The Knoxville Pearl

I was super excited to try out the pearl while visiting town, but I’m sad to say that it was disappointing. There were two people behind the counter on the night of my visit. One girl was on her laptop talking with another guy also behind the counter. Their conversation continued all throughout my transaction. While I considered this to be off-​putting, I was more irritated by how long it took for them to make a single drink on an early Friday evening with two other customers in the building.
Also, as several other Unilocalers noted, many of the flavors advertised on the board were not available. If you are interested in only a certain flavor, it may be worth calling ahead of time to see if it is actually in stock. It’s exciting to see so many flavors offered in one shop, but it doesn’t mean much when over half are not available.
Overall, the quality of the boba at the Knoxville Pearl does not compensate for the poor customer service and long waiting time.

I’ve been to many bubble teas but this one was unique for sure. It’s like walking into a club your freshman college roommate next door threw, and all he had left were cereal and bubble tea. I almost expected alcohol in the bubble tea… which isn’t a bad concept.
We just ordered the regular milk tea with boba. It was more expensive than most for a normal sized one, and most of their other drinks were out of stock. Note: this was a Monday night, may have run out over the weekend.
The boba was good, the drink itself was not as creamy as I was used to, again size-​for-​price didn’t satisfy, but the flavor was ok. The guy at the counter was nice and helpful.

I came here last night with my cousins and I was disappointed that it took 1 hour and 15 minutes for 2 bowls of cereal and a few small bubble tea drinks. I went to ask where my order was and they said they are getting to it. It didn’t make sense because there was barely 1 – 2 other groups other than my own that came after us. We were not even compensated or given an apology for the delay. I will never come back here! I would rather risk it and attempt to make bubble tea at home because I know it won’t take me over an hour!!!

This place used to be awesome a few years back, I think they first opened about 6 years ago. And I would go there after sundown in the city and eat cereal. I have memories here. But my recent experience at the pearl really upset me as it has gone downhill.
It never used to reek of cat pee… Now you walk out tasting it. And it took 30 – 45 minutes for a bubble tea. And the staff seemed overwhelmed by making 4 drinks, not to mention they were out of almost everything. I don’t know if they have new owners or they just aren’t feelin it anymore or what but I was deeply disappointed :(

Awesome concept. Cereal after midnight (or after 7pm when they open). Great idea and something cool and unique to experience. My friends sold me on the idea when I immediately arrived in town. You wait until you have the munchies in the evening and you trek on over for a $ 3.50 bowl of cereal or $ 7 AYCE.
You get the hipster feel. Inside almost feels like a fraternity party is taking place. Music is blasting. There’s a piano. Whip out and play a board game. Grab some paper and start to color. Nothing inside matches. All the things that gives you the opportunity to experience something different.
Why three stars? While everything was cool and different, I also got the feeling of all things old. And when I say old, I didn’t feel things were clean. Yes, in some instances I can be a germaphobe. When places are obviously clean, no problems. When I get that small feeling like someone overlooked wiping a table down or there’s just too many hands going through the peanut bowl, I freak out. I had a minor freak out there.
Great idea. I enjoyed my first bowl of Cherrios in over a year. Lots of old things and lots of people touching them throughout each night made me a bit paranoid but overall, it was quite an experiences.

Most chill spot in Knoxville to kick it! Best bubble tea I’ve had in the south east! And they have an unnaturally large selection of cereal to choose from, like FOR REAL who finds boo berry and count chocula out of season!!! The bros and I always hit this place up after a late night skate sesh! The music is so chill too! On occasion they have a live dj there spinnin some wax!

Absolutely the best vanilla chai I’ve had that I didn’t make myself. Small business ran by only a few people so there was a little wait but ABSOLUTELY worth it. Didn’t grab any cereal while there but quite a few look appetizing and there was also a pop tarts selection. It’s quirky, it’s out there and everything I enjoy in an establishment.

This is the only place in Knoxville to get decent bubble tea. It also happens to have the best atmosphere compared to similar «hangout”-type restaurants — by which I mean coffee shops I guess. Anyway, it has a fantastic late-​night, chill ambience with dim lighting, electronic music, plenty of board games, comfy seating, and interesting decorations on the walls. The employees are also friendly and helpful. Oh, and there’s tons of cheap cereal with a good choice of milk (yay for almond milk!).
So those were the pros. The place has two big cons in my opinion. This has been said in other reviews, but the posted open hours are more like a loose guidelines. There have been numerous times where I’ve shown up 30 minutes after scheduled opening to find a sign saying they’ll be opening late. Then you’ll usually have to wait an hour after they finally open to get bubble tea. The other problem is the bubble tea isn’t quite as good as what you would find in bigger cities. The tapioca is usually too firm and the tea too sweet, but it’s still good especially considering the competition in Knoxville. Please do not even consider trying the bubble tea at Viet Taste or Thai’an.
The pros outweigh the cons. Try to go late at night. Chances are they’ll be open then with tapioca pearls ready to serve.

