Restaurants in Maryville

A huge statue of Buddha watches over the dining room at Surin of Thailand, although his peaceful gaze is subverted by complex curries, spicy stir-fried noodle dishes, and flavorful barbecue-chicken entrees a day in the making. Half chickens are marinated in Thai barbecue sauce overnight before being slowly roasted and grilled, then they’re plated with scoops of shrimp fried rice and reminders to chew each bite thoroughly, not matter who’s threatening to steal the flavorful dark meat.

Surin measures its dishes' spiciness on a three-pepper scale, where one is "spicy" and three is "Thai hot." Though most dishes fall between nonspicy and hot, a few earn their trio of peppers, including a medley of mussels, scallops, and shrimp with spicy basil sauce.

Another Buddha—actually, just a head—guards the sushi bar, where nigiri, sashimi, and creative maki rolls are born. Under the two Buddhas' protection, diners settle into leather seats or tuck into booths backed by ferns and foliage. Outside the stone-walled eatery, a patio seasons dishes with sunlight and refreshing breezes.

Since 1974, the kitchen crew at Pizza Cottage has measured out precise amounts of tomatoes, garlic, vegetables, and seasonings to create its signature sauce. Cooks layer the family-created original blend over servings of pasta and baked lasagna, and between sheets of cheese and dough on a variety of signature pizzas. More than 15 topping options adorn pizzas, which come in sizes suitable for individuals, families, and families of giants.

Though born in Mexico, Jose Garcia has built a career focused on fresh, nutritious Asian cuisine. As reported by Carly Harrington of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Garcia’s goal in opening Fan Chao was to supply health-conscious locals with cuisine that harmonizes with their dietary goals or restrictions. So he teamed up with local chiropractor and wellness expert Dr. Scott Courtley to design Fan Chao’s bill of fare. The restaurant’s made-from-scratch, oil-free, and veggie-heavy fare is as tasty as it is wholesome.

The menu tantalizes tongues with bold flavors of flame-seared beef, chicken, and tofu. Many items, including moo goo gai pan and a vegetarian feast with spiced tofu, can be made entirely gluten-free upon request. Sensitive tongues can also request a lower heat level on spicy dishes such as garlic ginger beef or firecracker shrimp.

Knoxville.com also favorably featured the Chinese eatery, highlighting distinctive décor details such as the color scheme of reds and earth tones. A flat-screen TV beams a live stream of Fan Chao's grill chefs, who spend most of their time searing or singing lullabies to each fresh morsel.

Garrett's Downtown Deli borrows both a name and a philosophy from owner and founder Garrett Scanlan, whose childhood job in his father's kitchen and formal apprenticeships at several kitchens across Europe have led to appearances in more than 50 cookbooks and his own television program, 90 Miles with Chef Garrett. Behind the counter, Chef Scanlan and his kitchen crew take time to construct his eatery's deli-style fare as if it were served in a gourmet bistro or about to be sacrificed to a vengeful volcano. Sandwiches are crafted from Garrett's own recipes and contain hand-carved meats that are roasted in-house, including turkey, ham, and corned beef sliced thin, piled high, and paired with a pickle and chips, coleslaw, or potato salad. A hot-entree-and-salad bar poses even more choices for eager eaters, with daily rotating spreads of pasta, barbecue, baked chicken, from-scratch soups, and diet-friendly salads and recipes.

Using locally sourced meats, produce, and baked goods, the chefs at 11 Cafe cultivate a selection of artisanal drinks, desserts, and Mediterranean fare that is a testament to Knoxville’s culinary chops. The café’s baristas combine The Golden Roast coffee beans with milk from the nearby Cruze Farm on a menu of lattes and espressos that beg in sweet, overcaffeinated voices to be paired with treats from local sweetshops such as Sugar Buzz Bakers, The South's Finest Chocolate Factory, Magpies Cakes, and Hot Bagel Co. The café’s bar houses a large selection of beers on draft and in bottles ready to overflow mugs as guests munch on Mediterranean favorites such as shawarma sandwiches, cheese boards, and excerpts of Plato’s Republic written on a pita.

Trailhead Steakhouse hints at its hearty American menu before diners even enter the door, with steep gable roofs cupping the rural wooden planking of a vintage log cabin. Up the wood steps, noses catch whiffs of USDA-choice, certified Angus T-bone and filet mignon grilling over an open fire. Diners may spot steaming shrimp lounging on plates beside piles of green-bean, spinach, and baked-potato sides, or salmon or trout fillets with grill marks as crisp as the lines on loose leaf, yet more fun to complete homework on. Patrons can celebrate cleaning their plates with a cheers over a bottled beer.