Sangria's, Bistro By The Tracks, Bistro 109 among Grub Scout’s Top 10 of 2010

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Bistro By The Tracks, which moved from Kingston Pike to a new shopping plaza on Northshore Drive about a year ago, was picked by the Grub Scout as one of their favorite area dining spots of the year. The restaurant also made best wine selection in this year's Best of East Tennessee.

For some of you, the end of a year means making resolutions. For me, it’s always a time to look back and give one more quick nod of recognition to some of my favorite area dining spots. And as always, these aren’t necessarily my all-time faves — just the ones I enjoyed the most in the past calendar year, presented in the order they were visited.

Sangria’s

Sangria’s made its debut in late 2009, bringing Spanish-influenced cuisine to the masses in a cozy Market Square location that boasts modern and traditional ethnic decor. The restaurant specializes in tapas — appetizer-sized portions that are served to stave off hunger between meals and foster social interaction. Our meal featured seven different items and a chocolate mousse that were all bloody well superb.

Bistro By The Tracks

This was a rare repeat visit to a restaurant, prompted by the business’s move from its previous Kingston Pike address in Bearden to its new digs on Northshore Drive. The setting and the menu have remained consistently upscale, the latter featuring pan-seared scallops, a flatiron steak, the goat-cheese-stuffed Bistro Chicken, and cioppino — a linguini-based seafood-and-pasta dish. But don’t forget to try the lobster corndogs too.

Bistro 109

Downtown Sevierville seems an unlikely locale for a singular dining experience, but that’s exactly where I found this particular bistro. Elegant trappings with artistic accents set the stage for my lunchtime meal, which consisted of fried green tomatoes and a formidable gruyere-and-ham panini. They serve dinner, too, with signature entrees like maple-glazed duck breast, pepper-crusted yellowtail tuna and crab cakes.

Chez Liberty

When Bistro By The Tracks vacated Homberg Place, the space was taken over by Chez Liberty, which is now made over in a black-and-white and metallic motif. Goat cheese fondue started off our meal, although cheese plates are offered as warm-ups as well. Chez Liberty specializes in steaks. I obliged with a 16-ounce, bone-in rib-eye, while The Grub Spouse enjoyed the Key West Grouper.

The Grill at Highlands Row

The debut of this restaurant in mid-2010 marked the revival of what had been a Knoxville fine-dining tradition from the 1930s to the 1960s. The structure has been restored to its original condition, and the menu appropriately reflects the establishment’s fine-dining roots. Steaks take center stage, while seafood, pork and chicken dishes — including top-notch crab cakes — complement the beef entrees. Our fried grit cakes appetizer and turtle bread pudding with chocolate ice cream contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable meal.

Meksiko Cantina

Bistro-style, fine-dining eateries weren’t the only restaurant genre to crack the Top 10 this year. This Farragut-based Mexican-food place impressed me from the get-go with its stereotype-busting decor and unique selection of south-of-the-border goodies. I can personally vouch for the chorizo-topped tarasco chicken and the red fajitas, which were prepared to perfection.

Brazeiros Churrascaria

Meat lovers, rejoice. Brazeiros is here, introducing Knoxville to the carnivore-friendly Brazilian steakhouse experience. For a flat $30-per-person price tag, diners start off with a gourmet salad bar and then flip the cardboard disk on their table green-side-up, indicating that they’re ready for meat. On any given night, six or seven grilled meats are cut from skewers and plated tableside — until you’ve had your fill. The picanha, in particular, is a must-try.

Sweet P’s Barbeque & Soul House

You know that place at Willow Point Marina in South Knoxville that’s been home to a gazillion restaurants in the last 10 years? Now it’s Sweet P’s Barbeque, and with any luck, they’ll stay put. St. Louis-style pork ribs, beef brisket, chicken breasts, pulled chicken and more are cooked on the smoker daily. Our half-rack of ribs, smoked meatloaf and chopped pork sandwich were stellar, and the banana pudding is suh-weet!

Busby’s Tango Grille

You can enjoy a fine meal and get your dance on at the same time at this new West Knoxville restaurant, where exhibitions of professional tango and ballroom dancing complement the fare. Of course, patrons are welcome to go stepping out on the wood dance floor as well. From Tango Grille’s fresh artisan breads to entrees like caponata chicken, seared halibut and New York strip steak, the food is memorable, and the service we received was impressive.

Sweetpea’s Cafe

Another Sevier County eatery made the list this year — Sweetpea’s Cafe in Gatlinburg. The restaurant affords diners near-panoramic views of downtown and the Great Smoky Mountains beyond. The eclectic, antique-style furnishings and displays of local artists give the cafe a tearoom atmosphere. Sandwiches anchor the lunch fare, including a trio of paninis. I fell in love with the Grilled Sweetpea sandwich featuring caramelized pork, cucumbers and provolone on toasted bread.

© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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