Gay Street is the hip place to hang out in Knoxville these days and Sapphire is firmly in the center of it all. It's conveniently located near The Tennessee Theatre, the Regal Riviera Stadium movie theater, Market Square and the Bijou, so you can grab dinner before a show or event or a drink afterward. I love the concept of preserving the old jewelry store cases and cabinetry and playing off the theme so much that they offer a martini with real sapphires in it - by far the most expensive cocktail I've ever seen on a menu. I've always enjoyed meeting with friends there for drinks. The cocktails are intriguing and delicious. Though I've never had dinner there, I've tried several of their appetizers. The Tennessee Fruit and Cheese Plate and the hummus are great accompaniments to the cocktails. The service is on the slow side, but I've never been in a hurry when I've visited. Maybe the servers sensed that and wanted to minimize the disruptions. It will always be my rendezvous spot downtown.
(3)
Richard Y.
We had the steakhouse and veggie burgers. I understand the prices and quality and it seems to me that everything is made in house, even the bun. The steakhouse patty needed some salt or seasoning and the silver skin needs to be trim before grounding it into the patty. Other that it was good. The veggie patty was gooey and need some texture, perhaps adding some mushroom to it.
(3)
Brian G.
The specialty martinis are very good and the appetizers are unique and excellent but the service was so bad we left to get dinner somewhere else. The bartender was serving tables and it didn't work at all. Also regular martini was not good at all.
(3)
Eric C.
I great place to go for some good drinks. They have a pretty good selection and the building and atmosphere is top notch for Knoxville.
(4)
Aubrey C.
I went here with a bachelorette party. The cocktail drinks and anything the bartender makes up are fantastic. so the pros: Amazing cocktail drinks Solid beer selection Decent vibe Cons: Service was a little slow (8 people, but only 4 ordered drinks) No soap in the bathroom The music was straight out of an elevator. Doesn't need to be crazy club music, but I'd rather not be put to sleep. It was a good volume though. There doesn't appear to be much of a night life anywhere in town on a Thursdays, so if you find yourself out on the town this is pretty much THE ONLY place I would suggest going.
(4)
Kelly A.
Always accommodating and I can be unintentionally particular about things at times. Bartenders I have experienced are knowledgeable and experienced so when not seeing anything on the drink menu I am in the mood for, I can tell them what I am in the mood for and they will custom make a delicious cocktail. The food get the job done, their delicious, signature cheeseburger is now being served for $5 on Thursdays. Great people watching when sitting on the patio! Anytime we are our roaming around downtown we make it a point to stop in and enjoy a cocktail and the great atmosphere.
(5)
Edward E.
I've given this restaurant two opportunities now to impress me with their food, and both times my wife and I walked away wishing we had gone somewhere else for dinner...the food was just average, however, it's priced far above average. In fact, the second time I ate there, I got sick about an hour after leaving. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(1)
Whitney M.
Sapphire is a great place to go and have a drink with some friends. The atmosphere is really chill and they have very friendly staff. If you go at the right time or the right day they have awesome drink specials, otherwise they tend to be a bit on the pricey side. They also have a live band playing most of the time which is nice but when the DJ is there or they have music on it can be annoyingly loud, to the point of wanting to yell at the person next to you so they can hear what you are saying. Other than that it's pretty nice They have an awesome drink menu and their food menu is decent too. They have one of the best mojitos and almond joy martinis around. I recently went there and couldn't decide on a drink so I asked the bartender to surprise me with a specialty drink. She ended up making me a smores martini complete with a toasted marshmallow and graham cracker rim. It was the best martini I have ever tasted! I highly suggest going to Sapphire for an after dinner drink or to just hang out and have a good time.
(4)
Kristen K.
Great food, classy space. Cocktails err on the sweet side.
(3)
Basil A.
this is the best place to chill after a long work day, i love the atmosphere and the food, very friendly staff and very professional, 5 stars rating with no doubts!!
(5)
Jason G.
A college buddy and I recently had dinner at Saphire while on a cross-coutry road-trip from LA to DC. Each night we wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere in the center if the city we were staying; this particular night, we chose Saphire. Saphire had a very inviting, modern look and a great menu. Walking up to the restaurant, there were a couple tables outside (heat lamps are on in cooler temperatures) and an open floor plan for seats inside. The tables and chairs were very modern, Ikea-esq, but fit the scene and the modern menu well. The menu has everyday items with a modern flare -- nachos with pork bbq instead of chili or hamburger; chilled soups (along with hot soups), chicken wellington instead of the normal beef wellington, roasted potatoes instead of french fries and great risotto and pasta salads. There were many, many other items on the menu along with a very extensive cocktail and wine menu. Prices were very reasonable; a couple drinks, an appetizer and an entree was under $30 a person. The service was pretty good as well; the server we had was very attentive, was very knowledgeable about the menu, very prompt with drinks and didn't seemed rushed. Other servers in the restaurant were also very chatty with the patrons and seemed calmed. This is a great place to try out if you are in the Knoxville area and looking for good southern cooking with a flare.
(4)
Jessica S.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would. Came here with a group of my girlfriends and our waitress was terrible. She had a nasty attitude, took forever to take our order (even though the bar was EMPTY) and was sitting at the bar talking to guys - I had to go up to her to ask for our bill. We were so excited to come here because it seems like a cool place but the service was absolute crap. I'll never come back.
(1)
Wenston R.
Drinks were good. Had a good time. Enjoying myself here tonight. Will come back. Margaritas were good!
(4)
Channa P.
20 somethings and 30 somethings should really give Sapphire a try. Sapphire is located in the middle of downtown and has a cool,swanky feel. You will find art on the walls, weekend DJ playing house music, and a pretty decent bar. They also have the best mojito in Knoxville. The food and drink menus have recently been changed and that has made the restaurant great. They eliminated their crummy sushi and incorporated more fresh ingredients and gourmet style dishes. Their burger and fruit and cheese plates are my favorites. This place is a bit pricey, but it's usually worth it.
(4)
Kendra G.
My absolute "go to" bar! I love this place! Signature drinks are amazing; excellent food and the bartenders are very friendly and provide great service! Best in Knoxville by far!
(5)
Lynne W.
Great concept but the bartenders didn't want to work - serve cocktails. Second time there and I'll never be back. You might consider a staff change if you want to stay open. We weren't the only dissatisfied patrons there. 2 others walked out. You're wasting your money on advertising when your staff is running folks off.
(1)
J. Terrell A.
Tries a little too hard. Drinks overpriced. Food bland. Atmosphere lacking. The DJ was saving grace that pushes the review to two stars.
(2)
Johnny M.
Sunday at 6 pm, me and two friends take a seat for dinner. There were maybe 10 people total in the restaurant. Our waitress took our order and I ordered a glass of Garnacha off the menu. The waitress left to put in our drink order but then came back to tell me that the bartender informed her that they don't serve Garnacha. I pointed it out on the menu and she then went and retrieved the glass of Garnacha. This was my first clue that something was off. The two ladies I was with chose to order the steak to split and specifically requested two plates. The waitress, who was very pleasant, assured us that wouldn't be a problem and I ordered the Three Little Pigs (three tacos). We wait at least 45 minutes - at this point our water is gone as is our wine and our patience. The waitress finally comes over and asks how we're doing and I told her we were hungry and getting edgy. She walks away after apologizing as the dining room is starting to fill up around us. Another 15-20 minutes goes by and I see the meal that I ordered being placed on a table of people that were seated after I ordered AND our glasses are STILL empty. The waitress returns and offers drinks and I point out the absurdity of the situation as I see the plates being removed from the table that just enjoyed my Three Little Pigs! Our meal takes at least another 15 minutes to come out and when it finally does, my Three Little Pigs are cold - apparently their house had been blown right on down! I didn't even bother mentioning that as I didn't care to wait any longer but what I did need were utensils to eat my meal with and a napkin to wipe my dirty little fingers - that too took forever to get from our waitress. I just wanted to walk out and if I would have had cash to throw on the table, I would have. After we finished the meal, we waited another 15 minutes for our table to be cleaned by random staff as they passed by on their way to the kitchen. Our server finally reappeared and asked if we were done. I calmly as possible said, "I am so beyond done and would like your manager to bring me my check." A few minutes later, a manager came to the table and offered an apology and to comp our meal. I insisted that she charge us for something so that I could tip the waitress - I work in the service industry and understand that it's not entirely her fault and that she depends on tips as part of her income. She agreed to only charge us for our drinks, which seemed acceptable to me. Our bill was still $74, just for two rounds of wine and the whole experience took nearly two hours. This wasn't the first time I've had this kind of experience here but it will certainly be my last! I have gotten lost and forgotten there too many times and the staff seem to simply not care, as if my presence is a bother to them. For the prices Sapphire charges, I expect quality service. A tip for the bartenders, a smile and willingness to serve will make you much more money than exposing yourself ever will. If I wanted a Hooters experience, I would have gone to Hooters, but I never want a Hooters experience. What I want, and have no problem paying for, is a good meal and drinks served by a staff that cares. I don't need another apology, just make changes to your level of service.
