Advice on Knoxville

#52
#52
Madmartigan said:
Greetings Vols fans. I am planning on traveling to Knoxville to see what is rumored to be one of the finest CFB environments you can find in the nation. I had a couple of questions about the game/logistics and Knoxville in general for the Utah State game.

1. What are restaurants a man can't miss eating at if in Knoxville
2. Any Hotel recommendations? Obviously I'd like to be close to the stadium, but those are all 150 + a night
3. Parking- planning on arriving early afernoon- 2 PM or so with my trusty rental car, where should I park?

I imagine everything will be quite packed, what with 100 k + fans trying to get into the game tailgating. Any general pointers would be appreciated.
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Walk up to any tailgate with a handle of your favorite liquor and you will be welcomed no matter what color you are wearing.
 
#54
#54
BeardedVol said:
Stock and Barrel has the best burger that I've had in Knoxville. Suttree's has the best craft beer if you are into that, and if you are looking for good comfort food Tupelo Honey is pretty damn good.
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If you're gonna be here the night before the game, Tupelo Honey is a GREAT suggestion. Only bad thing is it's a little on the heavy side... but everyone needs to splurge a little on road trips! If you're like me though, you'll want a nap soon after... :snoring:
 
#55
#55
You can park for $20 on Clinch, and it's not too far to walk. Take 17th street off of I 40; then hang a left on
Clinch. $40 on left hand side of the street, and $20 on the right, and if you park at the correct house, they have a bathroom.
 
#56
#56
Madmartigan said:
I've always thought mexican food east of Texas lacked. We have pretty good Mexican here. Maybe i'll try it.
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It is pretty legit, give it a go. It is connected to a Mexican grocery so you may see it referred to by the name EL Noa Noa (which is the market part) or El Tocayo which is the actual restaurant.

The places inside the flea market are not as "official" looking. From the few times I have been, I think the clientele there is almost exclusively Mexican.

I am serious about going there though. Steak is boring and I am sure Utah can deliver a fine one. We do a few things well down here, BBQ for one. If that rings your bell, hit up Bread of Heaven in Alcoa. You would get a bit of real southern cooking there.

So my recommendations are from a scruffy flea market, and a BBQ joint that sets up in parking lots. There are tons of "nice" places but you can get that anywhere.

Some links:

Grub Scout: El Tocayo on Alcoa Highway delivers authentic Mexican » Knoxville.com

El Noa Noa Mexican Market - Louisville, TN | Yelp

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-of-Heaven-Catering/236203159460

The Mexican places inside the flea market don't have websites or facebook pages that I know of.

Have a great trip.
 
#57
#57
Slydell said:
Don't think you'll find any Mexican food here that compares to Utah or So Cal. I haven't. Most of the other places mentioned already are pretty good fare. If you can spare the time and money, I would arrive on Friday. That will give you time to get your bearings and check out a few places. Also, will give you time to enjoy the fireworks display on the River.

Boomsday 2014 :: Homepage
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Green Acres flea market, get thee there.
 
#58
#58
Madmartigan said:
It is already booked, as are all of the hotels within walking distance of the stadium. Ya'll know how to support your Vols!
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Do you care to walk?

The walk from downtown isn't bad at all for someone in any sort of shape (although in late August you'll sweat a little).

Downtown has numerous options for food and entertainment.
 
#59
#59
Madmartigan said:
One of my friends started for the UCLA team that came into Knoxville in 2009. His family raved about how they were treated and are a big reason why I'm coming. I like some ribbing as long as I can dish it back. :)
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OK, fine. You seem like a decent fellow ... don't really go to the Carousel Club (if it even still exists). We wuz just messin witcha.
 
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#60
#60
Orangedogsrule said:
I get my BBQ on game day from vendors set up across Manning Pass from the Torchbearer statue at circle park. One of them is run by the third generation of the family who are selling real East Tenn BBQ'd ribs the way their grand daddy made it. Mmmmm. Eat that before the Vol Walk down Peyton Manning Pass. Get there soon enough to get a shady spot on the wall where the checker board is in the road. The cheer leaders set up there & when they're done, if you ain't ready for sum football, you never will be.

Then ... eat some more from a different vendor because they are all good, and get down to the end of Manning Pass on the corner just across from Gate 21 (where "Will Call" is & they'll have a free schedule of times for the days events).
There on the corner is where The Pride will set up after marching down "The Pass" to perform Salute to the Hill. Half the band on Philip Fulmer Way & half on Peyton Manning Pass, and the majorettes right there in front of you, and you smack dab in the middle of a sea of orange as far as you can see. whew! nuthin like it anywhere!

