I recently made a trip to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and hate to admit I dug in like a hungry bear. I sampled fried green tomatoes, fried gator, fried shrimp, fried okra and well…fried you name it. I put aside the knife and fork for barbeque ribs and finished plenty messy. Breakfast favorites became blueberry pancakes, syrup and apple fritters
Both towns of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee rest near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. And both towns claim Dolly Parton as their own. The folks in these parts take pride in their country heritage. You can’t help but notice that music, food and family are the heart and soul of the people.
Tourists to the area will find numerous restaurants to choose from. Most proudly serve good-ole down home southern cookin.
Here is a list of restaurants I can recommend for casual dining in Sevierville:
Pancake houses are very popular in this area and Flapjacks draws a crowd. They offer a breakfast bonanza of delights from personal egg skillets to all varieties of pancakes. Endless cups of coffee and fast friendly service. Their cute country décor is just that –cute, not tacky or overdone.
Apple Valley Road Sevierville, Tennessee 865-428-1222
Each diner at Applewood is greeted with an apple julep (apple juice/mint combo), an apple spice muffin and apple fritters with apple butter. Folks come from all over for these treats. The restaurant serves southern style food from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. When you are finished eating (or waiting ‘cause there’s often a crowd), walk over to the Apple Barn Complex, the Cider Barn, gift shop, bakery or winery. You’ll find more “apple” items here than flies in a barn and I bet you end up taking something home.
If you’re itchin for something different, venture over and catch your lunch at the English Mountain Trout Farm. Kids love this place. Proprietor Charlie will fry it up lickety split, then serve the dish along with coleslaw and hush puppies. “You Hook Em’, We Cook Em.” reads their sign.
Damon’s specialty is ribs and they are indeed special. I do declare their ribs are as juicy as gossip; why the meat fell off the bones. The pulled pork was the best I’ve ever tasted; made me go hog wild. Patrons at Damon’s enjoy a lovely mountain view.
KT’s dishes firecracker shrimp to die for. Spicy but not over the edge, tangy and still moist. The fajitas are a flavorful sizzling sensation. Portions are way more than one person can eat. Fortunately I saved just enough room to nibble the Bananas Foster, best dessert on the yummy menu.
1649 Parkway Dr Sevierville, Tennessee (865) 774-1993
The ambiance of the Chop House feels like a cut above and the food certainly is. The restaurant showcases a clean open kitchen and inviting atmosphere. I sampled the petite filet which cut as easy as sliding off a greased log. My piece of steak was the tenderest selection grilled to perfection. The side dishes are plentiful- baked sweet potato, parmesan creamed spinach, fries, loaded baked potato, rice pilaf, burgundy mushrooms, sugar snap peas, baked cinnamon apples, steamed broccoli, green bean medley and asparagus. The cobbler looked luscious but I was stuffed.
Enter this restaurant through the Bass Pro Shop and face a stunning 13,000 gallon salt water reef aquarium, a whole wall behind the bar. As you might guess, they’re hooked on seafood. I sank into calamari and gator tail as an appetizer. Both were lightly fried with a crunchy batter. My friend ordered the sushi-grade black and blue tuna that looked gorgeous. The Cajun pineapple salmon made a pretty plate, a zappy blend of sweet and spice; another diner’s fish & chips came piled a mile high. Warning: the desserts are decadent but delicious.
Outdoor patio dining available.
No sir, you surely won’t go hungry in Sevierville.
