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    Nama Izakaya

    4.6 (9 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    This plate was LOADED, but we dug in before taking a picture, sorry
    Kim V.

    Absolutely amazing, definitely my favorite Japanese spot in Knoxville. I was in such a hurry to dive in to our food that I got terrible pictures of the dishes we ordered, but literally everything we had was fantastic. When you first arrive, it looks like a small venue, but we were brought to the second dining area which was large and comfortable for our party of 5. Doug was our waiter and was very attentive and explained the menu because we had never visited before. Unlike Nama's other restaurants which feature mostly sushi, this location had Japanese appetizers, entrees, and cocktails. The ramen I had was delicious and full of flavor - with marinated eggs and fall-apart chashu pork. My husband got chicken yakisoba which was very good. My 6 year old ordered a California roll and gyoza and ate every last bite. We also enjoyed the loaded fries (topped with aioli, tonkatsu sauce, bonito flakes, scallions, and sesame seed), edamame and a sashimi plate as well. I can't wait to go back and I am so glad we finally found great Japanese here.

    Miso pork ramen

    The food was great and so was the service. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and we loved the atmosphere of the restaurant! I got the sips in the sun cocktail, we both got the miso pork ramen, and we got the mango sticky rice for dessert. I would recommend everything we had, and we will definitely be returning!

    Yukhoe - steak tartare, egg yolk, asian pear, lotus chips

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    Peter Kern Library

    Peter Kern Library

    4.2
    (245 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Trying to find good things to say about this place isn't very hard. This was my first time in…read moreKnoxville and my first Speakeasy. The PKL is located inside The Oliver Hotel. It appears you can enter either from the interior door opposite The Oliver Royale Restaurant or from the outside. I never saw the exterior entrance but have heard there's no sign, just a red light above a door. I am not sure how the whole password thing works or where to get it.... I just know the person I was with had it. We sat at the bar and the ambiance is really intimate. I have read now after being home that I guess they hide drink recipes in some of the books? I am not sure if that is true or not. If you can get a seat at the bar, it's so fun. Trey was great, as were the ladies! Trey puts on a little show with each drink he crafts. The drinks are ridiculously good. I would not be able to choose a favorite. I have no clue what the bill damage was, but I can say that between the both of us, we had every drink on the menu. Now I need to find reasons to go back to Knoxville just to go to the Peter Kern Library!

    Cute little hidden library bar with great drinks…read more The only issue we had were some rambunctious neighbors in a booth nearby, but staff was really good at keeping the peace. We got: -Ines (my fav) -Lumiere -Maimie Mannering (very booze forward) -Harry Morgan (the banana didn't really come through, but I could see where they were going with it!)

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    Peter Kern Library
    Peter Kern Library
    Holly Golightly

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    Holly Golightly
    PostModern Spirits

    PostModern Spirits

    4.3
    (45 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We stopped here as part of the Whiskey Trail experience, and not only was it the worst customer…read moreservice of the 28 distilleries we visited, the female bartender (red hair, black glasses) was the rudest bartender I have met in my 20 years of being in hospitality. When we walked in, she glared at us as if we had interrupted something. She didn't greet us, didn't ask what we'd like to try, only gave us one word answers to any question that we asked. Never once smiled or tried to engage us. My friend was so frustrated with trying to get information from her that he stood up and almost walked out. I kept trying to engage her and even complemented her cute dress. Nothing. Stone face. I wanted to try the amaro flight and asked for it. She prepared it, set it in front of me, and said "so you'll want to close out now?" I told her "yes, that would be great, when I'm finished with my tasting". She proceeded to lean up against the bar with her back to us and didn't say another word. I had to get up and walk to the register, and when she finally turned around, I asked her "have we done something to upset you?" She said "no, why?" I said "because you seem REALLY annoyed that we're here". Her only response was to turn the register screen around and tell me the total. I'm so sad about this because I really wanted to taste other items and get a cocktail, but she was SO unpleasant and we felt SO unwelcome., Seeing all of the other great reviews, I can only imagine that they were with other people. I wish those other bartenders had been there.

    Boozy grapefruit slushy? YES. Just say yes. This cocktail bar distills their own booze right next…read moredoor (you can be a creepster and peek in!). They sell bottles of varying sizes at the bar and also at other places around town, including Total Wine. We love that they offer sampler flights with different liquors and also different size pours. They give you a tray with a sheet that describes the flavor profile for each offering. We also were given slushy samples and a customized gin sample, mixed with another shot to sip. We ordered slushies to enjoy on the patio and a flight with Hi Rye Whiskey, Ginferous Gin (favorite!), Uproot Gin, and Barrel Rested Cacoa Liqueur. I can't believe the differing flavors they can produce within the same type of booze. Masterful! The bartenders are friendly and so dang knowledgable. We purchased a bottle of Ginferous Gin and have kept the party going at home. Can't wait to go back! What a cool spot.

