The dining options along the Pigeon Forge strip can be overwhelming and there are a LOT of not-so-great options out there. (Do you really need to see the Hatfield’s & McCoy’s duke it out?) So here are a few choices that I can definitely recommend as good places to eat in Pigeon Forge, especially on a smaller budget.
POTTERY HOUSE CAFE & GRILLE
Forget the Old Mill, the nearby Pottery House is where it’s at. The food is much better! You can shop at the Old Mill afterward. The only downside is that everyone else knows it too so there’s almost always an hour wait.
The Pottery House Cafe & Grille is a smaller building to the left as you enter the Old Mill area from the Parkway. Inside, you’ll find southern-inspired dishes like pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, lighter options like quiche and salads, and entrees from sandwiches to sirloin. They specialize in housemade bread and desserts and I go for the loaded baked potato soup. In fact, for my last birthday, I waited for an hour just to get bread, baked potato soup, and peanut butter pie. And I’m not sorry.
The baked potato soup is so popular that you can also get it to go at the Farmhouse Kitchen shop nearby, or as a mix in that shop or in the Old Mill. I have tried both, and they’re good but not as good as the original. Do yourself a favor and order a cup before your meal, especially if it’s a chilly day and they’ve got the fireplace going.
I also recently discovered the small parking lot in the back. If you drive up to Patriot Park and turn left past the Farmhouse Kitchen store, there is a pretty generous parking lot back there. I’m not sure how I overlooked it for so long!
PIGEON FORGE DELI
Another great place to eat in Pigeon Forge is the Pigeon Forge Deli, tucked away in a corner in The Shops of Pigeon Forge, an otherwise unimpressive strip mall. And it really is tucked away, so get out of your car and physically walk around the corner. You won’t be disappointed!
I say that, but the first time I went, I wasn’t too terribly impressed. I got the signature “Chub” sandwich with some neon yellow cheddar broccoli soup it felt like zero-to-heart attack in one meal.
It wasn’t until I went back and tried their chicken salad on pretzel bread that I found that I really liked the deli. THAT sandwich was amazing! They have really nailed a simple chicken-forward salad that doesn’t rely on tons of bits to make it taste good. And that pretzel bread is awesome! You can take it home by the loaf and I recommend you do. I’ve also split an order of parmesan pretzel twists and those were pretty amazing too.
BLUE MOOSE BURGERS & WINGS
A solid option is Blue Moose Burgers & Wings. They are located on Teaster Lane which, in case you didn’t know, runs parallel to the busy Parkway from Veteran’s Blvd/The Old Mill all the way down to past Wears Valley Road and near the Inn at Christmas Place. It’s built to siphon traffic off the strip, but most people don’t seem to know it’s there. I enjoyed this a lot when I was staying at the Golf View Resort and didn’t have to get on the parkway at all to eat.
And while I haven’t eaten inside, I did take away an excellent blue cheese burger with sweet potato fries, and the hostess was fantastic to talk to.
POYNER’S POMMES FRITES
Poyner’s Pommes Frites is a taste of Germany and I mostly like it because it reminds me of the currywurst I got in Prater park in Vienna, Austria. The sausages here are good and served in rolls, not buns like American hot dogs. But the fries, er, Pommes Frites are what really makes this place stand out.
So if you’re looking for potato-based fuel while you walk around The Island, this is definitely a fun place. I think it’s a bit too expensive for what you get, but I have to admit that I like a place that serves currywurst.
(DIS)HONORABLE MENTION: SMOKIES CUBAN CAFE
This Cuban hole-in-the-wall seems to rate highly on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and it *is* good. If you can find it open, that is. The owners seem very subjective in their operating hours. After several unsuccessful attempts, I found it seems more likely to be open in the morning to lunch-y hours, and dinner is hit or miss, even though they claim to be open until 8 pm. I recommend you seek it out, just have a backup plan.
If you can get in the door, you’ll find a very small, family-operated establishment with a small counter and a few tables. I sat at the counter for lunch once and watched a lot of people wait a lot of time for their Cuban sandwiches and coffee. So speedy, they ain’t. But if you have time to spare and you’re lucky, enjoy a meal in a place that is unlike every other pancake house and southern buffet on the strip.
That’s great, I love it!