J.C. Holdway

One of my all-time Knoxville favorites and a perfect birthday dinner! Started off with the smoked fish dip and half a dozen oysters. For my entree, I got the pork chop and my friend got the salmon. For dessert, we got the chocolate cake. And they surprised me with a little strawberry sorbet! We typically make a reservation, but open-bar seating is typically available on slower nights. Service was excellent as always.

The service, food, and experience are outstanding! The chef’s tasting menu was exceptional, and the chef/owner is very personable. It is perfect for special occasions, and I can’t wait to go back!

If you have never been here, you are missing out. There is a joy to be found in wonderful food, and joy lives at J.C. Holdway. Wonderful food should not be exclusive, it should be shared with those that appreciate it, for the chef is an artist that the foodies of the world should embrace, regardless of wallet. There are no exorbitant overcharges simply because Chef Joseph Lenn is so talented, he readily shares this with the world at prices that are extremely reasonable for the experience and pleasure of dining here. This passion is shared by the employees, as everyone that we interacted with at our table was so happy to be working in this restaurant. Domingo was our server, and after talking to him for a few minutes, we put the fate of our dinner in his hands, and he recommended multiple homerun dishes. We began with their Bold Fashioned, made using JCH's New Riff Single Barrel bourbon, and a Cherry Blossom. Domingo had steered well on the drinks, this was looking promising! The first food followed shortly after, the pimento cheese with benne seed crackers. I've had some very good pimento cheese in my time, but this one was sublime. The smoothness, the slightly smoky flavor, the creaminess, it was all a tantalizing treat. From there, we had the Chicken Rillette. I'll confess, I had to google what a Rillette was, but all you need to know is that it is delicious. The chicken was rich and flavorful, so well complemented by the herbs and pickled turnip greens. We also had the Kale & Summer Squash salad. That was without a doubt some of the best smoked trout I've eaten. The way it mixed with the greens made every mouthful a delight. For the main course, we split the Benton Bacon Bolognese, because how can you go wrong with bacon? And everyone we told we were ordering that confirmed it was one of the best dishes. There was a slight sweetness to the dish, possibly from the carrots, I'm not sure, but this was such a delight to the tastebuds. This journey has been so amazing, we have to follow Chef Lenn all the way to dessert. Buttermilk Biscuit Bread Pudding? Yes please! And Domingo once again made a wonderful recommendation of the Amaretto Sour to go with dessert. This meal was amazing. The variety of foods, the experience, the atmosphere, the entire experience was such a pleasure. I have spent much more for vastly inferior meals, and I am so grateful that Chef Lenn has kept this gem at a price that should draw everyone in for the experience. Well done to the entire crew, I shall be back!

We called a few weeks prior to reserve seats for the chef’s tasting. They offer two seating times. We went at 7:45 and as soon as you walk in, you know you’re in a special place. We had 8 courses (advertise 6) and each course was absolutely amazing and large. The sommelier was extremely knowledge and chose great wine to accompany us last night. All the chefs and assistants in the kitchen (shoutout to Courtney too!) were awesome and Maggie, our server, was very attentive too. This is hands down one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to in my life. Knoxville is very lucky to have this gem. Do not wait, just go! You will not regret your decision. 10000/10.

We had the absolute best experience. Parks was our waiter and they did amazing!! Everything from the hostess to all the wait staff was amazing. I have not had food that delicious in a long time in Knoxville. Every dish was perfect. We had the Uncle Joe’s party plate, slow cooked farm egg, mafaldine, and the braised pork osso bucco. We still think about the slow cooked farm egg. It is like a chicken soup with gnocchi. It tasted like a warm hug. The mafaldine was perfect. Adult Mac and cheese with an elevated taste palate. Thank you for making our anniversary perfect.

Excellent last minute dinner, got lucky reserving a spot on Resy. Appetizers excellent, enjoyed both Wagu tartare and Pimento cheese w crackers. Entree was a pasta dish w seafood, very good and unique comfort flavor. Sitting at the “chefs table/bar” was unexpected and really nice. Grace served very well along w her associates. We enjoyed seeing the host who we met couple times before, was warm and welcoming. Highly recommend this spot.

