This review is for food I enjoyed from Brown Bag that was provided at an event they catered. I've got to say from the salad at the beginning of the line through to the yeast roll at the end, everything was absolutely delicious! First, let's talk about the salad. Super fresh and crisp spinach with mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and fresh blackberries. The vinaigrette that accompanied the salad provided the perfect complement to flavor and taste for all the other ingredients. There was also another standard garden salad available with ranch, but if I was going to have more salad (which I did) I was sticking with the spinach and not wasting space with regular lettuce and other toppings, as good as they may have been and probably were. Next up the grilled chicken. Nice bit of char and smoky flavor. There were both larger slices as well as plenty of little crumbly pieces so you could put them on your salad (which I did!). The vinaigrette also tasted great on the chicken as well. For vegetables there were sautéed/roasted zucchini squash and sweet red pepper chunks. Perfectly cooked. Tasted fresh from the garden. Another perfect complement to both the grilled/smoked chicken and salad. There were also mashed potatoes with the skins still in the mash. These were good as well. I've had better mashed potatoes, but still not a let down by any means. Everything I spoke of above finished off with a nice little yeast roll. A perfect little piece of bread to enjoy for the entree and vegetable sides. I realize as an attendee you don't get to pick the caterer at your event, but let's just say if you're attending an event where Brown Bag has catered it you're in for a treat! If you're organizing an event in the area and need catering, my first recommendation to you would be give Brown Bag a call! read more

The front of staff working the register were very rude and the food was just as impolite.

Great service. Good food. Ambience is nice and clean. Seems like a lot of government folks come here during their lunch break.

Worst and driest chicken I have ever had in my life. How can you ruin chicken that bad and then serve to customers?

I've lived next door to brown bag for years and never tried it. I HAD NO IDEA HOW GOOD IT WAS!!! This is the grilled steak sandwich, asparagus and jalapeño corn casserole. All this for $11? TAKE MY MONEY!!! Can't wait to try more menu items!!! read more

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Food is great! Service is meh, but I've had worse. Absolutely will consider doing a catering order in the future. Hopefully I just caught the employees on a bad day, but they need to engage more and smile more. I recommend the grilled chicken with a spinach salad. read more

"No school lunch next week, I'm brown baggin' it."- Young MC from the song "Principals Office" on his awesome Stone Cold Rhymin album, 1989. I knew I was going to have a good lunch when I pulled into my street parking spot directly in front of the restaurant and there was still 50 minutes in the meter. Thank you to the sad sap who is out $1! Very cold day here in Knoxville. Early morning temps below 30F and currently sitting at a bone chilling 42F. Too bad, because the outdoor courtyard would be a great place to have lunch and enjoy the sun. Instead, I am cooped up inside, staring outside the window like an abandoned puppy up for adoption at the pound :( The menu is filled with mostly healthy items. I always love that. I settled on the grilled chicken. Came with two sides: I got jalapeño corn casserole and berry slaw. The chicken was slightly dry but still good. The casserole was delicious with just the right amount of spicy, and the vinegar based cabbage slaw was enough to have a cooling effect. I added a brownie and it was perfect. So chocolates and silky with chocolate chips. Gooey perfection. I ate a couple bites and am saving the rest for later. Service was freaky fast™. I ordered, got my water, sat down, and my food was already ready. How did they do that? A solid lunch spot for sure. I got my entree with two sides and the most delicious brownie ever for $10. I call that a bargain. read more

Brown Bag - Grilled chicken, jalapeño corn casserole, berry slaw, decadent brownie - American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Don't think you need to be a downtown suit-wearing banker on his lunch break to enjoy this place. Yes, it does get super busy around lunchtime during the week, but it was a perfect lunch spot for 3 adults and 3 kids around 11AM (before the lunch rush). They had a large table and high chairs so we fit in just fine! Service is super friendly and recommendations were solid. When I asked what was on the chicken sandwich and was told Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, and onions, I thought twice. I'm used to the BLT version of a chicken sandwich so this was out of the box, but I was told that it's really good and it was! On ciabatta bread too so that made it even better. Speaking of ciabatta, make sure you get the grilled cheese (kids menu) on ciabatta (also recommended by my knowledgeable order taker). Love the grilled asparagus cooked perfectly and the jalapeño corn casserole is pretty good, too. Their spinach salad (if you're the healthy kind) has blackberries, oranges and a delicious dressing. This time I opted for the tomato bisque. It was OK but on the spicy side which was kind of surprising. The first time I came, I had their tacos on special and they were fantastic. Not sure if they are permanently on the menu now, but I would highly recommend them if offered. Oh, and they have small ice balls for drinks! Gotta love that :) read more

