Ricky's, a retro-styled neighborhood bar from the team behind Tern Club and Fly By Night, has quietly opened in Parkridge, pairing a full bar with a backyard food truck called Lil Ricky’s. Inside, the vibe leans hard into kitsch and comfort: lamps, tchotchkes, a pool table, and a vintage soft-serve machine give the room the feel of a place that has been on the block for years. Early visitors describe it as part dive, part cozy tavern, the kind of spot built for regulars and long evenings.
Menu and ordering
The bar menu sticks to easy-to-share snacks like pimento cheese, warm olives, and nachos, while the Lil Ricky’s truck out back handles the heavier lifting with smash burgers, wings, bratwurst, and fries. A recent review highlighted the two-patty smash called the Dirty Ricky ($12), truffle fries ($9), and a Seattle dog ($8). Customers can order straight at the truck or scan a QR code inside the bar and then pick up their meal outside, as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Hours and contact
Ricky’s is closed on Mondays; hours run from 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. The bar's official site also lists a local phone number and confirms that the food truck parks behind the building. For full hours and contact details, see Ricky's.
Who’s behind Ricky’s
The project comes from Jocelyn Morin and Ryan Shanley, with partner Dan Blaisdell, the same team responsible for Tern Club and Fly By Night. They told Inside of Knoxville they were aiming for “nostalgic tavern” vibes and a neighborhood gathering place rather than a highly themed concept. The owners say the bar will host fewer events than Fly By Night but still plans to run trivia and karaoke nights, with the space remaining family-friendly earlier in the day.
First impressions and ratings
A recent review gave Ricky’s an overall 4.25 rating, with atmosphere at 4.5, food at 4, and service at 3.25. The room was described as “retro, welcoming and like an old favorite neighborhood watering hole,” although the reviewer noted that a bartender’s ordering instructions were confusing for first-time guests. Those early impressions, paired with the full-bar setup and the food-truck partnership, position Ricky’s as a distinct new option in Parkridge, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
