Knoxville TN– Time for an Early Dinner!

Another day in the life of a retired couple, just running errands together… Since we live just a bit out in the country, Laurie and I try to string together a number of errands or stops when we find ourselves headed into the Knoxville area.  Otherwise, we’d waste a lot of time on the road…not to mention a bit more gasoline!

We were about ready to head south toward home and then we noted that it was nearing dinnertime…  Although it was a little early yet, we checked out our “Lifestyle” discount book, picked a restaurant, drove to it…and discovered that it wouldn’t open for dinner for another 40 minutes.

So…discarding the book for the moment…we drove west along Kingston Pike (US Highway 11)…looking for a restaurant that was open that we’d like to try out...

 

We’d probably driven by Rafferty’s Restaurant and Bar 50 times in the past 3 years.  It always seemed busy at lunch and dinner so we figured that the restaurant must be doing something right.  The exterior of the building is appealing…

 

 

The interior of Rafferty’s Restaurant and Bar is equally attractive…with lots of dark wood and brick providing a nice warm feeling to the place.

 

 

Here’s another view of the inside of the restaurant…with the bar in the background. 

Before writing this blog, I did a little research and discovered that this restaurant is part of a modest size chain with 19 locations in 5 states. (Indiana: 1; South Carolina: 1; Georgia: 2; Tennessee: 7 and; Kentucky: 8) The company’s headquarters is located in Bowling Green Kentucky. 

 

After we sat down, Laurie started conversing with a couple sitting next to us.   They told us that they were from near Clinton Tennessee, just a bit north of Knoxville.  They told us that they always try to stop at Rafferty’s whenever they come on in to town.  They went on to say that they really love Rafferty’s house salad!

Consequently, we both ordered the salad with our meals. ($3.49) This salad includes fresh mixed greens with chopped eggs, diced tomatoes, crisp potato sticks and hot chopped bacon.  Also based on our fellow diner’s recommendation, we topped the salad off with the house mustard-honey hot bacon dressing. (Note the very nice honey glazed bun with the salad) This was a very fine salad indeed!

 

Laurie ordered the 7 oz. Salmon Filet, ($11.99), cooked over hickory wood and accompanied by grilled asparagus…one of our favorite vegetables.  The only issue was that the salmon was a little overcooked…but it was ‘saved’ by the accompanying sauce shown on the plate.  Laurie enjoyed her entrée.

Other available sides included French fries, cole slaw, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, a baked potato, Spike’s mean beans, roasted sweet potato rice pilaf, and broccoli.  In addition to 2 salmon dishes, the other being the Southern Bourbon Glazed version, ($12.99), there is a catch of the day, ($11.99) and a fried Catfish Platter ($11.99) 

 

I ‘rarely’ order prime rib when I’m eating out.  Today was the exception.  I ordered the 12 oz. Slow –Roasted Prime Rib, again accompanied with the grilled asparagus. ($13.99) The price was a bit of a draw as I thought it was pretty reasonable given the price of beef these days.  As you can see, I was eager to start eating, cutting my asparagus prior to Laurie taking the photo!  The prime rib came as ordered…medium rare…and it was accompanied by some perfect au jus as well as some perfect creamy horseradish sauce.  This was an excellent dinner!

 

As per the menu, steaks and chops included 2 6-oz. Wood-Fired Pork Chops ($12.99); a 10 oz. Cowboy Sirloin ($13.99); the 8 oz. Jackson Hole Filet ($17.99), and; a 12-oz. Ribeye ($16.99).  The menu is rounded out with chicken, pasta, sandwiches, and burgers.  We rarely order dessert but the next time we eat at Rafferty’s I’ll have to try the White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie…my favorite pie plus chocolate! ($5.49)

Laurie and I will return to Rafferty’s Restaurant and Bar!  Service was nice although we were so busy visiting with the folks at the adjacent table, we didn’t pay a lot of attention to our waitress.  Rafferty’s Knoxville location is at 8906 Kingston Pike.  Phone: 865-657-9624.  To view the complete menu, just click on this link: http://www.raffertys.com/restaurant/27.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for an early dinner with us!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave