Jacob's Story

Jacob Kamar grew up in Jerusalem but came to the United States in 1970. After working as a hotel receptionist in Jerusalem, he became maître d' in a restaurant in Washington DC. Jacob visited a friend in Knoxville, loved the area, and decided to stay.

In 1974 Jacob opened his own restaurant in Middlebrook pike when he found an empty building on the then two-lane road, there was an old “timeout deli” sign along with pasture to one side and an industrial area on the other. The building first began as someone's home while Jacob’s Grill and Deli is not in the neon lights, traffic, and flashy restaurants of Kingston pike, it has been a refuge for laborers and locals in the community to have a nourishing meal with Jacob who works the dining room like any great restaurant owner should. “I'm going to baby them. I'm going to spoil them” Jacob says. “I want to make a connection with my customers. They want to be recognized.”

I know this is true because before I talked to him, I sat and watched him speak to every guest Jacob's motto is “what can I do for you to make your day pleasant?”

Noting that, “For me, it does matter.” He has had some of his regular customers since 1980.

With a menu somewhere between a deli and a restaurant, Jacob offers something for everyone. He cares a lot about what he sells and strives to use the highest quality ingredients. Guests can choose from a menu of salads, deli sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, gyros, and more. They even have lasagna!

When I asked about one of his signature and most popular items Steak-in-a Sack that's when things get interesting. First of all, what is it? Part Greek and part Middle Eastern steak in a sack is grilled steak in a pita with your choice of cheese, mushrooms, tomato, lettuce or onion. Its origin? Well, while it is an actual dish, Jacob tells me it was the name of a restaurant near where he worked in Washington DC. The name of the restaurant was steak in a sack? I queried. Yes, the place they hung out in after work was a restaurant called steak in a sack