Meal Program
OVERVIEW
• Meal vouchers will be distributed with your festival credentials
• Big Ears provides up to four (4) meal vouchers per day of show to staff and artists.
• Each meal ticket has a $10.00 value.
• Meal tickets can be redeemed at participating restaurants (map and list below) for food and beverage, excluding alcohol.
• Multiple meal tickets may be applied to each meal / order.
• Cash tips are appreciated, but not expected.
• Lost meal tickets will not be replaced / refunded.
• Tickets are only valid for the festival day listed on voucher.
A DOPO SOURDOUGH PIZZA 516 Williams St
A Dopo is a dinner only, wood-fired pizzeria that specializes in sourdough, Neapolitan style pizzas. Our pizzas have a bubbly, charred crust and are minimally topped. Both wine and beer are served on tap as well as a thoughtful bottle menu. We also have a few small plates and some vegan options for our pizzas.
Hours: DINING AT A DOPO: 5 – 10pm TAKEOUT: TH/SUN: 5pm – 10:30pm FRI/SAT: 5pm – 12am
POTCHKE 318 N Gay St, Suite 103
Potchke is a sunny and hip all-day café inspired by the Jewish deli, offering babka, bialys, blintzes, and a vegetable-focused, rotating menu – with full coffee and espresso service and plenty of couches and tables. Gluten-free and vegan options are available.
Hours: THU-SUN: 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
THE TOMATO HEAD 12 Market Square
Inventive pizza, sandwich, and salad items. Options for omnivore, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets.
Hours: THU: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. FRI: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. SAT: 10:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. SUN: 10:30 a.m- 9 p.m.
NAMA SUSHI BAR 506 S Gay St
A fusion of Asian and American flavors created from the finest and freshest ingredients. From our sushi to our hot entree selections, we guarantee not to disappoint.
Hours: THU: 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m., FRI-SAT: 11 a.m.- 10:30 p.m., SUN: 12 a.m.- 9 p.m.
OLD CITY JAVA 109 S Central St
A local favorite serving downtown Knoxville since 1991. Specialty coffee, loose-leaf tea, and scratch-made pastries (from our bakery Wild Love Bakehouse).
Hours: THU- FRI: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. SAT- SUN: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
KOPITA 507 S Gay St
Authentic Mediterranean cuisine
Hours: THU-SAT: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.
K Brew 507 S Gay St
K Brew is one of the best coffee shops in Knoxville, with four locations featuring single origin coffees, delicious espresso, and handmade bagels. We roast our coffee to perfection, then brew it using the finest equipment in the industry. K Brew combines our amazing coffee with handmade bagels, with over 8 varieties prepared every morning at our Knoxville bakery. Combine your bagel with one of our house-made cream cheeses, with over 6 delicious varieties, like Bacon and Chive, Honey Ginger, and Strawberry.
Hours: TH-SAT 7a – 6p, SUN 8a – 10p
BABALU 412 S Gay St
Babalu features Latin-inspired tapas and tacos, fresh-squeezed craft cocktails, and an extensive Iberian wine selection in a lively, bohemian-styled atmosphere. Centered around a sustainably sourced menu shaped by local and seasonal ingredients, Babalu invites patrons into a warm, celebratory gathering space that captures the bright and eclectic spirit of Downtown Knoxville. Our scratch kitchen is able to accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions in addition to offering vegan and vegetarian options.
Hours: THU- FRI: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. SAT: 10 a.m.- 11 p.m. SUN: 10 a.m.- 10 p.m.
EMILIA 16 Market Square
Our handmade Italian restaurant prides itself on bridging East Tennessee ingredients with the finest imported Italian products. Warm hospitality and a curator’s 100% Italian wine list enhance the dining experience.
Hours: THU-SAT 5 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. SUN 5 p.m.- 9 p.m.
OSTERIA STELLA 108 Jackson Ave
A restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine.
Hours: THU-SUN 5 p.m.- 10 p.m.
BROTHER WOLF 108 Jackson Ave
A cocktail bar inspired by Italian Apertivo culture. Named one of Esquire’s Top Bars in North America.
