Their motto is best ribs in America.. can't say for sure, it was pretty darn close.. Very friendly service here. I ordered half a slab of ribs with a side of mac and cheese. The ribs fantastic!!! The mac and cheese, ok, but nothing special. They do have happy fr from 2pm-10pm pretty much everyday. Now THOSE are some HAPPY HOURS and HOURS and HOURS!!! They also have a hand squeezed juice in their margarita, I think I've been spoiled and will never have another margarita elsewhere. Great food and great prices, I'll be back if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)
Thomas O.
Great beer, great food, excellent service, what more can you say? I always enjoy the prime rib and now they have fresh oysters to accompany it. servers are friendly and the bar staff is great!! Haven't tried the ribs but have had most everything else and I've yet to be disappointed
(4)
Ben S.
best ribs, i give em a four. i have had a couple better places but only in texas. but the spinach maria is awesome
(4)
Fred W.
As others have said, the ribs were a little too dry, but the flavor was great. Sides of corn pudding, beans and slaw were very good. Service was just what we needed, not aloof nor overbearing. Menus is varied, so it's a good place for finicky kids.
(4)
David D.
This place is amazing! I've enjoyed their food 4 times in one month. The atmosphere is really cool and the wait staff are very friendly and helpful. My favorite part is the BBQ sauce. I've tasted no BBQ sauce better in my life!
(5)
Keren V.
Our first time here. Every morsel was fantastic the service was great. The meat was not dry for being smoked. The mac and cheese was incredible. Price for the 3 of us was 53 dollars.
(5)
Mike M.
Pretty average to OK. My experience suggest, eat there early lest you be served dried out tough-leather meat. Also, you may be paying for the ambiance as much as anything. Quite honestly, if it is great flavor you seek; if it is your palate you desire to pleasure (and not your eye)... Sonny's just up the street or Buddy's (at just about anywhere) are much better establishments to go.
(3)
David V.
Corn pudding was amazing, omg. And the southwest cordon wasn't bad! Pro tip: Zack is the best server I've ever encountered.
(5)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Best ribs in America? Hard to say, haven't had them everywhere, but these were as good as any I've had. They brew their own beer locally, and it's good, and dirt cheap. $6-6.50 for a quart mug. Said it's half price during HH too. Crazy. The ribs were stellar. Great BBQ sauce, meaty, smokey rib bliss, 5/5. I had some awesome cole slaw. Wish it had a little more bite to it, but nonetheless, near perfect, 4.5/5. Oh, the baked beans, maybe the best I've ever had. Like BBQ chili. Total freakin yum, 5/5. The only thing that disappointed me were the fried green tomatoes, skip those. Just breaded in flour and fried. Came out greasy, with some off tasting yellow dipping sauce, 2/5.
(5)
Judy R.
I took my daughter and her husband to calhouns after a movie. We were very disappointed. My son-law's pork was ice cold. He had to send it back. Based on the price the food was less than average.
(3)
Dale F.
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.
(4)
Greg S.
Attending this restaurant is a real treat for me. The service is always excellent. My meal of choice is the "BBQ Chicken Salad." It is amazing ... it's almost more than I can eat. The mixture of ingredients including the "hickory smoked bacon' makes this a crazy awesome dish. ($10) The tea is great too. Altogether, this is a great Knoxville experience and I have never been disappointed. Great ambiance and also a great place to host parties.
(5)
Mary J.
Great sides and dessert. Fried okra and green tomatoes were fresh and delicious. Creamy coleslaw complemented the BBQ. Creamed spinach and mashed potatoes were reminiscent of grandmas home cooking. Banana pudding was perfect ending to meal. Rob, our waiter was attentive polite and did a great job. BBQ was good but a little dry. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys BBQ and good old fashioned home cooking.
(4)
Ben D.
"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.
(3)
Rusty V.
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.
(3)
Ruann W.
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!
(3)
Yvonne K.
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!
(5)
Chris S.
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.
(3)
Mark M.
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.
(4)
Michael M.
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.
(5)
J V.
This place is maybe a better than average bbq joint. The service is always good and I have never had a bad experience here. I usually get the Calhoun's Trio, which gives a great variety, but is a lot of food. The chicken tenders are the best I have ever had, but the ribs and pork are average. The meat is always cooed well. If you don't know where else to eat, this place would be worth checking out.
(3)
Christina B.
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!
(3)
Scott M.
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...
