitely recommend getting take out from this place. The pizza is so good that I would endure having to look at the hostess again in order to pick up the excellent pizza. less

Judson H.   -   The New China Palace has been a gastronomic landmark in east Tennessee for two generations -- the aging Empress Dowager of its kind, but still the gol ... more

Judson H.   -   The New China Palace has been a gastronomic landmark in east Tennessee for two generations -- the aging Empress Dowager of its kind, but still the gold standard against which all other Chinese restaurants in the greater Knoxville area are to be compared. A spaceous dining room, elegantly furnished in traditional red-black-gold, overlooks the scenic Clinch River, the pastoral view of which is softly muted by floor-to-ceiling ivory sheers and vermillion drapes running the entire length of one wall. Subdued lighting enhances the warm glow of formal linen tablecloths and sculpted panel ceiling, while a row of small, track-mounted director's spotlights dramatically illuminates a spectacular, gilt cameo frieze that dominates one entire end of the room. The banquet room, equally large but lacking the other's expansive glass-limned vista, suffers in comparison and feels somewhat claustrophobic and isolated. During holidays and other high-traffic celebrations, overflow from the dining room is accomodated here. The bar, located in the banquet room, is a minimalist affair whose primary function is to serve patrons seated at table in the dining areas. Selections are limited and unremarkable, but nevertheless adequate to enhance the dining experience. The extensive menu offers numerous selections from every usual grouping: Soup, Appetizer, House Specialty, Beef, Pork, Chicken, Seafood, Vegetarian and Rice. In the 1970s and 80s, there were selections of lamb dishes also, but the economic realities of serving popular tastes in Appalachia eventually forced the elimination of that category. More's the pity: The Mongolian Lamb was to-die-for exquisite. The food here is delicious. Vegetables are colorful and fresh, meats are tasty and tender, sauces are refined, never greasy. In keeping with classic Chinese culinary philosophy, flavors are distince, complimentary and balanced. Portions are generous but not extravagant. Prices are on the higher end of "reasonable": Soups and appetizers cost between $3 and $6 with most entrees in the $10-to-$20 range. A mid-line soup-appetizer-entree dinner for two will cost around $40 -- excluding dessert, alcohol and gratuity. Luncheon largely mirror those on the dinner menu but are not as numerous, with portions being smaller and prices commensurately less. The wait-staff are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Service is crisp and professional. Discretely secluded restrooms are executive modern and spic-and-span clean. The New China Palace Restaurant is located in a pleasantly bucolic setting beside the marina, close-in yet away from downtown bustle and crowded suburban shopping centers. Paved parking areas, well lit and capacious, serve both restaurant and marina patrons. The overall impression of the place is "beautiful, clean, friendly -- and delightfully fragrant in that mysterious, never-to-be-forgotten nostalgic way that one associates with quality 'oriental' quisine." less

Brian A.   -   Came here with my wife and child. We sat next to a very large group of rowdy and drunk patrons. My biggest complaint about that was the bad language, ... more

Brian A.   -   Came here with my wife and child. We sat next to a very large group of rowdy and drunk patrons. My biggest complaint about that was the bad language, glasses being dropped, and body grabbing in front of my child. Food was ok and the price was too expensive for the food I received. So So overall, not for the family. less

Brian A.   -   This is a great meal for a great value. We didn't have to wait for a table and the service was very efficient. Probably the best value and best fo ... more

Brian A.   -   This is a great meal for a great value. We didn't have to wait for a table and the service was very efficient. Probably the best value and best food the entire trip to the area. Anytime we visit the area we make a stop here. Would highly reccomend it. Brian from Ohio less

Brian A.   -   Great food, great service, great value for the food. the server was top notch, very friendly and quick with his service. i would reccomend this rester ... more

Brian A.   -   Great food, great service, great value for the food. the server was top notch, very friendly and quick with his service. i would reccomend this resteraunt very highly to anybody. one of the best values in gatlinburg. less

Brian A.   -   Great food and atmosphere. But when it came time to pay and the waitress brought out the check, I knew what the total should be near so I didn't l ... more

Brian A.   -   Great food and atmosphere. But when it came time to pay and the waitress brought out the check, I knew what the total should be near so I didn't look at the receipt when the waitress put it on the table. I immediately put a $50 bill down (for a bill of around $22)and she left with it. When she returned about five minutes later she put down my change quick and left swiftly out of sight. I immediately noted she didn't bring the receipt back out and that I only had $7 in change. I had to get another waitress who went back to get my waitress but came back to me with my missing $20 bill. I then demanded a reciept to verify my change was correct. That waitress brought that out to me. My original waitress never showed her face again. I spoke with the manager who stated he would have a talk with her and they don't usually hire people who do such things. I don't know if the waitress was fired for attempted theft (as she should have been) but watch your money closely here. Food is real good for good value though, if you're not victimized by the waitress. Brian from Ohio less

Dale S.   -   Malita and I ate here with her college roommate. She lives in Maryville and I can see why. It is a beautiful town with rich offerings in art, music, a ... more

Dale S.   -   Malita and I ate here with her college roommate. She lives in Maryville and I can see why. It is a beautiful town with rich offerings in art, music, and theater. (Or maybe I was just there on the right weekend.) In any case Tomato Head is a great restaurant with a clever name and equally clever t-shirts. I plan on getting one during our next visit. I was not thinking straight and ordered Malita the wrong meal. When she told our waitress this she took it back and replaced it with the correct order. It was my mistake but they fixed it. Now that's service! So, I got to try the chicken burrito, chicken quesadilla, and my pizza. All were fantastic. The burrito was big and messy but the salsa and blue corn chips made you forget about that pretty quickly. The quesadilla wasn't toasted but in all three things I tried, you could taste the natural goodness (that Tomato Head prides itself on) bursting through. Don't miss the number four pizza with capers, sun dried tomatoes, and lamb sausage. less