(1)
Sarah P.
Sapphire has a great happy hour and definitely holds its own downtown! If I'm looking for a small bite, the Boursin stuffed mushroom are a go-to (and there's enough for two). I'm a martini lover, and Sapphire makes the best! Yum. This is a great place to kill time before a movie or a show, but it's rarely a destination. On week days, it's pretty bare, which can be awkward...and on weekends, it's absolutely jam packed, which makes it difficult to receive good service.
(4)
Tara S.
Sapphire has come a long way over the years. First, let me say there is still a distinctly different vibe from Happy Hour / Dinner and then the late-night crowd. I am personally not into the dj'ing and loud after-hours atmosphere, but I think this is a true gem for Happy Hour and Dinner and encourage you to check it out if you think of this place as ONLY a loud, swanky dive. Their food is truly delicious - the Hope Brother plate alone is the perfect thing to share and graze over while you have cocktails. They have a good variety of snacks, small plates, and entrees. My favorite food items are: stuffed dates, pulled pork nachos, the burger, the almond chicken, and the chips with truffle oil. Currently, to my knowledge, they have stopped doing Sunday brunch. While the bar at Sapphire has always been extensive, recently they seem to have upped their cocktail game and there are some beautifully crafted drinks on the menu. My one lingering disappointment here is, and has been for several years, the service. It can be pretty good, but often, it leaves much to be desired. You will wait for a very long time to get a drink more often than not. You will sit at your table, and look at a gaggle of servers hanging out by the bar talking and not tending to the patrons. It isn't ALWAYS this way and there have been some very sweet and attentive servers in my experience, but too often you just wait and wait and wait. Also, despite the delicious cocktails, they can vary based on who makes them. I had 2 old fashioned's for Happy Hour last month and the two drinks looked and tasted completely different. I respect the well-curated cocktail menu, but I think everyone should be on the same page about executing the drinks. Over all, I do love this place and it's worth sifting through the issues to enjoy the food and drinks. Happy hour specials are A+ by the way.
(4)
Shawn J.
We had a wonderful time here. Service was great, the beer was very cold, and it was clean. Sitting out front was great for people watching. Knoxville is awesome!
(5)
Greg M.
Went to Sapphire again with a group. Still mostly empty at dinner time. It's mainly a late night bar. The burger is still good and this time it came with fries which were also pretty good. Unfortunately the service is glacier slow. Long long wait for food. The cook must have fallen asleep.
(3)
Heather D.
Great people! We just moved here from Seattle, no connections, and popped in here based on yelp reviews. Glad we did! Great food, amazing staff and fun patrons. We will be back
(5)
C S.
Service slow -considering only 3 other customers - took 1 hour to get out appetizers our- not that we were in a hurry but would have enjoyed them more if they came out in a reasonable amount of time-
(2)
Jason S.
I can't really review the food or drinks, but I can review the service I experienced in early February when I stepped inside Sapphire for the very first time- nonexistent. I sat at the bar with two friends. A bartender greeted us, so he was aware of our presence there. He never came back to take our order. There were two or three other employees behind the counter who were walking past us, back and forth, and looking through us like we weren't there. We looked at the menu and picked out some drinks to order. Then we put the menus down so that the bartenders may realize that we were ready to order. Still no attention given. After 10 minutes, we left. I wrote about my experience on their Facebook page, and it was ignored. I don't believe the management cares about the service, for whatever reason. Avoid. Oh, and PS- While looking at the menu, we saw an item that supposedly has a special, fancy peanut butter on it (don't remember the item), but we witnessed a can of JIF on the bar that the bartender was using on something. We thought that was hilarious.
(1)
Kay S.
I had brunch outside at the restaurant 2 weeks ago. There was a fundraiser of sorts inside so I'm going to attribute the slow service to the event. Once the food finally arrived it was pretty good.
(3)
Mary T.
I had a great first experience at Sapphire! I heard so many awful things about this place, whether it was bad service, mediocre drinks, etc. I had a ketel one martini a little dirty with olives. It was perfect. After that I ordered a glass of a Cotes du Rhone, which was also wonderful! They had an amazing cheese plate. You got to choose 5 selections out of 10 options. They gave you a large amount of fruit which is normally rare. I did see the bartender put splenda instead of sugar in a mojito which was disappointing. In other words, don't order the mojito. Overall I had a great experience. This place is definitely a place I would go for drinks, not for dinner. The menu was small and there were not many choices but for a cheese plate and some drinks it is the perfect place. They also had a good looking patio. That is where I will try and sit next time.
(4)
Josh C.
I really enjoy the idea of this place but have yet to have a "great" experience here. Saying that I also have never had a bad time here either. I have never tried the food but the happy hour here is great! I highly recommend the long island if you like a strong mixed drink! One of the few places that pour it to do damage! Okay beer selection but an excellent whiskey selection. I also really like that they support local artist by displaying it throughout the bar.
The new menu is amazing! There is a more diverse price range then before and everything I have had so far is great. The Prosciutto wrapped asparagus appetizer is one of my favorites along with the pork belly bites. The BLT their is like any other I've had. Definitely the best BLT in town. They can get pretty busy but the staff has always given great service and treated us so nice. I could eat there everyday.
(5)
Kyle H.
Fantastic new menu and very well priced for the quality of food. Only con for the establishment is that on the weekends their DJ starts playing music very, very loud. It's not that big of a place so if you're planning to converse with your group of friends that time of night you better be outside.
(4)
A. J. W.
Went to the Sapphire for brunch with the family. The food was great, delicious and creative, especially for the price. There were subtle twists that showed initiative from the kitchen: savory sauce on the fritatta, dill cheese with the hamburger, chorizo in the cheese grits, cinnamon crème fraiche with the french toast. We really enjoyed the food. There were strange and interesting--but sadly untried--items on the drink menu including a $350 martini (with a 2.5 carat sapphire), varied pitchers of mojitos, and red and white sangria. The two complaints we had were that the chairs were out of the IKEA "discomfort" section: plastic, confining, and purchased more for their appearance than their usefulness for sitting. The service seemed harried and made many mistakes on our order: it wasn't clear if this was due to the number of tables they were waiting.
(4)
Jenny G.
I like this place is very sophisticated reminds me of some lounges in NYC and the drinks are great,is a good pre gaming spot to go to before u hit up a club! I think they should have more stuff on their menu but besides that is a great nice place to take anyone:)
(4)
Melanie G.
