Brio Italian Grille

Brio is large. It was designed to seat about 350 people, with a main dining room, a chef's table, a bar and private dining rooms. The size means groups of six or eight can usually be seated together, and the layout feels more like a destination restaurant than a quick casino stop.

Menu highlights from listings include Pasta Brio, lobster and shrimp fettuccine, chicken milanese and a center-cut filet mignon. The carpaccio and the calamari are praised often by visitors. Reviews are mixed overall; some diners report overcooked dishes or slow service at busy times, while others call the food and service excellent. Reservations are worth making on weekends.

From Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take US-441 south to Cherokee. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the last park stop before you reach town, and the casino is a short drive past it. The park's parking tag is $5 a day, so factor that into a day that starts on the trail and ends in Cherokee.

For the resort, use Harrah's Cherokee dining list on the Cherokee tourism site. The phone listed for Brio is 828-497-8233.

Dining hours at casino restaurants change by season and by day. Third-party listings show lunch and dinner service, but they differ, so confirm with the resort before you arrive.

Cherokee has plenty to see before dinner. The Museum of the Cherokee People tells the story of the Cherokee people in a way that is worth a few hours, and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum are close. Unto These Hills, the outdoor drama, runs in summer only; the 2026 season ended August 22.

Couples, groups celebrating something and anyone who wants a sit-down dinner after a day in the mountains, without driving to Asheville. If you are driving in from the east, remember that I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge is still one lane each way with a reduced speed limit after Hurricane Helene, so build extra time into your drive.