I was absolutely horrified to discover that a beautiful piece of art hanging upstairs in the ballroom had been "censored" with pink masking tape. It's 2015 and people still feel the need to cover up a nipple in art? Additionally, upon entering, there was a sign that said "two for one wine - in bar, lounge, and bourbon room". The bartenders refused to honor it, stating it was for diners in patio area only - when the sign specifically states "bar and lounge" which is where I was ordering my wine before dinner. After I called them out on it, they took the sign down immediately. They were also very rude before this occurred, and their service was incredibly slow. Other than the bartenders and the censorship of art, I found the rest of the staff, servers, and the atmosphere very pleasant, which is why I will give it 2 stars. The food was neither great nor terrible.
(2)
Scott J.
The experience was good, but not great. Things I loved, but also questioned 1)Whiskey flight- I love whiskey and rarely ever see a flight, but wish there was a more extensive whiskey options. (Not sure you can call yourself a whiskey bar with only a 15 choices) 2)Food- Certain dishes were fantastic, but others fell short- hint-don't put something on a menu just to fill up space. 3)Atmosphere-Loved the live jazz music, but I couldn't figure out if the venue was going for a 1986 upscale fine dining environment or a dive.
(3)
Vikki G.
We came to the Orangery today for their Sunday brunch. It was a HUGE disappointment. Save your money and spend it at Copper Cellar on their brunch. No sweet tea. No smoked salmon as advertised. There were very few items on the buffet. For the price it is not worth it.
(1)
Tim A.
Well, if anyone ever decides to found the American Kitsch Society, I believe I've found the ideal venue for them to host their annual meetings. I don't know which is harder to miss upon entering: the Rococo decorative motif from wall to wall or the pianist blasting away showtunes from a sheet music compilation presumably titled "Songs You'd Never Hoped to Hear During Dinner". I guess I'd have to say the latter is slightly more annoying as it renders about half the tables unusable by any party wishing to engage in conversation. But how about the food? Actually, from what I sampled, I thought it was pretty tasty. I loved the little crab amuse-bouche thing they served before the meal, with lots of bright flavors and quality ingredients. My friend's salmon was topped with this great little hash of crayfish, which was certainly an improvement on my regrettable crayfish experience at Emeril's a couple months ago. My steak dish, with its mushroom sauce, massive fat layer, and sauteed mushrooms, was seriously Frenched up...and it was pretty tasty to boot. If these dishes cost like $20-$25, I would be willing to overlook the most obnoxious decor I've encountered in recent times. Unfortunately, the prices are as dressed up as the walls. In this arena, I'd have to The Orangery is just a decent, not an inspiring, restaurant.
(3)
Tabitha L.
Brunch here today was a BIG disappointment. I equate eating here to buying name brand clothing, shoes, and handbags, your paying for the name. The variety of food was very little and the smoked salmon and soft rolls advertised on the menu were MIA. They ran out of plates and food and most of the time the food was cold. Our server left us unattended most of the time and my drink was always empty. If you want a brunch worth $52 (for 2) I would go to Copper Cellar. They have waffles and omelette stations, several dishes of breakfast foods, prime rib station, salads, pasta, several warm veggies, bagels and the list goes on and on. You will have a much better experience. I also had to save a little girl in the bathroom. The door on her stall while unlocked was stuck and she couldn't get out. I yanked it open for her and then went into my own stall.
The positives: The staff was very nice, the food was pretty good/okay and the exterior of the restaurant is impressive. The negatives: The atmosphere inside is very dated and a bit odd, and the wine and food were overpriced in my opinion for the quality. I don't have an issue paying $30+ for a dish, but have high expectations for not only the dish but the atmosphere when I do. The wine was grossly overpriced.
(3)
Tara S.
What a disappointing turn the Orangery has taken over the past few years. You're either familiar with the establishment or you aren't, so I needn't touch on things like the menu or atmosphere/decor. I am fine with those things. The food is FINE but has definitely been better. What kills me is, the owners of this place have to know they need to try innovative approaches at reeling in and keeping customers. For a while they had a good thing going with the court yard / bar area. On a recent visit, I took someone who had never been, expecting to get some food and cocktails at the bar. First, we sat there without the lights on in the bar area for 10 minutes. You can see straight into a little alcove behind the bar where they store alcohol and sometimes make drinks. It was full of just trash and crap. Boxes of recycling, a sink full of empty bottles. Not garbage or actual filth, but clutter. Orangery, you want to be considered THE establishment for Knoxville fine-dining, and I can see piles of trash laying around? We were going to order burgers but were told they only had one. one burger. Our server was terribly arrogant flip throughout the experience. Further, our drinks were classic cocktails that were so terribly mediocre. There is a definite piquing interesting in craft-cocktail culture, and Knoxville has only a few establishments who are currently nailing it. My suggestion to the Orangery is to get someone in there to cultivate a bad-ass cocktail menu. And clean up the trash off the bar so I can drink one without knowing what all you're about to take to the dumpster. I value this establishment and its history and I sincerely hope they can turn things around.
(2)
David G.
The orangery is excellent to impress your date and has some delicious dishes and wines to sample. This is not the place to eat out on a budget however its a must try type of restaurant. The crepes are just light and delightful! With spinach and artichoke and bacon creme cheese filling. Yumm.
