Sheryl Linck was one of the happy guests at the “sneak peek” at Sweet P’s Uptown Corner last night! She seems pleased with the lemon blueberry cake made by restaurant manager Gary Conrad.
Everyone knows that Knoxville loves a new restaurant. But, guess what! It also loves an existing restaurant that is reopening.
We found this out last night at the “sneak peek” of Sweet P’s Uptown Corner, located in Fountain City at 3029 Tazewell Pike, set to reopen at the end of the month. Thirty folks paid $150 each for a four-course meal with wine pairings — and a taste of a couple of new menu additions. It was a blast.
Sweet P’s Uptown Corner was closed last August after a speeding car crashed into it, destroying the front of the building and the dining room. The News Sentinel last month ran this update on the construction. But it was great to see the improvements in person.
Owner Chris Ford said the team has used the 10-month reconstruction period to fine tune the menu and will be offering several new brunch selections, including shrimp and Shelton Farms grits and grilled steak over smoked fingerling potatoes. Take a look at last night’s festive gathering — and the changes that will make one of our favorite eateries even better!
We arrived to find a long table set up in the dining room. This kind of arrangement always looks like fun to me!
First things first: drinks and appetizers in the bar! (Photo by Maria McHale.)
I don’t think there was an introvert in the crowd! (Photo by Maria McHale.)
Owner Chris Ford, left, with general manager Gary Conrad.
Bartender Nico Whitaker poured me a very tasty dry rose.
Kayla Stover handled the red.
Jon and Mintha Roach were among the celebrants.
Dawn Ford, center, is with Julia and Gary Bentley. Dawn is owner Chris Ford’s mother.
Here’s Jim Nichols, left, with Chris’ father, Richard Ford.
One highlight was a signature cocktail called a vanilla aperol spritz. It got rave reviews.
Sweet P’s cheese and sausage sampler got an upgrade. (Don’t miss the pimento cheese — it’s delish!)
Marty Begalla and Alan Carmichael sampling the sampler. (And the vanilla aperol spritz!)
From left, Bill Lyons, Phyllis Nichols and Hancen Sale.
Garry Conklin and Sheryl Linck. They were enjoying the sampler with the other signature cocktail of the night, a Vieux Carré.
Gay Lyons, left, and Gina Buffum.
Soon it was time to sit down. Here are Maria McHale and Shaun Fulco of Moxley Carmichael. Sweet P’s is a longtime Moxley Carmichael client.
Everyone was in a good mood when we sat down.
Salad was a chopped kale and charred Brussels sprout Caesar with cornbread croutons. (Photo by Maria McHale.)
Chris Ford thanked everyone and said Sweet P’s Uptown Corner will be open “in about a week-and-a-half.” Check back here for a specific date.
Next up: shrimp and Shelton Farms grits. Yum.
I really liked the chenin blanc that Alyssa Mynatt was pouring with it.
Phyllis and Jim Nichols.
Maria and Kevin McHale.
Jon Agazzi and Sheena McCall.
Tami and Bruce Hartmann.
Next up: grilled steak over smoked fingerling potatoes with charred ramp chimichurri and roasted asparagus. (Photo by Maria McHale.)
Gina and Fred Buffum.
Sheryl Linck and Garry Conklin.
Shaun Fulco and Tami Hartmann.
Hancen Sale, left, with Bill and Gay Lyons.
Gary and Julia Bentley.
Dawn and Richard Ford.
Cesar Ruiz, left, and Jon Agazzi.
Bruce and Monique Anderson.
And then, guess what time it was? Dessert time! Here’s Marty Begalla with the lemon blueberry cake Gary Conrad made.
Holy cow! (Photo by Maria McHale.)
Gary also made a fantastic coconut cake! (Photo by Maria McHale.)
Here’s a look at some of the physical changes.
This is the corner in the dining room where the speeding car burst through the wall. Fortunately, Sweet P’s Uptown Corner was closed at the time and nobody was injured. Chris Ford said they plan to install a big wrap-around booth in this corner.
The front wall was moved inward four feet to hopefully keep other cars from running into it. This view is across Tazewell Pike toward Pratt’s Country Store.
Here’s the outside of the restaurant. A concrete planter four feet wide has been installed along the side of the building where the accident occurred. That should stop ’em!
Chris Ford and Erin Donovan pose with the sign that will go outside. (Photo by Maria McHale.)
OK. Back to the party!
Gary Conrad with Alyssa Mynatt, center, and Stephanie Walker.
Owner Chris Ford, left, with Jon Reinzo, who made it happen in the kitchen.
The guys standing, from left, Jon Reinzo, Gary Conrad, and Chris Ford. Gals, from left, Kayla Stover, Stephanie Walker, Kedra White, Nico Whitaker, Gabrielle Elliott and Alyssa Mynatt. Great, great job, everybody!
Jim Nichols, left, and Hancen Sale getting ready to take their leave. Jim, like many of us, had a to-go bag!
Everyone received a parting gift: Sweet P’s rub and a gift card for $20! Nice.
Kevin McHale with his.
Chris Ford with his parents, Dawn and Richard Ford.
Chris and Maria McHale. She was the Moxley Carmichael point person on the event. She always does a wonderful job!
Here’s a post from July 2021 when this restaurant first opened.
What a great evening! Fun friends and fabulous food and beverages. We have known Chris since back in the day when he delivered BBQ to us that he smoked at his house. Longtime fan! And so happy they’re reopening soon. It’s a great space, and I love the additions to the menu. How about we get a group together for brunch soon?
Chris has cranked it up a notch.
So much fun and can’t wait to go back for brunch!
What a fun night! Food was fabulous as was the company!
What an evening. This is just the nicest team of people and they did a wonderful job. Can’t wait for the opening!
Maria, Pam, Shaun, Gay, and Alan: Agree 100 percent! I am up for brunch anytime one of you calls!
So sorry we could not be there! What a fun evening! We have known Chris and his parents since he was a kid living across the street from us, and we wish him all the best with the reopening and beyond. Count us in for brunch! Thanks for sharing this.
Emily: Missed you and Jerry and definitely will schedule a brunch!
It was a wonderful group of people. Food was delicious. We had a great time!
Monique: So glad you all could come!
I want the recipe for the blueberry lemon cake.
Very excited to see these doors reopened!! Can’t wait
Eric: Me, too!
Hey, everybody: Official opening is Saturday, July 1! See you there!
This was a wonderful evening with delicious food!
We had brunch the first Sunday it was open. Great atmosphere and great people.
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