Sure, the cozy settings, hot tubs, fun amenities, and beautiful mountain views are close to enough to keep you in your Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Cabin for the entirety of your trip, but when hunger rumblings begin to creep in and you want a break from cooking in the fully loaded kitchen, there are more than a few dining options in the Smoky Mountains. There are always the usual restaurant chains, but why not treat yourself and eat like a celebrity – at a celebrity-owned diner?!
The incredible beauty and endless fun of the Smoky Mountains don’t just attract your everyday tourist; celebrities have fallen in love with the laid-back Southern style of East Tennessee, too! So pry yourselves out of your rocking chairs, living room sofas, and out of the hot tubs, and discover some finger-licking good food at these 5 mouthwatering restaurants owned by celebrities who love the Smoky Mountains just as much as you.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
Celebrity chef and Southern native, Paula Deen has been vastly successful with 5 locations of her family-style restaurant serving up endless portions of delicious Southern dishes. Located at The Island in Pigeon Forge, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen boasts a large 300-seat open dining room with tiered seating and lovely views of the musical Island Show fountains through the tall windows lining the entire dining area. Big tables with plenty of elbow room provide the perfect space for all the big family-style portions you will be passing around the table for everyone to spoon out seconds and thirds. From buttery homemade biscuits and pancakes to mouthwatering fried chicken and mashed potatoes, dine here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner while shopping, playing, and exploring The Island in Pigeon Forge!
Blake Shelton’s Ole Red
This place hasn’t even opened yet, but the excitement is already revving up! Member of the Grand Ole Opry and hilarious country judge from The Voice, Blake Shelton has announced the 3rd location for Ole Red, a restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue: Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., are pulling out all the stops for their newest addition, coming Spring 2019. With multiple levels, 16,000-square feet, and a 2-story bar, Ole Red will be a premier venue for dining, live entertainment, dancing, shopping, and enjoying drinks on an exterior terrace with the Smoky Mountains in the backdrop. The same delicious menu and Blake Shelton’s favorites are being brought to the Smokies: hot chicken and waffles, BBQ, burgers, and more staples of Southern dining. This exciting venue may just convince you to start planning your spring break in the Smoky Mountains!
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
It’s not all fried chicken and gravy in the Smokies; get your seafood fix at The Island in Pigeon Forge at the famous Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville! Here, you can sip on the perfect blend of mountain and beach flavors with Ole Smoky Moonshine margaritas while digging into all your seafood favorites like shrimp, crab cakes, and fish tacos. The impressive 2-story restaurant also hosts live entertainment almost every night, making it easy to stumble into a good time while exploring The Island in Pigeon Forge!
Dolly Parton’s Stampede
As with anything Dolly Parton, expect the extraordinary and still leave surprised when you dine and enjoy an extravagant show at the Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner show. With pre-show hilarity, 4 incredibly delicious courses, acrobats, equestrian teams, and sultry Southern belles, this is a show the whole family can really get into. Everything here is an ode to the South, the savory southern cuisine, the charming mason jars you drink your sweet tea from, to the time-old characters you’ll meet throughout the show.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures
The one-time Lumberjack Adventures arena came to be the new home of Dolly Parton’s second dinner show attraction in the Smokies in Spring of 2017, Smoky Mountain Adventures! Think The Greatest Showman meets the mountains – and add 4 courses of feasting. The 2018 spectacular celebration puts acrobats, dancers, and amazing entertainers on full display with knee-tapping musical numbers, incredible feats of show and precision, and even a little bit of audience participation!
We know that visitors to the Smoky Mountains did not come all this way to be stuck indoors, eating their hearts out (but with so much savory Southern cooking, who could blame you?). Check out our attraction informational pages and blogs to help you start planning your Smoky Mountain dream vacation to pair well with your dream Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Cabin!
