This was my first time at Oliver Royale in Market Square, Knoxville, TN, and I pray to God it will not be my last. When you are in Knoxville, you need to stop here. I want to preface my statements by saying that I love octopus, but I especially love octopus on my plate. Their octopus appetizer is to die for. The redfish was superb and could rival any New Orleans recipe--and I'm a New Orleans native. The swordfish with jerk seasoning will make you feel like you've been transported straight to Jamaica. Do me a favor and run here, not walk. You can thank me later. read more

I stopped by Oliver Royale on a Monday evening around 6:30-7 p.m. without a reservation and was able to get a table outside pretty easily. Their patio faces Market Square, which made it such a nice spot to enjoy the summer weather and people-watch while having dinner. The inside has a completely different feel--intimate, low lighting, and definitely the kind of atmosphere I'd pick for a date night or a nicer dinner. My server was also really attentive and helpful with answering any questions I had about the menu. I ordered the Fettuccine Bolognese, and it was SO good. The meat was incredibly tender, the sauce was flavorful, and I loved the fluffy swirls of ricotta throughout. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly too. My only note is that the portion was on the smaller side, so next time I'd definitely start with an appetizer. Between the food, attentive service, patio, and location right on Market Square, Oliver Royale is such a great option for a night out in Knoxville. I'd absolutely come back and try more of the menu! read more

Oliver Royale - Fettuccine Bolognese - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

This spot had been on my "to try" list for a while, so when my girlfriend came into town for the weekend, we finally locked in brunch reservations. We showed up to a pretty quiet dining room -- early birds, apparently -- but wow, the space itself did not disappoint. Even with our reservation, we couldn't resist grabbing seats at the bar instead; whoever designed this place has serious taste. As the minutes ticked by, it filled in nicely, and the energy picked right up with it. Our bartender was an absolute delight -- attentive, curious about our weekend plans, and full of good suggestions. She also didn't hold back the intended side-eye when we ordered a second round of "Judge Me Not"s. Fair, honestly. We all had a good laugh! Food-wise, my girlfriend went with the croissant sandwich (no meat), and I got the Confit Short Rib Benedict. Both were solid, though the sandwich felt like something you could find at any brunch spot. The short rib Benedict, on the other hand, was a genuinely interesting twist on the classic. They warned me the salsa roja had some heat, because of course they assume TN folks can't handle spice. But, after tasting it, I asked for extra, and let's just say it surprised them. Babe, that wasn't hot, and there was barely enough to taste in the first place. Glad I asked for more, though -- it really brought the dish together. Overall, a great experience and this one's staying on my list. Already looking forward to bringing my boyfriend next time! read more

See all

We had an excellent dinner at Oliver Royale. The service was outstanding from start to finish. Our server did a great job helping us narrow down the menu and made recommendations that proved spot on. We started with the Summer Brussels, which were packed with flavor and perfectly tender. We also ordered the Burrata and Tomato Salad, Blackened Redfish, and Farmstand Rigatoni. The freshness of the ingredients really stood out throughout the meal. The tomatoes were sliced thick and tasted like they had just come off the vine. The fresh pasta paired beautifully with the seasonal vegetables, and the blackened redfish was cooked perfectly. Combined with the étouffée sauce, peppers, and vegetables, every bite of the fish was balanced and full of flavor. We enjoyed sitting on the patio overlooking Market Square, which made for a perfect evening of people-watching. Great food, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommend. read more

Oliver Royale - Farmstand Rigatoni - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

My husband had eaten here previously and told me it was simply "okay," but I had been drooling over the menu and requested it for my birthday meal. The ambiance is lovely. Both upscale yet inviting. Note that it does feel a bit like European dining where the tables and fellow diners are very close to you and the tables are small and cozy. You hear all of their convos as well, for better or worse. :-) We ordered the scallop appetizer and for our meal, we both got the short rib pappardelle pasta and a side of the brussel sprouts to share. Our server was very kind but our orders took a very long time to come out, from drinks to the food itself. In fact, our brussels came out at the same time as the check. I will say that she recognized this issue without us saying anything and even removed the brussels from the bill preemptively. The food was delicious-especially the main course. The bolognese sauce was creamy and had a slight kick and the short rib was tender and tasty. Another odd thing is that we ordered the same exact dish but one plate visibly had almost twice the amount of food than the other, which is an odd choice if you know they are going to the same table. Other than the few service quirks, it was a wonderful experience and the food and drinks were delicious. We will be back at some point. read more

