Around the Table at Knotty Pine

Welcome to Around the Table

Hi, I'm Jay.

First, thank you.

Whether you've been coming to Knotty Pine for years or you just discovered us recently, it truly means a lot that you've chosen to spend some of your time with us.

If you've ever been into Knotty Pine, you've probably noticed something.

On any given night you'll see neighbors catching up after work, families celebrating birthdays, friends sharing orders of wings, couples enjoying dinner on the patio, and regulars who know exactly what they're ordering before they even sit down.

I love that.

When I opened Knotty Pine, my goal wasn't simply to open a restaurant or brew great beer.

I wanted to create a place that people would want to come back to again and again—not just for the food, but for the people sitting around the table.

To me, that's what a neighborhood restaurant should be.

A place where the staff starts recognizing your face.

Where you can celebrate a birthday, meet friends after work, bring the family out for dinner, or just enjoy a great meal without feeling rushed.

That's what this little journal is about.

Every restaurant has a menu.

Some have great food.

Some have great beer.

But what really makes a neighborhood restaurant special are the stories that happen between the first bite and the last sip.

Those are the stories I want to share here.

Sometimes I'll take you behind the scenes in the kitchen.

Sometimes I'll introduce you to someone on our team.

Sometimes I'll explain why our wings are smoked before they're grilled, what goes into one of our favorite weekly specials, or what inspired a new beer on tap.

And yes... every now and then I'll probably tell you about something funny that happened during dinner service. Trust me, there are plenty of those stories.

One thing you'll quickly learn about me is that I believe restaurants are about much more than food.

They're where first dates happen.

They're where birthdays are celebrated.

They're where coworkers unwind after a long day.

They're where families decide to skip cooking and spend an hour actually talking to one another.

Those moments matter.

If Knotty Pine gets to be a small part of those memories, then I think we're doing something right.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said I don't get excited about our weekly specials.

Monday has become synonymous with our $24 Prime New York Strip.

Wednesday is all about our $10 Double Smash Burger & Fries.

And by Thursday, the smoker is working overtime getting ready for our $1 smoked-then-grilled wings—a tradition that has introduced a lot of first-time guests to Knotty Pine over the years.

You'll definitely be hearing more about those in future posts.

But Around the Table isn't going to be one long advertisement.

My hope is that when you stop by here, you'll leave knowing a little more about the people, the food, and the philosophy behind Knotty Pine than you did before.

Whether you've been joining us for years or you're planning your very first visit, thank you.

Supporting a local restaurant means more than most people realize, and I never take that for granted.

I hope you'll check back from time to time as I share stories from the kitchen, seasonal favorites, behind-the-scenes moments, and everything else that makes Knotty Pine what it is.

Until then...

Thanks for pulling up a chair.

I'll see you around the table.

— Jay