A local father of 3 offers his advice on the best family restaurants in Gatlinburg
For a town built for family vacations, Gatlinburg has relatively few of what I’d consider actual family restaurants. There are a handful of high-end places where kids are certainly welcome, but don’t give off the vibe of a family restaurant. These days, there are more than a few places where the atmosphere is a little rowdier good time than you’d want for a true family experience.
There are a few where the menus aren’t exactly kid-friendly if your kid is a picky eater. Still, if you plan a family vacation in Gatlinburg, your kids are not going to starve. There are plenty of places that are great for family dining where a parent can also enjoy a decent meal. With this in mind, here are my choices for the best family restaurants in Gatlinburg:
1. Pancake Pantry
It seems sometimes like we’re a broken record, always recommending the Pancake Pantry as one of the area’s top restaurants. Several breakfast and lunch places serve good food – like Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. Certainly, there are plenty of places to get good pancakes, such as Flapjack’s. However, it’s hard not to recommend the iconic Pancake Pantry.
With a history that dates back more than 60 years and a kid-friendly menu, the Pancake Pantry is almost the perfect family spot for breakfast or lunch. The European-style architecture – especially when located next to the Village Shops – can make for a memorable experience even for a kid. When we moved to East Tennessee, after having vacationed in the mountains, the Pantry was one of the spots I remembered just because its was so unique. Throw in a menu loaded with pancakes and bacon and what family isn’t going to be satisfied with a meal at the pantry? Pancake Pantry is located at 628 Parkway.
2. Mellow Mushroom
Pizza is a Dad’s greatest trump card. Can’t get the family to agree on what to eat? Pizza builds a coalition nearly every time. There are mom-and-pop pizza places in Gatlinburg that are good, maybe even great. And if you’d prefer to eat non-chain, I’d get it. But we like Mellow Mushroom for a variety of reasons. First of all, it’s excellent pizza. Secondly, there are a variety of unique options that allow you to branch out into the art of pizza. Finally, they have excellent vegan and allergy-friendly options that taste like pizza and not cardboard. Mellow Mushroom can be found at 901 Parkway, Suite 103.
3. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
I am loathe to recommend chains, in general. But for family dining, chains can be a safe harbor as they appeal to a wide variety of pallets is essential to their success. Bubba Gump, located at 900 Parkway, is replacement-level chain seafood with a fine kid’s menu and a connection to a movie that is oddly beloved 30 years after its release.
Also, is it just me, or do your kids have an odd fascination with the Forrest Gump movie? My kids, ages 19 to 9, all love at least the edited-for-TV version. My oldest loves the 60s music from the soundtrack, partially because she inherited a love of the 60s from me, a child of Boomers. The middle child, my son, loves all things sports. So he finds the Gump at Alabama and Gump playing ping pong endlessly entertaining. I haven’t figured out why it appeals to the youngest, but she’s made the “Run, Forrest, Run” joke more times than I can count.
4. Cherokee Grill
Sometimes forgotten amongst the best restaurants in Gatlinburg, the Cherokee Grill is a premier steakhouse and dining establishment that is – in many ways – the peer of places like The Peddler or The Greenbrier. Some people think such places are inappropriate for kids. However, I’ve never really subscribed to that idea.
The rustic themed Cherokee Grill is a large space with plenty of seating, it feels sturdy and important and conveys a vibe of destination dining that is good for kids to experience. We’ve treated it as a good place for special occasions like Mother’s Day where the kids can feel like they’ve taken mom out to someplace special.
That feeling helps make the day more memorable. My kids talk about our last meal Cherokee Grill much more than they do meals at more traditionally kid-friendly places.
The adult menu is heavy with classic apps, burgers, and sandwiches. The entrees include a nice variety of chicken and seafood and cuts of steak from which you can choose. The kids’ menu has multiple options ranging from a small steak to burgers, sandwiches, and chicken tenders.
4. Best Italian on the Parkway
Do I think Best Italian on the Parkway is the best Italian on the Parkway? Yes and no. I’m not sure there’s another “Italian” place on the Parkway anymore so, by default, yes. But so many places do Italian adjacent, I think you can get pretty good pasta or chicken parm anywhere. I assume the name is a marketing thing, like a restaurant version of SEO optimization. Still, it’s a good menu and kid-friendly. Lots of pizza and pasta and a little chicken. I certainly wouldn’t say it’s the best Italian in East Tennessee. That honor goes to Altruda’s in Knoxville. But it’s good and family safe. It can be found at 710 Parkway.
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