Tag: gatlinburg restaurants

Alamo Steakhouse

Sometimes when you are on vacation you just really need a steak.  If you are looking for a great local steakhouse in Gatlinburg, while you are visiting the Smoky Mountains, then you need to stop by Alamo Steakhouse.

Alamo Steakhouse in Gatlinburg has long been one of the places that the locals go for steaks and when you see a bunch of cars in front of a restaurant in Sevier County with Sevier County license tags, you know the food is going to be good.  The menu at Alamo is as good as the service and the service is spectacular. On top of that service, the restaurant is located out of the middle of downtown so you can drive to the Alamo park your car (for free) and not have to walk or pay for a parking space.

Starters

It is sometimes hard to get an appetizer when you know that the there will be a lot of food coming to your table but it is worth getting a starter to share at the Alamo.  From bacon wrapped shrimp to grilled oysters their appetizers are decadent and a great way to start your meal.  One of their most appetizing appetizers are the Sombreros.  Sombreros, are mushroom caps stuffed with crabstuffing.  Then they are topped with Monterrey Jack and Parmesan cheese and baked.  These little bites of goodness are a perfect precursor to a great steak.

Steaks

Of course, the main reason that you go to a steak house is for a steak, here is just a partial listing of their selection of steaks and other beef selections:

  • Prime Rib – They run out quick most nights on this entree so you need to get there early to make sure that you get one.  Slow roasted in their ovens and seasoned for the best flavor, this is one of the best prime ribs in town.  Served with au jus and horseradish sauce.
  • Rio Grande Ribeye – There is a large cut and a smaller cut of this amazing ribeye.  Heavy marbling in this steak makes it mouthwatering and tender.
  • Alamo New York Strip – This is one of the lergest New York Strips you will ever encounter.  Not for th efaint of heart, this is one of the most tender steaks on their menu.
  • Filet Mignon – Available in both petit cut and full cut, this is the best of the best.  Now as the cut of kings, this is the steack for all of those steak lovers out there.
  • Texas T-Bone – Aged, juicy and tender, this bone-in steak gives you plenty of flavor.
  • El Presidente Porterhouse – This is the biggest steak on the menu.  If you can’t make up your mind about whether you want a fillet or a strip then thi sis the steak for you.

Here is the secret of the Alamo steak:

The Alamo Secret
If you have never tried Real Oak Fired Black Angus Steaks before, you will see why we make such a big deal over them. Oak Firing sears in the juices and all the natural flavors of these cuts of corn-fed beef. Every juicy mouthful is unbelievably moist with rich beefy flavor. After you’ve savored the last bite, we hope you’ll agree that all the work we put into preparing your meal was well worth it!

 Give Alamo a try next time you are in Gatlinburg, spend time with their great staff in a beautiful location in the mountains.  Most of all, bring your appetite.  Get ready for one of the best steaks you will find in the Smoky Mountains.

Alamo Steakhouse
705 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-9998
http://www.alamosteakhouse.com/

 

Bennett’s Pit BBQ

If there is one thing that everyone in the Smoky Mountains can agree on it’s barbecue.  We might not always know how we want to spell it, whther it be barbecue or BBQ but we know that we like and we love to eat it.  In Gatlinburg, one of the places to go for great BBQ is one of those spots that you go to dine on famous, award winning BBQ with an awesome staff and an even better atmosphere.

At Bennett’s, meat is king.  From smoked sausage to pulled pork and everything bbq’d in between, Bennett’s have been serving BBQ for decades.  Smoked flavor drips from every morsel of food that gets brought to your table.  The best example of what this restaurant does is by looking at one of their biggest and baddest plates of food:  the Texan Sampler.  This plate of food comes with pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked sausage, chicken and baby-back ribs.  Yes, you read that correctly, you get all 5.  Generous portion sof each make sure that you are getting well fed and that you will leave full and happy.  You also get to try a little bit of it all.  Of course, if you want something a little bigger – Big Daddy’s Ultimate Combo – FOUR baby-back ribs, TWO hog legs and a 1/4 pound of pulled pork.  Bennett’s knows how to make their guests happy, keep the food coming.

The staff and the cooks at Bennett’s have been doing this for a long time.  They get you seated, get your order and start bringing you food.  It is no wonder that this restaurant keeps winning awards and that at night throughout the busiest part of the year that they are standing room only.  The servers are top notch and can answer any question you have about the menu.  The cooks are also out of this world and you don’t have to worry if your steak will come out right when you are sitting in a booth at Bennett’s.

