My 5 Favorite Restaurants in Gatlinburg
The great thing about making Gatlinburg our vacation home for the past 11 years is building a credible list of my favorite restaurants. I’ve eaten at all of these places many times, so I feel it makes my opinion count for something to someone. If you’ve been here many times, your perception of your current favorites has probably changed somewhat over the years—or maybe not. That’s part of the beauty of making Gatlinburg your primary vacation spot. You can always discover a new favorite if the old one loses some luster. Here are my picks for the five best restaurants in Gatlinburg…right now.
#5 Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
I am fully aware there may be more popular choices from some of you for barbecue, but Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que has sentimental value to me. When we first visited Gatlinburg, we heard of this one in our research. And being within walking distance despite its slight off-the-beaten-path location, it was on our very first itinerary. We instantly loved their sweet house barbecue sauce they bring out with your food, but the pork, chicken, and burnt ends were all delicious delights to our taste buds in future repeat visits. Recently, their prices have kept us away for the past few trips, but we will definitely return. It deserves to be in my top five.
#4 Tennessee Jed’s
A surprise addition to this list, and the one place I’ve eaten at the fewest of the others is Tennessee Jed’s. Located across from The Village in downtown Gatlinburg, they’ve only been in business a few years, but boy do they know how to cook! The owner, Chris Geisz, has a passion for creating legendary American favorites and classics that go above and beyond what you already expect a restaurant to deliver. The food is clearly scratch-made, and more importantly, you’re treated like family in here. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face and a trigger for my taste buds. They recently opened a second location on 321, the aptly named Tennessee Jed’s 321. It’s a gem of an eatery you can feel good about.
#3 Best Italian (Elks Plaza)
I won’t give away a future list, but I will say Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria in the Elks Plaza easily makes my list for one of the best pizzas in Gatlinburg. As a matter of fact, with the exception of the delicious garlic knots, it’s the only thing we’ve ordered off the menu. That fact alone should disqualify it, but the pizza is just too fantastic. Also, despite a two year break from eating here, we can never complain about how superior their signature item is. Maybe one day we’ll stray, there’s no way it’s a thought in the present day. It’s almost stupid to think a medium pizza (16”) plus rolls anywhere will only set you back a grand total of $25—and that’s including tip! But in Gatlinburg, it feels like grand larceny.
#2 Smoky Mountain Brewery
This is another sentimental selection, but it’s warranted because it’s had staying power. We will always remember the lodge-styled Smoky Mountain Brewery as our first restaurant we visited in Gatlinburg back in 2011. I remember our order of beer cheese pretzels and pepperoni pizza. The latter was unique and a jolt to senses. It had a buttery thin crust that paired perfectly with the toppings. We enjoyed the pretzels and cheese, but haven’t tried them again. That’s actually a compliment to the amount of scrumptious items on the menu. The wings are wonderful, the salads are sensational, and the beer is reliable. Consistency has been the key to success with this restaurant, and it belongs in my top 2 for that reason.
#1 Cherokee Grill
Honestly, I had a tough decision with this one. On one hand, Cherokee Grill has just been good, lately; on the other, the best meals we’ve eaten in Gatlinburg have been at this exact restaurant. I considered the Brewery as my number 1, but I have to look at this in totality. This is our splurge dinner, and despite the fact they serve one side (some of the best in town, I might add) instead of two, there’s no denying the quality of food we’ve received on multiple visits. The Prosperity Steak (and Pork Chop) is sincerely a steak on steroids, seasoned superbly and sensationally. I’ve ventured off a bit and been more than pleased with my burger and salad on separate visits. What helps their case even more is that they are part of the same family of restaurants as Smoky Mountain Brewery, so you can enjoy a beer brewed next door and get an upscale meal in a casual style place. It’s my winner by a competitive edge.
Currently, as of September 2022, these are my favorites. With future visits, these are certainly subject to switching. Of course it’s just my opinion, but you’re welcome to disagree and lend your own opinion to your favorites in Gatlinburg. It’s entirely possible I’ll have a new restaurant crack the list as soon as the next time we’re in town. In fact, I would not be surprised if another arises into the rankings. Until then, let the debate begin! What are YOUR favorites in Gatlinburg!