The current location, Downtown Dive, opened to fulfill barbecue cravings in downtown Knoxville in 2015. Located at 410 W. Jackson Ave., Downtown Dive was borne from a love of classic American dive bars and barbecue joints and carries on the tradition of Sweet P’s Southern heritage.
In the spring of 2021, the first full-service Sweet P’s concept, Uptown Corner, will open in Fountain City. Featuring table service and a bar, we look forward to serving our customers at 3029 Tazewell Pike and joining the Fountain City community.
We walked in here with no clue what to get. The guy behind the counter said hands down, the best... read moreWe walked in here with no clue what to get. The guy behind the counter said hands down, the best thing we got is the ribs. We ordered a half rack, some wings, collards, mac & cheese, & chocolate chess pie.
They let me know right away any menu items that I had food allergies with - which was AWESOME. I've had several encounters recently where this was not the case even after asking for confirmation.
The guy ended up giving us a full rack because he thought we'd love them. These were hands down the BEST ribs I've ever had. I wasn't sure what I'd think of the dry rub style but we tore them up. The collards were fantastic. They were cooked up with some apple cider vinegar, black eyed peas, carrots, and celery. Again - some of the best I've ever had. The mac & cheese was good and the chess pie was like a brownie in a pie crust. I loved it.
We wish this place was closer because we'd come here all the time. We will definitely be returning. read less
My boyfriend and I were looking for a quick cheap place to grab some lunch and took to Yelp to... read moreMy boyfriend and I were looking for a quick cheap place to grab some lunch and took to Yelp to find this gem right near Old City. I wasnt really sure what to expect as we had just spent a lot of time in Memphis dining on wonderful BBQ but oh my goodness I was blown out of the water.
Everything on the menu looked amazing so I struck up conversation with a really nice guy working behind the bar who walked us through the menu and let us know what their stand out items were.
We ordered the Sweet P's Sampler with a pork bbq sandwich, beef brisket, and 3 sides. Typically the sampler also comes with 1/4 rack of ribs but because it was UT gameday, they had sold out of them quickly but offered us wings instead. For the sides we got coleslaw, pinto beans, and mac n cheese.
The sandwich was AMAZING as we added coleslaw and loads of sauce to the mix. The brisket was phenomenal and I could have eaten another half pound of it to myself. The pinto beans were the best ive ever had and the mac n cheese could not go without note as it was unique and tasty in each bite. The crowning jewel for the both of us was the wings. I dont know what they put in that sauce but our eyes lit up the second we took a bite and felt that crispy juicy crunch. We were literally fighting over the last wing.
We ended the meal with a bacon chocolate chip cookie and it was the finishing touch to an amazing meal. The sampler was the perfect amount of food for two people and we are already looking at our schedules to figure out when we can go back (important to note that they are closed on Mondays). Thanks Sweet Ps for an amazing meal! read less
Authentic bbq in Knoxville. Tried the sausage, pulled pork, brisket, and ribs and all were scrumptious! I really like how... read moreAuthentic bbq in Knoxville. Tried the sausage, pulled pork, brisket, and ribs and all were scrumptious! I really like how they use a heavy dry rub to season the meat prior to smoking, it makes a great bark on the meat. The sauces and available drinks are great too. We tried an orange infused cider from Austin :). Highly recommended a we'll be back! read less
Glorious. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and chicken, slaw, mac n cheese......we had it all. Finished with banana pudding. Why not?!!?... read moreGlorious. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and chicken, slaw, mac n cheese......we had it all. Finished with banana pudding. Why not?!!? It was exactly what we were looking for and it did not disappoint. Kid meals included a large sandwich, side, and a drink. Perfect. Beers on draft including from a local brewery we passed on the way here. 2 kinds of sauce on the tables. I wanted to steal the bottle of thick sauce but controlled myself. Highly recommended. read less
It was awesome. The experience was laid havk and casual, but the food was top notch. The Cafeteria style allows... read moreIt was awesome. The experience was laid havk and casual, but the food was top notch. The Cafeteria style allows you to watch them cook and make your food ready and is order specific. It's just really good southern, comfort food. Solid food & reasonable prices. Definitely a top recommend in the Knoxville area!!!! read less
Top Notch BBQ... great brisket with side of mac n cheese and green beans. Pricing is fair and staff is... read moreTop Notch BBQ... great brisket with side of mac n cheese and green beans. Pricing is fair and staff is friendly and entertaining. If you're in Knoxville it's well worth a stop. Mixes outdoor seating in the back of the restaurant. read less
This barbecue place is delicious. It's quick and easy. You just pick something from the menu, order, and then you... read moreThis barbecue place is delicious. It's quick and easy. You just pick something from the menu, order, and then you get the food in an instant. The last time I went was with my family, and we ordered the half rack of ribs with some sides. The meat was nice, soft, and well seasoned. The mac n' cheese had just the exact amount of cheese and was baked to perfection. If you are in Downtown Knoxville and your looking for a place to eat, definitely go to Sweet P's. read less
This place is a good as advertised. The ribs were fantastic, and the mac and cheese was a game changer.
