Looking for ethnic food a little more adventurous than Olive Garden or Soccer Taco? Surprisingly, you don’t need to live in a big city to find authentic foreign cuisine.
A few local hole-in-the-wall joints, like King Tut’s and Holy Land Deli, have already acquired a following, but there are many more that remain obscure.
But one of the newest additions to Knoxville’s international vendors has quickly become well known. Café Du Soleil is a block away from Market Square, and the restaurant stands apart from its competitors in more ways than one.
The café capitalizes on its small location with divan chairs and small tables to create an intimate setting. It feels like a coffee shop turned restaurant, and this casual but classy atmosphere is perfect for the hybrid cuisine served.
French food prepared with a New Orleans twist creates fine dining that even a picky palate will appreciate. Try a classic French dish such as escargot, or opt for the more familiar vegetable pasta with seasonal harvest sautéed in a white wine and butter sauce.
A little further down the road you can find an Ethiopian restaurant tucked in the shadow of a shopping center.
Gosh Ethiopian Restaurant on Sutherland Avenue has an unimpressive exterior and at first glance, the inside doesn’t seem to hold much potential either. However, give the waiter a chance to recommend one of their many combination meals (so that you don’t have to try just one dish) and show you the proper way to eat — using only rolls of unleavened bread and your hands.
After your meal, relax with a pot of spiced tea and soak in the ethnic music while you watch the nature footage constantly rolling on the two TVs in the restaurant.
Moving further into West Knoxville, you will find Sitar indian restaurant on Kingston Pike. The buffet style lunch keeps the restaurant packed, and for a good reason.
The buffet is extensive with many different dishes that all inevitably mix together on your plate, but this is one instance in which you really should let the different foods touch.
The sauces all work to compliment each other, and you’ll find yourself soaking up every last drop with the warm pita bread served with the food.
For a buffet style meal, the service is excellent. Waiters pace with water pitchers to keep your glass full, and when you have finished your first plate (you will want more than one), they clear it away to give you room for more.
Finally, if you find yourself in the Cedar Bluff area and want a low-cost meal with both quantity and quality, stop by Koko Japanese Grill.
This restaurant doesn’t boast gourmet cuisine or unique dishes, but it does give a meal equivalent to Wasabi for under $10. One of the hibachi entrees gives you a hefty portion of steamed, fried or brown rice topped with heaps of veggies and your choice of meat, seafood or tofu.
It even includes mushroom soup and salad with ginger dressing to tide you over until your meal arrives. You won’t get an onion ring volcano or a rice ball tossed into your mouth, but you’ll get the same food for a better price.
So next time it’s your turn to pick the restaurant, try something new.
Café Du Soleil is located a block away from Market Square.
