By Rena Hoskins

Having never been to The Orangery Restaurant in Knoxville, I had no idea what to expect. As I entered the building, I was confused about the entrance and thus, ended up entering the wrong door and passed by a hair salon as I walked in. Unfortunately, someone was getting a permanent hair treatment and the chemical smell was overwhelming. However, as I reached my table, luckily, the smell was not present. The tables were made out of marble and very beautiful. There were fresh-cut white roses on every table and candle lamps that flickered throughout the meal. The restaurant was fairly empty during lunch and I was able to enjoy the company of friends and the ambience in the room. Stunning, classical music filled the air and the quiet lights made the room feel peaceful.

Fresh bread was served with warm butter and was rather satisfying waiting for your meal. Unfortunately, much of the crust was so hard that it was inedible, but the center of the bread was warm and chewy and made up for the crust.

The wait staff seemed very knowledgeable and was able to offer several top choices to try. I started with the Tomato-Basil Bisque which was the soup of the day. This dish was simply delectable. It was served slightly warmer than room temperature and the scent was very inviting. The Bisque contained bite-size pieces of fresh tomato, baby shrimp and scallops all of which seemed to melt in your mouth. The color of the soup was a warm, autumn orange flecked by the dark of the basil. The bisque was very creamy and delighting to the palate, leaving behind a slight spiciness, which by no means was overpowering. It was just spicy enough to awaken the taste buds and make them crave for more. For the low price of only $3 for an eight-ounce cup, you may just want to order more.

Overall, the adventure of The Orangery Restaurant in Knoxville is one that should be experienced at least once.

For the main course, I chose the Chicken Breast Stuffed with Boursin Cheese and Wrapped in Puff Pastry as recommended by the waiter. The pastry was covered in Champagne-Dijon Cream Sauce and was positioned upon Whipped Potatoes. The presentation of the food was exquisite, setting the scene for a delicious meal. The pastry was flaky and was a perfect shade of golden-brown. The cream sauce was a delicious shade of beige and gently covered the puff pastry. There were emerald pieces of broccoli, one bright orange baby carrot and a dollop of sweet, purple cabbage. It was presented on fine-looking china and the delectable scent of the entrée delighted my senses and made my mouth water. As I cut into the puff pastry, the chicken surged with Boursin cheese. It was an appetizing off-white color with flecks of green chives. It was very warm and the flavor of shallots and chives was intriguing. The pastry and the cream sauce that sheltered it fit well with the Boursin cheese and chicken breast and created a moment of divinity in your mouth. The entrée cost $12 and though it will assuredly allow you room to have dessert, it is worth every penny.

For dessert, I tried another recommendation of the waiter. I had the Mascarpone Cheesecake and was delightfully surprised. It was presented simply and without great lengths. The texture differed greatly from a NY style cheesecake in that it was much lighter and silkier than simply using cream cheese and no mascarpone. It was velvety and slightly nutty and dissolved in your mouth. The graham cracker crust was moist and delicious and complemented the cheese well. Dessert cost $6 and is certainly worth trying once in your lifetime.

Overall, the adventure of The Orangery Restaurant in Knoxville is one that should be experienced at least once. The restaurant is in a beautiful building and the décor is exquisite. There are several different rooms to experience, including the Georgian Room, Palm Court, the Library and the Lounge where there is a Grand Piano that is played during the evening hours. While inside the restaurant, it is easy to forget that you are in Knoxville, Tenn. and not in France. That alone, may be worth the investment.