Cherokee Grill

Reviewers single out the crab cakes and the ribeye. The menu also covers other steaks, seafood and a kids' menu, so a family with picky eaters can still book here. See the restaurant's site, cherokeegrill.com, for the current menu and any seasonal changes. The phone is (865) 436-4287.

Gatlinburg's downtown is crowded, and parking is expensive. Cherokee Grill has free parking at the restaurant, according to a local review site, which is a real advantage at the north end of town. The dress code is casual, even for a steakhouse, so you can come straight from a day outdoors. The dinner price tier is $$$.

Hours listed on third-party sites show dinner service most nights and an earlier start on weekends, but they are not consistent. Call before you go in the off-season. Reservations are a good idea for Friday and Saturday dinner and anytime in October.

The restaurant is in Calhoun's Village, close to the park entrance. Calhoun's Gatlinburg is in the same village, so you can pick between a barbecue dinner and a steakhouse. If you plan to ride the Ober Gatlinburg tram, the base station is across the street, and the free Gatlinburg trolley serves the area.

Cherokee Grill is close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Gatlinburg entrance and the Sugarlands Visitor Center, so it works as a dinner stop after a hike. The park's parking tag is $5 a day for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes, and it must be displayed in the vehicle. With Laurel Falls Trail closed through 2026, Grotto Falls and the Gatlinburg Trail are good places to work up an appetite.

Couples, anniversary dinners, and families who want a steak dinner without the long Parkway walk. If you prefer a lively barbecue room to a steakhouse, Calhoun's next door is a good alternative. If you want the quietest evening, ask for a table away from the bar and arrive before the usual dinner rush.