Calhoun’s
400 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN, 37902
Calhoun’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Knoxville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Knoxville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Knoxville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
400 Neyland Dr
Knoxville, TN, 37902 - Phone (865) 673-3399
- Website https://www.calhouns.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Izzat A.
I'm pretty ashamed to say this... but I only ate at Calhoun's once while at UT. That's not because it wasn't good, not really sure why. Came here for a birthday party with about twenty people. I remember the service being slow, but that was because it was a new waiter. Everybody liked their food, and it definitely wasn't pricey. If you can get a seat outside before a Vols game, that is a must do. I'll have to come here again when I come back to Knoxville.
(4)Jeff R.
How can you argue with great BBQ sauce and plenty of fans and atmosphere to watch the game? It's hard to get a seat on game day and the drink prices are inflated, but that should be no surprise. My BBQ Chicken sandwich was only ok but the sauce made it worthwhile. The fries were good and our server very helpful even in the mad house.
(3)Jen L.
Went for lunch on a day when the Tennesee Vols were playing Auburn (?), so there was a bit of wait. I checked out the menu for take-out which listed a soft-pretzel with beer/cheese dip appetizer. Yes, please. So, we're seated and I ask about the pretzel/cheese app and I am told that the menu I looked at is an old menu and they don't offer that item anymore. Bait and Switch, right? Eh, just kidding. We were offered the substitute, a dish of that same dip with tortilla chips but it wasn't that good. I still ate it, oink oink. I had a beer and a bowl of the chicken chili and I was pretty happy. I also sampled a few things that my dining companions ordered - my son's chicken fingers, my husband's ribs, my friend's corn pudding. Pretty good. The waiter was attentive and friendly and that meant a lot to us - a table of four adults and four loud kids,especially since I kept busting his chops about the lack of a hot pretzel appetizer.
(3)Kermit K.
Barbarque good but not exceptional. Service slow. Location great. Good atmosphere.
(3)Mike K.
i went there because i read it had the best ribs in America. I am no rib conessiour, and the ribs were good...feel off the bone easiy which is awesome..but they weren't the best. I just think the sauce didn't have it. Couldve had some more spice, some more kick, some more something. Just wasn't there As far as places I've been to that advertise "the best ribs in the country", Montegomery Inn in Cincinnati was better.
(3)Jay M.
Went for dinner down here since it was down the street from the hotel I was staying at. Really, I've had better. The appetizers weren't bad, but the ribs were horrible. Way over cooked and tough. The beer was pretty decent. Nothing special, but it wasn't awful. Try the Winter seasonal beer if they've got it. Probably won't be back tomorrow to try something else from the menu. On the up side, they have free wifi, so if you don't like being a captive to your hotel's pay per night internet *cough* Marriott *cough*, try this place.
(2)Aram K.
My friends and I flew to Knoxville for the UCLA vs. Tennessee game last weekend and went to Calhoun's on the River before the game and then again after the game to celebrate. Folks in Knoxville are the most gracious and nicest I've met anywhere. They took the time to welcome us, offer us beer and food, and wish us a safe trip back. This place is within walking distance of the stadium and if you're a fan of a visiting team, I highly recommend it. You can park your car here for $30 for the whole day and make Calhoun's your only "tailgating" destination. The locals might disagree with me but for a visitor, this restaurant/bar was very convenient. We had their burgers (very good), ribs (above average), chicken wings (excellent) and pulled pork (very good). Their beer was good yet inexpensive (for someone who is used to LA prices.)
(5)Mark M.
Stopped in the other day while driving through town. I'm familiar with the other location (been a while, don't know if it's still open) on Kingston Pike. Ribs and Beer where great as usual. Service was good. They were out of "Old Thunder Road" beer, but the Helles was a great replacement.
(4)Kenny L.
I hesitate to give this place five stars (even though I really want to) because I was drunk the first time I was there and hungover the second. Which means I don't remember many details from my first time and my palette might have been in less than top condition to really review the place. My first time there was on 9/1/06, the Cal Alumni Association threw a party there as a pre-party for the game. Wearing my Cal gear I joined in on the revelry. I did eat something, but I really don't remember what. What I do remember is endless singing of Cal's fight and drinking songs. Yelling "Stanford Sucks!" ad nauseam (even though we were in Tennessee about to play Tennessee and there really was nauseam involved because I was drunk) and engaging in semi-trash talking banter with the Volunteer Navy docked outside. It went something like, "Hey, why don't you come up here to party with us! I swear we're harmless, we're hippies! Peace!" Obviously, I was in no shape the remember to write a review, so let's fast forward to 9/3 when I ate a late lunch there, hungover from the binge drinking after humiliating loss the Golden Bears suffered at the hands of the Volunteers. It was a late lunch and decided to stay on the deck to check out the Boomsday fireworks show. Although I don't trust my tastebuds I did felt that pulled pork sandwich was very good, the meat had fat but it was not too greasy and the sauce was was also very good. It's hard to describe but no one single flavor stood out in the sauce, it had a very even blend. One thing I do love about the South is that Southerners know how to drink iced tea. Out in California, the concept of iced black tea sweetened with simple syrup seems to be a foreign concept outside of the Hong Kong-style cafes, also known as "Cha Chaan Tengs." Here you either get Lipton's or Nestea (blech) or you can go to Starbucks and Peet's and get something sweetened with some kind of fancy mango/lemon infused syrup. I just want simple syrup, dammit! Anyways after our late lunch we out to the deck to check out the Boomsday fireworks show. I can say that it was one of the most spectacular fireworks displays I have ever seen. Even though I live several thousand miles away, I will return. When I do, I will probably add that fifth star.
(4)J B.
Lovely spot, and great for some home-style food on the river. Service is fantastic, and the food is wonderful. I bring out-of-town-guests here a lot. Sometimes it can get crowded on weekends, so it's worth calling ahead. Note: Technically Calhoun's is a chain, but they're only in Tennessee, and they started right here in Knoxville.
(5)Jason D.
Calhoun's on the River provided a really nice place to enjoy a dinner before heading off to a week of camping in the Smokies! The river deck was a really nice setting to enjoy our food; there was some decent blues / classic rock music going on in the background, and a nice breeze as the sun went down. My ribs were spectacular; nicely smoked, with an excellent pink smoke ring around the meat and delicious bbq. The pulled pork was also good, but not quite as spectacular; order the ribs!!!
(4)T C.
Awesome Key Lime Pie
(5)Emily B.
I really really like the locations, once you can get there! Sitting on the patio is soooo pretty, and the set up inside is really nice, too! That's about the only thing I liked about this place. I am not even from the South and I have had way way way way way way better BBQ!!!! That pulled pork was sooo disappointing. And I even gave it a second try, thinking maybe the first time was an off day. The BBQ sauce they have is gross. I am partial to the Carolina style mustard BBQ sauce, which they sell up front in bottles, but can't serve me? WTF? The beer was lame. And expensive for local brewed lame beer. Service was OK most of the time. One time I went there before some big concert at UT, and the college crowd was out in full force. Keep in mind that this place is a sit down restaurant... There were large groups of people that were so drunk they were falling asleep in their plates, screaming at the top of their lungs, cussing, and getting up and doing weird things that drunk people do. The staff was totally cool with all of this. I had one guy who kept pushing his chair back like 5 feet so he would bump into me! I asked him to stop several times, and he thought it was funny and did it more. I complained to the staff, and they said there was nothing they could do! Seriously? Offer to move me!! Or kick him out! The guy was falling all over himself he was so trashed! /soapbox Parking is limited for the size of the restaurant, and it is really hard to get in and out of. But the view really is nice!
