Off the Beaten Path: Restaurants You’ll Want to Add to Your Must-Visit List!
- Elyse Large
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Welcome back to another session of Off the Beaten Path! This month, we’re taking you around Knoxville—from far north Knox County to East Knoxville and just inside the Anderson County line. We’ve met so many great people and have plenty of stories to share. Here are this month’s stops!
The Chow Hall
First up is The Chow Hall, located at 5700 E. Emory Road between Halls and Corryton. (If you recall from last month, we visited another Corryton staple—Wren House Bakery. Clearly, Corryton is full of hidden gems!)
The Chow Hall was established 10 years ago. Owner and Chef David Brice purchased the building 11 years ago and spent a year transforming it from a former garage into the cozy restaurant it is today. Before that, it was a grocery store owned by the Spradling family—aptly named Spradling Store. Locals lunching the day we visited gave us a little history lesson about the building.
What makes The Chow Hall unique is its tribute to Mr. Brice’s military family—his dad, grandfather, father-in-law, several uncles, and cousins all served. The walls are decorated with military memorabilia and photos of both his family and loyal customers. Despite its small size, the restaurant has a big appetite for great food and friendly service.
We went with the BLT and tater tots, recommended by fellow diners. Some were regulars, others were just neighbors out for lunch, but everyone made us feel right at home. In fact, there was so much to take in during our visit that we could have written an entire post about The Chow Hall alone.
Mr. Brice also told us about the upcoming Fall Apple Festival, which he helps organize. It will be held at Washington Presbyterian Church (7405 Washington Pike in Corryton) on Saturday, October 18, from 9 AM–2 PM. If the Fried Apple Pie Jam we sampled at The Chow Hall is any indication, you’ll want to arrive early and stock up on goodies. We promised Mr. Brice we’d be back—if not before, then definitely for the festival!
Find hours, specials, and more on The Chow Hall’s Facebook page. And if you stop by, tell them we sent you—they were some of the nicest folks we’ve met while writing this blog.
Clinch River Brewing
Next, we headed just outside Knox County into Anderson County to Clinch River Brewing, located at 2045 Norris Freeway, Norris, TN.
We often trail run with our dog at Norris Dam State Park, which boasts not only the dam and lake but also a tea house, campgrounds, historical buildings, and even a museum. Right in the middle of it all sits Clinch River Brewing, housed in what used to be the TVA Aquatics Laboratory. Out back, you’ll even find a koi/trout pond in the beer garden!
The brewery regularly hosts live music, trivia nights, and other events. The day we visited, thunderstorms were brewing and the musical guest was inside. Since we brought our pup with us, we decided to join the crew on the front porch, which is enclosed and allows dogs, as does the back beer garden. If you bring your dog on a weekend, you might even bump into the photographer of @dogs_of_crb and be featured on his Instagram page.
Now, the food. Hands down, Clinch River Brewing serves the best burger we’ve had—ever. We keep meaning to try other menu items, like the shrimp po’ boy that was on special Labor Day weekend, but the burger keeps calling us back. Don’t skip the Brussels sprouts, either—they’re the best-so crispy and delicious.
Of course, the beer deserves a mention. Clinch River brews its own and often collaborates with other local breweries. Their Slender Chub Pale Ale—which we sampled—uses hops grown right here in Knoxville and pays homage to the endangered Slender Chub fish that were found in local rivers.
Tarik’s North African
Our final stop this month was Tarik’s North African (900 E. Hill Ave., Suite 130, Knoxville)—a new brick-and-mortar location for a longtime local favorite. Previously known for its pop-ups at Crafty Bastard Brewery and other spots, Tarik’s opened its first permanent location just six weeks ago.
The menu is rooted in couscous and features proteins like chicken Za’atar, beef kofta (rustic meatballs), lamb, and a vegetarian option. We even got some inside information that some weekly specials have become so popular they’re making their way onto the permanent menu!
Ordering is easy—place your order at the counter, then grab a table. They’ll bring everything to you. You can also call ahead or order online for pickup, and they encourage guests to bring their own containers for takeout. And while they do serve some iced tea favorites and have a cooler with Non-alcoholic flavors, you can BYOB your own adult beverage.
We tried the beef kofta this time (usually we go vegetarian), and it was fantastic—flavorful, rustic, and perfectly spiced. We paired it with an iced Moroccan chai tea, blended by Soothsayer Tea—whose owner we happened to meet on the way out. And don’t miss dessert—the vegan almond baklava is divine.
Check out Tarik’s North African on Facebook and Instagram for specials and updates. Snap a photo of your meal while you’re there—they love sharing guests’ posts!
Final Notes
Three restaurants. Three unique experiences. All worth a visit. Whether you’re in the mood for comfort food, craft beer and burgers, or vibrant North African cuisine, Knoxville (and its neighbors) has something off the beaten path for you.
About the Author:
About the Author:
Kristin is the founder of Chicken Librarian and the Host of Life on the Farmstead, where she shares real-life stories, seasonal living tips, and her love for all things local. A freelance blogger with a background in storytelling and small-town life, Kristin has been chronicling her journey online since 2017 at chickenlibrarian.com.