(5)
Gordon L.
Very poor service. 30 minutes between courses. Cake with a spoon...I know you can do better than that. The staff appeared more interested in filling water glasses than serving food.
(3)
Emily E.
Decided to give this place a try for New Year's Eve and was not disappointed. Highlight was the butternut squash bisque which had a wonderful creamy rich flavor. Also enjoyed the cheese plate, lamb lollipops, lobster mushroom crepes, and creme brulee. The decor of the place could use some updating, but no other complaints!
The Orangery is well known for so many amazing dishes including the lobster crepes, cut it with a fork filet and Lollypop lamb chops, but I have to say that their Kobe Beef Burger is the BEST in town. The Orangery is also one of the best places to see live music on Thursdays in the courtyard. Happy Hour specials are great. This is an awesome date night restaurant or just a great place to meet up with friends in the courtyard on live music nights. The manager, Kathleen, makes us feel like family and owners David and Rebecca make sure every detail is perfect making each visit feel like a VIP experience. I highly recommend.
(5)
Zhu L.
I don't like the food here though it is a high-grade restaruant. The salad was very rough and my duck entree too greasy. I wanna say I have never had this kind of very sweet and salty duck, untasty! A few greasy green vegetable leaves with potato fingers was as the side dish. The dessert was just a tiny cup with cream and fruits in it. In a word, Orangery is overpriced and the food here cannot match its gorgeous decoration.
(2)
Lisa E.
I received an email advertising this great Happy hour with appetizers, wow cool, so I invited 4 friends and we were stunned at the low quality. Chips, salsa, cheese and crackers. We asked for a menu to supplement the crappy appetizers but didn't really see anything we were in the mood for. Thought about ordering dinner but the waiter never came back. Finally I had to hunt someone down to get our check and we paid and took our business elsewhere. I unsubscribed from the Orangery emails as they are obviously a waste of time.
(1)
Jason R.
Being visitors to Knoxville for the first time, we wanted to skip the Ruths Chris and Flemings chains and visit a restaurant that was uniquely local. This place fails on so many levels: 1) The service is crap - we had 2 server assistants/servers pour tap water on top of our bottled water on two separate occasions and they also don't know how to pour wine (flicked wine all over my white shirt and seersucker pants by pouring too fast). 2) I can't believe you have the audacity to charge $175 for a '09 Caymus Cab when it retails for $59-$70. I understand 80-100% markups, but this is absurd. 3) You can get better food at Outback/Carrabas - my filet wasn't even salted/peppered before cooking and was bland and my fiance's scallops were run of the mill. 4) If your aim is to have a pretentious and gaudy ambiance, then you better work on points 1-3. Please don't insult our intelligence. For this fact alone, you get 1 star instead of 2.
(1)
Chuck C.
Always good and always a classic. A special event place for sure. I always like it.
(5)
Lana S.
The Orangery has had it's day...and it wasn't the day I was there. Good luck. I will not be back again. The atmosphere is dated, the service was cold, and so was most of our food. The menu LOOKED great....but nothing we had met our expectations. Come on Knoxville, we can do better than this!!
(2)
Mary T.
Tucked away on the cut-off right by Naples on Kingston Pike you will notice a large gate that will be open so you can make your grand entrance to The Orangery. This has been a landmark in Knoxville for many years. It closed down and re-opened within the past year. When you walk in, typically you will be greeted by the manager or owner, many of the staff, and you will hear the peaceful music coming from a piano. When I walk I usually go to the right side of the bar which was renovated when they re-opened. It's more casual to the right so that is typically where I will enjoy a nice beverage and some tasty treats. The first time I visited the Orangery since they had reopened my experience was not very memorable as I ordered 2 items on the menu which they just so happened to "86" or in restaurant lingo, that means "to run out for the night." My second time back was definitely more memorable. The bartender tasted me on a few different wines and was very helpful. I started to glance over the menu and realized that there were 2 menus. One was for everyone, the other was just for bar patrons! LOVE IT! I ordered the cheese plate and I was very impressed at how much cheese they put on their cheese plate and at only $12. I have had cheese plates that have definitely left a bad impression and I have often paid much more than $12 for a cheese plate. Next, I ordered their frisee salad which was really delicious especially when you cut the egg up on top and let all the flavors from the yolk enhance the flavors of the greens. Lastly, I decided to order off the bar menu. Once I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted, the trio of grilled cheeses. I absolutely LOVE a good grilled cheese! It was served with fries that were crispy and delicious. Now for the grilled cheeses there was one that had black truffles on it, all I can say is WOW. That one was the first one I tried and the only one I wanted after taking a bite out of the others. This was also under $15. A friend of mine ordered their fish feature and was brought out the scallops. When I brought it to their attention they removed the scallops and returned with his fish. However, I was just too quick for them and still snapped a picture! I tried a bite of his fish and it was very flavorful. I had heard so many mixed things about the Orangery and with my first experience after they reopened not being so memorable I started having my own mixed feelings until this past time when I went. I could not believe how few people there were at the restaurant. Only 1 table when I arrived and none when I left. They also seem to shut down earlier then a lot of places around town, so for your best bet arrive early. I know they have features that include half-price bottles of wine so you definitely should check that out. I believe that the half-price wine night is on Mondays. I have also heard that the lunch there is really good. I will definitely go back to check out their lunch. They also cater to large parties so if you have an event such as a birthday party, rehearsal dinner, etc., you should totally check them out. I will definitely return to the Orangery and sit at the bar again. My experience was really great this last time. Now, I know they can be pricey on some things but everything I ordered was completely reasonable and I know you could find similar choices at reasonable prices. So friends I hope to see you down there! Cheers and Enjoy!
