This Little Knoxville, Tennessee Diner Has Been Serving Old-Fashioned Breakfast Since 1972
There’s a breakfast here called the Cowboy, and it stacks country fried steak beside eggs, potatoes, and biscuits smothered in gravy. That’s one plate.
Somebody clearly planned for a long day.
The pancakes, eggs, and grits never clock out, either. Breakfast runs all day, so a biscuit at dinnertime counts as a perfectly reasonable choice.
I can’t help but appreciate a kitchen that refuses to tell you it’s too late for pancakes.
Then there’s the ice cream counter waiting nearby. Banana splits, homemade banana pudding, and cream pies share space with steak and gravy and meatloaf.
The walls carry local memorabilia, including autographed photos of a famous Tennessee hometown star.
This spot has fed one corner of the city for more than five decades. I’d probably start with biscuits and gravy, then pretend I wasn’t eyeing dessert the whole time.
So how does a small diner keep the griddle hot for over 50 years?
Fifty-Plus Years Of Griddle Wisdom Live Right Here
Round Up Restaurant and Ice Cream has been feeding South Knoxville for more than 50 years. That’s a long run for any restaurant, especially one built on biscuits, gravy, and comfort food.
The owner, Sam, has mentioned the restaurant’s age in replies to diners more than once. Back in 2021, he noted the place was getting ready to celebrate 50 years in business the following year.
That math lands right around 1972. Plenty of things from that decade have faded away, but this griddle kept going strong.
Before the restaurant arrived, the building once held a neighborhood grocery. So people have been stopping here for food for a very long time, just in different forms.
The menu has stayed loyal to its roots. Sam has said the restaurant stays the same, adding new items only once in a while.
Honestly, that approach makes sense. Why fix a recipe that has worked for generations of hungry Tennesseans?
The result feels like a time capsule you can actually eat. Few places can say they’ve served the same neighborhood through more than five decades of change.
Even fewer still serve pancakes at suppertime.
Breakfast Plates Here Come With Serious Names And Bigger Ambitions
Country fried steak for breakfast sounds like a bold life choice. At this diner, it’s simply part of the Cowboy Breakfast.
That plate brings two eggs, country fried steak, home fries or tots, and biscuits with gravy. It’s the kind of meal that makes lunch feel optional.
The Vol Breakfast leans in a different direction. You get three eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries or tots, plus biscuits and gravy.
Then comes the Roundup Breakfast, the heavyweight of the group. It piles three eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes, pancakes or French toast, and biscuits with gravy onto one order.
Not feeling that ambitious? A simpler Pancake Breakfast sits on the menu too.
Omelets add even more variety. The Western and the Philly Cheese versions both make an appearance, which feels fitting for a place that also loves its cheesesteaks.
Country ham, oatmeal, and grits round out the morning lineup. That covers nearly every Southern breakfast craving you could have.
A smart tip? Come hungry enough to commit, or plan on carrying home leftovers.
Portions here are known for being generous.
Nobody Here Will Judge You For Pancakes At 7 PM
Late breakfast cravings are real, and this kitchen respects them. Breakfast is served all day at Round Up Restaurant and Ice Cream.
That means grits, eggs, and biscuits stay available whenever the doors are open. On weekdays, the restaurant runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so dinner pancakes are fully on the table.
Weekend hours are shorter, though. Saturday wraps up at 4 p.m., while Sunday runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Planning matters if you’re aiming for a lazy weekend brunch. Show up too late on Sunday, and you’ll be stuck dreaming about gravy all afternoon.
All-day breakfast also solves the classic group problem. One person wants meatloaf, another wants an omelet, and everyone ends up happy.
It’s a quietly brilliant setup. Night-shift workers, early risers, and anyone who simply loves breakfast more than other meals all get served on their own schedule.
Honestly, more restaurants should follow this rule. Breakfast food tastes just as good after sunset, and this little Tennessee diner has known that for years.
Meatloaf Monday Could Happen Any Day Of The Week
Lunch and dinner bring out the true meat-and-three spirit. Meatloaf, steak and gravy, turkey and dressing, and chicken and dumplings all hold spots on the menu.
Fried or grilled chicken shows up too, along with fried catfish. Entrees usually come with two sides and bread, so the plate fills up fast.
Choosing those sides is the fun part. The list includes mashed potatoes, pinto beans, mac and cheese, fried okra, fried squash, turnip greens, and cooked apples.
Shoepeg corn, baked beans, and green beans with a slight smoky flavor join the lineup. Cornbread muffins make a strong case for themselves, too.
Daily specials keep things interesting. Pot roast on Tuesdays is one example, and it sounds like a great reason to rearrange your week.
Everything is made fresh daily, including homemade soups and chili. Food is cooked per order, so a short wait means your plate didn’t spend time under a heat lamp.
