The Oldest Restaurant in Gatlinburg is Still "Steak"-ing Its Claim As a Favorite
Today’s Gatlinburg looks a lot different than it did in 1946. The Boomer Generation was being created; World War II had ended; the housing boom was beginning, as suburbs were sprouting everywhere, and…a new restaurant was born. Yes, Howard’s is Gatlinburg’s oldest steakhouse, and they are still very much in business today; in fact, you could argue they are the best in town. While we haven’t had one of their prime cut steaks, we have abundantly enjoyed their burgers and other items you shouldn’t neglect when visiting. Let’s get into more detail about this long-standing local business and my thoughts.
78 years. That’s an average human life expectancy, yet this local restaurant has weathered several wars, COVID shutdowns in 2020, and Lord knows what else throughout the years. That’s saying something. The England family owns this business, as it’s being passed down to the children, who are keeping with the tradition of a friendly, high-quality eatery.
They didn’t always inhabit the the building they are currently housed in. I don’t have the exact year they moved, but they’ve been here since our first visit—which was only 2011. Howard’s Restaurant used to be considered more of a steakhouse; hence, their most recent facelift and ever-so-slight name change from Steakhouse. The England family has owned this Gatlinburg institution for decades, so they have to be doing something right. They really didn’t need to do a slight re-brand, if you ask me. They only serve the highest quality of meat, and this is supported by their excellent burgers, which are consistently in our top 3 meat patties in Gatlinburg.
I’m mainly writing this because my son and I recently visited, and we left happy once again with our meal. He got his typical steak burger with a side of broccoli, and I opted for the Chop Steak Dinner, served with delicious mushroom brown gravy and two sides—broccoli and sauteed teriyaki vegetables. Once again, their beef didn’t disappoint in the least.
Service and ambiance have undergone quite an overhaul from past reviews. The inside is much cleaner and presentable; even the outdoor patio by the creek has been redone, and looks fabulous. If you’re worried about bringing your pets, don’t. They are very pet friendly here. We saw one man with a dog that from a distance could look like a Smoky Mountain black bear. He was furry black and very large.
Another fact I should point out, whether you like to have an alcoholic drink or not, is that they have a very good, extensive bar, especially whiskeys and bourbons (yes, they overlap). As a visitor, I’ve tried a few bourbons here I never would’ve had the chance to try anywhere else. They have a separate, vast, variety menu for that. They also claim to have the best Bloody Marys in town, but I’m not a fan of this particular drink. Mimosas are also a specialty at Howard’s, with special cheap pricing on Sundays.
Speaking of Sundays, they also surprisingly serve a separate brunch menu. So what’s on the brunch menu? Well, they have breakfast bowls, French Toast, waffles, and breakfast sandwiches with Texas Toast. In a place known for pancakes, Howard’s wisely chose to stay out of this competitive game. Although, I’m sure they would do them justice. If you’d like to check out their regular, non-Sunday menu, click the link here.
It’s hard to find too many flaws with Howard’s Restaurant. Like I mentioned, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many burgers in Gatlinburg that compares to this establishment, celebrating almost eight full decades serving tourists and locals. It’s really hard to imagine, as this place has underwent so much change in that time. It makes you want to visit, just to get a taste of quality and consistency. To get an idea of how long they’ve been doing it, they pre-date the popularity of pancakes with Pancake Pantry by 15 years. Amazing!
My overall review of Howard’s is an average of all five of my visits. I give them a rather superlative 4.5 stars out of 5. Again, they’re not perfect, but not many places in Gatlinburg are, no matter how much I love them. Every time I walk by Howard’s on my way to my favorite eatery, Smoky Mountain Brewery, I have a slight second thought of walking in, so that should tell you something. I highly recommend this old time institution in Gatlinburg, evolving to appeal to today’s fickle crowd of consumers.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to subscribe to my publication! I hope you enjoyed my overall review of Howard’s Restaurant in Gatlinburg. You know the drill. Stay tuned for much more from me, as I am committed to helping you make your vacation to the beautiful Smoky Mountains as seamless as possible!