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Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg

18 curated picks · updated

The best restaurants in Gatlinburg run from Crockett's Breakfast Camp and Atrium Pancakes for breakfast to Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que, Calhoun's and Big Daddy's wood-fired pizza for casual dinners, and Chesapeake's or Cherokee Grill for a dressier night. In October, expect 45-minute waits at breakfast spots and book dinner ahead.

Gatlinburg's restaurant scene runs from wood-fired brick oven pizza at Big Daddy's to Chesapeake's raw bar stacked with crab legs, and the prices on this list cover the same ground: single-dollar ice cream shops to $$$-tier steakhouses. That spread is intentional. The Parkway gets packed enough on fall weekends that eating decisions happen under pressure, standing outside with a hungry group; having prices and cuisine types up front makes the call faster.

A few practical things before you go:

  • Parking is paid and competitive. The Gatlinburg Welcome Center on Banner Road has a large lot, and the Gatlinburg trolley is free and runs the full length of the Parkway, which beats circling for a space near a busy block.
  • Peak crowd windows are October foliage season (consistently the busiest stretch of the year), summer weekends, and major holiday weeks. Crockett's Breakfast Camp and Atrium Pancakes regularly see 45-minute waits during those periods; arriving before 8 a.m. cuts most of that.
  • Reservations matter most at the upper end of this list. Cherokee Grill and Chesapeake's both accept them, and calling ahead in October is the obvious move.
  • Cliff Top Grill at Anakeesta requires Anakeesta admission to reach, accessed via gondola. Plan it as a full-afternoon outing, not a standalone dinner stop.

The list mixes long-standing Gatlinburg names, Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que, Calhoun's, with newer options and a handful of national brands that run solid locations here. Dessert and ice cream shops earn their own spots: in July, a scoop at Ben & Jerry's or a Crumbl cookie is a real plan, not an afterthought. A family dinner at Chesapeake's will cost four times what a Crockett's breakfast runs, and both are on this list for good reason.

More to plan with: the Gatlinburg guide, the restaurants hub, things to do, Smokies itineraries and the events calendar.

  1. 1

    Alamo Steakhouse

    $$$ · Steakhouse, American

    Alamo Steakhouse in Gatlinburg grills aged, hand-cut steaks over an open oak fire, with burgers at lunch. Join the online waitlist before you walk the Parkway.
  2. 2

    Atrium Pancakes

    $$ · American, Breakfast

    Atrium Pancakes, known locally as The Atrium, serves a baked apple pancake, omelets and big breakfast plates at 432 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
  3. 3

    Baskin-Robbins

    $ · Ice cream

    Baskin-Robbins at 815 Parkway in Gatlinburg scoops ice cream, sundaes and cakes on the downtown strip, an easy cold stop between shops and attractions.
  4. 4

    Ben & Jerry's

    $ · Ice cream

    Ben & Jerry's at 638 Parkway in Gatlinburg is the downtown scoop shop for pints, cones and sundaes, right on the busiest walking stretch of the Parkway.
  5. 5

    Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria

    $$ · Italian, Pizza

    Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria has served garlic rolls, eggplant parmesan and thin-crust pizza in Gatlinburg since 1976, at 968 Parkway in Elks Plaza.
  6. 6

    Big Daddy's Pizzeria

    $$ · Pizza, Italian

    Big Daddy's Pizzeria at 714 River Road in Gatlinburg bakes handmade-dough pizza in a 550-degree brick oven, a casual dinner close to downtown.
  7. 7

    Blaine's Grill & Bar

    $$ · American, Bar & Grill

    Blaine's Grill & Bar at 812 Parkway in Gatlinburg serves burgers, deluxe sandwiches and spare ribs at Stoplight 8, with a dance club upstairs on weekend nights.
  8. 8

    Blake Shelton's Ole Red Gatlinburg

    $$ · American, Southern

    Blake Shelton's Ole Red Gatlinburg is a restaurant and live music venue at 511 Parkway, opened in March 2019 as the chain's third location.
  9. 9

    Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

    $$ · Seafood, American

    Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at 900 Parkway in Gatlinburg is a Forrest Gump-themed shrimp restaurant on the main strip, easy for families and groups.
  10. 10

