Kyle Green
Surrounded by national forests and the stunning Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop, Knoxville is a picturesque and charming little city in Eastern Tennessee located a few hours from the major cities like Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Louisville.
Knoxville’s perfect mix of natural, historical, and cultural attractions makes it the ideal destination for weddings, family trips, and weekend getaways.
Plus, the renowned University of Tennessee and various other colleges bring a young, diverse population, spawning a great restaurant and nightlife scene eager to host parties of all kinds.
Whether you’re in town for a wedding, graduation, or family reunion, you can find an excellent restaurant in Knoxville to host parties with fabulous food and characteristic southern hospitality.
During my most recent trips to Knoxville, I scoped out the group and private dining options at Knoxville’s premier restaurants.
Best Private Dining Restaurants in Knoxville
- Chesapeake’s
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Altruda’s
- The Chop House
- Calhoun’s
- Lakeside Tavern
- Lonesome Dove Knoxville
- Bistro By The Tracks
- Copper Cellar West
- Cafe 4
I have compiled a list of restaurants with the best private dining in Knoxville for you to explore as you plan your party, celebration, or corporate event.
Chesapeake’s
Multiple Locations
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With locations in downtown Knoxville, West Knoxville, and Gatlinburg, Chesapeake’s is a refined yet inviting seafood and steakhouse, offering the best quality steaks and fresh seafood in a comfortable ocean-themed dining space.
Each location has at least two private banquet halls to host parties of all sizes, including wedding rehearsal dinners, receptions, business meetings, and more.
Chesapeake’s serves brunch, lunch, and dinner with a fantastic wine list, cocktail menu, and selection of locally crafted beers.
Seafood comes mainly from the East coast, with the freshest lobster, crab, and oyster selection from Maine and Maryland. Tyr the crab-stuffed Maine Lobster with creamy coleslaw and French fries.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
11287 Parkside Dr #14, Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone: 865-675-9463
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Located in the Colonial Pinnacle Turkey Creek Shopping Plaza, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is one of Knoxville’s premier fine dining establishments.
Along with USDA prime cuts of beef and high-quality seafood flown in fresh daily, Fleming’s also has a wine list that has won the coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence six years in a row.
You can work with Fleming’s event coordinator to plan a party in one of their many private dining rooms with a multicourse menu and wine pairings. The private dining menu features a wide variety of appetizers, salads, and entrees.
I loved their chicken satay with smoked jalapeno aioli and lavish Chilled Seafood Tower with ahi tuna poke, shrimp cocktail, and lobster tails. It would make the perfect centerpiece for any party.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
950 Volunteer Landing Ln, Knoxville, TN 37915
Phone: 865-546-4696
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Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a historical steakhouse that originated in New Orleans in 1965. Founder Ruth Fertel opened her very own steakhouse in what was previously called Chris’ steakhouse, thus calling it Ruth’s Chris.
Her hard work and self-taught business savvy paid off as Ruth’s Chris has since become one of America’s most beloved Steakhouses.
Ruth’s Chris’s beautiful location in Volunteer Landing along the waterfront means you can enjoy a bright banquet room, perfect for anniversary dinners, graduation parties, and much more.
The menu at Ruth’s Chris is a traditional steakhouse at its best with prime USDA cuts, fresh seafood, and decadent sides like creamed spinach, and garlic mashed potatoes. I loved their surf and turf 6 oz filet mignon topped with buttery lobster tail.
Altruda’s
125 N Peters Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865-690-6144
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Named for owner Paul Meyer’s Italian Grandmother, Altruda’s is a casual, family-friendly North Peters neighborhood Italian restaurant.
The chef uses Mama Altruda’s classic Italian recipes served family-style in an old-school Italian American dining room.
Altruda’s is the perfect restaurant for family dinners, date nights, and friendly get-togethers and has been a neighborhood favorite since 1988.
Altruda’s private dining room seats up to 40 people, so you can host anything from a wedding reception to a cocktail party in comfort.
The menu features a classic multicourse Italian meal of antipasti, small plates, pasta, entrées, and desserts.
I loved the Eggplant Nicole, a casserole of breaded eggplant, ricotta, meat sauce, white sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.
The Chop House
Multiple Locations
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With locations in Farragut and Smithwood, The Chop House is a cozy, casual, and friendly Steakhouse founded by Michael Connor in 1992 to provide customers with high-quality meals in hearty portions at an accessible price.
They use USDA Choice aged beef and USDC Inspected seafood to create delicious plates and sandwiches, not to mention a new American fusion of regional comfort foods and flavors.
