Happy New Year, Knoxville! As you start that New Year’s resolution to “eat better,” here is yet another new place you need to check out. I believe you will eat better at this new breakfast/lunch spot on Chapman Hwy. than you have in a long time.
Aretha Frankensteins has long been a Chattanooga staple for a hearty breakfast and lunch. Opening in 2003, the former house became a teal-colored, funky breakfast spot as famous for its pancakes and waffles as its long wait times. Having lived in the Chattanooga area for many years, I can attest that both are true. The wait was long, and the food was good. I was thrilled to hear the popular spot would open in Knoxville. I stopped in recently and met Robbie Adams, General Manager, and Rachel Saultz, who manages front-of-house openings for KBS Restaurant Group, to see how it has been going since their opening in late November 2023.
They are located at 3318 Chapman Hwy in a former Hardee’s building. You would never know it, though. The interior is completely transformed to the recognizable style of the Aretha Frankensteins brand creator, Jeff Brakebill. According to Knox News, Jake and Taylor Ogle, who own Scrambled Jake’s Breakfast Company, purchased the property in 2021, hoping to recruit Aretha Frankensteins to the area. The Ogles were already fans of the eatery, and Scrambled Jake’s used the Aretha Frankenstiens pancake mix at their location and sold it there. They worked with Kirby Smith of KBS Restaurant Group to make it happen. KBS has a solid track record of over 13 restaurant locations under 11 different brands, including Scrambled Jake’s, Greenbriar, Holston’s and others.
I visited on a Tuesday mid-morning. I did not have to wait for a table, but the restaurant was busy and stayed that way throughout my meal. Rachel said that on the weekends, there is a wait time of 30 minutes after opening. However, she feels the turnaround is quick, and no one has to wait too long. No specific main demographic was represented while I was there, and Robbie tells me they want a family-oriented space where everyone can feel comfortable. I saw older generations, birthday celebrations, couples, singles and families enjoying their meals. The space does live up to the goal of accommodating everyone.
Robbie told me that Brakebill put his signature touch on each area of the restaurant. The walls are lined with framed cereal boxes, one of which is an imposter. I tried to figure it out but couldn’t. There are band tribute photos, album covers, and old posters adorning the walls and an old 50’s style television above the bar. The tables each have their own style as well. The restaurant is open and inviting, and the staff is helpful and friendly.
The bar serves up local beer, wine, and some cocktails. The cocktails offer an upgrade from those in the Chattanooga location. I ordered shrimp and grits and a biscuit and gravy. Already knowing how amazing the pancakes are, I skipped those this time. The menu offers a lot of crowd-pleasers. I was impressed with the spicy grits, and the bacon added to the shrimp mix was delicious. I also enjoyed the biscuit and gravy, but the real star was the house-made apple butter available on each table. I commented on my excellent cup of coffee. I was told these beans are roasted in a commissary in Pigeon Forge exclusively for this Aretha Frankenstiens location. Something I didn’t try but want to go back for is their house-made ice cream. See the rest of the menu here.
I can’t not say more about the pancakes and waffles. They are both the best of the best, but the waffles featured on Food Network are truly insane. Since discovering I can purchase the mix on my grocery runs, I have not bought regular pancake mix. If you love their pancakes as much as I do, you can get the pancake mix at local grocery stores like Food City and Publix. It’s 5.99 at Food City, and other locations vary in price. You can also buy it at the restaurant, which I did on my stop-in.
My server, Charlie, was attentive and helpful, and I had a great first visit. Their convenience to UTK, the immediate downtown area, new apartments going up, and lack of competition in the breakfast/brunch spots in that area, coupled with their excellent reputation and food, should certainly ensure their success.
You can visit them on weekdays 7:30am-2pm and weekends 7:30am-3pm.
