Chez Liberty

I read all the reviews and was so excited to send my brother in the area a gift card (I’m in MA) for his birthday. Called down there, Ross said he’d take care of it, very nice. That was March 12. Since then, card was charged… my brother hasn’t received anything. Emailed Ross. Nothing. Called Ross… was told he was «in a meeting, will call you back». Never did. Now, the phone is «temporarily disconnected». I’m very very disappointed. and out $ 100. sounds like they are in some trouble, beware. (if the restaurant reads this and has some explanation, I’ll be happy to pull this down, but for now, people need to know how you treat customers).

We had an amazing meal here last night, despite what seemed to be a hectic time for the Chez Liberty staff. Even what at first seemed to be cons (chef «took the night off», menu seems to be more of a possible guide than an actual list of available options) ended up being benefits to our evening.
Service: Excellent. We were served by three people and chatted up by all – a very knowledgeable staff. Unbelievably friendly and helpful, despite what I’m sure was possible chaos in the kitchen because of the unexpected absence of their chef. Food was slow coming out, but if you don’t have time to enjoy a multi-​course meal the right way, you might be taking your dinner for granted.
Meal: So good. We tried the small cheese plate (great selection, all cheeses I was unfamiliar with, interesting pairings) which came with an interesting cheese lesson and great conversation with possibly the owner??? Also had the scallops as an appetizer. Some of the best I’ve had.
Now comes the improv part: the kitchen was «out» of two main entrees, so we had a narrow (but still satisfying) selection from which to choose. Decided on wild arctic char with orzo and lamb with quinoa. When the entrees came, they looked beautiful, if notably different from the menu’s description– char was on a bed of winter vegetables and lamb was atop a hearty serving of what seemed to be pasta in an alfredo sauce. Luckily for us, however, this was not inherently bad news. My only complaint is that the changes were not mentioned at all until we complimented the pasta and the chef (of the night) came out to chat, mentioning that the quinoa was nowhere to be found and they had to improvise. My substitution was not mentioned at all. I was thoroughly satisfied with every part of our main course – fish cooked to perfection, spicy pasta a creative feat, lamb seasoned well, great sauces… just wish they’d made the effort to come clean about what might be different in our orders.
Wine and brandy were both great – our server requested our wine preferences and said she would «find something good» that matched them… Interesting thing to say up front, unclear if she just wanted to take the lead since we looked like wine newbies or if they had a similar menu/​actuality problem and were only offering a selection of their reserve at the time. Despite this, she made a great choice.
Dessert was perfection– a tiny pot of chocolate-​raspberry with cayenne, pistachio, and vanilla ice cream. Simple, rich, and a great end to a lovely meal.
Overall, the atmosphere was relaxing, the food was fabulous, and the staff showed impressive skill, both with people and improvising when the chef skips out. Not sure about the overall dynamic of that situation, but we’ll be back again, even if their chef is not.

Good, but inconsistent. Your mileage may vary.
We went to Chez Liberty for dinner a few months ago — nothing special to celebrate per se, just a romantic date with my wife. The food was phenomenal. I had the short rib and she had the fillet, both of which far exceeded our expectations. Being from San Francisco, we entered the restaurant with only moderate expectations, but we left agreeing that this restaurant would do well even if it was located in one of the foodie capitals of the country. «Cool, «we thought, «this is our go-​to spot in Knoxville for a special dinner out.» The wait times were a little long, but hey, this is TN — if you’re in a hurry you can hurry on through.
Fast forward to Valentine’s Day. It just so happens that Feb 14 is also my birthday, and 2013 marks the big 30. Naturally, being a special occasion on top of another special occasion (my wife and I just got married last year, so this was our first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple). I made a reservation two weeks in advance, and our table was waiting for us when we arrived.
The dinner, however, was less than stellar. We waited 40 minutes to have our order taken, then 20 minutes after that for the salads to arrive (don’t you have these things ready to go??). It took another 30 minutes to get our entrees, which came out completely contrary to our server’s description. The meat was so salty that it was inedible, so we just sat there staring at nice meat that had been completely ruined by the chef. Don’t you taste what you cook, at least at some point??! We asked around and everybody around us with the same dishes had a similar reaction. As my wife said, it tasted like somebody had dumped an entire salt shaker onto the meat. GROSS! Not to mention far from healthy.
And where was our server during all of this? Nowhere to be found. In fact, the only helpful person we encountered after being seated was the bartender, who did her best to help us out, but we also appreciated that waiting tables is far from her responsibility. Had it not been for the wonderful drinks she kept bringing us, this would have been a walk-​out situation for sure. When we were finally able to flag down our server, he was rather apathetic, and just kept on with the way he was doing things.
Dessert finally came after another 30 minutes of waiting [for our server to appear], which was really the only halfway decent thing in the meal.
All in all, it was clear that the restaurant — at least on that night — was horribly mismanaged, and the chef was having an extreme off night. I hope, for his/​her sake.
So go if you want to try it, but do so on a regular night and not a holiday. Enter with good company and expect a long wait. And of course, don’t expect anything stellar with the food — just hope that you are surprised.
As for us, we won’t be back. A nice dinner out needs to be dependable.

