Favorite Tennessee Restaurants (Memphis, Knoxville, Murfreesboro: where to buy, theatre, Mennonites)

[mhd2136]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

As a spin off of the Tennessee foods thread I thought it might be fun to list our favorite restaurants. Even those of us that live here (like me) would love a good recommendation for when I take a trip out of my own neck of the woods.

I'll start......

Upper East Tennessee - Pal's Drive Thru - hot doggie, frenchie fries, shakes, chipped ham sandwiches, mmmmmmm!

Knoxville - Barbecue - Famous Dave's at Cedar Bluff exit

My new favorite is Cappellini's Italian Bistro on Emory Road. I've been there twice and been very happy with the food both times. The marinara sauce is GREAT! The service was a little slow on one occasion, but still pleasant. The atmosphere is attractive, the menu mixes in a few Greek items with the Italian food.
I haven't tried their pizza, yet. I've heard good things about it, but as a former NY-er, well... NY pizza is one thing I miss... and I don't want to get my hopes up.
I understand they opened March 2007, and the chef/owners worked at Sam and Andy's (John) and at Gus's Good Times (Gus) before this. I have not eaten at either of those, but UT alums tell me they were campus favorites.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by mhd2136

My new favorite is Cappellini's Italian Bistro on Emory Road. I've been there twice and been very happy with the food both times. The marinara sauce is GREAT! The service was a little slow on one occasion, but still pleasant. The atmosphere is attractive, the menu mixes in a few Greek items with the Italian food.
I haven't tried their pizza, yet. I've heard good things about it, but as a former NY-er, well... NY pizza is one thing I miss... and I don't want to get my hopes up.
I understand they opened March 2007, and the chef/owners worked at Sam and Andy's (John) and at Gus's Good Times (Gus) before this. I have not eaten at either of those, but UT alums tell me they were campus favorites.

Cappellini's sounds great! I'll definitely give it a try.

One of the benefits to having so many Northerners move to Tennessee is that they're bringing such good food with them! Now if we can get a real, authentic Greek restaurant here in Knoxville, I will be one happy pup.

[hiknapster]

Cappellini's is the restaurant I've been raving about. I think we'll go there tonight, again.

As far as the pizza goes, I love it. It is not New York pizza, though. You probably will not like it, mhd2136. I grew up on pizza made by Greek's, so I adore it.

There are a few Greek dishes on the menu such as the spinach pie, that I really loved, as well as pistichio, costaki, gyros, and keftedes. No stuffed grape leaves, which doesn't matter to me, since I hate them.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Cappellini's is the restaurant I've been raving about. I think we'll go there tonight, again.

As far as the pizza goes, I love it. It is not New York pizza, though. You probably will not like it, mhd2136. I grew up on pizza made by Greek's, so I adore it.

There are a few Greek dishes on the menu such as the spinach pie, that I really loved, as well as pistichio, costaki, gyros, and keftedes. No stuffed grape leaves, which doesn't matter to me, since I hate them.

Oh yeah, I forgot that you talked about Cappellini's a couple of weeks ago, hiknapster. Sorry about that! Didn't you go there for your anniversary?

[hiknapster]

I did. I got the Fisherman's Platter. It was just okay...

I think I'll stick to the Greek dishes.

[mbmouse]

I would like to add Russo's on Main St in Johnson City in the old King building. It is an awesome bistro type place with a great atmosphere. They have great pastas and panini type sandwiches that are just awesome!

[ZCatcher]

I've been racking my brain (admittedly, a short exercise) to remember the name of this little family-style restaurant in Cleveland. They had the best breakfast! Best I remember, it was a couple of blocks off of Inman Street, SE of the old railroad depot. I worked for Norfolk Southern about 10 years ago, and we always tried to slip over there for breakfast. They had the biggest homemade biscuits I ever recall seeing, and actually had a guy over in a corner with a big Lay's ham and a slicer. The smell of the ham/biscuits/gravy just filled the whole place, and you could savor that while you watched the guy slice up the ham for your biscuit.
YUM!!!!
Next time I'm down there, I'd love to drop in there again if it's still open!

[Dave_n_Tenn]

Eatz-on-the-Creek... opened only 2 days... catfish on Friday, BBQ on Saturday. Cooks on those "green eggs" the industrial size!

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Dave_n_Tenn

Eatz-on-the-Creek... opened only 2 days... catfish on Friday, BBQ on Saturday. Cooks on those "green eggs" the industrial size!

Dave, thanks for the reminder! I had wanted to go there and had since forgotten. What do they offer besides catfish on Friday nights? Hubby loves catfish, me not so much. If catfish is it, looks like we will be going on a Saturday night

[knoxgarden]

We had two good Greek restaurants in Knoxville but they closed a couple of years ago. An offshoot of one opened as Kalamata Cafe on Northshore. It's changed into sort of a Greek-Thai place. Had excellent shish kabob there the other night. Worth a try. It's just off Pelissippi Parkway.
And the Greek Deli in the gas station on Henley Street just over the river is very good.
My favorites are Taste of Thai on N. Peters and Bogartz/Ciao in Homburg Place in Bearden. Incredible Sunday brunch which they don't always do in the Summer.
To cook at home, try meats from the butcher at Earth Fare in Turkey Creek. Positively inspired sausages and other "ready to cook" items, particulary the meatloaf. The meats are superb in quality and flavor and the butchers know what they're doing. First decent short ribs I've had in many years.