The Grill At Highlands Row

My second time here. I love the ambiance, food, and feeling that I leave with. A new favorite.

My husband and I have eaten here several times – typically at the bar. The food is consistently good and the cocktails are excellent. Our favorites include the hot chicken (the *best* we’ve ever had), shrimp and grits, bistro steak and the burger. The charcuterie board is excellent and is a great starter. Tuesdays they have a limited ½ price entrée menu for dinner and Wednesdays they have $ 5 martinis and $ 1 oysters. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing and Highlands Grill is an excellent destination if you want to end your day on a high note.

This restaurant is absolutely beautiful, quiet, intimate, and calm. I love that, to finish your day off with a sexy dinner and attention by the waiter and the owner who are both so lovely. Came here for my girl Paisley’s birthday dinner. When I came in I was warmed by the fireplace and made me feel rosy. Anyways, Paisley decided on a booth and we dove right into the dinner menu. I had the mushroom soup with truffles… I love truffles on anything. Soup with the bread basket they give you was heaven! I then had the fresh chicken breast which comes with the «wing.» Also ordered a side of asparagus, which were so plain wilted. The chicken was juicy, I just wish I had a little more of the sauce on the plate or something to dip my chicken in.
This restaurant has these lighting fixture chandelier types hanging that are absolutely stunning and the owner was so eager to share the story behind the building and the lights.

I feel like this restaurant merits a little more Unilocal attention. So much buzz gets redirected towards other part of the city its easy to forget about this gem tucked away in the corner.
Cuz I’m telling you. I will meet you here for HAPPY HOUR and bar NOSHES any day of the week! Just say when. The smoky bacon deviled eggs are awesome and had us fighting over the last one. And you can’t go wrong with the wine here.
But I’m not sure if I’ll meet you here for dinner or brunch. It depends on the menu. You see, I love that the menu rotates but that also means I’ve had great and I’ve had so-​so here. The caesar salad and scallops & risotto dish during Restaurant Week was awesome. But when I came with my gal pal Rola (whoop whoop!) on a recent visit I cannot believe we paid $ 5 for a side of 4 limp asparagus spears. The risotto was actually plain rice and carrots (sorry, but there is a huge difference between rice and risotto). The potato gratin is amazing! Make this your side dish. And order the cheesecake! This is soooo good! The brunch wasn’t the best for me. Maybe I need to come back and try a signature benedict or the french toast.
I think the winner here is the décor. I love the exposed cielings and tall windows. I love the charming fireplace too. Don’t think small. think a huge warm blaze. The outdoor patio is great. And the owner is thrilled to tell you about the history of the Grill. Oh but those opulent iron-​work light displays of magical wonder!!! Please make me fall in love with this place, please!

Absolutely delicious. My wife and I went there for our anniversary and we were amazingly surprised. The atmosphere was very cozy and perfect for the special evening.
Food AMAZING! You must try the Lamb porterhouse… what an unbelievable taste and than to enjoy to with the potato gratin that was immaculate… coupled with a glass of red wine, of course.
We will definitely be going back. Also ask for Rob, he was great a waiter for our first time there. Love this place.

I just love the atmosphere at the Highland Grill. Brunch is a must do, all of our food was on piont. I recommend you try Highland’s Benedict, two perfectly prepared poached eggs, decadent crab cakes atop the lightest biscuits you wish you knew how to copy. So Tasty!

Seriously the worst brunch ever! Waited an entire hour for an omelette burnt and missing its main ingredient (asparagus) !
How does that happen? French fries for breakfast potatoes, not the worse substitution, but after waiting that long for them to be cold was inexcusable!
Service was mediocre at best, having been in the service business I don’t hold servers responsible for the kitchen, but my coffee was empty too often to forgive.
Don’t waste your time, money, energy!
–1
I personally will never be back!

This is a legit 5 star choice for Knoxville. The restaurant is attractive but low key-​it seems to capture the feel of an old roadside inn which it actually was long ago. In cold weather they have a real wood-​burning fireplace that creates a nice ambiance & in warm weather a small outside area. The menu is appealing & a little more innovative than most around here. Food is well prepared & plated. Bar & wine list a cut above. It can be loud in prime times i.e. Fri/​Sat nights.

My new favorite restaurant in Knoxville! The crab cakes were 99% crabmeat and very artfully presented. Followed up with the blackberry cobbler, another hit. we also tried the shrimp and grits, best I ever had, no kidding, and I’m not easy to please. Also sampled the crème brûlée another hit. So many good choices, so little time. Can’t wait to go back.

We had a super delicious Thanksgiving lunch here this year. There was a lovely fire burning and the cozy interior was just what we were looking for. The food was really top notch (much better than what anyone in my family had ever served for the holiday). The prices were also very fair for the huge spread we got.
My only complaints are small ones: since the meal was basically already made, there was virtually no wait time to receive our plates, and we felt very rushed. We had barely finished our food and we felt like we were being pressured to start the next course. I was also a little peeved that when I ordered a bottle of wine for the table, the server proceeded to have my husband taste it before pouring glasses. Shouldn’t I be the one to do this since I ordered it? Or maybe ask who would like to taste it instead of assuming the man would do so?

The Grill at Highlands Row feels like a secret to me. It’s not flashy on the outside. It is kind of tucked away in an unassuming building off of Kingston Pike. It all feels intentionally hidden. Once you make it inside, you’ll find first a good host staff and an open dining room (with a nice bar in the back) decorated with class without being glitzy. Once seated, the wait staff steals the show before you even consider what to eat (Our favorite waiter is Jay. Knowlegeable, quick witted, and really makes it a personal experience rather than reading the menu to you, which you could do on your own). The whole wait staff seemed professional without being stuffy or pretentious. They definitely know the menu and will give honest suggestions based on your tastes.
All that before you even order. The menu is a great offering for every palate, without being so large that it’s overwhelming. The $$$ listing isn’t a joke. The food is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Brunch was what we were here for, and my barometer for a good restaurant is Eggs Benedict. I got the Highland version, which was a crab cake and a fried green tomato instead of the traditional style. It was all delicious, but my egg was a little bit overdone. I can’t be too hard on them though, poached eggs are tough, and you can’t expect them to be perfect every instance. It was good, but not great. Another in our party ordered the Shrimp and Grits, and I instantly had order regret. Shrimp and Grits is the stand out meal on the brunch menu. It’s served as a dinner portion in the evenings, but whenever you go, TRY THIS DISH! The gravy is perfect. It adds so much to the grits, that you really don’t need the shrimp, making it a crustacean bonus. How can you not love a crustacean bonus???
Like I said above, there’s plenty to love here, and I certainly plan to come back and try more of this great «secret» spot.

Went on a Tuesday night and enjoyed their weekly special (s) — $ 3 beers and a half price menu. Mussels were delicious, served in a tomato broth. Also enjoyed a short rib! Look forward to going back!

Let me start by saying that when it comes to food, I am not easily impressed. I walk into most $$$ restaurants with a chip on my shoulder. Cloth napkins on the table and snobby servers don’t warrant the price point for most ‘fancy’ restaurants. I was apprehensive about The Grill at Highlands Row, but so many people have raved about it that I decided that brunch doesn’t lend too high of expectations.
In case you’re wondering how this ends, it was exceptional. From the vibe of the restaurant, to the service, and certainly not skipping the food. From the moment we walked in, the hostesses were extremely accommodating and friendly. Once we were seated, our server took our drink order and brought us a basket of warm baked goods. Let me stop right there. Our server, Jay, was incredible. If I could have him serve every table that I ever sit at going forward, I’d be a happy camper. He was quick, attentive, helpful, knowledgeable, and all of the other things you’d hope for in a server including incredibly snarky. He fit in well with our table.
Now, where was I? Right… food. I NEVER order steak in restaurants. I’m finicky and hate paying top dollar for something that is only close to how I like it. I don’t know what came over me, but the combination of gouda grits and beef tenderloin worked some sort of spell on me and I looked no further on the menu. I ordered it medium and anxiously waited. To my surprise, it was cooked perfectly. It was flavorful without being overly seasoned. It was oh so tender. Their brunch mimosas were a steal at $ 3 and served in a full 16oz glass rather than a champagne flute.
This is now certainly on my short list of favorite brunch spots and I am eager to give it a shot for dinner sometime soon.

