Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Knoxville by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's 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 at the 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 chef's 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 to choose from, 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 Knoxville 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#24. The Melting Pot
- Rating: 3.7/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 111 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Sullivan's Fine Food
- Rating: 3.7/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7545 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Little Bangkok
- Rating: 3.8/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 603 North Campbell Station Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Thai, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Dazzo's Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.8/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 710 South Gay St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Bistro By The Tracks
- Rating: 3.8/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1123 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Pho 99
- Rating: 3.9/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9117 Executive Park Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Altruda's
- Rating: 3.9/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 North Peters Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Bida Saigon
- Rating: 4.1/5 (377 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8078 Kingston Pike Ste 165 & 167 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Copper Cellar West
- Rating: 4.0/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7316 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
- Rating: 4.0/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Lakeside Tavern
- Rating: 4.1/5 (514 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10911 Concord Park Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Chesapeake's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (327 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9630 Parkside Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Brazeiros Churrascaria - Brazilian Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.2/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6901 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Not Watson's kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (670 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#10. J C Holdway
- Rating: 4.3/5 (216 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 501 Union Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Northshore Brasserie
- Rating: 4.4/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9430 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Cataleya Cantina
- Rating: 4.4/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9314 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Connors Steak & Seafood
- Rating: 4.5/5 (706 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10915 Turkey Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Kefi
- Rating: 4.6/5 (242 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 East Jackson Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Forno Grill
- Rating: 4.6/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 743 North Campbell Station Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Brass Pearl
- Rating: 4.6/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 24 Market Square Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Live/Raw Food, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Sticky Rice Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (720 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Jack Dance St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Laotian, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Yassin's Falafel House
- Rating: 4.7/5 (450 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 159 North Peters Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp
#1. A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
- Rating: 4.8/5 (512 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 516 Williams St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
