new restaurants helping to revitalize downtown Johnson City (Knoxville: coupons, buy)

[rccrain]

That's all I needed to hear - thanks, jabo.

[pineywoods]

Hey fellow foodies. Mark and I had dinner at Freibergs Monday night and loved it. Well...I loved it. He's not an adventurous diner. I'll go back anytime...

[odessa3]

My husband and I were in the area from PA over the weekend. We like German food but have no German restaurants around here. Frieberg's has a nice atmosphere, and was busy when we were there Saturday night. The saurbraten was excellent and I could cut the beef with a fork. My only disappointment was that the side dishes were limited and they didn't have spatzel (sp?). But it was a really nice dining experience and we'll be sure to go again when we're in the area again in August.

[NEARLYBROKE]

After hearing an interview with mr frierberg on a local radio station,I was quite interested in trying his new restraunt. On Sunday,my wife and I traveled the hour trip from Chilhowie,va.
We arrived at Frieberg's and walked in at 12:15 ,just past noon. Upon entering,there was no one around to show us to a seat,so we seated ourselves. Besides the two of us,there were two other couples dounstairs,and a small group upstairs. We waited patiently for a waitress. Finally a waitress is coming our way.She walks right by us to clean an adjacent table never even acknoledging our presence.
No problem,we'll wait on another .............then another waiter comes into view carrying a tray with water glasses..........up the staires she goes,never looking our way.
After waiting fifteen minuites and no even notices,we get up and leave.
During the whole fifteen minuites no one ever even recognised we were there.
Today I called for mr Frieberg to advise him of the situation but he was "out".
We were very disappointed by the lack of service,especially after driving for an hour to get there.
I WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK, SINCERLY
BILL AND SUE

[NorthernLights]

I have been to Freibergs twice and will probably go again. I have heard different reports yea and nay. My first visit I went on a Sunday afternoon and was seated promptly. Ordered a Hefewiezen and looked over the menu. Inquired about the Sauerbraten and was told it was sold out [Sold out? On a Sunday afternoon?] I dropped back and punted and ordered the Jaegerschnitzel, fried potatoes and onions and red cabbage [of which I am very critical when visiting German restaurants as my Mother makes some of the best I have ever had. She makes it with bay leaf, red wine, an apple, and half a jar of currant jelly in the pot.] Tastes so good that if you put a little on your forehead your tongue would beat you brains out getting to it. Stinks the house up wonderfully too when she cooks it. Anyway, in comparison...Freibergs' red cabbage was not bad. The Jaegerschnitzel was a tad dry and cooked just a tiny bit too long but the breading was wonderful and the sauce was fantastic. The fried potatoes and onions were a good compliment. The next visit I finally got the Sauerbraten. Two or three big slabs of beef, seasoned fairly well. My experience with the service during both of my afternoon visits was fine but I was one of the few diners. Oh yeah, the good bread is served with some strong leek butter [I think that's what it was,] that may or may not be to everyone's tastes.
I think your best bet is to visit them at off-peak hours/days for the best experience. In comparison to the many other German restaurants I have visited the prices were quite reasonable for the portions and the food quality about mid-range. Again, I thought for the price, portion-wise I came away stuffed both times.

[jabogitlu]

German food isn't my favie but I've always thought it was good - but I've not had much other German. I, too, am stuffed when I eat there.

As for the poster above ya, what did you expect? Come in, sit down somewhere randomly and expect someone to happen to notice you? All the waitresses probably thought someone else was taking care of you. Since you did happen to skip the seating process, the thing you should've down was flagged someone down and said, "Hey, we just seated ourselves, but don't have a waitress."

