Gatlinburg, Tennessee is nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by the Great Smoky National park on three sides. The air is fresh and clean and streams run through the mountains and through the town. The resort town is two miles long and is a beautiful, refreshing destination for a vacation.
After spending a day in the Great Smoky Mountain national park, exploring the waterfall and streams that run through the mountains, you are bound to have a healthy appetite. Be sure to fill up on some of the hearty, down-home style country cooking that your can find in many of the restaurants in town.
While visiting Gatlinburg, there are several restaurants that serve down-home country style cooking. Several restaurants serve Bar-b-Que along with southern vegetables. Some of the local favorites are pancake houses, with comforting breakfast food.
Whether you are staying in Gatlinburg, or just passing through, there are hearty county style meals to be enjoyed at some of the top rated and popular restaurants in town.
Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant
Entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
865-436-4669
The restaurant is a quaint, modestly priced restaurant set in a beautiful apple orchard. The country style restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast features a tempting selections of pancakes, omelets, waffles and meats. The dinner menu includes southern specialties such as: Appalachian Chicken, Barbeque Ribs, Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Pot Pie, Country Pork Chops, Applewood Pork Loin, BBQ Pork dinner, Chicken Livers, Country Ham with Red Eye Gravy, Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings, Roast Turkey and Dressing, Ribeye Steak and Smoky Mountain Trout. Remember the Southern sides, such as Fried Okra, Dumplings and Fried Apples. AAA Two Diamond.
Bennett’s BBQ
714 River Road
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-2400
Bennett’s specializes in Bar-B-Que meals that are set over smoldering hickory wood and smoked for up to 14 hours. They serve beef, pork, chicken ribs and more. For breakfast they serve a “Good Morning Fresh” Breakfast Bar. AAA Two Diamond.
Calhoun’s BBQ Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-4100
Handsome mountain lodge offers good mountain style eating. Calhoun’s has indoor and outdoor dining. They re located near the entrance of the national park on US 441. The specialty of the house are the Bar-B-Que Ribs, which are baby back ribs which are slowly smoked with Tennessee hickory and basted with sauce. Served with buttermilk biscuits or cornbread. Try some of the handcrafted beers that are produced in small batches. AAA Two Diamond
Cherokee Grill Steakhouse
1002 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-4287
Steakhouse fare such as Teriyaki Sirloin Steak, Filet Mignon, Rib Eye Steak, New York Strip, Prosperity Steak and Blue Cheese Sirloin. There are grilled specialties including Grilled BBQ Chicken, Smoky Mountain Fried Chicken, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Wood Grilled Shrimp, Fresh Fried Mountain Trout, Fresh Herb Crusted Trout, Southern Fried Catfish and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. AAA Two Diamond.
Hard Rock Cafe
515 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-7625
Set in the Smoky Mountain town, this Hard Rock Cafe professes to be the only Hard Rock Cafe with a wedding chapel! There are 138 Hard Rock cafes in 42 countries. Popular chain is famous for the guitars and rock and roll memorabilia displayed on the walls. Extensive menu offers steaks, burgers, salads, sandwiches and desserts. AAA Two Diamond.
Howard’s Restaurant
9876 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-3600
Howard’s has been a a fine dining tradition for over 50 years. The served steaks, fresh trout, chicken and gourmet burgers. The comfortable atmosphere is a great place to enjoy excellent fine food. Howard’s calls their steaks “The Best Steaks in the South”. Selections include Howard’s Signature 16 oz Bone-In Filet, Filet Oscar, Steak for Two., 22 Ounce T-bone and 28 Ounce Porterhouse. Seafood, Fresh Mountain Trout and Catfish are also on the menu.
The Peddler Restaurant
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Gatlinburg, TN
Nestled in the spectacular park, the restaurant building is constructed around the O. Earl Ogle cabin. The cabin was the home of one of the pioneer families with materials from four other home sites. The Peddler serves traditional meals, including steaks, seafood, fresh mountain trout, chicken and their famous salad bar. AAA Two Diamond.
Mountain Lodge Restaurant
913 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-2547