(2)
Chelsea C.
Had a pretty decent meal here Calhoun's. Came in with a couple of coworkers after a really rough day and was looking forward to beer and BBQ! Because I love beer, I have to say first that their beers on draft are from Smoky Mountain Brewery and that the Windy Gap Wheat was one of the tastiest and most interesting wheat beers I've ever had! The good beer instantly put me in a good mood, as did our server Cory, who was all around great. I got the Trio, which came with ribs, pulled pork and chicken tenders (a little odd for a BBQ trio but I digress). It was good, didn't knock my socks off. What was really good, however, were the sides. I got the corn pudding and the spinach maria (basically creamed spinach) and they were outstanding. Down home good-ness, if you will! We had a nice time here, food was good, beer was good, service was great! A good local place.
(3)
Tertiary D.
Decent service and side dishes. The hickory smoked brisket was so fatty that I think it was mostly diaphragm and fat but little meat. Servers very nice and respectful but the food was cold and the brisket rather below average. Not s good start for a place with so many recommendations. I think there are better places to eat here.
(2)
David F.
.... Same old song and dance mostly. Overall Avg. Each location is a bit different, probably say the location on TN river is the best.
(3)
Chris H.
Love this place ! Great food and awesome microbrew selection. They even have Pyrat rum, which is hard to find. Happy hour is 11-10pm, Monday through Thursday and the glasses are huge! (See the pic i posted) I was served by Bethany, and she was just a delight. Helpful, friendly, and a very attentive without being annoying- she's great. I was visiting from out of town and really wanted some down home comfort food. Make sure to get the cornbread, baked beans & mac n cheese too.
(5)
Anna Laura B.
Should have known better than to eat here at an empty place on a Friday night. The food is very very medium and service was not great either. We got a variety of items- pulled pork, Mac and cheese, fried okra, potato skins, ribs. All was completely forgettable. Only gets two stars because we can't give one and a half. Really disappointed to be visiting Tennessee and get stuck with this place.
(2)
Kelli S.
Wonderful intimate bar. Sitting by the fireplace is great in the winter! Excellent salads. Service is consistently good!
(4)
Sandra B.
This is the first place we stopped at after landing in Tennessee, we were later told that it's a local chain of restaurants. The staff was friendly and seated us immediately. I ordered a large local brew that was delicious and HUGE! I had the traditional rib combo platter and it was exactly what I would expect from a standard southern barbecue restaurant, tender meat and good sauce. We tried a couple of the unique corn and spinach sides and they were all good. This was just solid good food, nothing to write home to mother about but a satisfying meal.
(3)
Thomas C.
As I have noted in other reviews, I spend A LOT of time on the road. This means I go to all sorts of disreputable restaurants because they are near the hotel or HIGHLY (I assume this means they are getting a kickback) recommended by the hotel staff. Calhoun's falls into the second category. Our hotel told us it was the "local favorite". How could I resist? Eschewing the mindless miles of "American" and "New American" and "Insult to the food they pretend to be" restaurants along the way we arrived at Calhoun's after a short drive. The outside was a bit showy for my normal dining tastes but I was not prepared to judge a book by it's cover. Inside we were seated by a hostess that seemed to be a little lost wandering through the empty tables but finally decided to seat my coworker and I in a booth. Our waiter -name redacted- appeared and displayed the annoying exuberance and desire to make small talk that passes for good service at the like of TGIFriday's or Chili's. My coworker is a good Georgia boy and I pulled a 4 year stint in KC so we did not allow any of this to dull our excitement for the BBQ. What did dull our excitement for the BBQ was um... the BBQ. Immediately upon our plates landing on the table he exclaimed "well, yours looks a lot better than mine". I had the Calhoun Triple (Note to Calhoun's: Chicken Fingers should not be part of a BBQ plate". He had ordered the Rotisserie Chicken. The skin did not look appealing though he reported the meat was pretty good. I had, kinda the opposite. Everything looked like it should be delicious but the chicken fingers were the best part of my BBQ plate. Don't get me wrong, they were AWESOME chicken fingers. They were just not really why I was going to Calhoun's. My ribs were tasty but dry as was my pulled pork. The coleslaw was pretty dang good but the beans were a disappointment. Nothing was bad, it just wasn't the good BBQ meal I was looking to eat.
(3)
Ashley H.
