matt ward/special to knoxville.com A Friday night crowd enjoys the music of Nic Mingie and friends and Vernon's Bar & Grill.
I started out the door to Vernon's Bar & Grill without remembering to turn my phone's navigation on. Since having my first child in October, I had for the most part stopped touching my phone while driving so I navigated northwest based on what I knew of the area. Just like I used to do in the olden days where all we had were impossible-to-fold maps that cost $7.99 and vague recollection of how to use the moon as a compass. As I headed down Middlebrook Pike, or as my friend Taylor likes to call it "Middle Earth Pike," I couldn't help but notice I was in Weigel's country. I counted 39 of them in just 12 miles. Perhaps I would run into Mr. Weigel himself tonight bellied up to the bar. Once I got to a safe spot, I turned on my navigation program and landed in the country store-looking parking lot outside Vernon's.
Upon stepping inside, a steady buzz of conversation filled the room from front to back. Nic Mingie and Ryan Berner were on stage playing an acoustic number with just the guitar and bass player. Dave Houser and Cody Bennett returned to the stage at the song's conclusion and the full band quickly broke in to Garth Brooks "Rodeo" which reminded me that my senior class had tried to make "Friends in Low Places" our class song. Stepping away from my intermediary flashback, I stepped to the back of the room to find my place to start documenting my observations. The smoky aroma of BBQ was in the air and the furniture in the back consisted of an assortment of tables all complete with buckets of sauces and roll of paper towels. In case you didn't know it, a roll of paper towels is an indicator that great BBQ is present. Not the kind scared of the sauce, but the kind that requires at least a quarter of that roll be used on your hands and face to avoid ruining your clothing.
I headed out the back door to check out patio, and found where the real party likely happens in warmer weather. Directly in front of my was a stage complete with cover and a sign that read "Hightower Ampitheater." Two toilets garnished the patio near the door with signs that said "butts only" indicating their ash-collecting purposes. The pink flamingo poking out of the upper deck of one was a nice touch. However, I am sure at some point, booze and poor decision-making have led to a joke that no one noticed until the next flaming cigarette caused a mini-explosion.
Crowds start to gather at Vernon's Bar & Grill on a recent Friday night.
Back inside I headed toward the music to get a closer look. Just past the band were two single-serve restrooms with short lines at each. Televisions behind the bar and in the back of the room played various college basketball and football games, but no one seemed to pay them any mind. I did see one fella stationed on the far end of the bar who could have been Mr. Weigel Jr., but I thought it a tough conversation piece with the amount of sound in the room. He would likely have no idea what I was asking him.
There's probably not many better places to grab a bite to eat and some beers between West Knoxville and Oak Ridge than Vernon's. In fact, with as many housing developments as are in the area, the venue is perfectly placed. Owner Chris Brown provides a place to show off his BBQ skills that, while being on the west side of town, still holds on to its country roots evident in not just the decor, but in the food as well. Do yourself a favor and stop by this summer to check out the patio area and live music on the pavilion.
© 2012, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 2
monieka writes:
We know Chris Brown personally. The food is good, good. This article couldn't be written about a better person!
travisthedog writes:
Matt didn't mention the incredibly engaging bartender who works at Vernon's or the hardworking gang making it all happen. Bri pours a good beer and probably knows more about sports than any other person in the bar, Aaron runs a smooth operation in the kitchen and the customer's often get involved on busy nights by busing tables and running food. This is a truly a neighborhood bar and a great place to have fun.
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