(2)Jason R.
Calhoun's boasts a beautiful view of the river. The BBQ isn't the best in the world, I hail from SC, but was pretty good and they also had a decent beer selection. This is a Knoxville/UT institution that you must try if you never been here before.
(3)Nate K.
Banana pudding was amazing. BBQ was average. Service good. Excellent location. I'll try the steak next visit.
(3)Jeff H.
Excellent food and service, however my bill was 91 dollars which I gladly payed but when I checked my bank statement I had a 91 and 42 dollar billed to my credit card. I had to open a dispute case against the charge.
(2)Ali G.
Great view and location and seeing the fireworks from the outside seating area was fantastic, however the food was gawdawful. I had the cheese burger (which i actually ordered the Deck burger which came with jack, bacon etc) so instead a reg cheeseburger arrived, the cheese was american cheese slices like you had when you were a kid.. yuck!! At least put some fresh cheddar on there! My bf had the ribs which were dry.. the french fries were un-edible, to put it mildly. maybe they were having a bad night as it was July 4th, but i would never eat there again!
(1)P B.
Good food...great atmosphere
(4)Greg M.
The porch by the river is a great place to be in good weather. We had pulled pork sandwiches with fries and we thought both were very good.
(5)Scott L.
Best thing about this place is the location. Wife ordered the ribs, not really fall off the bone tender and dry in the middle. The flat diet soda was the ideal beverage with their ribs! My burger was WAY smaller than the bun. Not sure if they were shorting me burger or getting " bonus" bun? With the side of cold fries I feel shorted out of $9 or $9.50. Our toddlers mozzerella sticks and fries were not hot either and I don't think they were looking out for little guy.
(2)Kim J.
Ribs and Creamed Spinach. Need I say more??
(5)Donald M.
I could have sworn this place had better reviews when we were passing through Knoxville and were looking for a place to stop for lunch. BBQ seemed like a safe bit but the ribs we had were absolutely terrible. The meat had no flavor and part of it was as tough as jerky. The BBQ sauce seemed like it came from a bottle from the grocery store. I can't say I am familiar with the Knoxville BBQ scene but this place cannot be among the best.
(1)Patricia R.
Lively very busy restaurant on the Tennessee River near UT. Food reasonably priced.
(3)Matt W.
Parking expected to be an issue downtown but we didnt have any problems. Problem we had was that only two items on the menu contained the word barbeque and that is what type of restaurant this is. Not fine dining but you get what you pay for. Basically a dinner style Cracker Barrell menu.
(3)Xavier G.
First time. I got the ribs which were okay but the drinks were to die for. The apple pie moonshine was to die for. Had a great time and the people I was with are in love with the place. The corn puddin was really good and so was the spinach. The service was great
(5)Valerie T.
Great view of the river, but the food was standard and they seemed to be confused with my dirty gin martini. My bf and I split a salad and an entree and we still had leftovers. It's a good spot for a group though, although it got a little noisy.
(3)Eric C.
In Knoxville on business and told by hotel staff "best BBQ.". Ribs were great, BBQ not so much. It arrived cold and like it had been sitting out for a while and dry. Fries and slaw were good. Front staff were slow. 2 employees just stood there behind the hostess stand asking themselves were the host was for a few minutes before bring seated. Views of the river and city were good. Waited 15 min after I paid my bill to get my credit card back.
(2)Marcus H.
When you go here, order the ribs. The restaurant is known for the best ribs, as well as best bbq, in America. Well deserved.
(4)Jonas K.
The ribs were A-OK. It wasn't mouth watering but not bad. The best part was enjoying the patio with some friends and watching the boats on the river.
(3)Becky K.
Better barbeque can be had in Knoxville, but the view is great. The pulled pork was dry and had to be drowned in sauce to make it semi-palatable. Maybe it's just me, but I think pulled pork shouldn't seem like it's been wrestled off the bone. The sides were good. Fried green tomatoes were not as good as Mama's but nothing mars that memory. Corn pudding was interesting. The service was okay. Only thing I can highly recommend is the river and the view.
(2)Tim C.
Love this place. BBQ is good, but the vinegar based sauce makes it. menu overall is good with very few (if any) weak spots. good home brews. Great place to hang out on a weekend. one of the few outdoor decks in a town that isn't stuck on a major roadway. lets face it...........in knoxville it sure seems every outdoor eating area is sitting 20 feet from kingston pike. Family friendly as well. great music on the deck on the weekends as well. and if you want to talk trash with opposing team's fans on friday nights before a home game, this is the place to get into the action. everyone i have talked to through the years from other SEC schools tell me they have heard of Calhoun's before they ever hit town. Even alumni associations set up dinners and pre-game parties there.
(4)Andy P.
Been here three times, the latest last night, and have never seen the entrance on the first pass any one of the three. If the parking lot is full, it is even a bigger pain to get out of the little parking lot and drive across the street and park there and then walk across the street. Food is good. Service is good. View of the river is great - a friend of mine even saw a guy jump off the bridge while he was eating here once. That bridge is a "popular" suicide place put that one didn't work. He started screaming for help right after he hit the water and the police "saved" him. Could be four stars if the parking situation was better.
(3)Biff H.
We were visiting my wife's cousin in Knoxville. We told her to find us a good place to eat. She took us here. The Ribs were outstanding. Not only was the food outstanding but the location was right on the Tennessee River. If you are in Knoxville you must go eat here. The night we ate there they had snickers cheesecake for desert. Doesn't get much better than this.
(5)Bill M.
I'm not sure what the expectations of the other folks who raved about the ribs were, but mine were considerably higher than what arrived on my plate, almost charred, and as dry as shoe leather. I think the only other place I've had worse rib's is Mimi's Cafe in Broomfield, CO. Dry and tough are not my idea of baby back ribs, but having lived near Memphis for about 15 years may have skewed by expectations a bit. I expect baby back ribs to be tender and falling off the bone. Calhoun's were no where near. To be fair they were quite accomodating when I sent them back. By that time I wasn't all that hungry, so I just ordered a key lime pie or desert and that was also mediocre, but I lived in Florida for five years, had, and made the "real thing" there. Calhoun's version of it was what we would call the "tourist" version of Key Lime pie in Florida. For some reason some folks seem to think it should be green, not pale yellow.
(1)Last M.