Love this place!!!
Lots of character; offers something you can’t find just anywhere; good selection of both cereal & tea, as well as yummy odds & ends. :-)

Five stars for the atmosphere and the aesthetic of the Pearl, tres hipster-​alternerative chic. There are large couches that make up the seating area, and coffee tables laden with various board games, coloring books and crayons; I was a bit more distracted with the coloring books than I’d like to admit. There’s even a DJ spinning. In the back of the restaurant is the bar and the barista with a wide selection of cereal boxes behind him.
I really wanted to love this place. but from the moment we stepped in it was clear I wasn’t. We arrived at the Pearl around 7:15, the doors were locked but the sign said it opened at 7. As we were walking away, someone opened the doors, but cautioned that there wouldn’t be any bubble tea for at least another 15 minutes. Fine. We decided we would walk back to the car (about a 10 minute walk anyway) and park closer. When we return the barista tells us its at least a 30 minute wait for bubble tea — the tapioca is still cooking.
In the end we decide just to get the bubble tea — minus the tapioca. There are a lot of interesting flavors on their menu (bacon!, butterscotch!, etc.); the barista again warns that he’s out of a lot of the flavors on the menu (this was on a Monday), and yes, there were several flavors crossed out. We avoid the crossed out items, but it turns out that they were out of more than half the menu. In the end we end up ordering two Gingerbreads and one Horchata.
They’re brought out in large glasses, with the typical bubble tea straw — not the traditional sealed plastic cup. This I don’t mind so much… I taste my Gingerbread tea… interesting, more cinnamon than gingerbread and definitely ‘milkier’ than I would prefer; I also try the Horchata — the two taste almost exactly the same.
Honestly, I would like to come back on my next visit to Knoxville, they just need to get their inventory together — and maybe a little schooling from Atlanta bubble tea makers.

Five stars for the bubble tea, atmosphere, cereal selection, and countless board games at your disposal when visiting the cereal bar. This place is an awesome hangout spot where you could spend ten minutes or two hours. Just a general great time; I’ve played endless rounds of Jenga as well as a few Twister matches here.
Two stars for the customer service. Twice I’ve heard the owner cussing about or at (over the phone) her husband. Today she complained loudly about her income not allowing enough vacations. Sometimes you go in, all excited that you’re taking a study break and geared up for some bubble tea, and it’s, «Oh, sorry, girls. We’re out of bobas (the „bubbles“ of the tea).» Really? In a bubble tea place, you’re gonna be out of bobas? Randomly we’ll arrive to a sign on the door stating that they’re closed for one reason or another that day (not that they put it on Facebook or anything, they let you drive all the way out there). I’ve had my order (of bubble tea) made incorrectly, which I pointed out, and she did not offer to correct it. It also takes an unusually long time to receive your order here compared to other bubble tea places (previous and current ones in Knoxville, as well as NYC and other places for comparison).
I would recommend the Pearl for the product and atmosphere, but caution in regards to the service (which can really be described no other way than sporadically very poor).

What an awesome place. This spot has by far the most character of the places I visited in Knoxville on a 5-​day trip here. Crazy colorful wall murals, old skool furniture, and a very unique menu specialty. Cereal?! Yup. There were ~30 kinds of cereal to choose from, plus bubble tea, coffee, etc. There were turntables setup, too, and the lady behind the counter said they have lounge-​like music Thursday through Saturday. Definitely a spot I’ll return to, and definitely something I’d love to see in my home town.

This is one of the coolest spots I’ve ever been to. A sober alternative to late night Old City romps, the Pearl offers a cereal selection that can not be topped. They also have boba teas (one of the only spots in Knoxville that I know of) and Toaster Strudels!
Board games, groovy seating, and last time I was in there 2 djs were playing quiet electronic music. You should make a point to get to this gem… or Pearl rather.

My husband, 3 year old daughter, 2 year old son and myself LOVE The Knoxville Pearl!!! Since my kids could eat cereal all day I figure we’d bring them here on a «date». We came at about 8pm on a Friday night and there was 4 other people there. There’s vintage-​y furniture, cut out cereal boxes decorated on the walls, bright color painted walls, a shelf with 100 different rubber duckies… this place is just up our alley. I love the décor, the feel of the place, just everything!!!
Adults all you can eat cereal is $ 6.18
Kids $ 2.99 but the owner only charged us for one :)
The kids also ordered chocolate milk, which she didn’t charge us for and my husband ordered bubble tea. I forgot which flavor. I’m not a fan of any bubble tea so I can’t say if it’s bad or good. You’ll just have to go in for yourself.
We played Jenga and Mancala. The kids watched tv, played in the little kids corner and colored. We stayed for 2.5 hours. By then the crowd started rolling in. But we never felt rushed to leave, the kids actually cried when we decided to because it was past their bed time.
My husband and I were saying, this is a great place to get stoned, study or do your homework (if you’re a college student), lay out on the couches and just eat as many bowls of cereal you can eat. You can even mix and max cereals!
Go! You won’t regret it!

Wow, but they don’t have Urkel Os.
I wonder if this idea will work in NY. Probably not, as unlimited anything is hard to come by– except for unlimited pancake breakfasts as the firehouse– cmon how many pacakes can a person actually eat? 3? maybe 4.
Now cereal– with the option to switch types– oh man, a place where days can be spent crunching and munching and using the internet to watch your dads home made porno on youporn.
oop– sorry wrong IM

The Knoxville Pearl is a great place to enjoy this classic food, cereal. They have cereal choices like you wouldn’t believe, from Boo-​Berry, to hemp cereal, hard to find cereals, quisp, blueberry muffin top. There milk choices are as extensive as the cereal, with soy, rice, and every variety of regular milk. They also serve Boba tea, with plenty of flavors, as well as various Asian candies.
As for entertainment, they have numerous board games, a TV, generally with cartoons, and coloring books. The cereal bar has great atmosphere, wonderful people, it’s just an all around fun place to be. Defiantly worth checking out.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed 6pm-​12am
Thurs. 6pm-​1am
Fri. Sat. 6pm-​2am
Sun. 6pm-​10pm
Sat. 9am-​12pm