New Year’s Eve

Every year my husband and I go out for a late dinner at a local restaurant. We try to mix it up and choose some place new. Of course we do have our favorites, places we have returned to more than once. We’ve gone to a local English gastropub called The Crown and Goose (http://www.thecrownandgoose.com/) which is pricey but well worth the cost. The menu is always unusual and the bar is well stocked with my husband’s favorite single malts.

Another year we checked in at our favorite Asian restaurant. Asia Café(http://www.asiacafeknoxville.com/) is always a fun place with a varied menu featuring dishes from a variety of Asian countries, a lively bar with Karaoke, and the owner is always on hand to offer suggestions. Reasonably priced with generous portions, the location is split in half with one side hosting bar patrons and music and the other less noisy and more family oriented.

Then there’s Pero’s on the Hill (http://www.perosonthehill.com/). We love this place so much we had our reception there when we celebrated our tenth anniversary after our vow renewal. Their Mediterranean menu features Italian and Greek dishes as well as Pizza, Southern cuisine, and the famous “Luther Burger” which was highlighted on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It’s on my bucket list but I haven’t worked up the nerve to try it yet. Their food is always fresh, original, and well prepared.

I must confess there have been years when we ventured well out of town to celebrate New Year’s Eve. One year we traveled through Britain and celebrated New Year’s Eve at a castle in Edinburgh (Airth Castle) It was a glorious evening filled with music and dancing, pipers and traditional dancers, a delicious meal and of course the champagne (and other beverages more common to the location) flowed. Even though we didn’t go into the city to celebrate a traditional “Hogmanay” we had a blast!

Another year we celebrated aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean beneath a balloon drop, music and dancing, and again, plenty of champagne. Then we spent New Year’s Day snorkeling in the world’s second largest barrier reef off the coast of Belize. Sometimes it’s fun to travel to new places to see how other cultures celebrate holidays. I think we might take a shot at Rome or Barcelona for New Year’s Eve sometime. I’ll keep you posted!

Welcome to The Crown & Goose and The Underground, one of the best Knoxville restaurants, bars and Knoxville’s first authentic London Gastropub. We are conveniently located downtown in the Knoxville Old City and offer ample free guest parking in our own downtown parking lot just across the street. We are the perfect downtown Knoxville lunch and dinner destination. Whether you join us for a relaxed weekday business lunch or an evening out with family & friends, you will enjoy our friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere and wonderful cuisine and cocktails.

The Underground is a unique space with a design that was inspired by the London Underground. It’s a perfect setting for an intimate date or a cocktail party. Enjoy cuisine from The Crown and Goose menus. There is live Jazz in the Underground, on Friday evenings. The Underground can also be closed off, and made into a private event space. Call 865-524-2100 for more info.) This year we may indulge our appetites at our favorite local Mexican restaurant, Monterrey Mexican Rsetaurant (https://www.allmenus.com/tn/knoxville/38234-monterrey-mexican-restaurant/menu/). They are family owned and operated and have been in the same location since 1992. Their margaritas are by far the best I’ve had outside of Mexico. The food is incredibly traditional with generous portions and very inexpensive. I have not had a meal there I didn’t love. The staff is friendly; many of the servers are family members. They are always crowded but we’ve never waited for a table. We aren’t sure if they are doing anything special for New Year’s Eve but we may end up there anyway because the food is so darned good, and as I said, love those margaritas. If you can get Manny to make yours you will think you died and went to tequila heaven.

(Asia Cafe Inc. was founded in 2009 by Knoxville’s Lim family originally from Malaysia.

There’s always something surprising happening at Asia Cafe. Knoxville’s eight in one restaurants offering authentic Malaysian, Thai, Singapore, Indonesian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Sushi and Japanese cuisine. Full Liquor, Beer & Wine Bar.

You’ll definitely expand your horizons at Asia Cafe North & West Locations.

Gift Cards, Carryout & Delivery available. Entertainment with Live Bands & Karaoke.)

Experience the BEST KEPT SECRET IN ROCKY HILL!

WHO WE ARE – THE HISTORY

Peroʼs on the Hill is a collaboration of two old college friends, Chandler Goff and Sammy Peroulas. Chandler and Sammy met at Emory University in Atlanta and have been friends ever since. After college, they each built their careers in the restaurant and hospitality business. In 2010 they combined their knowledge and culinary expertise and in 2011 opened Peroʼs on the Hill.

Sammy is a second generation restauranteur. His father and uncles established several successful restaurants in the Knoxville area, including the original Pero’s. It was in these restaurants where beloved family recipes such as the spaghetti with meat sauce, pizza and onions rings were created. Sammy is continuing the family tradition by preparing these, as well as other delicious dishes that continue to bring people back to Pero’s on the Hill time and time again.

Chandler started his restaurant career at Mulligans in Atlanta, Georgia. Although Mulligans was mostly a live music venue and late night watering hole, Chef Chandler added several unusual menu items, including the Luther Burger, a bacon cheeseburger, served on a toasted Krispy Kreme donut. The popularity of this unique burger landed Chandler on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2004. After Mulligans, Chandler joined the Maggiano’s restaurant group where he served as Regional Beverage Director and assisted in managing the opening of new restaurants all around the region. Chandler not only has brought the famous Luther Burger to Pero’s on the Hill, he creates new and exciting specials served nightly.

Individually and family operated since 1992. The Best and cheapest Mexican food in Knoxville, TN. (865) 688-5668 (https://www.facebook.com/monterreyknoxville/)