Windows on the Park

The menu at this newly restored venue at the Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park features signature, farm-to-table items made from fresh Tennessee and regional ingredients. Whether from the sprawling bar, inviting community table or intimate seating, you will savor the park view in the lounge. Enjoy a wide selection of wine and beer, including some local craft varieties, plus some original Knoxville-inspired libations, including Tennessee Riverwater, the Rocky Top and the Sunsphere.

From YUMMM! the Metro Pulse Restaurant Guide:

In some parts of the world, hotels are particularly known for the quality of their food and drink, and their restaurants are destination-dining spots. The Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park aims to give you that kind of experience in Knoxville, and the newly redesigned Windows on the Park Restaurant and Lounge is just the ticket.

The space itself is open and airy with a contemporary design that’s both comfortable and elegant. Brilliantly, the designers chose a wonderful piece of art to gild the lounge—it’s a windowscape that features an exceptional view of the World’s Fair Park itself. Sweeping across the Sunsphere, the Clinch Avenue Bridge, and including the Knoxville Museum of Art, it’s almost a visual tour of Knoxville’s recent history.

The view adds a touch of civic pride and an urbane feel to the already polished and modern lounge. The bar itself is a handsome construction of granite and stacked natural slate, and it makes for a great place for a traditional drink or one of the bar’s specialties like the Riverwalk or the Sunsphere cocktails. There’s plenty of soft seating for more intimate conversations, and the free Wi-Fi makes the place perfect for low-key meetings or away from the office homework. As part of the new setting, the restaurant also features a private dining area that is both intimate and well designed, making it perfect for small meetings, luncheons and private parties.

There’s a new coffee shop that rivals any of the better-known coffee hound haunts. They feature Valentine coffee, an organic and fair trade brew that’s roasted in small batches for a really amazing flavor. It’s not a stretch to call it the fine wine of coffee.

That sense of quality is notable in every corner and is especially present in the restaurant. Chef Tom Ortman showcases local and regional ingredients in his upscale Southern menu, which features appealing and tasteful riffs on local favorites. His Benton’s Cured Country Ham and Bean Soup is delicious and modern without losing any of its down-home goodness—especially with his addition of cornbread croutons and Tennessee chow chow. Fried green tomatoes are on the menu, too, in the Southern Trio alongside fried pickle chips and tobacco onions with two sauces—Tomato Horseradish and Wasabi Puree. And that just gets you started—there’s still Benton’s Bacon and Onion Ravioli, Rainbow Trout with spicy sweet potato cakes, steaks, ribs and more. And don’t forget their signature dessert: Jack Daniels bread pudding.

Windows on the Park is an elegant and easy place to end the day or start the evening. No hassle and complimentary parking make drinks, dinner and a show a snap. And when those special event evenings and weekends come around, the Holiday Inn has great packages to make your leisure time elegant and easy. They even offer a free shuttle to help you navigate all points downtown.

Whether you’re from Bearden or Boise, this is the kind of Southern hospitality, Tennessee pride, and good taste that you won’t want to miss.

Hours:
Breakfast: 6:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Lounge: 3 p.m.-11 p.m.

Restaurant Details

Locally Owned	Wifi	Patio	Live Music	Accepts Reservations	Party Room (20+)

Kids Menu	Delivers	Buffet	Waterfront	Vegetarian Dishes	Vegan Dishes

Bar Details

Happy Hour	Hard Liquor	Dance Floor	Live Music	Karaoke	Glow Sticks

Darts	Foosball	Pool Tables	Shuffleboard	Trivia Night	Outdoor Seating