The Tomato Head

December 6, 2009 at 8:22 pm (Uncategorized)

 

me and joie at the tomato head

One word comes to mind when evaluating the Tomato Head: trendy. When it comes to young life in Knoxville, the Tomato Head is right in the center of it. Just a stone’s throw away from the University of Tennessee campus, and in the middle of the recently revitalized downtown, the Tomato Head is perfectly placed. 

Market Square is a historical shopping square in Knoxville that has been revitalized over the past six or seven years. There is an interesting and quirky array of locally owned shops, restaurants, and family activities to experience. The square, and especially the Tomato Head, are normally filled with an eclectic mix of local Knoxville families, young professionals, and college hipsters.Right away when you enter the Tomato Head, you will understand the vibe. It has a strong sense of personality. most of the menus and t-shirts for the Tomato Head were designed by a Knoxville graphic design company called YeeHaw Industries. (YeeHaw Industries has their headquarters here in Knoxville, two or three blocks away from the Tomato Head) They frequently feature the paintings of local artists on the walls and have occassional live performances there. There are wooden floors, brick walls, and large windows on one side.

The food at the Tomato Head is exceptional. With an eye toward organic, healthy, and locally grown fare, the menu is a work of art all its own. They have a number of interesting pizzas with topping ranging from goat cheese to tofu. Their burritos are second-to-none with vegetarian and organic options. Soups, sandwiches, and desserts round out the choices.  Though I tend to sway away from tofu, I have never had anything at the Tomato Head that I didn’t love. Particularly, the Jose Jose burrito (filled with fresh spinach, organic brown rice, and baked tofu) is my girlfriend’s favorite. I like the bean and rice burrito, with walnuts and fresh portabella mushrooms. Burritos come with a side of blue corn chips and salsa.

As you can probably tell, The Tomato Head is, hands down, one of my favorite places to eat in Knoxville. My girlfriend and I love to take out-of-towners there. It’s energetic, attractive, and let’s not forget, delicious! This trendy restaurant will surely make you happy, and stuffed.

Check out the Tomato Head web site. It’s full of great info, and even includes a full menu!

the market square area in Knoxville, TN