In Gatlinburg, Bennett’s is located toward the end of River Road, if you are headed toward the GSMNP.  They have their own parking lot, they are centrally located and if you want to walk, they are easy to get to.  In fact, if you decide to ride the Aerial Tramway to Ober Gatlinburg you will pass directly over Bennett’s as you start up the mountain.  Try Bennett’s tonight if you are in the mountains.  Or maybe the next time you make the trip to Gatlinburg you can add them to your list of places to eat.  Strap on the feed bag and give Bennett’s Pit BBQ a try.

Bennett’s BBQ
714 River Road
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-2400
http://www.bennetts-bbq.com/

Sherlock Holmes Pub

Been shopping and walking downtown Gatlinburg all day and feel the need to wet your whistle before you leave? Stop in for a drink and a great meal at Sherlock Holmes Pub, they feature a selection of of the finest draught beers, Irish and American fare, as well as local live music.

Among the various draft selections, you’ll find Newcastle, Strongbow, Harp, Smithwick’s, Guinness, Blue Moon, Fat Tire, Yuengling, and Sam Adams. Bottle options include Bud Lite, Bud, Coors Lite, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, Smirnoff Ice, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams Summer Ale, Fat Tire, Heineken, Becks, Corona, Highland Gaelic Ale, Stella, Bass, and cans of Boddingtons. Enough to make a mouth water just reading the list.

Food choices include some great appetizers like a basket of English chips and a selection of main course items like grilled chicken salad, Sir Arthur Conan Doyles fish and chips, Sherlock Holmes cottage pie, Mrs. Hudson’s beef Yorkshire pudding, Hound of the Baskervilles hot dogs, Baker Street burger, chicken sandwich (grilled or fried), and prime rib sandwich.

Live music can be seen on the patio when weather permits. Come to Sherlock Holmes Pub and enjoy delicious food, ice-cold beer, and conversation with great friends. Bring the family, kids under 5 eat free and enjoy the Smokies in one of the funnest locales in downtown Gatlinburg.

Sherlock Holmes Pub
651 Parkway, Suite 110
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865.430.5943

Dick’s Last Resort

Fun for All and All in Fun

This is not your typical restaurant.  Inside Dick’s Last Resort, you will find a surly waitstaff, cascades of napkins, 2 foot tall paper hats and lots of fun.  Dick’s Last Resort has developed a reputation for their atmosphere over the years and they have brought that atmosphere to Gatlinburg, TN.  Good food an good drinks are always a part of the experience but the reason people come is for the live entertainment and the interaction that you have with the waitstaff.

The Experience

Dick’s Last Resort is all about the waitstaff and the way that the treat their guests.  Really, it is more of the way that the trick their guests.  When you walk through the doors you are going to find out that you are not at a typical family restaurant.  You will find a surly group waiting the tables, throwing napkins at the guests, verbally sparring with each other and everyone at the tables and of course serving amazing food.  But before we jump on to the food, realize that this is not a normal place you have decided to eat.  You came for the live entertainment that the staff provides.  They are not going to say thank you and please, they are not going to tell you you made a good choice on your meal selection.  They are going to make jokes at your expense, place hats with a snappy epitaph on them on your head and potentially throw napkins at you.  Don’t be afraid to bring the kids though, bring the little ones with you and let them get in on the entertainment, Dick’s Last Resort promises to keep it family friendly.

The Food

The food is excellent.  The good folks knew that you weren’t coming for people to be nice to you that you were coming for the experience and the food so they made sure the food was the exact opposite of the service:  great!  Their dinner menu is covered with comfort food favorites:  ribs, wings, crab cakes, shrimp all fired and baked and sauteed and cooked to perfection.  And when you get down with dinner, you need to save room for dessert.  The dessert menu at Dick’s Last Resort is to die for.  Mile High Peanut Butta Pie, Not-Yer-Mamma’s Cheesecake and Extreme Brownie Meltdown.  The desserts are as sweet as the staff is not.

The Location

Dick’s Last Resort is easy to find.  The are right on the Parkway in Gatlinburg.  If you are at the Ripley’s Moving Theater, look at the dinosaur head and turn around, you will see Dick’s Last Resort across the street.  They are also right next to the area with Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery so you are going to pass them while you are in town anyway.

