Gatlinburg Food Review: Timbers Log Cabin Restaurant

I’m not sure I remember what I thought Tennessee would be like before we visited. What I did know is that it would be significantly less flat than my Ohio home. I mean, we were going to the Smoky Mountains, so I wasn’t that ignorant. The food was something I was really looking forward to, though. While not all that foreign to my Midwestern roots, my anticipation for some good, old fashioned, home cooking really piqued my interests—and taste buds. Until this day, I’m not sure anything felt more symbolic of these terms until we ate at Timbers Log Cabin for lunch on a cool December afternoon.

Yes, Timbers Log Cabin Restaurant was a first for us today. We knew it was here, but they’re not open every day, so at times, it prevented us from visiting. They are located in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community across from Morning Mist Village and behind two fantastic shops we highly recommend: The Next Chapter Book Shop and Olga’s Yodel Cinnamon Rolls. Would this log cabin eatery join the ranks of those earning my endorsement? Let’s find out!

The ambiance is everything you’d expect when you visit a good Southern restaurant (or any, for that matter). There’s not many options inside for seating, but I’ve seen more cramped spacing in a few other restaurants in Gatlinburg that have amazing food, so no big deal. I liked the cozy atmosphere and all the children’s colored drawings numbering in the hundreds posted on the walls. It also had a very home-y, Christmas-decorated, and positive feel. The music emanating from the speakers had the supreme kitchen cooks singing, much to the delight of the customers happily enjoying the environment. The phrases posted on the chalkboards made you feel everything about the owners is authentic, much like the real home kitchen the food was being cooked in. It could’ve been anyone’s kitchen, but we were all invited, and that was so refreshing from the get-go.

There is also a nice patio in the front that can be used for seating if the inside fills up. While it was a tad too cool for our comfort on this day, you can easily see yourself pulling up a chair on a nice day and enjoying the fresh Tennessee air. This is another feature that is so hard to find up North. It’s just different here, and it’s a welcome change of (slow) pace.

The menu is posted on the partitions leading up to the register at the counter. You choose your item, order at the register, and sit down while you wait for your home-cooked meal. At first glance, the menu looks quite traditional; however, it’s diverse mix of flavors steer you different directions upon deciding. Of course, this is never, easy for me, but I knew I didn’t want anything too heavy or breakfast-y. I had eggs for breakfast, so I nixed that as an option. With the weather being chilly on the daily recently, I opted for some tomato soup which came with cornbread. My wife also ordered tomato soup, but as a side item to her grilled cheese sandwich. Like another restaurant in downtown Gatlinburg, the food comes out on paper plates. As I mentioned in that review, I had zero issues with it.

So…was it good? Yes, it totally hit the spot! The soup came out hotter than the blazes of Hades, and I much prefer that to the alternative. It contained some onions and hints of garlic that gave it added substance. You can’t really expect anything more than advertised for a good grilled cheese sandwich, and it was exactly that. The cornbread wasn’t dry and tasted the way good cornbread should. I broke up my second piece and made it another ingredient in my tomato soup. That proved to be a good decision as well.

The owners are Garry and Judy. He was a Food and Beverage Director for Marriott and Hilton hotels, and also oversaw kitchen and hotel room cleanings for three decades. He and his wife (Judy) handle all the food, and their reputation in the business is reassuring. They care about cooking and did a pretty darn good job of making sure ours was delicious, and I am sure many others before us came away with the same feeling.

Look, if you’re coming here expecting Michelin-star quality, you might want to turn around and walk out. But if you want an excellent, authentic, good old-fashioned, homemade Southern meal, you’ll seek this place out, just as we did. Again they have a menu to fit many tastes. They have what looks to be a sweet, savory, and succulent breakfast, and I’ve heard they do grits justice. Just don’t expect them to make it for you in 5 minutes, or else the laws of physics don’t apply on their stove (Sorry, it’s a My Cousin Vinny reference I couldn’t resist). Also, rave reviews have been spewed about their burgers, which will also have to be reviewed in the future.

I can’t wait to come back and sample more from the menu. My review on this visit has to be a 4.8 out of 5, only because we didn’t choose to order any of their more talked-about items, but that’s no slight to them. It’s very likely to earn a 5-star review the next time. Again, we love the atmosphere, and it just radiates with positivity, which has a lot to do with the friendly service, messages, decorations, and singing that would blow away any particle of negative energy that tries to invade this sacred space. We will return! And you should consider placing them on your restaurant itinerary the next time you visit Gatlinburg!

***Note: To my knowledge they don’t have a website, nor an updated Facebook Page. Your best bet is to type in Timbers Log Cabin Restaurant on Google to discover reviews and pertinent information about the establishment. Thank you!

Thank you for reading and subscribing to my publication. I hope you enjoyed my latest Gatlinburg restaurant review. It’s always a joy to find so-called hole-in-the-wall spots here, because every single one, so far, has been spectacular. Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews as well as news, lists, stories, and other goings-on in this little tourist town. I appreciate you all!