Fantastic as always. Scallop appetizer with sauce and microwave greens is eye rolling out of this world. I had the trout which was incredible. Was surprised by the mushrooms but the whole thing came together beautifully. Couldn't quite finish the Trout so had leftover the next day. Hubby had the flank steak and bone marrow which he said was exceptional. I chose the Arneis wine...not very common in American restaurants but it is one of my favorite Italian whites. Shared a piece of cake for dessert. Wonderful birthday dinner. If you haven't tried their brunch on Friday Saturday and Sunday you are missing the best brunch in Knoxville. read more

Good food and friendly staff. Got the Mediterranean salad and the Redfin blackened dinner. Overall the flavors were fantastic. read more

Oliver Royale - Blackened Redfin - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

So good!! Service was great, drinks were tasty and this salad was amazing!! Good amount of gf actions as well. On the pricier side but overall very cute place and worth the money in my opinion. Would go back soon! read more

Oliver Royale - Kale and Sweet potato salad with grilled chicken - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Still amazing, just wanted to leave a follow up review since I've been back a couple more times. The ambiance, the service, the menu are all absolutely fantastic. It's my favorite spot in Knoxville for date night. The food is so creative and delicious - I literally dream about their tuna sashimi pizza! My husband gets their petite filet every time we visit and he has never been disappointed. A must try if you haven't, and a place worth coming back to. read more

See all

Overall, perfectly fine restaurant. Came on a Wednesday for dinner with a friend. We ordered the brussel sprouts as an appetizer which were a 4. Good enough to order again but not the best I've ever had. For our meals, I ordered the swordfish and she had the pasta bolognese. The swordfish was under cooked so they had to cook me a new one which they cut up (per my request) to make sure it was properly cooked. By the time it was done, my friend was already done with her pasta. She seemed to enjoy it. We each ordered dessert. I had the pear dessert which was probably the best part of the meal. I had considered ordering one of the pasta dishes (rigatoni) since they make the pasta themselves but the one I was looking at was the only one they do not make in house. Would be willing to try again next time in town but not top of my list. read more

Oliver Royale - Sous Vide Swordfish - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

The food was amazing. Wish I could suggest one thing but we tried so many items on the menu and we recommend it all . Started a the biscuits and end w/a birthday cinnamon roll. Our server was very attentive. We had a party of 5 on a busy Saturday morning and they accommodated us without your reservation. read more

Updating my review because the last time I ate here there was a (long, dark) hair in my food. It's still a great location and I'll go for drinks, but the thought of eating here makes me nauseous. read more

Amazing service, the food was absolutely delicious and the ambiance was perfection. The entire experience was fabulous. Perfect for celebrations and for a fancy night out! read more

Oliver Royale - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Not sure what to think of this place. Small tables (like once you have your drinks on the table, there is hardly space for your food. 4 top tables appear larger, so maybe more comfortable for a larger group. The steak was tough and had a weird taste. Didnt finish our meal. Wont try this one again. Overpriced for what you get for sure read more

Classic Benedict had no hollandaise except maybe 1/2 tsp on top of poached egg and oddly the sauce was flavorless; no exaggeration. The sundried tomato goat cheese puff pastry was very good At least. read more

Went after a UT game. They requested a $200 deposit... ok i guess. Anyways we get there and the place is not busy at all, get seated and order drinks. Drinks are slow to come, but eventually get them and they are fine. Menu is fairly random. I order ramen, others order salad, pork chop, burger and a filet. Food takes a while to come out and when it does, most of the food is room temperature. The meat dishes are sent back. 2nd round of meat plates come out and although they are warm. they are significantly under cooked. Filet was ordered medium well and it was cold in the middle. Pork chop was solid pink. Maybe a bad night, but wouldn't recommend. read more

