Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Knoxville area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.

Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.

Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.

With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Knoxville area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#30. The Chop House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9700 Kingston Pike Ste 21 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Finn's Restaurant & Tavern

- Rating: 4.0/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9000 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Irish, Pubs, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.0/5 (1467 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Parkside Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (337 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 338 North Peters Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Boyd's Jig and Reel

- Rating: 4.1/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 South Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Scottish, Pubs, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Lonesome Dove Western Bistro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Copper Cellar West

- Rating: 4.1/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7316 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7641 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Oliver Royale

- Rating: 4.1/5 (323 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Point B

- Rating: 4.1/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1020 Ebenezer Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Cazzy's Corner Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2099 Thunderhead Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Diners, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Bida Saigon

- Rating: 4.1/5 (395 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8078 Kingston Pike Ste 165 & 167 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Lakeside Tavern

- Rating: 4.1/5 (560 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10911 Concord Park Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Chesapeake's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (367 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9630 Parkside Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Brazeiros Churrascaria - Brazilian Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6901 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. The Tomato Head

- Rating: 4.3/5 (949 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 12 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Not Watson's kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (726 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Farmacy

- Rating: 4.3/5 (532 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5018 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. J C Holdway

- Rating: 4.4/5 (242 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 Union Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Cataleya Cantina

- Rating: 4.4/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9314 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Northshore Brasserie

- Rating: 4.4/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9430 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Stock & Barrel

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1891 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 35 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Cocktail Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Holy Land Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3601 Sutherland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Grocery, Middle Eastern, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Kefi

- Rating: 4.6/5 (258 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 East Jackson Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. The Brass Pearl

- Rating: 4.6/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 24 Market Square Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Live/Raw Food, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Penne For Your Thoughts

- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9430 South Northshore Drive Ste 104 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, New American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Emma's Southern Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3701 Sutherland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tacos, Salad, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Sticky Rice Cafe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (766 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Jack Dance St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Laotian, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Yassin's Falafel House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (481 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 159 North Peters Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. A Dopo Sourdough Pizza

- Rating: 4.7/5 (566 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 516 Williams St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.

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