Bistro at the Bijou

The Bistro was originally opened in 1980 in its current location on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, TN. Martha Boggs—a Ducktown, TN native and graduate of the University of Tennessee—began managing The Bistro at the Bijou in 1993. In 2009 she became the owner. The restaurant quickly gained a reputation for providing fresh, made-from-scratch meals in a quaint, urban setting. In the 90s Martha started to grow a variety of vegetables on her small farm and began to incorporate the traditional, seasonal offerings—like okra, tomatoes, and eggplants—into her dishes. Nearly two decades later, the "farm to table" movement went mainstream. She creates two seasonal menus a year focusing on regionally-sourced cuisine prepared in simple, traditional ways but also gets creative with her daily chalkboard specials.
Join us 7 days a week for delightful culinary creations served for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We feature daily specials and our menu includes dishes that cater to everyone from vegetarians to the health-conscious. And if you’re simply craving a delectable meal in a cozy bistro setting, you’ll find we’re serving up the best in sandwiches, burgers, comfort food, steaks, pasta, and seafood! Click on the menu tab for our daily menu and a monthly calendar of specials, and see what’s in store for entertainment on our music calendar.

The Bistro at the Bijou Restaurant is located in one of the most historic buildings in downtown Knoxville. As the fourth oldest building in Knoxville, it originally was built as a private home for Thomas Humes who unfortunately died of a skin ailment before the construction was completed. His widow opened the house as a hotel and tavern. It was the center of social activity for the community and was known as the grandest hotel in the South.

The lovely piece of artwork below has been a focal point in the Bijou Theatre building for as long as anyone can remember. Hanging above the bar at the Bistro, the lady has been affectionately nicknamed Ms. Lil. She was painted in the late 19th century by James Patten, an artist of indeterminate origin, but with excellent taste in women.