Calhoun’s

I love this food. It’s classic Knoxville.

WOW! Best steak I can remember eating in a long time. My wife and I got Ale Steaks to go for a dinner and movie date night at home. Even after bringing everything home it was still the best restaurant dinner we have had in a long time. Highly recommend!

Created a Unilocal account just for this review. Worst service I’ve ever had. Came in for dinner, it wasn’t busy. Our waitress hardly checked on us. Our food took an hour to come out. The order was wrong and it came out at different times, so half the table was done with dinner while others were just getting their food. I couldn’t even get a glass of water. I asked our waitress three times and she never brought it. Horrible. Never coming back and would never recommend this place.

This is the worst Calhoun’s in the Knoxville area. «Make it right» should apply to the first try. When a person orders one steak they should not be served some hunk of meat prepared incorrectly. No one wants to be the person who returns their meal. Who knows what they’ll get back? Also it’s best if the server doesn’t inform you that the manager is letting them take home your alleged meal for their dog. I’ve given this restaurant several tries, but due to the inconsistent staff, slow bar service and sub-​par food I won’t be back anytime soon.

Great atmosphere and lighting… gave it only 3 start based on of quality of service and the atmosphere… deducted 2 start for food… the fried freen tomatoes was very greasy and bland… no favor… now the smoke turkey salad was tasty and fresh i yruly enjoyed it… the hikory smoke ckn was very good and the mac n cheese n spinash maria was good also but not out of this world… the tenesse corn puddin was a bit different in testure but still bland… the baked beans tasted abit like chilli and the mashed potatoes were heavy and wipped i did enjoy those… the pork was average and the sauce was not my favorite by far… acidic with a weird dry finish…

For many years I have been intrigued with that odd barn looking Calhoun’s restaurant at the corner of Pellisippi Parkway and Kingston Pike. It is as cool looking inside as you might perceive from the funky exterior. As for food I like Calhoun’s and today, once again, I was very pleased. I ordered the fish and chips. I know, what a goofball, this place is known for their BBQ. Hey, this is the best fish and chips in town. There were four ample fillets of perfectly prepared cod, served with great slaw and perfect fries.

Had a goat cheese and grilled chicken salad for dinner. For $ 12 you’d expect more, greens at the bottom of bowl decorated with few strawberry slices and tasteless chicken. Only highlight was the pecan crusted goat cheese. Our server was good but unfortunately the quality of the food wasn’t.

Very nice atmosphere. Comfortable place and good service.
The pork ribs were good but not great, I’d rate them about a ³⁄₅. The other menu items we had were great.
I cannot comment on this restaurant vs other ones in Knoxville since we were driving from TX to VA and just stopped here for a meal. We have been to many other Rib joints in TN and I would rate this somewhere in the middle.

Ok food and service. Nothing special. Has ribs and fried pickles.

Great BBQ place. I tried the BBQ special (smoked pork ribs, brisket, mountain sausage, and two sides). It is true, the flavors are different in Knoxville TN than those in Memphis TN. I am from California, and found the Knoxville BBQ to be more on the sweet side (while Memphis is on the spicy side). The special was a good choice for someone like myself, trying the local flavors of the place. Good, clean restaurant.

Had the trio with the grilled tenders which was a good call. The sauce was tasty and the Chinook IPA complimented it nicely. Lindsey the bartender was friendly but not overbearing.

They have really good bbq here, i had the pulled pork and chicken, the pulled pork was nice and moist the chicken was a bit dry, the sauces are very tasty, the cole slaw was nice and sweet, there beans taste great, just alittle mushy, they have corn bread, biscuits, rolls, and much more to offer on the menu, they have a nice bar area, and the thing i like the most about the place is the atmosphere, its all country, theres all kinds of old farm equipment and memorabilia where ever you look, and of course you must try there banana pudding for desert, its nice and fluffy.

I got the treo to try a few different things since I’m just visiting. The pulled pork, ribs and chicken strips were all really good. I got fried ocra as a side and it was the best I’ve ever had. If I’m ever back in Knoxville I will definitely go back.

