The Root (Beers) of Appalachia: A Review of Buddy Dave’s

Buddy Dave’s in Sevierville: An honest review

Buddy Dave’s has a drive-thru. Of course, that’s not really shocking as most fast food places have a drive-thru. But as I sat in Buddy Dave’s – which for 30 years operated as an A&W franchise – I openly wondered if there was a less drive-thru-friendly operation than Buddy Dave’s. Maybe if they served spaghetti?

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that the food isn’t good. It’s just that Buddy Dave’s serves real food that’s not designed to be consumed on the move. The burgers are greasy in the best sense with a load of tasty toppings and condiments. The chili dogs are sloppy. And don’t get me started on the ice cream. The soft serve swirls come in regular, mega and jumbo – the last of which is taller than many young children. I can’t imagine pulling into the drive-thru and ordering an ice cream that goes a foot long or taller.

Buddy Dave’s is run by the same family that operated the A&W. As such, they’ve taken all the best of the old A&W’s concepts and ratcheted them up into something that surpasses regular fast food dining.

What is Buddy Dave’s?

We’ve hit on most of the big details, but it’s a fast food restaurant – a former A&W – located on the Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville not far from the intersection with Veterans Parkway. It’s right in with some hefty competition like Andy’s and Culver’s and the rest of the unique dining scene down at the end of Dolly Parton Parkway.

It is not a drive-in restaurant, like the old style car hops, which is what I think of when I think of A&Ws. It does have a rather cramped dining room. And that is, I think, the preferred place to eat Buddy Dave’s fare, so it can be warm and fresh. If you use the drive-thru, I think your best option is ordering cautiously or taking it home before eating it.

I was in the dining room in a chair and still wound up juggling pickles and lettuce covered in mayo, trying to keep my shirt unblemished. I didn’t succeed. And again, I couldn’t imagine navigating Sevier County traffic with a massive swirl of soft serve perched precariously on top of a traditional cone.

How did Buddy Dave’s come to be?

“In 1996, David and Alesia O’Shields opened their doors as an A&W franchise, bringing frosty mugs of root beer, juicy burgers, and classic American fare to locals and visitors alike,” the website says. “Over the decades, their restaurant became more than just a place to eat—it became part of the fabric of Sevier County. Families stopped in after ball games, friends gathered after work, and countless Smoky Mountain memories were made around those tables.”

What’s on the menu?

Like A&W, Buddy Dave’s offers classic fast food fare. It’s burgers, chili dogs, fries and onion rings. They have expanded on that some. There’s a Philly steak sandwich and a chicken salad sandwich. They also advertised a BLT, but that looked like a seasonal sort of thing and not a regular menu item. There are the usual chicken strips and a fried chicken sandwich. They also offer Disney-style corn dog nuggets. Nothing overly complicated but everything well done.

What do I like best from Buddy Dave’s savory menu? I like that the burgers appear to be made of real meat. That does make them a little greasier. But at a time when the big fast food companies are producing tiny burger patties that are this close to having to put the word beef in quotation marks, Buddy Dave’s offers the real thing. The toppings were fresh and tasty, and I didn’t feel like I had to fear the lettuce.

With all of this in mind, I do wish, if we’re being honest, the burger patties had just a little bit more taste. But overall, it’s a good fast food burger. The sandwiches, in general, are quite good. And all the fried food was prepared perfectly and retained that nice, crisp cronch – yes, I spelled it cronch – that you’re looking for.

What about the dessert menu?

Here, my friends, is where Dave is truly your buddy.

First, a word about the root beer float. I don’t know your feelings on root beer floats, but friends, I am an aficionado. While the members of my family considered the forest freeze – which I think is a coffee shake? – and the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry shakes, I only had eyes for the root beer float. I ordered the large, which came with a surprising amount of delicious vanilla soft serve. My only mistake was not getting the regular. I liked the portions of the large but it comes in a fast food styrofoam cup. The regular would have come in a clear, cold mug and made for significantly better pictures.

You may also choose from a variety of sundaes, swirls and the world famous Pineapple Dole Whip. My son, John Paul, is allergic to dairy and is a Dole Whip fiend. He said it compares to the best he’s had. Finally, you have the beautiful ice cream cone swirl – valued at a very reasonable $2.49.

But it doesn’t stop there. Buddy Dave’s offers an off-menu option that I believe is called mega or jumbo. I only heard whispers of their existence and then – like seeing a moose in the wild – someone walked past me with a cone supporting soft serve that reached so high it was a wonder that neither the cone nor the arm carrying it gave way.

The architecture alone was stunning and beautiful. If next season, the Louvre in Paris announced a new exhibit of nothing but these giant soft serve skyscrapers, I would not be surprised. These things are works of art.

What’s our honest review of Buddy Dave’s?

I rank it higher than just about any fast food restaurant around. That includes Culver’s across the street, though it ranks behind Chubby’s and Delauder’s BBQ, which are also nearby. I’m not sure it’s fair to compare Buddy’s with some of those as it’s trying to accomplish different things. But I’d take Buddy’s soft serve and root beer float over any dessert in the area. Would I stop at Buddy’s for some ice cream after a long day at Dollywood? I would. In fact, that seems like an optimal way to top a Dollywood day.

If I were dining out in Sevierville and looking for something savory, I’m not sure Buddy’s would make the top of my list. However, if I wanted something to eat followed by an ice cream treat? Buddy’s is at the top of the list.

Have you tried Buddy Dave’s? What did you think? Let us know in the comments and on the socials!