Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by Jason Nguyen
In today’s world, life is no less than a race, with every person constantly trying to overtake the next. For working professionals stuck in the rut of the 40-hour work week, there is little to no time to take a break, relax, and just enjoy being in our lovely town of Knoxville.
We all have made plans to visit the Zoo Knoxville or just spend an evening at the Alex Haley Heritage Square on the weekend. However, with work, chores, and household responsibilities, the week goes by in the blink of an eye, and by the time Friday rolls around, all you can feel is exhaustion.
While it’s understandable why the city exploration plans don’t seem appealing at this point, you can still go out and relax on a weekend night by heading out for dinner! Eating out is the perfect minimal-effort activity for the weekend, which allows you to relax, socialize, and enjoy yourself all in one. If you’re still not convinced, let us give you our list of reasons why you should dine out this weekend!
1. Try New Things
After a long week of being stuck in a routine, what better way to celebrate than by trying new and exciting food? The best part is that in a city like Knoxville, there’s no limit to the variety of foods and cuisine on offer.
While eating out, you choose exactly what you want to eat without worrying about the recipe, the cooking time, or the availability of ingredients. Head to your favorite restaurant to finally try that chef’s special. Or, if you’re looking for a little adventure, try a restaurant with an evolving menu, such as Elkmont Station, where the menu is ever-changing!
2. Cooking Strike
After the long week you’ve had, imagine going home and cooking for yourself and your family. It may be a labor of love, but it is still a labor. Give yourself a break from domestic responsibilities and leave the cooking to someone else for one night.
This way, you can enjoy the meal just as much as your friends and family without worrying about how it tastes. Instead, you can join in on the criticizing!
Although, we’re sure whatever you eat will taste fantastic. After all, there is no shortage of talent in Knoxville – we did give the world Quentin Tarantino!
3. Escape the Dishes
You may have come back with the thought, “I can just order a takeout instead of cooking tonight.” Well, yes, you can, and that can also be an alternative to cooking.
However, what about the mess of the dishes and the table that you’ll inevitably end up cleaning after everyone is done?
Cooking is only half the work; the other half is the clean-up after the meal is over. If you choose to order takeout, you’d still end up doing the second half of the work, and that doesn’t seem like a win to us.
So instead of troubling yourself this way, just head out where the waiting staff will take care of the serving, cleaning, and washing all by themselves!
4. Meet your Friends
With work and responsibilities, it becomes increasingly hard to maintain friendships because you rarely have time to see each other. However, any relationship that continues this way eventually results in people growing apart.
If you don’t want that to be the state of your friendships, find a way to make time to meet your friends. A great way to do that is to catch up over dinner on the weekend.
A relaxing environment with good food makes for a perfect night out with friends to reminisce over memories and discuss life plans. Trust us, regardless of how tired you may be, you’ll be glad you went!
5. Support Local Eateries
If you’ve ever been a business owner, you know that every customer counts, and any business, no matter how small, is equally appreciated. Although Knoxville has no shortage of tourists, as a resident, you are responsible for supporting local businesses and restaurants.
So not only do you get to have a delicious meal with great southeastern hospitality, but you also support the restaurant owner in building their mark in the city. With a simple weekly dinner at any of the fine establishments the city has to offer, you can play your part in your city’s success!
6. Improve your Mental Health
Sometimes, a small relaxing break is all you need to overcome your stress and anxieties. The pressures of everyday life take a toll on everybody, and staying isolated further feeds off those negative thoughts and feelings.
If you’ve been feeling down lately, a night out may just be what you need. Breaking away from your routine will allow you to shift perspectives and assess your problems objectively.
As a result, you may be able to find a way out of your problems or at least find the strength to face them. Though it sounds too good to be true, that is exactly the power of a meaningful night spent with loved ones. So do yourself a favor and go to that dinner!
7. Meet New People
Whenever you go out in Knoxville, there’s a possibility to meet new and interesting people. As a gateway to the Great Smokys, the city is abuzz with tourists from around the country all year round.
Being new and foreign to the city, tourists are generally friendly, and as a local, you can not only meet interesting people but make great friends by merely being helpful.
Just head to your local bar or a special tourist restaurant, and you’ll find many people looking to make friends. So with one night out, you get a great meal and new friends! What other reasons do you need to head out to eat this weekend?
Final Words
Eating out is also a form of self-care that one needs to indulge in once in a while. By allowing yourself time off from the responsibility of making food, fulfilling your cravings, and just spending quality time with your friends and family, you are doing something just for yourself. So don’t overthink and make that reservation for Friday night. Come Saturday morning, we’re sure you’ll be thanking us!