I love everything about this place. Stephen was our server was did a phenomenal job. We couldn’t have asked for better service or a kinder person at that. I came here for my anniversary and it was more than I could’ve asked for. Stephen walked us through the menu and genuinely cared about what we were being served and had pride in the food his chef made. I kindly thank him for his service. In addition, everyone else who was apart of our service tonight was kind and extremely attentive as well. The chef here is amazing as well the food couldn’t not have been better everything was so perfect in my opinion. I’ve been to many restaurants and this is only the second review I’ve ever left. That is because this place deserved it! We had the hush puppies (best I’ve ever had), oysters, pasta, ribeye, pure potatoes, cornbread (amazing), and to top it off the spice cake dessert. For the cocktails I had 2 of the frozen Saturn (most perfect frozen drink I’ve ever had and I never drink frozen drinks)

Wow. Truly a Michelin Star experience at J.C. Holdway. Our service was fantastic, the servers were very thoughtful. My food was fantastic; the hush puppies were delicious, perfectly crispy. My slow cooked farm egg was wonderful! The desert was great too, good cheesecake and ice cream. I would absolutely go here again, although it is very expensive.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, but the waiters and food was even better! Best porkchop ever!

I visited for my birthday, and it was an amazing experience! The hospitality was crazy impressive. They made my day feel very special, and I was grateful for that. I ordered the brussels sprouts, gnocchi with short ribs, and cornbread. They gave me crackers with pimento cheese and sorbet on the house! That was surprising but most welcomed! The highlight of the meal was the brussels sprouts and the short ribs included with the gnocchi. The brussel sprouts was delicious and I would definitely recommend it. I was disappointed by the meager amount of short ribs that the gnocchi came with. It melted in my mouth and was very flavorful that I wish it was the main meal rather than the gnocchi. The gnocchi had a floury, raw taste that was off putting actually but the short ribs made up for it. I do not know if they make it fresh but they should alter the recipe. The cornbread was huge and served as an excellent end to my meal right before I got a watermelon sorbet. Overall, I had an amazing time at JC Holdway. I just wish my server had informed me of the special that night. Regardless, I will revisit!

David is great! Food is the best in Knoxville. Loved the service and atmosphere. Definetely worth checking out for special occasions.

Had a 7:45p reservation. Seated pretty quickly at reservation time. Was a bit slow at the beginning with us just hanging out at the table with water but, everything picked up after a bit. Seemed like a place for dates, birthdays, and celebrations especially with the steep pricing. For three people, what we got filled us to the brim with a little bit of room for dessert. Cornbread (4/5) - great cornbread that pairs wonderfully with the sorghum butter. Bone marrow (4/5) - came with four slices of bread and picked cauliflower on top. A decent size of marrow was just the right amount of salty and fatty. Kale and squash salad (3/5) - was mostly dressed kale, didn't seem like there was any summer squash in it if any. The cornbread crumbles added a nice crunch. Grilled Prime Ribeye (5/5) - great cut of steak and cooked beautifully. Super tender. Got a side of the potato puree since the potatoes that came with the steak was mostly garnish. Charcoal grilled pork chop (3/5) - IMO no one really eats pork chops like steak so I wished it wasn't cooked similarly. It was a really thick pork chop so the inside felt a bit more rare and bland than I'm used to. The outside was more flavorful due to the char. The pork fried farro was an interesting component and added some flavor when eaten with the pork. Peaches and cream (4/5) - interesting dessert that does well with different temps and textures. Peaches with cold cream and crispy white chocolate pearls. Definitely a southern dessert. I would like to come back to check out the trout, but otherwise more of a I've been there before kind of place.

