Spring in Gatlinburg brings colorful wildflowers, delightful weather, and big appetites! Hiking on mountain trails sure makes you hungry, so this spring, explore these eateries on your Smoky Mountains vacation.
Special Occasions
The Greenbriar. This elegant lodge is home to hand-cut, dry-aged steaks, craft cocktails, and extensive whiskey and wine lists. The menu includes lamb, venison, and duck. Cigar aficionados will appreciate the cigar list, available to smoke by the fireplace.
The Park Grill. Located at the entrance of the national park, this spot serves steaks, pork dishes, sandwiches and burgers, and famous moonshine-marinated chicken. Rich desserts are a specialty, including hot blackberry cobbler.
Howard’s Restaurant. Ask for a creekside table here at Gatlinburg’s oldest restaurant, where the menu features steaks, chops, seafood, and signature appetizers, including ribeye strips and an “extreme appetizer” platter.
Unique Local Cafes
Elvira’s Cafe. Enjoy mountain views from the inviting porch at this cafe tucked into scenic Wears Valley. Cooking fresh, local ingredients from scratch, Elvira’s dishes up fried chicken and waffles, country ham, sandwiches stacked high, and breakfast delights like the “Tennessee Haystack” loaded biscuit.
Boudicca’s Celtic Pub. Featuring authentic dishes of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Boudicca’s is in The Village Shops, a charming collection of small boutiques. The menu includes hearty traditional foods, from fish and chips to bangers and mash. Try the imported beers and ales.
Southern Delights
Bennett’s Pit BBQ. For three decades, Bennett’s has dished up pulled pork, pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken, all slow-cooked over hickory wood and basted to tender deliciousness in homemade sauce.
Southern Comfort. Chicken and dumplings, shrimp and grits, jambalaya, fried chicken–this new restaurant cooks classics from all over the South. Don’t miss the luscious peach cobbler, pecan pie, and banana pudding.
Hearty Breakfasts
Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. You can’t miss the big barn-like restaurant or the sign on a giant skillet! Start your day with generous portions of thick French toast, secret-recipe pancakes, omelets heaped with meats and hash browns, and plenty more breakfast and brunch favorites.
Pancake Pantry. Welcome to the first pancake house in Tennessee, where they still do breakfast (and lunch!) right. Choose among crepes, waffles, French toast, and pancakes, omelets, and at lunch, burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Is your mouth watering yet? Plan a spring getaway to a Gatlinburg cabin rental now, and bring this list along. Try a different restaurant each day!