After that, mosey over to the outdoor theater by Alumni Hall an listen to live radio VOL Calls for a bit, but get into your seats a little more than 1/2 hour early to watch warm ups, pre game stuff, The Pride's pregame show, surely they will have a short memorial for Bobby Denton our life long game day announcer, "Ladies & Gennulmen! ... Pay these prices and PLEASE PAY NO MORE" (started when vendors tried to rip off fans by charging more than posted prices), The Pride forms the Power T and "IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESEEEEEE!
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IMO THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST POST ON THIS THREAD
FOR A 1ST TIME OUT F TOWNER. Add any restaurant on the strip or Calhouns on the river for a UT experience. Get to the campus HOURS early. Anything near the stadium requires a doner parking pass so you want an early start.
 
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#61
#61
Not sure if it has been mentioned but the Downtown Grill and Brewery for amazing food, beer and atmosphere and good prices. It is always packed but I haven't found anywhere else like it.
 
#62
#62
Madmartigan said:
Greetings Vols fans. I am planning on traveling to Knoxville to see what is rumored to be one of the finest CFB environments you can find in the nation. I had a couple of questions about the game/logistics and Knoxville in general for the Utah State game.

1. What are restaurants a man can't miss eating at if in Knoxville
2. Any Hotel recommendations? Obviously I'd like to be close to the stadium, but those are all 150 + a night
3. Parking- planning on arriving early afernoon- 2 PM or so with my trusty rental car, where should I park?

I imagine everything will be quite packed, what with 100 k + fans trying to get into the game tailgating. Any general pointers would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Get a cab from your hotel. That way you can enjoy the strip. That is a great place to relax and wait on traffic to clear. Enjoy yourself!

I always stay out west on cedar bluff. Paper mill is closer. Ali babas is west on Kingston.
A great late night sandwich.

Have fun and Go Vols!!
 
#63
#63
After your visit let us know what you thought of the stadium, calhouns/other restaurants, the tailgating experience, market square, etc.

I can't think of any better game day experience... and I did my first two years of undergrad at Notre Dame.
 
#64
#64
Ali babas is west on Kingston.
A great late night sandwich.


I hate to tell you this, but Ali Baba's closed down earlier t his year. I enjoyed their sandwiches for over 30 years.
 
#65
#65
white65 said:
I think Calhoun's on the river is really nice you can look up reviews of it online but it can be a tad pricy. Since it's a night game I think you should eat at Calhoun's (about .5 mile at most from Neyland Stadium) for a late lunch then walk along the river and see the Vol navy.(It's cool to see, only wash st. has anything else like it) Then you could walk around the stadium and look for cool tailgates to stop and talk at. Then get into the stadium early ( I assume if your coming all the way to TN you'll want to watch your team warm up.)

The most important tip

Vol fan are mostly good people. But like most fan bases we have homers. They may be alittle rude but just ignore em'. Most Tennessee fans are expecting a big win. So if you guys pull out an upset STAY AWAY FROM THE STRIP it's a road right off I75 I live in chattanooga so I'm not sure of the name, but you'll know it when you see it. It gets crowded quick after games and alot of fans will be there win or lose. I hope you have a nice trip.

Maby drive up to gatlinburg, TN and go through the smokey mountains in the fall if you have enough time in TN.
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Smokey is the name of our mascot, the mountains are the Smoky Mtns.
 
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#66
#66
Gramps said:
There is a very long thread about Knoxville restaurants. You may want to take a look at it.


http://www.volnation.com/forum/pub/192671-knoxville-restaurants.html

If you don't stay downtown I would recommend the west end somewhere between Cedar Bluff and Lovell Rd. There are also several good restaurants in that area.

As others said get to the stadium early game day catch the volwalk and the band marching in.

Have a safe trip and enjoy Knoxville
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Yeah! Stay on Lovell Rd and be sure to go to Cotton Eyed Joe's Saturday night and you will have to start early Sunday to get over the night.
 
#67
#67
Oh, yeah, arrive Friday night, stay at The Oliver Hotel. Have the old movie Thunder Road CD handy to watch. Walk down to Calhouns to see the VOL Navy eat their Ale marinated chops or steak and wash it down with their Thunder Road craft beer. On your way back to the Oliver, pay attention as you cross Cumberland Ave. It is Thunder Road. Maybe even have the tune in your cell playlist. In the hotel, ask the staff to show you in to The Peter Kern Library (hidden speakeasy). Saturday morning get up early, walk down a hall, and, voila, your in Tupelo Honey for breakfast. Then get yerselves on over to campus, do all I wrote about earlier, and be ready for some Big Orange Thunder!
 
#68
#68
Madmartigan said:
Greetings Vols fans. I am planning on traveling to Knoxville to see what is rumored to be one of the finest CFB environments you can find in the nation. I had a couple of questions about the game/logistics and Knoxville in general for the Utah State game.