do not open until 5 pm even if you have 5 pm reservation. No big deal with Market Square parking right across the street. Cool Area for shopping walking with ample seating and ample drink spots. Restaurant Staff is excellent, attentive, friendly. Restroom access is thru the kitchen, a water closet. Nice but very small. Had pork belly biscuits and hush puppies for appetizers. Both were good, but not really exceptional or unique. Benton's bacon bolognese pasta was fresh light and very good. Disappointed in 16 ounce prime ribeye. Market Price expectations resulted in underwhelming performance for me. Temperature medium rare perfect but not as tender as prime grade I routinely buy for home. Mushroom and black garlic puree and crispy potatoes were tasty and uniquely understated. One side dish I was impressed with was the asparagus and mushrooms with smoked onion jam. Spectacular flavor and perfect compliment to any entre. French press coffee is pricey $9 but very good. Chocolate cake with Carmel ice cream is bite sized. Very good, but pricey for a sample sized desert. Meal less tip a little over $200 (2 of us), but was more a $150 experience. Overall first experience was good, but not a must return soon kind of meal.

Very fun friendly upscale experience with excellent cocktails that match the excellent service. I had the orecchiette with lobster-deliciously spring fresh. Blue cheesecake was outstanding. Coming back again and again.

We've been twice and both meals were exceptional. Not only is food consistent and delicious but the service was better than I've received in top restaurants around the world. We felt welcomed and taken care of every minute. I can't say enough good things

Grilled shrimp appetizer was great with a kick. Bacon bolognese was tasty with crunch added via cornbread crumbles. Very cosmopolitan vibe and service at bar was excellent

J C Holdway was our favorite dining experience during our visit! Knoxville native, Chef Joseph Lenn has created an incredible restaurant offering only the best farm to table cooked by wood-fire. His cuisine honors his late Uncle Joe's legacy of appreciating great food and showcases the freshest ingredients of the Southeast region. The J C Holiday team provides wonderful hospitality in an elevated and beautifully designed space. Each dish was exceptional and packed so much flavor in every bite. This establishment is not only a celebration of his hometown and what wood-fire cooking means to him, but also what happens when someone chases their dreams. And his cuisine is a perfect reflection of that.

My wife and I heard nothing but great things about this place, yet it took us almost three years to finally dine here. It exceeded my expectations! The decor is a post-modern style with an upscale tailored look. We visited on a Tuesday without reservations and had no problem getting a seat. For some reason, the hostess had to get the manager when we asked to be seated. The manager then took us to a very romantic, almost secluded table in the back corner, which provided privacy from other diners. It appeared they purposely spread the diners out throughout the restaurant because of the light attendance. Domingo was perhaps one of the finest servers I have ever experienced! When he learned it was our first time, he gave us the menu tour of a lifetime, providing explanations and suggestions. I started with a glass of Pinot Noir, which was delightful. My wife and I then shared the kale salad. This is truly a kale salad for anyone who doesn't like kale. It was magnificently tender and tasty, with some unusual twists. We then shared the pork osso bucco served on cheese grits with shredded sauteed red cabbage and turnips. The pork didn't even need a knife to eat it was so tender. The flavor was spectacular. I finished with a drink of very rare Kosher Buffalo Trace whiskey. The pace of the meal was perfect, and the service was outstanding. It was everything we had hoped for. True fine dining.

This restaurant is a MUST visit when in Knoxville. The Prime Ribeye was easily one of the top two steaks we have ever had. The food and beverage knowledge of Adam, the GM, and Grace, our waitress, was beyond compare. Their service, the atmosphere, and the amazing quality of the food made this a night to remember. We will be recommending this establishment to everyone we know and returning whenever we are in town.

Delightful farm to table, excellent service. The pork literally fell off the bone- I would eat it as my last meal! Our waiter was super accommodating, and even brought us hush puppies for our anniversary on the house!

Trendy modern farmhouse type feel with excellent farm to table plates. Definitely has a Blackberry Farm vibe, which makes sense since the chef was once there. It's moderately priced, but everything worth it! We ordered several snack plates and a full entree: pimento cheese (5/5), hush puppies (5/5) good, both plain and with the comeback sauce. Farm egg dish was like upgraded chicken and dumplings! (5/5) my husband and I shared the ribeye - good for sharing. Steak was cooked to perfection, had good flavor too. (5/5) didn't care for the accompanying sauce. We finished with dessert - the chocolate cake with coffee ice cream. WOW! Portions are easily shareable when ordering multiple plates. Attire is trendy casual. Great wine list!!