I love this place! There is always a wait but always worth it! The stake is absolutely amazing. Service was always great. I wouldn't have even I used my drink when I would be brought a new one, so I never ran out. The waitresses and waiters always interact with the customers. Prices are a little high but worth it. I have made this the place to go for my birthday dinner every year! Love it!
(5)
Louie F.
Let me first say I am from WA and good BBQ doesn't exist in my state so anytime I am in the south... I load up! I had the pulled pork sandwich and wasn't disappointed. Service was a little slow but it was late. I'd go back.
(4)
Tim M.
Love this place. Went to the turkey creek one a few Years ago and wasn't into it. Came to this one last year and it was amazing. Came again this year and it wasn't as good but still really good. Last year would have been 5 stars. Sweet tea is great. The biscuits, fries, ribs are all good. The best stuff though are the wings that are unbreaded but seasoned. So freaking good. Mac and cheese is top shelf. We got a child's cheese burger for our 2 year old and it was fantastic. Not to mention the chicken tenders which are truly the tenderloin part of the chicken breast that is battered and fried. This is not done crappy frozen chicken like most places. This is legit and amazing. Service was great and I personally think the music is awesome. ( for the record it is Mo Soul on muzack) Can't wait to go back next year.
(4)
Melissa J.
I had a good time here. I sat in the bar at a table with a bunch of coworkers and the ambiance was just right. We tried a bunch of appetizers. Food of this variety is really never going to taste bad. I did really enjoy the beer cheese that goes with the pretzals though. Go for that. They also serve these gigantic beers. Much bigger than a pint, though I'm not sure by how mcuh. I had a lemon drop martini that I really liked. I also saw that they had some frozen blended drink that involved banana that I think if I went back I'd have to try. For dinner I had the pulled pork sandwich. I'm no BBQ expert by any stretch of the imagination, but it just wasn't quite what I wanted. It just seemed dry. Maybe it's supposed to be, but I put a ton of BBQ sauce on it to get it to where I liked it. Overall though, I had a great time.
(4)
John M.
I went there in January 2014. The food was bad the service was mediocre too bad. I had been here in the past and thought it was great, but perhaps management has changed everything about the restaurant led me to a poor rating.
(1)
Heather G.
They say people in the south are just nicer. Totally true. They also say people in the south tend to sometimes make healthy-foods as unhealthy as possible...also true (at least in my experience). Wanting to have a bit of light-ness before my massive barbecue-binge, I ordered a salad to start. Just a salad, nothing special, right? Well, this salad came with bacon (not the artificial bacon bits, either...the real, greasy, unadulterated stuff), shredded cheese (not a smattering of cheese, but a dancing plethora of cheese covering the mound of salad like a snow cap), and a whole sea of croutons. Oh, and buttermilk ranch dressing. I'm pretty sure there was some shredded iceberg underneath the pile somewhere, but I'm equally sure it was just there for garnish, or to justify calling this bowl a "salad" without being sued for false advertising. Regardless, who goes to BBQ for a salad anyway? I cut my losses and dove in to the most ridiculously buttery, flaky, moist biscuits I have ever had in my entire life. I didn't know biscuits were supposed to be so delicious. Up north, they're dry, dense, and hard to choke down without a glass of water. I never understood what all the fuss was about in the south over biscuits...and now I get it. Holy moly, I still dream of them. The BBQ was good - slow-cooked, smokey, moist and juicy pork. However, on a whim, we also ordered the prime rib special on the menu that day....not a good idea. Though it was only $16 for the meal (and the portion was giant), it lacked flavor and seasoning. Our own fault for getting the prime rib special at a BBQ joint. So, the cliff-notes version: Skip the salad, have extra biscuits, only eat the BBQ and don't stray too far from what they're good at. Sides are all buttery and fantastic, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're not consuming a million grams of saturated fat. And the beer is pretty decent, so enjoy your meal and your subsequent food-coma.
(4)
Beth And Jim S.
He said: I had brisket and it was delicious. Staff friendly. Not awesome, but good. She said: Had the potato soup for lunch. I'm not sure I'd order it again, but I sampled the hubby's plate and I would definitely go back.
(4)
Chris O.
Ribs are good here. The wings, not so much. Not hot. Not crispy. Not tasty. Pass on the wings. The chicken would be great mashed in between a bun and some coleslaw. Sides are pretty good, I had the beans and slaw, both were things I would be sure to order again. The bread and biscuits and cornbread are all above average as well. Microbrew beers to boot. Nice.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jacki C.
