Ranking Every Entree I've Ever Eaten at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg

Only recently have I broadened my horizons at Smoky Mountain Brewery, my favorite hangout spot in Gatlinburg. Until we moved last August, about half of these entrees I hadn’t eaten before. But now, I’m really testing out the different items on the menu to see if my essential eatery is truly deserving of my praise. So far, so good has been my evaluation, but for fun, I’m ranking my absolute favorite dishes from this esteemed lodge-style restaurant in Gatlinburg.

10. California Chicken Burger

Last is the California Chicken Burger, but this isn't meant as a slight. It’s a tasty ground chicken burger with Monterey Jack Cheese, bacon, and Garlic Peppercorn dressing. It was very good; however, there’s some steep competition on this list, and California is a long way from Tennessee.

9. Awesome Avocado Jack Burger

Next is another burger with some west coast flavorings. The Awesome Avocado Jack Burger is indeed awesome, and you really can’t tell it’s a plant-based burger. The avocado and Monterey Jack Cheese fatten this “burger” up, but the poblano sauce could’ve been more flavorful. Still, this is a step above the chicken burger.

8. Brewhouse Chili

This is where it begins to get a bit tough to rank. I ordered the Brewhouse Chili from Smoky Mountain Brewery after a long cold walk, and it hit the spot. It was heavy on beans and ground beef, warming me up quite nicely after a chilly stroll in the winter elements. Also present was a nice spicy kick that I appreciated. Needless to say, it was everything I hoped it would be for chili.

7. Naked Wings

I’ve heard many guests rave about the wings—including my son—but I had never myself ordered them until about a month ago. They weren’t the best I’ve ever had, but I would easily put them in my top five. Throw in their Hot and Spicy dipping sauce and I had a pleasant ember that never reached fiery status in my mouth. The un-breaded wings were delicious, even by themselves when I denied the dab of sauce.

6. Brewmaster’s Club Salad

At one time, I proclaimed the Brewmaster’s Club Salad the best of its kind in Gatlinburg. Even though it’s been surpassed by a few others, there’s no negating its desirability. I love a good salad. As a diabetic, I must pay attention to this often ignored option on the menu for tourists. It’s a meat-lovers dream with bacon, ham, chicken, and an array of vegetables that’ll leave you just as full as downing any other non-salad on the menu. Speaking of salads…

5. Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad

This is the entree that inspired this list—the Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad. This is the biggest salad they serve at the Brewery, in my opinion. Delicious grilled chicken strips marinated in soy ginger sauce, in addition to garlic-roasted tomatoes, pineapples, banana peppers, red onion, and cheddar cheese make up this behemoth. This is firmly in the middle of my list, because it’s large and in charge of curbing your hunger.

4. Roasted Chicken Quesadillas

Ugh, this is agonizing! The Roasted Chicken Quesadillas come in at number 4. I thought the Daiquiri Shack had the best quesadillas in town until I tried the Brewery’s. D.S. uses shredded chicken in theirs, while SMB does not, and it makes all the difference. They are both just as substantial, but the roasted chicken from the Brewery is chef’s kiss delicious. What’s better is I was fooled with what I thought was sour cream as a side item. But I swear that’s cream cheese, even though I haven’t asked. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway. It’s that good!

3. Brew-B-Que Chicken

Grilled chicken at its finest. Smoky Mountain Brewery surprised me (shouldn’t have, though) with how savory this dish was. This is the most expensive item I’ve ordered here at just under $16, but it was wholly worth it. A thin glazing of BBQ sauce with toppings of cheddar cheese, tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro was celebrated by yours truly with a plate cleaning. This is a definite order again!

2. Grilled Burger Mountain Melt

This is undoubtedly the biggest shocker on my list. The Grilled Burger Mountain Melt should absolutely not be the second best entree at SMB for one reason: Rye Bread. No, I’m not a fan of Reubens, and part of that is the bread that’s traditional for the sandwich. Well, I love it here. Throw in a nice-sized burger topped with Swiss and American cheese plus sauteed onions, and you have a wonderful sandwich. I guess I’m a sucker for toasted bread; I prefer it over a soft burger bun.

1. Pizza

This shouldn’t be a revelation if you follow me. Smoky Mountain Brewery is a sentimental and legitimate favorite of mine in the pizza category. Technically, it was the second thing we ate on our first Gatlinburg visit. Thirteen years later, it’s still just as delicious as that fabled first bite. I can put anything on this pizza, (I just about have) and it’ll be fantastic. Whether it’s their monthly specials, or just a one-topping, minimalist approach, there’s no disputing who has been residing on my top 3 pizzas in Gatlinburg year after year after year…

I know a couple of these are appetizers, but they work well as entrees for one as well, so I included them. I will say the Broccoli with Beer Cheese is excellent as a side. I seriously think you can’t err by choosing anything from Smoky Mountain Brewery, and I’ll be finding this out as I eventually expand to other items. The Brewery holds a special place in my heart, and it will continue to as long as Gatlinburg is home!

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