«Comfort is key for a barbecue.» — Ashley Madekwe
My wife and I came to Calhoun’s on a friend’s recommendation for good ribs in Knoxville. We walked down to the river from across downtown on Mother’s Day weekend and decided to take up residence on their waterfront porch. This review is really only fairly applied to the porch experience because inside the restaurant could be totally different for all I know — I do know there’s a more limited available menu for porch dining, so there’s that.
Upon being seated, we waited awhile for a server to drop by. It was fairly busy — I get that. There were only 2 – 3 overextended servers for the whole porch — I get that. But when a two-​topper waits 10 minutes for water glasses on a steamy evening, I wouldn’t rate that as a very warm reception. Our server ended up being very courteous and apologetic — he was obviously perturbed by the understaffing issue, but he quelled his frustrations quite professionally and guided our menu choices knowledgeably. Bravo to him.
The remainder of the evening was enjoyable. Red Ale was ice cold and refreshing. Food was well prepared and plenty for two (full rack of ribs and a burger, both split, with some delicious baked beans and fries). But every… thing…just…took…a little… too…long.
The delay in every phase of the meal is the only thing bringing this review down from four stars to three. If I had it to do over, I think I would sit inside near a waterfront window, order the exact same food, and hope the indoor staff is free to be a bit more attentive. Really good grub, though.

Being a chain, I still find it odd that not all Calhoun’s are created equal. This location is obviously the original and offers a rustic environment. You’ll find much better food and service here than at the downtown and Gatlinburg stores, but the food is a notch below what we’ve had at Turkey Creek. How this is the case, I’m not sure, but we’ve tried all a few times and found this to hold true.
Fortunately, this Calhoun’s is above average. We ordered two things: the half chicken, which is fairly seasoned and moist and the trio, complete with tenders, pulled pork and ribs, all of which are tasty. The sauce doesn’t do a lot for us, nor do any of the sides.
Fortunately, the bread they bring at the beginning does. It’s not healthy, but who cares, right? Load up on it. This is the first time we tried their banana pudding, which came in an enormous portion. I thought it was just ok an we eat grab a few small spoonfuls before throwing in the towel.
When in Knoxville, this is the in place to eat BBQ. It’s a little better than average, but doesn’t do much to make you crave a return. Still, it’s likely near the best BBQ around, and a great atmosphere for a family dinner or night with friends.

