I grew up in a part of the country where the โIโ in Italian was overly emphasized. For example, our knowledge of โEyeโ-talian cuisine was limited to the meager offerings of small pizza places. The ones that churned out pies that needed heavy hits of red peppers just to add some flavor. But I learned better.
We moved around and ended up near some college towns like Bloomington and later Knoxville where the idea of different flavors and spices were not only embraced but natural. Years later, we visited larger cities like London or New York, Paris or Chicago with large, authentic Italian communities. And so, we made it a point to seek out authentic experiences. As a result, when I began trying to learn to cook for myself and others, I leaned heavily on the flavors of Southern Italy. I canโt claim any special talent in the kitchen, but my picky eaters have always liked it.
Italian restaurants in Gatlinburg
When we go to Gatlinburg, however, Italian isnโt first on the list. Barbecue, steaks and seafood are the typical favorite fare. But as locals, we drive in for a day and drive back home. Weโre not staying multiple nights and there are plenty of places in the area we can go for Italian. Altrudaโs in Knoxville remains the greatest Italian in East Tennessee for me.
However, they donโt have an Altrudaโs on the East Parkway, which they really should, because when youโre on the road for your Smoky Mountain vacation, the idea of a great Italian restaurant might just hit the spot. So, without further ado, here are the best placesย to get delicious food like gourmet pizzas, layers of lasagna pasta or homemade meatballs in Gatlinburg.
5. New York Pizza and Pasta
Located in the Mountain Mall, New York Pizza and Pasta is a counter service for someone looking to get a tasty slice of pizza while on the go. If you subscribe to the theory that thereโs no such thing as bad pizza, which I do, this is a great place to get a delicious pizza on your next trip shopping along the strip.
4. Big Daddyโs Pizzeriaย
The fact of the matter is this, most of the places that serve Italian in Gatlinburg are pizza joints first and Italian restaurants second. Certainly, it makes sense. There are dozens of hotels and thousands of hotel rooms, not to mention the chalets and cabins. So delivering fantastic pizza can result in a lot of dough, and I donโt mean pizza dough. To that end, Big Daddyโs offers a variety of handcrafted pizzas cooked in a 550-degree wood-fired brick oven. It makes for a unique brand of pie.
Among their specialty pizzas is the Carnivore which is a favorite. In its description of the Carnivore, Big Daddyโs website first mentions the marinara sauce, which is what we in the newspaper business call burying the lede. If youโre ordering the Carnivore, you want to know about the meat. In fact, the sauce is an ancillary issue. The Carnivore comes with prosciutto, Italian sausage, pepperoni and freshly-seasoned ground beef. Throw in the marinara and their special mozzarella-provolone cheese blend and youโve got something special.
If a meat-heavy pizza isnโt your thing, the Great White features Alfredo sauce topped with mozzarella, provolone, ricotta, feta and Parmesan cheeses. The chicken parmigiana pizza is also quite good. Big Daddyโs is also a great place to get some of the best spicy hot chicken wings in the Smoky Mountains.
3. Pizzeria of Gatlinburg
Weโre going to stick with the pizza theme. Pizzeria of Gatlinburg offers a wide variety of pizzas, wings, sandwiches, hoagies and gyros. Iโve seen some internet spots that promise New York-style pizzas, but I treat that claim dubiously. The actual POG website doesnโt reference New York-style in the main navigation so I think itโs safer to say good pizzas with authentic Italian ingredients. In fact, I think it might be pushing it a little bit to call this an authentic New York pizza place. But the fresh garlic rolls almost make up for any misunderstandings about pizza style.
Pizzeria of Gatlinburg has a lot of pizza styles that go beyond Italian favorites, but you canโt go wrong with the Italian classic Capricciosa pizza with three kinds of cheese, prosciutto, fresh mushrooms and red sauce.
2. Mellow Mushroom
Weโre back to the pizza places.
It isnโt New York Style, but the Mellow Mushroom is just about my favorite pizza place โฆ partly for sentimental reasons. My 9-year-old son, who has multiple food allergies including dairy and beef, swears by their vegan cheese pizza. And Iโve had it, itโs really quite good. When the boy gets to feel like a normal kid having a pizza with the family, thatโs a win. It also doesnโt hurt that the Mellow Mushroom menu is creative and different, which is difficult in the pizza game, with the freshest ingredients. Every pizza Iโve ever had at the Mellow Mushroom has been legitimately great.
1. Best Italianย Cafe and Pizzeria
I like a restaurant that understands SEO and goes for it. With two locations, the Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria in Elks Place and the Best Italian on the Parkway, this popular restaurant chain stakes its claim to being the best, boldly and proudly. I love it.ย The Parkway location is the express spot for those who plan to eat quickly and move along. The original location at Elks Plaza is considered among the best restaurants in the region.
Best Italian offers great pizza but weโve spent so much time focusing on pies, we should examine the deeper menu they offer that some pizza places may not. It seems like a small thing, but Best Italian is known for its famous garlic rolls. In addition, among its popular dishes are a variety of pasta primavera, alfredos and more. The chicken florentine and the chicken marsala are excellent as is the linguini and clam sauce.
Do you have a favorite Italian restaurant in Gatlinburg? Let us know in the comments!