I bought a Groupon for Sapphire, excited that the reduced price would allow me to try one of their appetizer samplers as well as a meal. Their menu looked incredible online and I couldn't wait to try it. Believing a hip bar could be good for dinner was a mistake. While their "TN Cheese" tray was delicious, I can't say the same for anything else I tasted. I ordered the "Grilled Cheese of the Day": Manchego, goat cheese, tomato, and olive. The goat cheese was overwhelming, the manchego didn't melt, the olives didn't' blend, and the bread was slightly burnt. It was not a thought-out offering, but a combination of things easily at hand in the kitchen. As a side I requested the "Country Potato Salad" since it seemed one of the few sides which doesn't contain cheese (Manchego baked beans, really? I love cheese, but it was too much for even me). Unfortunately the salad couldn't decide what it wanted to do. It was overwhelmed with mustard (which I believe might be melted mustard cheese, like on the cheese tray) and an odd flavor no one in my party could place. One of my friends had a similar problem with her goat cheese pasta - too many intense flavors fighting for attention. After trying to muster through my meal, I was more than ready to leave. But because Sapphire is a bar first and foremost, only one server/bartender was on staff and she was completely preoccupied with with drinking customers. It took about 30 minutes to get the check and pay AFTER having the table cleared. If you still wish to visit this restaurant for food and not just drinks, I leave you with this advice: 1. Order the TN cheese plate! It was EXCELLENT and would have earned Sapphire another star if only it had crackers in addition to the bread. 2. If you must have a cheese sandwich, request a Grilled Pimento Cheese. Their pimento cheese is very tasty and I suppose this would be a much different review had I that foresight. 3. One of my friends genuinely enjoyed his Jambalaya. 4. Be prepared for poor service.
(1)
April W.
I hate to see thd bad reviews here because I love this place! It's classy without being over the top snotty. We always have a good time everytime. I've been here about 6 times now. 2 times for late night dancing & drinks. 3 times for just for drinks after work. Recently wanted to try their food so went for dinner & well umm drinks! My favorite drink is dirty vodka martini & they do it right. I've also had a few of their novelty drinks, which were quite good. The drinks are a little pricey but you pay for atmosphere. If you want Applebee's priced drinks, go to Applebee's...that's just how it is. Ok, so to the food. The menu is a bit small. I loved the appetizer menu. A few things sounded delightful but chose the crawfish fritters (not sure if that was the exact name, but that's what they were). Very good. BIG pieces of crawfish in them. The main course menu I was a hit disappointed in. The only thing that looked good to me was the pork ribeye. It was very good though. No compaints. 2 pork chops...tender, juicy and had a sauce that was delicious. The grits that came with it were awesome too. I devoured it. My boyfriend had the cheeseburger (he loves gourmet burgers). He said it was really good but not the best he's ever had. So both entrees were good. Our service was wonderful, but I've never had bad service there. I would give 5 stars if the menu had a few more entrees to choose from...
(4)
Abdul A.
I am a big SAPPHIRE fan, it's the best place in Knoxville, TN where you can get rid of your stress with their amazing tasty food and best crew ever, they are respectful, kind and polite. I always recommend SAPPHIRE as the best atmosphere in town..
(5)
Nikki K.
This place gets five stars because of it would be cool in Atlanta. According to my Knox-friends, this is the equivalent of a "New York" bar for Knoxville. And I think they are right. It definitely has that shotgun layout like many New York bars I have been to- long and narrow. According to my friends this was once a jewelry store, and they have these cool old jewelry cases that were probably built in the 1930's. They now house lovely glasses and vases and such. I can't comment on the food, but the menu looked very posh, a mix of many styles of cooking. The menu I saw had oysters, bruschetta, Caprese salad, Thai lettuce wraps, etc. By the time we got there, though, it had gone from restaurant mode to bar mode. Everyone was mingling and checking each other out. The drinks were considered pricey by Knoxville standards, but right on the money for Atlanta folk who are accustomed to spending too much for drinks. They had an outside patio where everyone wanted to be, as it was such a nice evening, and there were a lot of people walking around since it's a block from the Tennessee Theatre and the Morrissey show had just got out. I talk about that man too much... Overall it was a pretty cool place and would probably thrive in a bigger city, and seems to be doing very good here as well.
(5)
Alex B.
I don't know what I was thinking, but I came to Sapphire for Sunday brunch. There weren't many people there, but it still took over 40 minutes to cook 2 sunny side up eggs & breakfast potatoes. When I got them, they were cold. Waffle House is better. The atmosphere is kinda creepy too.
(1)
Jennie B.
F--kin' hoes-- Mother fuc--n'-- nig-a this & nigg- that! Yes. I'm sad to say this was the "music" we were subject to last night, and on the outdoor patio no less! Poor passersby just strolling past, some with kids, some elderly, looking over at us like we're freaks for even listening to this. Abhorrent! It was about 10pm and the music from inside was played (loudly) on the outdoor speakers. It fluctuated from perfectly delicious and appropriate lounge music, to trance to vulgar & totally unacceptable rap/hip-hop. People at the neighboring tables were shaking their heads a bit and rolling their eyes. Where was the manager? The owner? I LOVE hip-hop music. I don't even mind cursing in music. BUT IN THE CLUB! WHEN I'M DANCING! NOT at an outdoor lounge on Gay St where one comes to relax, hang, chill. In the hour or so we were there, at least 30-40 people walked by and didn't enter the lounge. I cannot help but think it was due in part to the horrible choice of "music." Most just bypassed Sapphire & went next door to the Downtown Grill & Brewery. We, also, could only take so much, so as soon as we finished our one drink, we bolted, too! Lucky for Sapphire --I'm still a Sapphire fan, and I will attribute this faux-pas to the DJ's poor taste last night. Hoping this will never happen again and I can still enjoy their specialty martinis and delicious wines by the glass.
(3)
T Gregory K.
Sapphire has amazing food and the staff has always been friendly. I recommend the burger!
(4)
Holly D.
I went here on a first date with my boyfriend. We had sort of a late date with dinner taking longer then expected and wandering several bars. We got to Sapphire around 11:30-12 ish. They had flipped from resturant to bar by that point. It wasn't very crouded and we sat at the bar. The place looks pretty cool and the drink list is fantastic. All the drinks we got were super yummy. We tryed several martini's and a mixed drink. However what seemed to be the regular crowd was super drunk and falling all over the place. I had some drunk guy 40something guy pretty much stalk me the whole time I was there. Plus they were blaring very outdated rap music the whole time but it was low enough to talk over. The bartenders/waitstaff weren'tvery attentive until we were getting ready to leave and they started pushing a $300 Sapphire martini on us even after declining repeatedly. Over all the place is ok and the drinks are good just don't have high expectations of the staff or regular patrons.
(3)
Leah P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Sapphire while visiting Knoxville last weekend. I have to disagree with the last review that compared Sapphire to a place you would find in NYC. I understand the concept Sapphire is trying to portray, but they fall short. The furniture is very IKEAish and the bathroom was suffering due to technical difficulties. On a positive note, I did think the art cases and hardwood detailing were very cool. I have lived in Chicago for over 5 years now and have grown accustomed to Chicago prices, service and food. All of which I found unacceptable at Sapphire. I was shocked at the prices of drinks and food! My boyfriend ordered crab cakes, which they were out of, so he opted for the Seared Tuna. It was okay, but pretty bland. I love spicy tuna rolls and I figured I couldn't go wrong so I ordered it. It was the most expensive spicy tuna roll I have ever had, so I expected good things ($6 is the usual cost, at Sapphire they charge $8). I was sadly disappointed when I got my roll, the tuna was not spicy at all. This was the blandest thing I have ever tasted, and they just threw a dab of hot sauce on the top to make it "spicy." I seriously doubt this place even has a sushi chef. The service left a LOT to be desired, unless you like sitting around waiting. The waitress brought me a glass of wine that I did not order. Instead of taking it off of the bill, she added another glass of wine to the bill. I was shocked to learn that she had worked there for a year, she seemed very nice but inefficient. Oh, and they put a stamp on your hand when you walk in to signify that you are 21. Well, I am still looking at that stamp 3 days later, even after scrubbing. A quiet reminder of my disappointing experience at Sapphire. Long story short, this place is trying to be something it is not. It wouldn't last a week in Chicago, let alone NYC. It actually doesn't seem to be very popular in Knoxville either, the place was deadsville.
(1)
Kathi B.
Great atmosphere for a fun couple's night. The lighting is perfect and the drinks are cool. Food was different too (in a good way).
(4)
Amanda M.
Great drinks and the food is amazing.. It is however more expensive that some of the other bars in the area..
(4)
Justin C.
You feeling like a drink and good company, then this is the place. Mondays are great here with some of the best happy hour specials I have ever seen. Plus they have a live Jazz band Monday night. On the weekends they have a DJ laying down the tracks. They have some of the best bartenders too. I would recommend going off the menu and just asked the bartender to make a drink for you. If you are every downtown Knoxville then you should swing in.
