Downtown Grill & Brewery

For an Englishman who has always loved a proper “bar” atmosphere, this place has felt like home for over 20 years. My wife and I have been coming to Downtown Grill & Brewery for decades, and it remains one of our favorite places in Knoxville. What makes it special is that it can be whatever you want it to be: a great restaurant, a lively bar, a sports spot, or simply somewhere to relax for a few hours. There is an incredible amount of seating throughout the building, which adds to its versatility. The downstairs has the classic bar and restaurant area, high tops, and tables, while upstairs offers balconies overlooking the main floor (a real treat), plus another separate bar with Pool Tables, TVs, and entertainment (great for the kids). *TIP: There’s also outdoor patio seating right on Gay Street, which is fantastic for people-watching, parades, and the many weekends when the city closes the street to traffic for pedestrians. We have watched many parades, including the Christmas Parade, from this very spot. Over the years, we’ve also become part of the “regulars” crowd, and that’s been one of the unexpected highlights. We’ve made genuine friendships with other long-time patrons — young and older, a really diverse mix of people including local writers, lawyers, UT staff, and folks who travel in from Oak Ridge just to spend time here. It creates a real sense of community that adds something special to the atmosphere. The food menu is varied and consistently good. I’m a huge fan of the Fish & Chips and Quiche, while my wife enjoys the Salads, Wraps, and Skewered Shrimp or Steak dishes. The daily specials are always worth checking out, including options like a Fiesta Bowl, and the lunch menu is very reasonably priced. For me, Sunday Brunch is one of the best deals in Knoxville. I personally choose Omelet or Quiche with sides for around $7–8, which feels almost unbelievable these days. My wife loves the Biscuits & Gravy, and the French Toast & Bacon. For drinking, there are daily Happy Hour specials for both spirits and beer. They’re also renowned for “Whiskey Wednesday,” a weekly feature that draws a regular crowd. I prefer the darker beers, and I can highly recommend the Alt (German-style) and the Nut Brown (English-style). Of course, there are also Amber beers brewed on-site, along with a rotating selection of other house options, including 'Seasonal Beers'. You can also order a sampler if you want to try a variety; so that would be light to dark ales. In addition, there is a full range of domestic and international bottled beers available as well. One of the reasons we’ve stayed loyal to DGB for so long is the people. The managers have been there since we first started coming over 20 years ago, which says a lot about the place. While some bartenders and servers have naturally moved on after graduating from UT, the consistency and friendliness has always remained. If you sit at the bar during the week, chances are you’ll meet Jordan and Sarah in the evenings. Both are outstanding bartenders — professional, knowledgeable, welcoming, and genuinely great at what they do. I constantly hear them helping newcomers with recommendations for food, drinks, entertainment around town, and high-end liquors. Or just sit at a table! On football Saturdays, the place becomes packed with the Orange Army, and the atmosphere is outstanding with the huge screen setup for the games. This is a place I’ve visited for more than two decades, and I truly could not recommend it more highly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A good spot situated smack-dab on the middle of Gay Street. There's plenty of seating with two levels so you never need to worry about a wait accompanied by an extensive Americana menu so you have no worry about there being something to eat for any member of your party.

If ur in Knoxville this place is great**food is amazing large portions the Blonde on tap is my favorite ***the bartender are the BEST*** Sarah, Jordan, Jamison, Zoe are terrific**great GameDay spot**love it terrific old school bar with copper top... *&&*enjoy**thank me later**newly remodeled Cruse farm ice cream 🍦🍨is across the street***thank me later***Great wings & quesadias ***🍺🍺

Stopped in here for lunch on a Thursday before matinee show at Tennessee Theater. They were about 1/3 full and sat quickly. They had very reasonable lunch specials. The food was okay today. We got Santa Fe quiche and the Hot Club Sub. The quiche had good taste but was not as firm as I would expect a quiche to be. The Hot club was not very hot but had good taste. They had pickles on the side and the juice from them made the bottom bread a little soggy. Services was it was okay it just didn’t wow us. There is a large wood bar in the center of the room downstairs. Yes, they have a second floor that is open to the downstairs. Overall the interior could use some updating. They do make their own beers but did not try today.

Nice restaurant—very clean and spacious. Our dishes took a little while to arrive, but they were totally worth the wait. I was looking for a place to have soup, and our server recommended the soup of the day, which was excellent. We also ordered a few other dishes that were just as good. I wish I had asked for our server’s name (blonde, short wavy hair) who took such great care of us. On the receipt, the name showed as “GHOST.” If you’re reading this—thank you again so much!! If you’re just passing through or live in Tennessee, I definitely recommend stopping by this place—it has everything you could want!