Cafe 4

Cafe 4 is awesome! went in for brunch with some friends. I got THE breakfast sandwich, which was incredible. the huge egg souffle with the crispy cheese on top was so good! bun was great, and bacon of course makes everything better. Roast potatoes were good, but could have been a little crisper. Our server Lucas was outstanding as well!

Brook was a fantastic server! With a young, attractive and energetic staff, I think it would be difficult to stand out. Brook did an excellent job! The food for me was great, however not everyone in my party thought the same. With taste being subjective, you can't please everyone. I had the fish tacos with house salad. Not everyone likes fish as much as I, but I would have liked a non-breaded fish. Still very good tacos.

Great dog friendly spot in market square. The kids loved their waffles. Service was great. My wife and I shared the hot chicken sandwich. It was delicious and HUGE portion - easily shared for lunch. I wish it was a bit spicier, but no complaints. Great atmosphere. Highly recommended for you and your dog!

This is a solid place if you need food in the area. Make sure you get a seat in a decent spot… they tucked us back behind a half wall in the back so it was super dark not being able to see windows. But the seats where you have windows seem cute. So that kind of killed the afternoon vibe we were going for. But the food is pretty good!! We highly recommend the Knoxville cheesesteak and the maple basil dressing. We also got the tomato bisque. Flavors were good but was not hot when served.

Cafe 4 is a charming little spot right on Market Square in Knoxville. The ambiance was cool and inviting—modern but cozy—and the restaurant was spotless. Our server, Eli, was incredibly friendly and attentive, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. The food arrived hot and flavorful across the board. I really appreciated the care in presentation and the cozy Southern feel of the menu. That said, there were a few small details that kept this from being a five-star meal. My brioche bun could’ve used a bit more toasting—it leaned soft rather than crisp. The cod was well-battered, but the coating didn’t cling quite right, so it lacked that satisfying crunch when you bit in. And the fries, while tasty, weren’t quite as fresh or crispy as they could’ve been. Still, the overall experience was positive, and the vibe was relaxed and fun. Would definitely return—especially for the service and the atmosphere!

Great menu. Great service. Great location. We stopped by Cafe 4 on our long trip from New York to Nashville. After 12 hours on the road this place felt like an oasis in the desert. This restaurant is dog friendly so we sat outside with him and watched the people walk by while we ate. We ordered the cheese dip as appetizer. My father-in-law ordered the salmon. I ordered the short ribs and grits. Everyone was very happy with the food. I am planning to take a day trip with my wife and daughter one weekend to Knoxville and we will definitely be stopping by here again!

This is my second time visiting Knoxville and BY FAR the best restaurant I have been to. Sitting out on the patio on a warm summers night, looking out on Market Square, is as good as it gets. Our server Victoria was patient, gave great recommendations and helped create the perfect relaxed atmosphere. The food was reasonably priced and so damn tasty. Fries green tomatoes were cooked to perfection (highly recommended). Shrimp and grits were so flavourful, with the andouille sausage adding the perfect kick to the dish. The Nashville Chicken Mac N’ Cheese was so creamy, accompanied by crispy and tender chicken. Absolutely Aces. 5/5. Will be back.

What a wonderful visit. Our food was excellent. But to me, service always makes a bigger impression than food, and our service was outstanding! Jaylen was a strong 10/10 ⭐️ he anticipated all of our needs and we never had to wait for a glass to be refilled. He offered extra bread when we got low on our appetizer and just did an excellent job. He was always there when we had a request and his check ins were always perfectly timed, while not overdoing it! Thanks for a great experience!

Good food and great service. Guias was a very attentive server. There is a nice variety of food choices.

Food is great, Victoria our waitress was wonderful! Every time we visit UTK this is our go to restaurant!

Many, many years ago I used to work on Market Square while in college, so the restaurants that have been around for over a decade are nostalgic and, more importantly, they tend to be consistently good. I took my wife to Cafe 4 on a Monday evening and we had a wonderful dinner. Our server, Quincy, was the perfect amount of attentive. We ordered the fried green tomatoes (to die for), the fish sandwich (sooo soft and good), and the braised short rib over cheese grits (all i can say is that I've got the leftovers in the fridge for lunch and I wish it was noon already!) I highly recommend Cafe 4 if you're looking for an upscale vibe that won't break the bank.