On a road trip passing through all these great BBQ restaurants in TN and NC and finally gave in. Heard about Calhoun's on YELP. The scenery is nice. Right on the river, right below the U of Tenn. But really disappointing. Drink prices were higher than expected for a southern town. Service mediocre. Barbecue sauce was good and I loved the sides- corn "puddin'" , fried green tomatoes and Creamed Spinach. But the pulled pork was so disappointing that I just got a YELP login and password so I could write about it. Just tasteless and texture was off -like it had been frozen at some point.
(2)John F.
My wife and I eat at CalhounS often. We are usually in a hurry so we just grab a table near the bar. The service and food are great. The only way you can go wrong with CalhounS is if there are so many people their you can't get in.
(5)Lisa H.
I stopped in here to try the ribs on a recent business trip, and I can't figure out how this place got any bad reviews! The location and view are awesome, the menu is very reasonably priced, our service was excellent, and most important: the food was great! I am not Southern nor am I a rib expert, but I loved my ribs. I also loved the fried green tomatoes, the biscuits, and the corn pudding. The barbecue sauce was also great- way better than the Carolina vinegar stuff by where I live. I would definitely recommend Calhoun's to anyone who wants a good meal.
(5)Tyler R.
There's a reason this is a favorite hang out of the Vol Navy. You get all the Calhouns goodness but sitting on the TN river. With the general lack of waterfront places in Knoxville this one stands above the rest. You really can't go wrong with much on the menu. Yeah the BBQ may not have the smokiness of a smaller rib shack or something. But it does deliver on taste. Or maybe it's just looking at the river while you eat that makes everything taste better. Whatever it is, this place is a Knoxville institution and worth the trip.
(4)Forrest B.
Calhoun's is somewhat of a local institution. They're famous for their ribs, their service, and their locations. With great locations throughout the Knoxville area, Calhoun's has several great locations on the river. Each one has local flavor and a great atmosphere. There's lots of good food to be had, but I've never thought the ribs to be one of those. They're not bad, but not really that good. Much of the menu covers the entire gambit of options, from salad, to fish, to burgers, to anything else, but there are several things that are really quite good. First, the bread they bring out is awesome. It's always warm and moist, which is a huge plus. The sweet tea is mighty tasty, but you probably assumed that already. The fried green tomatoes are awesome, some of the best around. While actually an appetizer, the BBQ potato skins make for an amazing meal. Just the right amount of meat, sauce, and cheese, you'll end up sharing these bad boys or taking them home for a second meal.
(4)Kristen M.
I was visiting Knoxville on a business trip for the first time. My team who live in the area wanted to take me to experience some real, down home southern food. As a foodie, I was game. I do love some bbq, fried okra and Mac n cheese. But next time I might remember to take them up on the offer for dinner. Not lunch where I have to actually function for the rest of the day. You come to this place and a nap is pretty much required afterward. And probably some alka-seltzer. Or in my case - hot tea. A remedy I grew up with in a Japanese-Hawaiian culture to "help the grease go down." Anyway, it all depends on what you value in a restaraunt. For me, this wasn't my thing. Let me explain: The portions are MONSTROUS! Like Man v. Food sized. Not my thing. The idea seems to be to just add meat, cheese and grease. While that may sound heavenly, when this is taken to an extreme, it's just kinda ehhh. Example: I ordered a salad and asked to add a touch of brisket on top (as you can add the different meats as an option to salads). I received about a 1/2 lb of brisket in a bowl. Confused, I searched for my salad and dug under the layers of meat. What I discovered next was a thick sheet of shredded cheddar cheese. I dug under that rigorously with my fork and found a bit of shredded lettuce and handful of tomatoes. And that was their definition of a salad. So just not my thing. And working the rest of the day with that in your stomach. I downed 3 large green teas from Starbucks before I felt a little better.
(3)Lauren B.
I enjoy Calhoun's for lunch or for a meal on the patio. I have never had a good experience with the food at dinner time. We would be seated at the inside addition patio about 90% of the time and it's either ridiculously hot or cold. I used to exclusively get the BBQ plate because how could that be anything but right? The food was always mediocre and I am not in love with the BBQ sauce. I'm sorry to say that there is better BBQ in Knoxville. With that said... The day I went for lunch was a game changer! A friend told me about the Smokehouse salad and I absolutely love it. Their salads are consistently great, there are tons of toppings and grilled meats. The smokehouse has country ham, bacon, and chicken and it's super filling and tasty. I also like those little rolls with garlic crumbs at the beginning of the meal. This is a Knoxville institution and it seems to be a crowd pleaser for people from out of town or business meals.
(3)Tara S.
I'm a fan of the Calhoun's brand of restaurants in general (Copper Cellar, Chesapeake's, Smoky Mtn Brewery). This is one of the better Calhoun's locations, in my opinion. I will couch that on that premise that - it's usually pretty great if you sit outside or in the bar area tables/booths. Part of this is because you can bypass the awkwardly-outfitted hostess area and the usually-awkward hostess staff. Outside, the menu is limited which is honestly a real bummer if you're craving a particular menu item, but it's lovely for a drink. From the full menu, my favorites are the BBQ Chicken Salad (i think it's exclusive to this location), the loaded potato soup, boneless wings in Thunder Road sauce, and any of the veggie sides. They always have a specials menu, and I appreciate that their salmon is always WILD CAUGHT and not Atlantic. Cheesecake specials are usually stupid-good as well. The mixers in the drinks are all fresh-squeezed juice so mimosas, screwdrivers, and the like are extra-tasty. Bon Appetit!
(3)Mark W.
Great restaurant on the water...had the mixed BBQ plate which included pulled pork, chicken tenders and ribs. All were very good. Baked beans were to die for and spicy. Loved them. Free bread to kick things off. Great place.
(4)Lan N.
So I received a Copper Card as a gift and said to myself, I will be eating racks and rack and racks of ribs. To my surprise, this did not happen as I drank and drank and became full over liquids. Normally, one would be full with the bread and butter at the beginning of the meal. How embarrassing. Here are few notes: cornbread muffin with a slab of butter= delicious! naked hot and spicy wings = double delicious! smoked turkey salad = lack of citrus in the dressing corn pudding = omgomgomg most amazing thing ever rack of ribs = smokey, flavorful, and everything I had imagined beer = gotta love their wheat
(4)Michael H.
Amazing water front view. Waiter seemed to not care about my partner and I after serving our food. She also had no idea what beers they had even though they brew their own beer. Pulled pork was great after a canoe ride up the river.
(4)Matt D.
This place sucks. Service is slow. BBQ is below average (lay off the liquid smoke, Chef Calhoun). Chicken tenders were good. They brew their own beer and it's awful. The mixed drinks aren't much better. The spot is on the river, so there's that.
(1)Powder W.
Calhouns is a solid classic. Consistent for the most part and always there when you're in need of some good BBQ . The ribs are great and the sauce put Calhouns on the map so make sure there is extra on the table. If you haven't tried them, seriously, you ought to. Fair warning, they are not baby backs though, they are the full sized meaty ones so half a rack will usually suffice for the ladies. The appetizers are great especially their beer cheese and as someone else noted their bread is always prrfect ;) especially the garlic rolls. Great place to relax, unwind and spend an evening with friends.
