Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg

Whether it's a heaping pile of flapjacks before heading out to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or a steak dinner after a day on the ski slopes at Ober Gatlinburg, you'll find the fresh mountain air of stimulating to your apetite.

Pancake Houses

Make breakfast a typical Gatlinburg affair with a stack of freshly made pancakes at any of the highly regarded pancake houses in town. At least once during your visit, brave the line at the Log Cabin Pancake House, a local favorite where the menu includes tried-and-true buttermilk pancakes, as well as cornmeal and buckwheat pancakes and several varieties of French toast and crepes. You'll find an equally enticing mix of classic and unexpected menu items—sweet potato pancakes and orange walnut pancakes among them—at Pancake Pantry, which became the state's first pancake house when it opened in 1960. One bite and you'll understand why some call Gatlinburg the "Pancake Capital of the South."

The Peddler Steakhouse

After a fun-filled day of hiking or skiing in Gatlinburg, treat yourself to dinner at a cozy riverside table at The Peddler Steakhouse, a rustic venue that combines parts of several historic log cabins. If you order a hand-cut steak, as so many here do, you'll be presented table-side with several cuts to choose from. The cut you select will be cooked over Tennessee hickory charcoal. The menu also includes chicken, trout, salmon and shrimp, any of which you can pair with steak fries or green beans, among other accompaniments. End your meal with a luscious dessert, like the hot blackberry cobbler—the house specialty.

Wild Plum Tea Room

In Gatlinburg's arts and crafts district you'll find the charming Wild Plum Tea Room, which takes a cue from Austrian-style tea houses. Lace tablecloths and mismatched tea cups contribute to an atmosphere that is elegant yet relaxed. Whether in the main dining area or outdoors in the patio, order the namesake beverage to sip while you peruse a menu that features light fare such as soups, sandwiches and salads. The lobster pie, baked with an artichoke cream sauce beneath a layer of puff pastry, is a popular option. The Wild Plum Tea Room is open seasonally, from March through mid-December and only for lunch, so plan accordingly.

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