    Calhoun's Gatlinburg

    $$ · American, BBQ

    Calhoun's Gatlinburg serves ribs and Southern American dinners at 1004 Parkway in Calhoun's Village, across from the Ober Gatlinburg tram at the top of the Parkway.
  11. 11

    Cherokee Grill

    $$$ · Steakhouse, American

    Cherokee Grill & Steakhouse at 1002 Parkway in Gatlinburg serves ribeyes, crab cakes and seafood in Calhoun's Village, with free parking and a kids' menu.
  12. 12

    Chesapeake's Seafood and Raw Bar

    $$$ · Seafood, American

    Chesapeake's Seafood and Raw Bar at 437 Parkway serves oysters, broiled seafood and live Maine lobster in a polished riverside dining room on the Gatlinburg strip.
  13. 13

    Cliff Top Grill & Bar (Anakeesta)

    $$ · American, Casual

    Cliff Top Grill & Bar is at the top of Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, serving burgers, steaks and craft beer about 600 feet above the Parkway after a gondola ride.
  14. 14

    Coffee & Company

    $ · Coffee, Cafe, Bakery

    Coffee & Company is a long-running, locally owned coffee shop inside The Village Shops at 634 Parkway in Gatlinburg, with flavored lattes, cold brew and bagged beans.
  15. 15

    Crockett's Breakfast Camp

    $$ · American, Breakfast

    Crockett's Breakfast Camp at 1103 Parkway is a frontier-themed Gatlinburg breakfast spot with giant pancakes, thick French toast and fried cinnamon rolls, open daily 7 AM to 1 PM.
  16. 16

    Crumbl Cookies

    $ · Dessert, Bakery

    Crumbl Cookies on the Gatlinburg Parkway sells oversized cookies with a menu that changes every week, a sweet stop for families and a handy after-dinner dessert.
  17. 17

    Dick's Last Resort

    $$ · American, Casual

    Dick's Last Resort at 903 Parkway in Gatlinburg is a loud, wisecracking restaurant where the staff insult you on purpose, with ribs, chicken and seafood buckets.
  18. 18

    Donut Friar

    $ · Bakery, Donuts, Coffee

    Donut Friar is a family-run Gatlinburg donut shop inside The Village Shops at 634 Parkway, open since 1969 and serving fresh donuts from 5 AM until they sell out.

Good to know

Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg: FAQ

When are restaurant waits the worst in Gatlinburg?
October is consistently the worst month, driven by fall foliage traffic that can bring Parkway foot traffic to a near-standstill on weekends. Summer weekends, particularly July Fourth week and Labor Day, run a close second. Breakfast spots like Crockett's Breakfast Camp and Atrium Pancakes can see 45-minute waits by 9 a.m. during peak periods. Arriving before 8 a.m. or after the 10 a.m. rush typically makes a significant difference.
Which restaurants on this list take reservations?
Cherokee Grill and Chesapeake's Seafood and Raw Bar both accept reservations and are worth booking in advance during fall foliage season. Most of the mid-range and casual spots on this list operate walk-in only, so wait times during peak windows depend entirely on when you arrive.
How does parking work near the Parkway restaurants?
Parking directly on or near the Parkway is limited and paid. The most reliable approach is using one of the larger lots near the Gatlinburg Welcome Center or satellite areas outside the main strip, then riding the free Gatlinburg trolley, which covers the full Parkway length. During October and summer weekends, building trolley time into your plan is far less frustrating than hunting for a Parkway spot on foot.
Can I just walk up to Cliff Top Grill at Anakeesta for dinner?
No. Cliff Top Grill is at the top of the Anakeesta mountain attraction and is accessible only via gondola after purchasing an Anakeesta admission ticket. The attraction includes treetop walks, a SkyBridge, and mountain views, so it makes for a worthwhile afternoon on its own, but it's not a drop-in dinner option, and the admission cost should factor into your budget.
Are there local restaurants on this list, or mostly chains?
Several long-standing Gatlinburg independents made the cut: Crockett's Breakfast Camp at 1103 Parkway with its frontiersman-camp theme and large-portion breakfast menu, Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que and its hickory-smoked program, Big Daddy's Pizzeria with a wood-fired brick oven, and Atrium Pancakes. The national brands that appear, Bubba Gump, Ben & Jerry's, Baskin-Robbins, are included because they fill genuine category gaps on a dining street where options at certain price points are limited, and their Gatlinburg locations perform consistently well in visitor feedback.

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