15 Restaurants in Gatlinburg Where You Can Grab the Best Grub

Gatlinburg is a quaint mountain town in eastern Tennessee – known for its close proximity to Smoky Mountain National Park, its towering Space Needle observation tower, and… happening food scene?

It’s true! 

Gatlinburg is home to award-winning barbecue, nationally ranked restaurants, and cute cafes that will have you feeling like a local in no-time flat. From the high-end to the casual and everything in between, we’ve got you covered with our tour of the best places to grab a bite in Gatlinburg.

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1 - Split Rail Eats

Best Place to Grab Lunch In Gatlinburg

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849 Glades Rd | Gatlinburg | splitraileats.com

Split Rail Eats is a restaurant in Gatlinburg with tremendous customer feedback. In fact they have a perfect five star rating with nearly 200 reviews in. They specialize in a myriad of sandwiches, deserts, and coffee. You get things like a fried chicken sandwich, a cheesesteak, or a cheeseburger with a side of fries to eat. And then when you are done you have your choice of dessert and coffee to make the meal complete!

“Dude! This place was so, so good. Our family of five stopped by in between soccer games at Rocky Top. It was a quick drive up and a really cool place. The food was way better than I was expecting. So good, in fact, that I would go out of my way to eat here again. Highly recommended!!” - Yelp Review 

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2 - Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Bar

Good Cajun Style Seafood Restaurant In Gatlinburg

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762 Pkwy | Gatlinburg | kennedy-concepts.com

If you don’t want to shell out the money to get seafood at a steakhouse, but still want to try something logical then Crawdaddy’s Restaurant is the spot for you in Gatlinburg. They specialize in a cajun style seafood menu. You get get everything from lobster bisque to seafood pasta at Crawdaddy’s so I think they will scratch that seafood itch for whatever it is in particular that you are craving

3 - Elvira’s Cafe

Fresh Food Made From Local Ingredients… Prepared Right in Front of You!

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4143 Wears Valley Rd | Sevierville | elvirascafe.net

Driving past Elvira’s Cafe, you might dismiss its quaint exterior. But you’d be missing out on one of the top 100 best places to eat in America if you do.

Elvira’s offerings are simple but delicious. Made from local ingredients, it’s truly a place to “sit back” and relax for a while as you enjoy a meal with your loved ones. Dogs are welcome on the porch, and everyone in your party is sure to love the menu. Packed with favorites like buttermilk hotcakes, juicy turkey burgers, fried green tomato and applewood smoked bacon BLTs, and more – there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“Another one of the hidden gems. Make the drive out to Wears Valley. It will be well worth it to eat at Elvira's.  Very friendly staff and great food. We had our dog with us also, and they welcomed her as well.” – Yelp Review

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4- Old Mill Restaurant

Hearty, Delicious, Classic Southern Breakfast, Lunches, and Diners

164 Old Mill Ave | Pigeon Forge | old-mill.com

Old Mill Restaurant is a Gatlinburg favorite – with a 4.5 star rating and nearly 3k reviews, it’s hard to beat that kind of consistency! They serve classic Southern style cuisine and they serve it all day long. So you can get southern inspired takes on all your favorites any time you’re craving it. In particular, the fried chicken and corn chowder seems popular so be sure to give those a taste!

“No words needed. 11/10. It is the best fried chicken I've ever had in my entire life. It's not too greasy but perfectly fried with just the right amount of salt and pepper. I'll keep my review short so you can start driving to Old Mill Restaurant.” - Yelp Review

5 - The Greenbriar Restaurant

Gatlinburg’s Food and Spirit Outpost in the Tennessee Wilderness

370 Newman Rd | Gatlinburg | greenbrierrestaurant.com

Casual fine dining is a difficult balance to strike – but not for The Greenbriar Restaurant. This gem is tucked away in Tennessee greenery, but you can still expect a high-quality, high-class dining experience.

Choose from juicy pork chops or flavorful prime rib, mouthwatering crab cakes, stuffed shrimp, or even their fan-favorite tomato bisque. You certainly won’t be disappointed.