Hours: THU 4 p.m.- 12 a.m., FRI/SAT 4 p.m. – 3 a.m., SUN 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.
SWEET P’S DOWNTOWN DIVE 410 W Jackson Ave
Locally owned and operated, Sweet P’s has been serving some of Knoxville’s best barbeque and Southern fare for over 15 years. As a Downtown staple, Sweet P’s prides itself on made-from-scratch soul food appealing to all palettes, including vegetarians. An eclectic vibe, including one of Downtown’s best outdoor spaces, makes Sweet P’s a great place to grab a bite on the go and enjoy local beers and wine all the while staying close to all the Big Ears action.
Hours: THU-SAT: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
THE GREEN ROOM AT THE MILL & MINE 235 W Depot Ave
The Green Room at the Mill & Mine will be hosting their “Limelight Club” pop-up during Big Ears 2024. Limelight Club features high-quality classics in a casual setting. Menu highlights include Steak Frites, Tuna Tataki, Lamb Shank, Oxtail, Wedge Salad, and Fried Clams.
Hours: THU 4p – 10p FRI-SAT 3p – 10p SUN 11a – 4p
KAIZEN 127 S Central St
Conveniently located in the heart of the Old City, Kaizen is a locally owned restaurant that is heavily influenced by the cuisines of Southeast Asia, Japan and Thailand. Along with a large, partially covered patio, we offer a large selection of Japanese whiskeys, curated cocktails, and craft beers from both near and far.
Hours: THU-SAT 11:30a – 3p, 5p – 10p, SUN CLOSED
SMASH CITY KNOXVILLE 211 S. Central St
Amazing smash burgers, fries & chicken smash sandwiches! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available.
Hours: TH/SUN 11am – 8pm, FRI/SAT 11am.- 9pm,
BARLEY’S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA 200 E. Jackson Ave
Barley’s offers great food, live music and the best draft beer selection in Knoxville. Our menu features pub favorites such as hand-battered chicken tenders, juicy burgers, southwestern wraps and fresh salads in addition to changing daily specials and an incredible selection of customizable, unique pizzas.
Hours: TH 11a – 11p, FRI/SAT 11a – 12a, SUN 12p – 11p
CHIVO TAQUERIA 314 S Gay St
Chivo Taqueria has a unique and trendy vibe with a crazy specific attention to detail. Not just with our food but our cocktails, unrivaled selection of tequilas, whiskeys and excellent selection of wine and craft beers. We are proud to shake the best margarita and serve some of the best food in Knoxville.
Hours: TH 11a – 10p, FRI/SAT 11a -11p, SUN 11a – 10p
THE BRASS PEARL 24 Market Square
It’s pretty simple. We love oysters. We have visited a wide variety of raw bars all over the world. The experience, flavors, and concepts taught us one thing – the best places weren’t pretentious or ornate. A raw bar should be fun, lively, and authentic.
Hours: TH 4pm-10pm, FRI 4pm-10pm, SAT 10am-2pm (brunch) 4pm-10pm, SUN 10am-8pm
STOCK & BARREL 35 Market Square
Our Goal in creating this restaurant is to design a quality burger location that is driven by the Knoxville Community using fresh, local ingredients in all of our menu options. We want a place for our customers to feel at home and welcome when they are here whether it is for a business luncheon, a first date, or for family/friends to come together and have dinner and drinks with one another.
Hours: TH 11a – 10p, FRI/SAT 11a – 11p, SUN 11a – 10p
PETRO’S CHILI & CHIPS 2 Market Square
The signature Petro begins with Fritos topped with your choice of original chicken or plant-based chili, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, green onion, olives, and jalapenos–but also guac, grilled chicken, BBQ pulled pork, queso & more! Don’t miss the Hint-of-Orange Iced Tea, an award-winning crowd favorite. We also serve delicious giant baked potatoes, made-to-order wedge salads, 100% beef hot dogs & specialty nachos.
