The Brass Pearl

My husband & I enjoyed a delicious lunch. The oysters were fresh. The fish & chips & lobster Mac & cheese were scrumptious. The servers were friendly & attentive. The decor & ambiance are lovely. We absolutely love this place. Prices are reasonable. Only positive things to say & looking forward to returning. Also, their unique cocktail “ship faced” is a delight!

Came here on Saturday night, the food was delicious! My partner and I put down 27 oysters in total, they had an awesome selection. Our entrees were also lovely but I think I found my new oyster spot in Knoxville!

Great place! The calamari is incredibly tasty and this is a place to have delicious drinks, snacks or a full course dinner. They love dogs, very friendly environment. Preston was a nice server, immediately had water for our dogs and gave us a very attentive service.

Seafood place in downtown Knoxville! We tried the Oysters Rockefeller, and steak and fries. Mocktails were not on the menu but they easily made an accommodation. Quality of food, drinks and service were excellent. Very neat atmosphere and decor and highly recommend!

When this place opened up on market square, I was honestly doubtful of a seafood restaurant in Knoxville. Little did I know they would prove me so wrong. I can’t believe I waited so long to come here! I’ve been twice now and both times the food and the experience were outstanding. I highly recommend the salmon or the fried shrimp. Both were perfectly cooked and fairly priced. They have an espresso machine as well, and the latte I had was delish. The inside decor is very chic and the staff is very attentive. Don’t miss out on this gem! 🧜‍♀️

First time was amazing! Thank you to my waitress Hope for fantastic recommendations! Sat out on the patio, cute seating with a nice view of market square. The food was beyond amazing, flavorful and good portions. The prices are very reasonable for how great it was! Ordered a glass of chardonnay, a bump of caviar, oysters and the muscles. The muscles were beyond flavorful, the sauce they're in was to die for. I will definitely return and recommend the Brass Pearl!

The food and service was amazing!! We sat at the bar and our bartender was spot on and very attentive. We had the fisherman stew and fish and chips. My fish was amazing it was so flaky. We also had an appetizer of calamari fries those were good too.

Came here for a drop in late lunch on a Saturday. They had available seats and we were sat immediately. The oysters in all shapes and sizes were amazing, the lobster bisque and fish tacos were awesome too. We will be back in next time we are in town. If you love oysters and fresh seafood, get down to the Brass Pearl and get you some good eats. Came back to Update 7/17/2025 Still as amazing as the last time we dined here. I CANNOT recommend this place enough. Great service, incredible food and the best fried oysters I have ever had. If you are looking for fresh delicious seafood less than 10 minutes from UT this is the place!

Came here for dinner and had an absolutely amazing experience! The server was super nice and attentive, and the restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. We started with oysters on the rocks and the calamari- both were absolutely delicious!! The calamari had a nice bite and the sauce was a perfect pairing, my boyfriend loved his oysters, the taste was great. For our mains we got the fisherman's stew and the swordfish- again, absolutely delish! The stew was, quote, "the best seafood I've ever had" (per the boyfriend) and my swordfish was fresh and cooked perfectly. We could not have asked for a better dinner- we highly recommend you try this spot!

I have never been more thankful for a restaurant - let me tell ya. We were visiting friends in Ohio and to break up the drive we stayed the night in Knoxville. I was able to make a reservation here on Open Table, which is always nice. The restaurant itself is right in the center of MarketPlace Square, which is a cute section of the city that has a bunch of restaurants, bars and a small park that is closed off to cars and only allows for foot traffic . It's honestly really beautiful. They had outdoor seating but it's cold so we obviously opted for inside lol the place itself is a little on the small side, no bar, table service only. But it's not bad for groups. There was a large party of 11 sitting next to us and a table set for 8 in the front of the restaurant. The raw oyster bar is in the back. They had a small but good selections of oysters. The oysters themselves were amazing. I truly loved them. We ended up getting an extra half dozen after our meals! People who have read my reviews already know about my celiac bf lol this place has an entire separate menu for gluten allergies. So you know I love that!! lol he ordered the scallops entree and it was amazing. I was lowkey jealous I didn't order it. The sauce was delicious and paired with perfectly cooked scallops. I ordered the fisherman stew and it was good flavor wise and there was a nice portion of seafood, more than you get in other places, unfortunately the risotto in the dish was kind of hard. It was edible but I was hoping it would have been a little bit softer. I probably would order something else if we ended up back here. The sea bass was calling my name so next time I'll listen to my intuition lol In terms of service every one was really nice. Our server kinda disappeared for a little. I wanted to order a glass of wine but we didn't see our server until the entrees came. By that point I didn't want it anymore. When the entrees came we still had plates/silverware and the oyster bowl on the table. But our server was kind and I'd rather that than stress about the flow of the meal/plates. Maybe they were new. It doesn't matter because it wouldn't detour us from coming back. 4 stars!

Great restaurant in market square! Delicious lunch Beautiful ambiance Great server is Maya Shrimp and chorizo tacos were delicious Lobster roll was great especially those fries! Salmon either broccolini was good! I just had to add a little salt! Love that they serve sparkling water! Thank you 5 stars! Yeehaw Best part was the large waffle running outside the window! lol

It was a gorgeous day and we had the pup so decided to eat outside on their cozy patio. The hostess was so friendly and welcoming to us and our Buddy. Our server, Mya, came right out with a friendly welcoming smile. She brought our pup a water bowl and brought us a bottle of regular water. (They also have sparkling). I ordered the crab cake sandwich and my husband ordered the Pearl Burger. Both sandwiches were HUGE and came with a plentiful helping of fries. They had a tasty seasoning on the fries. Their tea was delicious! The atmosphere was perfect and the chairs were very comfy. We would definitely recommend this place.

Phenomenal taste!!!! 10 out of 10 best food, I've had in Knoxville, Tennessee. My fiancé and I have been all across the east coast including Maine and this little place has been up there with the best of the best fine dining experiences we've ever had! Fantastic job everyone!

My wife and I were in Market Square looking for a place to have lunch. We've lived in Knoxville over 30 years and are familiar with each restaurant in the location. The Brass Pearl has an appealing entrance highlighted by a well decorated patio. Since it was sunny, we opted to eat outside. The menu had a wide variety of options. We were undecided until we saw what the people sitting next to us ordered. I didn't think I'd want brunch but my wife and I knew immediately once we saw their plates. This restaurant has fantastic service. Our wait time was surprisingly short and the food was delicious!. Hot and fresh with a healthy portion. My wife couldn't finish hers but I had no problem. It was great til the last bite. We'll definitely return for a dinner date.

Have tried to go there twice and both times they have cancelled my reservation on a Saturday night at the last minute leaving me to find another place for dinner and wait an hour with no reservation. Won't try again.

Celebrating my wife's birthday and we went there for lunch. Oysters and mussels were fantastic. Henry our server was attentive and helpful when deciding. It was quiet in the restaurant for lunch.

Great oysters on 1/2 shell. Rest of menu looks good. Ambiance is good too. No other similar restaurant in Knoxville.

It was my first time at The Brass Pearl and my friends and I had a great time! It's seafood based, so if you don't like seafood, this may not be the place for you but, they do have other options. Good seafood is hard to come by in Knoxville and the seafood here was ok depending on taste and preference. If you're really picky about your seafood, I would recommend another place. However, the service was great and all the employees were kind and helpful. This is definitely more on the upscale side in terms of price, atmosphere, etc. so save for a special occasion!

I was disappointed with this place. I was really looking forward to trying it out, I had made a reservation days prior for 7:30. We get there at 7:30 and they tell us our table is currently occupied and couldn't give us a time it would be ready. They told us to go walk around the market square, mind you it was a 30 degree night in December but okay! We come back at 7:50, surely the table is ready now that it's 20 minutes past our reservation time. Nope! They tell us our table is still occupied. What's the point in having a reservation if you aren't going to respect it? If I have to show up at my reservation time in order to get my table, the table should be ready at that time, and it most definitely should've been ready 20 minutes later. By 8pm we're finally able to sit at the table we had reserved, cause they refused to sit us as any other empty tables and forced us to wait for these other people to get up, and it was terrible. Table was in a crowded area and servers were constantly squeezing their way through. We couldn't even have a conversation because you basically have to yell to talk cause it's so loud in there. Food arrives. My lobster roll was dry dry dry. My partner had the fish and chips, which were decent. Probably won't be back, literally just because of the chaos of getting our RESERVED table and how crammed we were in there, and the food was not even worth it.

Becca was our server Amazing food - amazing service! Everything was very fresh and the restaurant itself was nice and clean - loved the ambiance and loved the food even more

Stop! If you have made it this far, stop looking, and go to this place. Go now. Do not hesitate, do not wonder, do not keep looking for someplace better. I would not normally expect exceptional seafood in the middle of a landlocked state like Tennessee. However, I was intrigued by a couple of other yelp photos and reviews so I proceeded. I am so glad that I did. For starters, the lobster dip was remarkable. Both my wife and I looked at each other with big eyes and said whoa. We devoured the dip and our anticipation began to build for the entrées. I got the fisherman's stew, which was a first for me, and as I write this, I am looking for an excuse to travel back to eat it again. The flavors combined so efficiently it was like an explosion in my mouth. My wife and I have been married for 33 years and we can talk effortlessly, but our dinner was mostly silent as we were focused on both of our plates. Only pausing to comment on how good they were all the way to the last bite. I continued to savor each spoon full as I dug it back down into the large bowl set before me in an effort to pile another perfectly proportion bite back on my spoon. I savored each one. Unfortunately, they do not have any desserts made "In house". It's no bother - now you can simply eat more food! My wife could not finish her plate (I forgot what it was ) but it was also delicious. The place has a great feel and our server was splendid. A hard working college man well trained and filled with goals and ambitions. Make you way there - and you'll write a review like this too.

We got tickets for the bubbles wine dinner. We really would have appreciated an email or a reminder of any kind! Really disappointed we missed it. In the middle of the week when we both work full time, a reminder for the $250 tickets would be ideal.

Unfortunately I got severe food poisoning right before an international trip from the surf & turf "special" I believe it was one very firm scallop that did the damage. I called two days later to inform management and reached the assistant manager I believe, she said they would do a thorough check of the temperature of their seafood which I appreciate so that no one else has to go thru what I did. If I come back it'll be for fish and chips which I've been told is a favorite and would be hard to get sick from. We had also had some caviar but that tasted fine and 3 of us had that and I was the only one who fell severely ill. Ambiance was nice and the evening we visited there was amble seating.

We went back this weekend and had another great experience. Hannah was great! She made sure we had everything we needed but was not in the way. I had the fish special and it was so good. Hubs loves the oysters. He got the fisherman's stew and it was awesome, the crusty bread was a great addition. The fish n chips and lobster Mac in cheese on our last visit are in the photos. We will definitely be going back to try other options. I still love the octopus light fixture over the front table!

The best food ever. We had an excellent server! Definitely worth the money.we came in to see the city. No better place to eat!

Very good. Calamari and poor boy with shrimp with a beer - excellent dinner. Had some other seafood at market prices like sea bass which I'd imagined was excellent. Fri/Sat reservations needed. Tables with booths which I like for families and outside dining too .

This place is legit! Great food and even better service. Some of the best Oysters I ever had! Highly recommended!

Loved the ambiance at The Brass Pearl! Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious but a bit on the pricey side. I ordered a dirty martini with caviar stuffed olives. My favorite dish was the lobster dip and oysters Rockefeller. Would recommend The Brass Pearl for date night or night out with the girls!

Absolutely loved The Brass Pearl!! My fiancé and I ate here during our trip to Knoxville this summer! We were immediately charmed with the Wes Anderson homage to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The details around the restaurant are just spot on! Next, the oysters were beyond delicious. They had such a nice variety and for such a reasonable price. The quality was 100% there and when we make it back to Knoxville we will absolutely be back for more oysters! The service was really friendly as well and had great knowledge on their products.

Our service/server was exceptional. Super knowledgeable and very friendly. I wish I could remember her name. The drinks were tasty and our food had great flavor. The ONLY thing I would gripe about was the size of the Oysters. They were the smallest things I've ever seen. We put one on a cracker and just had to laugh about it because the sauce drops were bigger than the oyster and we paid $3.25 for basically a cracker. But that's what we get for ordering Oysters in a land locked state. The decor is also really creative and fun to look at.

Pretty average. Had the mussels and oysters. Nothing special. Kinda expensive for no better than the food was. Otherwise 4 stars. Service was decent. Quiet.

Three words...attention to detail! The Brass Pearl is firing on all cylinders...the service excellent; food delicious; and the atmosphere is posh with simplicity! I'll start with the service. Our waiter, Henry, was knowledgeable, prompt, with great personality. Everything you want to provide the perfect experience and he did it. Thanks for making my birthday special! The food was delicious staring with the house oysters (happy hour price 30 dollars from 4-5). We also ordered oyster shooters, which are served in a unique style with a special oyster in the half shell served on top of a special blended bloody mary vodka concoction that I've never seen...kudos to whoever came up with this idea! We also ordered another dozen of "mixed" oysters choosing from the extensive list of available bivalves from around the country. Excellent choices! For our entree, I chose the special strip steak and crab crake covered in a sauce (I forgot what it was but it complimented the steak and crab) that was cooked to perfection (58). My wife ordered the mussels (15) with the kale Caesar salad (11) which come in huge quantities and were delicious! To top it off I was presented with a crème brûlée cheesecake that was to die for. This place is everything you want in a quaint stylish seafood restaurant...keep doing what you're doing Brass Pearl...we definitely will be back! Thank you for a great evening.

Food and service was great. At one point, a manager I think, informed us shrimp & grits would take longer because it didn't look right and she asked kitchen to remake it- we really appreciate this because we understand how hard it is for restaurants to make that call due to time pressure and food costs. Seafood Stew was excellent rivals the best we've had before from San Francisco. We are from Orange County, CA- this place would rival any modern fusion restaurant in OC. Well designed menu + great execution, with service to match.

My daughter and I stopped in the Brass Pearl on a long drive back from a regatta. It is a perfect location right in the middle of Market Square with all the requisite people watching. We split an Oysters Rockefeller to start. The thick cut bacon they used in it was over the top delicious and the oysters were large and high quality. An excellent start to the meal. Next up, we shared the Fisherman Stew, which was more than enough to split. I couldn't get enough of that broth. Rich, spicy, and tomato-y- the perfect bite was some of that broth with the chargrilled bread. Yum! The seafood in the stew was a little tough, however, and the rice mushy. Would have loved a fresh scoop of rice on top of the hot stew instead of having it cooked together. The thing that makes this place 5 stars is the service. I asked our server Maddie for a coffee recommendation to keep me going on the road trip, and she named a place around the corner. When I absentmindedly left my credit card at the restaurant, Maddie hand delivered it to me at the coffee shop before I even realized it was missing! Next time I'm in Knoxville, I'll return for some raw oysters!

Fantastic food, fantastic service. Try an oyster sampler and a bombastic in size shrimp and grits. Also, super well mixed cocktails. Highly recommend. Sat opposite of the bar, works well for a single sitting and no wait.

The restaurant has unique decor, I would say the seating was not ideal (table seemed too small for everything we ordered). Oysters tasted great ! & our server was sweet and knowledgeable

We were joined here by friends for dinner and ended just working our way through the hot and cold apps until we couldn't eat anything else. Never made it to entrees or desserts. The various oysters that made up our 2 1/2 dozen were wonderful. My personal favorite were the Savage Blonde from PEI. The Oyster's Rockefeller were exceptional and unlike any I've previously enjoyed. Rounding out the oyster portion of the evening were Oyster Shooters (a first for me). These could be dangerous they go down so easily. Among other incredible apps were the Lobster Mac and Cheese and the Lobster Dip with Shrimp Chips. Our server, Fallon, was a delight. She kept a watchful eye on our glasses and plates. Additionally, she was very knowledgeable, answering all of our questions. Can't for our next visit, maybe we'll start with the entrées.

The best shrimp and grits in town. Fantastic seasoning on the fries and if ya like it spicy then this is the chicken for you. Love the atmosphere down to the stemware. Cocktails come a bit slowly but worth the wait. Nice to finally see some pride in the food in Knoxville.

Loved this place! Our group had the chilled shrimp appetizer, shrimp basket, crab cake sandwich, and halibut special with risotto. Food was delicious! Also, had the best service-thank you Anna! It's in a lovely spot on the market square. We sat outside and enjoyed the vibe of the square but the inside seemed elegant and lively.

I recently dined at this seafood restaurant and my experience was a bit of a mixed bag. While the overall flavor didn't quite justify the slightly higher prices, the oysters were a standout, delivering a burst of freshness that made the visit worthwhile. On the flip side, the lobster mac left me wanting more, as the dish seemed a bit stingy on the promised lobster. A 3.5-star rating reflects my balanced view of the visit, with room for improvement in certain areas.

Second time here was less exciting than the first, but still pretty good. When it comes to food, you cannot mess up with the Shrimp Basket. The Oyster PoBoy was underwhelming and not "authentic" if that's what you're looking for. Lobster Mac and Cheese was a let down because of the lack of flavor. Service was great and our waitress was extremely attentive. Ambiance is amazing as well. If we were to come again, I think we would change our order up - other than that, great place for a date night!

I got the opportunity to dine at The Brass Pearl during a recent business trip to Knoxville. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but has space for larger parties. Additionally, the light wood and decor help to make it feel open. Our group start with raw oysters. Our server did a great job describing the taste and they were amazing. For dinner I chose the shrimp and grits while my companions had the seafood stew. The shrimp and grits were delicious! Served with about six good size shrimp (no tails) and bits of andouille, the grits were cheesy and creamy and comforting. We all opted for cocktails. The Brass Pearl offers a great martini service. The original cocktails seemed to be inspired by classics with the restaurant's own twist. The wine list did seem a bit limited, but not without solid options. Our server was attentive without being obtrusive. She knew the menu well and did a great job taking care of our table.

Place is soooo good. I had the fisherman's stew and flavors were perfect! I'm only in Tennessee for 2 nights and I'd come back Just to have it again! Staff was super friendly and attentive!

Did like this rest. Today, July 6, NOT GOOD. Nobody minding the store.. so to speak. Wedge had NO TOMATOES. NO BALSAMIC and very little blue cheese. Waitress just kept saying she has never worked brunch. Is that suppose to make okay??? Absolutely terrible service. Picked up our card before we got to see the bill ???? Hopefully the owner sees this. Server named Hope.

Great service and food. The oyster's Rockefeller were made with big oysters. The shrimp and grits are in my top 3 ever.

Was so glad to get to go on the opening weekend! - Oyster bar was fresh and tried two of them all (plus a couple more). - Venue looks really nice with good touches. - Food came out fresh and tasted amazing! Agree on reviews talking about prices, but do go give it a chance! Will definitely be back.

This place was great! Right in the historic Market Square. Service was great. Food was perfect. We started with the grilled oysters which were cooked and seasoned to perfection. My wife loved the lobster bisque. The shrimp and grits rivaled the best I've had down in New Orleans. This place is the real deal!

Fantastic seafood, best I've ever had. Got some raw oysters as well and they were perfect. Lovely outdoor patio seating and great service. Will be coming back!

I legit love this place. I go here probably twice a month, and every single time the service is 10/10. The food is also so so good. I love getting the whipped feta, the mussels , fisherman stew , and oysters. I usually don't branch out from those things, because it's amazing every-time. If you go, definitely get the feta. The managers are so nice too, and the restaurant is beautiful

Was recommended as a romantic option. I would not say this had a romantic ambiance. It felt more like place to have dinner with friends. Food was good but nothing I would write home about. Was really hoping for a lot of fresh seafood, but most of the menu was fried. I doubt I will go back.

Great oysters great service. Scallops were amazing and the Fishermen stew will keep you coming back. Our new Hot Spot downtown.

Ambiance was soo beautiful. The best brunch food in Knoxville, they also have house made bloody Mary's and mimosas

I feel like I'm giving way too many for star reviews lately but it's important to remember that four stars should mean that it's a very very good place. We went on a Sunday afternoon after seeing a show at the Tennessee theater. Really just looking for a snack and a drink more than a full meal, but their menu is varied, and there were plenty of choices whether you're looking for a little or a lot. I am allergic to mollusks, but my wife loves them so we went primarily for her to get oysters. One small issue here and in many places is that you can't order just a few, like two or three, or even as rarely seen, even just one. She had to get a half dozen, but there was a good variety, in fact, I believe there were six different types of oysters available, so she tried one of each. She said they were small, which is good according to her because the smaller ones can be eaten without too much chewing. We also got a lobster bisque and we split an order of fish and chips. Everything was great, two ample pieces of the crisply fried fish. They have a full bar and some very interesting craft cocktails. I enjoyed a nice dirty martini so much that I ordered another one so that we can try both of the premium stuffed olives they offered. One was blue cheese, and one was caviar. To be honest, we both liked that car the blue cheese I wanna go to the get the mail stuffed olives, better than the caviar... I think the saltiness of the caviar was mitigated by the olives being salty themselves. I'd happily go here again for a full meal. Note while it's mostly seafood they did have a couple of meat options including steak frite and I believe a hamburger.

Overpriced and mediocre. Will not be back. Sorry to say, the place is cute but a non starter for me.

Our experience at the Brass Pearl was immaculate. Although we arrived a few moments after our reservation time (parking issues), they took us and sat us immediately with no problem. Our server was pleasant and accommodating, and gave great recommendations. My husband and I got a cocktail "with extended service," which was delicious. Every detail was thought of, right down to the gorgeous crystal glasses they were served in. The blue cheese stuffed olives are an absolute must! Our group ordered the whipped feta, and the bread was crunchy and savory. We also ordered an array of oysters, which were incredible. My husband and I both ordered off the menu specials for our main course. My steak was cooked to perfection and the portions of the sides were HUGE. I couldn't eat all of mine, even after giving half of my steak to others at our table! Even though the space is small, we felt like we could have a conversation with the people we came with without everyone in the restaurant overhearing. The lighting and ambiance was perfect. We would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a special night out!

While we were waiting on our reservation at another restaurant, we decided to stop at The Brass Pearl for cocktails. I had a martini and asked the bartender if she had any interesting gins. She said, YES just got #3. It was really smooth. Asked if she had stuffed olives and she said, YES caviar stuffed! I never had them and I'm sold. Didn't stay for dinner but the menu looked great if you like seafood. next time we'll get reservations here.

This restaurant was a great mix of excellent food, beautiful ambiance and wonderful service. We loved the ability to choose different oysters and the special house sauces.