I came here as a recommendation from my hotel staff and without a reservation I waited about 30 minutes. The staff was great and very kind. I sat outside but ambiance both in and outside was lovely. The food was just okay in my opinion. I got the fried green tomatoes which I thought were a little bland. The ones from Tupelo are way better. I also got the shrimp and grits which was pretty good. Nothing to write home about but good. The best thing by far was the Mac and cheese. It was very creamy and well seasoned. Am I glad I tried it? Yes but it's not so where I'm rushing back to. However, if I did I would definitely get the Mac and cheese with chicken or lobster

When we first looked at the menu, we were concerned because it appears limited at first glance. However... the truffle fries were banging, fried green tomatoes were crispy and tasty, but oh my goodness the warm pimento cheese with hot pepper jelly dip was divine!!! Philly cheesesteak was delicious. The lemon drop shot was probably the smoothest I've ever had. Atmosphere was casual... little bit of everything in there. The only draw back we had was the service. I know it was a party of 13, but we are pretty sure that we were the only guests our server took care of. She would disappear for large stretches. We had to go to the bar to get our own refills because we couldn't find her. I really hope that others had a different experience with different servers.

Came here without reservations and were able to be seated outside immediately. Because of the sidewalk, our table was very slanted, which was a bit of a pain, I ended up losing my fork. Our server, Hayden I think? Came over to greet us and take our drink and appetizer orders. The appetizer came out before the drinks which was a little backwards to me. Mojito 8/10 Decently made. I do wish the mint was mixed into the drink or muddled to add the flavor in, but other than that it was good. Fried green tomatoes 8/10 Flash fried, good breading and crisp on the outside. The apple salad and balsamic was good as well. A good bite. I just wish the tomato was pre-cooked for just a minute or two to get it a little softer. Shrimp & Grits 10/10 Shrimp was flavorful, seasoned well, cooked perfectly. Tails were still on. Grits were creamy and smooth, with a little cheese. Andouille was perfect amount of spice. Sauce was good, little heat, but overall a ton of flavor. Cafe 4 Burger 8/10 Ordered Medium rare, came out more of a medium with not really much pink in it. It was still cooked good and juicy. Im sure I tasted the umami sauce, but I feel like I would have wanted a little bit more. I didn't really taste the Parmesan cheese at all. Overall the entire bite had a good flavor.

Food was awesome! Gaius was attentive and the rest of the staff was quick in making our food as well!

This is a great little place in downtown Knoxville. It is in Market Square. Hostess was very nice. We decided to eat outside. The patio is nice. you watch the all the passerby's, and performers in market square. The best part was the food. It was delicious. Definitely will be going back

A beautiful restaurant with good vibes in downtown Knox. We stopped in for dinner and the service and food was excellent. The half chicken had the crispiest most delicious skin texture I've ever had. Most of my table got the rib eye and all were perfectly cooked and flavorful. I'm a dirty martini lover and it's difficult to find a perfect one these days... however these were spot on! Our waitress Sara was excellent at handling our larger party and food all came out in perfect timing. An all around excellent experience - don't miss this spot!

Victoria our server was amazing! Food and service was excellent. Try the mimosa bowl.

Enjoyed a visit here while visiting UTK. Definitely recommend making a reservation as it can book up with long wait time. Waitress recommended the cheese steak and it was good. A little messy, but good. The fries were very good too. Good meal, nothing over the top but good. Service was very good and attentive to water refills.

We were on our way to Florida when Hurricane Milton was on its way, so we decided to stay in Knoxville for a few days until the storm passed. One of our stops while in town was Cafe 4 in downtown Knoxville. We really enjoyed it. Cafe 4 itself was very nice, great patio and view of the downtown square. Service was very good, friendly, and the food was excellent. We tried the mac n cheese with fried chicken, and the Tennessee Cheesesteak. The downtown square is also very nice, great place to visit if you're in town.

I had the pleasure of eating here not long ago. They have a pretty big outside dining area, the staff was friendly, and the food was amazing. I had the chicken and waffle. There was a ginormous amount of chicken on the plate. Im pretty big and could only eat half of it! I had the pleasure of sitting at the bar (my choice) and was greeted by Nate. He is the type of guy who can make the most miserable person smile. His personality is at the top of my list of bartenders I have met. I hope to go back soon and have Nate again. Add this to your list of bookmarks in places to try

My husband and I ate here for lunch on Valentines Day. Service was fast and our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Our food was delicious. If you are in Market Square definitely give Cafe 4 a try. We have had great service and food every time we have eaten here.

