Knoxville Restaurants

#1,877
#1,877
Lenos and Carbon Latin Cuisine. It i s relatively new I think. Small place with really friendly people and great food. The majority of the menu is Columbian (as are the owners) but they have all kinds of food from that region.

Next time I go I am getting a sample of the different Tamales they serve. One from Guatemala, one from Honduras, and one from Columbia. They have Mexican as well but that one is familiar. The other countries represented are pretty new for me, though some of the food names are very similar. Like Picadillo I have enjoyed has always been Cuban, but they do their own Columbian take on it and it is really nice. Shredded beef instead of ground.

I will be back for sure. The beans are the best I have ever eaten and they serve breakfast all day! Not fancy but very satisfying food.

11151 Kingston Pike Suite D
Phone: 865 671 2155
 
#1,879
#1,879
Coug said:
Sweet! There really isn't a Colombian place here that I'm aware of here. They offer blood sausage too. I've only seen it on a lot of shows but I've never tried it. The only online menu I can find right now is on their FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leños-Carbón-Latin-Cuisine/802987513067154
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Hit it up! There is a lot to try that is new for me. They gave us some free empanadas that were awesome and the owner (I think) tried to load me up with a corn cake type thing to take with my beans as I left. Really friendly people. Hope they find an audience here, I have never seen Columbian food in Knoxville.
 
#1,880
#1,880
Tried Red Bones on the River Saturday night with the wife. Had the fried pickles and jalapeños for an appetizer, and they were solid. Wife had the cheeseburger, and it was good. I had the fish and chips, which were good as well. The fries were just like Long John Silver's fries, so very crunchy and tasty.

All in all, pretty decent, for what it was.
 
#1,882
#1,882
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Leños and Carbón Brings Colombian Cuisine to Knoxville - The Knoxville Mercury
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That review is very accurate as far as what I experienced. I still have leftovers in the fridge (each meal is probably enough for lunch the next day) and am raring to go back.

That article touched on something, the cooking is similar to southern cooking! My first thought after trying the beans was this would be amazing by itself with some cornbread. Turns out they have their own version of corn bread too.

Try this place VN! I want it to stick around for a long time :D
 
#1,883
#1,883
Well, we went to Lenos and Carbon tonight. I was really excited based on the reviews and the uniqueness of it. Unfortunately we weren't blown away by the meals but I'd like to try it again and get something different. There were literally no other diners in the place when we went in but we were greeted warmly and the staff was real nice.

We started with the Empenadas Mi Ranchito(5 count empenadas) and we got a mix of beef and chicken. These were delicious as well as the homemade salsa that comes with it. The salsa is like pico de gallo without the heat from the jalapeno. They were both(chkn/beef) really good but between the two we thought the chicken took the lead.

Someone tried two Arepas, they got ham and cheese and they were ok but the Arepa itself was pretty thick so it's mostly heavy bread.

I got the Mi Bandeja Paisa(Colombian sampler platter) and someone else got the mini version of the same dish. We both chose to go with steak instead of beef with the dish. Unfortunately the steak was a large thin cut style slice and cooked too long so it was ultimately shoe leather. If I had to do it again I probably wouldn't get that dish at all but I'd definitely choose the ground beef over the steak. The blood sausage was ok but pretty dry and it fell apart when you cut it. The chicharron that comes with this dish is interesting and different but it didn't have much flavor to it for me. The best thing on the dish was the Colombian sausage, the fried egg, the plantains, and the beans. The beans were really good and the cilantro they season it with just makes them even better. The dish came with a single, mini arepa which was rather hard.

Someone ordered the Churrasco which was a skirt steak and the server didn't ask how to cook it and the person ordering didn't specify so naturally it came out well done which is not the way you ever cook skirt or flank steaks.
 
#1,884
#1,884
Sorry Coug, first less than stellar review I have seen. Sounds like a slow night. Should be mentioned that you won't find much heat in this food.

