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.
Now, I love good ribs... No disappointment here. Loved the rub & tenderness of their ribs. We chose the Sampler... read moreNow, I love good ribs... No disappointment here. Loved the rub & tenderness of their ribs. We chose the Sampler Platter: 3 meats & 3 sides; Pulled pork, ribs, wings (out of brisket). Sides were mac-n-cheese, green beans & banana pudding. Everything... and I mean everything... was awesome. Nice to see fresh green beans! Pulled pork was moist and flavorful. Wings were spicy with garlic... yum.
If we were locals, this would be our "go to" place for bbq. Not a local, well, its just to good to pass up. read less
Love the barbecue (I've now had their pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. All great.) I can't speak to their sauces.... read moreLove the barbecue (I've now had their pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. All great.) I can't speak to their sauces. I always take mine home and sauce it with my bottle from a place in Kansas City. Oh, and the Mac and cheese is good too. read less
We stopped here in the middle of a road trip from SC to Ohio, and it worth the detour. I... read moreWe stopped here in the middle of a road trip from SC to Ohio, and it worth the detour. I had the smoked meatloaf with mac & cheese, and was blown away. Also had raw fries and pimento cheese, the salt rub they put on the chips was better than any chips I've had in a long time. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Knoxville! read less
Best BBQ in Knoxville! we have tried the others but this is my favorite. Great pulled pork plate! The pork... read moreBest BBQ in Knoxville! we have tried the others but this is my favorite. Great pulled pork plate! The pork was good and smoky. I like the "thin sauce" that is vinegar based. And it is nice that the sauce comes on the side so you may choose which kind you like. We also got the mac n cheese which was smoky and delicious . We got the "greens n things" which was a mix of greens carrots and pinto beans cooked with pork, very tasty. Can't wait to try more! read less
On our last cross country road trip I found this place on Yelp. The pictures of the mac n cheese... read moreOn our last cross country road trip I found this place on Yelp. The pictures of the mac n cheese drew me in....but once we ordered...Best ribs I've ever had in my entire life! Brisket was tender & juicy too. I always add bbq sauce but their rub was so delicious there was no need for sauce! So sad it's 9 hours away. read less
So glad our family decided to eat here vs our 1st stop somewhere else. Food, service, location...perfect. Loved the music... read moreSo glad our family decided to eat here vs our 1st stop somewhere else. Food, service, location...perfect. Loved the music and decor. Will definitely be back! read less
My mouth is watering just thinking about the food here. If you are looking for soul food this is the... read moreMy mouth is watering just thinking about the food here. If you are looking for soul food this is the spot in Knoxville. The Mac and cheese was gooey yet incredibly tasty. The fried chicken was perfection. The meat on the ribs fell right off the bone. Lastly, the banana pudding, my favorite!! Just the right amount of sweet and banana flavor. Yum!!! read less
I'm visiting the college with my daughter and had a chance to sneak away for some "alone" time. Yelp suggested... read moreI'm visiting the college with my daughter and had a chance to sneak away for some "alone" time. Yelp suggested this gem and I flew to it! I swear 90% of the time you guys get it right and this time was a win!! I haven't had ribs of any kind in 3 years.. but then I saw an order come out before I made my order and instinctively went full speed ahead on the #ditto order. I am full as a tick and happy as I could be read less
I wish I knew about this place sooner! I absolutely loved eating here. The menu is simple, the environment is... read moreI wish I knew about this place sooner! I absolutely loved eating here. The menu is simple, the environment is very downtown cool, and the BBQ was flippin fantastic. read less
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
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
This was without a doubt... SOOO GOOD! I'm getting hungry just thinking about this meal again. Was recommended to get... read moreThis was without a doubt... SOOO GOOD! I'm getting hungry just thinking about this meal again. Was recommended to get the sampler, one order was enough for two. Got the pork sandwich, ribs, and brisket along with the collared greens, Mac n cheese, and potato salad.
Pork sandwich - cooked to perfection and very well seasoned. Didn't even need to add any bbq sauce! Although their bbq sauce is also pretty dang good (comes in thin, thick, and hot!)
Dry rubbed ribs - not something I would ever think to order but oh gosh, everything just fell off the bone. From the meat to the cartilage, all that ended up in my stomach.
Brisket - melted in my mouth. Seasoning was a little different from what I'm used to. There wasn't that much flavor in my opinion but with a touch of that bbq sauce, YUM!
Sides - my brother isn't a fan of collared greens but boy did that change his mind. It wasn't mushy and had good texture. The Mac n cheese was my favorite!!! It had a different flavor to it. I think it had jalapeño added in but their cheese stayed runny and thick. It didn't solidify or anything. Good stuff. Potato salad was also seasoned very well. We needed something a little more on the refreshing side and this added just that.
Service was on point. From the ordering, to the paying, to the waiting... the Sweet P team is absolutely stellar! And to top it all off, they have $3 mimosas. Absolute WIN. 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
We were passing through Knoxville on the way to Gatlinburg on our honeymoon. I saw this place on Yelp and... read moreWe were passing through Knoxville on the way to Gatlinburg on our honeymoon. I saw this place on Yelp and had to get some Tennessee bbq in. The menu was overwhelming but the friendly guys behind the counter and register helped us order the sampler telling us it's the best way to try more for less. They gave us the brisket, half rack of ribs (my favorite!) even gave us half and half of the pulled chicken (my next fave) and the pork. Sides were Mac and cheese (yum!!), sautéed greens and banana pudding (omg). Tried their pineapple cider special.
