We have several places we frequent every time we visit Gatlinburg. You can find inexpensive to expensive dining. Many restaurants have offers in the coupon books. Many offer discounts on meals when dining before 5pm. During peak seasons, we advise eating early, if able, or the wait can be long. The following restaurants have become our most favorite places to dine.
Breakfast: Pancake Pantry for the BEST PANCAKES you will ever taste! This is a must at least once during your visit. Breakfast is served all day and they offer gourmet sandwiches and soups for lunch. If you plan to have breakfast at the Pantry and head into the park, they also sell boxed lunches that are great to toss in the cooler for a picnic later in the day. It is located on the Parkway between light #6 and #7. Hours 7am-4pm in summer and 7am-3pm in the off season. During peak seasons, we recommend arrive before 8am no later than 8:30am. We have seen the line stretch down the street. Parking is permitted on the street until 9am. Make sure you’re not too late or they will begin towing cars.
Flapjacks Pancake Cabin has great omelets and breakfast platters. They are located on Rt. 321 across from the Brookeside Resort. Hours 7am-12pm. Customer parking on site. They also have a location on the parkway just as you enter Gatlinburg next to the Hampton Inn.
Lunch/Dinner Meals: Cherokee Grill has great prime rib, Bar-B-Qued chicken, steaks, and the bread is GREAT! Prices $5-$20. Definitely the best food for the value. Located between light #9 and #10 next to Calhoun’s. Parking along side street and behind the Brewery.
Smoky Mountain Brewery has the best pizza in Tennessee! Really. It is brick oven style and the garlic-roasted tomatoes are a great topping. They have great sandwiches, steaks, ribs, etc. Prices range $6-$20 per meal. They often have live bands and karaoke. So, if you prefer quieter dining do so before 8pm. Brewery is located behind Calhoun’s Restaurant on the Parkway between light #9 and #10. Phone number is 865-436-4200. Also location in Pigeon Forge at Walden’s Landing at stop light #2B.
Alamo Steakhouse has mouth watering oak fired Black Angus steaks, ribs, and chicken along with great sandwiches for lunch. Our favorite is the filet mignon! They have 2 locations. In Gatlinburg, from Parkway turn at light #3 onto Rt. 321 and travel about 1 to 1 ½ miles and it is located on left. Also located in Pigeon Forge. They have coupons in booklets for discount dining. Parking on site. Gets really busy after 6pm.
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que has the best Bar-B-Que sandwiches! They also have ribs, steak, chicken but I can’t comment on how good they are because we can’t get past the sandwich! They also have a breakfast bar. Prices range $5-$20. Located on River Road that begins at light #5 and goes to Ski Mt Rd behind the Ober Gatlinburg tramway. Parking behind the building. We like to pick up a sandwich and go to Mortons Overlook or Clingmans Dome and watch and photograph the sunset. Also have a location in Pigeon Forge.
The Park Grill is like dining at a majestic mountain lodge. Some of the menu items include moonshine chicken (my favorite), P-kan chicken, prime rib, Smoky Mt ribs, pan-fried trout and much more. Oh, and the desserts, if you have room, are out of this world. Prices range $12-$35 per meal. Mon-Fri and Sun. open at 4:30pm and 4pm on Saturdays. After 6pm the wait can be lengthy. Call ahead seating is available at 865-436-2300, which puts you on the wait list. Casual or formal dress. Parking is located in front and behind building.
No Way Jose Mexican Cantina has great Mexican food. Located at light #5 across from Ripley’s Aquarium. Prices range $6-$15. Parking on site. They have a new location in Waldens Landing stoplight #2b in Pigeon Forge.
Texas Roadhouse has good ribs/steaks. Prices range $10-$25. Located on the Parkway across from Calhoun’s between light #9 and #10. Parking located behind the building.
In Pigeon Forge, we have found a new wonderful place to eat. It is called Old Mill Pottery Cafe which is located on Old Mill Road at stoplight #7 across from the Old Mill Restaurant. They have great soups and sandwiches made on their own homemade bread from flour milled at the Old Mill. Prices range $10-25. The serve lunch and dinner. The Old Mill Restaurant is also a great place to eat. They carry the typical old home-style foods
such as pork chops, ham steaks, chicken, pinto beans, etc. They also serve breakfast. The prices are very reasonable and range from $3-8 for breakfast and $5-12 for lunch and dinner. All of the baked goods are made on-site with flour milled at the Old Mill.