The food & wine here are very good, albeit overpriced. Their entrees for dinner are limited to about eight items – last night there were out of four of their entrees & 2 of their desserts. Service was slow – definitely felt like an off night there.

This has been the best restaurant I’ve eaten at in Knoxville so far. Again, a little leery about giving five stars after a single visit but I’m pretty sure I would be back often and will update my review if needed.
Chez Liberty is on Kingston Pike, right next to the Nama’s. I hear that «Bistro’s on the Tracks» used to occupy that building. The ambience at Chez is very inviting and welcoming. The lights are low and soft, certainly ideal for a date night but also works really well for hanging out with friends. They have really really really comfortable chairs, complete with cushions and blankets. Just in case you decide to take a nap after your meal. But seriously, makes it feel a lot more like home.
The owner is great! I believe he is always there and he goes around to ensure his guests are happy. Not in an annoying way. Just to make sure everyone is satisfied. They also have a menu that changes often– likely not more than seasonal updates. The wine menu is extensive and they have a nice menu of well crafted cocktails. I had the White Whiskey Apple Cider, which was very refreshing.
Service was also very professional and prompt. Drink orders were taken quickly and drinks delivered after a reasonable wait. They did not have a single vegetarian item on the menu but they essentially told me they would make me a vegetarian dish, which they did. Execution of the meals was fantastic. All three members of the party loved their dishes. We went on Tuesday night, which apparently is $ 8 filet burger night. That might actually be a good night to visit if you like burgers since Chez tends to be on the pricey side.
Dessert was amazing and free. We somehow lucked out and got this platter of wonderful dessert given to us for free. Barley’s icecream, bread pudding, amazing cheesecake. I would definitely have paid for it based on how good it was.
More positives. They serve brunch. On Sundays AND Saturdays. They also have a patio. An even bigger positive, they allow dogs on their patio. Loved Chez and I would be back. Likely more often than my check book would like.

Yum, hands down the best Mexican food in Knoxville. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Elvis burrito– both of them were amazing. I warn you, though: it’s spicy. Ask them to cut the spice if you have any reservations. The décor is great, too; see if you can count how many renditions of da Vinci’s «The Lord’s Supper» you see.

Dined here at the recommendation of and with a family member and was in no way disappointed. Food was as good as I have had in a fine dining establishment (except for my daughter’s restaurant :-)). Service was perfect and our waiter was very knowledgable. Wine list was unbelievable. I would give them 5 stars except for price which I felt was a little excessive.

Chez Liberty is a great place to eat where you can challenge your taste buds. It’s not just the usual fare here, but a nice, surprising mix of traditional and contemporary flavors and recipes.
The only pitfall with this place is the price tag that comes with it. But if you go for happy hour it becomes more manageable.
Overall, it is a delicious place to indulge.

