J.C. Holdway is a MICHELIN Selected restaurant led by James Beard Award–winning Chef Joseph Lenn.

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From the historic Daylight Building in downtown Knoxville, our cooking begins with what is fresh, seasonal, and close to home: ingredients from local farms, the hills of East Tennessee, and food Chef Joseph Lenn grows himself in the Old City Garden. Nearly everything is made in house, and the menu changes daily with the season, the harvest, and the judgment of the kitchen.

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Chef Joseph Lenn’s cooking is rooted in Tennessee. As a fifth-generation Tennessean, he brings a lifelong connection to Southern food and more than 25 years of refinement to the dishes served at J.C. Holdway, including years spent as Executive Chef at Blackberry Farm. These are familiar Southern preparations shaped over time by fire, seasonality, restraint, and care.

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Each evening’s menu reflects what is at its best. Choose the experience that best fits the evening:

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• À La Carte Dining — Order freely from the seasonal menu in the dining room, covered patio, or at the bar. Reserve on Resy.

• Chef’s Counter — Offers a view into the kitchen and may be reserved directly on Resy.

• Chef’s Classics — A five-course signature dinner for the entire table, selected after arrival. Options that naturally avoid gluten, tree nuts, shellfish, or meat are offered within each course. No deposit is required.

• Center of the Table — A shared four-course experience for 7–24 guests. A $500 deposit and signed agreement secure the reservation; reserve by inquiry.

• Chef’s Tasting Experience — A private Chef’s Counter buyout for up to six guests, prepared personally by Chef Joseph Lenn. $3,000; a 50% nonrefundable deposit secures the reservation. Reserve by inquiry.​

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