An honest review of the popular Cumberland Jack’s in Gatlinburg TN
On a recent journey to downtown Gatlinburg, I was able to visit one of the relatively newer restaurants, Cumberland Jack’s Leconte Kitchen. The restaurant is a member of the KBS Restaurant Group, which includes other popular restaurants like Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, Five Oaks Kitchen and The Greenbrier – all of which have stellar reputations.
Cumberland Jack’s LeConte Kitchen is one of the newer restaurants in Gatlinburg, TN, conveniently located along the main strip. It is named after historical figures of the Smoky Mountains and specializes in traditional Southern comfort foods but offers something for just about everyone. Overall, I think the food was authentic compared to many other Gatlinburg restaurants. Also, it’s part of the KBS Restaurant Group, which holds an exceptional reputation in the area.
IN THIS ARTICLE
The history of Cumberland Jack’s
Cumberland Jack’s LeConte Kitchen is named after Paul Adams and his dog, Cumberland Jack. A sign at the restaurant explains that Adams was an avid outdoorsman and advocate for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1925, Adams helped build the first cabin on the mountain for the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association. Over the years, the LeConte Lodge has added several cabins, and today, it boasts the highest guest lodge in the Eastern United States at 6,400 feet.
According to sources from the national park, Adams would send his dog Cumberland Jack down to a store in Gatlinburg with a grocery list and money in his saddle bags. He and Cumberland Jack also helped fight forest fires. Today, we have a restaurant that honors this man and his dog. The inside of the restaurant looks like a real, rustic mountain lodge, except you don’t have to hike back down the side of a mountain after enjoying a delicious feast.
Is Cumberland Jack’s worth it?
Ok, enough about the story, what about the food? Cumberland Jack’s offers many traditional Southern classics. With an extensive menu, it was a bit hard to choose. However, I eventually opted for fried catfish as my main course. It came with a side, so naturally, I ordered the macaroni and cheese. I’m happy to report that my catfish was fried to perfection. Delicious, flaky, but not too greasy. The macaroni and cheese wasn’t my favorite that I’ve had in Gatlinburg, but it was pretty good. And I very much enjoyed the other sides. I’d say the Southern food is more authentic than some of the other tourist places I’ve been to in town.
The best part about Cumberland Jack’s
Cumberland Jack’s trademark is the complimentary lil’ mug of soup and bucket of bread. The vegetable stew was delicious and warm, served in a tin coffee cup. There’s just something about eating in a cabin-like setting and being greeted with delicious, buttery rolls and warm soup. It’s comfort for the soul. Overall, this restaurant is an awesome gem and the perfect place to wind down after a long day of walking the strip in Gatlinburg.
Cumberland Jack’s menu
The impressive menu touts several Southern classic dishes. Available items include shrimp and grits, pork chops, meatloaf, and blackened salmon. The restaurant also offers an array of salads, burgers, pastas, tacos and flatbreads. Certainly, there’s something for everyone. For the kids, they offer chicken bites, flatbreads, a cheeseburger, spaghetti and meatballs or mac and cheese.
Sides include items such as cheddar grits, country beans, potato salad, slaw, mashed potatoes, creamed corn and mixed vegetables. You can view the full menu here.
Parking, pricing and more
Since it’s located on the strip in Gatlinburg, you’ll likely have to pay for parking unless you’re staying nearby. However, the prices are on par with most dinner places in the area. The lesser-priced items start at about $12.99, and the more expensive items are about $25.99. And considering the entrees come with soup and delicious rolls, I think it’s a great deal. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, although hours may vary by season. Cumberland Jack’s is located at 1019 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN. You can join a virtual waitlist to save time during your visit.
Have you tried this restaurant yet? Let me know in the comments below. And if you’re planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, be sure to check out our coupons page.
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Where do you park if you eat at Cumberland Jack’s?
As Breakfast Camp enthusiasts, we were super excited to try Cumberland Jack’s. There is NOTHING at camp that will leave you disappointed. We waited outside for them to open and were the 4th party to be seated (2 of us). The character, decor and ‘history ‘ was top notch and very interesting. The soup and rolls were not only delicious, but complemented the rustic atmosphere. We ordered our food (catfish for me, fried chicken for my husband). NEVER GOT OUR DINNER. We watched every table receive their food except us. We waited anyway. When our section was completely full and everyone had their dinners, we left. The manager was very nonchalant about our POOR dining experience and that was the worse part. She was rather ‘oh well’ about the whole thing. I’m sure the food was great if it’s the Crockett team, but we never got a chance to find out for ourselves. Sorry. Maybe we’ll try again when in town.
Went 9/28/22 with wife we both ordered the pot roast, was giving the veg. soup to start it was good. So we were looking forward to the pot roast. But it was so BAD we could not eat it, the roll it came on was no better than an old hamburger bun, the mash potatoes were no better, the beef was not pot roast but looked & tasted like it was cooked on a grill, the gravy was just brown & tasteless. I had the green beans that were cold and could not eat they were so bad. My wife ordered Mac & Cheese which was good. Over all it was the worst meal we had all week we were in Gatlinburg!!!
We ordered the corn beef and cabbage, Pot Roast and Fried Chicken. It was all delicious. Can’t wait to go back and try something else.