(4)
Julia H.
Ok! New facility! Last night we opened the whiskey bar in the Orangery atrium area. They have whiskey flights for tasting and a great happy hour menu. Half off all drinks not including bottled beers. Not bad. The whiskey flights come in groups of four and are labeled by country of origin. We, of course, chose the USA. Very good atmosphere and great new concept! Try it out.
(5)
Kate S.
After checking out the menu online, and doing my "review research", I had to admit, I was a bit weary about risking an overdraft charge to come here. However, thanks to my new love of deal-a-day websites (groupon, living social, etc...) I had a fantastic gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket. The boy and I went on a night where there was live music in the Courtyard - a smaller room off the formal dining area - by a local musician we knew. The weather was still warm enough for the doors to remain open and the music was wonderful. A few groups of people were celebrating various occasions and from the looks of things, were thoroughly enjoying there time. Our service was wonderful. Another issue I was slightly concerned about. We had our designated server and another server offered his assistance constantly. We each started with a glass of Syrah. Very rarely do I order a glass of wine for $9.00 but the ambiance caught up with me and I felt the need to splurge. It was pretty tasty and I managed to sip sparingly enough to make it last through my whole meal. As I am never one to overlook a cheese plate, we started with that. Best cheese plate in town. We were served three cheeses, a "drunken" goat cheese, blueberry Stilton, and a smokey Gruyère. A lover of all cheeses, I was particular taken with the goat cheese accompanied with a bit of honey on the sesame seed brittle. It also came with assorted fruit, nuts, a cranberry chutney, and some additional cheese crackers. Delicious AND satisfying. Following some debate regarding what to order next, if at all (the cheese was that satisfying) we decided to go all out - When in Rome... We split a house salad that was a perfect portion for us both that was served with a surprisingly light sherry vinaigrette. We then ordered what I feel to be one of the best dishes in town, the lobster and mushroom crepes. I highly recommend any patron to try these at least once. They are that good. Now, before you gawk at the $33 price tag, let me assure you that they cram that crepe good with lots-o-lobster. The crepe was light and fluffy and it was served on a orange cognac sauce so good, I was mopping it up with my spoon. Given that we split our plate, it was a tad underwhelming to be served a cigar sized crepe on a full-size plate. That's $16.50 per crepe! But, alas, some things are actually worth the splurge and this is definitely one of them. So in conclusion - if you walk in knowing that you are going to spend a little bit of money, your experience will be much more enjoyable. I highly advise sitting in the Courtyard above the actual dining room if there is live music playing. The atmosphere is much less stuffy and more casual while still keeping with their classic French theme.
(4)
Jennie B.
Tabatha Coffey! Jon Taffer! Someone--ANYONE--help!!! This is going to be very cut & dry--so brace yourself. Yes the waiter was nice. Yes the Bartender/Host was nice. Even the Manager was nice (although she didn't really have a clue). And the food was very good. All this being said, the dining "experience" at this historic Knoxville restaurant was pretty darn bad. And that all boils down to one thing. Poor management/ownership. *PLEASE know ahead of time that I don't like to down any restaurant, since I myself have 14 years experience in the industry. But when such poor management/ownership abounds, as it does here, something must go on the record--if for no other reason than to hopefully encourage someone there to take what I have to say into consideration in order to make all (or some) of their "wrongs" right. 1. Don't be deceived by the beautiful outside and grand entrance. This place looks and feels like an old (albeit large) home that sorely needs to be dusted, updated (while still maintaining it's old world integrity) with new carpets and some kind of strange odor remover so that you don't feel like you're eating inside someones "Estate Sale" home. 2. Walking in the live pianist was doing a great job! It was only about 8:30pm. But 5 minutes later, as soon as we sat down at our table, she stopped. Who stops playing music in a fancy, "5-star" restaurant on a Friday night at 8:30pm?! Owner, pay your pianist to play until 11. Or at least 10. I then had to ask 3 different people to put music on. Not only was there a ton of noise coming from the upstairs, where some party/fundraiser was going on and people were dragging tables across the floor, shouting and moving around loudly, but the sounds of the kitchen were right outside our table and we could hear everyone else's conversation in the restaurant. A RESTAURANT SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE MUSIC PLAYING. ALWAYS!!!!! Not only to block out the other unpleasant sounds, but for the ambiance. 3. The chairs are strange & not very comfortable. Period. They offer you little pillows to fill in the gap between the arch of your back and where it meets the chair. The pillow kept moving, slipping down and wanting to fall through the huge open area of the chair. Enough said. 4. We tried two glasses of wine. a. Pinot Noir. Sent it back. b. Cabernet/Merlot/something else that escapes me combo. Worse. Sent it back. They both tasted a bit like lacquer. For $9.00 a pop-- no thank you. AND they were served in chinsy wine glasses. I looked over at the neighboring tables, who ordered bottles of wine, and they had big, beautiful (& the correct) red wine glasses. Why weren't we served those? Ordering a GLASS of wine, believe it or not, brings more money into the restaurant than a bottle does. 5. Looking around we noticed a piece of art on the wall behind us. The frame was an elaborate golden work of art in itself...that hadn't been dusted for at least....2 weeks? Maybe more. Wrong. 6. We noticed a chandelier hanging mid-ceiling with the WIRE dragged half way across the ceiling and down part of the wall to the plug. How tasteful. Not. 7. There are beautiful little separate rooms off the main dining area connected by glass doors. Very pretty--however, as soon as the guests who were dining in them left, the staff turned all the lights out in those rooms. Save energy-- yes. Make your remaining customers feel like you just shut down half the restaurant? Yes. Wrong again. 8. We had a half off coupon thankfully. To pay full price for this dining experience would have gone down in the book of world records for one of the most regrettable things in my life. I know there is more that I am forgetting. Perhaps I have already chosen to block it out. I think you get the idea.