1. What are restaurants a man can't miss eating at if in Knoxville
2. Any Hotel recommendations? Obviously I'd like to be close to the stadium, but those are all 150 + a night
3. Parking- planning on arriving early afernoon- 2 PM or so with my trusty rental car, where should I park?

I imagine everything will be quite packed, what with 100 k + fans trying to get into the game tailgating. Any general pointers would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I hope you have a great visit in Knoxville. For what it's worth, here are my recommendations:

Dining
Breakfast:

check out Pete's downtown.

Lunch / Dinner:

For game day, hit up Copper Cellar on the strip. The main floor is called the Cumberland Grill. Good food options and plenty of drinks. The place will be full of home and opposing fans, and you'll be right in the middle of the action.

From there, move down closer to the stadium and spend some time at Calhoun's On The River. As others have noted, the menu is good, if a bit overrated by the locals. But you cannot beat the atmosphere. You are right on the river and the restaurant has an awesome deck on the water where you can see the river and the stadium. It will be packed out on game day.

If you get to the Old City (an easy walk or cab from downtown), get to Barley's for great pizza and a large beer selection.

And as others have noted, Market Square downtown has a wide variety of good spots.

For a good Sunday brunch, I like Sunspot on the strip, though the atmosphere is not quite what it used to be since it has moved. That green tomato salsa and chips seems to be good to cure a long night.


Lodging

I'd recommend getting a hotel downtown, which will allow you to walk to any of the aforementioned places, to include the stadium.

The Hilton, Hampton Inn (which is actually nicer than the Hilton), or Holiday Inn would be ideal.

If you opt to stay somewhere outside of downtown, I usually look somewhere in the North side of the city off Merchant's Dr. There's a cluster of hotels right off 75 that include a Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites, Best Western, Quality Inn, Days Inn, MainStay, etc.

Parking

If you stay downtown, parking won't be necessary. If you stay outside of downtown, cabbing is probably the best option.

If you drive in, there are plenty of places to park, but you'll pay between 20-40 depending on where you end up.

If you are looking to set up a tailgate, I always recommend visiting fans to check out the lot under the Henley St. bridge across from Calhoun's. It's a spot where you'll normally find a lot of visiting fans and many local regulars who are always very welcoming. As a bonus, you can walk across the street to Calhoun's to get indoors or to use their facilities. Good option if you have females with you.

Have fun. And where ever you end up, almost all UT tailgates will welcome you to their gathering.

Finally, if you want to experience some of the UT traditions, make sure to go see the Vol Walk and get into the stadium ahead of time to see the pregame routines.
 
#69
#69
Don't miss the Vol Walk or the Pride of the Southland Band marching to the stadium. Just be at "The Volunteer Statue" or "The Torchbearer" 2 hours before kickoff & you'll see both. Go into the stadium right after the band marches down & soak in the atmosphere. About 15 minutes before kickoff you'll experience a pregame show unrivaled by anyone! ...I'm getting chills just thinking about it!!! GO VOLS!!
 
#70
#70
Stay far far far away from the executive inn. Its the sorry hotel in the eastern part of the state. I stayed there one game day and it was simply nasty.
 
#72
#72
Madmartigan said:
It is already booked, as are all of the hotels within walking distance of the stadium. Ya'll know how to support your Vols!
Click to expand...

Have you looked at The Oliver Hotel? It's just half a block off Market Square. Kinda pricey (I've heard) since the renovations, but it's not a major name (chain) hotel, so it might not be booked yet.

If it's not, and it's not out of your price range, book it immediately. It's a small place right in the heart of downtown. It even has a speakeasy bar called the Peter Kern Library.
 
#73
#73
If you're staying downtown, eat at Downtown Grille & Brewery. It's my favorite place in Knoxville, easily accessible, brew their own beer, fantastic place. I've never ordered anything bad there.
 
#74
#74
KnoxVillain said:
Calhoun's is incredibly mediocre. Go for the atmosphere not the food.
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I feel the same way about the Downtown Brewery and Grill. While I love the atmosphere and their own brews, I find the food pretty average (their Swordfish is awful). Still I have a great time there everytime. That said Calhoun's is really overrated food wise.

Edit: I would also say Barley's is great when it comes to beer selection and pretty good pizza. I would also give props to Lintons, Tomato Head, and Stock & Barrel.

My biggest gripe about Knoxville is the lack of really good seafood. Bonefish is not bad for a chain, the Bayou is above average, and Shucks is about the only place to get decent oysters. Still none of them compare to the Lobster Trap in Asheville.
 
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#75
#75
I believe the guy is looking to immerse himself in Gameday atmosphere, not find a James Beard meal. This is probably his only lifetime trip to Knoxville, just like my one time trip to South Bend. my advice, eat on the strip or on the river for atmosphere. see the strip, theVol Walk, and view the Vol navy to take home the UT experience.
 
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