Tri Cities Restaurants (Knoxville, Bristol, Colonial Heights: living, pricing, license)

[Ted Bear]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

BETTER GET TO THIS ONE QUICKLY...IT IS NOT GOING TO LAST LONG.


Volsky and Best (Modern?) Grill.....in the old Portico space on the Bristol highway.


Not sure what they are looking for, but whatever it is seems to have passed them by.


Move along. Nothing to see here. They won't make it 'til spring.

So, that was a prescient prediction.


Drove by the place the other evening and Volsky and Best apparently wasn't the best. There is a new name on the roof...Bock or Block or something similar. Quite honestly, after going in there once and realizing it was doomed, I hadn't paid much/any attention.


Anyone familiar with the "new" place? Any experience/comment would be appreciated.


BTW, went into Portico the other evening to give it another try. We have been using Label quite often as a business dinner place, but they are going to be put in the penalty box, so I hear, for serving an underage patron. No liquor for 60 days.....so we were looking for an alternative. Portico did a decent job. Pasta was good; others ate salmon (mediocre farm raised) and a burger, I think. No major complaints. Service was lackluster, better than previously, but not sparkling like it was when they were on the Bristol Highway.


We'll use it while Label is "dry" and see how it goes.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

So, that was a prescient prediction.

Drove by the place the other evening and Volsky and Best apparently wasn't the best. There is a new name on the roof...Bock or Block or something similar. Quite honestly, after going in there once and realizing it was doomed, I hadn't paid much/any attention.

Anyone familiar with the "new" place? Any experience/comment would be appreciated.

I haven't visited but it looks like they underwent a name & menu revamp after being open for just 3 months...I assume it's the same owners? From their Facebook page:

Rocks Wood Fired Grill & Pizza
March 11 at 11:39am

We have an exciting announcement! Volsky and Best Modern Grill will now be known as Rocks Wood Fired Grill & Pizza! We will be offering a wide variety of new items on our menu including the original menu. Check out our new website Rocks Wood Fired Grill. We can't wait for you to visit!

[jabogitlu]

Volsky and Best? Rocks Wood Fired Grill & Pizza? Who's suggesting these names to those poor folks. SMH.

[rccrain]

Hey they're moving in the right direction... At least it sounds like a restaurant instead of one of those ambulance chasing law firms now.

[Ted Bear]

Dined at a new(ish) place in Bristol the other night. Apparently it has been quietly open for a few months, but is just now coming out: J Frank (named after the chef/owners grandfather)


J Frank is on 6th Street in the old Troutdale facilities. The atmosphere is very "clubby" with a wonderfully intimate bar on the first floor, and small dining rooms on the first and second floors, plus outdoor dining (if it ever cools down just a tad).


Food was surprisingly good--sort of a mix of American/Continental. Beef and Seafood seemed to be at the core of the offerings, but the menu is quite diverse without being ridiculously overpowering (where you know that the level of business won't support fresh ingredients for every item listed). I didn't notice any pasta (thankfully) but there might be something in there that I missed. Good wine list, capable bar service, and very reasonable prices which included a garden salad (fresh and crisp) or Caesar Salad, plus two sides (new potatoes roasted in duck fat or grilled asparagus, for example).


Nice atmosphere, fine silver, white linens and tasteful decorations (many pictures documenting history) in each of the rooms.


Good solid three stars (on a scale of five) with the only weakness being our waiter, who was a bit of a dufus, but he mostly did "okay". Chef/owner Jason came by for a lengthy chat which made for a pleasant way to understand his background (eclectic--started and ran Battery before selling it and watching it take a distasteful fall, among many other things). I would say J Frank is probably the best restaurant in the Tri Cities area. Maybe in the same league as Lola in JC. Definitely on the list to become a regular place.

[Serious Conversation]

I've always enjoyed that area of Bristol. Good historical charm to it.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

So, that was a prescient prediction.


Drove by the place the other evening and Volsky and Best apparently wasn't the best. There is a new name on the roof...Bock or Block or something similar. Quite honestly, after going in there once and realizing it was doomed, I hadn't paid much/any attention.


Anyone familiar with the "new" place? Any experience/comment would be appreciated.


BTW, went into Portico the other evening to give it another try. We have been using Label quite often as a business dinner place, but they are going to be put in the penalty box, so I hear, for serving an underage patron. No liquor for 60 days.....so we were looking for an alternative. Portico did a decent job. Pasta was good; others ate salmon (mediocre farm raised) and a burger, I think. No major complaints. Service was lackluster, better than previously, but not sparkling like it was when they were on the Bristol Highway.


We'll use it while Label is "dry" and see how it goes.

Would the law allow you to bring your own drinks? I'd hate to see the owner punished and possibly lose his/her business over a mistake made by one of their employees. Seems to me they need your business now more than ever and with BYOB you can do it cheaper.

[Rangerred]

I was just at Label and they are not dry although they do have a little scanner they scan all id's with so maybe that is their corretive action

[Ted Bear]

Originally Posted by Rangerred

I was just at Label and they are not dry although they do have a little scanner they scan all id's with so maybe that is their corretive action

You are referring to a post that is many months old.


As I understand it, there was a change of leadership at the Alcohol Control Board and the penalty against Label (which was to have been served (excuse the pun) months ago) got lost in the shuffle, or "renegotiated". They never had to serve a penalty other than financial.....and apparently a promise to card every soul who walks into the place.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Glad to hear the restaurant did not lose their license for months. I understand the need to enforce drinking laws but you also have to be fair to the owner.