Wife and I will be traveling to the Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg Tennessee area next month and would like to find out where the real mom and pop restaurants are, where the locals dine so to speak.
Would those of you who have knowledge of the area please share the names of eateries that have given your taste buds pleasure in the past?

Thanks in advance

terry

Terry, I don't think there are that many locals in G-burg and PF. You can hit Pancake Pantry in Gburg for breakfast. It is one of the few places I go to for a meal and I hit the candy store next door after I get through.
I am more familiar with places in Townsend. Smokin Joes for BBQ, Firefly Cafe and Riverstone Restaurant for down home grub and Monte Real for Mexican. We will be in Townsend next month for a few days and will hit those four.
My wife knows several folks in the Knoxville/Maryville area so she said she would hit them up on FB and see if they had some recommendations.
While you are up there you can hit Smoky Mtn Knife Works in Sieverville. Course I spend most of my time at the knife works looking to see if they have some new CG zippos and downstairs at the relic shop.
There just so happens to be a Lodge outlet and a new (IIRC) Buds with adjoining parking lots to the knife shop.
Y'all will be there at a good time of year since there will be elbow room. Enjoy yourself. Larry

Larry, does Chuck Sims still have a gunshop in Gatlinburg? I was in his shop in 1974. IIRC, it was near a small bridge.

Kaaskop49
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kaaskop49, Not sure if Chuck is still there or not. There is only one gun shop that I know of in that area and it is on out toward Cosby. If I can get my brain to remember I will check next month. Larry

Bennets BBQ on River road one block off main road.4-5 blocks down from Aquarium in Gatlinburg.It has been there forever and also has a good breakfast buffet.Paula Deen has also opened a restruant in Pigeon Forge.But I haven't tried it yet.Buds Gun Shop has opened a brick and mortor store. Somewhere near Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville.Have A safe and fun trip and welcome to TN.

Walk around carrying the wife's packages a lot and build up an appetite that way whatever slops hit your feeder will taste better. I am sure there are good places in the local towns, but the feed lots in that tourist trap are like every other square inch of space there solely to part you from your money. Lyman's Creek Bed cabins used to be a nice place to stay with decent beds. Most of the mattresses in the "hotels" there are so old they feel like they are stuffed with corncobs. Be sure to smile and lug your wife's packages while keeping in mind the wife will sell most of the junk that she buys for five cents on the dollar in six months. Smile and wave boys, smile and wave. Pigeon forge is a trip to the Mall only you get to drive further. Good luck on having a completely different experience than me!

The Apple Barn

We rented a cabin in Townsend last summer and most of the restaurants along the river were decent. Not fancy of course but good food and service. My wife, daughter and I enjoyed the winery tours in the area and my son and I did the moonshine tours. Frankly I was a little surprised at how weak Tennessee moonshine seems to be. I'd bet most of what we had was only around 100 proof. Different regions have different tastes I guess.

Not a mom and pop place but "No Way Jose's" it is a Mexican restaurant that is near the aquarium. My family at there the last two times we were there. Chips and salsa were I think the best I have ever ate.

There is a very good steak house across the street from the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg.

Best Italian pizza is right on the strip in Gatlinburg. That place is very good they have been there forever they just opened a second one a couple years ago. As for where the locals eat I do not know they probally don't want all the traffic that's the worst and I'm near Chicago !

We eat at home.

Seriously, after you have been here with the crowds, you will understand.


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We were there about 7 or 8 years ago, I do not remember much of the last 1/2 of the vacation. We did eat at a nice restaurant close to Ripley's.

Check this list out. Gatlinburg Restaurants - Gatlinburg Dining

DO NOT, I repeat do not take the white water rafting trip on the French Broad river. The 98 lb girl lost control of the raft, it went over a huge rock and dumped us. Broke my ankle, don't remember much after that, crutches, Makers Mark.

Although we've not been there in a few years, here are our favorites.

Smoky Mountain Brewery - Locations

Log Cabin Pancake House :: Gatlinburg

Bennett's BBQ Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge TN Smoky Mountains Barbecue Barbeque Family Restaurant

We were down there a few years ago. We made the mistake of going down when there was some sort of car show so there was a big crowd. Every place we ate at you could tell didn't want the crowd there. I have never gotten worse service.

Thanks guys, We appreciate your advice and will take you up on it. Should we find any other interesting places we'll post them upon our return.

terry

I have found many "family" type eateries to have some of the most bland and tasteless food there is. Those 'Granny's Home Cooking", and "Jim & Mary,s Down Home", just always turn out to be a feeding trough.

Same as the old adage that, "to get a good meal, look where all the TRUCKERS stop".
Hell, truckers don't stop where they know there is good food. Truckers stop where there is good PARKING, cute, flirty waitresses, fuel for the rig, free calls to dispatch, buck fifty showers, and parking lot signs that say,"Security on lot. SLEEP SAFE DRIVER" !

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I'll second the recommendation on the Smoky Mountain Brewery, especially if you are into craft beer.

We go to the area 2-3 times a year....best place ever is Mama's Farm House.....Pigeon Forge Restaurant Mamas Farmhouse Southern Cooking Served Family Style

My wife and I have been to Gatlinburg the last 4 falls. I second Mama's Farmhouse, especially for breakfast. Their dinner is ok, but overpriced and rushed service. Their meals are family style with all the seconds your stomach can handle. Not quite a mom and pop place, but The Peddler Steakhouse is Gatlinburg is great! Bring your checkbook and make a reservation, but their filet's are on the top five best I've ever had. It is a semi-upscale restaurant with great views of the stream that runs thru the middle of town. Another good snack place is in the middle of Gatlinburg in the old square behind the candy and moonshine store across the street from the aquarium. I think it called the Doughnut Friar. I remember eating a footlong chocolate doughnut there when I was a kid. I just had the same doughnut last fall and it was exactly the same!

Make sure to drive Cade's Cove Loop in the National Park. Every time we have seen a bear it has been on the Loop. It is a 12 mile, IIRC, one-way paved single lane path that winds thru the higher elevations of the park. Very scenic with great picture opps, parking places to stretch your legs and a pretty good visitors center. Make sure you pack a lunch because it is a good half day's trip.

The recommendation to drive the Cade's Cove loop is excellent. If you do decide to eat at a chain, there is a Bubba Gump's right in the very center of Gatlinburg. Excellent food and service every time I have been there. Pricing is reasonable.

Another fun place to eat is at Dick's Last Resort. It is right in the middle of Gatlinburg on the main strip. A wide variety of food, but you really go there for the entertainment. They specialize in service with sarcasm. The waitresses really give you a hard time and you can give it right back if you dare. They wait staff is pretty quick with a comeback though so be prepared. They also make a big paper hat with a funny saying on it and make you wear it during your dinner.

Pancake House is a must. Gotta make the trip through Cades Cove as well

I like Cade's Cove. The view of the rock strewn stream on the road to get there is great. What I would NOT advise is to ride the Cove on a busy day; two-up, on a full dresser. You will wear out your clutch hand, over-heat you engine, and fray your nerves.

While they do have pull-outs, and signs stating to not stop in the drive lane, there is a great number of visitors who seem totally entranced by the vision of a squirrel, groundhog, turkey, and in some cases a particular type of bush, so, they do stop at the first sighting, and often all four doors fly open, unloading four camera wielding people......City folks liking the country too I guess.

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I second The Apple Barn for breakfast.

Also check out The Old Mill Restaurant.


The Old Mill

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