Oliver Royale

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this charming establishment, and I must say, it was an experience that delighted all the senses. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the dessert pictured above—a beautifully plated creation that struck the perfect balance between artistry and flavor. The smooth, custard-like centerpiece was delicately infused with tropical notes, complemented by a bright, silky sauce and tart pops of raspberry coulis. Fresh raspberries added both a vibrant color and a welcome acidity to offset the sweetness. The elegant garnish—thin, crisp shards—provided a satisfying textural contrast that tied everything together. Presentation here is taken seriously, and it shows. The dessert looked almost too beautiful to eat, served in a deep blue ceramic bowl that enhanced the vivid colors of the dish. Every detail felt intentional and refined. Beyond the food, the ambiance was warm and inviting. Dim lighting and understated decor created an intimate atmosphere perfect for a relaxed evening out. Service was attentive without being intrusive—staff were happy to answer questions and share recommendations, making the experience feel personal and unhurried. Overall, this restaurant excels at delivering thoughtful, creative cuisine in a setting that feels both sophisticated and comfortable. Whether you’re a dessert lover or simply looking for an elevated dining experience, I highly recommend paying them a visit.

The best chicken and grits I’ve ever had. Went for brunch so cannot speak to their lunch or dinner menu. But their brunch was delicious. Crepe’s were also fantastic a mixture of sweet and savory within the same crepe. Truly delicious food!

Went in for brunch. We lucked out and were able to grab some seats at the bar since we were informed it was by reservations for that day. The selection at the bar is impressive. If you are fan of cinnamon rolls, highly recommend. Also tried their crab eggs Benedict and it did not disappoint.

Reservation recommended. We showed up for lunch and ouch, an hour wait but the bar was wide open so we had brunch. Smoked salmon Benedict and Breakfast bowl. Delicious 😋. Katie, the bartender was attentive and friendly. Would come back for dinner sometime.

I had the Salmon, and it might have been the best dish I've ever had. My wife had the bolognese and said it was amazing. The beef tartare also impressed. Highly recommend.

Austin was our server and had the perfect balance of being attentive and having fabulous recommendations without being overly attentive. The food was phenomenal, we both had the beet salads and I had blackened redfish and my friend the Asian salmon. Highly recommend!

We went there for brunch and I was excited to try the eggs Benedict. They were delicious, creamy sauce. I was a bit disappointed with the salmon, it didn’t taste fresh. The terrace and the atmosphere around was nice.

Oliver Royale offers a refined dining experience with relaxing music and ambient lighting that sets the perfect mood. The service was outstanding, with Allison providing attentive and friendly care throughout our meal. The Oliver Wedge Salad was a fresh and unique combination of chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and pieces of ham, all topped with shaved Parmesan and buttermilk dressing--light yet flavorful. The Salmon entrée was equally impressive, served on a bed of creamy herbed risotto and finished with leeks and smoked trout roe, adding a delicate smokiness. We also really enjoyed the baby beet side, which complemented the meal beautifully. The Fettuccini Bolognese was a standout dish, made with tender short ribs and topped with a bright lemon ricotta that added a refreshing contrast to the rich sauce. The only thing missing? A nice piece of bread for dipping! To top off the evening, we were treated to complimentary champagne for our anniversary--a thoughtful touch that made the night even more special. Overall, Oliver Royale delivered an excellent dining experience with great food, ambiance, and service. Highly recommend!

Hands down the most solid establishment in Knoxville. The food is always amazing and on point. They always have a fresh updated seasonal menu and cocktail specials that will amaze. We love Christoph the host who is the best in the business and is always a pleasure. The service and atmosphere is also great! We try to make this a weekly event and have never been disappointed!

We came here at 930 am on a Sunday. It was dead. Only 6 people inside eating. The patio was wide open. Because of prior reviews that were dog friendly we figured it was still worth giving it a try even though no one was eating here. We were told they had no availability, that they were full! and if we didn't have a reservation, too bad. Imagine my confusion. Well we sat across the street at cafe 4 for over and hour, ate and watched as the restaurant NEVER fill up. This place does not want your service and hopefully the owner sees this to know his employees don't want to work! I have never seen anything like this!

