It’s no secret that kitchen renovations can take a while to design and complete. Typically it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months depending on how aggressive the renovation is. A kitchen is a place you would usually gather in to make homemade meals and your favorite recipes, but while your kitchen is being remodeled, you’re limited in what you can do. While you wait, here are 3 places we highly recommend eating at. The best part is that they’re all local and have several 5-star ratings.
1. Brass Pearl
Craving seafood or oysters? We know a place! The Brass Pearl is a seafood and oyster bar located in Downtown Knoxville. Their raw bar features a rotating variety of freshly shucked oysters, seafood stew, shrimp, and mussels. They pride themselves on providing their guests with the highest quality ingredients by ensuring that their seafood arrives daily. Sample a few different varieties from their oyster bar or throw back a spicy oyster shooter. Their expansive wine and champagne list is the perfect complement to any entree. They offer everything from bourbon and tequila to handcrafted custom cocktails. Not to mention, you can enjoy a seasonal menu with a fresh-catch emphasis.
2. KOYO
KOYO is located in Downtown Knoxville and will give you an experience worth talking about. It was born from their sister restaurant NAMA but is a completely different concept offering guests a truly exquisite menu. The term KOYO means to elevate. Their chefs curated an elevated menu utilizing the freshest ingredients and designed a menu in true Omakase style. Omakase means “chef’s choice” so when dining with them, you can select the 4-course chef-featured menu, or dine from their KORÉ NI SHI-MASU menu or “I’ll choose this one.” It is truly elevated, unique, dining.
3. Osteria Stella + Brother Wolf
Take your tastebuds to a different world. Located in Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, Osteria Stella, and Brother Wolf are the next top-tier concepts by owners and operators Aaron Thompson and Jessica “Rabbit” King. The city’s premier power couple of hospitality is the force behind award-winning bar and restaurant, Sapphire, and are using their years of experience to bring authenticity and excellence to one of Tennessee’s oldest cities through these cutting-edge venues. Osteria Stella offers a genuine Italian culinary experience with the help of Chef Consultant Amalia Brusati, a Milan native, and Chef de Cuisine Greg Sutton. Available to pair with their simple, delicious dishes is an extensive selection of native Italian wines representing all 20 wine regions, carefully curated by Thompson himself. On the other side of the curtain, Brother Wolf celebrates the Italian aperitivo culture through a thought-provoking cocktail menu served with light bites.
Though waiting for your kitchen renovation to be complete isn’t always fun, we encourage you to give these local businesses a visit while you wait. Pretty soon you’ll be back in your newly remodeled kitchen making your family’s favorite homemade meals and gathering around the table to enjoy each other’s company.