Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant

Third-party listings show the restaurant open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The phone number listed is (865) 285-0155, and the restaurant takes reservations through OpenTable. Because these are directory listings and not an operator page, call before you drive over, especially in January and February when many Parkway restaurants shorten their hours. The state tourism site also carries a Puckett's Pigeon Forge listing.

2480 Parkway puts Puckett's in the middle of Pigeon Forge, a short drive from the Dollywood area and a bit longer from the turn to Wears Valley. If you are staying in Gatlinburg, expect the Parkway to eat most of the evening on a summer weekend. The better trick is to eat early: show up at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m., get seated before the dinner rush, and then drive back toward the national park while the light is still good for the Gatlinburg Bypass overlooks.

• Reserve for groups. A reservation through OpenTable beats standing in the lobby with six people in the middle of a fall weekend.
• Plan the day around it. Eat a late lunch here after a morning in the park, then skip a full dinner. Portions in Southern kitchens are rarely small.
• Park fees. A parking tag is required for any stop over 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual). Federal passes are not accepted. See the NPS fees page.
• Use the trolley. The Pigeon Forge Fun Time Trolley is $1 a ride on most routes, with a $3 all-day pass, which saves hunting for a space on a Saturday night. Check mypigeonforge.com for current routes.

Families, reunions and couples who want a sit-down Southern meal with a bar and a lot of seating. Vegetarians will find options. If you want a quick breakfast, look elsewhere, since the doors open at 11 a.m.