(5)
Emily V.
Rolled in here with my husband on a Sunday night after peeling ourselves out of the bar and grill next door that had a poker tournament going on. Glad it worked out that way! Loved the menu - while small - had interesting and eclectic choices! We opted for the cheese plate as an appetizer ; it was ok -the onion relish was outstanding. Hubby got the cheeseburger with goat cheese and shoestring French fries; I got a veggie burger and we also got a side order of Brussel sprouts - ooh lala!!! How can I make them like that - the outer leaves were kind of shriveled, and the center of the Brussel was soft! We gobbled them up! We came back to Sapphire on our return trip back up north - again, place next door was crowded again, this place not - but it seemed to fill up as people realized the good food going on next door. We got the Brussel sprouts again, and I got an eggplant stack - while not superb, I was satisified and wished I could have a few more meals here to try out the other dishes on the menu. Skip the sports bar, keep on walkin' to this place.
(4)
Island N.
The menu needs some work. Not too many options. $3 mimosas were cool. Service was mediocre at best.
(2)
Kristi L.
I am a 40 something and I took my parents to Sapphire and we loved this restaurant. First off, they live up to their reputation as having great Martinis. From the classic gin martini to Cosmos to any fruity maritini you want. If you live in Knoxville and love a good martini, go to Sapphire. The food was very good too and we will definitely go back. It appears to have a double identity though, a good restaurant and bar by day for us older folks and a live band for the college kids later on. Give them credit for trying to appeal to all. My parents who were born and raised and still live in Knoxville quickly recongnized the building as being the old Kimball's jewelry store from back in the day. You can still see the custome made jewelry drawers on the wall. I would say they need to open their back porch though. Smokey Mountain Brewery (SMB) next door was much more crowded with people sitting on the back porch and I have eaten there and the food is not better there. Also, we parked behind the restaurant in the lot (free on weekends) but had to cut thru SMB to go thru the front door of Sapphire...they need a back entry from the parking lot for sure. Good restaurant, we will be back.
(5)
Cliff B.
nice people, very inexpensive beer, decent jazz trio playing in the back.
(4)
Kerry C.
My friends and I were drawn in by the promise of $5 martinis, and the maitre'd (a.k.a. the guy standing at the street entrance trying to entice people to come in) immediately brought over the bartender. Since it was a slowish Friday night, he ended up waiting on our table the whole night. Two friends got the cucumber lime martini, one got a traditional martini, and I got the Strawberry creamsicle martini. All of ours were $5, and all were delicious. When we came in, the crowd was a few small groups of guys, who disappeared to make way for a bachelorette party and a large group of college kids who came in as we were leaving. The DJ was playing to an empty dancefloor, but he immediately played every song I requested. The bartender even volunteered to make us custom shots. Seeing as Friday night was to be our last night on earth, we asked him to create a shot called The Rapture. He suggested that the rapture would be bloody, so he recommended Belvedere Bloody Mary vodka and let us smell. As I'm not a fan of Bloody Marys, I'm pretty sure the smell of that vodka is exactly what the apocalypse will smell like. We ended up compromising with some Alabama Slammers because we all decided that if it was our last drink on Earth, ASlammers would be okay. Long story aside, this was a good bar with a kinda split identity. I'll definitely come back, especially if they rotate their $5 martinis for other delicious choices.
(4)
Lana S.
Sapphire gets my business because it's got a great people watching patio, good service, good wine and cocktail selection and an overall cool environment. It's located in an old jewelry store and they've kept the signage as well as the woodwork cases. The bar is long and somewhat inviting. The lighting is good. The menu is decent with a great cheese plate and a black eyed pea hummus which I'd recommend. There are few places like this in Knoxville especially on Gay St. It's a bar/lounge/night club. The emphasis is not on sports or games or neon beer signs. And that's why it's cool and unique to Knoxville. Cheers!!
My experience at Sapphire was not terribly satisfying: everything there had great potential plagued by drawbacks. We tried their fruit and cheese platter. The cheeses (a creamy yellow, excellent pimiento spread, a delicious blue cheese, and one with nice texture from mustard seeds but too much heat, and I think I'm missing one more) were mostly very good, although they didn't always compliment each other. There was half a loaf of warm toasted bread, but no crackers. A lamentable oversight, since not only was there not enough bread for all the cheese, but some of them would have paired much better with crackers. The fruit offered was a small pile of blueberries and strawberry halves--not all that much, compared to all the cheese--with a mound of walnut halves opposite. None of the promised jam. The menu had some appealing options, and I settled on a pasta dish with portabella mushrooms and spinach in an goat cheese cream sauce. The food took quite some time to arrive, and when it did the perimeter of my dish was noticeably cool, with the center warm but definitely not hot. The flavor of the cheese was overwhelming, despite the dusting of spices around the rim, which, when I tried solo, tasted remarkably bland. The mushrooms were flavorful and not overcooked, and I was happy to eat them to cut the flavor of the goat cheese. The spinach would have helped, too, except there was truly only a tiny, almost raw portion. Our server was pleasant, but noticeably neglected my party in favor at the bar patrons; it took 30 minutes to get the check. For the prices and hip atmosphere, I'd expect what they offer to be more put together.
(2)
Dandylion M.
I wouldn't recommend sapphire to anyone unless that person enjoys being harassed by drunk pretentious patrons or would enjoy having waitresses and the bartender turn their nose up at you. Especially when all you expect is some decent service. I think most of the staff was under the influence of something since it took 3 tries and 2 different servers to get our order correct. We won't be back.
(1)
Jennifer S.
Well, my company sent me here for work and I texted my fiance after 3 long nights, saying that "Knoxville certainly wasn't all I had dreamed". No offense to your fair city, but I haven't had the moving and shaking, sports enthusiast, cultural, cosmopolitan dream week that I had envisioned. Instead, I feel like I am stuck in "generic-ville" deciding every night whether to eat at Olive Garden, or if I should drive to the hot area of town where all of the "swanky" places, like P.F. Chang's (seriously) are located. Just when I thought I was doomed to eat at yet another chain (my biggest eating pet peeve!) I stumbled upon Sapphire. I wasn't too impressed getting out of my car and working my way up the stairs in the dirty parking garage and fighting my way around the building (back doors near the parking are not entrances, fyi), but my whole world changed when Amy, my lovely bartender/manager of the place showed up with a beaming smile and told me I looked like I needed a drink. Finally someone in Knoxville noticed I was a fish out of water. When I mentioned I would start with a martini but was intent on moving to wine, she reminded me that I could taste anything I like. Euphoria set in at that moment and continued on throughout the yummy concoction that she made me (some sort of Strawberry martini-thing, that would have made a Las Vegas mixologist proud), and throughout the incredible dinner. Who knew an open-faced pulled pork sandwich could be so good? (Some funky queso and jalapenos on top were the key). I had several people walk by the bar and ask what I was eating, and soon my dish seemed to multiply like the fish and loaves in the Bible, as everyone was ordering it. As I sit here now, I still am salivating and dying to know what the shrimp and grits tasted like. I never thought I'd say this, but Thank God I have one more night in Knoxville!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Leigh W.
Gay Street is the hip place to hang out in Knoxville these days and Sapphire is firmly in the center of it all. It's conveniently located near The Tennessee Theatre, the Regal Riviera Stadium movie theater, Market Square and the Bijou, so you can grab dinner before a show or event or a drink afterward. I love the concept of preserving the old jewelry store cases and cabinetry and playing off the theme so much that they offer a martini with real sapphires in it - by far the most expensive cocktail I've ever seen on a menu. I've always enjoyed meeting with friends there for drinks. The cocktails are intriguing and delicious. Though I've never had dinner there, I've tried several of their appetizers. The Tennessee Fruit and Cheese Plate and the hummus are great accompaniments to the cocktails. The service is on the slow side, but I've never been in a hurry when I've visited. Maybe the servers sensed that and wanted to minimize the disruptions. It will always be my rendezvous spot downtown.
