Want pancakes? How about avocado toast? Check out these Knoxville breakfast locations

Mary Constantine | Knoxville

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. At least that's what the professionals like to say.

Knoxville has plenty of breakfast-themed eateries to make that important meal happen.

Scrambled Jake's: A new breakfast spot in Knoxville New breakfast eatery in Knoxville's Rocky Hill community hopes to succeed in a location others have not.

When considering a traditional breakfast platter there's one Knoxville entity that stands out. It's Rankin Restaurant, 2200 N. Central St., a business that has fed the residents of this city for more than 50 years.

If you've not been there, you're missing out on good food and a part of Knoxville's history. It opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is just down the road from Happy Holler proper, sitting catty-corner from Knox Glass Co. Give it a try.

Here's a list of other popular breakfast restaurants listed in no particular order. Some are longstanding and others fairly new.

1. Pete's Coffee Shop, 540 Union Ave., has served downtown since 1986. The family-owned eatery opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. on Saturday when breakfast is served all day. Pete's menu includes the Greek omelette with spinach, portabella mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese and the breakfast bowl with scrambled eggs, diced ham, sausage, cheddar cheese, home fries, sausage gravy, and a biscuit.

2. Fountain City Diner, 3029 Tazewell Pike, has operated since 2010 at the corner of Jacksboro Pike and Tazewell Pike. The diner opens daily at 8 a.m. and serves breakfast all day long. Some of its more popular breakfast items include the Cajun three-egg omelette with andouille sausage, peppers, onions and provolone cheese, the apple turnover pancake filled with apples, apple butter and pecans and sprinkled with powdered sugar, and the Red-Eye Special with country ham, eggs, red-eye gravy and biscuit.

3. OliBea, 119 S. Central St. Chef/owner Jeffrey DeAlejandro has a big heart and an even bigger breakfast presence in the Old City.

The eatery's menu is like no others in Knoxville, serving up items like the squash bowl with sorghum grain, beet, greens and duck egg, the carnita tostada made with confit cheshire pork shoulder, frijoles, queso fresco, eggs, salsa roja or verde and the OliBea grilled cheese breakfast sandwich featuring sourdough bread, Sweetwater Valley Farm's buttermilk cheddar cheese, a sunny side up egg and collard greens. OliBea opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

4, Nick and J's Family Diner, 1526 Lovell Road, serves breakfast six days a week, opening at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday. Popular menu items include the three strawberry pancakes with whipped cream and powdered sugar, the Country Cafe breakfast with two eggs, country ham, home fries, with toast and a choice of biscuits and gravy or two pancakes, and its large selection of breakfast sandwiches.

4. The Plaid Apron, 1210 Kenesaw Ave., is tucked in the center of Sequoyah Hills where it operates a weekday brunch menu available at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The menu includes gluten-free almond griddle cakes with sorghum vanilla butter, roasted apples, pure maple syrup, biscuits and gravy made with house-made sock sausage gravy and buttermilk biscuit, and a veggies and grain dish made with sorghum grain, beet greens, butternut squash, smoked onion, mushrooms, poached duck egg, and goat cheese fondue.

5. Scrambled Jakes, 7428 S. Northshore Drive, opened its doors last fall. The eatery has built a good reputation for its five variations of eggs Benedict; its popular scramblers, including the Fungus Among Us, featuring shiitake and crimini mushrooms topped with feta and Gruyere cheese baked atop its potato casserole; a quinoa breakfast bowl; and its giant Sin-O-Man roll. Oh, and let's not forget the bloody mary bar. The eatery opens at 7 a.m. seven days a week.

6. Holly's Gourmets Market, 5107 Kingston Pike, has been a long-standing breakfast location in Bearden that's not always had Holly's name in the title. But with her culinary influence comes a menu that sets it apart from any other in the area. Here you can enjoy a smoked salmon platter with Scottish smoked salmon, shaved red onions, capers, cream cheese, tomato, cucumbers on toasted fresh bagel, chipotle chicken and grits with stewed chicken, white corn grits, shredded jack and salsa roja or salsa verde and two eggs, and grilled hazelnut French toast with Italian bread stuffed with Nutella, soaked in vanilla custard and served with syrup and butter. The eatery serves breakfast throughout the day. It opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

7. First Watch has four locations in Knoxville: Turkey Creek, Fountain City, Bearden and Lovell Road. It's fair to say that the eatery's avocado toast is one of its most popular items on the breakfast menu.

Other dishes include power bowls such as the pesto chicken quinoa bowl featuring quinoa mixed with kale, shredded carrots and roasted tomatoes topped with grilled lemon chicken breast, basil pesto sauce, feta crumbles and fresh herbs, and the smoked salmon and roasted vegetable frittata that's made with smoked Sockeye salmon, roasted shallots and tomatoes sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, and drizzled with chive cream, served with ciabatta toast.

The eatery opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Sunday.

8. Rami's Cafe, 3553 N. Broadway, is owned by Basil Natour, brother of Pete Natour of Pete's Cafe. It's been open since 2015 serving traditional breakfast foods such as the country breakfast with two eggs, country ham, home fries, and biscuits and gravy; buttermilk, blueberry, chocolate chip or pecan pancakes; omelettes; and breakfast sandwiches. The eatery opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

9. The French Market, 412 Clinch Ave. and 161 Brooklawn St., Farragut. This locally owned creperie offers two-egg omelettes, croissants and sweet and savory crepes that make breakfast special. Menu items include a cherry cheesecake crepe with homemade ricotta, graham crackers and cream cheese and the Monte Cristo ham or turkey crepe with Swiss cheese, strawberry jam, butter and powdered sugar. Hours of operation and menu items vary per location.

10. Amber Restaurant, 6715 Maynardville Pike, has served the Halls community for more than 30 years. It serves traditional breakfast foods including pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and omelettes. It opens daily at 7 a.m.

11. Don Delfis Pancake House, 120 W. End Ave., Farragut, includes a large selection of pancake meals including buckwheat, chocolate chip and pumpkin, skillet dishes such as the Troyan featuring eggs, gyro meat, onions, peppers and feta cheese served with potatoes, toast or pancakes, and malted waffles including the Eskimo waffle with ice cream, strawberries and whipped topping. The eatery opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

12. Tracy's Restaurant, 3913 Western Ave., has all the classic breakfast items, including eggs, meat and toast, house fries, sawmill gravy and breakfast sandwiches. The restaurant opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Other breakfast eateries includes the International House of Pancakes, the Egg & I, Wild Eggs, Denny's, Cracker Barrel, Huddle House and Waffle House.