So I literally work around the corner from the Brown Bag and I regret not ordering from here before! I had the lunch portion chicken with two sides, the cranberry salad and the corn hash. It was amazing! So fresh and flavorful. Plus, I happen to say it was my first time there and I got free banana pudding that was amazing! read more

This new restaurant is located in the First TN plaza at the intersection of Gay and Main. You order at the counter and their menu is written on a board above the cashier. They have a couple of meat dishes (chicken, steak, salmon and maybe pork?) and about 6 side items. You can either pick 2 or 3 side items with your meat. Or get 3 veggie sides. They bring out your meal to you pretty quickly. I sat out on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful beautiful courtyard. The meal was pretty delicious. I got the red skinned mashed potatoes, snap peas and berry slaw salad. All three items were deliciously yummy. So yummy that I will likely go back for lunch today. It is a little pricey. My meal cost about $9 including tax without a drink. They are open for breakfast at 7:30 and close at 2:30 pm. A great option for people who work downtown. Parking is somewhat of a pain since there are no city garages immediately close by. The privately owned garages charge a ridiculous amount ($1 in 20 minute increments). I recommend utilizing parking meters if you are lucky enough to find one open. Nice downtown addition. Comes highly recommended! read more

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Healthy and fresh fast food options that won't break the bank! This is a much needed staple among Knoxville's fresh bites and is a meal planner's dream. The have many offerings that change daily with various proteins, side carbs and fresh seasonal vegetables. My personal favorites are the strip steak and roasted red potatoes. You can either do pick-up or sit-down at their ample dining space. A few local food services also partner with them if you are in need of downtown delivery. They also have catering available, and I have had the pleasure of using them for business meetings a few times. The food was always hot and fresh and delivered/set up on time. read more

A very solid choice for lunch. Most of the crowd is business people from the office towers, but all are welcome. Order at the counter and they bring the food out to you quickly. The decor is minimalist modern. I got the grilled chicken with baby spinach salad and mashed potatoes as my sides. It's a lot of food. The chicken was tender and the grilling tasted good. The salad also has orange slices and cranberries. $8.50. read more

Brown Bag - Grilled chicken with baby spinach salad and mashed potatoes. $8.50. Tasty and relatively healthy. - American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Seriously - excellent food & wonderful staff! I would eat here every other day (because I can make two lunches out of one entree) if I could afford it. What happened to affordable lunch places? I guess I am showing my age with that comment. But I love this place. Consistently good and the specials are always a hit. The specials run the entire week and usually sell out early. The husband and college-son love the steak sandwich. I love any of the taco entrees (flatbread for the tortilla). All of the sides are great but love the spinach salad, grilled asparagus and new sautéed vegetables. So happy to have a great place downtown for lunch!! read more

I have ordered catering from Brown Bag dozens of times and they never disappoint!

This is a really great addition to this end of Gay Street for breakfast or lunch. First, the menu is small. That's fine because it's all consistently good and fresh. I work in the building and I like to get the bottomless French Press coffee in the mornings. The savory breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, sriracha, cheddar and spinach is legit. They used to offer yogurt and papaya, but I haven't seen it lately. I hope a similarly fresh / light option appears on the menu soon. Lunch - I always get the regular / plain grilled chicken with double portion of spinach salad. Other sides are asparagus, red potatoes, snap peas, chopped salad. Other entrees are teriyaki chicken, steak sandwich, fish tacos. I also recommend the banana pudding. Definitely check this place out if you're Downtown early for breakfast or lunch! read more

