My Top 5 Most Visited Restaurants/Shops in Gatlinburg As a Local
I have to admit, there are some surprises and some not so much. We moved to Gatlinburg on August 7th, and since then, we’ve been introduced to some tasty new eats we never took the time to bother on previous visits. If you’ve been following me, you’ll certainly see some familiar spots that I’ve been dreaming of making regular visits to when we lived in Ohio. I’ve compiled this list to not only let you know what clicks for us, but to hopefully help you find your comfort spots when you visit. Here are the five places I’ve visited most often since our dream move happened.
5. Daiquiri Shack
Yes, this has been the biggest revelation of the year. My wife will get full credit for this find. She was always curious about it for…well, of course, the daiquiris they offered. But in reality, the food has been a pleasant surprise and hasn’t let us down. The Chargrilled Wings are excellent; the potato cracklins are spectacular; the potato bites are melt-in-your-mouth awesome, and my personal favorite, the chicken quesadillas are unquestionably tasty. I must also note they have the second best beer cheese I’ve had in town. I liberally dip those triangle chicken wraps in them, and it makes me hungry just thinking about our next visit.
4. Little House of Pancakes
Even though I think the food is slightly better at Pancake Pantry, as a local, we’ve visited LHOP about a half-dozen times in the four months we’ve lived in Gatlinburg. The reasons? Well, prices are a bit lower, making it more valuable, and the quality of the food is nothing to scoff at. Oh, and it’s a little easier to get a table without waiting long. Our timing has been pretty…well, timely here. The biscuits and gravy at Little House of Pancakes are probably the best you can find in town, and it’s hard to find fault with anything else on the menu. You get what you pay for and more here, and that makes it a slam dunk for us when we want a good home-cooked breakfast.
3. Calhoun’s
Calhoun’s is somewhat of a surprise, but my taste buds have evolved to put them right in my wheelhouse as a local. My favorite entree is the Ale Pork Chop; if fact, I like it better than Cherokee Grill’s Prosperity Chop. Marinated in their Cherokee Red Ale, mustard, garlic, and olive oil, it is a savory delight I enjoy every time. A close second has to be their Smokehouse Salad which shuts down the Brewmaster salad from their sister restaurant, Smoky Mountain Brewery, by putting warm signature smoked chicken on this salad, along with ham, bacon, and eggs. They have a Cheddar Cheese “dressing” you won’t find anywhere else…and it’s to die for if you’re a cheese fanatic!
2. Smoky Mountain Brewery
This would’ve made the top of my list if I only listed restaurants, but alas, Smoky Mountain Brewery has been my second most visited eatery/shop since August. Like LHOP’s food, I don’t think SMB’s beers are the best, but having a Helles (their German light lager) for the Happy Hour price of $2.50 is insanely good for a place that makes their own; plus, their pizza is one of the my three favorites in town. Nothing else on their menu has been underwhelming; it is all very good. If you want enjoyable beers, a flavorful meal, and friendly service, do yourself a favor and breeze into the Brewery.
1. Coffee and Company
This coffee shop is my number one, and it’s the least surprising. In my opinion, they have the best tasting coffee you can find anywhere, and I’m no stranger to coffee shops. I’ve tried and tried many others, but the coffee here is just different; it never feels weak and tasteless. It’s under new ownership now, but Jeannette laid the foundation for coffee that has never lacked character since she opened it back in 1993. If you haven’t tried these potent caffeine concoctions, it’s difficult to find anything better than what C&C Coffee Factory (90s anyone?) puts out on a daily rotating blend basis. Peace, Love, and Coffee!
That’s my five, folks! All of these places we love, and it’s impossible to utter a cursory word toward any of these establishments. I am truly happy (my wife and son included) they have a place here in Gatlinburg. They have helped keep us enthusiastic about living in such a glorious location, despite some people’s objections about the tourism aspect. You learn to live with it, and we are thankful, grateful, and humbled to call this place home after a decade of dreams.
Honorable Mentions: Gatlinburg Brewing Company, Boudicca’s Celtic Pub, and The Donut Friar.
Thank you for reading my latest article regarding some facts about our life here in Gatlinburg. Once again, I thank you for taking the time to read and learn about the things we love about one of the most visited tourist spots in America. I hope you’ll continue to follow along with our journey and the life we chose to live now after living the life most people in society are told to live. Stay tuned!