(3)Richard Y.
We had the steakhouse and veggie burgers. I understand the prices and quality and it seems to me that everything is made in house, even the bun. The steakhouse patty needed some salt or seasoning and the silver skin needs to be trim before grounding it into the patty. Other that it was good. The veggie patty was gooey and need some texture, perhaps adding some mushroom to it.
(3)Brian G.
The specialty martinis are very good and the appetizers are unique and excellent but the service was so bad we left to get dinner somewhere else. The bartender was serving tables and it didn't work at all. Also regular martini was not good at all.
(3)Eric C.
I great place to go for some good drinks. They have a pretty good selection and the building and atmosphere is top notch for Knoxville.
(4)Aubrey C.
I went here with a bachelorette party. The cocktail drinks and anything the bartender makes up are fantastic. so the pros: Amazing cocktail drinks Solid beer selection Decent vibe Cons: Service was a little slow (8 people, but only 4 ordered drinks) No soap in the bathroom The music was straight out of an elevator. Doesn't need to be crazy club music, but I'd rather not be put to sleep. It was a good volume though. There doesn't appear to be much of a night life anywhere in town on a Thursdays, so if you find yourself out on the town this is pretty much THE ONLY place I would suggest going.
(4)Kelly A.
Always accommodating and I can be unintentionally particular about things at times. Bartenders I have experienced are knowledgeable and experienced so when not seeing anything on the drink menu I am in the mood for, I can tell them what I am in the mood for and they will custom make a delicious cocktail. The food get the job done, their delicious, signature cheeseburger is now being served for $5 on Thursdays. Great people watching when sitting on the patio! Anytime we are our roaming around downtown we make it a point to stop in and enjoy a cocktail and the great atmosphere.
(5)Edward E.
I've given this restaurant two opportunities now to impress me with their food, and both times my wife and I walked away wishing we had gone somewhere else for dinner...the food was just average, however, it's priced far above average. In fact, the second time I ate there, I got sick about an hour after leaving. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(1)Whitney M.
Sapphire is a great place to go and have a drink with some friends. The atmosphere is really chill and they have very friendly staff. If you go at the right time or the right day they have awesome drink specials, otherwise they tend to be a bit on the pricey side. They also have a live band playing most of the time which is nice but when the DJ is there or they have music on it can be annoyingly loud, to the point of wanting to yell at the person next to you so they can hear what you are saying. Other than that it's pretty nice They have an awesome drink menu and their food menu is decent too. They have one of the best mojitos and almond joy martinis around. I recently went there and couldn't decide on a drink so I asked the bartender to surprise me with a specialty drink. She ended up making me a smores martini complete with a toasted marshmallow and graham cracker rim. It was the best martini I have ever tasted! I highly suggest going to Sapphire for an after dinner drink or to just hang out and have a good time.
(4)Kristen K.
Great food, classy space. Cocktails err on the sweet side.
(3)Basil A.
this is the best place to chill after a long work day, i love the atmosphere and the food, very friendly staff and very professional, 5 stars rating with no doubts!!
(5)Jason G.
A college buddy and I recently had dinner at Saphire while on a cross-coutry road-trip from LA to DC. Each night we wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere in the center if the city we were staying; this particular night, we chose Saphire. Saphire had a very inviting, modern look and a great menu. Walking up to the restaurant, there were a couple tables outside (heat lamps are on in cooler temperatures) and an open floor plan for seats inside. The tables and chairs were very modern, Ikea-esq, but fit the scene and the modern menu well. The menu has everyday items with a modern flare -- nachos with pork bbq instead of chili or hamburger; chilled soups (along with hot soups), chicken wellington instead of the normal beef wellington, roasted potatoes instead of french fries and great risotto and pasta salads. There were many, many other items on the menu along with a very extensive cocktail and wine menu. Prices were very reasonable; a couple drinks, an appetizer and an entree was under $30 a person. The service was pretty good as well; the server we had was very attentive, was very knowledgeable about the menu, very prompt with drinks and didn't seemed rushed. Other servers in the restaurant were also very chatty with the patrons and seemed calmed. This is a great place to try out if you are in the Knoxville area and looking for good southern cooking with a flare.
(4)Jessica S.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would. Came here with a group of my girlfriends and our waitress was terrible. She had a nasty attitude, took forever to take our order (even though the bar was EMPTY) and was sitting at the bar talking to guys - I had to go up to her to ask for our bill. We were so excited to come here because it seems like a cool place but the service was absolute crap. I'll never come back.
(1)Wenston R.
Drinks were good. Had a good time. Enjoying myself here tonight. Will come back. Margaritas were good!
(4)Channa P.
20 somethings and 30 somethings should really give Sapphire a try. Sapphire is located in the middle of downtown and has a cool,swanky feel. You will find art on the walls, weekend DJ playing house music, and a pretty decent bar. They also have the best mojito in Knoxville. The food and drink menus have recently been changed and that has made the restaurant great. They eliminated their crummy sushi and incorporated more fresh ingredients and gourmet style dishes. Their burger and fruit and cheese plates are my favorites. This place is a bit pricey, but it's usually worth it.
(4)Kendra G.
My absolute "go to" bar! I love this place! Signature drinks are amazing; excellent food and the bartenders are very friendly and provide great service! Best in Knoxville by far!
(5)Lynne W.
Great concept but the bartenders didn't want to work - serve cocktails. Second time there and I'll never be back. You might consider a staff change if you want to stay open. We weren't the only dissatisfied patrons there. 2 others walked out. You're wasting your money on advertising when your staff is running folks off.
(1)J. Terrell A.
Tries a little too hard. Drinks overpriced. Food bland. Atmosphere lacking. The DJ was saving grace that pushes the review to two stars.
(2)Johnny M.
Sunday at 6 pm, me and two friends take a seat for dinner. There were maybe 10 people total in the restaurant. Our waitress took our order and I ordered a glass of Garnacha off the menu. The waitress left to put in our drink order but then came back to tell me that the bartender informed her that they don't serve Garnacha. I pointed it out on the menu and she then went and retrieved the glass of Garnacha. This was my first clue that something was off. The two ladies I was with chose to order the steak to split and specifically requested two plates. The waitress, who was very pleasant, assured us that wouldn't be a problem and I ordered the Three Little Pigs (three tacos). We wait at least 45 minutes - at this point our water is gone as is our wine and our patience. The waitress finally comes over and asks how we're doing and I told her we were hungry and getting edgy. She walks away after apologizing as the dining room is starting to fill up around us. Another 15-20 minutes goes by and I see the meal that I ordered being placed on a table of people that were seated after I ordered AND our glasses are STILL empty. The waitress returns and offers drinks and I point out the absurdity of the situation as I see the plates being removed from the table that just enjoyed my Three Little Pigs! Our meal takes at least another 15 minutes to come out and when it finally does, my Three Little Pigs are cold - apparently their house had been blown right on down! I didn't even bother mentioning that as I didn't care to wait any longer but what I did need were utensils to eat my meal with and a napkin to wipe my dirty little fingers - that too took forever to get from our waitress. I just wanted to walk out and if I would have had cash to throw on the table, I would have. After we finished the meal, we waited another 15 minutes for our table to be cleaned by random staff as they passed by on their way to the kitchen. Our server finally reappeared and asked if we were done. I calmly as possible said, "I am so beyond done and would like your manager to bring me my check." A few minutes later, a manager came to the table and offered an apology and to comp our meal. I insisted that she charge us for something so that I could tip the waitress - I work in the service industry and understand that it's not entirely her fault and that she depends on tips as part of her income. She agreed to only charge us for our drinks, which seemed acceptable to me. Our bill was still $74, just for two rounds of wine and the whole experience took nearly two hours. This wasn't the first time I've had this kind of experience here but it will certainly be my last! I have gotten lost and forgotten there too many times and the staff seem to simply not care, as if my presence is a bother to them. For the prices Sapphire charges, I expect quality service. A tip for the bartenders, a smile and willingness to serve will make you much more money than exposing yourself ever will. If I wanted a Hooters experience, I would have gone to Hooters, but I never want a Hooters experience. What I want, and have no problem paying for, is a good meal and drinks served by a staff that cares. I don't need another apology, just make changes to your level of service.
