Frizzle Chicken Review: Go for the pancakes, stay for the singing chickens

The screen behind Feather Locklear, Tanya Clucker, Oprah Henfrey and Elvis Preslay turned blue and giant animated white snowflakes began to fall.

“Oh,” I thought on an early November morning at Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. “They’re about to sing a Christmas carol.”

Friends, I was wrong.

Instead, the tinkling piano notes that send chills up the spines of children and down the spines of their parents began and suddenly our pleasant pancake breakfast surrounded by roosting animatronic chickens was about to get weird.

“Elsa!” my 4-year-old daughter shrieked as she does every time her little Disney-addicted ears hear anything from the “Frozen” soundtrack.

That’s right. We were about to “Let it Go” – chicken style.

Unlike their cover of “Sweet Caroline,” the robot chickens didn’t sing the lyrics to Disney’s most popular earworm since “Whistle While You Work.” Oh no.

Cluck Norris squawked it.

My dignity would like me to report to you that I sat there begrudgingly, eye-twitching, enduring this live-action descent into the cartoon-colored reality in which our kids grow up, a world in which a trio of first graders in pajamas can fight ninjas at night, puppies in high-tech service vehicles save the world or chickens credibly cover massive show tunes.

I would like to tell you that I was a noble father, enduring this madness at the risk of his own mental health to give his children a few moments of joy.  

I would like to tell you that. But the truth is, I enjoyed the moment. Specifically, it’s lots of fun.

When the chickens lined up along the top of the wall stopped singing, my 4-year-old looked me in the eye; her mouth lined in the chocolate syrup and whipped cream of her bear pancakes.

“That was the silliest thing,” she said.

And then we both laughed. She went back to eating her pancakes while dancing in her chair to the music replaying in her head. Meanwhile, my heart nearly burst with joy.

For the uninitiated diners, Frizzles Chicken Farmhouse traffics in one of the most competitive markets in Pigeon Forge: Pancakes.

The competition for the tourist breakfast traffic is fierce. In fact, every flap jack slinger in the county is fighting for an edge. At Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse, that edge is more than 100 singing, animatronic frizzle chickens.

It’s a bit like Disney’s Tiki Room. And a bit Chuck E. Cheese. It’s a bit like the guy who did the classic children’s show H.R. Pufnstuf got out of the entertainment business, took a whole lot of acid, got really into Hee-Haw and opened a breakfast restaurant.

In other words, it’s great. It’s a fun place.

I often find myself at odds with the cornier aspects of East Tennessee culture. The stuff that gets us looked down upon by visitors who don’t eat at restaurants with checkered tablecloths or say the word y’all with confidence.

Sometimes I cringe at how much Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge lean into the stereotypes. For example, capitalizing on the weird ‘50s and ’60’s ideal of mountain folks.

And then other times I sit in a restaurant next to the comedy barn with a bunch of strangers joining Hen Solo and Princess Laya squawking the “Bah, bah, baaaaa” part of a Neil Diamond classic.

Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse serves Southern-style breakfast and lunch only. In fact, it closes for the day at 1 pm. Ain’t nobody getting pancakes from singing chickens for dinner, I guess.

When we went, there was a bit of a wait. And the restaurant stayed nearly full until well after noon and closing time approached. The food was good. The kids liked their pancakes. My teenage daughter recommends the cinnamon roll pancakes which may have briefly given her diabetes but sure looked good.

I had the country-fried steak biscuit which was tasty and I would have it again. The wife enjoyed her French toast. Traditional items such as waffles, omelets, sausage gravy, bacon and classic biscuits. The lunch menu offers a variety of sandwiches including a chicken sandwich and chipped ham. All are served with cole slaw and French fries. The dish portions are generous.

But ultimately, here’s the thing: 

How many times have you eaten breakfast in your life? Particulary when visiting the Smoky Mountains? How many do you actually remember?

I can promise you Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe gave my family a dining experience they’re going to remember for a long time.

To view the menu, visit the website.

Have you visited Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe? Did you enjoy it? Let us know in the comments.