Bar Louie bringing new restaurant to Knoxville

By Jeaneane Payne

Knoxville is getting another new restaurant. Bar Louie, a national chain, will open its doors in Knoxville late this summer.

This Chicago-born restaurant is known as a favorite gathering place for family and friends in 46 locations throughout the U.S. Franchises are opening in Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, and Nashville this spring.

The Knoxville franchise owner, Tony Desalvo, Vice President at Bar Louie Development, Inc., is from Chicago.

Bar Louie provides a unique atmosphere with warm, upbeat surroundings that include contemporary photography, mosaic tiling, wood-paneled walls, modern lighting, and plasma televisions.

The restaurant specializes in oversized sandwiches and also serves up an extensive selection of appetizers, salads, flatbreads, burgers, pastas, and entrees. Their large plate menu includes drunken fish and chips, baked mac and cheese, Mediterranean Salmon, and Ahi Tuna. Appetizers include New Orleans chicken gumbo, wings, and Bavarian pretzel sticks. For dessert -- Tennessee Whiskey Cake, a freshly baked apple caramel cake soaked with Jack Daniel's whiskey glaze, or an oversized classic chocolate cake.

Bar Louie will be open daily for lunch, dinner and late night dining from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with the entire menu available until 2 a.m. every day.

Bar Louie was made famous for their handcrafted signature martinis and cocktails.

The restaurant was awarded "Concept of Tomorrow" by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine.

More information on Bar Louie can be found by visiting www.barlouieamerica.com.

Published February 15, 2012