The following are my idiosyncratic suggestions for places to eat before or after the Suttree Celebration festivities. The criteria used were: (1) some historical association to McCarthy’s works, (2) within walking distance of the conference hotel, and (3) highly recommended food and/or drink according to my eclectic tastes. The establishments range from the relatively formal and pricey (Regas) to the distinctly casual and modestly priced (The Soup Kitchen, & Harold’s). Bon Appétit!

• Harold’s Deli
              131 South Gay Street

  Harold’s has great Kosher style food served in a casual atmosphere. It’s been a favorite local hangout for breakfast and lunch since it opened in 1948. Their Ruben Sandwich is to die for. Harold’s isn’t mentioned in Suttree, but it should have been. In the 1950’s it was located among the many pawnshops that occupied this block (Suttree, p. 69).

  
  

• Nama Sushi Bar
              135 South Gay Street

  This new half-restaurant-half-bar is also located among a string of storefronts that once housed a number of Knoxville’s pawnshops (Suttree, p. 69). Nama is open till 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays for late night dining and has been getting rave reviews.

  
  

• Regas Restaurant
              318 North Gay Street

  Have a steak where Suttree and J-Bone had theirs (Suttree, pp. 302, 372) or lunch where Joyce and Suttree did (Suttree, p. 395). Regas dates its origin from 1919, and it remains one of Knoxville’s premier eating establishments.

  
  

• Downtown Grill & Brewery
              424 South Gay Street

  The Downtown Grill & Brewery is located in the old W. W. Woodruff Hardware (later furniture) building. You can’t weigh yourself for free there any more (Suttree, p. 298), but their pints have been certified by the State inspector of weights and measures. You can also learn about the curse of the White Mule and sample a brew by the same name.

  
  

• Preservation Pub
              28 Market Square

  The Preservation Pub is located on historic Market Square (Suttree, p. 101). They often have live entertainment and stock a wide variety of bottled beers. Can you identify the source of the McCarthy quotation on the poster that is hanging on the wall?

  
  

• The Tomato Head
              12 Market Square

  Their food is excellent, their location is on historic Market Square (Suttree, p. 101), and their award winning website is definitely worth a visit. Choose the "animated site" version and click on the tomatoes to learn more about them.

  
  

• The Soup Kitchen
              1 Market Square

  Located at "preacher’s corner" (Suttree, p. 382) on historic Market Square (Suttree, p. 101), The Soup Kitchen dishes-up great lunches that include home-made soups, and breads. If you like chili, try their "full house." They also have a mural size picture of the old Market House (Suttree, pp. 66-67, 101, 103, 168, 220, 234, 299, 382, 385) that is worth a peek. And if you are lucky, perhaps you will catch a noontime sermon on the corner.

  
  

• Calhoun’s on the River
              400 Neyland Drive

  Calhoun’s is located on the river very near the site where Suttree docked his houseboat. The restaurant’s parking lot is on Stinky Point (Suttree, p. 214) and the Gay Street bridge (Suttree, pp. 372, 441) is almost overhead. Their award winning ribs are--well, worth an award.

  
  

• Riverside Tavern
              950 Volunteer Landing

  Located near the mouth of First Creek (Suttree, pp. 115, 211, 398, 413, 416), the Riverside Tavern is located near the site where Sprout Young buried Joanna Gail Huffstetler's body under a pile of trash (Suttree, p. 416). You can also view (at a distance) Harrogate’s home under the Hill Avenue viaduct (Suttree, p. 170) and get a good view of the river while eating or drinking.

  
  

Wesley G. Morgan, Ph.D.