On a whim, my friend and I walked in on a Thursday night after planning to eat somewhere else. We didn't have a reservation, but the hostess was lovely and told us she had a cancellation, so we were seated right away. The restaurant is elegantly appointed, and the service was spot on from the time we walked in until we left. We both ended up ordering the burger, which is now maybe my favorite burger in town. The wait for our food wasn't excessive, and $19 for a burger and fries was not unreasonable for a sit-down restaurant in this area. This will definitely be on my restaurant rotation from now on.

This review only pertains to their brunch. In general, we had a very meh experience. For a restaurant in a beautiful hotel of downtown Knoxville, we weren't impressed. The interior itself is beautiful and the service was fine, but the food unfortunately did not meet our expectations. We ordered monkey bread for the table. The outside of the bread was warm and covered in the caramel pecan sauce, but the center was very dry and cold. I could feel a clear temperature difference from the outside compared to the inside which tells me that the bread was probably old and was unevenly reheated. My fiancé ordered the Oliver Breakfast. His eggs were overcooked. Scrambled eggs should be fluffy and smooth, not firm and rubbery. We liked the hash. I ordered the Confit Short Rib Benedict which also missed the mark. The poached eggs were overdone. When I cut into them, there was no runny yolk at all. They were bordering between soft and hard boiled. The hollandaise was bland. The short rib itself was the only good part of it. Our other family members ordered the Royale Smash Burger and the Smoked Turkey Croissant which they did enjoy, but burgers and sandwiches aren't hard to make. The fries were good. I would guess from other reviews and pictures that the dinner menu is considerably better. Skip their brunch, go for dinner.

We made a reservation and ended up coming a little early and still had no problem getting a seat. The wait staff here was incredible and extremely efficient. I didn't really ever have to ask for anything. The monkey bread is covered with caramel and pecans. It's pretty sweet, but still enjoyable. I would recommend sharing it with three or four people. It was a lot for just two of us. The bacon was perfectly cooked. We were not a fan of the gravy on the biscuit. The gravy had a strange consistency and was pretty spicy. What I ate of the biscuit was kind of stale and crumbly. The strawberry French toast wasn't too sweet, but had a bit of an uneven cook on them. They were crispy on the edges and extremely soft in the middle. The restaurant itself was very laidback, but still had an edge of elegance. I think you could come here dresses up for church or in leggings after studying.

My husband took me here for a date before a comedy show. He did have to make a reservation. We were a little late because of the terrible traffic but we called and they kept our table thankfully. I ordered mushroom toast and we got that and some bread and butter as appetizers. (I was hungry. You have to ask for the bread because they don't just bring it.). They were both very tasty and delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop and the whipped potatoes. I ordered the salmon and truffle fries. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the truffle fries were good too. Afterwards I ordered the chocolate torte. It was chocolate and fudgy. It was so good. We shared it but I ate most of it and I didn't even feel bad. It was totally worth it.

The pork belly appetizer & monkfish smoked Gouda grits main course were to die for!!! 10/10 recommend

We were staying at the Oliver Hotel for two nights and decided to get dinner here our first night (after having a long day of driving and dealing with a terrible airbnb situation that led us to booking a room at the Oliver). We loved the food so much we decided to get dinner here on the second night we were in town as well. We got salads both times, and both were deliciously fresh and had great flavors. Their menu seems to change every season but if you happen to see the Confit Duck Pappardelle on the menu - get it. It was hands down the best item we had and I'd say probably one of the best items on their fall menu. I also had the Fall Orecchiette but found it was just a little too sweet for me (get the fall harvest salad for the same experience minus the pasta). We got the Swedish Sticky Toffee Torte for dessert and it was decent - nothing too fancy. I'm personally not a huge fan of chocolate and tart berries, so I'd imagine if you are, you'd probably like this a lot more.