(4)Katie B.
Great food. The beans are ridiculous! Get them! Stephanie was our waitress and she was phenomenal! The view is amazing and there's a few spots to park your boat as well. I highly recommend this establishment. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Erin D.
Let's be honest. I'd like to bathe in their beer cheese. Order the pretzel vs the chips. I like the Cherokee Red Ale the best. The salads are great while you stare at your friends huge rack of ribs. I've heard they have the best "naked" wings around! Of course they told me that after I ordered... Blurgh! The location downtown is a fave because of the patio!
(4)Kimberley A.
Let me start this by saying their cheaper menu items such as the fries, burgers and chicken fingers were great. However the pricer items are disgusting. We got the prime rib sandwiches and they were the worst prime rib we have ever eaten in our lives. After pulling all of the fat off I had less edible meat than fat on my plate. It was dry, not cooked properly and flavorless. The potatoes were nothing special either. Everyone's bread (hamburger and prime rib sandwiches) were wet. I am not sure if this is an issue with moisture on plates or what. I let the waitress know we were not happy but a manager never addressed anything other than "did you get some dry bread?". I requested no horseradish sauce with my dinner and extra butter/sour cream with my potato. So guess what I put on my potato and ate a mouth full of? yea... At that point, I was past the point of complaining for 20mins and just wanted to leave. We were traveling and I did not have another hour to sit there waiting for new food. Now my kids...they throughly enjoyed their meals..I guess if you eat here you should buy the cheap food and avoid the steaks and ribs. (as we were told to do so by other guests). We were not going to even try the ribs because we are from memphis and well, let's face it, they would never match up. The sauce they have is VERY sweet and not that great in my opinion either. I did note diners around us griping about how tough their ribs were and complaining about the BBQ. The front door staff was ignorant and caused us to wait much longer than needed to be sat. Our server was very bubbly and good overall. We did have many other people bringing us our food and helping her for whatever reason. But when she was at the table she was very good. The view is really great and I would say this places only truly good point. We will not return. ever. They got the only $100 I will ever drop there. I don't get all the hype on this place unless people don't see past the view and some adequate burgers and great chicken tenders and fries. Also notable is that they had smart car charger ports in the parking lot.
(1)JR M.
I love this restaurant chain (owned by the same people who own Copper Cellar). My all-time favorite thing to order here is the Prime Rib. The service has always been excellent when I come and every entree I have tried is great! I have had the ribs, prime rib, chicken wings, and countless other meals here and everything has been tasty and worth the money. The location on the river is beautiful and if they let you sit outside, I would highly recommend it!
(4)Chris S.
We relate the Calhoun's experience to the game of telephone. Likely because Calhoun's sponsors Tennessee events, someone believed this place was the best BBQ ever, rather than realizing it's simply great marketing. They told one person how good the food is, who told another and now every out-of-towner believes Calhoun's is the best BBQ in Knoxville, which isn't the case. What can be hyped here is the gameday atmosphere and view of the Tennessee River. The BBQ is average, at best and if it's average, it's overpriced. You're paying for location and the amount of advertising put into getting you here. I'm not basher, just a realist and have tried to bring multiple groups of people to this location, all of which wonder why anyone would return, which is odd because their Turkey Hill location has wonderful food, yet this particular spot has always underachieved when it comes to producing BBQ that makes people crave a return. Oddly enough, we ordered the same food here as we did at Turkey Hill on back to back days and even though it's the same chain, they tasted nothing alike. The Hickory Smoked Prime Rib was meager and my friend who will even eat prime rib at a truck stop didn't finish his here. My smoked chicken was flavorless, compared to an awesome meal a day prior at a location a few miles away. Strange, yes. Even the bread here was average and we fought over who got what piece at the other location a day prior. If you don't mind average food, come here, because the view rocks. Otherwise, go to the Turkey Hill location (the Gatlinburg one under achieves, too). This is tourist BBQ, not true Tennessee smoked meat.
(2)Gizelle P.
Okay I will give this place 2 stars 1 star for the food and 1 star because the location is on the Tennesse river and it's a great view for dining. Also keep in mind that I am being very picky because I am rating the great "Southern BBQ" which southerners are very picky about. Got recommended this place by someone in the Crowne Plaza Hotel- I'm never trusting him or anyone in Crowne Plaza again. Haha. We both ordered the Calhoun's trio, but you can't make any substitutes, which was kind of annoying. Also it cost nearly $16, and the portion size was TINY! The bread that came with the meal was really good, and I got baked apples and the creamed spinach on the side, enjoyed them both a lot. The meat was the flunk. Chicken was kind of measly looking, the pork was dry, and the baby back ribs were nothing special. Meh. I'm not a fan. Just really commercialized BBQ, nothing special at all, go somewhere else.
(2)Joy D.
This was my first visit to Calhoun's and I loved it. There was six in my party at 10pm on a Friday night. We were told we'd have a 30 minute wait, but were seated within 15. I had the sirloin basted in BBQ sauce, and it was the best steak I've had in a long time...very tender and well seasoned. They were out of mashed potatoes, so I had the baked beans and corn pudding which was not a sweet corn pudding, but very custardy and delicious. Our server was attentive and kept our glasses full on a very busy night. I would love to go back to Calhoun's on my next visit to Knoxville.
(5)Marco F.
Calhoun's is a Knoxville staple...They are known for their ribs and there is a good reason.. they are mouth watering good. My friend Paul recommended this place since he use to live in Knoxville for quite some time. We came here on a Friday night around 7pm. We were expecting a long wait after all the good things we heard, but we were seated right away (party of 4). We all ordered different entrees and everyone was very happy with their meal. I had the combo platter which had ribs, tenders & pulled pork. All 3 meats were FANTASTIC. I had a baked potato (difficult to screw that up lol) and I had some mac & cheese (very good). Another thing I truly enjoyed was the great micro brew beers on tap. It's something I always look forward to when I'm visiting a new town/city. Also, If you are unsure though they will give you samples of the beers you are trying to decide between. The atmosphere was great and the décor is unique. I would definitely stop here again the next time I'm in Knoxville.
(4)Jamie B.
Live band, great ribs, great wings, cold beer. This is a great atmosphere. Will definitely come back. We also had a great waiter! He was very attentive--even though there was a large crowd on the patio!!!
(5)Angela P.
Great atmosphere. Our waitress was very nice and made sure we had everything we needed. We had the Ale Steak and it was delicious. It was marinated perfectly and juicy. Would recommend coming here.
(4)Stephanie D.
Being a Knoxvillian you have to love Calhoun's. And I do. But I feel this location with its riverfront property needs to spend some serious $$ updating the facility to be worthy of its prime real estate. We thought about booking our rehearsal dinner here but the rental space was so seriously dated that we decided to go with a different venue. The space has so much potential ready to be unleashed with a little design attention. The windows are downright pleading for the place to be renovated into a Mountain Modern type feel with some scruffy city character thrown in. PLEASE. That being said, the food is obviously good. I normally order the house ale steak or fried catfish with spinach maria and Tennessee corn puddin', and the garlic rolls to start never disappoint. The beers are great too...I most often go for the black bear. The seasonal strawberry shortcake is the best I've ever had, and I highly recommend you take advantage during strawberry season. The patio is awesome when the weather is nice, but I wish the outdoor menu had a little more breadth as I'm not that into anything currently served outside.