[NorthernLights]

Like many others, I find downtown Johnson City to be ripe for the opening of interesting bistros and possibly microbreweries/pubs, etc. that are flourishing in other locales. It is such a cool downtown, architecturally and history-wise that I think it only a matter of time before it rivals many cities its size or larger.
I am from Maryland and we have many old cities similar to Johnson City and they have vibrant 'old towns' that have re-invented themselves and become "destination locations". Restaurants and pubs in those areas view competition, not as a bad thing, but as drawing people into their neighborhoods. In other words, you can park downtown on a Friday or Saturday night and drink and 'graze' your way around the block. If the first place you go to isn't "happening" to your liking at that moment, well then, you walk two doors down and see what's going on at the next place. We used to go to Market St. in Frederick, or downtown Annapolis, or different neighborhoods like Fell's Point, Canton, or Little Italy in Baltimore and hit three, four or more places in a night and have a ball!!
Looking at downtown Johnson City, and the area in general, I have not been able to find the following, which I list as ideas for the potential restaurant entrepreneur:
A Spanish Tapas style restaurant, a really good seafood restaurant [but then again, I'm jaded, since Baltimore is situated right on the Bay, and Tennessee is.....not], a good Greek restaurant or diner. I have not found a French restaurant hereabouts. The only Chinese restaurants down here all seem to be of the buffet, all you can eat, food sitting in warmers for Gosh knows how long style. No sit down with napkins and waiters type Chinese restaurants. Korean/Vietnamese food. The nearest real Thai restaurant is in Kingsport. Indian cuisine. There also is lacking anywhere I've been to yet, that amazing Fried Chicken emporium. I've been to a few places that made okay fried chicken but nothing that rocked my world. Also another avenue might be the Wine Bar/Bistro. Another possiblity would be a Blues Club or similar venue. Sunny's Cafeteria is gone and there has been nothing to fill that Southern style food niche. Irish/English food/pub style eatery, even a really great sub/pizza joint downtown. Any other ethnic [ethiopian/eskimo/norwegian/swiss/botswannan, etc. style place]
These are just a few notable possibilities that might make a splash in old downtown JC. I hope other folks might kick out their suggestions to potential downtown restauranters.

[jabogitlu]

Great post and wonderful suggestions! About the only way you can hop around downtown is if you go from Halo to Capone's to Mid-City Grill, haha.

As for Southern style, mmmm, Taste Budz! It's a tiny establishment with a limited (but daily changing) menu but geez I've not had food that good since my grandma was alive!

As for downtown proper, I hope you're right about it flourishing in coming years. Sadly, I imagine I'll have moved on before it reaches its potential but maybe when I come visit I can go for some tapas and Chinese!?!? hahaha!

[NorthernLights]

jabogitlu;

You're right on about taste buds. I meant no disrespect there.

I read your posts all of the time. You are a glass half empty kind of person. Sorry, just this a--hole's opinion. But, I would love to get together with you for a beer sometime because I think you may be exactly the kind of person who could be this area's biggest fan. You seem to know so much about what's going on in the area but I sense a negative vibe in most of your posts.
Maybe you do need to move far away from here. Colorado, California, Iowa, Washington. Just a guess, but maybe after you live somewhere like that......northeast TN may not seem so bad. I lived most of my life in MD and WVA and I can tell you, as far as personal freedoms, to do what you wish to do and as far as taxes and government permits to cut down a tree or burn some leaves...well...your already livin' in the land of the free.

But maybe I've been reading too much into your posts. Best o' luck to ya' Bro.

[SarahSal]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Great post and wonderful suggestions! About the only way you can hop around downtown is if you go from Halo to Capone's to Mid-City Grill, haha.

As for Southern style, mmmm, Taste Budz! It's a tiny establishment with a limited (but daily changing) menu but geez I've not had food that good since my grandma was alive!

As for downtown proper, I hope you're right about it flourishing in coming years. Sadly, I imagine I'll have moved on before it reaches its potential but maybe when I come visit I can go for some tapas and Chinese!?!? hahaha!

I certainly hope you don't move on, Jab! Check out the other downtown JC post and you'll see you're running for office!

Sad that so many gifted and talented young folks elect to leave this area after trying hard to find decent jobs befitting their experience and education. One young friend of mine worked and volunteered for years in this area for change - and finally gave up and moved to CLT -- and a great job. She'd been involved (for one thing) in the tech council, working gratis for the city, whom, as I recall, basically blew that talented young group off. She'd said forever that there was a real brain drain per young professionals fighting to make the city more progressive. I think 'the Old Guard' found that hard to accept.

Perhaps too, in answer to another post by Northernlights(?), some of this has made 'some of us' appear a little jaded - especially when it comes to downtown, bursting with so much potential.
Sorry, a little off-topic..