One of the best places for a meal in the city! Food is amazing! Service was the best! The atmosphere was extremely comfortable and made for a great time!

Excellent all around! Food, service, wine pairing.... Easily one of the best restaurants in Knoxville.

Service, ambiance, and food are the best in all the city. We love this restaurant and can't wait to come back for more! Flavors are out of this world!

Over food good, can't say it's the best in Knoxville. The service though is bar none! Great all around experience.

Service was to die for . Drinks were out of the this world . The grilled shrimp maybe the best I have ever had . The atmosphere Was really good . My only knock on this place was the sides in my humble opinion they lacked flavor . But I will definitely eat here again

The reviews are right! This is The Place for a lovely night out and for great food. My husband and I celebrated his retirement at J C Holdway recently, and we had great service from the kind and professional Domingo. He recommended a lovely wine for me and talked us through the menu. We started with the scallion hushpuppies and the grilled wings, both of which came with a fabulous dipping sauce. Both were spectacular. I used the chicken wing sauce on the hushpuppies and thought that was a better sauce than the one that was served with them because it was more spicy. For dinner, we shared the 16-oz prime rib. After a question to Adam, the manager, he told us that all of the pieces had the string that we found unappetizing and rather large in our rib. He recommended that we let him replace the one prime rib with two filets, knowing that this selection would be quality. What great management! At this point in the meal, we decided to share a filet, and it was cooked perfectly and tender. So delicious! Too bad we were too full for dessert. This is our new favorite restaurant in Knoxville, and I know we will be back. We were most impressed with the level of service. Above and beyond. Thanks to all for a great evening!

We parked and saw the entry, it was appealing. We had 2 hours prior to a show we were attending. Bright, welcoming, greeted and seated without issue. Best part we got to sit at the bar and watch the kitchen dance. Amazing performance and I will do it again and again and again!! We started off with the onion dip. It was light and refreshing so you hardly tasted the onions but the caviar gave it an extra little twist of flavor. The homemade chips are to die for!! We then moved on to the pork loin and all I can say is lick your plate clean. Moist, Devine, cooked to perfection and the farro and butter OMG!!! I'm going to dream about this dish. Only one problem I wanted MORE!! The salmon was thick and juicy, seasoned to perfection, accompanied by a delightful light tangy salad. My mouth continues to water as I think about it. We finished with the chocolate cheese pie which was rich, dense and had a phenomenal crust. The bartender crushed the old fashion made with four roses. They use their local rum for a Cuba libre and their Mai Tai was done very well with a light kick. We hovered over Seth who was making the appetizers, salads and desserts. He walked us through the kitchen stations and the details of all the dishes. He raves about the restaurant and when you work there and have positive things to say then you know it is a win win. Kudos to the staff we saw them grilling the fish, steaks, chicken and pork loin. PERFECT!! The sauces and the fryer impressive!! Then hats off to the gentleman with the crazy stash who was running the ship without a blink of an eye!! No complaints everything was perfect! We will be back!

Food is transcendent, service makes us always feel at home. From the moment you walk in the door, it feels both unique and familiar. The wine recommendations are always on point and come with a great story.

A little past our dining experience but too good to not review. We have now been to JC a handful of times and none have them have disappointed. From the moment you walk in the door the ambiance draws you in and then there's the service! Everyone is friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and on top of their game. Every. Single. Time. Add to this an amazing menu that revolves around the season and you cannot go wrong. And what is food without drinks? To top off their delectable offerings JC's has a wide variety of beverages with very delicious and thoughtful seasonal and speciality drinks. Again something we try each visit. The coffee service is also something to mention. They have this down pat. I get coffee with one of their decedent desserts and it just completes the experience. Combine all of this with being able to see in the well oiled machine of the kitchen and you've got yourself the perfect date night! Cheers to another local gem!

