Restaurants

In the Mountains Full of Mimics, These Iconic Restaurants Stand Out in the Smokies

Celebrating the Unique Dining Spots in the Smokies Mimicry in the Smokies is king. Success breeds imitation. That’s why everywhere you look, it’s pancake houses and go-kart tracks and mountain coasters as far as the eye can see. But the Smokies isn’t all about imitation. Some folks eye the landscape and decide to carve their own path. When everyone else

Mom and Pop Restaurants in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville

Tired of Chains or High-Concept Restaurants in the Smokies? These ‘Mom and Pop’ Restaurants Are Your Best Bet

While many Smoky Mountain Restaurants are marketed as being a ‘mom and pop,’ these are as authentic as you’ll get As a writer, I sometimes become attached to the literal meaning of words or ideas. You spend your life mulling the minutia of second and third definitions – or fourth or fifth – and you can get a little lost

milkshakes from the crazy mason

6 Desserts in Gatlinburg That Will Make You Drool

These are the 6 most irresistible desserts in Gatlinburg, according to a local I’ve always believed that half of the experience of a Smokies vacation is experiencing the local cuisine. From chicken and dumplings to barbeque, you have to admit, East Tennesseans know how to get the most out of some good old-fashioned southern homestyle cooking. But a tragically unsung

Does Calhoun’s Gatlinburg Have the Best Bbq? An Honest Review

A Smoky Mountain native offers his opinion on Calhoun’s in Gatlinburg I remember the first time I set foot in a Calhoun’s restaurant, the iconic East Tennessee dining tradition. It was 1994 and the NCAA tournament Men’s Regionals was in Knoxville at Thompson-Boling Arena. In fact, basically right across the street from Calhoun’s on the River.  My stepdad suggested we

New Attractions Guide: What’s New, What’s Coming Soon and What’s Going Away in the Smoky Mountains in 2025

A local breaks down what may be the biggest season of change since tourists started flocking to the mountains One thing about life in the Smoky Mountains is that change is always just around the bend. One season, you’re doing big business selling pancakes, racing go-karts or touting your special and authentic brand of moonshine. The next season? Your life

The Best Restaurant in Sevier County Isn’t in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Welcome to The Appalachian

A chef-driven restaurant is changing the possibility of what dining in the mountains can be  I’ve thought a lot about the right words to use about my new favorite restaurant in the Smokies. Words that can convey the experience without seeming like they’re hyperbole or exaggeration.  I’ve thought a lot about the peculiar combination of artistry, science, passion, and expertise

These Are the 7 Best Things To Do in Knoxville, TN

A List of the Most Iconic Things To Do in Knoxville, According to a Local For as long as I’ve lived in East Tennessee – more than three decades – Knoxville has been the forgotten middle child of Tennessee municipalities. Knoxville lacks the amenities common in larger cities like Nashville and Memphis. And it trails Chattanooga in charm. People go

6 Top Restaurants With All Day Breakfast in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg

A Smoky Mountain local shares his favorite spots for all-day breakfast and brunch Folks at the Pancake Pantry struck gold in the form of flapjacks when they came to the Smokies in the 1960s, and then pancake houses began popping up like weeds … if weeds were buttery and delicious, that is. But what’s that? You want to eat breakfast