(1)Sarah P.
Sapphire has a great happy hour and definitely holds its own downtown! If I'm looking for a small bite, the Boursin stuffed mushroom are a go-to (and there's enough for two). I'm a martini lover, and Sapphire makes the best! Yum. This is a great place to kill time before a movie or a show, but it's rarely a destination. On week days, it's pretty bare, which can be awkward...and on weekends, it's absolutely jam packed, which makes it difficult to receive good service.
(4)Tara S.
Sapphire has come a long way over the years. First, let me say there is still a distinctly different vibe from Happy Hour / Dinner and then the late-night crowd. I am personally not into the dj'ing and loud after-hours atmosphere, but I think this is a true gem for Happy Hour and Dinner and encourage you to check it out if you think of this place as ONLY a loud, swanky dive. Their food is truly delicious - the Hope Brother plate alone is the perfect thing to share and graze over while you have cocktails. They have a good variety of snacks, small plates, and entrees. My favorite food items are: stuffed dates, pulled pork nachos, the burger, the almond chicken, and the chips with truffle oil. Currently, to my knowledge, they have stopped doing Sunday brunch. While the bar at Sapphire has always been extensive, recently they seem to have upped their cocktail game and there are some beautifully crafted drinks on the menu. My one lingering disappointment here is, and has been for several years, the service. It can be pretty good, but often, it leaves much to be desired. You will wait for a very long time to get a drink more often than not. You will sit at your table, and look at a gaggle of servers hanging out by the bar talking and not tending to the patrons. It isn't ALWAYS this way and there have been some very sweet and attentive servers in my experience, but too often you just wait and wait and wait. Also, despite the delicious cocktails, they can vary based on who makes them. I had 2 old fashioned's for Happy Hour last month and the two drinks looked and tasted completely different. I respect the well-curated cocktail menu, but I think everyone should be on the same page about executing the drinks. Over all, I do love this place and it's worth sifting through the issues to enjoy the food and drinks. Happy hour specials are A+ by the way.
(4)Shawn J.
We had a wonderful time here. Service was great, the beer was very cold, and it was clean. Sitting out front was great for people watching. Knoxville is awesome!
(5)Greg M.
Went to Sapphire again with a group. Still mostly empty at dinner time. It's mainly a late night bar. The burger is still good and this time it came with fries which were also pretty good. Unfortunately the service is glacier slow. Long long wait for food. The cook must have fallen asleep.
(3)Heather D.
Great people! We just moved here from Seattle, no connections, and popped in here based on yelp reviews. Glad we did! Great food, amazing staff and fun patrons. We will be back
(5)C S.
Service slow -considering only 3 other customers - took 1 hour to get out appetizers our- not that we were in a hurry but would have enjoyed them more if they came out in a reasonable amount of time-
(2)Jason S.
I can't really review the food or drinks, but I can review the service I experienced in early February when I stepped inside Sapphire for the very first time- nonexistent. I sat at the bar with two friends. A bartender greeted us, so he was aware of our presence there. He never came back to take our order. There were two or three other employees behind the counter who were walking past us, back and forth, and looking through us like we weren't there. We looked at the menu and picked out some drinks to order. Then we put the menus down so that the bartenders may realize that we were ready to order. Still no attention given. After 10 minutes, we left. I wrote about my experience on their Facebook page, and it was ignored. I don't believe the management cares about the service, for whatever reason. Avoid. Oh, and PS- While looking at the menu, we saw an item that supposedly has a special, fancy peanut butter on it (don't remember the item), but we witnessed a can of JIF on the bar that the bartender was using on something. We thought that was hilarious.
(1)Kay S.
I had brunch outside at the restaurant 2 weeks ago. There was a fundraiser of sorts inside so I'm going to attribute the slow service to the event. Once the food finally arrived it was pretty good.
(3)Mary T.
I had a great first experience at Sapphire! I heard so many awful things about this place, whether it was bad service, mediocre drinks, etc. I had a ketel one martini a little dirty with olives. It was perfect. After that I ordered a glass of a Cotes du Rhone, which was also wonderful! They had an amazing cheese plate. You got to choose 5 selections out of 10 options. They gave you a large amount of fruit which is normally rare. I did see the bartender put splenda instead of sugar in a mojito which was disappointing. In other words, don't order the mojito. Overall I had a great experience. This place is definitely a place I would go for drinks, not for dinner. The menu was small and there were not many choices but for a cheese plate and some drinks it is the perfect place. They also had a good looking patio. That is where I will try and sit next time.
(4)Josh C.
I really enjoy the idea of this place but have yet to have a "great" experience here. Saying that I also have never had a bad time here either. I have never tried the food but the happy hour here is great! I highly recommend the long island if you like a strong mixed drink! One of the few places that pour it to do damage! Okay beer selection but an excellent whiskey selection. I also really like that they support local artist by displaying it throughout the bar.
(3)Jeff G.
Dear Sapphire, We enjoyed our time at your restaurant tonight. Really, we did. The drinks were great and, to be honest, really our motivation for coming anyway. Our server was fantastic and very accommodating. But, we were really disappointed in the menu. We went for dinner and ended up settling for a few small plates because, a) none of the entrées were appealing at all, in the slightest, and b) we couldn't get a reservation elsewhere at the last minute. We don't understand what happened. Your food was great before! I read the menu before we went even and was excited by what appears to be the menu of days gone by. I can see what you're going for, but it really didn't come through for us - sort of an uncomfortable mix of comfort food and trendy cuisine. My suggestion: go for the tapas approach. If you stick to appetizers, I think you'll satisfy the appear you're going for and also deliver great food. But please.... PLEASE.... Don't keep the menu you have now. It's not working. :-( Sincerely, Disappointed diner, happy drinker.
(3)Joe C.
The new menu is amazing! There is a more diverse price range then before and everything I have had so far is great. The Prosciutto wrapped asparagus appetizer is one of my favorites along with the pork belly bites. The BLT their is like any other I've had. Definitely the best BLT in town. They can get pretty busy but the staff has always given great service and treated us so nice. I could eat there everyday.
(5)Kyle H.
Fantastic new menu and very well priced for the quality of food. Only con for the establishment is that on the weekends their DJ starts playing music very, very loud. It's not that big of a place so if you're planning to converse with your group of friends that time of night you better be outside.
(4)A. J. W.
Went to the Sapphire for brunch with the family. The food was great, delicious and creative, especially for the price. There were subtle twists that showed initiative from the kitchen: savory sauce on the fritatta, dill cheese with the hamburger, chorizo in the cheese grits, cinnamon crème fraiche with the french toast. We really enjoyed the food. There were strange and interesting--but sadly untried--items on the drink menu including a $350 martini (with a 2.5 carat sapphire), varied pitchers of mojitos, and red and white sangria. The two complaints we had were that the chairs were out of the IKEA "discomfort" section: plastic, confining, and purchased more for their appearance than their usefulness for sitting. The service seemed harried and made many mistakes on our order: it wasn't clear if this was due to the number of tables they were waiting.
(4)Jenny G.
I like this place is very sophisticated reminds me of some lounges in NYC and the drinks are great,is a good pre gaming spot to go to before u hit up a club! I think they should have more stuff on their menu but besides that is a great nice place to take anyone:)
(4)Melanie G.
