Calhoun's Oak Ridge

Great reasonably priced gem in Oak Ridge. The nuclear energy must be powering the very bubbly and attentive staff. Fantastic service. Great slow smoked ribs. Fish was tasty and tender. Everyone in our group was complimentary of their meals. The cornbread is not sweetened--a good normal southern cornbread in my opinion. The dock behind the restaurant is a great little romantic nook at night. Good place for the whole family, a group or date night.

Calhoun's is a regular venue for dinner receptions hosted by a local group that organizes educational conferences. We enjoyed a nice outdoor view, and a delicious indoor buffet. As a bonus, Calhoun's supplied carry-out containers toward the end of our event, so people could take home leftovers. This, of course, is routine practice in modern restaurants, but at a hotel venue the following week, also serving a buffet, staff said they could not provide carry-out containers, except to those actually staying in their hotel, allegedly for health reasons. So I hope we go back to Calhoun's next time I'm in Oak Ridge.

My only complaint was that the music was to loud. Otherwise, very good salads, barbecue, ribs. We had pork, brisket, and ribs. We loved the Ale sauce. Great views of Melton Lake from inside or outside. The outside dining is well shaded. There is a boat dock for those on the lake to stop and eat. Our wait staff was very knowledgeable and helped with the kid's meals. Very enjoyable.

The views are spectacular. Our waitress was very attentive and kept us comfortable while not being overbearing or disruptive. The biscuits they bring out beforehand were astounding! The ribs too. Definitely a great spot to get some BBQ.

It's difficult to find a restaurant in Oak Ridge with a better view. Big windows look out onto Melton Lake, and you can see this view from pretty much any spot in the restaurant. Our server did a great job--he was polite, efficient, and kept our waters filled. I ordered a fairly complicated dish off the menu which came out slightly wrong, and I was impressed with how quickly the corrected replacement order came out. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I'll be back!