Aubrey's is where 'm going to have to back up to draw a line in the sand with my pinky toe and say, "Maybe this place should have it's own exit off 1-75, and, perhaps it should be a pre-requisite that you MUST stop and eat one of the nicest meals you will ever have at a restaurant, if you're driving through Knoxville, TN." Now, I'm not suggesting you should go sell your first born and hail the first cab to Aubrey's, but what I am saying is that there is no wonder this place is a local legend, and for insanely good reason. The food is prepared and cooked and presented so well, so comfortably (and in HUGE portions), that there should be no actual reason that any hungry, sane and non-pretentious person wouldn't go back again and again: And they do. The crowd seems so wonderfully warm and welcoming because apparently they have all been Aubrey's customers for the ups of 10+ years. For a restaurant to keep a repeat business of this magnitude for so long, you know they must be doing something right, and, obviously in a town like this, it's a perfect combination of the tight-knit community, the warm family atmosphere and overall, the food. Btw, I stole this picture from their website, beacause this lady is exactly what I plan to look like when I'm older.
I've tried a bite of everything that comes on everyone's plate, from the mushrooms cooked in wine, to a perfectly grilled burger (Why is that so hard to find these days?) to the Lemon-Lime Chicken, Fried Chicken, salads, soups, etc... I could go on and on. And actually for one moment, I will. The Fish and Chips are slap-a-stranger good, and come with their award winning Fried Po's to boot. This is the real-deal meal for me. They're not greasy, not heavy, but light and crispy fish nuggets perfectly seasoned, adorned with heavenly tarter, and singing with lemons. I'm not going to get into the chips (The award winning-po's) because things win awards for reasons...So, i'll just move on now.
The best part of the experience was after I sat back and thought about it for a second, I realized that nothing about the place sucks! Something ALWAYS sucks at a restaurant, and yet..at Aubrey's I couldn't even find one meaningless little thing to complain about. I believe that for the first time a local restaurant has made it's mark on me. They have answered my age old question: Can they please all of the people all of the time? Yes, apparently they can. Anything you could want to eat they have. I was floored at the size of the menu (and wine-list), and the ability for everything to be of such high quality. It's like a sweet Southern mama sitting you down and telling you, "Everything is going to be okay, just pick anything you like, and we'll make it just perfect for ya." It just can't be beat.
Simple side notes include: The service is quick and friendly, the restaurant is an open, clean and fresh looking space, all major food details were there, and most importantly, after my gargantuan meal of Chicken, baked squash (which is by far more addictive than crack-cocaine) and perfectly steamed broccoli, I got a sack of old school animal crackers to cut the spice on the way out the door. This. is. Bliss.
Aubrey's, you've won my heart.
Check out their menu/site here.
Colleen's yummy food rating: 5/5.
