Dine Your Way Through The Smokies
By Leif Palmer
Posted on July 21, 2020
If one of your favorite things about being on vacation is not having to cook meals, you're definitely going to like visiting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. From Interstate 40's exit 407 on the north end of the county to the southern end of Gatlinburg near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our area has hundreds of restaurants to choose from.
Whether you're on the main drag of the Parkway or exploring some of the nooks and crannies of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, you'll find options that will cover every time of day, every variety of cuisine and every price point. From national restaurant chains to local treasures, it's time to grab your knife and fork and loosen your belt as we give you a sampling of just some of the dining choices that await you when you come to the Smokies.
We'll start in Sevierville at a locally owned restaurant called Holston's Kitchen. Located on Dolly Parton Parkway, this popular stop with both locals and tourists specializes in hand-cut steaks but also offers a wide array of seafood and chicken dishes as well as house-made desserts. Beef is also the main attraction at LongHorn Steakouse in Sevierville. They serve just about every cut of steak you can imagine, and they're cooked to perfection. Meanwhile, going to the mountains doesn't mean you have to give up seafood. If you stop by Joe's Crab Shack on the Parkway, you can choose from an ocean's worth of saltwater favorites, including steam pots and crab buckets.
In Pigeon Forge, J.T. Hannah's has an all-American menu that delivers a little bit of everything: burgers, sandwiches, steaks, seafood and their famous strawberry short cake. For a unique meal experience, you might try Dolly Parton's Stampede dinner attraction, where a delicious multicourse feast is served up along with one of the most amazing shows in the Smokies.
If you decide to hang out in Gatlinburg, we recommend parking in one of our downtown lots and taking advantage of our Gatlinburg parking garage prices. From there, you'll find dozens of awesome restaurants within easy walking distance. You could start your day off with a hearty morning meal at Crockett's Breakfast Camp and then move on to Bones BBQ Joint or Blaine's Bar & Grill for lunch. For dinner, we recommend the expertly prepared menu selections at either The Park Grill or The Peddler restaurants, both of which are located on the south end of town.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.