My belly gives Chez Liberty 5 stars. My wallet gives it none and hasn’t spoken to my belly since.
There ought to be some superlative form of «eclectic» to describe Chez Liberty. Nothing about the place, from the décor to the furnishings to the menu to the service to the presentation to the food itself, is only one style. Yet blended as all these are, they are all high quality, and nothing about the place seems, well, out of place.
Take the décor, for starters. Even before you enter, you pass some planter-​pots filled with what looks like catnip grass, distinctly Japanese-​looking. This Japanese look is somewhat echoed later in the dishware. At the door, you encounter a large chalkboard with multi-​colored scrawlings, such as you might find at a French bistro or an American imitation. Inside, the dining room is dominated by a stainless-​steel-​and-​glass bar that looks like it belongs in Tech Noir from James Cameron’s «Terminator.» The walls are hung with abstracts that somehow recall the disturbing imagery of Otto Dix. Lighting fixtures echo Tiffany glass, while stacks of wine crates heaped around the aisles add a warehouse touch. Soft music plays throughout; only in the men’s room could I hear it clearly enough to recognize Led Zeppelin.
Furnishings? Tables and chairs are comfy enough but minimalist in design, as if the Bauhaus school suddenly discovered the color black and the idea of padding. But seated at the window, I noticed that the patio seating outside recalled that of an English gentleman’s club.
You can view the menu online before you visit, but be warned, that won’t be the menu you get when you arrive. Not only have some items been deleted, and some added, but there are other items available which are listed nowhere. You’ll have to ask your server about those. Either way, what you end up choosing from will also be eclectic, and also high quality. I confess, what spurred me to Chez Liberty was the Osso Bucco I saw on the online menu. No longer available, alas. But the menu overall retains the distinctly French emphasis on the wine & cheese selections, while the entrees available have an equally targeted emphasis on America, with beef, beef, beef, and beef being front and center.
Our server was Oleksander C., and he did a fine job, efficient and attentive, friendly enough but not hovering. I’d recommend asking for Oleksander.
We began with cocktails, then appetizers. I had a Dewar’s ($ 7) and the Goat Cheese Fondue ($ 8), while the gf enjoyed a White Cosmo ($ 9) and a side salad ($ 5). Scottish, French, and American, and we hadn’t even ordered dinner yet. Eclectic, right.
By this point, my wallet was kicking me in the shin under the table. But the Dewar’s was stiff enough that I could ignore it.
We ordered dinner, Duck Breast ($ 29) for the gf, Braised Beef shortribs ($ 38) for me. Here’s where Oleksander really shone. Not only did he inform us of a meal-​for-​two item, a Leg of Veal, that was not on the menu, but he was exceedingly helpful in the gf’s choice of wine with dinner, even bringing her a sample to taste. She chose a St. Urban Mosel Riesling (glass, $ 10), while I had a Sawbuck Cabernet (glass, $ 12). At this point my wallet threatened to hold its breath until it turned blue. I tried explaining to the wallet that the gf was worth it. The wallet scowled and said nothing.
The food was, in a word, sublime. The gf confessed she had never tried duck before, but she absolutely loved it. She had some questions about the garnishes — looked like beansprouts, but weren’t — and Oleksander explained that all the house vegetables are grown on their own organic farm, in Indiana I believe he said, and flown in daily. California-​Nouvelle emphasis on freshness? What else would you expect from a place that redefines «eclectic»?
Anyway, all the food was great, terrific, fantastic, yummy, as I said already, sublime. Portion sizes were ample. You would not leave hungry if all you ordered were entrees.
If there’s one drawback about dinner at Chez Liberty, it’s that their dessert menu is not very extensive. Something called Deconstructed Carrot Cake ($ 9) is the highlight, but I personally loath carrot cake. That didn’t stop the gf from ordering it. She liked it, a lot, and I must admit, the presentation is notable — it’s huge, and it looks like someone played Jenga with a three-​layer cake. I meanwhile enjoyed an Amaretto ($ 6) with my coffee, which (like hers) was complimentary.
I can’t say enough about the quality of the food we had at Chez Liberty. I can’t describe how difficult it is to define the the style of the place. My wallet absolutely hated, hated, hated Chez Liberty. But lucky for Chez Liberty, I’m the one in charge.