(1)
Bradley C.
I still dream of the beautiful Beef Wellington I had here. Beef Wellington is one of my favorite meals. Unfortunately, it is not a simple dish to prepare properly, but The Orangery does Beef Wellington to perfection! The outer breading was flaky and golden brown and the fillet was perfectly cooked to medium rare. I will definitely have to make a point of going back to The Orangery on my next trip to Knoxville.
(4)
Jenny T.
Do you like bacon? If so, maybe you'll like this place. Do you like French food? if so, you will definitely not. The Orangery (which is pronounced in a hideously slaughtered way here in Knoxville, not French at all), is pathetic. The food all tastes like the same rich, bacon-y disgustingness. As someone who currently lives in New York City, I admit I am a bit accustomed to amazing cuisine. So I thought that if I picked one of the "fanciest" in Knoxville I'd get something at least edible. But I was extremely disappointed that we just paid more for the same crap. Over-dressed salads, over-salted and bacon-flavored everything. Even the creme brulee was too thickly crusted (like a rock solid hard sheet rather than delicate crust). The service? Disappointing. If it were good and made up for the disgusting food it would have at least justified the outrageous price tag. but no. Stay away. not worth it.
(2)
Sean A.
Wonderful restaurant! Pricey, but you expect that when you come to a restaurant like this. My wife and I went on our 15th anniversary, and it was everything we had hoped it would be.
(5)
mary m.
I was so happy to hear that the Orangery had re-opened although under new management, however my happiness turned into disappointment. Made reservation on "Open Table" for lunch on The Organgery's website, arrived there 10 minutes before our reservation time, did not have our table ready nor did they have our reservation. We waited 15-20 minutes for our table, not a problem it was a busy Friday. Service was bad, server forgot our drinks, our order, and we basically sat around waiting for him the entire meal. I am not use to service like this at the Orangery. Had the lobster crepes, very disappointed...the crepes were almost hard and food was cold. The "clam chowder"/pasta was not as good as it sounds...clams were overcooked and rubbery and sauce had no flavor. I asked for the pate was told it was only served at dinner and of course I was aware of that but whenever I went to the Orangery for lunch before they always brought out pate upon request. The bread is not as good either. I think the new owners have had enough time to work out the kinks but I was very disappointed with both the food and service. Nonetheless, I have not given up home...I will return one more time for dinner and hope and pray that service and food was like before.
(2)
Emily D.
Last weekend was my first visit to The Orangery. My husband took me out to dinner and we enjoyed every single bit of it. If i had one downfall of the place it would be that they only offer about two wines by the glass per varietal. This however will not stop me from going back. We had the crispy pork belly appetizer, which was delicious. He had venison chops and i had loster/mushroom crepes which were both great. Some sort of chocolate torte (i can't remember, but it was awesome) and espresso for dessert. Both were wonderful. This is a great place for a special occasion.
(5)
Knom Knom C.
I was at The Orangery and it looks like they are really trying to start updating their look. The courtyard has new high top tables and chairs. That's pretty admirable in this economy. The Courtyard menu is playful, tasty (yes, nachos with duck confit!), and a nice contrast to the more formal menu in the main dining room. It seems like since it's rebirth, The Orangery has been in a state of change, carrying the fine dining flag of the past while trying to stay competitive in the current day. The food is executed by one of Knoxville's hardest working chefs and is always sure to have great flavor. The service staff always gives great service. Support this local treasure....it's got a lot of heart.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lio C.
I was absolutely horrified to discover that a beautiful piece of art hanging upstairs in the ballroom had been "censored" with pink masking tape. It's 2015 and people still feel the need to cover up a nipple in art? Additionally, upon entering, there was a sign that said "two for one wine - in bar, lounge, and bourbon room". The bartenders refused to honor it, stating it was for diners in patio area only - when the sign specifically states "bar and lounge" which is where I was ordering my wine before dinner. After I called them out on it, they took the sign down immediately. They were also very rude before this occurred, and their service was incredibly slow. Other than the bartenders and the censorship of art, I found the rest of the staff, servers, and the atmosphere very pleasant, which is why I will give it 2 stars. The food was neither great nor terrible.
(2)Scott J.
