Featuring Dining, Wines and Recipes in Knoxville and East Tennessee chosen by KnoxGourmet
Featuring Dining, Wines and Recipes in Knoxville and East Tennessee chosen by KnoxGourmet
As you drive up to this small unpretentious venue, just under the railroad trestle on Northshore Drive, the exterior doesn’t look like much, but it hides a secret inside. From the cars in the parking lot, you can tell RouXbarb is packed and the customers probably have deep pockets…judging from the make of cars. The restaurant’s design is a “shotgun” layout front to back… very narrow with a couple of windows in the front.
Entering the front door, you are greeted by a smiling hostess and a place bustling with activity and conversation. A horseshoe shaped bar, by the kitchen, provides a seat where you can trade stories with Bruce as he takes a break from his chef duties. It seems the clientele that sit at the bar are the real foodies of KnoxVegas….lots of questions and dialog back and forth to the kitchen. A premier waiter works the counter, but the true attraction is watching “Le Bruce” do his thing humbly not mention the aromas that come from the kitchen while the cooking is progressing.
RouXbarb is BYOB. If you are a foodie and like to drink wine, RouXbarb has nice glassware to accompany your wine of choice. At the bar, you may even share a taste with your neighbor, start trading favorites vintages and vineyard stories. This works really well for me since I have red wine running through my veins . (This is similar to the locals who have orange running through theirs.) The bar seats 10 so it’s you must make reservations to have this premier seating. (Don’t forget to bring the wine.)
RouXbarb’s menu choices vary with the seasons which seem to coincide with local produce availability. It’s not an extensive menu but there are enough choices to make it interesting and at the same time, difficult to choose. These are some of the menu items we have tried.
Appetizers:
Fried Chicken Livers on Grits with a homemade jam.
Pimento Cheese Beignets
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Dry Rubbed Pork Spare Ribs
Salads:
Wedge Salad
Chopped Smoked Trout Salad (my wife’s favorite)
Entrees:
Smoked Duck Breast
Veal Chop (to die for)
Herb Crusted Halibut (wow)
Prime Filet (my picky 25 year old daughter said the best thing she has ever eaten)
Desserts:
Bread Pudding
Mousse
Strawberry Jam Cake(must have)
The complete menu is here: http://www.rouxbarbfood.com/Menu.html
You owe it to yourself to visit RouXbarb, a place that I refer to as Southern/Cajun/Nouveau. Enjoy the company of the people who work here and the new friends you will meet if you sit at the bar. Don’t forget to bring you own wine.
KnoxGourmet
