Despite a population of just over 6,000, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a bustling mecca of boutique shopping and attractions. Not to mention all the opportunities for outdoor recreation, like hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or floating on the serene local lakes!
You’ll work up quite an appetite touring the town and riding around Dollywood, and when you’re ready to chow down, you can pick from plenty of hip restaurants around Pigeon Forge. Whether you want to grab a down home breakfast, deli lunch, big dinner entrees, or something in the middle, even the pickiest of eaters can find a menu to their liking.
A word to the wise: between decadent Southern dishes and heaping helpings of barbecue, you won’t leave these restaurants hungry. In fact, you might even need a few to-go boxes.
Luckily, Mountain Vibe Vacation rentals have full kitchens that make reheating leftovers a breeze. After eating at these 15 spots, you can bring home all the midnight snacks you want!
The Local Goat
Photo Credit: Carey Jaman
- Address: 2167 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Deep-fried deviled eggs
- Price point: $$
Surrounded by some of Pigeon Forge’s top attractions, Local Goat dishes up fresh and flavorful American food in a warm atmosphere. The offerings span from thick-cut pork chops to ahi tuna steaks and everything in between. While you eat, you’ll be treated to views of Mount LeConte and the Smoky Mountains.
The Old Mill
- Address: 164 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Chicken and dumplings
- Price point: $$
The Old Mill is something of an attraction in its own right. The grounds of this 1830s former gristmill now hold a pottery studio, candy kitchen, moonshine distillery, and ice creamery, but the two stars of the show are the Old Mill Restaurant and the Pottery House Cafe.
The Old Mill Restaurant provides all-day Southern classics like country-fried steak, chicken, and dumplings, while the Pottery House Cafe serves sandwiches and salads. You can’t go wrong with either eatery, so you might want to plan your return visit beforehand.
Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant
- Address: 2480 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Smoked meatloaf
- Price point: $$
Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant boasts a long and colorful history that dates back to the 1950s, as well as Southern eats like smoked meatloaf and whiskey-grilled chicken. Live music performances every Friday and Saturday, so keep an eye on the set list — you never know who you’ll see on stage.
Blue Moose Burgers & Wings
- Address: 2430 Teaster Ln #108, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Mac ‘n cheese burger
- Price point: $$
Sports fans, Blue Moose Burgers & Wings is calling your name. This sports bar fully embraces Southern tailgating traditions in a space the whole family can enjoy. Watch the latest sports action on TVs around the restaurant while munching on the burgers and famous jumbo chicken wings. Just save room for the Blue Velvet Dream cake, the Blue Moose’s take on red velvet.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
- Address: 2530 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Calzone
- Price point: $$
At Smoky Mountain Brewery, pizzas and hamburgers are paired with pints of freshly brewed beer. Order up a 10-glass flight to sample as much of the drinks menu as possible (the Appalachian region is famous for its craft beer scene, after all). Trivia nights and live music performances will keep you busy while you eat and sip.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
- Address: 131 The Island Dr #8101, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Broccoli casserole
- Price point: $$
You’ll want to bring a serious appetite to the Pigeon Forge branch of Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. From the moment you sit down at the table, all the way to golden slices of butter cake for dessert, the staff will spoil you with Southern-style hospitality and indulgent dishes. Wash it all down with an ice-cold glass of peach tea, and take some food home for later — you’ll be daydreaming about that fried chicken in no time.
Mama’s Farmhouse
- Address: 208 Pickel St, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Country fried steak
- Price point: $$
All day long, Mama’s Farmhouse dishes up a rotating menu of Southern comfort food on an all-you-can-eat basis. You won’t need to wait in crowded buffet lines, though, as waiters bring plates of piping hot food straight from the kitchen to your table. Come prepared to eat to your heart’s content and then some. It’s hard to say no to warm buttermilk biscuits or gooey banana pudding, just like the owners’ great-grandma used to make.