This was my last night in Knoxville, TN and I wanted to treat my hosts to a nice dinner. I had already identified JC Holdway as one of the restsurants that I wanted to try, so we all came to have dinner, and probably reinforce the positive opinion that my hosts had of the venue, and possibly forge my own. They had made the reservation, so we arrived at the hour and were promptly seated by a charming hostess. We were there on a Tuesday, and we were surprised at how packed the restaurant was. The decor of the venue is all modern and slightly "shabby chic" with warm tones, in grays and browns, with wood log accents and rustic, Appalachian-inspired chairs. The menu is not long, with a curated list of appetizers, mains, sides and deserts. The wine carte is extensive and somewhat eclectic, with domestic and international reds and whites and a few rosés. To begin, we had two cocktails (Bees Knees and a Manhattan), both expertly prepared and for dinner glasses of a Gurstzaminer white recommended by the sommelier. One of my dinner companions chose a green beans, morelle mushroom and campanelle pasta, while the other ordered a chicken liver pâte starter, While I opted for a red leaf salad: all of them utterly delicious! For seconds, we all had the 16 oz. Ribete with potatoes, turnips and zucchini, which we all agreed were some of the best streaks we had ever had. Quite impressive. The service was attentive, warm and friendly. My only quip would be that some of the dishes were overpriced, but the quality and freshness of the ingredients compensated this point of contention. So I can safely say that my last dinner in Knoxville did not dissapoint !

First of all Ken is amazing! 2nd, GET THE ESPRESSO MARTINI!!! 3rd, the blue cheese cheesecake may be the most exquisite dessert I've ever eaten. It was outstanding!!! And don't even get me started on the entire meal - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

My husband and I went to celebrate my birthday on Wednesday night. We got an item from each course to share. Our order and my thoughts are as follows: Snack Plate: Smoked Fish Dip & bbq chips 5/5 Smaller Plate: Pan Seared Scallops, marinated green tomato, cucumber & gremolata 5/5 Smaller Pasta: Pappardelle, Benton's Bacon bolognese, parmesan & cornbread crumble 4/5 Larger Plate (not pictured): Roasted Chicken, squash pavé with white cheddar, charred spring onion & smoked tomato vinaigrette 3.5/5 Dessert: chocolate cake with peanut brittle and buttercream frosting + my free birthday scoop of stracciatella ice cream 5/5 The dining experience was excellent! The price point certainly makes this a "special occasion" restaurant only for us. But, the experience was worth the cost, if you can swing it! The staff made us feel welcome from the minute we walked in, wishing me a happy birthday and even having a "Happy Birthday" card set up in advance on our table. Everything we ordered was good, some items were great. The only thing I would have changed was ordering the roasted chicken for our main course. It was pretty standard and didn't feel worth the $$. Otherwise, we had a wonderful time at J.C. Holdway!

My partner and I went to J.C. Holdway for our anniversary this last week. it was the PERFECT dinner!! The food was absolutely amazing (ribeye was melt in your mouth good and the crab cakes were crispy while still fresh). When it comes to service, Domingo was outstanding. He was happy to recommend items to us and had conversations with us about our dating history. It was so nice to reminisce with him and my partner about how far we've come in the past couple of years. I loved the ambiance as you could see the kitchen and people watch while still having an intimate dinner. Would recommend this place to anyone!!

Went with my wife on vacation. It was crowded but we got a seat at the chefs table. Fantastic service. Great old fashioned. Will definitely return next time we're in town

We stopped here on our last visit to Knoxville based on reviews. Great vibe and decor, and service was excellent. The food was not as good as we had hoped especially considering the price. We shared all plates at the recommendation of our server. We found the pimento cheese very average and rather salty. The corn bread was good and paired well with the butter. We got the New York steak which was not on the menu and it was exceptional. Tender, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The Mafaldine pasta was disappointing. We felt it lacked flavor and overall very bland. The roasted chicken was moist and good. We skipped dessert as none of options excited us. Overall a very nice restaurant and worth a visit. I agree with previous review and most items not as flavorful as we prefer.

A great place for formal dinners and the staff are really nice. The appetizers, entrees (specifically the pasta dishes and chicken dishes), and desserts are all stand-outs.

