LongHorn Steakhouse

The menu is built around steak, with chicken and seafood for people who want something else. Sides and salads are part of the meal, and most dinners come as a main with two sides. Prices are in the middle of the range, similar to other sit-down chains on the Parkway.

The dining room has a Western look, with warm lighting and wood tones. It is quieter than the themed restaurants nearby, and it suits a group that wants conversation more than entertainment.

Pigeon Forge has many unique restaurants, and a chain steakhouse is not why people travel here. It earns its place when the day has been long, the group is tired and everyone wants a meal they already understand. The format also makes it an easy choice for travelers with picky eaters or kids: steak, chicken, a baked potato and a salad cover most appetites.

If you are comparing options, a locally owned steakhouse gives you something more distinctive, while LongHorn gives you predictability. Choose by what your group wants that night.

The chain's location page is the best source for current hours, and the phone number on file is (865) 429-2100. Holiday schedules vary.

The restaurant is on the Parkway, in an area with other chain restaurants. Traffic is heavy at dinner on summer weekends and in October. If you are staying along the strip, the Fun Time Trolley is $1 a ride, and the city's trolley page lists current routes.

• Dinner is the busy hour. Put your name in early, or use the chain's online waitlist if one is available.
• Ask for a booth if you are traveling with kids, since booths hold bags and coats better than tables.
• Steaks are cooked to order, so tell the server how you want yours when you sit down.
• If you plan to spend the day in the national park first, remember the parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) is required for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes; see the NPS fees page.

LongHorn is a safe, mid-range steak dinner in a town of many options. It is not the most local meal in the Smokies, but it is a comfortable one, and sometimes that is the right choice after a long day on the road.