8/10 - Oliver Royale Upscale yet approachable. Thoughtful food and well-done dishes worth returning for. read more

Food was very good , they have an extensive menu, including a unique brunch menu.Service was good too and the restaurant setting was quaint. Located in Market Square which is another plus. Fun spot with restaurants and shops. read more

See all

Went here for breakfast and it was delicious! The server was warm, welcoming, kind, and helped us decide what to order. It's an adorable small restaurant with an outdoor patio too. read more

This review only pertains to their brunch. In general, we had a very meh experience. For a restaurant in a beautiful hotel of downtown Knoxville, we weren't impressed. The interior itself is beautiful and the service was fine, but the food unfortunately did not meet our expectations. We ordered monkey bread for the table. The outside of the bread was warm and covered in the caramel pecan sauce, but the center was very dry and cold. I could feel a clear temperature difference from the outside compared to the inside which tells me that the bread was probably old and was unevenly reheated. My fiancé ordered the Oliver Breakfast. His eggs were overcooked. Scrambled eggs should be fluffy and smooth, not firm and rubbery. We liked the hash. I ordered the Confit Short Rib Benedict which also missed the mark. The poached eggs were overdone. When I cut into them, there was no runny yolk at all. They were bordering between soft and hard boiled. The hollandaise was bland. The short rib itself was the only good part of it. Our other family members ordered the Royale Smash Burger and the Smoked Turkey Croissant which they did enjoy, but burgers and sandwiches aren't hard to make. The fries were good. I would guess from other reviews and pictures that the dinner menu is considerably better. Skip their brunch, go for dinner. read more

Oliver Royale - Confit Short Rib Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Very disappointing! We've been here for dinner before and it was very good so we had high expectations for brunch. Unfortunately, the food took over an hour to arrive. The potatoes look like they were previously frozen from a bag. The avocado was brown, and the toast was stale. This was not the breakfast we expected for a five star expensive restaurant. read more

Oliver Royale - Breakfast potatoes - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Decent experience, but considering it's part of a 5 star hotel I had higher expectations. (If this experience was at a random restaurant I'd probably have rated it a little higher, but this place is supposed to be a special dining experience!) We had 12:15 reservations and showed up about 5 minutes early. We were seated immediately. Water came in a few minutes (so weird that you don't get ice) and my hubby ordered coffee. We ordered our food immediately when we got his coffee. The restaurant wasn't crazy busy but it took about a half hour to get our food and our server never checked back on us until that time. Food was pretty good. My hubby had the pork belly bowl. He said the pork belly was ultra salty but was edible with the grits (amazing grits BTW). I had the k-town chicken and grits. It was good but it was weird that it arrived with the egg yolk completely broken. It also tasted really sweet (I'm not sure what was sweet as it was spicy chicken). The grits were super good. Gravy was just so-so. Chicken was really good itself! Service was average at best but what brought down the score was actually the unprofessional attire of our server. She looked more like she was going to a bar to get a guy than working at a high end restaurant. Her boobs were nearly falling out of her ultra low-cut shirt. Every time she stood next to my hubby her boobs were literally in his face. I'm not sure why she felt the need to have them hanging out. Girls at Hooters show less skin than she did. Overall good food, average service but too much cleavage for sure. Even my hubby commented how unprofessional her boobs were in such an establishment. read more

See all

Excellent, albeit pricy. Came here early on a Sunday Evening, and we wound up getting Duck Dumplings, a Charcuterie Board, and the Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake. The dumplings were very tasty, a bit spicy, but were 16 dollars for 4 of them. I thought they were very good, but overpriced. The Charcuterie board was very large, and contained more cheese and pickled veggies (Artichokes and Olives) than anything else. Again, very good. Similarly, the dessert was excellent. A rich dark chocolate bundt cake with toasted whipped cream and cherries. The only downside is everything here is a bit expensive, and you're paying a bit more for the atmosphere than you are for the food itself. Was it good? Yes. Would I go back? Also yes. But I think Oliver Royale is more of a fancy date night spot than it is a "I just need a meal" spot. read more

