Best Middle Eastern
King Tut
Runners Up: Falafel Hut, Ali Baba
Best Sports Bar
Bailey's
Runners Up: Breakers, Hooters
Best Sunday Brunch
Italian Market and Grill
Runners Up: Copper Cellar, O'Charley's
Best Restaurant Pizza
Mellow Mushroom
Runners Up: Tomato Head, Pizza Kitchen
Best Delivered Pizza
Papa John's
Runners Up: Pizza Hut, Domino's
Best Wings
Hooters
Runner Up: Spicy's
Best Steak
Ye Olde Steakhouse
Runners Up: Outback, Chop House
Best Salad
O'Charley's
Runners Up: Ruby Tuesday, Olive Garden
Best Sandwich
Subway
Runners Up: Panera, Nixon's
Best Burger
Litton's
Runners Up: Backyard Burger, Wendy's
Best Barbecue
Buddy's
Runners Up: Corky's, Calhoun's
Best Seafood
Chesapeake's
Runners Up: Red Lobster, Captain D's
Best Lunch Spot
Panera
Runners Up: SunSpot, Lunch Box
Best Buffet
Mandarin House
Runners Up: Ryan's, Great American
Best Coffee House:
(tie) Java @ Homberg Place, Java Old City
As usual, the big winner is Java. And as usual, not enough people told us which Java they meant—the original one in the Old City, which is now under new ownership, or the successful Homberg Place coffee shop. Not wanting to deprive anyone of their right to call themselves the best, we've decided to be diplomatic and give the award to both of them. The Bearden Java is a friendly, relaxed place with a view of the railroad tracks. The Old City shop has one of the nicest spaces in town, and an increasingly popular Sunday breakfast.
Runner Up: Cup A Joe
Best Beer Selection
Barley's
Runners Up: Union Jack, SunSpot
Best Wine List
Orangery
Runner Up: Naples
Best Desserts
Melting Pot
Runner Up: Litton's
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
SunSpot
Runner Up: Tomato Head
Best Italian Restaurant
Naples
Runners Up: Carrabba's Italian Grill, Olive Garden
Best Diner
Litton's
Runners Up: Chop House, Waffle House
Best Asian Restaurant
Stir Fry Cafe
Runners Up: Mandarin House, Miyabi
Best Mexican Restaurant
El Charro
Knoxville now has several independent, Mexican-run Mexican restaurants, but the place in the old Pizza Hut on top of Bearden Hill may be the oldest. An unpretentious, family-style establishment where they serve spicy fresh salsa and chips almost before you sit down, and then hot plates where every square centimeter is covered with refried beans and cheese, El Charro (which means "The Charro," in Spanish) never fails to please. Every plate they serve is almost too much for one mortal, but a couple of cold cervezas helps. El Charro Express, their new annex on Cumberland Avenue, likely gave them a strong boost in this category.
Runners Up: Don Pablo's, Cancun
Best Brewpub
Calhoun's
Runner Up: Hops
Best Neighborhood Bar
Toddy's Back Door Tavern
Runners Up: Rooster, Applebee's
Best Cake/Cookies
Ham 'n' Goody's
Runners Up: Rita's, Panera
Best Deli
Nixon's
Runners Up: Harold's, Subway
Best Bread Bakery
Panera
Runners Up: Hogan's, Old Mill
Best Romantic Restaurant
Naples
Runners Up: Melting Pot, Orangery
Best Ribs
Calhoun's
Runners Up: Corky's, Tony Roma's
Best New Restaurant
Cha Cha
Runners Up: Green Hills Grill, Bogartz
Best Ice Cream/Smoothie
Marble Slab
Runners Up: Baskin Robbins, Smoothie King
Best Gourmet Restaurant
Orangery
Runners Up: Mango, By the Tracks Bistro
April 25, 2002 * Vol. 12, No. 17
© 2002 Metro Pulse
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Restaurants