The experience was good, but not great. Things I loved, but also questioned 1)Whiskey flight- I love whiskey and rarely ever see a flight, but wish there was a more extensive whiskey options. (Not sure you can call yourself a whiskey bar with only a 15 choices) 2)Food- Certain dishes were fantastic, but others fell short- hint-don't put something on a menu just to fill up space. 3)Atmosphere-Loved the live jazz music, but I couldn't figure out if the venue was going for a 1986 upscale fine dining environment or a dive.
(3)Vikki G.
We came to the Orangery today for their Sunday brunch. It was a HUGE disappointment. Save your money and spend it at Copper Cellar on their brunch. No sweet tea. No smoked salmon as advertised. There were very few items on the buffet. For the price it is not worth it.
(1)Tim A.
Well, if anyone ever decides to found the American Kitsch Society, I believe I've found the ideal venue for them to host their annual meetings. I don't know which is harder to miss upon entering: the Rococo decorative motif from wall to wall or the pianist blasting away showtunes from a sheet music compilation presumably titled "Songs You'd Never Hoped to Hear During Dinner". I guess I'd have to say the latter is slightly more annoying as it renders about half the tables unusable by any party wishing to engage in conversation. But how about the food? Actually, from what I sampled, I thought it was pretty tasty. I loved the little crab amuse-bouche thing they served before the meal, with lots of bright flavors and quality ingredients. My friend's salmon was topped with this great little hash of crayfish, which was certainly an improvement on my regrettable crayfish experience at Emeril's a couple months ago. My steak dish, with its mushroom sauce, massive fat layer, and sauteed mushrooms, was seriously Frenched up...and it was pretty tasty to boot. If these dishes cost like $20-$25, I would be willing to overlook the most obnoxious decor I've encountered in recent times. Unfortunately, the prices are as dressed up as the walls. In this arena, I'd have to The Orangery is just a decent, not an inspiring, restaurant.
(3)Tabitha L.
Brunch here today was a BIG disappointment. I equate eating here to buying name brand clothing, shoes, and handbags, your paying for the name. The variety of food was very little and the smoked salmon and soft rolls advertised on the menu were MIA. They ran out of plates and food and most of the time the food was cold. Our server left us unattended most of the time and my drink was always empty. If you want a brunch worth $52 (for 2) I would go to Copper Cellar. They have waffles and omelette stations, several dishes of breakfast foods, prime rib station, salads, pasta, several warm veggies, bagels and the list goes on and on. You will have a much better experience. I also had to save a little girl in the bathroom. The door on her stall while unlocked was stuck and she couldn't get out. I yanked it open for her and then went into my own stall.
(1)Frederick B.
Went here for dinner on Wednesday evening (they call it Date night which by the way is buy one dinner get one free). Our meal was excellent. I started with vichyssoises which was outstanding, my partner the lettuce wedge which was rather large and delicious. Main course was chateaubriand with fingerling potatoes and various vegetables, all prepared superbly. Dessert for me was creme brûlée while he had the largest piece of coconut cake, I have ever seen at a restaurant. I do not especially like coconut but this was excellent. All in all next time in the city we would definitely return. By the way our waiter, Joe, was excellent. In fact the whole wait staff worked well together.
(5)Jeff M.
The positives: The staff was very nice, the food was pretty good/okay and the exterior of the restaurant is impressive. The negatives: The atmosphere inside is very dated and a bit odd, and the wine and food were overpriced in my opinion for the quality. I don't have an issue paying $30+ for a dish, but have high expectations for not only the dish but the atmosphere when I do. The wine was grossly overpriced.
(3)Tara S.
What a disappointing turn the Orangery has taken over the past few years. You're either familiar with the establishment or you aren't, so I needn't touch on things like the menu or atmosphere/decor. I am fine with those things. The food is FINE but has definitely been better. What kills me is, the owners of this place have to know they need to try innovative approaches at reeling in and keeping customers. For a while they had a good thing going with the court yard / bar area. On a recent visit, I took someone who had never been, expecting to get some food and cocktails at the bar. First, we sat there without the lights on in the bar area for 10 minutes. You can see straight into a little alcove behind the bar where they store alcohol and sometimes make drinks. It was full of just trash and crap. Boxes of recycling, a sink full of empty bottles. Not garbage or actual filth, but clutter. Orangery, you want to be considered THE establishment for Knoxville fine-dining, and I can see piles of trash laying around? We were going to order burgers but were told they only had one. one burger. Our server was terribly arrogant flip throughout the experience. Further, our drinks were classic cocktails that were so terribly mediocre. There is a definite piquing interesting in craft-cocktail culture, and Knoxville has only a few establishments who are currently nailing it. My suggestion to the Orangery is to get someone in there to cultivate a bad-ass cocktail menu. And clean up the trash off the bar so I can drink one without knowing what all you're about to take to the dumpster. I value this establishment and its history and I sincerely hope they can turn things around.
(2)David G.
The orangery is excellent to impress your date and has some delicious dishes and wines to sample. This is not the place to eat out on a budget however its a must try type of restaurant. The crepes are just light and delightful! With spinach and artichoke and bacon creme cheese filling. Yumm.
(5)Gordon L.
Very poor service. 30 minutes between courses. Cake with a spoon...I know you can do better than that. The staff appeared more interested in filling water glasses than serving food.
(3)Emily E.