(3)Random R.
The Good: My son loved the bread, as well as his grilled cheese and mac-n-cheese. He also enjoyed the little cardboard car that it all came in. The Bad: We visited just after Christmas and no one was in town. I suspect, being as this is a college town, that the entire town had gone home for Christmas. We arrived at Calhoun's at 6:30pm. Our wait time was around 50 minutes........in the cold, with the waiting deck filled with smokers......no room was left inside for waiting. The noise level was insane. The booze was running at full service. My son asked if everything was normal.........he sensed the atmosphere as "different". The Ugly: After receiving the bread, which had to be eaten over the basket because we weren't offered plates, I ordered the Ale Steak with Fresh Broccoli and Creamy Country Slaw. I initially ordered the Fresh Vegetable of the Day, but was told "there isn't a vegetable for today"..........this was a Saturday night. Upon receiving the food, which wasn't too long, around 15 minutes or so, the Broccoli was nowhere to be seen. I was told that "the broccoli is on the way". So, I waited another 5 minutes on the broccoli. Then, a totally different waitress approached my table; my broccoli in one hand, and a spray bottle of cleaner in the other........appetizing. She sit my broccoli down and went about her cleaning. Finally; I've heard rave reviews for their Ale Steak. Seriously, I was wondering if I was going to be able to finish it. Have you ever chewed gum for so long that it is falling apart in your mouth? This was the texture of this steak. It is very hard to describe, but it was unlike any other steak I have ever had. Kind of reminded me of modeling clay with seasoning. The highlight of the meal for me was the slaw. Everything else was way below expectations. Parking: Pretty bad Wait time: Atrocious Service: No dedicated waitress...just random whoever Food: Not impressed Prices: Typical Cleanliness: See review
(2)Tim H.
Great ribs. Great view of the riverfront and you can smoke cigars on the deck! Sit outside if you can. You will not be disappointed and their house beers are amazing!
(5)Kate K.
Straying away from the Market Square (where I usually visit when in town), we walked down to Calhoun's for Sunday lunch. Ordered the fried pickles, BBQ pork plate with coleslaw and corn puddin'. The fried pickles were awesome, nice and crispy (not soggy at all) and really good seasoning on them. The BBQ pork was alright--maybe a little dry, same with the coleslaw, but the corn puddin' was really pretty good. Not overly sweet, it was like baked creamed corn. I'd definitely go back!
(4)Justa G.
Everyone who wants a good Knoxville dinning experience should check out Calhouns. The BBQ is great . I ordered a chicken salad today & it was phenomenal, fresh and a huge portion. I want to also add that the ladies at the hostess stand need some training on how to properly greet guests. Both ladies seemed like they were annoyed with having to speak to customers. I'd say it'd be better to have friendlier and more attentive hosts to represent the business. Our waitress Samantha was fantastic however. I was very impressed with the value of our meals. Also try the Long Island Tea! I will go back soon I hope!
(4)Jamie C.
I have been meaning to write this the Orange & White weekend in April... The Hubs and his mother & her husband just went to get some drinks and enjoy the river in the early afternoon. We were all very excited as the Hubs and I had officially decided to start looking for a house in Knoxville. So it was very celebratory!! Us ladies had margaritas and the men had beers recommended from our waiter, Adam. My husband had . He really enjoyed it. Our margaritas were pretty good. We also ordered the macadamia nut banana pudding. OMG SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly - it was the star at the table!! Well that, and Adam. He was super engaging, really nice, and very knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. so I highly recommend it for at least the drinks, the deck view of the river, that banana pudding, and Adam!
(4)Jay G.
Definitely a fun place. It's on the river so u have some superb views. Also, you have a choice of sitting inside or outside. Due to the thirty minute wait we chose to sit outside. The outdoor menu is a little smaller so be mindful of that when u choose. The server was extremely attentive from the time we say until we left. We shared the nachos, chicken wings and ribs. All were very tasty. Save room for dessert. The banana pudding is killer. We shall return again
(3)Joe L.
Even though we are from Florida we make it a point to visit Calhouns whenever we travel to Tennessee. I have to have the Ribs and a Home-made beer. The view of the Tennessee river is awesome also.
(5)Susan P.
A welcome find for travelers on Christmas night. Surprised to find such a place open but it was nearly full with families and groups of college kids. We had a table overlooking the river where we could see the lights on the nearby bridge. Food was fine, nothing special.
(4)David B.
I have always loved Calhoun's, although I never go there for the BBQ. If you want BBQ, find a good mom and pop place. Their's is all sauce and no overcooked, watered down, tasteless meet. That having been said, everything else on the menu is amazing. The service is touch and go, but the food is always great.
(3)Olwen C.
Great atmosphere
(4)Julia H.
Since childhood I have spent every Friday night before a home football game at Calhouns. Honestly, I am not sure where else people would ever want to go! This place is right on the river, over looks the Volunteer Navy and probably sells more beer and ribs than any other place in the state. They even started carrying a special type of beer for my group of friends during football season. I am never let down by the service here, no matter how busy and no matter what I order to eat it comes out piping hot. I just think this is the staple place for all UTK fans to be and the memories shared within these walls will be related to generations to come.
(4)Bruce K.
Calhoun's was a total let down to me. And do you know why? I didn't even get to eat here. I took my teacher who was visiting from NC to eat some BBQ, thinking that it would be a good idea to try some TN BBQ (but I've been told there are better places to check out.) Anyways, at this Calhoun's we walked in and since outside was pretty nice, we asked the hostess if we could sit outside. She then explained to us that it was a "self sit" area and that all the tables were open to sit at. So, we self sat ourselves outside with the nice view of the river. And waited for a waiter to take our order. This was about 6:00... ...and we waited. For 10 minutes. And then decided that, well they most likely forgot about us. I would think that the hostess would tell the waiter that they had a table outside. Guess not. So we decided to leave. While leaving, the hostesses and people at the front door didn't even say anything to us even though they just seated us. Who knows, I hate to pull the race card on this one, but it did sure feel that way. (I'm Chinese and he's Black...) Anyways, lets say it was a bad experience and I definitely won't go to this Calhoun's again. It might be different elsewhere as this is a franchise/chain.
(1)Jeff E.
The one thing Calhoun's has going for it is the location. The last three times I've ordered their pork, it has been dry and tough. I also wonder when you're at a table with four people who order pork and not a single one got a piece of bark. Are they keeping that for themselves in the back? I don't know how they feel about naming themselves the best ribs in America, but they don't even make the best ribs on the east side of Knoxville. Calhoun's would be better served to convert to a Southern style menu alone and serve the things they do well: fried catfish, sides, cornbread. I will say this: if you go, you owe it to yourself to try the corn pudding. It's wonderful. Otherwise, soak up the view all you can. That's really the only reason to go.