I just got back from my meal here and it was immensely enjoyable to say the least. I had great company and great conversation but aside from that, the food added nicely to the evening and the service was, in my opinion, just what it needed to be.
To start, we were each presented with an amuse-​bouche of hazelnut cream, smoked pancetta and half of a grape that made for a very delectable couple of bites to kick off the meal.
Then we ordered the 3 cheese sampler (chef’s choice) and I asked for harder cheeses. Two of the cheeses were firm sheep’s milk that were fantastic (Petit Basque and Dallanweiller I believe) and the third cheese was an extremely firm and crumbly goat’s milk amusingly called Capricious. The last one was a bit too hard for my taste but with all of the interesting sides they include on the cheese platter (crostinis, grapes, tangerine slices, gourmet mustard, honey with raisins) there was plenty to experiment with just involving the two sheep cheeses.
The bread came out a little late, according to the waiter anyways (I was too intrigued by the cheese to notice its absence), and was served warm with a really tasty vanilla and butternut squash infused butter. I could really only taste the vanilla but it was delicious nonetheless.
My dad and I each had the side salad and I think they forgot to include the dressing with it but they brought us out some promptly when I asked for it. Some nice greens with a pretty acidic red wine vinaigrette.
For the main course, I had the vegetable sampler with which I was very impressed. It consisted of lots of root veggies – colorful smaller carrots along with grated carrot «noodles,» beats, potatoes, and maybe a turnip or two – along with some sprouts. Some of the veggies were roasted, some were very lightly boiled or steamed and some tasted raw with just a vinaigrette over top. Overall, I really loved the simplicity of the dish as it was primarily seasoned with salt and pepper by a deft hand with, however, a slightly overpowering amount of vinaigrette. It was nice though since the flavors of the vegetables really came out. Awesome presentation as well.
My dad got the special which was a smoked salmon served over some vegetables. I tried a bit and the salmon certainly had a nice smokiness to it.
For dessert I had some of the chocolate-​cherry semifreddo with a caramel chocolate truffle on top. Maybe it was just because it got lost in the flavor of the ice cream but I didn’t really get much out of the truffle. The chocolate semifreddo itself was really good but I thought the dried cherries thrown in were a little too tart.
Overall, a really enjoyable experience and along with eating some delicious food, I discovered some interesting things to try out when preparing vegetables and consuming cheese (Petit Basque + mustard + honey on a crostini). The price… yeah it’s pretty high. Luckily I was with the parental figure and I can’t say I’d have tried the vegetable platter at $ 31 if I was covering the bill. If you feel like throwing down some cash, I’d recommend this place since it does what it tries to do pretty well and what it tries to do is rare in this area.
P. S. CJ the food runner is awesome.

The VERY best place to eat in Knoxville! Always fresh and amazingly delicious!!!
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Cheese. Wine. Service.
Bliss.
You can’t get better in Knoxville.

Excellent service, friendly owner, and great atmosphere. Had a great wine recommendation with an amazing cheese plate. Then moved on to one of the best glasses of scotch I have ever had. Will definitely return on my next trip to Knoxville.

This is a gem in Knoxville. I’ve been for dinner, brunch, happy hour, drinks and small plates… all of it. This is a restaurant anyone could enjoy, but if you’re a «foodie» and into good wine/​drinks, you’ll be especially pleased. The servers are always kind and informative. A gentleman who I have deduced is an owner will likely stop by your table to check in, offer friendly (but never pushy) suggestions on drinks to go with your food. The food is fresh and prepared simply and deliciously. You can make an affordable meal here with a great salad and a small plate, or go all out and spend some serious, serious dough. They have the absolute best cheese selection in town, with options on the sizes/​numbers of cheese you would like to sample. The portions of each cheese are much better than other establishments of comparable $. I have had particularly good experiences with the seafood specials.

