Upon the recommendation of friends, Tom and I recently ate at Littons Market and Restaurant in the Fountain City neighborhood of Knoxville.  Until it was annexed by Knoxville, Fountain City was the largest unincorporated area in Tennessee.  It looks and acts like its own community, with a downtown and a large park with a fountain.  The name Fountain City comes from a natural spring located in the park.

The Downings and Blondells recommended Littons to us.  They mentioned the cheeseburgers, onion rings, and dessert.  The dessert really sealed it for us – we knew we had to check it out.  The Blondells ate there when Larry proposed to Karen.  The Downings ate there on their first date.  It helps that the restaurant is across the street from the heart-shaped duck pond.

Littons Market and Restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1946.  We got an idea of how popular it is when we arrived around 12:15 on a Tuesday and couldn’t find a parking space.  After circling the block a couple of times, we parked at the local library and walked to the restaurant.  Every table was filled and there were easily 50 people waiting for tables.  At the front of the restaurant is a chalkboard where you write your name and the number in your party.  We were #46.

Despite being so far down on the waiting list, we only waited about 30 minutes.  This gave me time to walk around and take a few pictures.  Both of us checked out the desserts.  They have a huge display of cakes, pies, and cookies.  In addition, they sold bread and rolls.  While we were waiting, we watched people come in and pick up take-out orders.  Everyone seemed to be ordering dessert.

After that 1/2 hour wait, we were seated at a booth for two.  Both of us ordered the cheeseburger platter.  I got onion rings and Tom ordered fries.  When the food came, it was fresh and hot.  The burgers were excellent, with the cheese melted into the spaces of the burger.  The onion rings were the best I have had in a very long time.  Tom enjoyed the fries.

We were too full from the burger to have dessert at the restaurant.  Instead, we got some cookies to go.  I got sugar cookies and Tom got chocolate chip.  The sugar cookies were very good, but the chocolate chip cookies were a little off.  They had plenty of chocolate, though, so they were consumed.  After our meal, we checked out the duck pond and saw the fountain.

We really enjoyed our meal at Littons Market and Restaurant.  It is a little far from Middlesboro to be a regular place to eat, but will definitely be an option the next time we head to Knoxville.