Oliver Royale - Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

This quickly became my favorite restaurant in town I went 3 times in 2 weeks! The server rememberEd me by the 3rd time. The food on all 3 menus was great! I went for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Each time of day was a great experience. The restaurant is nicely decorated. read more

See all

My husband took me here for a date before a comedy show. He did have to make a reservation. We were a little late because of the terrible traffic but we called and they kept our table thankfully. I ordered mushroom toast and we got that and some bread and butter as appetizers. (I was hungry. You have to ask for the bread because they don't just bring it.). They were both very tasty and delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop and the whipped potatoes. I ordered the salmon and truffle fries. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the truffle fries were good too. Afterwards I ordered the chocolate torte. It was chocolate and fudgy. It was so good. We shared it but I ate most of it and I didn't even feel bad. It was totally worth it. read more

Oliver Royale - Pork chop - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

We were staying at the Oliver Hotel for two nights and decided to get dinner here our first night (after having a long day of driving and dealing with a terrible airbnb situation that led us to booking a room at the Oliver). We loved the food so much we decided to get dinner here on the second night we were in town as well. We got salads both times, and both were deliciously fresh and had great flavors. Their menu seems to change every season but if you happen to see the Confit Duck Pappardelle on the menu - get it. It was hands down the best item we had and I'd say probably one of the best items on their fall menu. I also had the Fall Orecchiette but found it was just a little too sweet for me (get the fall harvest salad for the same experience minus the pasta). We got the Swedish Sticky Toffee Torte for dessert and it was decent - nothing too fancy. I'm personally not a huge fan of chocolate and tart berries, so I'd imagine if you are, you'd probably like this a lot more. read more

See all

We had a really good experience here! We had a semi-big bachelorette party group staying in Sevierville where the bride really wanted some boujee brunch. She chose this place because of the reviews, location, and ability to take a reservation for the party. The locale is wonderful. The location could not be better, and the interior is super inviting and gorgeous. The staff was also lovely and attentive. The food was slightly inconsistent and all over the place. We came for brunch and the girls got an assortment of meals. We started with some baskets of the house made biscuits, and these were alright. I ordered the Hangover Helper chicken sandwich with a side of their house-made sausage. This was a hefty amount of food. I really enjoyed my meal, but I saw some girls who ordered different things disappointed with their portion size, and giving various mixed reactions. Maybe I'm just good at ordering. Overall really nice experience, I would definitely recommend this place for any occasion, elevated or not. read more

Oliver Royale - Hangover Helper chicken sandwich with a side of sausage - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

WOWOWOW! Stopped by Oliver Royale for dinner while in Knoxville and it was simply amazing. We snagged the last two spots at the bar and I already knew I was going to like my meal. We ordered the shrimp, steak tartare, and the spinach and blueberry salad to start, along with a filthy martini. Everything was so delectable and the food just kept coming. For the main course, we split the duck leg and it was some of the most tender meat I have ever tasted. We had to finish off dessert with a cheesecake, with flavorful berries and a fruit sauce. We also ordered and espresso martini to finish the meal! The service was so kind, food divine, and ambiance a 10/10! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice meal with even better company. :) read more

Food is top notch. Service is friendly and well timed. Very comfortable eating solo at the bar or in a group at the tables. Go to spot for a traveler who likes good food and drink. read more

Oliver Royale - Old fashion - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

The food was fantastic. Our waitress Sierra was great, her service was impeccable. The vibe is also awesome. Great place for a date night. It is a bit on the pricier side but definitely worth it in every regard. read more

We came here at 930 am on a Sunday. It was dead. Only 6 people inside eating. The patio was wide open. Because of prior reviews that were dog friendly we figured it was still worth giving it a try even though no one was eating here. We were told they had no availability, that they were full! and if we didn't have a reservation, too bad. Imagine my confusion. Well we sat across the street at cafe 4 for over and hour, ate and watched as the restaurant NEVER fill up. This place does not want your service and hopefully the owner sees this to know his employees don't want to work! I have never seen anything like this! read more