Bullfish Grill
- Address: 2441 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Lowcountry shrimp and grits
- Price point: $$
The menu at Bullfish Grill combines the best of land and sea. You can stick with the classics, like a sizzling dry-aged steak accompanied by chargrilled oysters, or venture further into the region’s cuisine. At the very least, start by trying the shrimp and grits. Then, follow up with the flaky, pistachio-crusted trout or hearty seafood gumbo.
Mel’s Classic Diner
- Address: 119 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Three-scoop banana split
- Price point: $$
Mel’s Classic Diner will take you back in time with retro, chrome decor and diner fare like hefty cheeseburgers and hash browns. The food here looks just as good as it tastes, so you can snag pics of you and your sweetheart sipping a strawberry milkshake or of the whole family diving into the three-scoop banana split. If you’re feeling particularly brave, upgrade to the six-scoop.
Huck Finn’s Catfish
- Address: 3330 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Ol’ Miss Fried Catfish
- Price point: $$
Huck Finn’s Catfish has their fish fry down to a science, serving mouthwatering, all-you-can-eat catfish encased in a crispy cornmeal batter. As for sides, round out your meal with a batch of scratch-made hushpuppies or fried green tomatoes. Not a catfish fan? You can choose from plenty of other dishes from the Deep South, like frog legs, fried chicken, or hand-breaded alligator tail.
Alamo Steakhouse
Photo Credit: Joshua Resnick
- Address: 3050 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: The Steak (20-ounce rib eye)
- Price point: $$
If you want a good steak dinner but are a little leery of overly exclusive establishments, head to the Alamo Steakhouse. The cooks fire up quality cuts of Angus beef within a classy but comfortable environment perfect for anyone tired of hoity-toity steakhouses.
The menu includes filet mignon, New York strip, prime rib, and Southwest options like the Texas T-bone or Rio Grande Rib Eye. While you make your way through your steak, friendly wait staff will be on hand to deliver sides and top-up drinks.
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
- Address: 2910 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: BBQ combo
- Price point: $$
No trip to the Southeast would be complete without barbecue, and that’s where Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que comes in. This eastern Tennessee institution is a godsend for anyone traveling with an “I don’t know, what do you want to eat?” kind of person, with sampler plates that cover a little bit of everything on the menu. The pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket are all hickory-smoked, so your mouth will be watering from the moment you get within sniffing distance.
Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast
- Address: 2831 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Biscuit and gravy
- Price point: $$
In Pigeon Forge’s competitive breakfast and brunch scene, Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast reigns supreme. From 7 am to 2 pm, Sawyer’s serves homestyle favorites like country ham, chicken and waffles, and pancakes topped with everything from M&Ms to sausage links. For a traditional Southern breakfast, get the biscuit and gravy: three fluffy biscuits with a bowl of warm sausage gravy on the side.
Cielito Lindo
- Address: 3965 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Molcajete
- Price point: $
For a taste of something south of the border, you can’t go wrong with local favorite Cielito Lindo. This colorful cantina is well known for its generously portioned fajitas, carne asada plates, and unusual taco selections, all made with ultra-fresh ingredients. Just keep a house margarita on hand in case you find the salsa a little too hot for your liking!
Mellow Mushroom Pigeon Forge
- Address: 2485 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Favorite menu item: Holy Shiitake Pie
- Price point: $$
For those unfamiliar with Mellow Mushroom, a small, growing pizzeria chain, we can all say this: get ready. The restaurant is decorated with psychedelic-themed artwork nearly as funky as the pizzas, ranging from classic pepperoni to the more inventive Pacific Rim and Holy Shiitake Pie. The ‘shroom also doesn’t overlook folks with dietary restrictions — gluten- and dairy-free alternatives, plus 100% vegan offerings, allow everyone to partake.
Eat Your Heart Out in Pigeon Forge
No matter what kind of cuisine you have in mind, Pigeon Forge has a restaurant to suit your cravings. With locations all over town, Mountain Vibe Vacation rentals make it easy to eat your way around the area. Book your cabin stay today, then start making your dinner reservations.
