Knoxify » Food

Gatti’s Pizza Customer Appreciation Day Today

CP — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:42:01 +0000

$4.00 buffet all day. Need we say more? A map of all locations is below. Enjoy!

Best Salad in Knoxville?

CP — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:01 +0000

While lingering on Twitter a while back, we noticed that the WATE great, Tearsa Smith, polled her followers on who has the best salad in Knoxville. Replies that we noted:

Trio Cafe
McAllister’s
Zaxby’s
Pimento’s

Have any other suggestions for a good place to get a salad in Knoxville?

Ask the Readers Roundup: Best Mexican Restaurant in Knoxville

CP — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:30:10 +0000

Photo by gretchichi.

Since Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, last week we asked our beloved readers for their ‘Best Mexican Restaurant in Knoxville’ nominations. Even with 14 comments there was no clear winner. If you’re looking to margarita bar-hop sometime soon print out this list and get going.

Maryville: Hot Rods 50′s Diner

Chad Huskey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:11 +0000

Chad Huskey’s ongoing search for the best places to find beer in Maryville

My quest to find beer in Maryville, has taken me back to the 1950s. No, I don’t own a Delorean, and no, even though I keep begging my wife to let me install a Flux Capacitor in our minivan, she still hasn’t approved. I went back to the 1950s via the more convenient, Hotrod’s 50’s Diner, near downtown Maryville.

Let me preface my review just a bit by saying, although this quest is technically looking for places with wide varieties of beers, whether it’s bottles, draft, kegs or however you can drink or store it, I figure sometimes I may have to talk about a place, just because it’s durn good place, even if the beer selection is not the most grandiose (look at me, I’m using big words Ma!). That being said, Hotrods does have beer, but it’s just your standard fair of about 4 of the most common domestic beers (Bud, Miller, Coors, Michelob), in bottles only. Don’t get me wrong, as much as I like the swanky microbrews, I’m happy to chug back a good ol’ Miller or Bud Light any day, and around these parts, most folks would agree, as long as it’s cold, it’ll work!

Now on to what makes Hotrod’s great. Have you ever watched Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives on Food Network? If so, then when I say this is the kind of place Guy Fieri would be right at home at, then you know what to expect. A good size menu with lots of variety, coupled with portions sizes almost guaranteed to make you have to unbutton your pants for the drive home. At the table across from us, I watched as a skinny middle school aged kid’s eyes bugged out when the waitress plopped down a Philly Cheese Steak the length of his arm in front of him.

Portion size alone wouldn’t matter if the food itself, you know…sucked, but no worries as Hotrod’s food makes you want to stuff yourself silly trying to cram down that last bite. My family and I have gone a couple times and everyone has tried something different each time, all with good results. This last venture I myself had a Shrimp Po’ Boy, served on a long bun, with crispy shrimp, lettuce and tomato, and to set it off just right, a Cajun mayonnaise, with a side of sweet potato fries. My wife had one of their wide varieties of burgers, which are all handmade (no frozen meat here), and one of the better burgers I’ve tasted in awhile. They also have several selections of vegetarian burgers for those so inclined.

What really sets it off as a place to check out however, are the menu choices that you won’t find anywhere else. Things that sound inspired by a great chef (and possibly his red eyed cousin, with the munchies). Things like the “Thanksgiving Day Sandwich” (fried turkey breast, sliced on texas toast, with stuffing & cheddar cheese, and served with a side cranberry sauce and gravy). How about the “Salmon Burger” (pieces of fresh salmon combined with fresh ginger, garlic and spices to create a salmon cake, topped with an Asian cole slaw and served with a side of homemade soy aioli sauce). Guy Fieri would be in hog heaven. Oh and speaking of TV shows about food, Hotrod’s may need to invite Man vs. Food to try their “Chubby Challenge”. A giant 30 oz triple decker burger, smothered with american cheese, & garnished with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Served with a pound of french fries. Eat it all in 30 minutes and get a free t-shirt and your picture on the wall of fame! (And yes, the t-shirt actually say’s “I got a Chubby at Hotrods!”)

Oh and I almost forgot dessert. Definitely not for those counting calories, with treats like a Deep Fried Twinkie Sunday (my personal kryptonite), Deep Fried Oreo Sunday, or Deep Fried Strawberry Cake (anyone else notice a theme here?) guilty pleasure at its best! Also, lot’s of ice cream choices in bowl, cone, or shake form.

Take all of that and wrap it up in a 1950s themed restaurant and you’ve got a good place to indulge yourself when you just have to have some comfort food. They have all the classic 1950s styling cues checkered tile floors, lots of chrome and neon lighting, old tin advertising signs stuck on the walls, even pinball machines and a jukebox full of Rock N Roll from the era. Is it kitschy? Definitely, but it’s kitschy in the good way. The kind of place you’ll wanna drag your friends out to check out, because you were the one hip enough to discover it first. As I said in my previous venture into Maryville, one of the great things about being in Knoxville is knowing there are so many other great towns and communities nearby. So next time you’re in the mood for a cold Bud Light and some food that’ll have you ready for a nap before you can make it back home, you may want to take the short drive to Maryville to give Hotrods a try.