Decided to give this place a try for New Year's Eve and was not disappointed. Highlight was the butternut squash bisque which had a wonderful creamy rich flavor. Also enjoyed the cheese plate, lamb lollipops, lobster mushroom crepes, and creme brulee. The decor of the place could use some updating, but no other complaints!
(4)Scott F.
We celebrated our 30th anniversary with dinning at The Orangery. I do not remember having a more attentive wait staff than we had Saturday evening. I ordered flowers to be delivered for my wife and when we arrived they had the table prepared with the beautiful floral arrangement well displayed. The welcoming staff went to great lengths to create a special evening. I believe that every one in the serving staff made a stop at our table to congratulate and celebrate with us. We started with the cheese plate which was very nice with three cheeses, berries and honey. We ordered wine from a well appointed wine list and settled in for dinner. I had the Iron Seared Lamb Chops and substituted the roasted veggies for the potatoes. The chops were prepared very nicely and to order. 4 bones made for a perfect size portion. My wife had the medallions of tenderloin with the lobster crepe. The tenderloins were 2 high quality properly aged cuts that were among the top steaks I have ever sampled. The lobster crepe was buttery and delicious. The combination made a hearty portion with leftovers to bring home and fight over. The weakest point of the meal was the creme brûlée and coffee for desert. While they were ok it was pedestrian at best, but good enough not to ruin on of the best meals and celebrations we have had in several years. I appreciate the attentiveness and willingness to go the extra mile. The small things done right are the difference between a meal and a true dining experience.
(5)Cindi A.
The Orangery is well known for so many amazing dishes including the lobster crepes, cut it with a fork filet and Lollypop lamb chops, but I have to say that their Kobe Beef Burger is the BEST in town. The Orangery is also one of the best places to see live music on Thursdays in the courtyard. Happy Hour specials are great. This is an awesome date night restaurant or just a great place to meet up with friends in the courtyard on live music nights. The manager, Kathleen, makes us feel like family and owners David and Rebecca make sure every detail is perfect making each visit feel like a VIP experience. I highly recommend.
(5)Zhu L.
I don't like the food here though it is a high-grade restaruant. The salad was very rough and my duck entree too greasy. I wanna say I have never had this kind of very sweet and salty duck, untasty! A few greasy green vegetable leaves with potato fingers was as the side dish. The dessert was just a tiny cup with cream and fruits in it. In a word, Orangery is overpriced and the food here cannot match its gorgeous decoration.
(2)Lisa E.
I received an email advertising this great Happy hour with appetizers, wow cool, so I invited 4 friends and we were stunned at the low quality. Chips, salsa, cheese and crackers. We asked for a menu to supplement the crappy appetizers but didn't really see anything we were in the mood for. Thought about ordering dinner but the waiter never came back. Finally I had to hunt someone down to get our check and we paid and took our business elsewhere. I unsubscribed from the Orangery emails as they are obviously a waste of time.
(1)Jason R.
Being visitors to Knoxville for the first time, we wanted to skip the Ruths Chris and Flemings chains and visit a restaurant that was uniquely local. This place fails on so many levels: 1) The service is crap - we had 2 server assistants/servers pour tap water on top of our bottled water on two separate occasions and they also don't know how to pour wine (flicked wine all over my white shirt and seersucker pants by pouring too fast). 2) I can't believe you have the audacity to charge $175 for a '09 Caymus Cab when it retails for $59-$70. I understand 80-100% markups, but this is absurd. 3) You can get better food at Outback/Carrabas - my filet wasn't even salted/peppered before cooking and was bland and my fiance's scallops were run of the mill. 4) If your aim is to have a pretentious and gaudy ambiance, then you better work on points 1-3. Please don't insult our intelligence. For this fact alone, you get 1 star instead of 2.
(1)Chuck C.
Always good and always a classic. A special event place for sure. I always like it.
(5)Lana S.
The Orangery has had it's day...and it wasn't the day I was there. Good luck. I will not be back again. The atmosphere is dated, the service was cold, and so was most of our food. The menu LOOKED great....but nothing we had met our expectations. Come on Knoxville, we can do better than this!!
(2)Mary T.