Chicharron would be the pork skin thing? I have to work up to that and anything with blood as a main ingredient. I have had blood pudding it isn't for me, the sausages would probably be about as well received.

Better luck next time! Hope that was just an off night. Hard to say how they will fare until you hit them when they are busier really.
 
#1,885
#1,885
f77f00 said:
Sorry Coug, first less than stellar review I have seen. Sounds like a slow night. Should be mentioned that you won't find much heat in this food.

Chicharron would be the pork skin thing? I have to work up to that and anything with blood as a main ingredient. I have had blood pudding it isn't for me, the sausages would probably be about as well received.

Better luck next time! Hope that was just an off night. Hard to say how they will fare until you hit them when they are busier really.
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I really wanted to like the place so I'll definitely give it another shot and just try something different. Yeah, the Chicharron was the pork skin, it was just kind of greasy, and bland so maybe it wasn't for me. The blood sausage really wasn't as bad as it's description makes it. It didn't have an overbearing iron taste at all it was just very dry for a sausage.

The Empanadas were delicious though and clearly freshly made. They were a bit different from typical Mexican style Empanadas with a fried flour tortilla shell. It's a corn based type of pocket but it's fluffy and really good.
 
#1,886
#1,886
I know it's a chain, but I had one of the best meals in awhile at Bonefish last night. It was a daily special Sea Bass prepared in an Asian Misoyaki style, atop spinach, rice, and caramelized mushrooms with a ginger slaw. It would have flown at even the most expensive big city seafood hot spots. My wife said her Scallops special was fantastic, as well.
 
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#1,887
#1,887
kiddiedoc said:
I know it's a chain, but I had one of the best meals in awhile at Bonefish last night. It was a daily special Sea Bass prepared in an Asian Misoyaki style, atop spinach, rice, and caramelized mushrooms with a ginger slaw. It would have flown at even the most expensive big city seafood hot spots. My wife said her Scallops special was fantastic, as well.
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Yep, of the times I've been to Bonefish I've always gotten a great meal. I only struck out once with a "fish and chips" dish they had on the menu.
 
#1,889
#1,889
I'm going to be spending a lot of the Fall in East TN (Lenoir City & Knoxville). I can't wait! Without going through all 1889 posts are there any favorite restaurants I should try? I want to try the one at Wind River (my parents live basically next to it).

Also, I was up there in July and we ordered the fried chicken from Gavino's on Kingston Pike. Holy Crap!! It's insanely good.
 
#1,890
#1,890
Boca Vol said:
I'm going to be spending a lot of the Fall in East TN (Lenoir City & Knoxville). I can't wait! Without going through all 1889 posts are there any favorite restaurants I should try? I want to try the one at Wind River (my parents live basically next to it).

Also, I was up there in July and we ordered the fried chicken from Gavino's on Kingston Pike. Holy Crap!! It's insanely good.
Click to expand...

Citico's at Wind River may be the best meal around. Foothills Milling Co in Maryville probably still wins out. Quick list: Seasons, Echo, Bistro by the Tracks, Nama, Linderhoff, Knox Mason...
 
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#1,891
#1,891
kiddiedoc said:
Citico's at Wind River may be the best meal around. Foothills Milling Co in Maryville probably still wins out. Quick list: Seasons, Echo, Bistro by the Tracks, Nama, Linderhoff, Knox Mason...
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Thanks! :good!:

Will keep this list handy.
 
#1,892
#1,892
Boca Vol said:
Thanks! :good!:

Will keep this list handy.
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You're welcome. There are certainly plenty of more casual/ethnic/BBQ places, just listed some of my nicer favorites. If you have other questions, let me know. I live in Farragut, my office is in Loudon, and I like to eat and eat well.
 
#1,893
#1,893
Ok so for those of you who did or did not like Peerless in the past, it's gonna be getting a pretty big face lift over the next few months. Not only will it have a whole new look, but it's gonna be rebranded and taken in a whole new direction. Today the servers, bartenders, and rest of the staff got a first look at all the changes. The rebranding will be to a new restaurant focused on craft beers, fine whiskeys, and food based more on the region. There will still be some favorites from the Peerless brand, but just about everything will be new.