Everything was so so good! Customer service was perfect. I think we need to come back on the way back to Nashville. read less
I love good bbq and I found some good "q" at Sweet P's. I ordered he bbq burrito. It was... read moreI love good bbq and I found some good "q" at Sweet P's. I ordered he bbq burrito. It was so tasty. I selected the pork bbq for the meat. Chicken and beef were also choices. The cole slaw was so crunchy and added a nice texture. The beans on the burrito were just enough. It was huge and I did not think I could eat the whole burrito. I did! I will order this as soon As I return! read less
After the total disaster that was Central BBQ in downtown Memphis, I was completely skeptical to trying another BBQ. I... read moreAfter the total disaster that was Central BBQ in downtown Memphis, I was completely skeptical to trying another BBQ. I took a leap of faith and came
To sweet P's anyways and was elated that I did. Maybe I am a bit biased since this was immediately after Central BBQ but boy oh boy, this was one of the best BBQ I've had.
I was hesitant to get the dry rub since my last experience, it was so dry. I had to do it though, I refuse to believe all dry rub ribs in Tennessee tasted like tree barks. I was very happy with my choice. My half rack dry rub was amazing. The dry seasoning sprinkled on top had a crunchy sweetness to it, like crushed candy for meat! The ribs themselves were so juicy and moist. The meat simply fell off the bone, the crust was not hard at all and packed a lot of smoked flavor.
I also had a brisket plate that came with a side of mac and cheese and tater salad. The mac and cheese was good, nothing extravagant but a great pair for the BBQ. The tater salad had eggs and onion that added a fresh break for the heavy BBQ. Their brisket was fatty and moist and seasoned just right, although I wish it was a bit softer, some bites were still chewy.
The atmosphere was also great, you could dine inside or out in the patio, iced cold water was free. Sitting by the window you can overlook an industrial train track that was distinctly Tennessee. Overall, I'd give the place a 4.5 but since I had to compare it to places like Central BBQ, I'd give it a solid 5 stars. 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
If you're looking for a cafeteria-style, family friendly place for awesome bbq, this is the place. It's a little bit... read moreIf you're looking for a cafeteria-style, family friendly place for awesome bbq, this is the place. It's a little bit of a hike away from most other places but is definitely worth the walk. Plus, when you eat too much (and you probably will), the extra steps back will help you burn it off. I had the pork BBQ platter (also available in chicken) and my two sides were green beans and pinto beans. Excellent! My wife got a big salad with tomatoes and bleu cheese and she loved it too. She finished her salad and most of my green beans before I got back from setting up the kids at another table. They got kids meals of BBQ sandwiches (one chicken and one pork) with a side of mac&cheese. Some friends got a rack of ribs and said they were pretty heavy and were really good. Everything tasted great and we all highly recommend this place. read less
This is about as good of bbq as you'll get most any place, and I'm speaking as a visitor from... read moreThis is about as good of bbq as you'll get most any place, and I'm speaking as a visitor from Texas, where bbq is everywhere. This is probably a top 5 bbq place joint I've tried. My co-worker and I tried this place yesterday evening, being our last night in Knoxville, before flying out this afternoon. We came here due to the high ratings on Yelp.
It's definitely got a dive-type feel, as the restaurant is sitting by itself off a one-way road, and the food ordering process is cafeteria-style. you order first at the counter and take your food on a tray to your table.
To try everything, my co-worker I was traveling with and I ordered the sampler platter with 2 orders of mac and cheese and green beans. We each ordered a chocolate chess pie and ordered one brisket burrito, just in case the other food wasn't enough. It was...
Mac and cheese - awesome. Ribs - amazing. Pulled pork sandwich - dang good. I used the thick bbq sauce on the pulled pork sandwich...the sauce was so good, I wish they bottled it and offered to sell it. I would've taken a full case home. It had just enough kick and the tangy flavor was perfect to me.
We both had a big lunch, so by the time we got to our pies and the burrito, which was attempted at last...it was a done deal. I took my slice of pie back to the hotel to eat later in the evening. I eventually got to it, and it was good. The burrito we didn't finish. The brisket inside was good, but we ordered it without slaw inside....and they prepared and gave it to us with slaw inside. We didn't make a deal out of it because we were so full anyway by the time we got to it...we each ate only about 5% of it.
Great, casual dining experience. Staff was nice and helpful directing us to the sampler platter to try everything. read less
One word - WOW. It all started with Chandra. She is the best. She greeted us and as we looked... read moreOne word - WOW. It all started with Chandra. She is the best. She greeted us and as we looked a little lost, she took us on a tour of the menu and how to proceed. She is the star of this place. The nachos with pimento cheese queso were epic. But the dry wings were the BEST!!!!! This is a must go to on Knox. read less
I am impressed with the Barnes burner, a combo of brisket, goat pepper cheese, pickled onions, and jalapeños, with a... read moreI am impressed with the Barnes burner, a combo of brisket, goat pepper cheese, pickled onions, and jalapeños, with a side of scrumptious greens mixed carrots and celery, black eyed peas and bacon. Kelli, who works the bar, where I ate, was great also. When you have someone who loves their job and are supper nice and knowledgeable, well, that is a great bonus. When I travel back to Knoxville I will be stopping by again. read less
This place is AMAZING! Food was great, staff very friendly and an awesome atmosphere! Depending on what's going on downtown... read moreThis place is AMAZING! Food was great, staff very friendly and an awesome atmosphere! Depending on what's going on downtown on the weekend, parking can be an issue but it's worth it! read less