I bought a Groupon for Sapphire, excited that the reduced price would allow me to try one of their appetizer samplers as well as a meal. Their menu looked incredible online and I couldn't wait to try it. Believing a hip bar could be good for dinner was a mistake. While their "TN Cheese" tray was delicious, I can't say the same for anything else I tasted. I ordered the "Grilled Cheese of the Day": Manchego, goat cheese, tomato, and olive. The goat cheese was overwhelming, the manchego didn't melt, the olives didn't' blend, and the bread was slightly burnt. It was not a thought-out offering, but a combination of things easily at hand in the kitchen. As a side I requested the "Country Potato Salad" since it seemed one of the few sides which doesn't contain cheese (Manchego baked beans, really? I love cheese, but it was too much for even me). Unfortunately the salad couldn't decide what it wanted to do. It was overwhelmed with mustard (which I believe might be melted mustard cheese, like on the cheese tray) and an odd flavor no one in my party could place. One of my friends had a similar problem with her goat cheese pasta - too many intense flavors fighting for attention. After trying to muster through my meal, I was more than ready to leave. But because Sapphire is a bar first and foremost, only one server/bartender was on staff and she was completely preoccupied with with drinking customers. It took about 30 minutes to get the check and pay AFTER having the table cleared. If you still wish to visit this restaurant for food and not just drinks, I leave you with this advice: 1. Order the TN cheese plate! It was EXCELLENT and would have earned Sapphire another star if only it had crackers in addition to the bread. 2. If you must have a cheese sandwich, request a Grilled Pimento Cheese. Their pimento cheese is very tasty and I suppose this would be a much different review had I that foresight. 3. One of my friends genuinely enjoyed his Jambalaya. 4. Be prepared for poor service.
(1)April W.
I hate to see thd bad reviews here because I love this place! It's classy without being over the top snotty. We always have a good time everytime. I've been here about 6 times now. 2 times for late night dancing & drinks. 3 times for just for drinks after work. Recently wanted to try their food so went for dinner & well umm drinks! My favorite drink is dirty vodka martini & they do it right. I've also had a few of their novelty drinks, which were quite good. The drinks are a little pricey but you pay for atmosphere. If you want Applebee's priced drinks, go to Applebee's...that's just how it is. Ok, so to the food. The menu is a bit small. I loved the appetizer menu. A few things sounded delightful but chose the crawfish fritters (not sure if that was the exact name, but that's what they were). Very good. BIG pieces of crawfish in them. The main course menu I was a hit disappointed in. The only thing that looked good to me was the pork ribeye. It was very good though. No compaints. 2 pork chops...tender, juicy and had a sauce that was delicious. The grits that came with it were awesome too. I devoured it. My boyfriend had the cheeseburger (he loves gourmet burgers). He said it was really good but not the best he's ever had. So both entrees were good. Our service was wonderful, but I've never had bad service there. I would give 5 stars if the menu had a few more entrees to choose from...
(4)Abdul A.
I am a big SAPPHIRE fan, it's the best place in Knoxville, TN where you can get rid of your stress with their amazing tasty food and best crew ever, they are respectful, kind and polite. I always recommend SAPPHIRE as the best atmosphere in town..
(5)Nikki K.
This place gets five stars because of it would be cool in Atlanta. According to my Knox-friends, this is the equivalent of a "New York" bar for Knoxville. And I think they are right. It definitely has that shotgun layout like many New York bars I have been to- long and narrow. According to my friends this was once a jewelry store, and they have these cool old jewelry cases that were probably built in the 1930's. They now house lovely glasses and vases and such. I can't comment on the food, but the menu looked very posh, a mix of many styles of cooking. The menu I saw had oysters, bruschetta, Caprese salad, Thai lettuce wraps, etc. By the time we got there, though, it had gone from restaurant mode to bar mode. Everyone was mingling and checking each other out. The drinks were considered pricey by Knoxville standards, but right on the money for Atlanta folk who are accustomed to spending too much for drinks. They had an outside patio where everyone wanted to be, as it was such a nice evening, and there were a lot of people walking around since it's a block from the Tennessee Theatre and the Morrissey show had just got out. I talk about that man too much... Overall it was a pretty cool place and would probably thrive in a bigger city, and seems to be doing very good here as well.
(5)Alex B.
I don't know what I was thinking, but I came to Sapphire for Sunday brunch. There weren't many people there, but it still took over 40 minutes to cook 2 sunny side up eggs & breakfast potatoes. When I got them, they were cold. Waffle House is better. The atmosphere is kinda creepy too.
(1)Jennie B.
F--kin' hoes-- Mother fuc--n'-- nig-a this & nigg- that! Yes. I'm sad to say this was the "music" we were subject to last night, and on the outdoor patio no less! Poor passersby just strolling past, some with kids, some elderly, looking over at us like we're freaks for even listening to this. Abhorrent! It was about 10pm and the music from inside was played (loudly) on the outdoor speakers. It fluctuated from perfectly delicious and appropriate lounge music, to trance to vulgar & totally unacceptable rap/hip-hop. People at the neighboring tables were shaking their heads a bit and rolling their eyes. Where was the manager? The owner? I LOVE hip-hop music. I don't even mind cursing in music. BUT IN THE CLUB! WHEN I'M DANCING! NOT at an outdoor lounge on Gay St where one comes to relax, hang, chill. In the hour or so we were there, at least 30-40 people walked by and didn't enter the lounge. I cannot help but think it was due in part to the horrible choice of "music." Most just bypassed Sapphire & went next door to the Downtown Grill & Brewery. We, also, could only take so much, so as soon as we finished our one drink, we bolted, too! Lucky for Sapphire --I'm still a Sapphire fan, and I will attribute this faux-pas to the DJ's poor taste last night. Hoping this will never happen again and I can still enjoy their specialty martinis and delicious wines by the glass.
(3)T Gregory K.
Sapphire has amazing food and the staff has always been friendly. I recommend the burger!
(4)Holly D.
I went here on a first date with my boyfriend. We had sort of a late date with dinner taking longer then expected and wandering several bars. We got to Sapphire around 11:30-12 ish. They had flipped from resturant to bar by that point. It wasn't very crouded and we sat at the bar. The place looks pretty cool and the drink list is fantastic. All the drinks we got were super yummy. We tryed several martini's and a mixed drink. However what seemed to be the regular crowd was super drunk and falling all over the place. I had some drunk guy 40something guy pretty much stalk me the whole time I was there. Plus they were blaring very outdated rap music the whole time but it was low enough to talk over. The bartenders/waitstaff weren'tvery attentive until we were getting ready to leave and they started pushing a $300 Sapphire martini on us even after declining repeatedly. Over all the place is ok and the drinks are good just don't have high expectations of the staff or regular patrons.
(3)Leah P.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Sapphire while visiting Knoxville last weekend. I have to disagree with the last review that compared Sapphire to a place you would find in NYC. I understand the concept Sapphire is trying to portray, but they fall short. The furniture is very IKEAish and the bathroom was suffering due to technical difficulties. On a positive note, I did think the art cases and hardwood detailing were very cool. I have lived in Chicago for over 5 years now and have grown accustomed to Chicago prices, service and food. All of which I found unacceptable at Sapphire. I was shocked at the prices of drinks and food! My boyfriend ordered crab cakes, which they were out of, so he opted for the Seared Tuna. It was okay, but pretty bland. I love spicy tuna rolls and I figured I couldn't go wrong so I ordered it. It was the most expensive spicy tuna roll I have ever had, so I expected good things ($6 is the usual cost, at Sapphire they charge $8). I was sadly disappointed when I got my roll, the tuna was not spicy at all. This was the blandest thing I have ever tasted, and they just threw a dab of hot sauce on the top to make it "spicy." I seriously doubt this place even has a sushi chef. The service left a LOT to be desired, unless you like sitting around waiting. The waitress brought me a glass of wine that I did not order. Instead of taking it off of the bill, she added another glass of wine to the bill. I was shocked to learn that she had worked there for a year, she seemed very nice but inefficient. Oh, and they put a stamp on your hand when you walk in to signify that you are 21. Well, I am still looking at that stamp 3 days later, even after scrubbing. A quiet reminder of my disappointing experience at Sapphire. Long story short, this place is trying to be something it is not. It wouldn't last a week in Chicago, let alone NYC. It actually doesn't seem to be very popular in Knoxville either, the place was deadsville.
(1)Kathi B.
Great atmosphere for a fun couple's night. The lighting is perfect and the drinks are cool. Food was different too (in a good way).
(4)Amanda M.
Great drinks and the food is amazing.. It is however more expensive that some of the other bars in the area..
(4)Justin C.
You feeling like a drink and good company, then this is the place. Mondays are great here with some of the best happy hour specials I have ever seen. Plus they have a live Jazz band Monday night. On the weekends they have a DJ laying down the tracks. They have some of the best bartenders too. I would recommend going off the menu and just asked the bartender to make a drink for you. If you are every downtown Knoxville then you should swing in.