There will be separate bars for if you'd prefer to watch the game and have a beer (40 craft beers at all times is the plan) or have a more relaxed setting with a fine bourbon (100 whiskeys). The initial goal is to have the whiskey bar open by the end of August, with other changes coming soon after. The front of the building will be completely blown out and will have a garage door-style wall that can be raised for an indoor/outdoor feel.

Myself and the rest of the bar staff and serving staff are pretty psyched about this. The new name will be the K Town Tavern. The restaurant will still have its banquet facility, which will maintain the Peerless brand. They are also adding a level of branding for wedding parties.

My assessment, from the explanation, is for them to bring a Stock & Barrel feel to West Knoxville.

Just figured I'd share some big news I just got!
 
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#1,894
#1,894
Boca Vol said:
I'm going to be spending a lot of the Fall in East TN (Lenoir City & Knoxville). I can't wait! Without going through all 1889 posts are there any favorite restaurants I should try? I want to try the one at Wind River (my parents live basically next to it).

Also, I was up there in July and we ordered the fried chicken from Gavino's on Kingston Pike. Holy Crap!! It's insanely good.
Click to expand...

for a micro brewery
try Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, in Western Plaza
 
#1,897
#1,897
crusse10 said:
Ok so for those of you who did or did not like Peerless in the past, it's gonna be getting a pretty big face lift over the next few months. Not only will it have a whole new look, but it's gonna be rebranded and taken in a whole new direction. Today the servers, bartenders, and rest of the staff got a first look at all the changes. The rebranding will be to a new restaurant focused on craft beers, fine whiskeys, and food based more on the region. There will still be some favorites from the Peerless brand, but just about everything will be new.

There will be separate bars for if you'd prefer to watch the game and have a beer (40 craft beers at all times is the plan) or have a more relaxed setting with a fine bourbon (100 whiskeys). The initial goal is to have the whiskey bar open by the end of August, with other changes coming soon after. The front of the building will be completely blown out and will have a garage door-style wall that can be raised for an indoor/outdoor feel.

Myself and the rest of the bar staff and serving staff are pretty psyched about this. The new name will be the K Town Tavern. The restaurant will still have its banquet facility, which will maintain the Peerless brand. They are also adding a level of branding for wedding parties.

My assessment, from the explanation, is for them to bring a Stock & Barrel feel to West Knoxville.

Just figured I'd share some big news I just got!
Click to expand...

That's interesting.

Honestly, I was not impressed by my experiences at Peerless, but it's been years. I will certainly give it a shot once this is complete. Keep us posted!
 
#1,898
#1,898
kiddiedoc said:
That's interesting.

Honestly, I was not impressed by my experiences at Peerless, but it's been years. I will certainly give it a shot once this is complete. Keep us posted!
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I heard plenty of the garbage reviews from years past, but lately I thought the food has been far better. The new direction is going to be very intriguing
 
#1,899
#1,899
crusse10 said:
I heard plenty of the garbage reviews from years past, but lately I thought the food has been far better. The new direction is going to be very intriguing
Click to expand...

when I say garbage, I don't mean wrong lol...I just mean people who had awful experiences
 
#1,900
#1,900
kiddiedoc said:
Citico's at Wind River may be the best meal around. Foothills Milling Co in Maryville probably still wins out. Quick list: Seasons, Echo, Bistro by the Tracks, Nama, Linderhoff, Knox Mason...
Click to expand...

I'll back up this list and add a few more.

Northshore Brasserie, Stock and Barrel, Connor's, Fleming's, Bida Saigon(Vietnamese), Don Gallo(Mexican).

There is a somewhat new restaurant in Lenoir City called Le Noir. I haven't been there myself but have heard good reviews of it. If you happen to check it out please let us know.
 
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