Best restaurant in the smokies?

We went there for the first time in March and we enjoyed, Mellow Mushroom, Mama's Farmhouse, The Red Rooster, Bubba Gump's, and there is a great Pancake House or Shop in Gatlinburg but cannot remember the name. We went to the Alamo Steakhouse but it was really not that good. Mama's Farmhouse was a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Red Rooster was great for breakfast and the Pizza at the Mellow Mushroom was delicious. Have fun!!!

Log Cabin pancake house in Pigeon Forge has some killer blueberry pancakes, it's on the creek right before you leave town heading to Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg is a nice brewpub, they have pretty good food and awesome homebrew. Everyone i know always talks about the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg, i've never been there but it's always gotten a lot of praise.

One great resource where you can read reviews etc is Trip Advisor.

www.tripadvisor.com

Pancakes - any Flapjacks (there are several up there) or Log Cabin

All around breakfast - Duff's Smorgasbord (kind of like Tourway, but much bigger)

BBQ - Bennett's BBQ (fantastic!)

Italian - Carino's

Steak - Damon's and the Alamo

Others - Brass Lantern, Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump (study your Forrest Gump trivia)

THE APPLE BARN!  I can't believe someone hasn't recommended The Apple Barn.  I can't go anywhere near Sevierville without eating at The Apple Barn!  Check out their website.

I second the Apple Barn!!!!

The Brewery is great for micro beer and bar food.  They have great pizza and wings.  I was told Calhouns was great as well but haven't eaten there.  Of course Bubba Gump's, Hard Rock.  I ate at the Pancake Cabin.  In my words, don't make the mistake I did by eating there.  Great service, food sucks. 

The Peddler

Apple Barn is very good, but you need to schedule your trip so that you can stop short of the Smokies in Chattanooga and eat the best ribs in the South at Sugar's.  It is  off Interstate 24.  They have plenty of signs along the highway.  The restaurant is associated with an older motel that is atop a sharp rise.  You take the I-24 exit and turn north, then about a block further, turn east (right) and drive maybe half a mile.  You will see Sugar's on the hill ahead of you.  Do NOT order a full rack unless you are a champion eater.  The ribs are VERY meaty and a half rack is enough for all but the most gluttonous.  They have about a half dozen house sauces, so there should be on for everyone's taste.

Yes, I completely forgot to put the Apple Barn!!!

 

Another great country style restaurant that I highly recommend is The Old Mill.  It's close to the end of Pigeon Forge going toward Gatlinburg.  It's a long wait, but definitely worth it.

I'm glad you had a good experience at Sugar's, but I was incredibly disappointed and then had to pay money for it.  I might stop by there again, but every time I see it I just wanna keep driving.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I really want to try the Apple Barn. I have also heard great things about the Old Mill Restaurant!

 

I really want to try that Red Rooster pancake house a poster mentioned. According to their online menu they have chocolate eclair pancakes.

There is a place in Townsend close to Kinzel Springs that has really good breakfast food.  Townsend also used to have the best BBQ place, Smokin Joe's, but it shut down after they moved from where Subway is now and changed hands.  The BBQ place that took over SJ's latter location never has been as good and the tube rental place is run by a Russian family (or was two summers ago).  Right by the other two tube rental businesses where Little River goes under 321 a guy will set up on the west side of the road with his cooker and sell ok BBQ, but he also sells the best hickory smoked corn in the shucks I've ever paid for.  He's a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy.  Blount, Sevier and Knox Counties are where my people are from.

 

Go to Litton's in Knoxville for a good burger.  Google it or Mapquest it...it's kinda hard to find or be given directions to.

Calhouns was way over rated.  We didnt like anything they had.  The Texas Roadhouse across the street was better.

Actually we just returned from there and depending on what you want I would suggest the following. Steakhouses: Chop House has great selections including sides such as creamed Spinach. There salads are also the best. The Alamo is a good local steakhouse but after The Chop House I'd recommend Longhorn Steakhouse. If you want Pizza then try the Smokey Mountain Brewery. We didn't care for the wheat crust that Mellow Mushroom uses. For home cooking the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge gives you all you can eat. You order the meat and all meats come with two sides. Fried Chicken or great selections in Gatlinburg are at the Cherokee Grille which is in the same area as Calhoun's BBQ and Smokey Mountain Brewery (in Gatlinburg). If you want a great Expensive steak meal the Peddler in Gatlinburg is very Popular and has a first rate salad bar.