Treat your valentine with a trip to one of Tennessee’s most acclaimed upscale steakhouses this year.
The Peddler in Gatlinburg has delicious food and a unique ambiance. The best part is, its location in downtown Gatlinburg makes this steakhouse the “go to” place for a romantic dinner.
The Peddler began in a cabin built by the Ogles, a legendary East Tennessee family whose name is attached to many meaningful locations in and around the Smokies.
The original century-old walls and carefully placed stones set the stage for your dining experience. The façade of the original cabin is actually part of the main dining room.
Some tables (inside and outside) look out over a stream. The relaxing sounds of the water gently gliding over the stones mask any Gatlinburg noise.
The service is extraordinary with waiters and waitresses who will go out of their way to make a birthday or an engagement memorable.
And any night becomes special with the purchase of a rose, or a violin serenade at your table.
The Peddler in Gatlinburg: The menu
If you go to The Peddler, you should really consider getting the steak.
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Steaks are cut tableside by the butcher and cooked to perfection, from rare to well done.
Yes, even well done is done well here. My dining partner prefers his steaks this way. He only orders well-done at the Peddler, though, as most restaurants overcook theirs, his steaks arrive with no pink, yet still moist and tender.
Chopped sirloin is not an option here, but you’ll find lean cuts – New York strip, rib eye, filet mignon and prime rib.
The Peddler also serves seafood and chicken. I once got a steak and shrimp combo, but I usually stick to the steak.
Very few restaurants do salad bars justice, but the Peddler does.
People talk about the salad almost as much as the steak. Why?
The ingredients are varied and fresh. Create your own Cobb salad or just load up your plate with your favorites. On this particular night, I topped a plate of fresh greens with baked oysters.
For the sides, I recommend the sweet potato casserole or the blackened button mushrooms.
My favorite dessert is the Peanut Butter Mud Pie, made of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream covered by sauce. They also have chocolate cake, blondies, cheesecake and cobbler.
The Peddler does not have a bar but does have an excellent wine list. You can bring your own bottle for a $10 corkage fee.
Honestly, I can think of no better place to break open that 1960 Bordeaux that you have been saving for a special occasion.
For the full menu, click here.
Does The Peddler in Gatlinburg take reservations?
Alas, no restaurant is perfect and I wish some things could be changed about the Peddler.
My biggest complaint is that this very popular restaurant does not take reservations.
You can call an hour before the restaurant opens (at 5 pm) to be put on the waiting list. Generally speaking, the later you go, the longer you will have to wait.
For example, the last time we called ahead at 6 pm, we were told we could be seated by 7:45 pm.
Parking is also incredibly sparse, so plan ahead or just walk it from downtown.
You can also cut your wait time (but also some of the romance), but request the first available table as opposed to a table with a view.
For call ahead seating, the phone number is 865-436-5795.
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How much does it cost to eat at The Peddler?
With most things in life, you get what you pay for.
Good steaks are not cheap. Plan on spending at least $40-$50 per adult for your dinner.
Desserts start at about $9.99.
Does The Peddler in Gatlinburg offer parking?
The Peddler Steakhouse is located at 820 River Road, Gatlinburg TN. It is located near downtown Gatlinburg.
Parking is available, but it fills up fast.
You may wish to consider parking in one of the nearby pay lots.
Read Also: Parking in Gatlinburg: Prices, maps and free parking tips
Have you been to The Peddler? Where’s your favorite place for a romantic meal near the Great Smoky Mountains? Let us know in the comments!
We came to the Peddler for our wedding night dinner. It was the most amazing experience we have ever had out eating. Service was beyond any of our expectations, quality of food was excellent. I have never given a 50% tip but your service deserved it, they were that good. Jeremiah Joyce, Rachel Perry, and Kristan Coggins were the only names I received but, I can sum it up in one word, AMAZING, we will see you next year for our anniversary. That meal make the perfect end to our wedding. Thank you again, Jim & Cindy Frasure.
We have been going to the Peddler in Gatlinburg since our 25th anniversary and we were there this anniversary on the 24 of September 2021. The young man where we were to sign in for some reason placed us way down the line . We were wanting to eat dinner and then travel back home 3 hours away. We had been on vacation over a week. We were there at 3:45 and waited to sign in and so we were 3rd to sign in. We were not called so my husband told the man we were 3rd in line He very rudely said “no you weren’t”. He needs to be taken off the front desk. He never looked at a customer just kept his head down and then was reuse to people in my opinion. I guess somebody licked all the red off his candy.