Showdown on the Dolly Parton Parkway: Aubrey’s vs Holston’s 

Aubrey’s vs Holston’s Kitchen: A Culinary Battle

Located a half mile apart, drive time depending on the traffic, a pair of American-style restaurants are battling it out for Sevierville’s mid-tier dining business. It’s Aubrey’s vs Holston’s.

What do I mean by mid-tier? It’s not necessarily an indication of experience, as I think both are good to find. Certainly, they are a step above McDonald’s, Culver’s, and A&W, which represent their immediate neighbors. But they don’t aspire to the heights of the Downtown Sevierville foodie scene represented by The Appalachian, Seasons 101, and Pinchy’s, located just a little further up the road. 

The restaurants – imo – offer a very similar dining experience. Though the more established Aubrey’s may have a stronger culinary reputation in the region. If you’re looking for sit-down dining in the Dolly Parton Parkway area, there’s a good chance you’re going to be choosing between these two. 

About Aubrey’s

Born in Knoxville in the early 90s, Aubrey’s has built a strong reputation in the region. With 16 locations spread up and down East Tennessee – including two in the middle of the state – Aubrey’s competes on a level with Calhoun’s and some of the other regional chains in the area.

The menu offers steaks, burgers, and sandwiches, a surprisingly robust salad menu, specialty entrees, and more. There isn’t a wide variety of steaks – a filet, two ribeyes, and a sirloin – but they are always expertly prepared. Perhaps the signature dish is the Rattlesnake Pasta: grilled chicken, sautéed baby spinach, green peppers, linguine, southwestern-spiced Alfredo, and cilantro. But without an actual snake. 

I have always considered Aubrey’s dining mildly upscale. Not on the level of The Peddler or the Greenbrier, but certainly above the class of national chains that offer similar menu options.

The restaurant’s interior exudes a calm, semi-upscale atmosphere. That said, the presence of signs featuring classic cartoon characters somewhat belies that vibe, though in a charming way. 

About Holston’s Kitchen

Holton’s is less established. However, it is part of the KBS Restaurant Group, which is responsible for a wide range of eateries, including the aforementioned Greenbrier. Holston’s has two locations, one in Morristown and one in Sevierville. It has several sister restaurants, including places like JT Hannah’s, which are mostly located in Sevier County but also in Knoxville. 

Its menu is in the classic American style. The eatery draws on flavors from across the country and the world. Great Britain, Italy, France, Hawaii, Louisiana, Tex-Mex (I can’t bring myself to call these Fajitas Mexican), New York, and the Northeast. There’s even a slight dusting of the Far East represented on the menu. It’s like a culinary version of EPCOT’s World Showcase, but with pickle chips.

Surprising similarities

When I started this exercise, it was with the assumption that Aubrey’s would win easily. But after really reflecting on the experience – and looking at the menus – I realized these two eateries are much closer than I expected.

Both offer a quality bar experience where you can drink, eat, and watch a big game. Aubrey’s is known for hosting trivia nights and such, but otherwise it’s pretty much a wash. 

Holston’s menu is larger, but very much cut from the same cloth. They both have a surprisingly robust salad menu. I probably prefer the Granny Smith Steak Salad at Aubrey’s – Pepper-spiced sirloin, Granny Smith apples, crumbled bleu cheese, roasted walnuts, and romaine hearts. But both have a wide variety from which to choose. 

Each restaurant offers a Hawaiian ribeye, and both are quite good. Aubrey’s has a better selection of burgers and sandwiches, while Holston’s has more apps and entrees from which to choose. I’m big on Aubrey’s sausage and pimento cheese, but Holston’s wins the app round overall. 

Both offer fish and chips as well as other fish options. At Aubrey’s, it’s Boston scrod rolled in cracker crumbs as well as a fresh fish of the day, while Holston’s has flounder & Shrimp, crab cakes, and catfish. Both offer salmon dishes.

Each restaurant offers multiple pasta options, including the Cajun Chicken Tortellini at Holston’s, which also has Gemelli Bolognese – gemelli pasta with ground beef, hot sausage, marinara, cream, and herb ricotta. Aubrey’s has Haystack Pasta – grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms, linguine, parmesan, and mushroom cream sauce – as well as the classic Rattlesnake Pasta – grilled chicken, sautéed baby spinach, green peppers, linguine, southwestern spiced Alfredo, and cilantro.

What are the differences?

As I said before, Holston’s menu has a lot more variety, whether that’s for good or ill depends on you. Otherwise? I don’t know

With so many menu items in common, I wonder: if I sat down at Aubrey’s and you brought me Holston’s fish and chips, Hawaiian steak, or appetizer nachos, would I know the difference? Or likewise, if I were in Holston’s and you brought me Aubrey’s version of a strawberry or citrus salad, would I know? I kind of doubt it. 

And so, I’m struggling with why I personally have a better opinion of Aubrey’s than I do of Holston’s. Could it really just be perception? Aubrey’s debuted when I was still in high school – it was a popular spot for prom dates. It represented something of a splurge for me at the time. When I enter an Aubrey’s, it feels lived in familiar. It exudes a certain quality, but it never feels like it’s trying to. 

However, with Holston’s, I am familiar with the family of restaurants, with good and bad. And I know where the top end lies. For instance, the Greenbrier in Gatlinburg is one of the best restaurants in East Tennessee. When I enter Holston’s, that very deep shadow lingers, I think. I know what a KBS restaurant can be, and I know that Holston’s mission isn’t to be The Greenbrier. 

And though I love the classic steakhouse vibes and the immaculately designed buildings, they still don’t feel earned. It’s like one of those prom-aged teenagers borrowing his dad’s suit. It doesn’t quite fit right. 

Who wins?

I’m going to tell you again that I came into this with the assumption that Aubrey’s would win easily. But having put serious thought into it, I’m not so sure. 

I will tell you that every time we go out to eat, Aubrey’s and Holston’s are among my choices, and 9 times out of 10, I would choose Aubrey’s over Holston’s. But I’m not sure that’s fair, and I’m not sure I can completely remove my biases. 

I think I will say this: I think Aubrey’s, as currently constituted, is better at being a restaurant. It probably does what it does a little better than Holston’s. But Holston’s does better than hold its own. The win goes to Aubrey’s, but only by a sliver. 

Aubrey’s is located at 928 Dolly Parton Parkway, and Holston’s is nearby at 639 Dolly Parton Parkway; both are in Sevierville.

Do you have a favorite between Aubrey’s and Holston’s Kitchen? Let us know in the comments and on the socials!