“This is a true dining experience. The drinks are amazing as well as the ambiance. They have lights outside that make it seem like daylight. All the food was great.” – Yelp Review

6 - Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que

A Top-Rated Spot for Your Favorite Grilled, Fried, and Smoked Foods

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714 River Rd | Gatlinburg | bennetts-bbq.com

Grillmasters and carnivores, look no further – Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que will easily be your favorite Gatlinburg restaurant on this list. Locally owned and operated for over 30 years, Bennett’s is known for serving up tender meat packed full of flavor… and all your favorite sides to boot.

Winning plenty of awards – including a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice and 1st Place for Best BBQ in Pigeon Forge at its nearby PF location – it’s no wonder the restaurant’s tagline is Hickory Smoked Perfection. 

“The barbecue meat at Bennett's was delicious. We started out with chicken wings and followed up with the best burnt ends we've ever tasted and we are no strangers to barbecue. The sauces were so good that we bought some to bring back to Chicago. This was the best meal we had in Gatlinburg and all of our meals were great.” – Yelp Review

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7 - Crockett’s 1875 Breakfast Camp

Best Place to Get A Hot Breakfast In Gatlinburg

1103 Pkwy | Gatlinburg | crockettsbreakfastcamp.com

If you are looking for the best breakfast place in Gatlinburg, then look no further. Crockett’s 1875 Breakfast Camp has all of the American breakfast classics served up hot and fresh every day. And just like the first two restaurants on the list they too boast an incredibly high customer rating. Four and a half starts with over 2000 reviews so you know they are consistently amazing.

You can get all the classics like pancakes, french toast, and even eggs benedict at Crockett’s so be sure to bring an empty stomach with you. Unfortunately for snoozers they’re only open mornings… But as long as you are up at any sensible time you should be able to get a table and get a hot breakfast any day of the week!

“I figured with the long wait on a Tuesday morning this place had to be good, and it was! The food was delicious but what makes the place a true gem is the lovely atmosphere. I'll definitely need to come back to try the delicious cinnamon roll. I had the breakfast quesadilla which was delicious.” - Yelp Review

8 - Cherokee Grill

Best Steakhouse In Gatlinburg

1002 Pkwy | Gatlinburg | cherokeegrill.com

I don’t exactly know why, but usually when we think of the best restaurants our minds naturally jump to steakhouses and seafood places. And well that is exactly what you can expect at Cherokee Grill. This is hands down the best steakhouse in Gatlinburg. 

But like many modern steakhouses they also have plenty of seafood to offer on the menu to make sure there is something for everybody. So you can get everything from prime rib to crab cakes at Cherokee Grill which I think makes them a really accessible restaurant for most people.

“This is by far the best food in Gatlinburg. We stumbled upon this restaurant and had no idea what treat we were in for. The steak was by far the best I've had on vacation and we went 3 times while visiting Gatlinburg. Every time it was fantastic. Do yourself a favor and check it out” - Yelp Review

9 - Local Goat

Great Place for Burgers, Wings, and Upscale Dining?

2167 Pkwy | Pigeon Forge | localgoatpf.com

If you are looking for a place that is a little more upscale, but still has your favorite foods like hot wings and cheeseburgers, then Local Goat is going to be the spot for you. While they serve all kinds of classic pub style food like burgers and chicken wings, they also serve plenty of more upscale dishes like lamb burgers and ahi tuna. Which I think makes them a really interesting spot to get food around Gatlinburg. I think their accessible, yet diverse menu, makes them a good choice for when you are craving something familiar, but still interesting enough to justify getting food out.

“Excellent service and food! Long wait but well worth the wait! Nice atmosphere and wide variety on menu” - Yelp Review

10 - Gatlinburg Brewing Company

The Best Brewery You Can Find In Gatlinburg

458 Pkwy | Gatlinburg | gatlinburgbrewingcompany.com

Gatlinburg Brewing Company isn’t messing around trying to be something they're not. They specialize in craft beer and artisan pizza. So if you are looking for a place to unwind, have a couple beers, and a little food after work then this is going to be the spot for you. They have a large selection of beers brewed on site and all of their pizzas are made personal to order and cooked in a real brick oven.