Pay a visit to Dick’s Last Resort while you are in Gatlinburg on your next vacation.  They are right down the Parkway fro your hotel.  They have fantastic food and they have a different view of service that will keep you laughing all night long.

Dick’s Last Resort
903 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-277-6953
http://www.dickslastresort.com/domains/gatlinburg/

Wild Plum Tea Room

Are you looking for some place different to eat while you are in Gatlinburg?  Or, maybe like a lot of people you have heard of the Wild Plum Tea Room and have just never made the time to go there?  Well, drop what you are doing and get to the Wild Plum Tea Room right now.  You are in for something special and a unique experience in the Gatlinburg area.

The Wild Plum Tea Room is modeled after the teahouses in the mountains of Austria.  The idea with these teahouses was to have a place for people to gather, eat, talk and have a good time.  The food they ate was prepared off of whatever was in season and fresh, this is the same with the Wild Plum Tea Room.  They buy fresh and prepare something new all the time.  Depending on the season, depends on what you are served.  As the calendar moves forward and they harvest from their garden and buy from local farmers, the menu changes ever so slightly, day to day.  Also like those teahouses, it is a quaint shop with limited seating so it is always wsie to call ahead and make reservations.  Also when you call, you can find out what they have on the menu for the day.

Some of the menu items that you will see throughout the year include:

  • Homemade Pimento and Cheese
  • Sherried Tomato Bisque
  • Lobster Pie
  • Salmon Burger
  • Hommade Chicken Salad
Of course, you can always get their Wild Plum tea for which they are named.  This tea is served hot or cold and is a specialty of the house.  The hint of plum in the tea really brings out a different flavor that is surprising and wonderful.
If you have decided to take a ladies outing into the Smokies, the Wild Plum Tea Room might be the highlight of your trip.  It is a good place to have a wonderful meal and a the staff will make you feel like you are the only people in the room.  And gentleman, if you think because of the name that you will leave hungry, you could not be further from the truth.  They will fill you up with some of the best food you are going to find in Sevier County.  You are going to go to the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community while you are in town.  While you are there shopping, go to the Wild Plum Tea Room.

Wild Plum Tea Room
555 Buckhorn Road
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-3808
http://www.wildplumtearoom.com/

Blaine’s Grill & Bar

Finally Some Fun!

Blaine’s is one of the most centrally located restaurants in Gatlinburg.  Right on the corner of the Parkway and Historic Nature Trail Road, Blaine’s resides in the shadow of the Space Needle and sees thousands of people in the foot traffic that pass the door everyday.  The location has a fair amount of history and the food is amazing.  Add to that the fact that they put on the best New Years Eve party in town and you have a happening spot that brings on the fun and the food every time they open the doors.

Blaine’s stands on the corner that was known as Rebel Corner until the fire of 1992.  In July of 1992 Rebel Corner – one of the oldest gift shops in town at that point – burned to the ground with the rest of the buildings that were on the block.  In 1995, the Smith family, that owns Blaine’s opened Ronnie Milsap’s Keyboard Cafe on the site of the old Rebel Corner.  In 1998, they changed the name, the look and the feel of Milsap’s to Blaine’s and the reputation and the happy guests have been growing every year.

The food and atmosphere at Blaine’s is second to none at Blaine’s.  The food, of course, is the main draw.  From the burgers to their desserts you will not leave Blaine’s hungry and you will find that they have something for everyone.  They even have a gluten-free menu for whom gluten is a concern.  One of their menu items that really sticks out is their patty melt.  It might be the best patty melt in East Tennessee – 5 pound patty, rye bread, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, 1000 island dressing and grilled to perfection.  The ribs at Blaine’s are also a crowd pleaser, bringing in the local and the tourist alike.  And then, there is their dessert menu.  The menu items for the sweet tooth isn’t long but it is wonderful.  Try their fried ice cream if you go there and have room for dessert, it is to die for.

Blaine’s is one of the most happening spots in Gatlinburg after the sun goes down and it is no different on New Years Eve.  With the focus of everyone’s attention being on the Space Needle and the dropping of the ball, Blaine’s sells out fast and offers four different packages for your New Years entertainment:

  • Premier Dinner – Prime Rib or Chicken for dinner, bottle of champagne, party favors, reserved seating and a confetti drop at midnight.
  • Dance Floor – Prime Rib or Chicken for dinner, bottle of champagne, party favors and a confetti drop at midnight.
  • Sports Bar – glass of champagne, party favors, appetizer buffet and a midnight confetti drop
  • General Admission – glass of champagne, party favors and a midnight confetti drop
All of these packages sell out quickly so if you are planning on spending New Years in Gatlinburg and you want to have the most fun possible, make your reservations soon.