Hours: TH – SAT 10a – 8p, SUN 11a – 8p
FROTHY MONKEY 419 S Gay St
A TN favorite, this All-Day Cafe and coffee roaster in Downtown Knoxville serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an emphasis on quality, community, and local relationships. The thoughtfully designed menu includes fresh favorites, options for a variety of dietary needs, a kids menu, a strong coffee program, and a full bar. Frothy Monkey’s food and drinks are made from scratch using original recipes and thoughtfully sourced ingredients from regional farmers and producers whenever possible.
Hours: TH-SAT 7a – 11p, SUN 7a – 10p
K BREW 507 S Gay St
K Brew is one of the best coffee shops in Knoxville, with four locations featuring single origin coffees, delicious espresso, and handmade bagels. We roast our coffee to perfection, then brew it using the finest equipment in the industry. K Brew combines our amazing coffee with handmade bagels, with over 8 varieties prepared every morning at our Knoxville bakery. Combine your bagel with one of our house-made cream cheeses, with over 6 delicious varieties, like Bacon and Chive, Honey Ginger, and Strawberry.
Hours: TH-SAT 7a – 6p, SUN 8a – 10p
CHICK-N-SACK 333 W Depot Ave
We serve some of the best deep-fried chicken seasoned with our Signature KTownKrack Seasoning
Hours: TH/SUN 11a – 9p, FRI/SAT 11a – 10p
KIANGA’S KITCHEN 333 W Depot Ave
Vegan Soul Food. Kianga’s Kitchen is an all-vegan food stall in the Marble City Market Food Hall. Our goal is to provide vegan meals with no processed foods with a taste to live for.
Hours: THU: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. FRI-SAT: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
ROM’S HOUSE 333 W Depot Ave
Authentic Afghani Foods, rice & fries
Hours: THU: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. FRI-SAT: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
SEOUL BROTHERS 333 W Depot Ave
Korean Fusion – Korean flavors in dishes that are approachable & delicious. Bap Bowls – Bibimbop with a twist, Bulgogi Banh Mi, Kimchi Fried Rice
Hours: THU: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. FRI-SUN: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.
COACH CRE’S JUST JUICE 333 W Depot Ave
Coach Cre’s Just Juice specializes in serving fresh juices made from fruits and vegetables with no added sugar!!!
Hours: THU-SUN: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
MADRE’S FRESH CANTINA 333 W Depot Ave
Fresh quesadillas, burritos, and street-style tacos with traditional sides like beans, rice, guacamole, and queso.
Hours: TH: 11 a.m.-9 p.m FRI-SAT: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
ALGO DELI 333 W Depot Ave
Tennesee’s best Venezuelan delights!
Hours: TH: 11 a.m.-9 p.m FRI-SAT: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
STACKED BURGERS AND TOTS 333 W Depot Ave
Housemade burgers served with tots & pickle fries. Vegetarian options available
Hours: TH: 11 a.m.-9 p.m FRI-SAT: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. SUN: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
THE S.E.A. RAMEN & ASIAN KITCHEN 333 W Depot Ave
The S.E.A. offers authentic RAMEN and a delicious taste of Southeast Asian food. Our mission is to bring the pleasure of the world to customers by offering healthy recipes. We look forward to providing you with our best service. We will bring more mouthwatering Southeast Asian dishes for you to experience.
Hours: TH-SUN: 8 a.m.- 11 p.m.
AWAKEN COFFEE 125 W Jackson Ave
A craft coffee and tea shop with breakfast, lunch, and snack options. Freshly made pastries, smoothies, and grab and go options will be available
Hours: TH-SAT: 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m, SUN: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
FIVE AND HOEK COFFEE 200 W Magnolia Ave
We are a coffee roaster and cafe located in the Old City. We invite you to step into our space and experience more than just a cup of coffee – discover a place where connections thrive and moments of peace are savored over delicious handcrafted beverages. Every menu item is crafted in-house, reflecting our dedication to quality and attention to detail. With a decade of expertise, we curate our menu seasonally, ensuring every selection is made with intention and precision. We also feature breakfast and lunch daily from our friends at Simpl Cafe.
Hours: TH-SUN: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.