Ryan Wilusz|Knoxville News Sentinel
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Cooking from home was fun for the first few weeks of the pandemic, but more people are giving dining out a shotas more COVID-19 shots are being given to people.
The social summer months are approaching, and there's nothing better than gathering with good friends over good food and drinks.
Not sure where to begin? Lucky for you, Knoxville can be a true foodie's dream. And this guide has you covered with some of the best restaurants in town!
A great way to start your day
First things first: breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day. Pete's Restaurantfamously fueled Han Solo and The Incredible Hulk when they came through Knoxville separately,and the diner recently celebrated 35 years downtown.
Biscuit Belly: Breakfast and lunch spot has three Knoxville locations in the works
Grub Scout: Holly’s Gourmets Market & Café debuts new trendy breakfast dishes
Get your caffeine: Honeybee Coffee grows Knoxville with new West Town Mall location
But if you had a late night and can't make breakfast, you better grab brunch.
Balter Beerworks brews its own beer, but it's the foodthat often haspeople talking. Executive Chef Hux Jones recentlyshowed off his skills on season 48 of "Chopped," putting together a "hangry" hangover dish incorporating a fast food burger, avocado, Ramen noodles and a mimosa.
Knoxville's nice and sweet
If you're still hangry, there's no better way to cheer up than atone of the nicest places in America, as determined by Reader's Digest. Yassin's Falafel House serves up a variety of Mediterranean foodunder the leadership of Yassin Terou, who recently celebrated a milestone moment in his personal life: earning his U.S. citizenship.
And a local barbecue joint is one of the sweetest places in town. Sweet P's offers some of the most tender meat and filling fixins around, and the business is expanding to Fountain City with an "uptown" feel and full-service concept.
More barbecue: A new taste comes to SouthSide Garage on Sevier Avenue
Sweet tooth: Sticks & Scoops serves doughnuts on a stick and scoops of Blue Bell
Sweet and sour sips: Preview the daiquiri flavors coming to Fat Tuesday
But if you have a real sweet tooth, just hop in line at Cruze Farm on Gay Street.Knoxvillians sometimes stretcharound the blockfor a taste of the soft-serve ice cream, which is now available at its third location in Sevierville. Knox News tried to learn how to create the perfect cone, but it's probably best to leave it to the experts.
Celebrity status
Speaking of experts, Peyton Manning is arguably the best to ever throw a football. Since retiring, he has dipped his toes in more than just Nationwide commercials.
Not only did theUniversity of Tennessee graduate helpGraduate Hotels design its Vols theme in Knoxville, but he also gave Knox News a tour of the accompanying Saloon 16 bar he designed using college memorabilia.
Preservation Pub: When celebs are downtown, there's a chance you'll spot them here
Celebrity foodie: Guy Fieri’s ‘Chicken Guy!’ restaurant coming to Knoxville
More near campus: Wings Over Knoxville brings flavorful chicken wings to The Strip
While Tim Love's name might not be as recognizable as Peyton Manning, the two share celebrity status. The celebrity chef's Knoxville restaurant, The Lonesome Dove, is a popular spot in the Old City for "urban western cuisine" and is located in a uniquely historic building.
Flashy favorites
You'll feel like a celebrity as soon as you walk through the doors ofThe Vault,a classy co*cktail bar in the basem*nt level of an old downtown bank. You can sit inside an actual vault or make your way upstairs to the beautifully renovated street-level space, where Vida serves its signature Pan-Latin fare.
Not the only vault: Step inside downtown Knoxville's tiniest speakeasy
Knox Mason: More space, more menu, same Southern charm
Osteria Stella: What we know about an Old City restaurant 'exploring Italian traditions'
If you want to feel fancy but don't want to dress the part, walk around the corner to Bernadette's Crystal Gardens on Market Square. The four-story bar, which includes a rooftop and mezzanine, is decorated with 91 million carats of crystal "nirvana" attached to one of downtown's favorite late-night spots, Preservation Pub.
The best of both worlds
So ... you want to go out for a few drinks, but your friends are feeling a game night. Why not both? Just walk downstairs to Maple Hall on Gay Street, where strikes and sips go hand in hand.
The bowling alley and bar has a full food menu, and the accompanyingMaple Roomlounge lets guests playgiant Scrabble on couches with friends. Plus, the owners recently took over Babalu, a restaurant now connected to the lounge and serving up "Southern cuisine with Latin flair."
Best co*cktails: Maple Hall makes this reader list of favorites
Another rooftopis coming: Restaurant with donkey ride opening at West Town Mall
Coming soon: Stock & Barrel owner previews The Brass Pearl on Market Square
Indoors? Outdoors? Can't make up your mind?Head up to the Five Thirty Lounge on the roof of downtown's Hyatt Place hotel or the Radius Rooftop Lounge across the street at Embassy Suites. Step into the open air or grab an indoor table to take in stunning views of the Scruffy City.
Just plain delicious
The plain dining area at Jackie's Dream makes one thing clear: The focus is the food. After years of working in the restaurant industry, Jackie Griffin opened a place she can call her own. It's alsoa dream come true for soul food lovers;fried chicken and Southern sides, including Mama's cabbage and Nanny Mary's potato salad, are among some of the menu's highlights.
Seriously 'Simpl': Popular Knoxville chef Kendale Ball opens Sevier Avenue restaurant
Bring your pups: Check out these dog friendly patios in Knoxville
Opinion: Tried-and-true local restaurants satisfy any craving
Like the Sunsphere, Petro's Chili and Chips is among the few things still standing from the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. Whether your take your "petro" with pasta or Fritos corn chips, the chili bowls are incredibly simple— and incredibly delicious. Visit the restaurant in Market Square and at other locations throughout East Tennessee.
You won't want to miss it
Not one, but two food halls are in the works for Knoxville.
Marble City Market is scheduled to open in August and already has announced multiple vendors, including locally acclaimed chef Matt Gallaher's new Fantail Fish & Frites concept. The Kern's Bakery food hall is scheduled to open in 2022.
The food halls will feature multiple culinary concepts sharing a common space, similar to how food truck parks operate in Knoxville and Farragut. Central Filling Station invites food trucks multiple nights eachweek to Old North Knoxville, with a covered bar area and Wednesday night trivia, while 35 North food truck park in Farragut sets itself apart with its indoor seating and table service.