(2)Stacey N.
The BBQ nachos as a must!! The view is great. I can imagine that is would nice to visit during the summer.
(4)Joe M.
i had the pulled pork. Yes it was good. tossed some more sauce on that meat and BAM good eating. Would love to come back for dinner. Looks like a fun place at night and during the games.
(4)Jeff G.
Cool place on the river downtown. I got the bbq sampler with baked beans and fries. Order your ribs with no sauce. They have good flavor but you would never know if they were drenched in bbq sauce. My ribs were dried out but they got me a new rack and the replacements were very good. The baked beans had more of a chili taste than bbq. Overall a good experience.
(3)Morgan T.
My friend an I were visiting from out of town and decided to dine here for a second time. Our server Tucker was very sweet and super helpful. We started out with the beer cheese dip ( was actually good) except for the Chips it came with, Those were drenched in salt almost to the point were my lips were burning and we couldn't finish. For my entree I got the BBQ chicken sandwich, it was pretty good and it had a good amount of flavor, my friend got the steak an shrimp platter which I wish I had gotten Bc it looked awesome. We topped dinner off with some margaritas I got the frozen blackberry. It was pretty strong an wasn't very fruity, I drank it anyway Bc I didn't want to be wasteful. But overall my experience was ok. If we didn't have a super sweet waiter I probably wouldn't have tolerated it as much. Good service makes all the difference. So I will most likely be back next time I'm in town.
(3)David A.
Recommended at hotel and I was tired after driving for 11 hours from Philly on my way to Dallas. Walked over to restaurant and knew it had an average, chain-like feel. Waitress was friendly. Asked for a local beer (I am not a beer guy) and they brought me samples of about 10. Nice touch. Really didn't need my pint at that point! Ordered a combo BBQ plate as recommended by waitress. It had some ribs, pullled pork and chicken fingers. They were all very average. Side of slaw was highlight of evening.
(2)Mike S.
Service was terrible. Our food arrived before our drinks which we ordered first. Had almost all the apps and most weren't very good. Atmosphere was nice though. Live band was cool but a little too loud considering people were trying to have some food drinks and chat with each other but you have to scream at each other to hear. Our fault for sitting in the nice evening air i guess. I would try it again to try a dinner item but we really weren't impressed with the lack of effort first go round.
(2)Ann Y.
This place was AMAZING. We were seated by the windows overlooking the river. The waitress was incredibly sweet and kind, the service for lunch was quick, and the food was delicious. Loved the assortment of free breads. My friends had burgers and loved them, and I had the Caesar Salad special and the smoked corn and dressing were so good. Also, their desserts were mouthwatering. Try the key lime pie!
(5)Brad B.
The waiter that we had was absolutely clueless. It was just 2 of us abd they put us in a gigantic round table booth. The waiter openly admitted that he knew nothing about the drinks and just handed me the drink menu and said this has our beers. After ordering one another waiter comes over from the bar and says that the lines have been frozen on that one for 2 days. Also had to get more information on my wife's drink that he forgot to get the first time .. took him forever to take our order and never made one trip to the table after delivering food. He was completely terrible among other things. We are from out of town and will never be going back here. I left my number on the receipt for the manager to call to explain the tip but I doubt they will.
(1)Jon Anne D.
We had an early Sunday dinner on the deck. I liked the convenience of the abbreviated menu for outdoor dining. Two adults shared a full rack of ribs with fries and cole slaw. Since we were saving room for dessert, we had leftovers even then; so, think generous portions. The ribs were just wonderful! I enjoyed every bite! The key lime / coconut cake was moist and seemed to be prepared well. I didn't care for the flavor, which was a boon for my boyfriend who DID and who ate every crumb. The coffee was just okay and our service certainly had room for improvement. However, I look forward to going back, enjoying the gorgeous setting and scrumptious ribs.
(4)Dennis L.
Came here on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. The patio is great. Food was average. I had the chicken Calhoun. Expected a smoked half a chicken, but only got a grilled chicken breast with bar b que sauce. When you have a smoker, use it! My wife had a salad with steak skewers on it. Meat was chewy. According to the children, the burgers were good. The beans had a nice smoky taste to them, so that was the best thing on my plate! I would come back, but will either try the pulled pork or burger.
(3)D. S.
Good but not great. Ribs were tasty, steak was ok. Everything else kinda mediocre. If you like 70's music, this is your place.
(3)michael w.
Terrific location (downtown on the river). Parking is challenging. The entire place is cool, but if the weather is nice, i recommend the outside deck. Outside deck has limited menu and if seating is readily available you will get seated faster. Service is good. Burger is good. Wings are OK. Smokey Mountain porter is OK. Get the kids out of there before the band starts up at 9pm (Saturday). About twice the price for what you would normally pay for such faire, but the other half is going towards location. Ruth Chris what?!~
(4)James T.
Great lunch, friendly server (even though I was rocking my Gator gear!) and an overall wonderful experience.
(4)Scott H.
Spectacular food and service. Perfect location on the water and by the football stadium. If you're in town for a football game, eat at off-peak times because this place will be very crowded...which left me dumbfounded why there aren't more sports bars by the stadium. All of these fans coming in from out of town and you've got one sports bar by the stadium? C'mon Knoxville!
(5)Michael C.
I enjoyed the food at Calhoun's for sure, but the 5-star rating I give is because of their service and going above and beyond for making right even what I would consider just a small problem. Long story short, somehow our party of five got seated in a section in which no server was assigned. So we sat there, talking and catching up with one another, until we started noticing that multiple tables seated after us were being serviced while no one had yet even come to greet us. We stopped another server walking past, Rachel, who immediately went to check with the front desk, and notified the manager Steve. Steve came over immediately, apologized for the mix-up, and assured us that we would be taken care of right. Rachel stepped in, taking our table in addition to her existing load of tables, and never missed a beat. Rachel and Steve together, literally provided some of the best service I've ever had; going to show that just because a restaurant makes a mistake that it can be easily made right if the attitude is right. They made such a good impression that even now, six months later, I still remember their names and faces and my experience with them. I realize it's a small thing, but when your water is never more than half-full, even with a fully loaded section to serve, your server is on-the-ball. Dishes came out quickly, and followed up quickly by checking in with us to make sure we had everything we needed and that we were happy with our meals. Our food was good. Not mind-blowing, but good. And the view of the river and the bridges, especially on a night where it's not so crowded and loud, is great. I can imagine on a quieter night beside the window or on the deck, that this would be a wonderfully romantic place for a date night. At the end of the meal, the manager Steve ended up comp'ing us immensely, and we ended up paying only a fraction of our bill for the evening, just for a small, easily understandable and forgivable mistake. Calhoun's staff went far above and beyond, and these days, I appreciate that greatly. Thank you Rachel, and thank you Steve, for a taste of hospitality worthy of Tennessee. 5/5 for going above and beyond.
(5)Keith E.