A HUGE sign out front that boasts Calhoun’s ribz are «the best in America».
No, they’re not.
Not by a long shot.
They might not be the best ribs on that block.
A pretty place, and it sure smelled good out front. It was ger-​jam packed, too-​always a good sign. I had had Sonny’s BBQ the day before, and it was el fabbo-​The shite meal I got awhile back at an Atlanta Sonny’s must have been an aberration, ‘cos the repeat visit in Atlanta was great, as was the meal I just had in Knoxville.
There was an Outback pretty much outside the door of my Hotel, but shit, I can (and do) go to Outback when I’m home. I want to have stuff not available in Chicago. It was against my coin to do BBQ 2 days in a row, but when I see a throw down like «Best Ribs In America» It’s like a sirens song, and I have to stick my nose in to check it out.
So like I said-​a pretty place. I sat in the bar to avoid the wait for a dining room table and it wadn’t too awful. I ordered a homemade Red Sangria, which was OK; quenching, but nawt enough to order a second one.
The Fried Green Tomatoes are on everyones lips as a «You gotta order this». «They» were right. The ‘Maters were crispy and tasty with a nice remoulade-​style dressing. I swapped the depleted Sangria for a Diet Co-​Cola, with a fine «throw» indeed. I was looking forward to the Full slab of these vaunted Baby Backs-​wot I ordered NOT basted in their sauce, but nekkid. Also on the bill: Tennessee Corn Puddin’ and ColeSlaw. The Corn Puddin’ was another item of the «must try» recommendation. I never got the Bread basket so many here have raved about.
Dinner came, and I was immediately taken by the sight of an almost black, but very substantial rack of baby backs. I also got a dish of coarse cut slaw that looked yummy, and a small dish of yellow stuff that I surmised was the corn puddin’.
I sampled the puddin’ and it was very corny and very very rich. Perhaps a mistake to order with ribs? Too soon to tell. A bite of the slaw, and that was very good.
Then to the ribs.
The dry, tasteless, thoroughly boring ribs.
Leaving shreds of stringy stuff in my teeth, there was nothing ribby about them. No sweet perfume of Porky goodness, not even the aroma of smoke.
And there was a lot of meat. I’ve never seen ribs this lean, or any that had this much meat on them. There was lots of volume but no substance. They were the equivalent of «Well done» in temperature
There was a bottle of BBQ sauce on the table, which I slathered on, but this didn’t help. The sauce had a weird note in it I coudn’t place, and it really did nothing for the ribs. The meat was so tasteless, all you could make out was the sauce-​and it wasn’t doing it for me. As I got to the middle of the slab, there was a slight hint of juiciness, but that was only about 3 bones worth. As I progressed to the other side, the meat began to get drier and drier, and at the end it was actually hard to chew and hurt my teeth.
It filled up my tummy, but I might as well have been eating Styrofoam packing pellets with their shitty BBQ sauce on it. I thought of sending it back, but decided not to piss in the soup.
As the meat came right off the bone, I figured these were what the Eminent Eater and part time Blues Guitarist and Painter «Bumblebee Bob» Novak called «Soup ribs». Meaning they boil them first to soften, and rid them of excess Fat. This turn in the tub rid them of excess FLAVOR!
I can only wonder what the virtuosos in the Kitchen of the Germantown Commisary outside of Memphis would have done with these zaftig cuts.
In fact these ribs reminded me of the horrible horrible offerings at the also-​lauded Memphis mistake Charlie Vergos Rendezvous. Close to tinder, I tell you.
I’m throwing 2 stars. The Puddin’ was actually delicious, but was like eating a stick of butter. Halfway through the small portion, it started to get cloying, it was that rich. Left it be. The slaw was the star here. A bowl of that and a coupla-​three garlic rolls would have been a good feed. But not enough to lift this disaster above a pair of stars
And the final buggering? A $ 42 bill. I had to lay almost a half a yard for this crap.
The waitress was kind of homely, but pretty efficient, and she DID have a set of big bouncing Hogans. Other than that, I shoulda went to Outback…

I will start by saying that Calhoun’s is my fave when it comes to BBQ in general places. Many times we’ve driven to Knoxville from Chattanooga (100 miles) just to eat here.
Having said that, the ribs were not as good this time as I’ve had in the past. The server said they were trying to put «more smoke» on them. It appears they let these get a little too dry. Don’t get me wrong, they were still good ribs and the smoke was evident. But, I would have been happier with juicer ribs and a bit less smoke if I had to choose.
The sides were great! The fried okra was good and not «fried out» if you know what I mean. The corn was good too and was obviously buttery, not margarine.
I ordered an appetizer, I don’t usually do that, in the soft pretzels with mustard. They were very good with the Cherokee Red ale I got.
All in all, Calhoun’s still gets my vote for best BBQ in East Tennessee and they still earned 4 stars from me on this visit besides the ribs being a little dry.

This restaurant will never get more than a 3 star from me. Honestly, I eat here with my spouse three or four times a year and I don’t like it ever but he insists on Calhoun ribs.
The bread basket had a nice variety. Fried green tomatoes were hot and fresh which was lovely. However, they cannot get a salad right for the life of them. Wilted lettuce. Translucent tomatoes. Stale croutons. Watered down dressing. Grease laden bacon bits.
The ribs were OVER smoked! Enough for an after taste that requires Tums. Fried okra, which isn’t a regular item, was good but greasy. Really greasy. Run to the restroom greasy.
We were not offered dessert by our server… and reached behind us for the water pitcher to refill our own beverages.
Yea. Calhouns gets race reviews but by golly there are better places for BBQ in KTown. Don’t be afraid to try them!

Food was okay. Not the best BBQ I have had. The pretzels and mustard are awesome!
Service I always good and pretty quick for as busy as they are.
The feed the smoky deal is great for taking home!

We had a rehearsal dinner in a private room upstairs. Buffet style with a small bar set up, beer, wine and awesome margarita bar with the full bar down stairs. The food was very good and the service was wonderful, attentive and friendly.
Highly recommend for most any party!