I loved the Southern-inspired deviled eggs with brown sugar bacon and the Mexican-inspired sweet corn tamales with avocado, pico de gallo, chipotle ranch, and cilantro.
They also make a fantastic steak burger with blue cheese, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, and onions on a brioche bun with steak fries.
Calhoun’s
Multiple locations
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Calhoun’s is a Tennessee institution for barbecue, southern comfort food, and artisanal beer with roots in south Knoxville.
Now you can find Calhoun’s locations in downtown, Bearden Hills, Turkey Creek, and various other locales in Knoxville and beyond.
You can find old fashioned barbecue joint atmosphere at the older locations and sleeker, contemporary brewpub atmospheres in the newer areas. Whichever ambiance you choose, the award-winning barbecue is the same at every site.
I loved their bacon-wrapped beef brisket burnt ends served with Tennessee Whiskey barbecue sauce.
Lakeside Tavern
10911 Concord Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: 865-671-2980
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Located in the beautiful Concord Park right on the shore of Fort Loudoun Lake, Lakeside Tavern is a casual yet refined New American restaurant and bar in the most picturesque and romantic setting that’s ideal for any birthday dinners, graduation dinners, and all other special events.
The giant outdoor patio features incredible views of the water, Concord Marina, and the surrounding woods, while the dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows.
The menu at Lakeside Tavern runs the gamut from Southern-style plates to brick oven pizzas to high-quality steaks.
I loved their shrimp and grits with blackened jumbo shrimp sauteed with roasted red and green peppers and served over cheddar cheese grits with a Creole roux gravy.
Lonesome Dove Knoxville
100 N Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: 865-999-5251
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Lonesome Dove Knoxville is Chef Tim Love’s latest homage to Wild West cuisine, featuring wild game and flavorful meat-centric dishes cooked to perfection using wood-fired cooking.
If you’re an adventurous eater, Lonesome Dove is the place to try dishes you won’t find anywhere else like rattlesnake sausage, quince, elk, and pork spinalis.
Located in the heart of downtown, Lonesome Dove Knoxville is a rustic-chic dining space with a multicourse menu that honors Western flavors.
For adventurous eaters, try the Wild Game Fettine with wild pig, venison, and quail, or the elk foie gras sliders with blueberry jam.
Bistro By The Tracks
215 Brookview Centre Way Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-558-9500
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Bistro By the Tracks is a fine-dining New American bistro in the Bearden Hills neighborhood’s Brookview town center.
Bistro By The Tracks strives to offer the most luxurious fine dining experience in a welcoming and unpretentious atmosphere.
While the staff and service epitomize the notion of Southern hospitality, the elegantly plated food and innovative dishes bring a cutting-edge metropolitan sophistication.
The excellent wine list has won the Wine Spectator’s Award and has many domestic and imported bottles to pair with a multicourse meal.
My favorite appetizer was the confit duck leg with house-made brioche, pickles, and hot sauce. I recommend the Sea Bass with yellow tomato masala and curry spice for the main course.
Copper Cellar West
7316 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-673-3422
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Family-owned and operated since 1975, Copper Cellar proclaims to be Knoxville’s original steakhouse and has since expanded in concept and locations to include 17 restaurants ranging from brewpubs to brunch spots.
The Copper Cellar West is in the West Hills neighborhood and is a classic traditional steakhouse and seafood restaurant in a dimly lit, old-school dining room.
It will make a great impression on all your guests for your next birthday party, corporate dinner, or any other special occasion.
I also think that they make the best prime rib in town served in its own juice and sliced tableside.
Cafe 4
4 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: 865-544-8564
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Café 4 is a modern café, cocktail bar, and bistro in the heart of Downtown Knoxville’s Market Square.
The exterior resembles an old-world European café replete with streetside seating. The interior has a contemporary industrial-chic design.
You can rent the Mezz Room with its own private cocktail bar for parties of up to 40 people. I highly recommend this restaurant for your next private dinner party, baby shower, or engagement party.
Whether you want an expertly brewed coffee, happy hour cocktail, or delicious New American brunch, lunch, or dinner, Café 4 has an eclectic menu of excellent espresso drinks, creative craft cocktails, and Southern-inspired dishes.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for fine dining or family-style old-school Italian eateries, my list of restaurants with private dining in Knoxville runs the gamut from fancy to funky.
You’ll find a private dining space that fits your personality and dietary preferences for your special celebration at one of the excellent options above.
Of course, if you don’t have a party to plan, there are plenty of other restaurants in Knoxville for a leisurely meal with friends and family that you can explore.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