Great BBQ! We walked in and ordered at the counter right away. Our food was handed to us and we... read moreGreat BBQ! We walked in and ordered at the counter right away. Our food was handed to us and we paid. Next we took a seat on the outdoor patio to enjoy the awesome atmosphere. The food was even better than it looked! My husband had the dry rub ribs and they are now his favorite! I had the pork BBQ and it's ruined all other subpar BBQ for me now. I'm spoiled! The slaw and green beans were very good, but the Mac-N-cheese almost deserves its own review, it's just that good!!!!! Service was fast and super friendly! read less
Highly recommend! We went on a Friday evening and split the sampler (pulled pork, briscut, ribs, and three sides) and... read moreHighly recommend! We went on a Friday evening and split the sampler (pulled pork, briscut, ribs, and three sides) and it was PLENTY of DELICIOUS food. We also ventured upstairs to the beer garden. Beautiful little area! I would say Sweet Ps is a must see if you're visiting Kno read less
Sweet P's BBQ and Downtown Dive is AWESOME... I feel bad that the roads are all closed around it so... read moreSweet P's BBQ and Downtown Dive is AWESOME... I feel bad that the roads are all closed around it so it is hard to find but it is well worth the effort of finding it. The service was excellent and the staff was helpful and enthusiastic. I think that this is some of the best bbq in Knoxville. It is well worth stopping back even if it takes you a minute to find read less
Pretty good. BBQ is a hit or miss for me but the food at Sweet P's was pretty awesome. And... read morePretty good. BBQ is a hit or miss for me but the food at Sweet P's was pretty awesome. And they give you a good amount of food. More bang for the buck which is what I'm always into! I will most def be coming back to this place. read less
I had family from out of the country come for a visit and one of their requests was some barbeque.... read moreI had family from out of the country come for a visit and one of their requests was some barbeque. There was no question as to where we would go and you absolutely did not let me down. The brisket and the mac & cheese were phenomenal as usual. A++! read less
We had great food! We were on the patio and the chef showed our kids the smoker and how it... read moreWe had great food! We were on the patio and the chef showed our kids the smoker and how it works! Such a great experience! read less
Awesome place!!! The pimento cheese dip is next level! The ribs were awesome too. All of the food was good,... read moreAwesome place!!! The pimento cheese dip is next level! The ribs were awesome too. All of the food was good, but those two items were my favorite. Everyone at the table went wild over the pimento cheese dip, but I didn't share my ribs lol read less
We did the take out thing, we split the sampler and three sides, it was the best Tennessee BBQ I... read moreWe did the take out thing, we split the sampler and three sides, it was the best Tennessee BBQ I had in a long time. Thanks for the quick service. read less
Ribs are the stuff of dreams - falling off the bone, but still meaty, with a great rub crust. Pulled... read moreRibs are the stuff of dreams - falling off the bone, but still meaty, with a great rub crust. Pulled pork also top-notch. Several tasty BBQ sauces to try, all commendable, depending on what you like to put it on. Sides are great too. read less
I absolutely love this place! The barbecue buttito is to die for! All the side dishes are wonderful, and the... read moreI absolutely love this place! The barbecue buttito is to die for! All the side dishes are wonderful, and the thick barbecue sauce is probably the best barbecue sauce I have ever tried. I always get several to take home and savor, but I end up eating it all with a spoon out of the container! It is seriously that good! I know we have a lot of barbecue places, but you really must give this one a try! read less
We ate here because the ratings were great on Yelp. We were not disappointed!!! The nachos are absolutely incredible. The... read moreWe ate here because the ratings were great on Yelp. We were not disappointed!!! The nachos are absolutely incredible. The chips are homemade and taste fantastic. The bbq is great. The Mac and cheese is amazing. The collards were just average in my opinion, but I'm from the south and eat them a lot so it would take a lot to impress me. I am so glad we came here. We will definitely be back if we are in Knoxville again. read less
The ribs are killer! Side of Mac and Cheese and banana pudding and you can't go wrong. We also love... read moreThe ribs are killer! Side of Mac and Cheese and banana pudding and you can't go wrong. We also love getting the pulled pork burrito. read less
The BBQ here is delicious!! Everyone here is really nice. We stopped here on our way to New Orleans, coming... read moreThe BBQ here is delicious!! Everyone here is really nice. We stopped here on our way to New Orleans, coming from philly and it was good spot! Reasonable price for a good amount of food! read less
I've never had a bad meal here! My favorite is the beef brisket with double mac and cheese. Yum! Delicious... read moreI've never had a bad meal here! My favorite is the beef brisket with double mac and cheese. Yum! Delicious sweet tea, a must for me. In cooler weather I like sitting on their patio. Part of the patio has a cool view. I've never tried any of their desserts, but I'm sure they're fantastic as well. read less