Restaurant Guide
Where to Eat in Gatlinburg - A Local's Restaurant Guide
November 5, 20266 min read
Pancakes, pit barbecue, tableside steaks, and trout dinners - here's where we actually send guests when they ask where to eat on the Parkway.
The Parkway has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per block of anywhere in the Smokies - which is great until you're standing on the sidewalk trying to pick one. Here's where we actually send guests, organized by what you're in the mood for.
Pancake houses
Pancake Pantry
Tennessee's original pancake house, and the one that started the Parkway's whole pancake-house reputation. Weekend mornings mean a line out the door - they don't take cards, so bring cash.
Log Cabin Pancake House
A reliable second option a short walk away, known for classics like French toast and chocolate-chip pancakes, usually without the same wait as the Pantry.
Pit barbecue
Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que
Slow-smoked meats with a full arcade and play area attached, which makes it an easy pick with kids in tow.
Calhoun's
Award-winning baby back ribs and a patio on the river - a good call for a bigger group that can't agree on one thing.
Steak & trout
The Peddler Steakhouse
The Parkway's best-known steakhouse. A peddler wheels a cart tableside so you pick your own cut, and the salad bar is as much a draw as the steak. The building itself dates to 1958.
Smoky Mountain Trout House
Rainbow trout and seafood, served for more than 45 years. Opens at 3pm, which makes it a solid choice for a later dinner after a full day in the park.
Hours and open days shift with the season, especially at the smaller, family-run spots - worth a quick call before you walk down.
One more stop for the sweet tooth: Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen has been pulling salt water taffy on the Parkway since 1950 - you can watch it happen through the window before you buy a bag.
A short drive from every spot on this list
Chasing Sunset Cabin keeps you minutes from the Parkway, so you can actually relax between dinners.
See Chasing Sunset Cabin →More from the blog
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