Good luck picking only two sides. That might be the hardest decision you make all day.
Burgers And Philly Cheesesteaks Crash The Country Cooking Party
Not everything here wears a gravy blanket. The grill side of the menu turns out Black Angus hamburgers and Philly cheesesteaks.
Burgers come up often when folks talk about this place. A double cheeseburger and a double bacon cheeseburger are both part of the action.
Owner Sam has a clear favorite to recommend, though. He has pointed diners toward the Philly cheesesteak more than once.
That’s a fun twist for a country-style diner. A Philadelphia classic fits right in beside fried okra and turnip greens.
Patty melts and chopped sirloin also make appearances on the grill. So if you want something hearty but not breakfast, you’ve got options.
Fries, onion rings, and tots handle side duty for the sandwich crowd. It’s a mix that bridges classic home cooking and quick diner favorites.
Here’s a practical idea for groups. Split a burger and a meat-and-three plate, then trade bites.
You’ll get a feel for both sides of the kitchen in one visit. And you’ll have a good excuse to come back for whatever you missed.
Save Room Because The Ice Cream Counter Is Watching
Ice cream isn’t a side note here. It’s literally in the name of Round Up Restaurant and Ice Cream.
The dessert lineup goes well beyond a single scoop. Banana splits, homemade banana pudding, and a whole parade of pies wait for anyone with leftover stomach space.
Pie fans have plenty to consider. Chocolate cream, banana cream, pecan, and coconut pies all appear on the dessert list.
Cheesecake lovers aren’t left out either. Turtle cheesecake is among the options, which feels like a sweet reward after a plate of meatloaf.
Banana pudding deserves special attention in the South. Homemade versions are a big deal, and this one carries that homemade label proudly.
A smart strategy helps here. Consider sharing your main dish, or boxing half of it early, so dessert doesn’t become a painful decision.
Kids especially tend to love a diner with real ice cream. A banana split makes a pretty great finish to a family meal.
Honestly, the hardest part might be skipping it. Walking past an ice cream counter without stopping takes serious willpower.
The Walls Are Covered In Hometown Stories Worth Reading
Johnny Knoxville is up on the wall. Autographed photos of the actor are part of the local memorabilia that decorates the dining room.
The decor leans heavily into Knoxville pride. Framed pieces and keepsakes give you something to study while your food cooks.
Seating includes both booths and tables. That flexibility helps whether you’re rolling in solo or with a full family crew.
The dining area got a fresh look recently. A remodel was completed by early 2025, with plans for outdoor dining announced for that spring.
An open kitchen adds to the show. Diners can watch the cooks at work, which is great entertainment when you’re hungry.
The whole room feels casual and family friendly. It’s a down-home space where the focus stays on food and company.
Bring curious kids and let them hunt for familiar faces on the walls. It turns waiting into a little scavenger game.
Fans of Tennessee history will enjoy browsing too. A diner this old naturally collects stories, and these walls happily share them with anyone who looks.
Order At The Counter Like A Seasoned Pro
First-timers, take note. Ordering works a little differently than at a sit-down restaurant with servers.
The menu hangs on a large board, and you order at the counter. Take a minute to scan it before stepping up, because the choices run long.
Drinks are self-serve. That means refills happen on your own schedule, which sweet tea fans will appreciate.
Once your order is in, the kitchen gets cooking. Food is made per order, so a brief wait is part of the deal.
The place can get busy fast. Arriving a bit before typical lunch rush could help, especially if you’re bringing a group.
Got questions about the menu? The staff behind the counter is happy to steer you toward favorites like the chopped sirloin or the Philly.
To-go orders are an option too. Calling ahead works well for anyone grabbing a quick lunch on the move.
Plenty of parking makes stopping in simple. You won’t spend ten minutes circling the lot before you even reach the counter.
Sevierville Pike Has A Breakfast Landmark You Should Visit Soon
South Knoxville has its own character, and this diner fits right into it. You’ll find Round Up Restaurant and Ice Cream at 3643 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920.
The spot sits along a well-traveled route, which makes it easy to locate from the street. Commuters heading to work pass it daily, and plenty eventually pull in for breakfast.
Hospitality sits at the center of the experience. Owner Sam often thanks diners personally and even invites them to say hello next time they visit.
That kind of personal touch is getting rare. It helps explain how this place has kept a loyal crowd for decades.
Prices stay friendly, too. A main course, two sides, and a drink are considered affordable for a full home-cooked meal.
So plan a stop soon. Pair breakfast with a day exploring South Knoxville, or swing by for an ice cream break.
Either way, you’ll be supporting a true Tennessee original. After more than 50 years, this little diner still keeps the coffee on, the gravy warm, and the welcome sincere.