The 7 restaurants in Kingston that come up in conversations about food on Watts Bar Lake. Kingston is one of the towns that anchors the lake's dining options, with a mix of casual sit-down spots and quicker stops.
A warm, freshly made everything bakery and cafe in downtown Kingston where the cookies alone are worth the detour.
Bettye Rose Bakery is a cafe and bakery in downtown Kingston serving homemade baked goods, lunch specials, sandwiches, soups, and espresso drinks. The pastries are made on-site, portions are generous, and the staff is consistently described as one of the warmest in the area. Open Monday through Friday until 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM.
A reservation-only chef's-table bistro in Kingston that feels like it should be in a city twice the size.
Caramella Bistro Catering is a reservation-only dining experience in Kingston, open Thursday through Saturday evenings. A five-course prix fixe meal with no set menu; dishes change based on what the chef is working with. BYOB, no corkage fee.
A Kingston institution that has been feeding the town and interstate travelers for decades, open only on weekdays until 2 PM.
Handee Burger is a small diner on North Kentucky Street in Kingston that has operated for over 47 years. Open Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 2 PM only. Famous for small slider-style burgers, onion rings, biscuits and gravy, and the kind of service that makes people wish they lived closer.
Kingston's upscale dinner option, with a bistro atmosphere that exceeds what most people expect to find next to a Food City.
Maple Creek Bistro is at Ladd Landing in Kingston, open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 PM. A bistro-style dinner menu with shrimp and grits, steak, twin chicken breast, wood-fired pizza, lamb stew, meatloaf with onion straws, and a full bar with cocktails, wine, and local whiskey.
A small Mexican restaurant in Kingston that has built a steady following on quesabirria tacos and an unusually deep vegetarian section.
Chicken Loco is a Mexican restaurant on North Kentucky Street in Kingston, open daily 10 AM to 10 PM. The kitchen turns out well-seasoned plates and a vegetarian menu that runs deeper than most restaurants in the area carry.
A laid-back BBQ bar in Kingston with live music on weekends and a menu that runs wider than the name suggests.
A Kingston staple on West Race Street, open Monday through Saturday. BBQ platters, catfish, burgers, and a full bar with a strong whiskey selection. Live music on weekend nights, catering available.
Kingston's Chinese takeout spot, unpretentious on the outside and reliable on the inside.
Mei Wei is a Chinese restaurant on Martin Street in Kingston. Locals call it Mei Wei; the address number 100 appears in the Google listing as a name artifact. The kitchen turns out reliably good Chinese-American food. Open six days, closed Sundays.
Kingston has a mix of casual American, Mexican, pizza, and lunch-counter spots. The list ranges from sit-down with a full menu to drive-through and walk-in stops.
Most are in town rather than directly on the water. For lakeside dining, see the lakeside-restaurants page.
Last updated: April 30, 2026