Gatlinburg Restaurant Review: Blue Moose Burgers & Wings
A few months ago, my son and I visited their Pigeon Forge location. Blue Moose Burgers & Wings has been on our radar for years, so it was long overdue. We thought they were pretty good. I splurged on their Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger and took the $1 upcharge hit to order broccoli with beer cheese as a side. Overall, the entire experience was pretty solid. My wife and I recently attended one of the soft openings of the new Gatlinburg location, which was her visit to any Blue Moose. So… was the second Sevier County location any good for us. Let’s review!
Once you walk inside, your eyes go in all different directions. There are pennants, pictures, and plenty of Tennessee Vols-themed splashes. Most notable on the entrance ceiling is the weird-looking Peyton Manning (as Adam) and Blue Moose’s mascot (as God) in a humorous imitation of The Creation of Adam painting by Michelangelo. The movie framed posters on the walls were also chuckle-worthy, with the main character being Blue and the movie titles changed… appropriately. The restaurant also has their famed moose on some of the table tops too, keeping you amused as you’re patronizing their business.
There are televisions everywhere in this place. If you’ve been to the Pigeon Forge one, you know there’s a screen at every booth. Ours was by the booth, but it was a larger one on the wall beside us. I liken it to a sports arena where you have no vision-blockage of the action on the field or court. Here, I doubt there’s any seat in the house without a good view of a television screen with a sporting event in action.
What I appreciate foremost about the menu is its simplicity—it’s two pages. That doesn’t mean you’re going to have an easy time deciding. I found myself looking at probably a dozen different menu items I could see myself ordering. Deciding what to choose on our first visit to the Gatlinburg version was tough, but I knew I didn’t want to repeat my Pigeon Forge order.
I really wanted to get a burger, but I didn’t want to load up on carbs—at least not this time—with my blood sugar being a bit elevated even before the meal. I finally decided to go with a salad. Wow! Shocker of the month! Yes, I know, but remember, I’m not a tourist anymore. I have made my eating extravagances a rarity, and I’d like to keep it that way.
Specifically, it was the Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad ($15). The green superfood is undeniable to me, and I always perk up when I see it as a menu item, but it usually shows up in a salad in this area. My wife ordered the Burger & Wing Combo, which is perfect if you want to try both of their specialty items for a good price (less than $20). She also went with one of their specialty cocktails, Moose Juice. Priced under $10, this drink did not fall short of worthiness. And following my tiny sip, I found it sweet but quite tasty—a well-made drink we both recommend. But what about the food?
Before I say what we thought, I will say they do a great job working with you on substitutions and whether they can accommodate your gluten-free needs. This is helpful, appreciated, but yet, still not taken seriously by a number of restaurants.
The salad was pretty good. I liked that I could get the vinaigrette I chose on the side. I think most people don’t like a soggy salad, which usually happens in tossed salads, from my experience. It featured a nice mix of greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, cilantro, jalapenos, and the avocado, which was sliced on top. Instead of feta cheese, I chose the always-reliable shredded cheddar. My only complaint is that it’s no Brewpub or Brewmaster Salad—both cheaper and slightly larger salads from Gatlinburg Brewing Company ($10) and Smoky Mountain Brewery ($14), respectively. Overall, the ingredients all worked well together, and I went very light on the Classic Vinaigrette, which didn’t need a heavy slather.
Based on what my wife ordered, I correctly figured I would be assisting in the consumption of her meal. But first, she had a problem with her four boneless wings that came with the order. Two of them were significantly smaller than the other good-sized ones. I saw them for myself, and that was rather disappointing. Not a disastrous development, but she rightly, politely addressed it. The burger was substantial and pretty good, but not the best you’ll find in Gatlinburg. Our opinion, of course. The fries were pretty ordinary, but next time, she’ll accept the dusting of seasoning offered. This is, in fact, a time for them to be aware of any issues from the start, so that they can correct them. We didn’t expect the manager-on-duty to come around, but it was appreciated.
There were apologies and an explanation regarding the wings, and he extended the gesture of a free dessert. Although she had no intention of ordering dessert, the Peanut Butter Pie was subsequently chosen. This is a vanilla bean and peanut butter ice cream slice with an Oreo cookie crust, ribboned with peanut butter cups, rich fudge, and a chocolate caramel lattice. My baby bird sliver was darn good, but no matter how small, it was still too gosh darn sweet and sugary, and that’s saying something for my sweet tooth.
Alex was our server, and he was more than passable with his generous demeanor and genuine desire to make our first experience at Gatlinburg’s Blue Moose Burgers & Wings a good one. He did a solid job promoting their menu items, and he almost convinced me to go with another selection. We also had a delightful, brief conversation about what we did in Gatlinburg at the conclusion of our meal. Of course, I had to sell him on going to Anakeesta, which he was curious about.
What’s the grade? I’ll give them a 4.1 out of 5. Again, I feel like future visits could merit higher scores. Consistency is key, and while it wasn’t a rocky start, we weren’t dazzled. Their burgers, wings, and sauces are easily better than average, but not the best—not yet. Will we return? Yes, that’s a guarantee. I’d like to order their Traditional Wings sometime, with one of their hot sauces for a test of my tolerance. Do I recommend Blue Moose Burgers & Wings in Gatlinburg—their 5th location? Yes, I certainly do. Their official opening is Monday May, 12! Add it to your ever-growing list of restaurants to try in Gatlinburg!
Website: https://bluemooseburgersandwings.com/
Thank you for reading my latest Gatlinburg restaurant review on my publication. Feel free to spread the word, leave a comment, and like this post if you enjoyed this read and any of my others. Stay tuned for another new restaurant review coming soon, and a whole lot more good stuff in store for the summer! I appreciate your support!
Thanks for the review. It’s impressive that they offered the 50% off for the soft opening. And the fact that the manager stopped by and offered a free desert? That says a ton about their commitment to guest satisfaction. The prices overall look good to me in comparison to the other two breweries you mentioned. I’m a regular at Smoky Mtn Brewery. I went to Gatlinburg Brewery once and didn’t have near the satisfaction as you so I haven’t gone back. Wings were over priced and service was apathetic. Still I appreciate all your secret shopper recommendations. As always I read all of your posts as your opinions are not tainted by promotions or sponsorships. That’s worth a ton to those that read!
My wife and I have experienced the Blue Moose in Pigeon Forge and it was good. We also tried Junction 35 in Pigeon Forge and everything was awesome! The smoked wings were incredible!!