If you ever find yourself in Newport, TN, this is an off-the-beaten path restaurant that you don’t want to judge from the outside. There are no frills at this place, but walking inside the restaurant around Christmas time was a cute, cozy place to enjoy some decent food. At Fox & Hounds they warn you that your time may exceed 45 minutes during high volumes, and ask for your patience.

Pick ‘em Combos

When I arrived, it was right after they opened for lunch, so it wasn’t crowded at all. They also have lunch specials through the week. I decided to try the Pick ‘em Combos, to include onion rings, mozzarella cheese sticks and pepper jack bites. The cheese sticks were nothing special, very typical. The onion rings were greasy, so not my favorite, nor a recommendation. However, the pepper jack bites were flavorful little fried cheese cubes that had a little punch of heat. They were crispy and not greasy and would definitely order again.

Shrimp Shiskabobs & Bacon Cheeseburger

For my main entrée, I ordered the Shrimp Shiskabobs which are marinated and grilled along with mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and peppers. This also comes with a soup, salad, and one side or two sides. I chose the clam chowder as my soup, a house salad, and for my side I ordered the Home Fries with Onions. The clam chowder was very impressive for not being a northern restaurant. The flavors were good, it was creamy, and the small bowl of soup had several chunks of clam that wasn’t gritty. I could definitely eat another bowl of this on a cold winter day! The salad was a typical side salad, no frills, just lettuce, tomato, cheese and croutons. The Shiskabobs were average. They did have a grilled flavor which was nice, but nothing more than that. The home fries with onions are pretty tasty (of course add some salt and pepper on some fried potatoes with onions, and who can go wrong with that?) My companion ordered The Bacon Cheeseburger and fries. The flavor and quality of meat for the burger was good. It had a toasted bun and the bacon was crispy without even asking for extra crispy bacon.

As for the drinks, I ordered a Hippie Juice, which had a tropical, fruity taste with watermelon vodka, lemonade, and pineapple juice. I also tried the Lava Flow which is half pina colada and half strawberry daiquiri mixed together. Both drinks were a lot of drink for the price, but average bar cocktails and a little on the sweeter side. Overall, I wouldn’t make a special trip. But if you ever need a decent meal while in Newport, I would recommend the Fox and Hounds Restaurant.

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-Tennessee Taster