Kefi — Restaurant in Knoxville

Please do not waste your time with this restaurant or be fooled by the “Resy” reservation page. This is not a restaurant that has “several extra tables” for walk ins nor a restaurant that honors its reservations time. We made reservations for 8:15, With the description of the restaurant, in the Resy reservation app, encouraging you to show up early to get one of the tables reserved for walk ins or a bar table. We knew our reservations were at 8:15 but working downtown, we showed up a 6:15 obviously early, hoping to get a bar seat or a the table mentioned in the description. The hostess told us we could stand “behind the bar” and our reservation would not be available till our reservation time. This is understandable we were not upset. There were no spots, so we chose to go to another establishment until our reservation time. We showed back up 5 minutes before our reservation and were told we would not be seated for a minimum of 30 minutes. Again there were no seats at the bar and the waiting area, where before was empty, was now packed with people. Obviously at this point upset at a 30+ wait time on top of a reservation, I asked the hostess for an expected seat time. I wanted to know how many reservations were ahead of ours. The hostess, who I would assume has some sort of ownership in the restaurant, told me that they were no longer accepting reservations time moving forward because they could not keep up with there reservations. As a business, admitting this to a consumer seems to be in the column of unadviseable. The hostess had zero clue, concern or care that we were not being seated anywhere close to our reservation time. She had an attitude from the minute I questioned her about the additional 30+ minute wait time. Telling me she had tables possibly leaving but she could not guarantee when. As a new resturants to Knoxville, there are a few basic expectations. Honor your reservation, if you can not, don’t treat your consumer like they are pond scum. Like they are in the wrong for asking when their reservation would be available. An establishment in the old city, is going to be difficult to keep open, treating your consumer as if they are in the wrong or that they are unreasonable for expecting to be seated “close” to the reservation time is ridiculous. I was a server for years, I understand how the restaurant business works. If the mission plan of KEFI is to treat consumers like garbage and to not honor reservations time, I see this as a short...

This had been my favorite restaurant for a very long time. I've probably eaten there on average about every 2 weeks for many years. Ashamedly, I probably should have written over 100 5-star reviews over the years but instead I have repeatedly eaten there and recommended to countless others. In fact, I ate there 2 weeks ago today and it was another 5-star experience. But sadly, I've eaten there likely for the last time. The menu this week changed significantly which was stressful for a repeat customers like my family. Worse, they created these very expensive menus on such thick stock of paper that you literally cannot keep them open. My thumb was sore shortly into the experience and I finally gave up on trying to read the menu. My favorite cocktail on the planet, Meraki Sling, off the menu. The drink they told me was close, wasn't from the same universe and was awful. Sent back. Since we were struggling with the menus, we tried to find things that they still had that we knew. Short ribs, chicken, flaming cheese, donuts. All were disappointing. Short ribs were way over salted. Chicken was only above average (it was the best chicken in Knoxville), flaming cheese was different and not nearly as good. Same with the donuts. I can't remember us ever having a poor service experience until tonight. If we had had one of our usual servers, they may have been able to help guide us past all of the disappointing changes. But tonight, we had a server that couldn't fill a water glass let alone advise us on our meal. The manager asked us to try again but I told her that wasn't likely. If it was just a poor service experience, then sure. But all pieces of the experience were poor. For us to try again, they'd need to start by getting rid of all of their expensive new menus and returning most items. I don't see that happening any time soon and therefore, we may not go back ever again. If you are reading all of the fabulous reviews that other patrons have left (and have been well-earned), please note, you need to ignore all reviews before their changes in...

Have been several times and the first time it was a 5 of 5, next time it was 3 of 5, this last time was 1 of 5. This rating is based on all of these ratings. Since the first two times were good my husband and I decide to celebrate my birthday there and enjoy our favorite entrees, appetizers, dessert and drinks. What a total disappointment! Btw- I don’t like to write any reviews and try to just speak to the manager to discuss the issues. In this case I did call but the manager was off and I told the person who answered the phone who said they were filling in for manager what had happened and would they have the manager call me. It’s been almost three weeks and they still haven’t called.

So here is the results of our night and maybe the manager can read it here and solve this for future visits by me or anyone else. The wait staff did not understand drinks and how to take an order and the bartender had to come to the table to ask a simple question of “do you want large or small ice” and do you want water. I ordered a simple glass of scotch. When we wanted to review the menu we were told to review the bar code with our phone to see the menu. I try never to take my phone out at restaurants and asked for a printed menu. I was told they would see if they could find a printed menu. However, when they did, it was faded and full of food. The appetizer was served with dried out pita instead of the fluffy pita they have with meals. We usually order the chicken kabobs and I will say what we got was dried and the size of grape tomatoes beans. Usually the chicken is moist and big enough pieces to share between two people. The dessert was the best of the whole evening. I must say this was sad for a birthday meal and even told them in advance it was a special evening and birthday, guess no one looks at reservations and comments when seating people. I do understand that everyone is short staff, so I would say take in less customers so quality and service don’t suffer. Here’s to finding another...