J.C. Holdway

The story

J.C. Holdway in Knoxville: Live-Fire Southern American Cooking at 501 Union Ave.

J.C. Holdway is a seasonal Southern American restaurant at 501 Union Ave. in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it was recommended by the Michelin Guide in 2026. The kitchen cooks over live fire, and the menu shifts with what local farms and gardens bring in each day.

Chef Joseph Lenn's wood-fire cooking

Chef Joseph Lenn grew up in Knoxville and learned to cook from his mother and grandmother. He spent years at Blackberry Farm, where he became Executive Chef of The Barn, before opening this restaurant in his hometown in 2016. The cooking draws on Appalachian foodways and a wood-fire hearth, which he believes gives dishes a depth that other methods can't reach. In 2026 he was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Chef.

How the menu works

The menu changes with the season, so the dishes listed online are a current snapshot. Diners can order à la carte from seasonal dishes prepared over live fire, or choose the Chef's Classics, a five-course dinner selected at the table. That dinner is typically priced between $129 and $179 per guest, before beverages, tax and service. Groups of seven to twenty can book the Center of the Table, a shared seasonal menu.

A storefront in the Daylight Building

The dining room occupies a corner storefront in the Daylight Building, a downtown fixture since 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tall windows and brickwork remain, framing an open kitchen and the hearth. Wine Spectator gave the restaurant an Award of Excellence in 2025.