Gatlinburg, Tennessee
When you travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you know you’ve come to the right place to sample the best of the Smokies. Whether you’re chowing down on home-grown dishes from our celebrated eateries and five-star restaurants, or sipping the finest spirits right in the birthplace of moonshine, you’ll find flavors that are as much a part of Gatlinburg as the landscape. Behind every meal lies a time-honored tradition, and every flavor will leave a lasting impression.
Gatlinburg is a place filled with locally owned eateries like Delauder’s BBQ, whose “Holy Bologna” sandwich is the stuff of Travel and Leisure acclaim. And Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, whose sweet creations have been made from the same family recipe since 1950, can still be found making taffy the old-fashioned way in their windowfront. You’ll find in cherished steakhouses like The Peddler Steakhouse and the Alamo Steakhouse ample opportunity to make an evening of dining on naturally aged, hand-cut steaks, all perfectly cooked to emphasize a dish’s bold, juicy flavors.
For those that like a little local color and a great spot to catch that must-see game, head on down to hot spots like Tom and Earl’s Back Alley Grill and Smoky Mountain Brewery, where good brews and burgers abound. Or add a different vantage point to your mealtime by taking a seat at the Cliff Top Grill & Bar at Anakeesta. This newly opened restaurant offers breathtaking views while serving up their fresh take on comfort food classics like fried green tomatoes and one-half pound chargrilled burgers.
But if breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then Gatlinburg pancake houses have been ahead of the mealtime curve for a while. A culinary legacy hailing from its logging camp days, Gatlinburg has become home to seven pancake houses that know how to churn out a hearty breakfast – some of whom have been doing it for half a century. The folks at the Pancake Pantry have been making homemade, honest-to-goodness breakfast spreads since they established themselves as Tennessee’s first pancake house in 1960. Split Rail Eats and The Donut Friar are also go-to breakfast hubs, dishing out fresh breakfast bowls and hand-baked, legendary donuts that are beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Gatlinburg is home to renowned distilleries such as Ole Smoky Moonshine, Sugarlands Distilling Company, and Doc Collier Moonshine, producing craft spirits that celebrate our mountain heritage.
(above) photos courtesy of Gatlinburg CVB