The current location, Downtown Dive, opened to fulfill barbecue cravings in downtown Knoxville in 2015. Located at 410 W. Jackson Ave., Downtown Dive was borne from a love of classic American dive bars and barbecue joints and carries on the tradition of Sweet P’s Southern heritage.
In the spring of 2021, the first full-service Sweet P’s concept, Uptown Corner, will open in Fountain City. Featuring table service and a bar, we look forward to serving our customers at 3029 Tazewell Pike and joining the Fountain City community.
Wow!!! Another hidden gem! My husband has lived here most of his life and he didn't know this place existed.... read moreWow!!! Another hidden gem! My husband has lived here most of his life and he didn't know this place existed. Thank goodness for yelp we are searching Knoxville over for new places to eat. I'm not a barbecue person at all but I am now!!! The ribs were the best I've had. The pulled pork excellent! The thin and thick sauces both wonderful!!! Pimento cheese dip awesome! Split a sampler, plenty for 2 people and you get 3 sides. Mac and cheese I loved. Potato salad was good. Banana pudding good. We killed the main good before I thought to get pics. Great ambiance, industrial look. Staff quick and polite. read less
1 word: Brisket! You can thank me later. It willMelt in your mouth and fill you up. The sauces are... read more1 word: Brisket! You can thank me later. It willMelt in your mouth and fill you up. The sauces are to die for but the barbecue is the best I've had. Steer clear from the the standards and try some of their daily specials too! read less
This a very good restaurant. The BBQ'd pork is tasty. The sauces are all worth trying. Very friendly atmosphere. We... read moreThis a very good restaurant. The BBQ'd pork is tasty. The sauces are all worth trying. Very friendly atmosphere. We will be leaving before the Stanley Cup Finals start tonight. Go Predators. read less
3 words: Mac and Cheese
I love this place. My only complaint would be that on busy shifts, they often run... read more3 words: Mac and Cheese
I love this place. My only complaint would be that on busy shifts, they often run out of my favorite sides, but really, that's an easy fix, and I'm glad they're selling that much because downtown needs a solid BBQ joint like this to stay. read less
Ate here while passing through to Florida from Michigan. Great easy parking. Not a dive at all, but rather a... read moreAte here while passing through to Florida from Michigan. Great easy parking. Not a dive at all, but rather a nice clean place.
I asked what to get, the pit master asked if I was local or not. I informed him that I was not. He said that if that was the case then I should not miss the ribs. I followed his advice.
The long and short of it is that they were hands down the best ribs that I have ever had. Dry rubbed, fall of the bone good. They honestly didn't need sauce, but the sauce was good too. Great random pick. read less
Dive is a good word to describe this place but it's the kinda dive you'll actually want to eat at!
It's... read moreDive is a good word to describe this place but it's the kinda dive you'll actually want to eat at!
It's a cafeteria style restaurant with a small bar. When you walk in you give your order directly to the cooks.
Just get the Ribs! read less
Lots of "verys" for this place.
Very trendy,
Very friendly,
Very good smoked turkey,
Very expensive for a bbq lunch spot,
Very, very... read moreLots of "verys" for this place.
Very trendy,
Very friendly,
Very good smoked turkey,
Very expensive for a bbq lunch spot,
Very, very good brisket!
Very disappointed they don't sell their homemade rub for home consumption. I'd have bought pounds of it. read less
Great Wings! Really good macaroni. Definitely worth the stop!! We were able to have our dog with us on the... read moreGreat Wings! Really good macaroni. Definitely worth the stop!! We were able to have our dog with us on the outside area. The staff was really friendly. read less
Holy crap, this BBQ place is AMAZING. We happened to find it while in Knoxville, and decided on the sampler,... read moreHoly crap, this BBQ place is AMAZING. We happened to find it while in Knoxville, and decided on the sampler, and literally everything was great, even the mimosas, which was surprising for a BBQ place. I'd highly recommend coming here if you have the time. read less
This place has great Q and their sides are just as good as well. It has a casual atmosphere and... read moreThis place has great Q and their sides are just as good as well. It has a casual atmosphere and the food is always on point. Highly recommend going there. I can't wait to check out their new Trailer Park Bar!!! read less
Sweet P's BBQ and Downtown Dive is AWESOME... I feel bad that the roads are all closed around it so... read moreSweet P's BBQ and Downtown Dive is AWESOME... I feel bad that the roads are all closed around it so it is hard to find but it is well worth the effort of finding it. The service was excellent and the staff was helpful and enthusiastic. I think that this is some of the best bbq in Knoxville. It is well worth stopping back even if it takes you a minute to find read less
Went to Sweet Ps again last night and the wife for some Florida Hate Eve rage eating to get a... read moreWent to Sweet Ps again last night and the wife for some Florida Hate Eve rage eating to get a nice foundation for today's tailgating. We have come to the verdict that this place is hands down our favorite BBQ joint in the country. Everything on the menu is fantastic. The lima beans were next level and a great addition to the menu. And those smoked dry rub wings are a flavor party that will touch your tongue and slap ya in the brain. Great stuff, will be back (especially if we win today!) read less
Amazing ribs. The meat was literally falling off the bone as soon as I picked it up. These guys truly... read moreAmazing ribs. The meat was literally falling off the bone as soon as I picked it up. These guys truly know their BBQ! Really good mac and cheese as well. And the sauces they had were very good; try mixing the thick sauce with the hot sauce! read less
Came to Knoxville (from NJ) to see a Vols game and we had this place on our agenda from the... read moreCame to Knoxville (from NJ) to see a Vols game and we had this place on our agenda from the beginning. I ordered the sampler with pulled chicken, 1/4 rack of ribs and brisket, with sides of tater salad, pinto beans and mac and cheese. I also ordered an extra side of banana pudding, a bacon chocolate chip cookie and, since it was 1/2 price wing day, I tried 2 dry and 2 wet wings. I know, it's a lot of food, but I've been staring at this menu for months and wanted to try everything.