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    PostModern Spirits
    PostModern Spirits
    PostModern Spirits

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    Monkey’s Bar

    Monkey’s Bar

    4.6
    (5 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I love Monkey's bar!! It's the perfect meet in the middle between fancy cocktail bar and relaxed…read moreenvironment! Bartenders are so friendly and even let me sample a pre batched cocktail to ensure I'd like it! Will definitely be back!

    If you like near downtown and own a dog, this will become your go-to spot! It is pretty bare-bones…read moreinside, with a few high-tops and bar seating, a separate space you can step up into with more wooden tables and bench seating and not much in the way of decor. They have some really fun drinks with pop-culture references, a sizable list of mocktails, booze list galore, and keep beer flowing , too. The service is friendly and the prices in line (if not cheaper) with other bars downtown ($11-12 per cocktail). We loved that people are allowed to bring in their own food (they have a few snacks you can order) and that dogs are welcome. In fact, word has it that the bar is named after the owners' dog, Monkey, so it makes sense that they pass along their pup love to our community. Note that huge (but very sweet) dogs may be freely roaming and were knocking into people carrying full drinks and begging strangers for food. Also, we were with a group across from the bar and I will say that it was absolutely deafening. We were next to each other and were yelling, "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!?" They could use a few items to soak up some sound like cushions on the bench seating, some rugs, etc. It would also make the space a bit more homey and inviting.

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    Monkey likes the pizza!
    Monkey likes the pizza!
    Monkey’s Bar
    Monkey’s Bar

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    The Vault

    The Vault

    4.2
    (51 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Cool atmosphere it's an underground speakeasy type of deal and had a cool list of cocktails…read more My cocktail was pretty good I wouldn't get it again but I liked it and the banana and gin was fun and new. Tapas were good the carrots were by far the best roasted perfectly and the sauce was so flavorful. The crab dip was good but typical same with mushroom truffle pizza. The empanadas were good but a little dry I was glad they had sauce. Would go again and get the carrots and new items!

    The Vault was our second stop on our cocktail hop night, and I'm so glad we found it!…read more First off, the interior is chef's kiss. The dark, glamorous aesthetic is stunning--perfect for date night or for impressing out-of-town guests. I loved the gold accents, layered textures, and thoughtful lighting. Everything worked together beautifully. We chose to sit at the bar to watch the mixologists work their magic. They were incredibly helpful in guiding us toward drinks that matched our preferences. I absolutely loved my cocktail--even if I can't recall the name--because it delivered the spicy kick they promised. We also ordered several shareable plates, all of which were delicious. We tried the Carnitas Tamales (shredded pork, ancho mole, fresh corn, masa, cilantro, yuzu arbequina oil), the Vegetable Empanadas (house-made pastry, wilted kale, roasted sweet potato, Oaxaca and cotija cheese, black bean purée, and adobo & chile-lime aioli), and a salad. I'd happily order any of them again. I did find myself wishing for a bit more heat, but I've learned that's hard to come by in Tennessee. At least the staff gave us a heads-up that the spice level is toned down. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu. The vibe is fantastic--and while they have a nice outdoor space, the interior is so eye-catching I'm not sure I'd want to sit anywhere else.

    Photos
    A bottle vault.
    A bottle vault.
    Inside the actual vault
    Inside the actual vault
    Tables in the vault

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    Tables in the vault
    Fiori

    Fiori

    3.6
    (47 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Fiori in Old City downtown Knoxville is such a cute spot with an amazing ambiance--perfect for a…read moregirls night or a special occasion. The atmosphere alone makes it feel like a little escape. The service was good, and my friend and I both really enjoyed our cocktails and entrées--they were definitely the highlight of the meal. We weren't huge fans of the appetizers we tried, but we found out they're leaving the menu soon anyway, so that made sense. On a high note, the pistachio cream dessert was an absolute delight and the perfect way to end the night. Overall, a really lovely experience and I'd definitely go back!

    I love the decorations & the cute theme is present throughout the whole restaurant. The drink menu…read moreis expansive and the drinks were good. The food is okay. I was disappointed that my food was warm, not hot when served. My sister got a lobster roll "extra stuffed," which did not appear to be extra-stuffed. I got the chicken carbonara and believe that I got a large portion for the price point. The service was a bit on the slower side, but I did not see as many waiters as I thought I would have for a Saturday evening. My expectations were high due to the price point and formality, and I was a bit let down. The vibes in here were fun. I think that if it was better staffed and the seafood portions were priced accordingly, we would have had a better experience and thought we got a better deal for the price.

    Photos
    Some Appetizers
    Some Appetizers
    Fiori
    Fiori

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    Nama Izakaya - japanese - Updated July 2026

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