Their motto is best ribs in America.. can't say for sure, it was pretty darn close.. Very friendly service here. I ordered half a slab of ribs with a side of mac and cheese. The ribs fantastic!!! The mac and cheese, ok, but nothing special. They do have happy fr from 2pm-10pm pretty much everyday. Now THOSE are some HAPPY HOURS and HOURS and HOURS!!! They also have a hand squeezed juice in their margarita, I think I've been spoiled and will never have another margarita elsewhere. Great food and great prices, I'll be back if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)Thomas O.
Great beer, great food, excellent service, what more can you say? I always enjoy the prime rib and now they have fresh oysters to accompany it. servers are friendly and the bar staff is great!! Haven't tried the ribs but have had most everything else and I've yet to be disappointed
(4)Ben S.
best ribs, i give em a four. i have had a couple better places but only in texas. but the spinach maria is awesome
(4)Fred W.
As others have said, the ribs were a little too dry, but the flavor was great. Sides of corn pudding, beans and slaw were very good. Service was just what we needed, not aloof nor overbearing. Menus is varied, so it's a good place for finicky kids.
(4)David D.
This place is amazing! I've enjoyed their food 4 times in one month. The atmosphere is really cool and the wait staff are very friendly and helpful. My favorite part is the BBQ sauce. I've tasted no BBQ sauce better in my life!
(5)Keren V.
Our first time here. Every morsel was fantastic the service was great. The meat was not dry for being smoked. The mac and cheese was incredible. Price for the 3 of us was 53 dollars.
(5)Mike M.
Pretty average to OK. My experience suggest, eat there early lest you be served dried out tough-leather meat. Also, you may be paying for the ambiance as much as anything. Quite honestly, if it is great flavor you seek; if it is your palate you desire to pleasure (and not your eye)... Sonny's just up the street or Buddy's (at just about anywhere) are much better establishments to go.
(3)David V.
Corn pudding was amazing, omg. And the southwest cordon wasn't bad! Pro tip: Zack is the best server I've ever encountered.
(5)Big Baby Jesus C.
Best ribs in America? Hard to say, haven't had them everywhere, but these were as good as any I've had. They brew their own beer locally, and it's good, and dirt cheap. $6-6.50 for a quart mug. Said it's half price during HH too. Crazy. The ribs were stellar. Great BBQ sauce, meaty, smokey rib bliss, 5/5. I had some awesome cole slaw. Wish it had a little more bite to it, but nonetheless, near perfect, 4.5/5. Oh, the baked beans, maybe the best I've ever had. Like BBQ chili. Total freakin yum, 5/5. The only thing that disappointed me were the fried green tomatoes, skip those. Just breaded in flour and fried. Came out greasy, with some off tasting yellow dipping sauce, 2/5.
(5)Judy R.
I took my daughter and her husband to calhouns after a movie. We were very disappointed. My son-law's pork was ice cold. He had to send it back. Based on the price the food was less than average.
(3)Dale F.
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.
(4)Greg S.
Attending this restaurant is a real treat for me. The service is always excellent. My meal of choice is the "BBQ Chicken Salad." It is amazing ... it's almost more than I can eat. The mixture of ingredients including the "hickory smoked bacon' makes this a crazy awesome dish. ($10) The tea is great too. Altogether, this is a great Knoxville experience and I have never been disappointed. Great ambiance and also a great place to host parties.
(5)Mary J.
Great sides and dessert. Fried okra and green tomatoes were fresh and delicious. Creamy coleslaw complemented the BBQ. Creamed spinach and mashed potatoes were reminiscent of grandmas home cooking. Banana pudding was perfect ending to meal. Rob, our waiter was attentive polite and did a great job. BBQ was good but a little dry. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys BBQ and good old fashioned home cooking.
(4)Ben D.
"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.
(3)Rusty V.
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.
(3)Ruann W.
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!
(3)Yvonne K.
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!
(5)Chris S.
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.
(3)Mark M.
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.
(4)Michael M.
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.
(5)J V.
This place is maybe a better than average bbq joint. The service is always good and I have never had a bad experience here. I usually get the Calhoun's Trio, which gives a great variety, but is a lot of food. The chicken tenders are the best I have ever had, but the ribs and pork are average. The meat is always cooed well. If you don't know where else to eat, this place would be worth checking out.
(3)Christina B.
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!
(3)Scott M.