For more Info:
http://www.hotrods50sdiner.com

Hot Rod’s 50′S Diner
373 Hannum Street, Alcoa, TN 37701
(865) 984-7171

Knoxville Low-Fat Testbed for Chick-Fil-A

CP — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:24:27 +0000

Carly Harrington of the News Sentinel is reporting that Chick-Fil-A has picked Knoxville as a testbed for their latest low-fat food offerings. Eat more…yogurt? Related Posts:We Get Spicy with Chick-fil-A Take This Pizza and Shove It…Into the Oven Knoxified Belleza Salon Expanding Knoxville Comcast Adding More to HD Lineup All Headlines; All Knoxville Related Posts:

ALDI Open House and Grand Opening

Michael Wender — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:35:11 +0000

Discount grocer, ALDI, is opening a new store in the Powell community. Today from noon till 4pm they’re having a open house with free samples of ALDI brands. Their grand opening is Monday, March 9th. Plug 2801 Schaad Road, 37921 into your GPS for directions. Related Posts:Fountain City Pedaler Now Open Instaknox open, step right[…] Read More » Related Posts:

Taste Testing New Belgium at The Pizza Kitchen

Brandon Clarke — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:15:10 +0000

As many of you know, two of my favorite things are pizza and beer. In fact, Knoxify was the first Knoxville blog to post about Fat Tire coming to Ktown.

All this goodness comes together at the Pizza Kitchen on December 4, as New Belgium comes to town for a taste test offering free pint glasses with the purchase of the golden stuff. The Pizza Kitchen really hits a wide variety of patrons; not only does it have an outstanding beer culture, but the gourmet pizza is to die for and sometimes they even show movies for the kids, feature live entertainment and have a stellar patio setup.

I can’t really think of a more well-rounded restaurant in Knoxville, can you?

FYI: Fat Tire and Motherwhip Wit on draft and the Mama Mia are my recommendations.

Photography by mfajardo

Sawyer’s Loses Its Greatness

CP — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:30:12 +0000

No more paper towels. No more pellet-shaped ice. Coleslaw recipe change. No customer service. Has Sawyer’s lost it’s greatness?

For nearly 9 years I have always enjoyed Sawyer’s for their “never frozen” chicken fingers, famous Sawyer’s sauce and laid back atmosphere. But that all changed last week.

During my recent visit to the 6914 Kingston Pike location, I was greeted with poor customer service, no pellet-shaped ice to fill my cup, no “Hooters-esque” paper towels on the tables and coleslaw that my grandmother would have been ashamed of. Maybe I went overboard with the pellet-shaped ice but that stuff is to die for. It is what has made Sawyer’s, well, Sawyer’s.

What gives guys? Why do away with staples of Sawyer’s greatness?

Things that have made you worth visiting are now gone. I sure hope things go back to the way they were or you may lose this customer forever.

Best late-night eatery in Knoxville?

CP — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:00:23 +0000

Waffle House. Vic & Bills Deli. Krystal. Pick your poison, or favorite artery clogger, when it comes to late-night Knoxville eats. But who’s the best?

What’s your favorite late-night Knoxville eatery?

Photography by minusbaby

Cupcakes Galore

Leslie Bowden — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:42 +0000

If you are paying attention, you have noticed cupcakes everywhere now a days. So, Rose Kennedy’s article about Knoxville’s cupcake trend caught my attention in last week’s The Metro Pulse. My roommate is an avid baker and true cupcake-lover (she has been raving about Williams-Sonoma cupcakes since Christmas). I decided to get in on the trend and visited the newly-opened Bearden location of The Cupcakery last night.

The new store is chic and clean. In addition to cupcakes, you can grab logo coffee mugs and shirts with phrases such as, “i love me some cupcakes.” The customer service left a lot (A LOT) to be desired. The very nice staff seemed stressed and harried with just three customers in line. They had run out of several varities and didn’t have bags available for customers with multiple boxes. However, I chalk this up to a new store and new employees who I hope can find their groove soon. I took a red velvet and tuxedo home for the aforementioned cupcake loving roommate.

The product was delectable. The cake was dense and moist, yet fluffy, and the cream cheese icing was rich and sweet. Cupcakes are available as a single serving for $2.75 or by the dozen for $31. An employee mentioned that they will soon be selling four cupcake sampler packs as well. Be an office hero and take a dozen into your break room today.

Where do you side in the Knoxville cupcake wars? The Cupcakery, Mag Pie’s, Rita’s, VG’s?

Photography by ShamsD