The filet mignon steak was dry, tough, and tasteless, could not be rescued by salt and A1 sauce. Beans were mostly bbq sauce, mashed potatoes were bland. I was disappointed in this place. Perhaps I should have ordered bbq, since that is what they are famous for, but I felt that a place this popular downtown should be able to serve a decent steak. I've had way better at an airport applebee's or chili's.
(1)Jason O.
Atmosphere was better than the food. Dark, service was ok. Wife loved the wings, but the BBQ sauce sucked.
(2)Steve R.
Huge beer for $4. Great B-B-Q pork plate for $11. Excellent service...Thanks Sarah! On the river, but large boats blocking some of the view. Definitely recommend.
(4)jason b.
Not too bad. Great location and view. I had ribs and beans. The beans were great and the ribs were good, but a little dry. I really liked the bbq sauce. I sat at the bar and the bartender was good and I got my food fast. The bread they give with the meal was very good. I'd go back.
(4)James W.
The ribs were dry. I have bad better ribs at Chilis. They probably overlooked, let them sit and rewarmed them in the microwave. I will never order them again.
(1)C-pher M.
We were told, "You have to eat at Calhoun's on the River." So, I ate at Calhouns. Growing up in the South, and transplanted in Yankee territory I can't get some of the foods that I love. When I saw Catfish on the menu...I have to say...I freaked out a little bit. So, can you guess what I ordered??? Yep, the Ribs....just kidding...I had the Catfish. Not really, I had a combo plate of both Ribs and Catfish. And I was glad...the ribs were very good for not being a full off smokehouse. And the Catfish was some of the best since going to college in Mississippi. So good, that I went back again before I left for just catfish and iced tea. If you're in Knoxville...and not sure what to eat...get some catfish at Calhoun's.
(5)Ernie C.
Ok for tourists. Basically a chain BBQ restaurant. Meat was quite dry in my opinion. Large place and loud.
(2)Melissa T.
Love Calhoun's! The service is always fantastic and the one time in five years that it wasn't we were generously compensated by management (without asking or complaining). We eat here every year on our anniversary and live to bring out of town visitors. Usually get the ribs which are the best I've had in several states. The sides are decent- my favorite is the beans. The deserts are great, I like the key lime pie (when they're not out) and Jack Daniel pecan pie is almost as good as mine ;). My only complaint is that they are always running out of the things that I want--prime rib and key lime pie.
(5)Three Rivers J.
First visit (if you can call it that) was on a Friday afternoon, but unfortunately the kitchen was experiencing electrical problems and we were told we couldn't order food. We had driven about 4 hours and were meeting a friend. The staff allowed us to use the restroom and sit out on the outside open air deck which has a great view of the river and bridges. A wonderful waitress offered to get us drinks and chips while we were waiting for our friend to arrive and then did not want to charge us because of the inconvenience of driving so long and not being able to eat. Needless to say she got a nice tip and I was impressed that she did what she could to make things pleasant for us. Returned on Sunday afternoon to try the place because of the friendly service we had received earlier. Ordered salads with hot grilled chicken, field greens, candied pecans, feta cheese, and cranberries. It was a featured special. Chicken was excellent, salad was huge, and overall it was very good. Served with a selection of corn muffins, biscuits, and dinner rolls that were also top notch. The service was friendly, and prompt without being overbearing. We sat in an enclosed deck that overlooked the river. Overall our experience was outstanding, and the views were spectacular. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Alexander B.
Being from California, it was a treat to get some good food. Amazing ribs. Next time in in Knox, absolutely going back. Was a little annoyed walking in when the host did not acknowledge me...so I just kept walking to the bar. But overall, good experience.
(4)Mary J.
We had a fabulous time here on Saturday night! We had been driving for about 12 hours and everyone was tired and hungry. I called ahead a few days for a reservation and they told me that they don't take them, they only do the call ahead service. It doesn't reserve you any space, it just shortens your wait time. When we got there it was packed and parking was hard to find. They told us it was only a 30 minute wait since we called ahead and normally it was 60 minutes. They had a bridal party upstairs and there were several other large groups waiting. We had a party of 12 near us and I think it was a bachelorette party. Even with that large party near us, we got great service! The boys chowed down on ribs and chicken wings while I had some chicken myself. The little man had the boring meal of grilled cheese, but I did get him to eat some chicken wings. All of the food was so tasty! The homemade lemonade was REALLY good! I've got a problem with anything that contains corn syrup, so I was so glad to see the lemonade as an option. Didn't you know that corn syrup is in everything now! So I would give them 5 stars, but the call ahead feature is so lame! Why don't they just take reservations like other busy restaurants?
(4)Stewart P.
If you are going to grab BBQ in Knoxville, you will be hitting up Calhoun's primarily for the view. There is better BBQ to be had elsewhere. However, it is still a fairly good offering of food that is more on the chain restaurant BBQ level than what I would consider REAL Tennessee BBQ. The sauce they use has a very strong vinegar taste which is more along the Caroline style of BBQing. I certainly wouldn't say they have the "Best Ribs in America", but they are still very good. I do have to say though, that the price is very fair for the food and the location. Kids meals are very cheap as well. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Jen W.
It was a little hectic getting in and getting a table, as the whole town is upside down for Boomsday. We were able to hang out on the patio and enjoy lunch before the tables started being sold off for fireworks. The food was good, thank god there was malt vinegar for the fish (this was an issue at a Florida restaurant recently) and the servers were friendly. We will be back, next time we are in town, just not for a holiday weekend!
(5)Rob B.
The pulled pork had a nice smokey flavor to it but was a bit dry. The sauce was nothing special. The thing that shined brightest was the corn pudding! The service was good and a nice view of the river.
(3)Brenda M.
Great food and great atmosphere. Went there before the TN vs GA game and of course the place was packed. There is open seating in the bar area and in the outside area too. We found a booth in the bar and had appetizers and drinks. Service was good considering how busy they were. My guests from out of town enjoyed so much we went back there after the game for dinner.
(4)Joe K.
We really enjoyed eating here. The food was good and loved sitting outside. Make sure you try the fried pickles AWESOME !!!
(4)Jing Y.
Best dining place in Knoxville. I love the steak they cooked.
(5)David W.
First visit at any Calhoun's. Last night in Knox and staying at the Marriott - figured driving would be easy, but should have walked, had to kind of go out of the way to get there in a car. Ordered a half rack, mashed potatoes, and corn puddin'. It was all really good. No, this isn't all-star knock your socks off BBQ, but what chain is? The restaurant is great, the Smokey Mountain beers were adequate, and the service was great. If you are hungry, and want ribs, get the full rack. The "half" is more like a "third" but I still felt that it was a good value. Will return!
(4)Craig C.
Good BBQ. Nice ribs. Good slaw. Pulled pork ok. Only one sauce offered. Great setting if the area across the river were developed.
(4)Aman S.
The best part about this place was the location and the view of the river. The buttermilk biscuits and the spinach dip were nothing to write home about. The chicken chili, however, was great. I also had the roasted chicken - again, nothing special.
(3)Chuck C.
Better than Calhouns on Bearden Hill, but still a declining place that I really don't want to gol. It's fun to save your food and feed the hungry fish outside in the water.