Decent experience, but considering it's part of a 5 star hotel I had higher expectations. (If this experience was at a random restaurant I'd probably have rated it a little higher, but this place is supposed to be a special dining experience!) We had 12:15 reservations and showed up about 5 minutes early. We were seated immediately. Water came in a few minutes (so weird that you don't get ice) and my hubby ordered coffee. We ordered our food immediately when we got his coffee. The restaurant wasn't crazy busy but it took about a half hour to get our food and our server never checked back on us until that time. Food was pretty good. My hubby had the pork belly bowl. He said the pork belly was ultra salty but was edible with the grits (amazing grits BTW). I had the k-town chicken and grits. It was good but it was weird that it arrived with the egg yolk completely broken. It also tasted really sweet (I'm not sure what was sweet as it was spicy chicken). The grits were super good. Gravy was just so-so. Chicken was really good itself! Service was average at best but what brought down the score was actually the unprofessional attire of our server. She looked more like she was going to a bar to get a guy than working at a high end restaurant. Her boobs were nearly falling out of her ultra low-cut shirt. Every time she stood next to my hubby her boobs were literally in his face. I'm not sure why she felt the need to have them hanging out. Girls at Hooters show less skin than she did. Overall good food, average service but too much cleavage for sure. Even my hubby commented how unprofessional her boobs were in such an establishment.

We had a really good experience here! We had a semi-big bachelorette party group staying in Sevierville where the bride really wanted some boujee brunch. She chose this place because of the reviews, location, and ability to take a reservation for the party. The locale is wonderful. The location could not be better, and the interior is super inviting and gorgeous. The staff was also lovely and attentive. The food was slightly inconsistent and all over the place. We came for brunch and the girls got an assortment of meals. We started with some baskets of the house made biscuits, and these were alright. I ordered the Hangover Helper chicken sandwich with a side of their house-made sausage. This was a hefty amount of food. I really enjoyed my meal, but I saw some girls who ordered different things disappointed with their portion size, and giving various mixed reactions. Maybe I'm just good at ordering. Overall really nice experience, I would definitely recommend this place for any occasion, elevated or not.

We had an outstandingly good meal at Oliver Royale on the Friday before a Vols game day. We hadn't planned far ahead so we didn't have a reservation, and the whole area had long waiting lists or were not taking reservations. We noticed some bar space at Oliver, so we went inside to inquire about the waitlist - we could wait ~45 mins for a table or sit at the bar straight away. We were served by two really friendly bar tenders who did a great job managing drinks for the dining tables, orders at the bar for waitlisters, and the seated bar diners. We never felt crowded or had to wait long for anything. The full food menu was available to us at the bar. The Apple/Endive and Wedge salads were both good, but the star was Petite Filet. The Lamb Shank was tasty, but still had a lot of fat and could have been slow cooked for longer to be even better. It was busy but we enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Will definitely return (with a reservation!) next time we're in Knoxville.

Visited the Oliver last week on debut night for their new spring menu. Five stars for both of these dishes, incredibly delicious!

OMG! The lamb chops were out of this world!!! Good in general was amazing, but the lamb chops were the star! The server was so kind and helpful with recommendations. There is outside and inside seating. Both have a great vibe. Definitely go here!

My feedback is about the same as my last review over 3 years ago! Still a solid 4.75/5, if not a solid 5! The food, service, and overall experience is a great way to have a date night or casual evening out with friends and family. Just an opinion here...Groups of 6 or less would be optimal; anything larger may be tough to navigate having meaningful convos without a lot of struggling to hear. Will be back as much as I can afford to come and support one of my faves!

Went to Oliver Royale for drinks and a snack. Logistics - it is located in the town square and the only parking is on the street so leave extra time to find a spot. Attire - elevated casual. We opted to sit at the bar, but they also have low top tables. The restaurant is small, and I would recommend making a reservation. The bartenders make everything fresh, so be patient. We also ordered the Pan Seared Scallops which were also very good.

Excellent dinner. Austin was a great server! For our anniversary, we had the Salmon and the Lamb Chops. Both were well cooked and seasoned. Thank you for a great (first) experience at this restaurant!

We made reservations for an early dinner. We were greeted by a sweet hostess who seated us immediately. Our server was kind and didn't make us feel rushed when ordering. We had the mussels and clams for an appetizer. I'd definitely order them again. For an entree we split the Fettuccine Bolognese. It was also delicious! This place was beautiful and a calm environment. It would be perfect for a date night!