Tucked away on the cut-off right by Naples on Kingston Pike you will notice a large gate that will be open so you can make your grand entrance to The Orangery. This has been a landmark in Knoxville for many years. It closed down and re-opened within the past year. When you walk in, typically you will be greeted by the manager or owner, many of the staff, and you will hear the peaceful music coming from a piano. When I walk I usually go to the right side of the bar which was renovated when they re-opened. It's more casual to the right so that is typically where I will enjoy a nice beverage and some tasty treats. The first time I visited the Orangery since they had reopened my experience was not very memorable as I ordered 2 items on the menu which they just so happened to "86" or in restaurant lingo, that means "to run out for the night." My second time back was definitely more memorable. The bartender tasted me on a few different wines and was very helpful. I started to glance over the menu and realized that there were 2 menus. One was for everyone, the other was just for bar patrons! LOVE IT! I ordered the cheese plate and I was very impressed at how much cheese they put on their cheese plate and at only $12. I have had cheese plates that have definitely left a bad impression and I have often paid much more than $12 for a cheese plate. Next, I ordered their frisee salad which was really delicious especially when you cut the egg up on top and let all the flavors from the yolk enhance the flavors of the greens. Lastly, I decided to order off the bar menu. Once I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted, the trio of grilled cheeses. I absolutely LOVE a good grilled cheese! It was served with fries that were crispy and delicious. Now for the grilled cheeses there was one that had black truffles on it, all I can say is WOW. That one was the first one I tried and the only one I wanted after taking a bite out of the others. This was also under $15. A friend of mine ordered their fish feature and was brought out the scallops. When I brought it to their attention they removed the scallops and returned with his fish. However, I was just too quick for them and still snapped a picture! I tried a bite of his fish and it was very flavorful. I had heard so many mixed things about the Orangery and with my first experience after they reopened not being so memorable I started having my own mixed feelings until this past time when I went. I could not believe how few people there were at the restaurant. Only 1 table when I arrived and none when I left. They also seem to shut down earlier then a lot of places around town, so for your best bet arrive early. I know they have features that include half-price bottles of wine so you definitely should check that out. I believe that the half-price wine night is on Mondays. I have also heard that the lunch there is really good. I will definitely go back to check out their lunch. They also cater to large parties so if you have an event such as a birthday party, rehearsal dinner, etc., you should totally check them out. I will definitely return to the Orangery and sit at the bar again. My experience was really great this last time. Now, I know they can be pricey on some things but everything I ordered was completely reasonable and I know you could find similar choices at reasonable prices. So friends I hope to see you down there! Cheers and Enjoy!
(4)Julia H.
Ok! New facility! Last night we opened the whiskey bar in the Orangery atrium area. They have whiskey flights for tasting and a great happy hour menu. Half off all drinks not including bottled beers. Not bad. The whiskey flights come in groups of four and are labeled by country of origin. We, of course, chose the USA. Very good atmosphere and great new concept! Try it out.
(5)Kate S.
After checking out the menu online, and doing my "review research", I had to admit, I was a bit weary about risking an overdraft charge to come here. However, thanks to my new love of deal-a-day websites (groupon, living social, etc...) I had a fantastic gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket. The boy and I went on a night where there was live music in the Courtyard - a smaller room off the formal dining area - by a local musician we knew. The weather was still warm enough for the doors to remain open and the music was wonderful. A few groups of people were celebrating various occasions and from the looks of things, were thoroughly enjoying there time. Our service was wonderful. Another issue I was slightly concerned about. We had our designated server and another server offered his assistance constantly. We each started with a glass of Syrah. Very rarely do I order a glass of wine for $9.00 but the ambiance caught up with me and I felt the need to splurge. It was pretty tasty and I managed to sip sparingly enough to make it last through my whole meal. As I am never one to overlook a cheese plate, we started with that. Best cheese plate in town. We were served three cheeses, a "drunken" goat cheese, blueberry Stilton, and a smokey Gruyère. A lover of all cheeses, I was particular taken with the goat cheese accompanied with a bit of honey on the sesame seed brittle. It also came with assorted fruit, nuts, a cranberry chutney, and some additional cheese crackers. Delicious AND satisfying. Following some debate regarding what to order next, if at all (the cheese was that satisfying) we decided to go all out - When in Rome... We split a house salad that was a perfect portion for us both that was served with a surprisingly light sherry vinaigrette. We then ordered what I feel to be one of the best dishes in town, the lobster and mushroom crepes. I highly recommend any patron to try these at least once. They are that good. Now, before you gawk at the $33 price tag, let me assure you that they cram that crepe good with lots-o-lobster. The crepe was light and fluffy and it was served on a orange cognac sauce so good, I was mopping it up with my spoon. Given that we split our plate, it was a tad underwhelming to be served a cigar sized crepe on a full-size plate. That's $16.50 per crepe! But, alas, some things are actually worth the splurge and this is definitely one of them. So in conclusion - if you walk in knowing that you are going to spend a little bit of money, your experience will be much more enjoyable. I highly advise sitting in the Courtyard above the actual dining room if there is live music playing. The atmosphere is much less stuffy and more casual while still keeping with their classic French theme.
(4)Jennie B.