Every last detail was tended to here. I had the truffle pasta (the pasta is made in-house), my husband had salmon, and we both shared beets, brussel sprouts, and sweet onion dip, all prepared to perfection. Our server, Zack, was on point for the evening. We will be back when it's not Lent to try the meatier items:)

First time in Tennessee and friends brought me here for dinner. We sat at the bar. I had the Bold Fashioned cocktail, which was FANTASTIC. I had the butter lettuce salad and Handkerchief pasta dish. SO GOOD. For dessert I had the olive oil cake w sorbet... also amazing. Not a lick of food was left on any of the dishes set before me. The service was friendly, attentive, and on point. The chef came out and visited w us, and he was so kind. The ambiance and decor are also on point. Can't say enough about this place. It's really frkn good.

Delicious! Really nice staff! Can't wait to go back! Thank you for a great evening.

My friend and I enjoyed a delicious tasting menu here. Every dish was beautifully prepared and tasted amazing. The Koji ribeye was the highlight, looked so simple but the most unique flavorful steak we've ever had. The chef was so nice to tell us about all the sourcing and prep details as well. We sat at the bar and the restaurant had a wonderful feel as we enjoyed our dinner and wine pairing. Such a wonderful dinner!

Lia and Andrew are the best bartending team ever and made our dinner the most indulgent and memorable experience! Kudos to Chef Lenn, it must be hard to be so talented and creative in the kitchen but we thank him for carrying the weight of his brilliance and sharing it with us all. Can't wait to come back!

My favorite of my 3 previous reviews got deleted so here's a summary of all my thoughts: 1. Hands down my favorite restaurant in ktown. 2. I like sitting on the lackluster patio so I can have a more private feeling experience. 3. If osso bucco is ever on the menu GET IT. 4. You can't go wrong with the food, it's all the best, but some things I've really enjoyed in the past off the apps are the wings and hush puppies. 5. Get dessert. 6. Sommelier made me feel awkward. I'm not a wine person though. Drinks lately have not been as fantastic as they once were. You and me always forever, jc holdway!

I've been to J C Holdway several times over the years - usually to celebrate a special occasion since it is considered one of the best and nicest restaurants in Knoxville. I like to wear something a little nicer when I dine here, but there are plenty of people who keep it casual. Absolutely make a reservation - especially for a weekend evening, you'll want to be sure to book over a week in advance. I'm vegetarian and for the most part I'm still able to have a great meal here. One time we just ordered a bunch of sides and small plates to go and it was incredible. But my most recent dine in experience was a bit underwhelming. JC used to have this delicious grain bowl type dish with broccolini that was a unique veg option and my go-to every time. Now they have vegetarian pasta options which is great! But if I want good pasta for dinner I'd rather just go to Emilia. My last visit might have been a 4 but overall gotta give JC a 5 for its commitment to quality food and service over the years.

Tremendous staff - so pleasant and mannerly. The kale salad app was very good; the chicken confit slow cooked egg soup with gnocchi was top 3 best soup ever. It was amazing! Good wings Get the roasted chicken - so tender and moist and flavorful. They r known for it and base the whole kitchen around the chicken. Did I mention the soup.......?

UNBEATABLE! J C Holdway honors wood-fire creations, exciting new menus, southern techniques, locally grown produce, and rural Appalachian infusions! Each dish is served family style and is more surprising than the last. The oven roasted chicken was like none I've ever tried before, mainly because they choose to salt-brine for two days before roasting. J C Holdway's process forms deep flavors and an impressively light and crisp skin on the chicken. Do NOT overlook the pasta! A New York Times article is being written on this dish and you don't want to miss the chance to try it! From the cornbread crumble to the Benton's bacon, there's nothing like this dish anywhere else. Finally, I wouldn't normally mention a salad, but oh my! The salad is a rich combination of herbs grown by the head chef, Joseph Lenn, himself. J C Holdway provides a beautiful atmosphere, incredible taste sensations, and the kind of service where your glass will never run empty and you'll want to invite them to sit down at the table! For any special occasion, there's always a cost, but J C Holdway's is worth every penny. Not to mention, you'll support a local Knoxville business, farmers, and gardens galore!

