Pinchy’s vs Chesapeake’s 

A showdown for Smoky Mountain seafood supremacy

When my grandparents retired to Florida’s Nature Coast back in the early ’90s, I developed a standard for fresh seafood that is hard to replicate.

Their next-door neighbor was a professional crabber. He’d return from a day on the Gulf and hand a sack full of claws over to my grandparents for that night’s dinner. Shrimp was purchased right off the boat. And if they were biting, whatever fish we could bring in – red snapper was the best – would be on the menu as well. Unless you were dining on the boat, it was impossible to get seafood any fresher than we have.

And I – dear reader – became something of a seafood snob. I generally wouldn’t order seafood for more than an hour from the coast. But a certain handful of trusted establishments earning an exception. If it was fresh with a capital F, I didn’t want it. And I certainly wasn’t going to order seafood in the mountains of East Tennessee. They ain’t got no saltwater in Douglas Lake, you know?

Over the years, supply lines have improved, and my stubbornness has leveled off. Today, you can get seafood in the Smokies that is every bit the equal of what we used to pull directly out of the gulf.

There are several places, in fact, where I’d happily eat seafood in the mountains but today, we’re limiting the discussion to the two best seafood places in the region, Pinchy’s Lobster + Raw Bar and Chesapeake’s.

They are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of vibes and atmosphere. And yet they converge in the fact that they serve excellent seafood in a place you might not expect it.

Pinchy’s  Lobster + Raw Bar

Located in Downtown Sevierville and part of the Sevierville foodie scene, Pinchy’s is a light, fun, we’re-having-a-party kind of place. It’s not rowdy but it’s not stuffy either. On weekends, there may be live music. There’s an open area where guests can chill or maybe compete in a cornhole tournament.

It’s New England-Style fare is classic – lobster rolls and chowder and bisque. However, its not limited by regional sensibilities or boundaries. From Tex-Mex style seafood tacos to Lobster Ramen or Shrimp and Grits, Pinchy’s isn’t afraid to reach across boundaries to create the most crowd-pleasing menu it can.

The menu offers a wonderful variety of sushi rolls. The raw bar includes the impressive Ultimate Tower of Pinch, which is three tiers of seafood. It starts with oysters and peel and eat shrimp followed by a pound of Prince Edward Island mussels and a pound of chill little neck clams. The tower is topped with a pound of snow crab legs. It is a culinary and architectural achievement.

Now, I will take a moment here to mention a tiny bit of sacrilege. A man – you see – must live his life by a code. My code is firmly entrenched in the idea that if a restaurant specializes in a certain type of cuisine of fare, you order that. For instance, one does not go to the Pancake Pantry and leave without trying a flapjack. Simerly, one does not go to a seafood restaurant to order chicken or beef – barring an allergy.

However, during a menu tasting at Pinchy’s I was presented with their Smash Burger. I didn’t ask for it. They wanted me to try it. The code allowed me to oblige them. Reader, it was the best – or at least one of the best – hamburgers of my life. If you go to Pinchy’s you have my permission to order a burger without being considered in violation of the code.

IN addition to the above, Pinchy’s offers a variety of baskets, buckets and platters all serving a variety of seafood dished, each of which meet the standard set at Nanny’s 30 years ago.

Chesapeake’s Seafood + Raw bar

On the other end of the spectrum, is Chesapeake’s. It is a more traditional seafood place. Aint nobody gonna play cornhole at Chesapeake’s. Based on a traditional Maryland-style seafood house, Chesapeake’s offers less variety of styles of seafood. In other words, no ramen, no sushi and no messing around. Part of the Copper Cellar family of restaurants – an East Tennessee culinary icon – Chesapeake’s has two Knoxville locations in addition to the Gatlinburg spot.

Apps include classics like light fried calamari, crab stuffed mushroom or a crab cake. Live Maine lobsters are available as is an impressive seafood bar that has its own tower that includes lobster tails, cocktail shrimp, mussels, crab and oysters on the half shell.

There is a hamburger on the menu and while I’m sure it’s fine, I am not amending the code for it. Other non-seafood items include steaks and chicken, but again, barring an allergy, order some seafood. Traditional favorites include a variety of fried and broiled seafood platters. Everything here is expertly done. One could argue – and I have – that this is the best restaurant in Gatlinburg. However, The Greenbrier and The Peddler remain in the running.

For dessert, the Slower Delaware Pie is the right choice.

Which is best ? 

Both of these restaurants are excellent. I have a real soft spot for Chesapeake’s which has local tradition going back decades. But for me, it’s probably Pinchy’s. I like the variety of seafood options that I can mix and match a little. I also like the idea I can pop in for a lunchtime lobster roll or plan a big, fun dinner with friends. Chesapeake’s has – and always will – feel like a place reserved for special occasions. Pinchy’s is a place we could knock around on a random Friday night.

And, frankly, I’m a fan of the downtown Sevierville revival and I want to support it. With Pinchy’s, The Appalachian, Seasons 101 and Graze Burgers – we lost the barbecue place – there’s something special happening down there and given the choice, I want to support it.

Which is your favorite? Pinchy’s or Chesapeake’s? Let us know what you think in the comments!