Looking for good food and good fun while you are in Gatlinburg?  Looking for a special place to spend time with that special person?  Looking for some fun at night after the sun is down? Look no further then Blaine’s!

Blaines Grill & Bar
812 Parkway #105
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-1978
http://blainesgatlinburg.com/

Smoky Mountain Trout House

Rainbow trout is as tied to the Smoky Mountains as the black bears that are the unofficial mascot of the National Park itself. To that end, people want to eat trout while they are in the mountains and the trout they want to eat, even though it is not native to the area, is the rainbow trout.  Since 1975, the Smoky Mountain Trout House has been serving the freshest, best tasting trout in the Smokies.  It has become one of those restaurants that you don’t want to miss when you visit Gatlinburg.

The trout that the Smoky Mountain Trout House serves is raised in crystal clear waters.  The trout are raised until they are the perfect size for eating and then they are dressed and ice packed to be served as soon as possible to the people tha line up at the door every night to experience the trout creations from this traditional restaurant.  The purity of the fish, the freshness of the fish and skill of the cooks brings out all of the flavor that a mountain rainbow trout has to offer.

Highlights from their menu:

  • Trout Eisenhower – This is a crowd favorite.  Cooked the old timey way, it is pan seared coated in corn meal.  Served with bacon and butter sauce it also comes with a dish of sauteed mushrooms and onions.
  • Parmesan Trout – Dippe din a secret sauce, covered with parmesan cheese and then sauteed in peanut oil.
  • Dilly Trout – Butterflied trout, fried with dillweed seed and lemon juice.  If you love dill you will not be able to get enough of this dish.
  • Green Bean Almondine Trout – A trout filet basted with lemon juice, it has been stuffed with green beans, almonds, onions and chopped tomato and the whole thing cooked in wine.
  • Mountain Trout Specialties Cakes – Imagine crab cakes but with trout instead of crab.  These are one of the best items on the menu.

And to top off the wonderful selections on the menu, they also have some of the best hushpuppies in town.  These hush puppies are light, fried perfect, reminding you of eating at a fish fry in your backyard.  And like any good restaurant in the Smokies they have fritters.  These fritters are trout fritters and they are a must.

A visit to Gatlinburg is ot complete until you have had rainbow trout.  In fact, you have to have it when you come tot he Smokies just so you can experience everything that there is to offer.  Over the years, thousands of people have been getting their trout from Smoky Mountain Trout House.  They are located right after you get into town if you are headed in from Pigeon Forge.  Look for Best Western Zoder’s Inn and you will see the Smoky Mountain Trout House right next to it.  Walk from your hotel or park in the parking garage right down the road, either way this place needs t o be on your list of places to eat.

Smoky Mountain Trout House
410 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-5416
http://www.gatlinburgtrouthouse.com

Donut Friar

As you walk through the shopping area in Gatlinburg called The Village your nose will be invaded by the smell of doughnuts and pastries, breakfast favorites and coffee from the one and only Donut Friar.

The Donut Friar has been a breakfast or anytime tradition in Gatlinburg for generations.  The quaint little shop on the corner inside The Village supplied doughnuts, coffee, pastries and more to people as they shop.  It is a great place to start the day for breakfast and during the day, as you roam through the alleys of The Village, a nice spot to break for a few minutes and grab a snack.  They have seating near the counters on the bottom level and more seating in the area up above the shop.  And though the seating is nice after you have been walking for a long time while shopping, it is nothing compared to the food.

Of course, the doughnuts are the best.  Glazed, cake, filled and jellies – virtually every kind of donut you could ever want or desire. Past the cases of fresh-made donuts are the pastries and breads.  Bearclaws, danishes, and their ever popular cinnamon bread.  You might find that you are headed back to the Donut Friar another morning to get more cinnamon bread or maybe right before you check out of your hotel – cinnamon bread for the road.  And to go with the doughnut or pastry of your choice – coffee, espresso or cappuccino.  Made to order, these specialty drinks go along great with the sweet, rich, sugary goodness of the doughnuts and pastries.

