Top 10 Outdoor Dining Spots in the Great Smoky Mountains
The weather is getting warmer, and we can eat outside again! Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have terrific options so get out and enjoy.
Gatlinburg Outdoor Dining
In Gatlinburg, check out Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar for your seafood fix on an outdoor patio with a view of town. A Kennedy Concepts restaurant (one of four in the area), Crawdaddy’s serves up everything from alligator bites, a crawfish boil and frog’s legs for appetizers to live Maine lobster, shrimp tacos, Po’ boys and classic burgers for entrees. Try the over-the-top margarita with a crawdad hanging out on the side.
There are two patios available – one up high and one at street level.
Find Crawdaddy’s at 762 Parkway, Ste. 5 in Gatlinburg, (865) 430-3755
Another Kennedy Concepts’ restaurant with outdoor dining – Gatlinburg’s only rooftop bar – is Loco Burro, a “fresh mex” restaurant with foods including tableside-made guacamole, fajitas, burritos, street corn and fresh margaritas. Located at 735 Parkway #1 in Gatlinburg, (865) 430-5624
Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill has outdoor dining, serving up saucy wings, cream corn fritters and freshly made pork rinds to the Burning Bear Burger, the Sloppy Jethro and Build Your Own Bologna sandwich.
From snacks to burgers, paninis and salads, the Back Alley Grill offers fun and delicious choices.
Start with fried green tomatoes, cream corn fritters or how about wings – from mild to buffalo to Carolina Reaper – the world’s hottest pepper. There also are fried pickles and a chicken quesadilla. Great for sharing!
Paninis also are on the menu – Smokehouse with smoked pork loin, grilled onions, barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese and apple-wood smoked bacon! And something called the Love Tractor – apple-wood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, the grill’s signature pesto mayonnaise served on toasted rustic bread. Wow – yum!
Food on a bun includes Ole’ Standby – an 8-ounce beef burger, Sloppy Jethro and the Dyin’ Man – a thick slice of fried bologna, pulled pork, bacon and stone-ground mustard. And lots more including a BBQ beef brisket sandwich.
The menu is fun and delicious! The atmosphere is welcoming. Tom and Earl’s Back Alley Grill in Gatlinburg has live music Fridays and Saturdays.
Tom and Earl’s is located at 651 Parkway, #110, Gatlinburg, 865-325-6022.
Also in Gatlinburg:
At Three Jimmy’s Good Time Eatery, outdoor dining is roomy and dog friendly.
On the menu, comfort foods, barbecue and excellent bar food: fried pickles, spicy pork skins, cheesy chili nachos, smoked and fried chicken wings. Soups include Jimmy’s Signature Chili and pinto beans and rice. Barbecue includes smoked chicken, pulled pork plate, prime beef brisket, ribs and smoked ribeye. Among the comfort offerings are chicken pot pie, open-faced roast beef and turkey, maple bourbon chicken and southern fried catfish. Three Jimmy’s also serves artisan pizzas, sandwiches and burgers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIZUvXMW7eE
Find Three Jimmy’s at 1359 E. Parkway #F, (865) 325 -1210.
Howard’s Restaurant, located at 976 Parkway, (865) 436-3600, offers outdoor dining along a beautiful creek! There are heaters for cooler days and the lights strung up along the railing take the evening outing to special in just a twinkle.
Enjoy appetizers of catfish bites, ribeye strips and sauteed portabellas. For your salad, have one of Howard’s made-in-house dressings. Howard’s offers 10 steak options and signature side dishes that include baked beans, mashed potatoes, sautéed teriyaki vegetable medley and sauteed mushrooms. Other entrees include hickory smoked pork ribs, smoked mountain trout, pork tenderloin, Atlantic salmon, chop steak sandwich and roast beef sandwich.
Dine High in the Sky!
The Bar at the Top of the World,
Located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg with mountain views and 70 forested acres of fun and relaxation, Anakeesta is a mountain playground for all ages, and Cliff Top Grill & Bar is at the top of it all.
At The Clifftop Bar, visitors take in the beautiful scenery, have a beer or a cocktail – try Karen’s Sweet Tea, and maybe snack such as the southern favorite Fried Green Tomatoes or a ½ pound char-grilled Smoky Mountain burger or BBQ Pork Mac & Cheese Bowl – yum! Check out the rest of the menu.
To get to Anakeesta and the bar at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg.865-325-2400, buy tickets online, then take the scenic open chairlift or the enclosed Chondola from Gatlinburg up the mountain to Anakeesta – you can’t drive yourself.
For more, see our recent blog post on Anakeesta.
