Dining

Culvers Restaurant

A Frozen Custard Free-for-All Is About To Break Out on Dolly Parton Parkway

Culver’s – a Midwestern staple of fast-casual dining – is bringing its signature frozen custard and butter burgers to Sevierville I left my Midwestern home in Indiana for the mountains of East Tennessee in 1990 unaware of a growing phenomenon to the north. A kingdom was growing. It was built on dairy products and Midwestern beef. They called the kingdom

me fishing at english mountain trout farm

The Restaurant That Lets You Catch Your Own Fish in the Smoky Mountains

English Mountain Trout Farm is an off-the-beaten-path restaurant that lets you catch your own fish in the Smoky Mountains While I grew up in the mountains I’ve always been a city girl at heart. Sure, I’ve tried all the various “outdoor” activities. Hiking, camping and of course, fishing. While I appreciate the kind of person these sorts of activities appeal

Paula Deen's Family Kitchen is located at The Island in Pigeon Forge (photo by Alaina O'Neal/TheSmokies.com)

An Honest Review of the Famous Paula Deen’s Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

Tennessee native lists pros and cons of this famous Smoky Mountain eatery Typically, I find that people have really strong opinions about Paula Deen’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge. Some people love it. But others … not so much. First of all, you could say that this restaurant might feel out of place in the area. After all, Deen is a

beaver tail pastry from buc-ee's for breakfast

15 Best Buc-ee’s Breakfast Items, Ranked

Buc-ee’s in Sevierville, TN is everything we’d been waiting for. We visited the week it opened and tried to hit it early. By the time we left, traffic was already getting squirrely. The site is massive, crowded, and crazy. It’s everything you want out of a Buc-ee’s. When they add that plus all the other stuff on the site including the

steak and baked potato from cherokee grill

7 Steaks You Should Try in Gatlinburg, The Smoky Mountains

A local ranks the best steaks in Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountains When you’re on vacation in a place like Gatlinburg, the odds are that you’re allotting a certain amount of your dining budget for steak. Certainly, you want to make sure you pick the right place to get the best steaks in town. The good news? There are a lot

gas station hot dog with fries pictured next to dolly parton

Dolly Parton’s Favorite Restaurant: Hidden in a Tiny Gas Station in TN

We took a journey to track down the restaurant that is believed to be frequented by Dolly Parton herself There’s a spot on the Parkway in Sevierville that is built almost entirely in anticipation. You’ve come through downtown and past the China Town restaurant, which has been serving the exotic cuisine of the Far East since Moses was a boy.

Dolly PartHEN at Frizzles Chicken Cafe in Pigeon Forge

The Pigeon Forge Restaurant That Features a Chorus of Singing Chickens

Frizzle Chicken Cafe, the Most Kid-Friendly Breakfast in the Smokies There’s no shortage of pancake restaurants in Pigeon Forge. So if you want to sling some flapjacks, you have to stand out. Every flapjack slinger in the county is fighting for an edge. At Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse, that edge is more than 100 singing, animatronic Frizzle chickens that line the

Restaurants locals love in Pigeon Forge

Where Do Locals Eat In Pigeon Forge?

A local shares the secrets of the Pigeon Forge culinary scene I don’t know if this is a massive secret. But when anyone from Sevier or the surrounding counties goes to Pigeon Forge, most of the time we are just as much of a tourist as anyone from Indiana or Ohio or Michigan or any of the other places that

The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

What Not To Do at the Old Mill Restaurant

A local offers tips on how to avoid faux pas at Pigeon Forge’s premier historical eatery There’s a challenge that comes with some of the “what not to do” articles. And it comes with an assumption of what you, the reader, need to hear versus what other readers need to hear.  For instance, you don’t need to be told not

the peddler restaurant with a steak

The Peddler: An Honest Review of Gatlinburg’s Famous Steakhouse

A Smoky Mountain native offers her opinion on local restaurant darling: The Peddler The Peddler in Gatlinburg is a local favorite. And there’s no doubt it has delicious food and a unique ambiance. Plus, its location in downtown Gatlinburg couldn’t be more convenient. Ok, I guess it could be more convenient if the parking lot was larger, but I digress