The missus and I have been on the hunt for a place in town with a quality charcuterie offering. We’ve been to places like Cru in Turkey Creek and found the restaurant enjoyable, but the meat and cheese offering positively anemic. Celebrating a recently completed half marathon, we seized the opportunity to try out Chez Liberty, having seen their menu promising a hearty variety of cheeses.
Highlights
Variety, variety, variety — One of the single greatest features of this restaurant is that its kitchen serves as a curation engine for quality gastronomy. Their cheese selection, which takes up a third to half of a page of their menu, is broad; the wine selections are vast. This is the place to go if you want to explore food.
Service — I’ll try not to overstate it, but our server was everything you could have asked for and more. We ordered drinks off-​menu and he got us what we wanted at a fair price. He was mindful of how full our glasses were and always ready to refill water glasses or offer something else from the bar. We were able to leverage his knowledge and personal experience of the cheeses on their menu to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. Everyone says customer service is important, and they do it right.
Gourmet food — We dressed up and went out, looking for a great foodie experience. You can’t have that without great food, and Chez Liberty delivered. I owe my brother for a trip to Morimoto’s in Philly, and the repayment of that will certainly include Chez Liberty.
Lowlights
Ambience — The place was well appointed, but I didn’t really get a sense for a common theme. Some of the booths were arranged side-​by-​side instead of back-​to-​back, so they actually seemed less private than the tables. There are some places that don’t need to be showing the game — in fact, why is there a TV in here at all?
This is a place my better half and I will definitely be coming back to.

I want to be a fan but atmosphere, taxes, and menu appeal have me on «the other team». The atmosphere is bizarre and not in a good way. It’s stark and contemporary yet bohemian. The menu is interesting and yet I couldn’t decide what to order and not for the abundance of appealing choices.
The owner greeted our table with wine tastings and I chose one of his selections (not knowing the price) which was a 20 some dollar glass of wine… well at least it was good. We ended up sharing a cheese plate, scallop appetizer, and a macaroni side dish. The cheese selection is fantastic but the accompaniments were, well not there. There was some fruit and a drizzle of honey throughout the plate, but not what I expected.
The scallop dish was good and the macaroni side dish was also good. Nothing really lived up to my expectations and maybe that’s my fault for having them.
I also have one big complaint and that is with the price structure on their wine and alcohol. They do not include any taxes with the price of their wine and liquor. So when you order a $ 20. glass of wine which may seem like a great deal considering the high end wine they offer by the glass, you need to add about 24% to that price to account for the taxes you’ll be charged on your bill. I think that’s deceiving. Most places already have the taxes included with the price of your wine or liquor.
They are using local ingredients, they have an interesting edge and their menu changes regularly. So, though I’m not in a rush to return, I would recommend that you give it a try and you may love it! Cheers!

I can see why Mary T gave this place a 3.5. For me it started at a 5 and slid down to 3 status. Nevertheless, I really want to go back. This place has that certain something that just makes it likable.
I arrived a little after it opened on Sunday for brunch. I was immediately seated in a cozy booth. The manager walked over to thank us for coming, and as one server arrived with our waters another soon followed to take our orders. We ordered mimosas and pastries to start. The mimosas were made with fresh squeezed OJ and a pretty good champagne. The pastry basket came with two scones, a cinnamon roll, biscuit, croissant, and lemon poppyseed muffin. The bacon, scallion scone was amazing and had a quiche-​like flavor. The cinnamon roll and muffin were great as well.
For the main course I ordered the shrimp and grits and my bud ordered the chicken and waffles. The 3 shrimp were huge, fresh catch and pretty tasty. The grits were flavored with a light cheese. The cajun gravy on top was good but the restaurant placed WAY too much on top. It turned my grits into an unappetizing looking brown grit soup. After that happened I was pretty much done. I sampled my buds chicken and waffles and that tasted much better. The chicken was cornflake breaded and pan seared. It had a sweet gravy base, but it was not nearly as overpowering.
I’m going to give breakfast here another try. The menu looked great, and the atmosphere is enough to bring me back another time.