Solid 4-​star dining. Service is great, food is very reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is very nice. My favorite Knoxville area brunch spot!

This is a great little restaurant. My wife and I discovered in on a recent trip through Knoxville. We had fried green tomatoes, Highlands Hot Chicken, and Key Lime pie for dessert. The fried green tomatoes were very tasty. The Highland Hot Chicken was also great. My wife had the hot sauce the used for the chicken on the side and she thought it was too spicy for her. I loved it though. The key lime pie is made on site and cooled off my mouth after the chicken. It tasted great. And no, the hot sauce didn’t burn off my taste buds. It wasn’t that hot in my opinion but I like a little spicy food.
The wait staff was very attentive and the food delivery was quick. I think the restaurant gets busy so I recommend reservations. Dress is a step above causal, i.e., business casual.
Entrée prices for the above was $ 18. Appetizers and desserts were $ 8. Maybe just a tad on the pricey side, but I think the price was worth it. I will be back and I hope you try it and agree!

Great food, great atmosphere. Cool little neighborhood restaurant with tasty, imaginative food and good service. The Highlands Hot Chicken was great, but the star of the plate was the okra fries… could have eaten a plate of those by themselves.
We’ll definitely be back.

Dined here for my husbands 47^th birthday. We were told this was a delicious place to dine. It IS a nice restaurant. Not too fancy to be out of reach but fancy enough to feel like a «special night».
The menu is spectacular! We ordered from the Winter menu. The issue isn’t with what is offered. The issue lies in the service and the quality of the food… unfortunately.
Service. Well. I think we were forgotten at the back corner table. When we arrived our server was right on the money. As the dining room filled, he became absent. We watched other tables that arrived after us, served before we were. The excuse given to us, unsolicited (red flag) was that by the time our server put our order in, other large tables were put in before us. We were served our main course 1 hour after ordering and the dining room was only half full. Our waters were never refilled. We had to ask for a tea refill but the glass was empty for some time during the actual meal.
Food quality. We ordered the Grouper, Mountain Trout, Crab Cakes. Grits were cold, gelatinous. Crab cakes were like 2 oz each and lacked flavor. Fried okra fries were interesting. Fish was fine. Spinach was hot. Bread was delicious. Red flag: advertising Bentons Bacon and using regular Joe bacon!
Doubt we will return.

A nice, out of the way wonderful restaurant.
Food is excellent, service is excellent and if you are looking for an intimate dinner for two there are tables near the fireplace which make things special. The sound level is good and low, for those of us who are a bit older and do not enjoy yelling at dinner.

I LOVE The Grill for dinner, but I must say, their brunch is to die for! I absolutely love their smoked salmon on rye toast. They have phenomenal drink specials with brunch, and while their mimosas seem to be lacking freshness, their Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers are excellent.
This is a wonderful place to bring family or celebrate birthdays. The staff is extremely helpful and professional. When I’m with a group for brunch, I often recommend The Grill, and I never regret it!

The best dinner I had in Knoxville hands down! Has a very classy and vintage feel to the place.
Upon seating, I was torn on what to order. So many great options! First, went with some bubbly as my choice of drink, which they gave in a cute mini bottle. I then ordered the Highlands salad, which had baby field greens and arugula, along with pecans, berries, apples, goat cheese, and a champagne vinegarette. Very delicious. Their bread is also very good although I did not care for the little fried ones.
For my entrée, I had debated between the shrimp and grits (smoked gouda grits!) and the lobster mac and cheese. But, decided to split the fried grit cakes with someone, so I settled on the mac and cheese. Excellent choice as it was one of the best mac and cheese I had, along with plenty of lobster meat. The fried grit cakes were… well gritty, but still pretty good. But I did have a nibble of someone’s gouda grits, and they were AMAZING!
For dessert, settled on the pecan pie with their homemade vanilla ice cream. I’m not a big pie person, but it was pretty darn delicious.
All in all, a great meal to end the trip in the southeast!