"WOW that's a good sandwich!" Brown Bag serves some of the most amazing breakfast and lunch I have eaten out of a bag! The environment is nice and clean with the nearly constant bustle of business professionals flowing in and out. The prices are at the upper end of average but you get what you pay for. You MUST try the savory breakfast sandwich in the am which is a Bacon, Egg, Cheese sandwich that ads Spinach, Tomato, Red Onion, and light Sriracha Sauce on a Whole Grain English Muffin. you MUST eat a grilled steak sandwich for lunch which is the best thing I have ever eaten: its streak fresh of the grill with caramelized onion, horseradish, provolone and steak sauce on a ciabatta roll. Eat at Brown Bag and you'll wonder why you waited so long! read more

One of my favorite places to eat in Knoxville. I wish they were open longer hours...but I just make time between 11AM-2 PM to get there. I love the fish tacos...berry slaw...and kettle chips...then throw in a banana pudding to go! Really...I have not eaten anything there I did not like. read more

So good. For those who are health conscious this is an awesome alternative to fast food. Great spinach based salads, grilled chicken, grilled steak, and even a few comfort foods thrown in! They have great catering options if you are looking to feed a crowd! read more

Great lunch fare. So glad that a good restaurant has moved into this space downtown. Conveniently located next to First Tennessee building where Lunch Box used to be. We had lunch delivered yesterday. Spinach salad topped with fruit was fantastic. Everything was super fresh. That salad had blackberries as big as a tricycle on there! Grilled chicken was perfect. Mash potatoes were the bomb diggity bomb. The brownies were orgasmic! Needed a nap after that bad boy. Great people. Great place. Super fresh food. Get out and support them. read more

My friend ordered catering for her event from brown bag and I fell in love with their red mashed potatoes. I could never look at potatoes after eating it every day for multiple times a day for 10 days in Poland. Being vegan was tough in Poland. It's been 4 years since that incidence and I decided to give it a try. It was so good. It was creamy, chunky and nothing like your average mash potatoes. Was it because it's a red potato? Doubt it. Any sort of potato grosses me out. I also had the green string beans and salad with tangerine, raspberries, cranberries and two types of dressing. These were okay. I love the fruity mixture for the salad and that the string beans weren't oily but it was nothing to be crazy for/about. The brownie didn't win my heart either. I love flaky brownie tops with a moist inside but not too moist where it seems uncooked. This brownie had the texture and taste of a package brownie so I was easily able to pass on seconds. read more

Brown Bag - Mash potatoes, salad - American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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We had them cater to our school this week. The grilled chicken was wonderful and the mashed red potatoes the best. The spinach salad is my favorite. Can't wait to eat there. read more

This is a great spot for lunch if you work downtown. While the prices are a bit high for one dollar sign, the amount of food and the quality are well worth it. I frequently get the salmon burger with spinach-citrus salad and potato salad. I've also tried the grilled chicken and asparagus. All are fantastic. Fresh, filling, healthy, and delicious. The service is friendly and fast as well. I couldn't ask for anything more. read more

I eat at Brown Bag today for the first time. I ordered the steak sandwich and asparagus and mixed vegetables. The sandwiche was hands down the best sandwich I ever had. I will eat there whenever I'm near one and would recommend this place over most down town read more

Brown Bag catered my wedding a few weeks ago. They were so easy to work with! They communicate well and work to make sure you have everything you need for your event. Of course their food is totally delicious and our guests raved about how tasty everything was! read more

The food is always fresh and delicious and the service is always fast and friendly. Today, they went beyond. I got some of their yummy banana pudding with my order because I don't feel good and need a little something special - they threw it in for free. I know it wasn't much, but it really turned my day around. read more

The other reviewers aren't lying when they say Brown Bag has great food at great prices. This truly is a gem of Knoxville. That steak sandwich is amazing. read more

Brown Bag is delicious. I usually have (I did today) the teriyaki chicken with red mashed potatoes and asparagus and it is always excellent. Recently I had a steak sandwich and it was delicious too. The service is excellent and quick. I work downtown and often have to inhale my lunch in between appointments, and when that's the case, Brown Bag is my go-to. You won't be disappointed. read more

This place is a diamond in the tiara of Knoxville's reputation for great food. Simple pared down menu allows you to put together the combination you desire from a variety of fresh meats and sides. I chose the tuna burger with fruit slaw, and it did not disappoint! The fruit slaw was unlike anything I'd ever had- it was sweet, it was colorful, it added the perfect amount of crunch as a side. Rich, unexpected yet classic flavored turned into a perfect lunch experience. My friend ordered the steak sandwich and mashed potatoes, which were both divine according to him. I highly recommend! I've heard their catering is wonderful as well. read more