Fantastic experience here. Can't believe we just had our first time this weekend. Such a gem in Market Square! Austin took great care of us and gave some solid suggestions: we started with Oui Oui Merci cocktail and the endive salad. OMG. Both of these set the bar super high. The warm goat cheese was perfection on that salad. And the portion worked out well to share. Was going to order the beet salad but opted instead to do the beet side - would have liked more gorgonzola on it but the beets were how I like them: small bite sized and more al dente. My petite filet was cooked perfectly. Love the pairing with mushrooms. Husband ordered the Kansas City Strip Steak and I would venture to say that I liked that even better than the filet. Both will definitely order again! Tried the White Lily pear cocktail next and although it was a good amount of sweetness, the Oui Oui was my favorite. We finished dinner with the Panna Cotta which reminded me of flan. Light and a good way to cap off the great meal. OR might have just become our new go-to date night location.

It was suggested by a local business to go here for cocktails and we weren't disappointed! I ordered the BB, a concoction of vodka, champagne, balsamic, and other ingredients. I can't recall to make such an elegant tasty cocktail. My hubby asked what can she make with tequila and although it isn't on the menu it was a beautifully layer cocktail with tequila and Mescal and other ingredients I'm not familiar with. I believe she called it de La Vega. Delicious! Comfortable ambiance. Only had time for a drink but will be back to try food!

My husband and I ate here on a whim while in Knoxville and we were blown away! The food was so incredibly fresh and yummy that even my skeptical husband was moaning in pure happiness. The Benedict and friend chicken were absolute perfection, and the French toast was mind blowing We are already planning on stopping again the next time we are in town

Highly recommend the spicy pasta, scallops and shrimp dish. North Carolina trout was fresh and prepared wonderfully with black rice and broccolini. CJ did a great job taking care of us. Hostess helped us get a table early, big thanks to all!

Surprised that the food was as reasonable as I was told Chicken and waffle excellent Service excellent indoor and outdoor seatinh

Amazing. I've been here both for dinner and a quick cocktail, and each time was a treat. Not only was my food (I got the filet) cooked to perfection, but the drinks (lots of amazing options!) were fantastic as well. They have a menu that changes seasonally which keeps things from getting boring, and their gorgeous bar is loaded with just about every kind of spirit you can think of. Both times I went I was able to get a seat at the bar, but if you want a table or if you are planning to come with a crowd, I'd plan ahead and reserve a table.

Nice place on Market Square in Downtown Knoxville. They were fully booked on a Saturday night, but the bar has full dinner service.. so grabbed that. Tried an interesting ramen -- very salty and full-bore shoyu -- with pork, kimchi, and egg. Decent by-the-glass wines and extensive list of whiskeys.

We came here for their thanksgiving special for lunch and WOW we were blown away. The food was all amazing. The flor de la sangra was so refreshing we almost got another! The food was all very unique and well put together, but my favorite part of the meal had to be the desserts. I'm not normally a dessert person but these desserts were to die for! They may have been a thanksgiving special but I don't doubt that their normal season desserts are also a 10/10.

This place is far better than any review can describe. Everything was phenomenal. The Osso Buco was 5-star, the Steak," also 5-star, the Trout: 5-star - the drinks were really carefully made with tons of TLC, and the service was great; super helpful with describing each dish. Nothing I say can give this place the credit it deserves, other than telling you to go and eat there for yourself. No disappointment whatsoever! I love this place, and can't wait to go back.

I like most of the places in the square, this one is no exception. Great food, tried most of the appetizers and didn't regret any of them. They make a decent old fashioned as well.

After a busy afternoon of downtown Christmas shopping and sightseeing, the sun was going down and as the evening chill set in, some warm adult beverages were in order. We stopped by Oliver Royale for a relaxing get-off-our-feet drink. The outdoor patio was heated and oh so comfortable. We didn't intend to eat but the menu was tantalizing. We ordered the Artisan Cheese Charcuterie Plate and it was wonderfully extravagant. So beautifully prepared and presented. Each bite a sensual gastronomic pleasure. Our server, Sara, was so very pleasant and accommodating. We had a very bored and tired 6-year old with us and she had a hot chocolate especially prepared for him. We snacked and sipped, and watched the holiday passers by as the gaily colored lights came on one by one. Fun times. Great place for a respite from holiday shopping.

