This week, I continue my tour of lakefront restaurants that operate out of East Tennessee marinas. One thing I’ve noticed they’ve had in common so far is that each was preceded at its respective site by at least one other restaurant. The turnover has been particularly high at the location where Nauti-K’s Riverside Bar & Grill has been in business for the past couple of years. Prior to that, it was a Sweet P’s, and before that, The Grub Spouse and I had dined at that facility at least twice, each time at a different restaurant.
Based on what I gleaned online, however, it seems that Nauti K’s (the names of the two ladies who own the restaurant both start with a K) has done a good job of establishing an identity and building a clientele on the shores of Volunteer Cove in South Knoxville. The Spouse and I decided to check the place out for ourselves, tagging lunch onto the end of a Sunday morning kayak outing on adjacent Fort Loudoun Lake.
The menu is limited but covers several bases. Appetizers include coconut shrimp (which I seriously considered), fried pickles, chicken wings and nachos. We ordered the pork rinds ($10), which are cooked onsite and served with pirate caviar and salsa. I also noticed several salad options and a section of hotdogs, each of which is served with as many as three toppings and a side dish. Entrees include coho salmon, blackened mahi, fish and chips, a pork chop and Zay’s Zesty Tendies…