Best New Restaurants in the Smoky Mountains
People come to the Smoky Mountains for the beauty and serenity and the food! There are some new places to try on the next visit. Here’s our top “best new restaurants” plus two bonus spots that are coming soon!
Trotter’s Whole Hog BBQ is located in the historic downtown district of Sevierville and opened recently to rave reviews.
Here’s how Trotter’s describes its food: “The hogs are cooked whole, low and slow. The process begins with the hog belly down while being smoked for several hours then flipped and mopped with the house made sorghum sauce. One of Rule’s main focuses is on the smoke, as his method will implore a distinct smoky flavor that is not to be mistaken.”
How It’s Done
Guests order from a walk-up counter. Pour your own beer from 20 taps, featuring local and regional craft beers and then sit inside or outside to enjoy the food and regular live music.
On the menu for starters are pork rinds, boiled peanuts, pork belly burnt ends, pimento cheese and wings. You can get a sandwich (smoked bologna, fried chicken, smoked meat loaf, BLT) and a side or a platter and a side with Texas toast. Meat platter choices include ½ dry rub chicken, spare ribs (half or whole), house-made smoked sausage or short ribs. And what are the delicious sides? Good southern options that include baked beans, mac & cheese, slaw, smoked potato salad, corn on the cob, collard greens, BBQ potato chips and Texas toast.
Google Reviews
Of the many ways these restaurants stand out as the best new restaurants of the Smokies, reviews make a difference.
What people are saying from Google Reviews:
- Going for barbecue but ended up getting the smoked meatloaf sandwich, smoked potato salad, and pork rinds. Meatloaf and potato salad 5 stars! Pork rinds was a large serving that came out popping hot (hint opt out of the hot sauce and try dipping in the barbecue sauce). On top of the great tasting food was friendly service and the building had a great atmosphere. Very happy with meal and will be going back!
- Friendly employees and great service! Also a awesome atmosphere getting to soak up Downtown Sevierville’s history. As you are in walking distance to the Dolly Parton Statue in front of the courthouse and many more monumental statues with historic background.
- Been waiting 13 years for a good BBQ place to open up in Sevierville or Pigeon Forge. One finally did, only it’s not good, it’s great!! My son is more of a BBQ aficionado than I am, and he wants to go back again tomorrow. I had the dry rub chicken and the sausage, and it was so good!! Try the House BBQ sauce.
- Stopped in for lunch today – Loved it! Great beer selection from about 20 local micro brews. The smoked meatloaf sandwich was amazing, especially with the tomato jam. I could eat a whole bowl of that stuff. The BBQ chips were also delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back!
Located at 127 Bruce Street in Sevierville, Trotters also offers family boxes to go.
The Appalachian
Nearby, also on Bruce Street (133) our best new restaurants continue with The Appalachian, a contemporary Southern Appalachian dining experience honoring the past. “Our hope is that our East Tennessee, farm to table restaurant provides Southern hospitality at its finest while presenting the greatest reflection and flavors of this amazing region.”
On the appetizer menu are fresh takes on classics including butterbean hummus, buffalo frog legs, fried green tomato salad and bear braised pork belly. Mains include the Appalachian Burger with house bacon, leaf lettuce, house pickles, tomato, crispy onions, “fancy sauce,” American cheese, French fries. There’s fried chicken – of course! Along with a duck breast with E. T. fungi, grapes, shallot, Old Mill grits and mushroom jus.
The Appalachian offers wood-grilled meats that include an 8 oz filet mignon, a 48 0z Tomahawk ribeye and a dry-aged porterhouse. Add house hot sauce, sauteed mushrooms, blue cheese, grilled shrimp or bone marrow to make it extra special.
Save room for dessert because these are decadent and special: pots de crème, goat cheese cheesecake or sweet corn ice cream.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Tripadvisor reviews say it all:
Great wood fire grilled steak with excellent flavor. Loved the fried okra and pork belly starter – not to mention the cast-iron corn bread – sooo yummy! Appreciated the sous-chef delivering and describing the food – you can tell he cared and is passionate about the food – great job!
We made reservations for my aunt’s 82nd birthday. The food and service were outstanding! We all had different dishes and each one was great, well maybe the shrimp and grits were a little too spicy but was good. Highly recommend as it’s off the strip from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and worth the drive, especially if you know the back way. Also easy parking in front
Best New Restaurants
Also in Sevierville is Seasons 101 at 110 E. Main St., where a “comfortable, casual dining atmosphere, combined with upscale cuisine at moderate prices.” The season determines the menu here and guides everything from signature dishes to cocktails.
Seasons 101 offers brunch Saturdays and Sundays 11-2:30 with appetizers that today include Brie en Crute and fried green tomatoes. Choose from several fresh salads and brunch features such as praline pancakes and black angus benedict.
