Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in East Tennessee

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in East Tennessee? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Company Chattanooga

4.9

4.9 (81)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Chattanooga

About the restaurant

Come see us for our new seasonal shareable menu, featuring wagyu sliders, hummus stuffed endives, and warm pimento cheese dip just to name a few.

Join us in Chattanooga's only true Speakeasy for Classic & Modern Craft Cocktails, accented by an exceptional Food Menu. Come discover us behind our hidden entrance in the Kinley Hotel.

Top review

Bill

Dined on 28 Nov 2024

Popped in on Thanksgiving and were treated to a fantastic experience. Oooh, that Black Manhattan that they make is north of superb. Excellent service, of course, also. Very fun entrance door. You’ll see. 😉

Hickory, at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards

4.7

4.7 (336)

$31 to $50

American

Bristol

About the restaurant

Hickory at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards is the signature restaurant from acclaimed Chef Travis Milton, offering the finest dining in the region. The menu is inspired by his Appalachian heritage, culture, and traditions and uses
locally sourced produce to create the freshest and most unique flavors your tastebuds have ever experienced. Located on the ground floor of The Inn, a boutique luxury property with 28 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the rolling hills, lake, and vineyards, whether sitting at the vast bar enjoying a craft cocktail, in the private dining room for that special evening, being awed at the Chef’s Table, or being treated to a wine tasting in our wine cellar that boasts a 1700 bottle curated wine collection, including Nicewonder Vineyards’ own award-winning wines. From the breakfast meeting to start the day, midday snacks, or celebrating a special occasion for dinner, the Hickory team will make your experience unforgettable.

Top review

PaulaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

The spices were fabulous, would have to say the chef is amazing with unique flavors.

Wilder at Windy Hill Farm and Preserve

4.8

4.8 (55)

$50 and over

Contemporary Southern

Loudon

About the restaurant

Voted "Best Splurge Worthy Restaurant" by Travel Awaits.

Appalachian tradition is rich in grit, resourceful charm, and determination, which drives our culinary heritage. At Wilder, we cultivate farm-to-table ingredients transformed by an appreciation for international cuisine to offer a fun and unique approach to well-loved Southern staples.

Four-Course Dinner experience offered Thursday - Saturday $85/person.

20% service fee assessed on all charges. Additional tipping optional.

Limited reservations are offered nightly. Non-alcoholic beverages included.

Top review

Judy

Dined on 19 Dec 2024

Stunning! Special holiday meal and the staff, food, ambiance, location all made it amazing! Everything is so special from cocktails, appetizers, and main courses! Outstanding! 👏🏻

The Restaurant at RT Lodge

4.8

4.8 (1058)

$31 to $50

Southern

Maryville

About the restaurant

Expect something you won’t see many other places—even at the most sophisticated hospitality destinations in the world. Your meals at The Restaurant at RT Lodge are uniquely your own. Every aspect of your meal is important to us. We shape our menus on the changing bounty of each season, with the freshest ingredients sourced from local farms and the best providers. Experience favorites such as our Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Housemade Charcuterie. After dinner, enjoy coffee and complimentary s'mores around the fire pit while being surrounded by gorgeous landscape and all the quiet sounds of Maryville College Woods.

Top review

Chris

Dined 2 days ago

Service (Jody) and food was awesome.. Very attentive staff.

Watauga Brewing Company

4.9

4.9 (30)

$31 to $50

International

Johnson City

About the restaurant

Watauga Brewing Company has three stories: the Brewery (first floor), Courses Restaurant (second floor), and Basque Rooftop Bar (third floor). We've got the best views of downtown Johnson City, and our brewmaster makes all our craft beers in house. For excellent service and exceptional regional European cuisine, come try our latest seasonal menu at Courses Restaurant.

Top review

Nicole

Dined on 6 Dec 2024

Very good food and drinks, but a little pricey. I will not deny however the food was really really good. We had a pasta dish and 2 steaks cooked perfectly

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

4.9

4.9 (3597)

$50 and over

American

Knoxville

About the restaurant

At Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, we know that great food begins with fresh, quality sourced local ingredients. On our Modern Appalachian menu, Chef Jeff Carter and culinary team present seasonal and delicious dishes that are familiar and steeped in tradition yet enhanced with bold new dashes of flavor and component combinations that may surprise and delight you.

Dancing Bear provides a premium lodging experience. We bring the same commitment to excellence to our award-winning restaurant and full bar. Whether enjoying a romantic dinner for two or bringing the extended family together for a celebratory meal, we want your night out in Townsend to be a special experience. We offer a refined assortment of modern Appalachian cuisine — all served among elegant surroundings and calming wooded vistas.

Top review

John

Dined on 18 Dec 2024

The season menus surprised me but the service was best ever. Everything delicious.

Discover more

Popular dish

Truffled Filet Mignon

5.0

5 (185)

$30 and under

Italian

Chattanooga

About the restaurant

Primo, which opened in the spring of 2014, is restaurateur Nathan Lindley’s tribute to his own North Chattanooga neighborhood, presented as a classic American-Italian neighborhood restaurant. Taking its culinary direction from the traditional Italian restaurants of the Northeast, Primo celebrates the rich and comforting dishes that were inspired by Italian cooking and influenced by American prosperity.
As a casual neighborhood bar and restaurant, Primo does not accept reservations for a specific time. A limited number of guests may guarantee a waiting table at the 5:00 opening each night. Also, throughout the night guests may call ahead to the restaurant at 423.602.5555 to be added to the waiting list. The dedicated staff and lively communal environment make for a short and enjoyable wait. Come see us soon.

Top review

Blake

Dined 4 days ago

Best dirty vodka martini in town, and I love the bolognese over the spaghetti squash!

Genesis House of Tea

4.8

4.8 (328)

$31 to $50

American

Chattanooga

About the restaurant

The Genesis House of Tea is more than just a Tea House that provides excellent service,
delicious foods and tasteful teas. The Genesis House of tea is a restaurant and venue space that is perfect to host private birthday parties, bridal showers and corporate events, just to name a few. We are a Non-profit organization that carries a heart to serve our community and restore beau(tea), digni(tea) and identi(tea) to those in need.

Top review

Paula

Dined 7 days ago

The food was exceptional!! We absolutely love this place and we hate to see it relocate.

Gourmet and Company

4.9

4.9 (718)

$31 to $50

American

Johnson City

About the restaurant

A Johnson City tradition since 1989, Gourmet and Company offers a dining experience that is unique to the region. Dinner menu selections run the gamut from traditional fine dinning classics to exciting specials including exotic meats and exceedingly fresh seafood. Lunches are casual and perfect for socializing or business. We also have an indoor lounge and outdoor patio bar that are fully stocked with a wide selection of wines, fine spirits, and craft beers.

Top review

Vikki

Dined on 17 Dec 2024

As always, Gourmet and Company was outstanding! The food is always delicious, the wait staff very attentive and efficient. Portions are so generous that we always have leftovers! Great place to dine!!

Discover more

Explore Diners' Choice best of East Tennessee

Explore more Diners' Choice lists