Tabatha Coffey! Jon Taffer! Someone--ANYONE--help!!! This is going to be very cut & dry--so brace yourself. Yes the waiter was nice. Yes the Bartender/Host was nice. Even the Manager was nice (although she didn't really have a clue). And the food was very good. All this being said, the dining "experience" at this historic Knoxville restaurant was pretty darn bad. And that all boils down to one thing. Poor management/ownership. *PLEASE know ahead of time that I don't like to down any restaurant, since I myself have 14 years experience in the industry. But when such poor management/ownership abounds, as it does here, something must go on the record--if for no other reason than to hopefully encourage someone there to take what I have to say into consideration in order to make all (or some) of their "wrongs" right. 1. Don't be deceived by the beautiful outside and grand entrance. This place looks and feels like an old (albeit large) home that sorely needs to be dusted, updated (while still maintaining it's old world integrity) with new carpets and some kind of strange odor remover so that you don't feel like you're eating inside someones "Estate Sale" home. 2. Walking in the live pianist was doing a great job! It was only about 8:30pm. But 5 minutes later, as soon as we sat down at our table, she stopped. Who stops playing music in a fancy, "5-star" restaurant on a Friday night at 8:30pm?! Owner, pay your pianist to play until 11. Or at least 10. I then had to ask 3 different people to put music on. Not only was there a ton of noise coming from the upstairs, where some party/fundraiser was going on and people were dragging tables across the floor, shouting and moving around loudly, but the sounds of the kitchen were right outside our table and we could hear everyone else's conversation in the restaurant. A RESTAURANT SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE MUSIC PLAYING. ALWAYS!!!!! Not only to block out the other unpleasant sounds, but for the ambiance. 3. The chairs are strange & not very comfortable. Period. They offer you little pillows to fill in the gap between the arch of your back and where it meets the chair. The pillow kept moving, slipping down and wanting to fall through the huge open area of the chair. Enough said. 4. We tried two glasses of wine. a. Pinot Noir. Sent it back. b. Cabernet/Merlot/something else that escapes me combo. Worse. Sent it back. They both tasted a bit like lacquer. For $9.00 a pop-- no thank you. AND they were served in chinsy wine glasses. I looked over at the neighboring tables, who ordered bottles of wine, and they had big, beautiful (& the correct) red wine glasses. Why weren't we served those? Ordering a GLASS of wine, believe it or not, brings more money into the restaurant than a bottle does. 5. Looking around we noticed a piece of art on the wall behind us. The frame was an elaborate golden work of art in itself...that hadn't been dusted for at least....2 weeks? Maybe more. Wrong. 6. We noticed a chandelier hanging mid-ceiling with the WIRE dragged half way across the ceiling and down part of the wall to the plug. How tasteful. Not. 7. There are beautiful little separate rooms off the main dining area connected by glass doors. Very pretty--however, as soon as the guests who were dining in them left, the staff turned all the lights out in those rooms. Save energy-- yes. Make your remaining customers feel like you just shut down half the restaurant? Yes. Wrong again. 8. We had a half off coupon thankfully. To pay full price for this dining experience would have gone down in the book of world records for one of the most regrettable things in my life. I know there is more that I am forgetting. Perhaps I have already chosen to block it out. I think you get the idea.
(1)Bradley C.
I still dream of the beautiful Beef Wellington I had here. Beef Wellington is one of my favorite meals. Unfortunately, it is not a simple dish to prepare properly, but The Orangery does Beef Wellington to perfection! The outer breading was flaky and golden brown and the fillet was perfectly cooked to medium rare. I will definitely have to make a point of going back to The Orangery on my next trip to Knoxville.
(4)Jenny T.
Do you like bacon? If so, maybe you'll like this place. Do you like French food? if so, you will definitely not. The Orangery (which is pronounced in a hideously slaughtered way here in Knoxville, not French at all), is pathetic. The food all tastes like the same rich, bacon-y disgustingness. As someone who currently lives in New York City, I admit I am a bit accustomed to amazing cuisine. So I thought that if I picked one of the "fanciest" in Knoxville I'd get something at least edible. But I was extremely disappointed that we just paid more for the same crap. Over-dressed salads, over-salted and bacon-flavored everything. Even the creme brulee was too thickly crusted (like a rock solid hard sheet rather than delicate crust). The service? Disappointing. If it were good and made up for the disgusting food it would have at least justified the outrageous price tag. but no. Stay away. not worth it.
(2)Sean A.
Wonderful restaurant! Pricey, but you expect that when you come to a restaurant like this. My wife and I went on our 15th anniversary, and it was everything we had hoped it would be.
(5)mary m.
I was so happy to hear that the Orangery had re-opened although under new management, however my happiness turned into disappointment. Made reservation on "Open Table" for lunch on The Organgery's website, arrived there 10 minutes before our reservation time, did not have our table ready nor did they have our reservation. We waited 15-20 minutes for our table, not a problem it was a busy Friday. Service was bad, server forgot our drinks, our order, and we basically sat around waiting for him the entire meal. I am not use to service like this at the Orangery. Had the lobster crepes, very disappointed...the crepes were almost hard and food was cold. The "clam chowder"/pasta was not as good as it sounds...clams were overcooked and rubbery and sauce had no flavor. I asked for the pate was told it was only served at dinner and of course I was aware of that but whenever I went to the Orangery for lunch before they always brought out pate upon request. The bread is not as good either. I think the new owners have had enough time to work out the kinks but I was very disappointed with both the food and service. Nonetheless, I have not given up home...I will return one more time for dinner and hope and pray that service and food was like before.
(2)Emily D.
Last weekend was my first visit to The Orangery. My husband took me out to dinner and we enjoyed every single bit of it. If i had one downfall of the place it would be that they only offer about two wines by the glass per varietal. This however will not stop me from going back. We had the crispy pork belly appetizer, which was delicious. He had venison chops and i had loster/mushroom crepes which were both great. Some sort of chocolate torte (i can't remember, but it was awesome) and espresso for dessert. Both were wonderful. This is a great place for a special occasion.
(5)Knom Knom C.
I was at The Orangery and it looks like they are really trying to start updating their look. The courtyard has new high top tables and chairs. That's pretty admirable in this economy. The Courtyard menu is playful, tasty (yes, nachos with duck confit!), and a nice contrast to the more formal menu in the main dining room. It seems like since it's rebirth, The Orangery has been in a state of change, carrying the fine dining flag of the past while trying to stay competitive in the current day. The food is executed by one of Knoxville's hardest working chefs and is always sure to have great flavor. The service staff always gives great service. Support this local treasure....it's got a lot of heart.
(5)