The Brown Bag continues to impress and is now a regular stop at least once per week. Quality staff giving great service and providing broad choices of good food is always on the menu at Brown Bag. read more

This is an solid choice for a quick, satifying lunchtime meal. I was on a short business meeting break and, being new to the Knoxville area, I sought a recommendation from the local office staff for a fast sandwich and I got a resounding suggestion that Brown Bag was the place to go. They were right! Upon walking into the restaurant the first thing I noticed was that it was clean--so bonus points before I even ordered. The counter help was pleasant, and I completely followed her recommendation for my lunch order. I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich (caramelized onion, horseradish, provolone and steak sauce on a ciabatta roll) and for my two sides opted for the Red Skin Mashed Potatoes and Baby Spinach Salad. I was completely satisfied with al three items--indeed, I wish there was a Brown Bag back home! Lunch for myself and a business associate (he had and enjoyed the Steak Sandwich) was less than a Jackson (ok, admit it, did you just have to thumb through your wallet to check currency mugs?). read more

My workplace ordered this and it was like most brown bag lunches...bland and boring. I might suggest a name change as brown bag is not very inviting and brown is one of the worst colors. Onto the food, the beef and pork options were both overcooked and under seasoned. A little salt and pepper go a long ways for flavor. The zuchinni and roasted red pepper dish suffered from poor consistency and knife work, with some cuts pair thin and other pieces of zuccini 4 inches thick, leaving some pieces over cooked and mushy and other pieces raw. Mashed potatoes also needed salt and pepper. read more

I used brown bag to cater a work lunch for me. I like them because they will cater and deliver to small events [10 minimum]. The food is fresh and a great selection to choose from. Their spinach berry salad is delicious. Excellent price for what you are getting. Delivery staff was knowledgeable and friendly. read more

I stopped in for a quick lunch mid week. I asked what their most popular items were and they replied their chicken and steak burgers are really good. I'll ordered their steak burger. It came with cheese and sauce on it. It was just ok. It had a lot of fat on it I would not order it again. read more

Great lunch place. qulaity, wholesome, simple, delicous, resonably priced

I had the savory breakfast sandwich, and my best half had the sweet breakfast sandwich. I don't think I have ever noted so much flavor in so little a package as this. My taste buds were high-fiving, and I had not even tried the coffee, which was bold and beautiful. Even though the sandwich seemed small by comparison to other restaurants, the contents kept me feeling full much longer than I had expected. Charlie made much the same commentary for the sweet - noting that the caramelized apple slices on an everything bagel, while sounding incongruous, actually paired (no pun intended) nicely. Prices are very reasonable. read more

The food was very diverse and tasty. The service was friendly and fast. Definitely get the banana pudding.

Love the food, but what makes this experience even better is the customer service. Emma at the Knoxville store is awesome. There was a mess up with my order and she went above and beyond to make sure that a negative experience was made into a positive experience. Not often that you get that level of customer service anymore. Great job Emma! I've now got my work colleagues loving the food here too. read more

Stopped by for a quick sandwich and I was very impressed with the service and food. Had the grilled chicken sandwich and it was excellent.

I don't think I could have had a worse experience here today. The customer service is so severely lacking, do not waste your time going in here. I went on my lunch break, as this is a spot most people go to for lunch. When I ordered they were busy but they didn't say there would be a long wait, otherwise I would have went elsewhere knowing I had limited time. After waiting close to 30 minutes for my food I finally asked the girl how long it would be, she said there were about 5 orders ahead of me, so I chose to leave and get a refund. When I asked for a refund the girl told me that mine was next when I explained that my lunch was over and no time to eat it wasn't offered to make it to go, nor was there an apology. As someone who works in customer service I'm disgusted at the attitude of this employee whose name I couldn't even get since nobody was wearing a name tag. I attempted to call and speak to a manager but I was told one "probably wouldn't be available!" Save your time and visit the Hardin Valley location. read more

Great surprise finding them downtown. I love the Hardin Valley location, but can rarely make it out there. The steak sandwich is awesome!