Oliver Royale - Empty restaurant while others patios are full! - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

If you are looking for an amazing meal, head to the Oliver Royale now! I had one of the best meals in Knoxville here at the Oliver Royale! The food was so fresh, prepared perfectly, and paired with the perfect sides! The service was almost as amazing as the food too, from the hostess to the bartenders to the servers. My family and I came in last minute and the hostess let us sit at the bar for dinner. The bartenders serving us were so nice and helpful, didn't rush us at all but, was very attentive! If you're looking for a great meal with great service for a special occasion- definitely make a reservation at the Oliver Royale! It is so beautiful with the cutest decor making any special occasion elevated. Worth every penny! read more

See all

Fantastic experience here. Can't believe we just had our first time this weekend. Such a gem in Market Square! Austin took great care of us and gave some solid suggestions: we started with Oui Oui Merci cocktail and the endive salad. OMG. Both of these set the bar super high. The warm goat cheese was perfection on that salad. And the portion worked out well to share. Was going to order the beet salad but opted instead to do the beet side - would have liked more gorgonzola on it but the beets were how I like them: small bite sized and more al dente. My petite filet was cooked perfectly. Love the pairing with mushrooms. Husband ordered the Kansas City Strip Steak and I would venture to say that I liked that even better than the filet. Both will definitely order again! Tried the White Lily pear cocktail next and although it was a good amount of sweetness, the Oui Oui was my favorite. We finished dinner with the Panna Cotta which reminded me of flan. Light and a good way to cap off the great meal. OR might have just become our new go-to date night location. read more

Oliver Royale - Petite filet and beet side - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

My feedback is about the same as my last review over 3 years ago! Still a solid 4.75/5, if not a solid 5! The food, service, and overall experience is a great way to have a date night or casual evening out with friends and family. Just an opinion here...Groups of 6 or less would be optimal; anything larger may be tough to navigate having meaningful convos without a lot of struggling to hear. Will be back as much as I can afford to come and support one of my faves! read more

See all

The pan-seared scallops were amazing. I had swordfish and my beautiful wife had the filet. We both enjoyed the meal and the caring service. A fantastic dinner to celebrate our anniversary! read more

Extensive menu and fresh and unique dishes. We sampled the wild mushroom appetizer and one of the fresh pastas! One of my best meals on market Square , the cocktails were delicious a little difficult to understand on the menu as to what each liquor does for the overall drink- read more

I enjoyed my breakfast here and the atmosphere! The server was very nice and attentive. The food was tasty!

OMG! The lamb chops were out of this world!!! Good in general was amazing, but the lamb chops were the star! The server was so kind and helpful with recommendations. There is outside and inside seating. Both have a great vibe. Definitely go here! read more

Oliver Royale - Lamb chops that were devoured! - New American Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Saturday was the second time we've enjoyed brunch at OR. It was fantastic. The monkey bread was the perfect starter and our group of 5 was so pleased with all of our selections. Service was friendly, patient with questions, and perfectly timed. The only knock on the meal was the espresso machine was being serviced, but the coffee was good. read more

We had an outstandingly good meal at Oliver Royale on the Friday before a Vols game day. We hadn't planned far ahead so we didn't have a reservation, and the whole area had long waiting lists or were not taking reservations. We noticed some bar space at Oliver, so we went inside to inquire about the waitlist - we could wait ~45 mins for a table or sit at the bar straight away. We were served by two really friendly bar tenders who did a great job managing drinks for the dining tables, orders at the bar for waitlisters, and the seated bar diners. We never felt crowded or had to wait long for anything. The full food menu was available to us at the bar. The Apple/Endive and Wedge salads were both good, but the star was Petite Filet. The Lamb Shank was tasty, but still had a lot of fat and could have been slow cooked for longer to be even better. It was busy but we enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Will definitely return (with a reservation!) next time we're in Knoxville. read more