“The Other One” and “The Casual Pint”!

We called our friends Norm and Linda and invited them to go on another dining ‘adventure’ with us… Since they’re always trying new dining options and they hadn’t been to the one I’d selected, they signed up for the mission!

I’d seen ads for The Other One for a couple of years.  As the sign states, it is a diner, deli and dive that’s located in Oak Ridge Tennessee.  For some reason, we just don’t get up that way very often.  Perhaps it’s because there isn’t a straightforward route to Oak Ridge from our home, which is a bit south west of Knoxville.

For those who aren’t familiar with US History, Oak Ridge (population ca. 30,000) was established in 1942 by the US Government as a production site for the Manhattan Project, the huge American, British and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb during WWII.   Today it remains the site of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and scientific development continues to play a critical role in the city’s economy.

 

With research today that covers, chemical sciences, electron microscopy, nuclear medicine, physics and population tracking (Landscan), Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s staff includes roughly 4,750 employees.  The Oak Ridge Reservation occupies 58 square miles.  The Laboratory has an annual budget of more than $1,650,000,000 and it’s managed by UT-Battelle, a limited liability partnership between the University of Tennessee and the Battelle Memorial Institute.   

…now back to The Other Place!  This is a chalkboard menu kind of dining establishment.  There is a huge selection of deli sandwiches, hot dogs and imaginative specialty creations to choose from!  One example of the creativity at work is a sandwich named “Fowl Mouth George”. ($7.99) It includes jalapeno/cilantro mayonnaise, ‘chimey’ churi chicken, cucumber, avocado, green pepper, cabbage, diced tomato and red onion…all stacked on a white hoagie bun.

Adjacent chalkboards list the day’s specials, salads, sides, and a variety of milkshakes plus desserts.  This day’s specials included a Buffalo Shrimp Basket ($8.99), Big Texan Basket ($8.99), the El Cubano Basket ($7.99) and, the Patty Melt Basket. ($8.49) Talk about reasonable prices!

As is more and more popular these days, customers order at the counter and you’re called when your order is ready. 

If I was to try to label this restaurant, their diner, deli, dive description on the front of the building pretty much covers it!  It’s a little like a diner, it’s a deli in the sense that they make sandwiches and it’s a dive because it’s such a casual local joint.

Did I mention that they serve beer?  Laurie’s meal was accompanied by a Sweetwater 420 ($3.59).  For a side she had an order of some nice, spicy Fried Pickles. ($4.99)  Her sandwich was the French Dip Sandwich…note the bowl of au jus for dipping! ($6.59) She loved everything on her tray!  Those fried pickle were pretty spectacular…

Norm went for one of the specials…the Big Texan Basket. ($8.99) This is a fried pork tenderloin (pork fritter) with cheese, chili, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard, ketchup and taco sauce on Kaiser roll, all accompanied by an order of French fries.  His dinner was paired with a pint of draft beer…Devil’s Backbone. ($3.59)

I didn’t even take a photo of the chalkboard that listed the extensive burger selection… Linda ordered the Black ‘N Bleu burger basket with French fries. ($6.99 plus $1.99 for the fries) Her burger was a third of a pound (5.33333 oz.?) and it was layered with mayonnaise, red onion, tomato, lettuce, blue cheese and bacon.   Both Linda and Norm enjoyed their meals!

This was my dinner.  I didn’t take a picture of the Buffalo Chips that I ordered as a side. ($2.49) This is the Brooks Bomber…a half-pound of medium rare goodness layered with smoked cheddar, salami, pepperoni, spicy brown mustard and pickles. ($8.39) It was an excellent combination!

This was a fun dive/deli with quality creative sandwiches at a great price and we will return!  The Other One is located in the historic Grove Center at 178 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge Tennessee.  Phone: 865-272-3025.  Website: www.theotheronediner.com/home.html.

We thought about heading home but Norm thought that Laurie and I should experience one more local operation that we'd never been to before… We stopped at the Casual Pint in Farragut Tennessee for a brew before we headed home. 

Talk about a selection of local brews and craft beer from all over the country…!  It was kind of mind boggling.

…and it goes on and on…

There is a bar where the bartender, aka 'beertender', pours the draft beers and takes orders for snacks.  However, we were told that this location’s brief menu which includes a total of 17 items including appetizers, potato treats, flatbreads, wraps, etc. may be the exception, rather than the rule here in the Knoxville area. 

Yup… More beer!  Plus an area where live music is offered on a regular basis…

The following theme statement was taken from The Casual Pint’s website:

“The Casual Pint Craft Beer Market offers a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere much like a coffee shop, with a focus on craft beer.  Our expert “Beer-tenders” can serve up craft beer by the pint from our tap wall or by the can or bottle to enjoy in the store.  You can grab your beer to go with Growler Fills, Mix-A-Six packs from our bottle and can cooler or packaged beer off the dry shelves.”

The store does have a relaxing ambience in addition to all of that craft beer. 

The Casual Pint is a franchise operation.  There are 7 locations in the greater Knoxville area and many others scattered around the USA.  In addition to Tennessee, other Casual Pint Markets can be found in Nebraska, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

To learn more about this growing chain of craft beer markets, just go to http://thecasualpint.com/.

Thanks to Norm and Linda for introducing us to The Casual Pint and for sharing another exploratory food ‘event’, this time up in Oak Ridge Tennessee.  Many more ‘foodie adventures’ await!

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave