Reed: West Knox Hooters topples preconceptions

After visiting as many bars as I have in Knoxville, my friend Greg finally brought it to my attention that there was one fairly mainstream bar I had managed to leave out. After thinking on it a bit I couldn’t quite figure it out, at least not until Greg dropped a few more hints. Thus, we came to visit Hooters for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Obviously there are a few things that run through one’s mind when Hooters is mentioned — namely wings, beer and revealing clothing. From personal experience in several different parts of the country, and from the experiences other have told me about, Hooters tends to be more of a novelty attraction than the typical restaurant and bar.

Until visiting the West Knoxville location I had never actually had a good experience with the service or food. However, this Hooters has surprised me before.

As you can guess, Hooters is a sports bar. From the multitude of TVs to the flow of cheap domestic beer and the scantily clad waitresses, Hooters screams “man-zone” from the highest mountaintop. However, that isn’t to say the crowd at Hooters isn’t diverse. There were actually a couple of families present on the evening I chose to visit, finally proving that hot pants are no longer just for the 13-and-older crowd.

Our experience at Hooters was actually quite pleasurable, including our service. Our drinks were kept full and the friendly chatter appreciated.

Hooters’ beverage selection is what you would expect from the average American beer joint. On draft, you can choose from the Buds, Coors and Millers. Monday night featured $2 domestic drafts.

Hooters also offers a “Thirsty Thursday” special that consists of $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles and $3 margaritas. If you are looking for a place to be for Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 1, Hooters is offering $2 drafts, $3 Hooties (whatever that may be), $7 pitchers and $2.50 longnecks. As far as pricing goes, Hooters at least stays competitive in the booze department.

Now on to the other third of the Hooters trifecta: their food. I have never had a bad experience dining at Hooters. I do, however, think some of their food is a bit overpriced, namely their hamburgers. Greg ordered a BBQ Western burger that cost $7.99. This is already a bit more than I would pay for a burger at most restaurants, but fries will run you another $2.49, bringing the total to more than $10 for a fairly average burger.

Price aside, the food tastes pretty good. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve eaten there except for the wings, which are not my thing. But if you like them, you can find all-you-can-eat wings from 3 p.m. until close on Wednesdays.

Overall, our evening was enjoyable. The cheap beer and plethora of TVs make Hooters a great place to catch a game. Like a bad habit, I will probably be coming back for more.

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