Can I give it 6, 7, or even 10 stars?! There are not enough words to say how great this restaurant is. The atmosphere, staff, and food are the best you can find. Sarah, the bartender, was a dear to talk with, order from, and was excellent all around. We ordered the confit pork belly appetizer and ramen (not pictured). Both were out of this world delicious and worth every dollar it cost. Highly recommend trying and we will be visiting every time we come through town.

I was traveling through recently and happened in to Oliver Royale. The interior is chic, the crowd fashionable, and the location is in a happening area of Knoxville. The wait staff was well trained, hyper friendly and helpful. The place was popping when I arrived, so I dined at the bar. Truly craft libations are offered. The salad was fresh, with light dressing and really quite remarkable. I dined on the Carolina Trout, which was a large serving and very well prepared. All in all, a great experience. This is a fashionable place, suitable for great dining as a special occasion or a memorable evening with friends. I highly recommend. Five Stars!! Well done Oliver Royale, it was a meal fit for a King!!

A spectacular dinner!! service was excellent. Sara was delightful. This is a 10 out of 10 in any city in the country or in Europe. Extraordinary food - more expensive than many restaurants in the area but worth every penny and more! A foodie's restaurant for sure!!! We will return Howard

EVERYTHING at this restaurant was outstanding. Each drink item was a twist on a classic. Appetizers, main course and desert were all delicious. If you do the full course, expect to spend a couple of hours here.

This is such a great spot for a girls night or a date night! The ambiance is amazing. Dimly light with candles everywhere and then the bar is light up. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating. Our burger was cooked wrong twice and she took it off the bill and gave us a free dessert. The petit filet MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. It was so tasty and only $34. The Mussels and Clams were exceptional. The sauce they came out in was not overly tomatoy and had some spice. Would definitely come here again!!

Found this place while overnighting in Knoxville. Great food and great ambiance. Sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful. Menu changes quarterly so hoping to try again in my next trip there.

I had the ramen and my partner had the short ribs. Both were delicious but the portion of the short ribs were sub par. Ramen was great and well seasoned, definitely a go to. Out server was great and super attentive. I highly recommend the "brown banana" if you like a sweeter cocktail.

Always enjoy my meals here. For me, meals here, have consistently been the best in Knoxville over the past 4-5 years. Personally, I love that they make their own pasta! The carbonara is my go to when they have it. Scallops appetizer (changes seasonally )and the "tuna pizza" appetizer are also a couple of my favorites. Nice selection of craft cocktails on the menu. Seasonally changing desserts have never disappointed but I'm often too full to enjoy more than a few bites!

Incredible brunch!!! The dinner menu is always consistent in terms of quality as well but I feel like their brunch is underrated or not talked about enough. The fennel sausage is a must have addition to any brunch entree. Bar service can be slow and an improvement to attention to detail would be nice (a guest should always have a full water); the cocktails are usually very delicious though.

I celebrate my birthday at this restaurant each year. Tonight is my 36th birthday. We decided to get a room and had reservations at the restaurant. We were sat at a half set table, over ten minutes passed by and we were not greeted by a server. We left the restaurant, went to our room and ordered room service. Very disappointed to have a ruined birthday celebration.

I went to Oliver Royale with my parents for my birthday dinner and it was fantastic! The food was immaculate and our waiter was just the sweetest! Everything we tasted was incredible and we had no complaints! My mother embarrassingly told our waiter it was my birthday and our waiter was so sweet to give me a choice off their dessert menu on the house! I had the olive oil cake brûlée with lemon curd... and it was to die for! I hope to be back soon because it was such a lovely time!

We had a wonderful time at Oliver Royale, definitely on the pricier side of things but the ambience of the restaurant was very nice. Our waiter was very attentive and the food was very good! We ordered the bolognese, crab cake, and one of the fish plate. However, the menu does change ever so often which is something I enjoy. The drinks were definitely strong -most of the drinks they had were very good and very well made.