Drop by the Donut Friar next time you are walking the streets in Gatlinburg.  Follow your nose into the Donut Friar and eat.  Eat a doughnut and a bearclaw and get some cinnamon bread to take with you.  Add the Donut Friar to the places you visit each and every time you go to Gatlinburg.  Get up early for breakfast one day (they open at 5am, someone will already be there in line).  Start your day out right with doughnuts and breakfast sweets made with love and attention to decadence.

Donut Friar
634 Parkway #15
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-7306

Pucker’s Sports Bar and Grill

Looking for the night life in Gatlinburg?  Look no further then Puckers Sports Bar and Grill.  Great food and good times take center stage at Puckers and they are not only for locals that have made this their favorite hangout, tourist and visitors alike are welcome to spend the night hanging out with the great staff at Puckers.  They will make you feel at home.

The Food

Puckers might have the best comfort food in Gatlinburg.  Burgers, fries, wings and more.  All of the selections are Puck-Tastic and some are very punny.  Here are just a few of their offerings:

  • The World Famous Gatlinburger – A 5lbs burger, yes, you read that correctly, a FIVE pound burger.  It is one of those massive menu items that if you eat the whole thing in the prescribed amount of time.. they pay for it and you get a t-shirt.  This isn’t just a huge burger though it is really good.  Get it and share it with the whole table.
  • Pucked Up Fries – Seasoned fries topped with chili, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, sour cream and scallions.  Big enough for meal but great to share with fiends.
  • Fried Dill Pickels (“Pub” Pickles) – delicately fried and fantastic.
  • Chicken Wings – These are available with several different sauces:  applewood smoked, mild, hot, oriental express, ranch, honey BBQ, teriyaki, chipotle honey BBQ, garlic, Carolina mustard or Real Puckin Hot.

The Drinks

Puckers is a full service bar.  Get that after dinner drink or enjoy beers from the top.  Puckers runs specials every night, whether it is a special beer for the evening or some other drink.

Puckers has become a destination for people returning year after year.  Their menu is fun and full of comfort food, their bartenders are excellent and ready to get you something cold to drink.  The atmosphere is more then just a typical bar, they allow you to let your hair down and get a crazy or just sit around and have a good time.  Play pool, play darts, sing karaoke or just have a good time hanging with friends.

Puckers Sports Bar and Grill
745 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-7755
http://www.puckerssportsbar.com/

Cherokee Grill

A great night our with that special someone is always on tap at the Cherokee Grill in Gatlinburg, TN.  They are located on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park end of town, right on the Parkway.  The food is out of this world and the atmosphere is second to none.  Steaks, seafood, pasta and more are all prepared form the freshest ingredients by cooks that want to make sure you have the best experience possible.

Cherokee Grill is right next to Calhoun’s in Gatlinburg.  At the front of Calhoun’s Village, this restaurant is among the handful of eateries that have their own parking so you don’t have to worry about finding a parking place, walking for blocks or paying to park.  If you are headed toward the National Park from Pigeon Forge, you will see the Cherokee Grill on the left hand side of the road.  This beautifully made building of stone and brick is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside and the attention to detail they took when building this structure is shown in the care they take with their food and menu as well.

And the food is wonderful.  This is a grill and steakhouse but the menu is mch more then just those types of comfort food.  This is an elegant menu for an equally elegant atmosphere.  Steak Au Poivre, Boursin Filet, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, Crab Cakes, Herb Crusted Trout and more make up the menu.  This is not a place to go in, in a rush and grab some grub.  This menu will cause you to por over the choices and really dig into what they have to offer.  One of the favorites is their Prosperity Steak.  This entree features a a 10 ounce sirloin that has been marinated with olive oil, garlic and pepper and then finished with Worcestershire butter.

And then you have the atmosphere. In fact, this might be one of the most romantic venues in Gatlinburg.  Granite and walnut have been used as the basis for the interior of this restaurant.  The perfect atmosphere for a great night out.  If you have a special occasion to celebrate or if you are looking for a great meal while you are on your honeymoon, Cherokee Grill will fit the bill.

Cherokee Grill is full of flavor from the care taken in building the structure to the menu.  The staff is there to guarantee that you have a good experience, that make sure that you are happy, well fed and that you had a great time.  Let Cherokee Grill impress you with their ability to bring out the best that Gatlinburg has to offer.

Cherokee Grill & Steakhouse
1002 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-4827
Website