Let's start with the meats. The chicken was nice and smoky and not dried out. It did need some sauce (I combined the thick and spicy sauces at an employee''s recommendation) to put it over the top. The brisket was done very nicely with that signature smoke ring and bark that you look for in a brisket. The real winner was the ribs. Wow, they were perfect. The wings were great, with the dry being my favorite. The sides were really good. My favorite was the mac and cheese with the tater salad in a really close 2nd place. I got to try the coleslaw off a friend's plate and it was great too. The banana pudding was outstanding. I took the cookie to go and ate it as we walked to the stadium.
This place is exactly what we were expecting out of a Tennessee BBQ place. My only disappointment was that I didn't get to try the pimento cheese dip. Here's hoping that there will be a return trip to Knoxville. If there is, I know where I'm eating. read less
It was all excellent! We had the sampler platter which is a lot of food. The mac and cheese side... read moreIt was all excellent! We had the sampler platter which is a lot of food. The mac and cheese side was absolutely delicious. The slaw is slightly dressed and not overly mayonaised. The collard greens were perfectly seasoned as well. The ribs were dry rubbed to perfection as was the brisket. My husband loved the banana pudding side. He can't stop raving about it. This place is in a beautiful part of Knoxville. The area has an arty vibe, is in a clean, and safe area . Take a stroll on the Main Street after lunch to help you digest. We parked about 500 ft away on the parking bridge. But there is a cheap paid parking lot right across from the restaurant too. Worth the detour off of I-40 for lunch. Only 1.8 miles off the highway. read less
This is great BBQ even for a BBQ snob. The sides items are perfect and atmosphere matches. Our biggest complaint... read moreThis is great BBQ even for a BBQ snob. The sides items are perfect and atmosphere matches. Our biggest complaint is when they run out of Mac & Cheese and the entire line has to choose to leave or order other items. read less
While parking was a challenge, our dinner was amazing! You order "cafeteria style". I tried the sample platter, with potato... read moreWhile parking was a challenge, our dinner was amazing! You order "cafeteria style". I tried the sample platter, with potato salad, mac n cheese , and green melody mix. Two people could have EASILY ate this meal, and left full. I felt terrible because I had so much leftover. I ate the entire pulled pork portion, and 1 rib. Both were delicious ! The Mac and cheese was also good, super creamy. The greens and things melody ... could have used a lot more greens .. but the flavoring was great. If your every in town.. this is where to go! Just expect to leave uncomfortably full ! 🙂 read less
The staff here have been by far the most welcoming of any restaurant we've been to downtown since moving here... read moreThe staff here have been by far the most welcoming of any restaurant we've been to downtown since moving here a few months ago. The food is good, but I've seriously never felt so welcome as soon as I walked in as we did here. We stopped by with our 7 year old daughter on Halloween night after some cold trick or treating. As picky kids do, she refused to eat anything there before we even went. So we do what parents do when they really want food that their kids hate: we made Dino nuggets at our apartment and let her bring them lol. Not only were they understanding and didn't make a big deal about her not ordering food there, they actually made her feel less embarrassed about being picky. Between the Bartender sharing his stories of eating only chicken nuggets as a kid, and the waitresses complimenting her green Halloween hair, she managed to relax and have a great time with us. We will be back very soon I'm sure! read less
Sweet heavenly ribs I am not joking these ribs are heaven sent. I have had good BBQ and have had... read moreSweet heavenly ribs I am not joking these ribs are heaven sent. I have had good BBQ and have had great bit the ribs here are unworldly good. Had some of the chopped pork as well and it was pretty great as well but the ribs!!! Coleslaw excellent beans just ok, ribs ribs ribs!!!!! read less
OH MY GOD THE MAC N CHEESE IS AMAZING! Staff is super sweet and food is delicious. Inside is cute... read moreOH MY GOD THE MAC N CHEESE IS AMAZING! Staff is super sweet and food is delicious. Inside is cute too! 10/10 read less
THE BEST MAC N CHEESE IN THE WORLD. Might sound like hyperbole, but I think it's true! The bbq is... read moreTHE BEST MAC N CHEESE IN THE WORLD. Might sound like hyperbole, but I think it's true! The bbq is awesome as well. And I love the cole slaw. They also keep a great selection of beer, and their rooftop patio is really nice. Parking can be tricky on the weekend though! read less