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...
(2)Chelsea C.
Had a pretty decent meal here Calhoun's. Came in with a couple of coworkers after a really rough day and was looking forward to beer and BBQ! Because I love beer, I have to say first that their beers on draft are from Smoky Mountain Brewery and that the Windy Gap Wheat was one of the tastiest and most interesting wheat beers I've ever had! The good beer instantly put me in a good mood, as did our server Cory, who was all around great. I got the Trio, which came with ribs, pulled pork and chicken tenders (a little odd for a BBQ trio but I digress). It was good, didn't knock my socks off. What was really good, however, were the sides. I got the corn pudding and the spinach maria (basically creamed spinach) and they were outstanding. Down home good-ness, if you will! We had a nice time here, food was good, beer was good, service was great! A good local place.
(3)Tertiary D.
Decent service and side dishes. The hickory smoked brisket was so fatty that I think it was mostly diaphragm and fat but little meat. Servers very nice and respectful but the food was cold and the brisket rather below average. Not s good start for a place with so many recommendations. I think there are better places to eat here.
(2)David F.
.... Same old song and dance mostly. Overall Avg. Each location is a bit different, probably say the location on TN river is the best.
(3)Chris H.
Love this place ! Great food and awesome microbrew selection. They even have Pyrat rum, which is hard to find. Happy hour is 11-10pm, Monday through Thursday and the glasses are huge! (See the pic i posted) I was served by Bethany, and she was just a delight. Helpful, friendly, and a very attentive without being annoying- she's great. I was visiting from out of town and really wanted some down home comfort food. Make sure to get the cornbread, baked beans & mac n cheese too.
(5)Anna Laura B.
Should have known better than to eat here at an empty place on a Friday night. The food is very very medium and service was not great either. We got a variety of items- pulled pork, Mac and cheese, fried okra, potato skins, ribs. All was completely forgettable. Only gets two stars because we can't give one and a half. Really disappointed to be visiting Tennessee and get stuck with this place.
(2)Kelli S.
Wonderful intimate bar. Sitting by the fireplace is great in the winter! Excellent salads. Service is consistently good!
(4)Sandra B.
This is the first place we stopped at after landing in Tennessee, we were later told that it's a local chain of restaurants. The staff was friendly and seated us immediately. I ordered a large local brew that was delicious and HUGE! I had the traditional rib combo platter and it was exactly what I would expect from a standard southern barbecue restaurant, tender meat and good sauce. We tried a couple of the unique corn and spinach sides and they were all good. This was just solid good food, nothing to write home to mother about but a satisfying meal.
(3)Thomas C.
As I have noted in other reviews, I spend A LOT of time on the road. This means I go to all sorts of disreputable restaurants because they are near the hotel or HIGHLY (I assume this means they are getting a kickback) recommended by the hotel staff. Calhoun's falls into the second category. Our hotel told us it was the "local favorite". How could I resist? Eschewing the mindless miles of "American" and "New American" and "Insult to the food they pretend to be" restaurants along the way we arrived at Calhoun's after a short drive. The outside was a bit showy for my normal dining tastes but I was not prepared to judge a book by it's cover. Inside we were seated by a hostess that seemed to be a little lost wandering through the empty tables but finally decided to seat my coworker and I in a booth. Our waiter -name redacted- appeared and displayed the annoying exuberance and desire to make small talk that passes for good service at the like of TGIFriday's or Chili's. My coworker is a good Georgia boy and I pulled a 4 year stint in KC so we did not allow any of this to dull our excitement for the BBQ. What did dull our excitement for the BBQ was um... the BBQ. Immediately upon our plates landing on the table he exclaimed "well, yours looks a lot better than mine". I had the Calhoun Triple (Note to Calhoun's: Chicken Fingers should not be part of a BBQ plate". He had ordered the Rotisserie Chicken. The skin did not look appealing though he reported the meat was pretty good. I had, kinda the opposite. Everything looked like it should be delicious but the chicken fingers were the best part of my BBQ plate. Don't get me wrong, they were AWESOME chicken fingers. They were just not really why I was going to Calhoun's. My ribs were tasty but dry as was my pulled pork. The coleslaw was pretty dang good but the beans were a disappointment. Nothing was bad, it just wasn't the good BBQ meal I was looking to eat.
(3)Ashley H.