(5)Emily V.
Rolled in here with my husband on a Sunday night after peeling ourselves out of the bar and grill next door that had a poker tournament going on. Glad it worked out that way! Loved the menu - while small - had interesting and eclectic choices! We opted for the cheese plate as an appetizer ; it was ok -the onion relish was outstanding. Hubby got the cheeseburger with goat cheese and shoestring French fries; I got a veggie burger and we also got a side order of Brussel sprouts - ooh lala!!! How can I make them like that - the outer leaves were kind of shriveled, and the center of the Brussel was soft! We gobbled them up! We came back to Sapphire on our return trip back up north - again, place next door was crowded again, this place not - but it seemed to fill up as people realized the good food going on next door. We got the Brussel sprouts again, and I got an eggplant stack - while not superb, I was satisified and wished I could have a few more meals here to try out the other dishes on the menu. Skip the sports bar, keep on walkin' to this place.
(4)Island N.
The menu needs some work. Not too many options. $3 mimosas were cool. Service was mediocre at best.
(2)Kristi L.
I am a 40 something and I took my parents to Sapphire and we loved this restaurant. First off, they live up to their reputation as having great Martinis. From the classic gin martini to Cosmos to any fruity maritini you want. If you live in Knoxville and love a good martini, go to Sapphire. The food was very good too and we will definitely go back. It appears to have a double identity though, a good restaurant and bar by day for us older folks and a live band for the college kids later on. Give them credit for trying to appeal to all. My parents who were born and raised and still live in Knoxville quickly recongnized the building as being the old Kimball's jewelry store from back in the day. You can still see the custome made jewelry drawers on the wall. I would say they need to open their back porch though. Smokey Mountain Brewery (SMB) next door was much more crowded with people sitting on the back porch and I have eaten there and the food is not better there. Also, we parked behind the restaurant in the lot (free on weekends) but had to cut thru SMB to go thru the front door of Sapphire...they need a back entry from the parking lot for sure. Good restaurant, we will be back.
(5)Cliff B.
nice people, very inexpensive beer, decent jazz trio playing in the back.
(4)Kerry C.
My friends and I were drawn in by the promise of $5 martinis, and the maitre'd (a.k.a. the guy standing at the street entrance trying to entice people to come in) immediately brought over the bartender. Since it was a slowish Friday night, he ended up waiting on our table the whole night. Two friends got the cucumber lime martini, one got a traditional martini, and I got the Strawberry creamsicle martini. All of ours were $5, and all were delicious. When we came in, the crowd was a few small groups of guys, who disappeared to make way for a bachelorette party and a large group of college kids who came in as we were leaving. The DJ was playing to an empty dancefloor, but he immediately played every song I requested. The bartender even volunteered to make us custom shots. Seeing as Friday night was to be our last night on earth, we asked him to create a shot called The Rapture. He suggested that the rapture would be bloody, so he recommended Belvedere Bloody Mary vodka and let us smell. As I'm not a fan of Bloody Marys, I'm pretty sure the smell of that vodka is exactly what the apocalypse will smell like. We ended up compromising with some Alabama Slammers because we all decided that if it was our last drink on Earth, ASlammers would be okay. Long story aside, this was a good bar with a kinda split identity. I'll definitely come back, especially if they rotate their $5 martinis for other delicious choices.
(4)Lana S.
Sapphire gets my business because it's got a great people watching patio, good service, good wine and cocktail selection and an overall cool environment. It's located in an old jewelry store and they've kept the signage as well as the woodwork cases. The bar is long and somewhat inviting. The lighting is good. The menu is decent with a great cheese plate and a black eyed pea hummus which I'd recommend. There are few places like this in Knoxville especially on Gay St. It's a bar/lounge/night club. The emphasis is not on sports or games or neon beer signs. And that's why it's cool and unique to Knoxville. Cheers!!
(4)justin m.
We went here on a WED night and were very disappointed. The service was terrible as we waited 5 mins for a hostess and to sit us down (there were plenty of tables available). It then took us a while to see a waitress and then get our drinks. From walking into the door till getting the drinks was probably 20 mins on a wed night. We were disappointed since they have an online menu at the website for sushi, but they apparently don't do sushi anymore. Unsure of why they couldn't have updated their website to remove the sushi menu. We didn't end up eating but stayed for a couple drinks. The bar is below average. It looks like the furniture was bought from an inexpensive store and they had 3 flat screens on top of the bar with the cable boxes just thrown there. They are trying for an upscale, hip identity but are missing the mark by a longshot. They had a special on $5 martini's, so we appreciated that as well as an extensive martini menu. They also have a buy one entrée get one free in the Knoxville Lifestyles book, but we didn't use it. Drinks were well made, but based on the poor service we wont be coming back.
(1)Stephanie M.
My experience at Sapphire was not terribly satisfying: everything there had great potential plagued by drawbacks. We tried their fruit and cheese platter. The cheeses (a creamy yellow, excellent pimiento spread, a delicious blue cheese, and one with nice texture from mustard seeds but too much heat, and I think I'm missing one more) were mostly very good, although they didn't always compliment each other. There was half a loaf of warm toasted bread, but no crackers. A lamentable oversight, since not only was there not enough bread for all the cheese, but some of them would have paired much better with crackers. The fruit offered was a small pile of blueberries and strawberry halves--not all that much, compared to all the cheese--with a mound of walnut halves opposite. None of the promised jam. The menu had some appealing options, and I settled on a pasta dish with portabella mushrooms and spinach in an goat cheese cream sauce. The food took quite some time to arrive, and when it did the perimeter of my dish was noticeably cool, with the center warm but definitely not hot. The flavor of the cheese was overwhelming, despite the dusting of spices around the rim, which, when I tried solo, tasted remarkably bland. The mushrooms were flavorful and not overcooked, and I was happy to eat them to cut the flavor of the goat cheese. The spinach would have helped, too, except there was truly only a tiny, almost raw portion. Our server was pleasant, but noticeably neglected my party in favor at the bar patrons; it took 30 minutes to get the check. For the prices and hip atmosphere, I'd expect what they offer to be more put together.
(2)Dandylion M.
I wouldn't recommend sapphire to anyone unless that person enjoys being harassed by drunk pretentious patrons or would enjoy having waitresses and the bartender turn their nose up at you. Especially when all you expect is some decent service. I think most of the staff was under the influence of something since it took 3 tries and 2 different servers to get our order correct. We won't be back.
(1)Jennifer S.
Well, my company sent me here for work and I texted my fiance after 3 long nights, saying that "Knoxville certainly wasn't all I had dreamed". No offense to your fair city, but I haven't had the moving and shaking, sports enthusiast, cultural, cosmopolitan dream week that I had envisioned. Instead, I feel like I am stuck in "generic-ville" deciding every night whether to eat at Olive Garden, or if I should drive to the hot area of town where all of the "swanky" places, like P.F. Chang's (seriously) are located. Just when I thought I was doomed to eat at yet another chain (my biggest eating pet peeve!) I stumbled upon Sapphire. I wasn't too impressed getting out of my car and working my way up the stairs in the dirty parking garage and fighting my way around the building (back doors near the parking are not entrances, fyi), but my whole world changed when Amy, my lovely bartender/manager of the place showed up with a beaming smile and told me I looked like I needed a drink. Finally someone in Knoxville noticed I was a fish out of water. When I mentioned I would start with a martini but was intent on moving to wine, she reminded me that I could taste anything I like. Euphoria set in at that moment and continued on throughout the yummy concoction that she made me (some sort of Strawberry martini-thing, that would have made a Las Vegas mixologist proud), and throughout the incredible dinner. Who knew an open-faced pulled pork sandwich could be so good? (Some funky queso and jalapenos on top were the key). I had several people walk by the bar and ask what I was eating, and soon my dish seemed to multiply like the fish and loaves in the Bible, as everyone was ordering it. As I sit here now, I still am salivating and dying to know what the shrimp and grits tasted like. I never thought I'd say this, but Thank God I have one more night in Knoxville!
(4)