My boyfriend and I just recently stopped in during our trip in Knoxville and we were completely blown away with J C Holdway... The ambiance was quiet, but still buzzing and full of energy. It was dim and bright enough to see so it set a perfect setting for our date night. The staff were incredible and our server was DELIGHTFUL ! Shame on me for not remembering his name but he made the experience everything and more ! He gave us great menu recommendations, catered to us like family, and even took the best photo of us and put in effort to make every small detail matter ! However, we were a bit shocked by the amount of people from the restaurant that came to great our table. I mean we felt famous. We met the host when we came in, we met who I presume to be the manager, we met the cocktail Sommelier, we met our server, and many more people from the staff! If you like an uninterrupted dinner this may be something you might need to clarify first. We loved it but we could see it not being for everyone's taste. The important part- THE FOOD! The food was nothing short of heaven. We decided to eat family style and order the kale salad to share along with the tagliatelle pasta and Brussel sprouts. They were just perfect dishes, perfectly portioned, seasoned, cooked. You could tell the chef put their best on that plate. We would be happy to return to J C !

From start to finish, our dinner at JC Holdway was amazing! The wine that was recommended was superb and the food was delicious. But the icing on the cake was the outstanding service we received! It was such a lovely evening!

It was a great dinner, it's in the book, 100 things to do in Knoxville before you die. The service and ambiance great as well. First we had a little snack Pimento cheese with benne seed crackers, along with an old fashion drink (best one I've had) I've since had the Bold Fashion even better. Since I haven't had pasta in a very long time I tried the Campanelle - adobo braised duck, andouille sausage, brown butter, kabocha squash & burrata. For desert Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart, toasted peanuts & campfire ice cream,Pumpkin Spice Cake, apple butter & cream cheese ice cream. Top it off with french pressed coffee.

This place is always a family favorite! Definitely more on the fancier side but the food, service, and atmosphere is definitely worth the cost!

Great service, the staff were attentive and cordial. The food was great as well. I got the roasted chicken, cornbread and brussel sprouts. The chicken came with mashed potatoes which were some of the best I've ever had. A tulip at the table was also a nice touch for being around Valentine's Day. I received a call from the manager prior to my reservation to ask a specific detail about a request I had, which is the first time that has happened -- a nice gesture. Overall great experience.

I don't write reviews like this, and I never give 5 starts. However, JC Holdway impressed at everything tonight. The service was incredible-- every single staffer was there to be "of service" in every way. When a busser overheard my son ask me where the restroom was, she said, "follow me." Just one example of many. The food-- perfect! There isn't salt or pepper on the table (because it's not necessary!). My pasta dish was never offered with cheese. Why? Because it was absolutely perfectly balanced. This was the best example of eating what the chef provided because every single bite was masterful. The setting was amazing. I'm drooling over the le creuset service (food geek!), and I can't wait come back! Well done! Best of Knoxville!

The JC Holdway outfit is trying to be fancy without the knowledge to support it. It seems like when they make up their menu, they open up some culinary dictionary and select what ever word they find "delicious". Then they randomly use those words on the menu to give it an air of flamboyance and culinary skills. They will serve you a "Osso Buco" that everywhere else would be called a Schweinshaxe. Doesn't sound that sexy but that's what it really is. They will serve you fish with "Bagna cauda". Apparently they have no idea what Bagna cauda is, they just like the sound of it. But I guess the people visiting this establishment are clueless but still willing to pay an arm and a leg for the bluff.

Innovative menu. Tried multiple things. Wings are to die for. Pork chop was excellent as was the must try slow cooked farm egg. Rib eye was tasty and cooked to perfection. Bacon bolognese was also quite good

JC Holdway is a Knoxville gem! The food here is amazing and the servers really have a good grasp of the menu. The space is warm and welcoming, the old building with a contemporary decor.

Best food and service in Knoxville. Stephen was our server and he was absolutely amazing.

Fabulous Experience! Food Excellent, Presentation Better.. will definitely will come back