Tom & Earl's Back Alley Grill

The menu is pub fare with a little personality. Items that come up again and again in listings include the Hillbilly Philly, cream corn fritters, fried green tomatoes, a French dip, a hot chicken sandwich and a panini called the Love Tractor, made with apple-wood smoked bacon and pesto mayo on toasted rustic bread. A local guide calls the wraps, sandwiches and specialty drinks "quite good." Listings also mention six or seven beers on tap.

Seating is indoors and outdoors, and the patio is the draw, with a spot near the river that guests like. Several outdoor-dining roundups list it as dog friendly. Live music is listed on Friday and Saturday nights. The kitchen can get crowded at peak times, so expect a wait on summer and October weekends.

The Marketplace Mall is on the Parkway close to the center of downtown, within walking distance of many attractions. Walk through the shopping center toward the back rather than looking for a Parkway sign. Parking downtown is the hard part: city garages charge a flat $10 a day and private lots run more, and the free trolley connects the park-and-ride lots to the Parkway. The city's parking page lists options.

• A casual dinner with a beer after a day in the park
• Dog owners who want a patio table
• Anyone avoiding the chain restaurants on the main strip

The number listed is (865) 325-6022. If your day started at the park, remember that a parking tag is $5 a day inside the national park and federal passes are not accepted.