Went to cafe 4 recently and got the lobster mac n cheese. At first, the food was great until I found a metal wire in my mouth. We immediately called the server over who was quick to get me a new order and didn't charge us. Prior to this incident, cafe 4 was always a favorite of mine.

The market breakfast was so yummy. Sarah was the BEST server! We enjoyed the beautiful outdoors during the Farmer's Market!

We walked here from the Hilton. There was immediate seating. The waitress, Sara, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower were absolutely delicious. The salmon was flaky and delectable. The green was seasoned to the tea.. like an auntie in the kitchen.. The music had great diversity .. The ambiance was casual and pleasant . The Steak sandwich was great for my picky eater ..

Food was yummy, service was very good and the restaurant is really charming. However, we were served our cocktails after we got our food. :( We would have liked time to enjoy our drinks before our food arrived.

cafe 4 is decent place to stop by if you are in the market square area or visiting the museum or sunsphere. there are a handful of restaurants in the market square area, but my group landed on cafe 4 because they had s a good variety of dishes for everyone's dietary needs. our server's name was cintia, and they were so very sweet and kind. the table ordered: fish tacos and parm fries fish sandwich and parm fries fried chicken + mac n cheese philly cheesesteak + fries and of course i got an espresso martini with absolut vodka that bartender knows what they are doing!! bon appétit

Waiter was outstanding. Atmosphere was, as is the times, wide open and noisy. Food, I'd say a fairly limited menu but our Mac n cheese was supreme and the salads were fresh. I'm not a huge flat bread fan, but if that's your thing it looked outstanding

Their market wedge salad is $14, the majority of it is iceberg lettuce....To add chicken, it's $8 for 4 thin slices. While it was good, I left hungry and like I just got ripped off. Would never recommend to anyone. Update- the manager refunded the cost of the salad after I brought my concerns to his attention. He admitted they cut portions, which I feel like is worse. They are intentionally trying to get away with it and only make it right when caught. Do better! I purchased one of their burgers to actually fill me up and it wasn't good. So let down after all the hype of their Google reviews.

There was a lot to like about C4, but there were several glaring issues as well. First, the positive: It looked like a busy day down in Market Square, but we were after the brunch/lunch rush so we were able to get a table outside without a reservation. Our server let us know that they were new on the job, but he was very friendly and warm. The menu had good options for most diners, whether watching their waistline or wishing to indulge in Southern cuisine. The food itself was good. Not outstanding, but good. My salad was a "C4 Favorite" but in my opinion it was nothing to write home about: overdressed greens, strawberries, blue cheese, and candied nuts. Nothing I couldn't throw together at home. My husband had the breakfast plate which was perfectly standard (although I will say the breakfast potatoes were excellent!). But the cons were enough to disappoint. They appeared to have plenty of staff working, but the kitchen was very backed up and it took ages to get our beverages (even water) and meal. Once our food arrived we had to go chase down silverware- which took several minutes- by which point my husband's eggs were cold. Something may have been going on with the dishwasher, because when my husband went inside to go try to track down cutlery he came back with only one set, so I used the fork for my salad and he tackled his eggs with a spoon and a knife. By the time a second set appeared, we were nearly done eating. But the biggest issue for me was the bathroom area. Holy moly, that was gross. The restroom itself was fine, but the entire back area of the restaurant leading to the restrooms and inside the ladies (and gents, according to what I heard) absolutely reeked of urine. It was revolting. Had I gone back there before our meal started I would've spun on my heel and turned around and walked right out of there, never to return. I'm guessing they do a bustling nighttime bar trade so I'm sure it was the result of a bunch of drunk college kids celebrating their graduation the day before (and maybe peeing in the corners??), but that is unacceptable in a food establishment. When the manager first walked in to open up Sunday morning, they should've called an "all hands on deck" to get that floor scrubbed before the first customer walked in. I know margins are very slim in the restaurant business and I know it can be very difficult to hire, train, and retain staff, and I always want small businesses to succeed, but no thank you!

This place delivers satisfying comfort food consistently with attentive service. The grilled cheese Sammy accompanied with tomato bisque is so good as was the lobster BLT flatbread. Packed with flavor but not overly filling perfect lunch.