“This became our "local bar" while we were in Gatlinburg. The pizzas and the the beer were all great - as was the service. I was inspired to draw our favorite bartender.” - Yelp Review

11 - Tennessee Jed’s

Great Deli With An Upbeat Atmosphere In Gatlinburg

631 Pkwy | Gatlinburg | tennesseejeds.net

If you are looking for the classic deli experience while you are in Gatlinburg then Tennessee Jed’s is going to be just the spot for you. They have a wide variety of different sandwiches to choose from. Everything from a turkey bacon ranch burger to a classic BBQ sandwich is on the menu at Jed’s. They slow roast everything each day for 14 hours to guarantee the most succulent sandwich eating experience money can buy you!

“What I loved the most about this location is the staff. So laid back and welcoming. Really cool people that make this restaurant a fun experience. Sandwiches were good. Definitely recommend for all tourists visiting the area.” - Yelp Review

12 - Di’s Diner

Cozy Hometown Diner with Affordable Food + Friendly Staff

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1321 Highway 113 | Bulls Gap 

If you’re looking for a restaurant that really gives you the Gatlinburg experience, look no further than Di’s Diner. The building might not be the newest, and the floor might slant a bit, but the food and the people are enough to have any foodie coming back for more.

Chow down on affordable favorites – omelets, biscuits, hot wings, hoagies, burgers, and “this & that.” And round out your meal with some fudge cake or honey buns. Not only can you get a tasty entree for under $5, the staff and patrons will make you feel right at home. They’ve been friends for decades – and will treat you like you have been, too.

“Food is great !Prices are good! And everyone is just really down to earth , just plain nice!!!! Really you couldn't ask for a better community feeling type of restaurant where everyone knows everyone and if they don't they make you feel like they do! So not only does the food keep you coming back but so do the people!!” – Yelp Review

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13 - Applebee’s

No-Fail Restaurant for Affordable Drinks and Apps in Gatlinburg

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2564 Alcoa Hwy | Alcoa | applebees.com

Applebee’s is your standard sit down American restaurant. But in my experience it’s always most jumpin’ during happy hour when you can get drinks and appetizers for half price. Which makes Applebee’s the perfect option for grabbing a couple drinks and some light food before a night out on the town!

“Nice clean facility.  Typical Applebee's menu.  Service and food was good.  Very pleased.” - Yelp Review 

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14 - Outback Steakhouse

Gatlinburg’s Take on Steakhouse That’s a “Bloomin” Sensation Around the Nation

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1705 Pkwy | Sevierville | outback.com

Outback Steakhouse is a popular chain of steakhouse restaurants around the country. They have an Australian theme. So you can expect a bit of an Australian theme to all the decor and menu item names. But for the most part, they are an adequate steakhouse option when the wait for a reservation is too long somewhere else, or when you want to have something comfortable and familiar.

“Surprisingly delicious from the food to the drinks.  I highly recommend eating here while you are in Pigeon Forge.” - Yelp Review 

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15 - Red Lobster

Everyone’s Favorite Seafood Chain for All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp and Cheddar Bay Biscuits in Gatlinburg

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1600 Pkwy | Sevierville | redlobster.com

For those of you who aren’t aware, Red Lobster is a popular national seafood chain. You can get all the seafood classics you would expect at a pretty fair price. There is a little something for everybody on the menu. Well as long as they like seafood that is. 

“Best red lobster I've ever been to. Ashley(bartender) was amazing and the rest of the staff were so nice! Manger was so sweet to our niece and even gave her some shrimp!  Food was amazing too.” - Yelp Review

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That’s it for our list of the best places to eat in all of Gatlinburg, TN!

And there you go! You now have a list of some of the best restaurants you can find around Gatlinburg. There was a pretty fair selection of menu choices on the list today, but unfortunately there wasn’t anything particularly unusual or exotic on the list today. However, with what is here on the list I am sure you can find a restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, that will not only meet your expectations, but exceed them!