(3)R B.
Decent food... horrible service. You know how one waiter can have the power to destroy your evening? That's the one we got. We were on the deck, which is a limited menu. There were 4 of us. He came to take our order and wasn't writing anything down. I made a little joke about working without a net, and he assured me can can manage a 15-top with no problem (that's 15 diners.) Anyway. With just 4 of us, he didn't get a single order right. My pulled pork sandwich order became a bbq chicken sandwich. Our call for ketchup and bbq sauce yielded a sticky bottle with about 2 cms of liquid in it. Then he kept us waiting for the check. Buyer beware: Insist on better service. Calhoun's gets a black eye on this one, because of this one idiot. Good luck...
(2)Scott R K.
Difficult to get to and even tougher to park at, Calhoun's is quite an effort for the mediocre food we tried. We wanted to eat there because of the great setting on the river. We ordered ribs, which were overcooked and had to be sent back. The brisket was okay but also overcooked. Because I love burgers and they bragged about them on the menu, I ordered one of those as well. It was cooked to the consistency of a piece of charcoal. Very disappointing. I will say our server was charming and thoughtful and did her best to take care of us. The view was nice. Food was overpriced at best. Hoosier Burger Boy
(1)Eric Douglas S.
Best Ribs in America! It may have been 1984 when they were awarded this coveted label, but every since I can remember, Calhoun's has continued to deliver awesome bbq, chicken, and ribs. This is definitely game-day central, the place to dock your boat and hop the dock before a Tennessee game. I actually worked here one semester in college, I remember how much fun we all had. The patio is great, live music, separate kitchen, tiki bar, and the views of the river are the best. I love having beer and bbg at Calhoun's when I'm in town. Eric Statzer Eric Douglas Statzer
(4)Dan C.
Five sexy stars for eating BBQ on the water with a view of a waterfall. Okay, the waterfall is really tiny and almost entirely covered by brush, but if you sharpen your Where's Waldo skills it wont take you too long. Some friends/work-people and I met up at around 6 pm on a Wednesday in late June. Surprisingly the inside was considerably busy with almost no one out on the patio enjoying the amazing weather with some of Calhoun's own brewed beers. Later we realized this might be a result of them only offering an abbreviated version of their menu outside--perhaps because they can make more money on us drinking than eating, or maybe because there is one tiny door that connects the inside to the outside which is always being violently swung open, or perhaps because they hate the customer and they'll tell you what you can eat and where you can eat it (I'm leaning towards the last one). Strangely enough, they really don't enforce that whole no shoes, no service thing here--lots of people were clomping about sans foot gear, probably from just getting off their boat, which you can park at the restaurant. The beers were cold and plentiful as the waitress was coming by every few minutes to make sure we had everything we needed. I really wish she would have shown that same initiative and zen-like knowledge of our gastronomic situation and alerted me to the fact that the ribs come with coleslaw so I could have revised my order and not gotten two bowls of coleslaw. Of course the coleslaw was one of the best slaws I've ever had, so I wasn't too disappointed in the way it turned out (perhaps it was her plan all along?). The ribs are pretty decent, better than anything I've ever had up in a restaurant outside of states known for their bbq, but I doubt they're the best in the area.
(5)Rich T.
Ive been to Calhouns a few times, mostly on game days. Before or After the UT game. Calhouns is always packed after a UT game. So if you're coming here after the game. Expect to wait a while. I'll start with the best thing Calhoun's has going for itself. That View..... It's a pretty amazing view. It's always awesome to sit on the patio with friends, overlooking the river drinking a cold beer watching the sun go down. Live music is also available most nights. And now for the food. It's pretty average. Ribs are ok, pretty tough and dry. Burgers are decent. It brags the "Best BBQ in America". It's pretty far from it. As far as chain restaurants, this place is not too high priced. Around $15-18 for a rack of ribs. Service is Excellent. The waiters and waitress are always attentive and very nice. Overall, Don't come here expecting amazing ribs. They're not that good. Come here for the atmosphere and the amazing view and celebrate a UT WIN with friends and loved ones. God bless and Go vols!
(3)Ercan Ç.
I have first tried this place 4 years ago and I kept going occasionally. The food is good but can be a bit pricey at dinner time. The view is also great. It is hard to find a spot outside when it is open in the summer time.
(4)Marty W.
Best ribs that i have ever had! Microbrews were average but the views of the Tennessee river were spectacular! Wait staff was courteous and very prompt.
(4)David G.
Try the ribs and fresh bread rolls (Sweet corn bread and fresh yeast rolls = BUTTERY) with a frosty mug of Tennessee brewed beer. A lot of big parties like this place too.
(5)Kerry C.
We came here for dinner on a Saturday night because it was within walking distance of our hotel. If one friend hadn't spied it earlier in the day, I have no idea how we would have found it because it seemed to be tucked away, hidden by trees and hills. The river location is pretty fantastic and makes me desperately want a boat so I can arrive for dinner via water landing. When we arrived, it appeared there were a lot of kids and families there celebrating high school graduations, so I was okay with the 20-minute wait they predicted. Happily, we had just stepped out onto the patio to get our Smoky Mountain beers (I had the Cherokee Red and was pleased, my friend had the Velas and thought it was worse that Bud Light), when the hostess told us they had our table ready. Our waiter was friendly, funny, attentive and very patient with my indecision. We started off with the beer cheese/mustard/pretzel dip which was FREAKING FANTASTIC. Bowl-licked-clean type of good. Gone-in-two-minutes-before-the-waiter-came-back-Âto-check-on-us kind of good. After much vacillating, I decided on the Ale Steak, which was very good, as were the mashed potatoes. My friend's ribs were good/fine, but I'm not a ribs person, so I'm not the best judge. My other friend's salad was good (as expected, very few vegetarian options). I would definitely come back here, probably with people who are visiting to see the view and sample the tastes of TN.
(4)Lashona M.
Great place to go for drinks on the riverfront! Great scenery! The food isn't all that. I had beer cheese dip with nachos, a strawberry shortcake daiquiri, and dry wings with dipping sauce. The food didn't leave a lasting impression but I loved the view on the river front!
(2)Ryan L.
Ate here this past Friday (before UT-FL game). I hadn't eaten in about 10 hours, so I was going to devour everything on my plate, regardless. Finally got seated and our food arrived. Had the ribs/chicken tenders/pork combo. Tenders? Excellent. Some of the best I've had. But, you don't come here for tenders; you come for the pork. Ribs? Meh... practically fall-off-the-bone but dry. Not much flavor. Pulled pork? Dry as well. Flavor wasn't all that great. Beans? A hint of some hot sauce to it, but absolutely NO bbq flavor in it at all. That's an immediate fail in my opinion. Slaw? Acceptable. Nowhere near elite. Knoxville doesn't have a Smokey Bones restaurant (yet), but they blow Calhoun's away in flavor and quality of EVERYthing mentioned on here except for the tenders. Very unimpressed. Outback's ribs are even on a much higher level. The patio is a good place to go the night before or after a game, tho. Good crowd and music, but just dont come hungry.
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