I love this place! There is always a wait but always worth it! The stake is absolutely amazing. Service was always great. I wouldn't have even I used my drink when I would be brought a new one, so I never ran out. The waitresses and waiters always interact with the customers. Prices are a little high but worth it. I have made this the place to go for my birthday dinner every year! Love it!
(5)Louie F.
Let me first say I am from WA and good BBQ doesn't exist in my state so anytime I am in the south... I load up! I had the pulled pork sandwich and wasn't disappointed. Service was a little slow but it was late. I'd go back.
(4)Tim M.
Love this place. Went to the turkey creek one a few Years ago and wasn't into it. Came to this one last year and it was amazing. Came again this year and it wasn't as good but still really good. Last year would have been 5 stars. Sweet tea is great. The biscuits, fries, ribs are all good. The best stuff though are the wings that are unbreaded but seasoned. So freaking good. Mac and cheese is top shelf. We got a child's cheese burger for our 2 year old and it was fantastic. Not to mention the chicken tenders which are truly the tenderloin part of the chicken breast that is battered and fried. This is not done crappy frozen chicken like most places. This is legit and amazing. Service was great and I personally think the music is awesome. ( for the record it is Mo Soul on muzack) Can't wait to go back next year.
(4)Melissa J.
I had a good time here. I sat in the bar at a table with a bunch of coworkers and the ambiance was just right. We tried a bunch of appetizers. Food of this variety is really never going to taste bad. I did really enjoy the beer cheese that goes with the pretzals though. Go for that. They also serve these gigantic beers. Much bigger than a pint, though I'm not sure by how mcuh. I had a lemon drop martini that I really liked. I also saw that they had some frozen blended drink that involved banana that I think if I went back I'd have to try. For dinner I had the pulled pork sandwich. I'm no BBQ expert by any stretch of the imagination, but it just wasn't quite what I wanted. It just seemed dry. Maybe it's supposed to be, but I put a ton of BBQ sauce on it to get it to where I liked it. Overall though, I had a great time.
(4)John M.
I went there in January 2014. The food was bad the service was mediocre too bad. I had been here in the past and thought it was great, but perhaps management has changed everything about the restaurant led me to a poor rating.
(1)Heather G.
They say people in the south are just nicer. Totally true. They also say people in the south tend to sometimes make healthy-foods as unhealthy as possible...also true (at least in my experience). Wanting to have a bit of light-ness before my massive barbecue-binge, I ordered a salad to start. Just a salad, nothing special, right? Well, this salad came with bacon (not the artificial bacon bits, either...the real, greasy, unadulterated stuff), shredded cheese (not a smattering of cheese, but a dancing plethora of cheese covering the mound of salad like a snow cap), and a whole sea of croutons. Oh, and buttermilk ranch dressing. I'm pretty sure there was some shredded iceberg underneath the pile somewhere, but I'm equally sure it was just there for garnish, or to justify calling this bowl a "salad" without being sued for false advertising. Regardless, who goes to BBQ for a salad anyway? I cut my losses and dove in to the most ridiculously buttery, flaky, moist biscuits I have ever had in my entire life. I didn't know biscuits were supposed to be so delicious. Up north, they're dry, dense, and hard to choke down without a glass of water. I never understood what all the fuss was about in the south over biscuits...and now I get it. Holy moly, I still dream of them. The BBQ was good - slow-cooked, smokey, moist and juicy pork. However, on a whim, we also ordered the prime rib special on the menu that day....not a good idea. Though it was only $16 for the meal (and the portion was giant), it lacked flavor and seasoning. Our own fault for getting the prime rib special at a BBQ joint. So, the cliff-notes version: Skip the salad, have extra biscuits, only eat the BBQ and don't stray too far from what they're good at. Sides are all buttery and fantastic, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're not consuming a million grams of saturated fat. And the beer is pretty decent, so enjoy your meal and your subsequent food-coma.
(4)Beth And Jim S.
He said: I had brisket and it was delicious. Staff friendly. Not awesome, but good. She said: Had the potato soup for lunch. I'm not sure I'd order it again, but I sampled the hubby's plate and I would definitely go back.
(4)Chris O.
Ribs are good here. The wings, not so much. Not hot. Not crispy. Not tasty. Pass on the wings. The chicken would be great mashed in between a bun and some coleslaw. Sides are pretty good, I had the beans and slaw, both were things I would be sure to order again. The bread and biscuits and cornbread are all above average as well. Microbrew beers to boot. Nice.
(4)