71 South — Restaurant in Knoxville

It’s tough to write this review because I genuinely enjoy the food and the location, but I was really disappointed by how the manager handled a situation during brunch today.

I ordered the smoked buffalo salad, which clearly comes with a choice of either cauliflower or buffalo chicken bites. When my server asked which I preferred, I said chicken—but I also made sure to clarify that I wanted the salad as it’s listed on the menu, with no additional add-ons (like grilled chicken, tofu, or salmon, which are upcharged).

When the salad arrived, it came without any protein—just slaw and spinach. It looked pretty sad for a $14 dish. I asked my server about it, and he quickly apologized, saying he misunderstood and thought I didn’t want either topping. He asked which one I’d like and said he’d bring it out right away. I chose the fried chicken bites.

The problem came when the check arrived. Instead of correcting the original error, they charged me an additional $11 for the chicken (at the appetizer price) and gave a $6 credit—bringing the total for my salad to $19. I asked the server to fix it, since I hadn’t requested anything extra beyond what was included with the menu item.

That’s when the manager came over and insisted that the chicken was an add-on, not included in the salad. I showed her the menu, which clearly says “choice of cauliflower or fried buffalo chicken bites.” She pointed to the separate add-on section (with grilled chicken, tofu, and salmon) and tried to argue that any chicken was an upcharge—even though the server had already acknowledged the mix-up and confirmed it should’ve been included.

I was honestly shocked that instead of just fixing the mistake, she tried to reinterpret the menu’s clear wording. I had to be very firm to get the charge removed. While she eventually adjusted the bill, there was no apology, and the whole interaction felt uncomfortable—especially in front of my brunch party.

It was an unfortunate experience that really soured what would’ve otherwise been a...

Me and my friend were very excited to try this place out. We had not seen each other in a long time, and were looking forward to catching up and having a nice dinner out after a long week of work. We came in with excitement and hope for a nice meal, atmosphere, and experience. Unfortunately, we had a bad experience with our waitress. We felt incredibly rushed and unwanted at 71 South. When you dine at a restaurant like this, you expect to be given the space to enjoy the meal and time with loved ones or friends. Of course, if it is extremely busy or the restaurant is about to close, you should have the courtesy and respect for customers waiting or employees to not take all the time in the world.

We had just starting eating and our waitress came by to try to give us to-go boxes and the check. We said that we would like more time, and that in a little while that would be just fine. She came back again shortly to try to end our meal. We finally gave in as we could tell what she was trying to do. At this point, neither of us had finished our plates and were still hungry. We paid and within that minute, we were finishing up our conversation before leaving. She came by yet again to clear off everything as we were still sitting there and it was very awkward and rude. She did not say a word to us while she did this. Please treat your customers better 71 South! We essentially drove all the way to your restaurant, paid for our meal, just not to be given time to finish our food, and to be rushed out with boxes/checks. Restaurants are not supposed to be fast food! Certainly not one that advertises "Step inside and you'll find a casual atmosphere perfect for any occasion - whether it's a romantic night out, a post-trail refuel, or simply a stop at the bar for a drink and a good time." Food was alright, can't say much more since we weren't given time to...

My Favorite Knoxville Restaurant in One Visit!

For lunch today, my husband and I enjoyed the best meal we have had in a long time. We stopped in at 71 South. We found it just by luck; it’s located in the Baker Creek Preserve in a renovated church. It is lovely. Of course, the food is the most important thing, though!

We were both fairly hungry, so instead of ordering one appetizer and one main course and sharing like we often do, we each went for a main course. I went for the Steak Frites, and my better half went for the special burger—a double smash patty with jalapeno pimento cheese. Both came with battered fries. Everything was amazing.

I love steak and have had it everywhere. This is one of the best steaks I have had. It was a 7 oz. New York strip with chimichurri and goat cheese. I ordered it medium, and that is exactly how it came. I’d also like to add that this is just about the only place that has known how to prepare a meat so that the fat properly renders, leaving a mouth-watering additional layer of flavor to my steak. I don’t quite know how to describe the chimichurri except to say that it highlighted the steak, instead of taking it over. My husband agreed. His burger was also perfect. The jalapeno pimento cheese was fantastic, and I am a big baby when it comes to spicy food. It was tasty, but not mouth-burning! The fries are also outstanding, crispy, well-seasoned, and provided in abundance. The price for these items was each well below what we have paid for similar items nearby.

The service was another great thing about 71 South. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and able to answer questions and help with recommendations. He was also able to fill us in on some of the history of the building. He helped us to have such an amazing experience. I can’t imagine anyone not...