Honeysuckle buttermilk chicken is an appetizer on weekdays, as well as quick fried artichoke hearts. Signature dishes today include rack of lamb, dou of duck, cast iron seared ribeye steak and much more.
When choosing the top best new restaurants, we know to consult the locals. One Google reviewer wrote: “Seasons 101 is an absolute gem! Nestled in the heart of Downtown Sevierville, this is a local favorite and for very good reason. The atmosphere, cuisine and service are absolutely top notch. … We will definitely be regulars!”
Flavortown
Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown at 2655 Teaster Lane is Pigeon Forge is drawing crowds with the celebrity chef on the building.Locaed in the Mountain Mile and Tower Shops, Downtown Flavortown adds to Fieri’s Chicken Guy that he opened in Gatlinburg last year.
Remaining at the top of our best new restaurants list, Flavortown is an impressive 43,000-square-foot family entertainment center. This destination will be a “must do” option for Pigeon Forge visitors and locals alike.
Along with the 300+ seat restaurant, Downtown Flavortown features a 14-lane Duck Pin bowling alley; more than 10,000 square feet of arcade; a full-service tropical Tiki bar; a photo opportunity in front of a 1968 Chevy Camaro.; and lots of options for private parties.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Check out what Tripadvisor reviewers had to say:
- Guy knocked it put of the park!! I tried this restaurant because I love Guy, but I’ll go back because it’s one of the best places to eat in Pigeon Forge. I’ve been coming here for 35 years and we couldn’t get a good burger wait no more the best burger I’ve ever had. The donkey sauce is a must! The trio of fry’s are awesome but get them with ranch. I can eat ranch on everything this was the best ranch I’ve tasted. I wanted the cheese cake but was stuffed. I can’t say enough about our server Toni she was the best. I watched her as she waited her tables and how she interactive with the guest any establishment would be blessed to have! Can’t wait to visit again.
I’ve been here before with family but this was the first time we hosted a business event here. It was an incredible experience!
Everyone had delicious food, a great time, was able to network and relax and of course- be needlessly competitive over duckpin bowling!
A Citizen of Flavortown
Went on Tues Sep 27 at 6pm and had dinner at 8pm. This place is fun for the whole family. Make sure you get a passport to become citizen of Flavortown, it’s fun to do and a great souvenir to bring home. We started with duck bowling and it was a blast, our hostess was amazing and super attentive when we needed service. We got the trash can nachos and I don’t think I can enjoy other nachos the same anymore. Once we finish bowling and before our dinner reservation, we spent some time in the arcade. It’s a great price for G-buck to the play the game and there are many arcade games we had never seen before. We could have spent more time/money here.
Next was Dinner time and we reserved a spot in the Midtown section, luckily we were in a booth next to the area where you can see the kitchen which was cool. My boyfriends mom got the Primetime American Kobe burger, my boyfriend got the Spaghetti meatball waffle and got the garlic parmesan wings. I also go the Peach Whiskey Mule and my boyfriend and his mom shared the Fish Bowl that was made with local shine. It was all super delicious. Before we left we went to the arcade prize shop and got our last sticker and 5000 point to use in the prize store. Be warned the majority of good prizes need 7000 plus points. We got a cute raccoon for 6000 points that is sturdy stuff animal and not one of the cheap ones. Definitely can’t wait to come back on our next visit.
Best New Restaurants Coming Soon
Also on Teaster Lane will be Azul Cantina, which locals have been waiting for. Billed as a flavorful twist on traditional Tex-Mex dining – be careful using the word flavor close to Guy Fieri’s place – Azul promises wood-fire grilling methods and traditional Mexican cooking styles with roots from South America to Texas. This new restaurant will be Pigeon Forge’s first rooftop bar offering excellent views of the city.
The restaurant concept is a “flavorful twist on traditional Tex-Mex dining using wood-fire grilling methods in traditional Mexican cooking styles with roots from South America to Texas” Recipes are made from scratch with authentic ingredients and pair well with the restraurant’s homemade cerveza-style lager and hand-crafted cocktails featuring top shelf tequilas and its own Agave distilled spirits.
Finally in our list of best new restaurants, Pinchy’s Lobster and Beer Company, is promised to open in December (it had been October). Located at 212 Court Avenue, Sevierville. With New England-style seafood including lobster rolls, Maine oysters, bisque and clam chowder, Pinchy’s is sure to be a hit in the growing downtown Sevierville food scene.
Book Now
Ready to book your trip to the Smoky Mountains and try our best new restaurants selection? Let American Patriot Getaways help you and find you a beautiful, cozy cabin near all of it!
Book a cabin close to the Parkway and you won’t miss any of the area fun. Book online using our web site or give our friendly Reservation staff a call at 800-204-5169 to get started planning your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Published on Monday, October 10, 2022