Southern Cooking At It’s Best In The Great Smoky Mountains

There are so many excellent choices to dine at when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful. Here are a few to get your taste buds watering for the taste of Tennessee.

Calhoun’s will give you an authentic Tennessee barbecue pork experience, served with traditional Southern sides, like “Smoky Mountain Baked Beans” and “Tennessee Corn Puddin’.” Freshly baked soft pretzels, with a side of signature beer cheese dip, make the perfect snack. It is even better washed down with a pint of “Appalachian Pale Ale,” or one of Calhoun’s many other all-natural beers made in their microbrewery. They also offer a fantastic family barbecue picnic to go, complete with the napkins and plates. Their salad dressing are homemade, as are the desserts, like “Banana Pudding.” They also have a substantial gluten-free menu.

The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Grill serves excellent food, farm style. Every meal starts with a serving of apple fritters, homemade apple butter, and an apple julep, a beverage made from a mixture of apple, orange, pineapple, and lemon juice. Grilled or fried, “Smoky Mountain Trout,” with house made tartar sauce is a must-have. Choose from several traditional side dishes, like macaroni and cheese, fried okra, or turnip greens to complete your meal.  A traditional favorite restaurant choice in the Great Smoky Mountains

The Old Mill Restaurant is located in a 200 year-old working mill and granary. The Old Mill stone grinds all of the whole grains used in making their fresh bread, grits, hush puppies, muffins, and pancakes. Start your day off right with a perfect breakfast. Begin with a glass of complimentary orange juice and Old Mill banana nut muffins. Their country breakfast includes two farm-fresh eggs; stone-ground grits; homemade biscuits with made-from-scratch jellies and jams; sausage, bacon, and ham; and fried potatoes, all smothered in country gravy.

The Bullfish Grill has an upscale atmosphere but isn’t pretentious. They serve aged, hand-cut Angus Beef steaks, and fresh seafood that is delivered daily. They also have a nice wine list. For a nice lunch, at a nice price, the “Wild Turkey Pork Chop,” a juicy, grilled, boneless center-cut pork chop is infused with a bourbon marinade and served with pecan brittle sweet potatoes. Or try their Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes Benedict at brunch on Sundays.