Ski Mountain Pizza has an outdoor porch for dining on its New York style pizza, amazing Greek salad and homemade desserts. Ski Mountain Pizza offers specialty pizzas and Stromboli, as well as build-your-own pizzas. There are garlic knots, loaded fries and meatballs too!
You can also get Ski Mountain Pizza delivery to your mountain cabin and sit outside on your deck!
Find Ski Mountain Pizza at 631 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, (865) 325-1512.
The Island – Pigeon Forge
In Pigeon Forge, The Island offers a variety of outdoor dining and fun. The Island has restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or snacks. Or all of those if you spend the day there.
For more about The Island, check out our blog post on family-friendly fun.
The Island is located at 131 The Island Drive, Pigeon Forge.
Timberwood Grill, sit down outside for a taste of the mountains with “unique approaches to traditional favorites.” Tables with umbrellas keep you cool on hot days.
Open for lunch and dinner, Timberwood Grill offers a mac & cheeseburger, Gunpowder Ribeye and Strawberry Chicken Salad among its favorites. There’s also a Big Sky Black & Bleu Salad with fresh farmers’ market greens, steak tips and bleu cheese. The Lumberjack Stack is a triple decker sandwich stacked tall with honey ham, American cheese, oven-roasted turkey breast, Swiss cheese and thick-cut bacon. They also offer Rocky Top Pork Nachos and Baby Back Ribs.
Another Island favorite with outdoor dining is Mellow Mushroom, offering salads and build your-own pizzas that include gluten-free crust, no cheese or dairy-free cheese. There’s also creamy hummus drizzled with olive oil, then topped with paprika and fresh basil. Served with your choice of lightly toasted pita wedges or carrots and celery to keep things light.
While Mellow Mushroom is a chain, Gatlinburg’s restaurant brings in local inspiration with the striking two-story restaurant reflecting the local geography and culture that lies within the Smokey Mountain region. “The bar, which offers Dude’s Daiquiris, is dubbed the ‘Moonshine Lounge’ as a nod to the mountains’ past exploits. Colorful paintings are seen throughout the space along with vintage ads painted on the walls. The upstairs dining area has a wall made up of glass garage doors that can be opened to let in the refreshing mountain air.
Margaritaville restaurant at The Island has a large exterior deck that overlooks Little Pigeon River, where visitors enjoy good food and live music at the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar that also has an oversized fire pit.
In addition to the obvious margarita menu, Margaritaville also offers local favorites with an island flair such as Caribbean jerk wings, Volcano Nachos, fish tacos served with a habanero cream sauce, Cajun shrimp and grits and crispy coconut shrimp. There’s a burger and sandwich menu too – check out the Cuban sandwich!
Off the Beaten Path
Want to take a scenic drive? Check out Wild Plum Tea Room, located at 555 Buckhorn Road, Gatlinburg, 865-436-3808, near Gatlinburg’s Arts & Crafts Community.
Quaint and homey, Wild Plum Tea Room, is a lunch-only restaurant open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and reservations in advance are absolutely required.
Don’t be fooled by the name – Wild Plum Tea Room offers way more than just tea.
Inspired by Austrian-style tea houses, the restaurant has fresh homemade lunch menu offerings with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. All menu items are homemade and made daily from fresh ingredients.
Lunch is served on fine china in a cabin set in the woods. The menu selection may include daily chef specials, soups, salads, specialty sandwiches, desserts, vegetarian, vegan and allergy-accommodated meals. Check out the photo gallery.
After you eat, check out The Arts & Crafts Community, located 3 miles outside of Gatlinburg on Glades Road with more than 100 shops in the 8-mile loop. You can drive there or get there by Trolley (take the yellow route).
Enjoy 3 food haikus as you ponder and imagine your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains:
River water churns
smell barbecue, trout, hoe cakes
for mountain view lunch
Fried green tomatoes
sizzle in cast iron skillets
friendly southern smile
Jalapenos pop
jump into guacamole
Mexican cravings
Ready to book an amazing cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains and start planning your outdoor adventure?
Of course, you can always eat outside at your very own cabin! American Patriot Getaways offers plenty of cabins with incredible outdoor entertaining spaces! Many of our cabins also offer charcoal or gas grills and outside seating to enjoy a meal out on a deck. Maybe even check out our cabins with incredible mountain views to really inspire you to get out and enjoy the great outdoors while you dine in style.
Check out all of our cabins on our website, or give our friendly Reservations team a call at 800-204-5169. They’d love to help you find the perfect fit for your next Smokies vacation.
Already booked your stay? Let American Patriot Getaways help with these useful guides that include insider tips to help you plan the perfect Smoky Mountain vacation. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest area information!
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Published on Monday, March 29, 2021