Calhoun's is a family friendly chain restaurant with 9 locations in east TN. I am usually not a fan of chain BBQ places so when the clerk at our Oak Ridge hotel recommended we go there and handed us $5-off coupons at check-in, I was hesitant and immediately dismissed it. But after a 8-ish hour ride from SC to our TN hotel, I wasn't about to ho-hum about where to eat. The rest of family thought it sounded good, so to Calhoun's Oak Ridge location we went!
I was not disappointed.
Typical family chain restaurant atmosphere, but large and on the nicer side. Smelled good of course. The Oak Ridge location has a wall of windows for panoramic views of Melton Lake. Lots of outdoor seating with a fireplace, but it was too chilly for that. Lots of dock areas for boat-up service. Really cool. Heard frogs when we went out to walk on the dock. I miss frogs when my homeland is a frozen white winterscape.
I ordered the bacon-wrapped brisket burnt ends appetizer. Wasn't disappointed. I was prepared to laugh at what they call brisket but honestly it was really good. I tasted actual smoke. They were tender. They weren't really "burnt ends" so much as they were little square chunks of brisket...but hey I'm probably one of 2 people a month who'd ever notice. The whiskey BBQ sauce they served with it was awesome. At a chain restaurant! I wnated to ask about buying a bottle but forgot.
Decided I'd order the brisket plate entree. Again, I was not disappointed. The tenderness was spot on, the flavor was too. Only negative was that, aside from only half as much meat as I wanted, it was sliced wrong, with the grain instead of against. But that in all honesty doesn't have much of an effect really, IMO it matters more to compliment the tenderness. I also ordered a skewer of grilled shrimp and they were wonderful.
The pics aren't great due to a combination of low lighting and the way the slices were lying.
I tried my son's ribs and they were under-seasoned (IMO) but the tenderness was great. The brisket actually had a seasoned bark, lightly, but it was there.
Everyone in our group raved about their meals. It really was top-notch for a chain, and the BBQ was better than I expected. I would definitely go back if I were in the area again.
I was not disappointed.
Typical family chain restaurant atmosphere, but large and on the nicer side. Smelled good of course. The Oak Ridge location has a wall of windows for panoramic views of Melton Lake. Lots of outdoor seating with a fireplace, but it was too chilly for that. Lots of dock areas for boat-up service. Really cool. Heard frogs when we went out to walk on the dock. I miss frogs when my homeland is a frozen white winterscape.
I ordered the bacon-wrapped brisket burnt ends appetizer. Wasn't disappointed. I was prepared to laugh at what they call brisket but honestly it was really good. I tasted actual smoke. They were tender. They weren't really "burnt ends" so much as they were little square chunks of brisket...but hey I'm probably one of 2 people a month who'd ever notice. The whiskey BBQ sauce they served with it was awesome. At a chain restaurant! I wnated to ask about buying a bottle but forgot.
Decided I'd order the brisket plate entree. Again, I was not disappointed. The tenderness was spot on, the flavor was too. Only negative was that, aside from only half as much meat as I wanted, it was sliced wrong, with the grain instead of against. But that in all honesty doesn't have much of an effect really, IMO it matters more to compliment the tenderness. I also ordered a skewer of grilled shrimp and they were wonderful.
The pics aren't great due to a combination of low lighting and the way the slices were lying.
I tried my son's ribs and they were under-seasoned (IMO) but the tenderness was great. The brisket actually had a seasoned bark, lightly, but it was there.
Everyone in our group raved about their meals. It really was top-notch for a chain, and the BBQ was better than I expected. I would definitely go back if I were in the area again.
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