First time in Cafe 4 for breakfast and it was great. Only negative was the loud music. Victoria was absolutely stellar. She helped customize our breakfasts and truly made our first time in, worthy of coming back. Food was delicious, quick and flavorful.

I've eaten at Cafe 4 several times over the past few years. I've found it to be very good, although a bit inconsistent. I will say that it's one of my daughter's very favorite restaurants in Knoxville. Most recently, I ate here on a Friday night. Our party was seated out on the patio, and that was a great place for people watching if the weather is nice. Service has always been good. For my recent dinner, I ordered the shrimp & grits, and it was delicious! Friends ordered the grilled salmon and a burger. Everyone enjoyed their dinner, and we'll definitely visit again!

Cafe4 in Market Square is a great place for a delicious bite and a glass of wine with one of the best views in downtown Knoxville. Sandwiches , salads Mac n Cheese are among the food options and the service is Liberty our server was attentive and helpful and made our meal even better!

Always a must when I come to Knoxville. We started we an order of the truffle fries which truly helped hit the spot. I ordered the shrimp and grits which we filling but amazing. My SO ordered the short ribs which were unbeatable! Truly cannot go wrong with near anything in the menu! Their brunch is also amazing if you're not into dinner meals.

We lucked out and made it in on a Friday night without reservations. They do offer fish and a vegetarian options. I was hesitant at first to order fish tacos, because usually the fish falls apart and the flavor of the fish overwhelms the taco. That was not my experience. This was absolutely perfect! The fish was cooked to a crisp and cut in manageable portions so it didn't fall apart. One of the best fish tacos that I've had. The sauce was a cool flavorful topping that added to the crispness of the fish. Great vibes here and plenty of great options for a nice dinner.

Our dinner this past weekend at Cafe 4 was outstanding! We really enjoyed the braised short rib and grilled salmon. Good portion size and very flavorful! Our server, Victoria C., anticipated our every need and was very knowledgeable of the cocktails offered! We had a wonderful experience and most definitely be back!!!

My food was OKAY i got the chicken and waffles but my partner said their food was GREAT ... they got french toast.

We love coming back to this place when we come into town. The food is great, the servers are amazing! Ask for Bohdan he will take care of you.. he made my son's birthday special.

Love Cafe 4 at Market Square The food is outstanding including the specialized coffee Carmel latte hot Chicken excellent and salads Elliot and new girl Cera friendly efficient and super fun love cafe 4

The steak and egg breakfast was phenomenal, the cinnamon rolls are as big as they say and also delicious, and the service was prompt and super polite. I loved coming here and you will too! Cafe 4 is the best place for brunch on Market Square

Our first dinner out in Knoxville was here and it was glorious! Seriously it was delicious. What a cute place. Service was great. After being up in the mountains I was happy for really good food :P

They sat our party of 3 on the upstairs section, way in back of restaurant. We were seated next to door with what I saw was a trash receptacle. Little gnats were flying in our faces, to the point that the table next to us asked to be re-seated away from there. Food was served way too crispy. The server was great.

This has been one of my favorite Market Square locations for a while, however the last few times have had issues for sure. Last evening's visit continued the downward trend. Out 6:30 reservations for 4 were no issue as the place was almost empty. issues- Starting with cocktails- they did not have bar items to make a white sangria, and no raspberry flavoring for the margarita (on the menu). The Espresso Martini was all Bailey's as they did not have espresso available. Main meal-the shrimp linguini had absolutely no flavor. just very dry noodles and a few greens added. The Salmon was overcooked and dry. Mac-n-cheese Nashville Chicken noodles very dry as well and stuck together (featured item in the menu). All of this capped by our very nice waiter knocking over the red wine glass all over the table. I think that will be our last visit!

I want to like this place! After it changed ownership, I have had an impossible time getting and keeping a wait time at this restaurant. I would put my name on the list on a busy brunch day ( I get it, they're busy) but would never receive a confirmation text for my wait time. Several times, I waited until well after the time time they quoted, only to be told we weren't on the list and never seated after over an hour ( the wait time was usually quoted as 15-30 minutes) When I approached, they would put us off for another 30-40 minutes. When I complained on social media, the company never responded to my kindly worded suggestions and instead escalated the issue and then deleted the post. The food has gone downhill and service is not great. Don't recommend.