My coworker and I stopped here for a Monday night dinner. We were first turned away because they were understaffed. There were a lot of empty tables but still they wouldn't seat us because they didn't have enough staff. We ended up putting on name on the list for a last ditch effort and in about 15 minutes they called us to say they could seat us. Luckily, we weren't too far away and hustled back to Oliver Royale to dine outside on the patio. My coworker and I eat had a salad appetizer and filet for dinner. I had asked to have goat cheese added to my salad but instead I got blue cheese. I later found a hair that was very obviously not mine in my salad. As for the main course, the filet was incredibly chewy and not tender although it was cooked medium rare as I requested. Our waitress even asked why we had left so much on the plate to which we told her our complaint and she took some percentage off the bill. I sent off my credit card but something strange happened when our waitress returned my check. My discounted itemized bill didn't match my swiped credit card payment. (Granted she charged me way less than what I owed) Nonetheless, I then had to track down our waitress to tell her she charged me incorrectly. She fixed the problem and we headed out on the town.

Visited Oliver Royale right before the tree lighting ceremony on Nov 24. This was also the first night of the Peppermint Trail, so many people were out walking and, like my group, were visiting new places to try drinks or quick food they had available. Walked in, and the restaurant had beautiful decor. Bar was full on diners and those getting a drink, even a kid nearby. No one greeted us walking in, and it felt awkward waiting to try and get a beverage at the bar. We were told to move out of the way so that servers could move about the restaurant, however there weren't any patrons seated in the dining room. Once we did get a chance to order at the bar, the staff didn't know what the Peppermint Trail drink was that they advertised online. Understandably it's the first night, but instead of talking to us about the drink, or having a conversation, a manager told the bartender to just make it up. We were given something else that tasted okay but didn't make up for the sour experience. It is my hope that spending quite a bit on four drinks would entail kinder service from the staff at the establishment and a more welcoming atmosphere. I don't see myself coming back in the future.

Food is so good. Can't wait to go back. So yummy. I recommend this place so much. I love the location, super close to our hotel, my yummy small salad is so good, you should try it

I I took a star away for the snooty host. He was not friendly and seemed to be talking down to us. We asked for an inside table. He said they were all reserved. There was only one table taken. We asked to be seated outside. The time we were there the dining room had maybe 3 tables taken. Our sever was friendly and attentive. The food was delicious. My filet was cooked right.

Came in for brunch pre-game day. The best thing I ate in all of Knoxville was the short rib Benedict. Unique flavor and I also loved the Gouda grits and sage sausage patties. Katie was our server she had great recommendations and knew the menu well. Had a few aperol spritz which were a hit. She kept us updated when the kitchen was behind, we were in no rush. Really enjoyed the whole experience.

Best spot to eat in Downtown Knoxville. Anne is absolutely amazing. Grab a drink at the bar while you wait for your table or reservation. Outdoor seating options and good for all means, especially on a college game day. Go Vols!!

I travel for work and ask my clients for recommendations on where to eat and grab a nice drink. This place was highly recommended. I was nicely greeted by a man with pony tail and shown to my seat at the bar. I was lucky enough to catch happy hour. My bartender asked me what type of spirits I enjoyed and suggested a drink based on my preferences. She nailed it! As I mentioned for before I travel for work and this drink was one of the best. It hit the spot. Paired with 6 dollar truffle fries I was very happy. Everyone I spoke to insisted that I try the Manhattan, this drink hit the spot again! Very happy with everything and with happy hour prices I didn't feel like I over spent my money.

The service here is questionable at best but the food is the business. I hate when crab cakes are all filler but their crab cake is allllll crab! Their steak is also massive and delicious. Cute date night spot, very fancy. Wouldn't recommend for families.

I recognize and respect high prices for high end dining. I just didn't get that feel here. The sashimi pizza was amazing!!!!!! but honestly the rest of the food we had was just good. I didn't find a reason for the prices.

We came here for some late afternoon drinks on the patio (which had heaters, a major plus). I was eyeing the specialty cocktails but opted for a Hot Toddy in the end. I wish I hadn't. It literally tasted like they'd dumped in a packet of Theraflu -- no taste of honey or spices or alcohol... just hot lemon. And it was like $10 or $11!! Major bummer. If I make it back to Knoxville and end up here again, I'd be interested in trying the cocktails because they looked really unique, but I wouldn't order this again.