Five star concept — two star execution = 3.5 stars
Mary T.‘s assessment of the place is spot-​on. The interior is cool — the outdoor seating could be perfect on the right kind of day. The menu changes frequently and the quality of ingredients isn’t in question (fresh Maine fiddlehead ferns, anyone?) Where this place dropped the ball for me was on the service and the experience.
The menu is both informative and near-​insulting at the same time. If you’ve ever read the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer, you’ll notice stylistic similarities. When dinner is going to cost north of $ 100 for two people, I don’t need the menu letting me know how great a deal their newest wine by the glass is, or pleading with me to add some über-​rare mushrooms to my steak. While some of the language is cute, it’s more appropriate for Red Robin, not a restaurant of this caliber. There’s a difference between unpretentious and goofy and this crosses the line if you’re looking for a really nice place to go.
My second complaint with Chez Liberty was the service. I’m sure it’s cost-​effective to exclusively hire servers under 25, but it’s unacceptable when I know more about the food and how it’s prepared than the waitstaff does. Our waitress was unable to offer any wine suggestions to go with our meal beyond what was on special that evening and it was, at times, difficult to attract anyone’s attention during the meal. I’d like to be able to chalk this up to the fact that the restaurant is relatively new and hopefully some of these kinks will be worked out shortly.
I’m likely to go back to Chez Liberty sometime, but probably not for at least a few more months. The food was good enough to get me back in the door, but until the service improves a little, you’re better off going somewhere else for a special occasion.

As of 11/​13/​2010 this is still my favorite restaurant in Knoxville… we actually went to Flemings this same night (because they sent us a $ 50 gift card. otherwise we would never go there because I hate chains) we had a bottle of bubbles and a way overpriced appetizer that we could tell had been frozen and the cocktail sauce had a slight tin taste… we left there and came to Chez Liberty to eat real food… fresh food!!! And the service, as always, was amazing !! Countless times eating here I’ve never ate the same thing twice and I’m always impressed.
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My husband and I tried Chez Liberty for the first time last night… at first I was hesitant because I am «training» right now… so few restaurants in Knoxville will make changes to the dishes to make them healthy. or healthy enough for me… not this place.
First my husband had the Lobster Medallions and he said the whole dish was wonderful!!! They were not greedy with the Lobster at all!
We asked our waiter (i think his name was Brant) if there was anything on the menu made without cheese, butter or cream… he recommend the Halibut special with some different sides, which they grilled and lightly sauteed. The fish itself was a large (about 8oz) beautiful white, fresh piece of halibut lightly coated in a cornmeal crust, it was not a bit greasy! Just full of flavor… there was a hot pepper sauce of some kind on the edge of the plate. nice touch and very good… All so freshly Delicious!
I truly appreciate a waiter who made such a perfect suggestion and a chef who’s good enough to make something pretty much on spot, and it be wonderful!!!

Located in the old Bistro by the Tracks building, on the corner of Kingston Pike and Mohican Drive, right in the heart of the area we call Homberg, this restaurant has a vibe that you should check out. It opened a few months ago and seems to be doing quite well.
The walls are plain with no artwork, along with its rustic but hip atmosphere where the lighting is just right around 8:00 at night. There is something about the bar that constantly reminds me of the movie Beetlejuice as the lights change colors every few seconds outlining the liquors. If you remembered the restaurant that was there before, Bistro by the Tracks, the interior looks nothing like it did before as they only kept a few things that only very few people might notice.
One intriguing factor is that they change their menu every couple of weeks, with a chef that is well-​known around other areas of the country but not here as much, his creative culinary works of art are slowly but surely becoming very popular.
On an odd note, they do not include the taxes on any of their alcohol until you get your check. So, don’t be pleasantly surprised if your bill looks a tad larger then the prices on the menu appeared to be. They state that on the drink menus at the bottom, it could almost be a small book.
Now for the food… I have tried the cheese plate, an amuse-​bouche, the goat cheese fondue, and the raw oysters.
The Cheese Plate I was very impressed with, for the size and how much they gave you. You get to decide which cheeses you want and how many you want. I love that idea because many places you don’t have the option to choose. I would definitely recommend the cheese plate for a first time patron to this restaurant. The Goat Cheese Fondue was what the bartender recommended and I was not impressed. It tasted like grits with a cheese that had been overcooked in the fondue. The distinct flavor of goat cheese was absent on this appetizer. The raw oysters were definitely a NO GO. I will not order those ever again. The amuse-​bouche was very good and I was very impressed that they served an amuse-​bouche.
The menu looks good and since it changes so often I will definitely go back and check it out again. If those appetizers are on the menu again I would go with the cheese plate but forget the others as they were not the best. I posted pictures of the interior and food so check them out.
Overall I had a good experience and will try again for a better one. Cheers and Enjoy!