Sandwich was incredible! Yummy fries too! Loved the white cheese sauce. Good amount of food, however, I would say it was on the pricey side. Great service. Indoor and outdoor seating available and decent sized restaurant! They can accommodate large groups!

Attended for brunch on a Sunday morning and was not disappointed. Service was great, patio seating was excellent and the food was amazing. Their big cinnamon roll is a must order for an app, or your meal. All of the brunch items we ordered tasted great and cooked to perfection. They had plenty of inside seating as well. Would definitely return!

I had an outstanding experience from start to finish. The staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional, especially Junior. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect and that I felt taken care of. any questions I had were answered thoroughly. It's rare to come across such genuine customer service these days, and it truly made a difference. Thanks Junior!

Food is good ambience is great. I just feel that it could definitely use a little upkeep. When I went service was great, but I felt that because we had a toddler they sat elsewhere and I left his sippy cup and when I returned about 10 minutes later, they had trashed it. And those sippy cups are not cheap so that was definitely a disappointment.

No other word for our dinner than OUTSTANDING. such a great variety. Super personable Waite staff. The sangria bowl was awesome, and I'm not sure I've ever had better Brussel sprouts. Our party of 5 all had differing dishes and we all loved everything.

Food was good. Service was was meh. Wasn't busy at all, but our server was a little MIA. Nice vibe to the joint.

Was expecting a little better food and ambience as there was an hour wait for a table. The hostess gladly took our number and true to their word it was an hour later when we received their text. We decided on the fried chicken and waffles and beet salad. The beau had a latte and I had a caramel macchiato that arrived with no caramel even though they charged me for the flavoring. The waffles were cold and tough and we could have used some butter. The fried chicken was the highlight with a very flavorful, crispy crust that was so good with the sweetness of the maple syrup. The side of gravy was bland and served no purpose. I liked the beets and blue cheese parts of the salad so I picked those out and left the rest behind. Overall it was a nice time but the place seems a little dated and in need of a deep clean.

We were strolling down Market Square waiting for a live music show to start in a few hours so we decided to nosh on a little something and sit outside. This place had a great outdoor seating area and we were able to relax, people watch and enjoy some good food. My husband and I split the cheese steak sandwich and fries and get some ice teas. The meet was tender and the onions were caramelized, so delicious! Service was so friendly and we had views of the market square area which we enjoyed. Definitely a good choice for a rest and pit stop.

I've been here a bunch of times. Overall it's a really solid menu and consistently great quality food that doesn't seem to go down in quality over time. I really love their salmon salad with the beets and oranges. The chicken salad is tasty, also. And they have a big selection of fancy coffee, with baked deserts for sale too. The service is usually good too. Definitely recommend.

Two desperate visitors, weighed down by luggage and travel bags stuffed to the brim with candy and souvenirs, scrambled across the beautiful Market Square area in search of brunch. Hungry and distraught, they were almost ready to give up - every other place required a reservation, had an hour long+ wait, or just didn't look tantalizing enough. They laid eyes on Cafe 4: a modern, charming cafe with a restaurant attached to it. There were industrial pipes that ran above their heads. Circular planet-lights hung from the ceilings and adorned the bar counter. It was 11 AM: Margarita? Cold brew? Americano? You name it, they got it. Seating was lightning quick. The spacious inside boasted a loud and warming environment in which the scents of different soups, breads, drinks, and burgers swam by invitingly. The visitors didn't even speak a word to each other as they picked up their menus, eyes frantically darting down to the brunch section. One ordered Huevos Ranchero, a plate with beef patties, arugula, applewood smoked bacon, and fried eggs to your liking. Avocados and tomatos adorned the top of the dish; it was as delicious as it was colorful. The other traveller ordered the ole' reliable Chicken & Waffles, a rustic and savory meal deemed worthy by those who needed calories, and fast. The chicken skin was delightfully salty and the white breast inside was equally tender. Yeah, these waffles probably came from Costco and were thrown into the waffle machine, but who cares. It came with syrup and sawmill gravy. Can't ask for much more when it comes to a pre-airport meal. Our two travellers left Cafe 4 a little heavier than before, but much happier.

Beautiful day in Knoxville called for eating outside at Cafe 4. Our server, Cera, was extremely friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend asking for her as your server if you go.

Samuel was a really great server and the food was really good! Perfect for after farmers markets on Saturdays.