(Guest post by Emily) One thing we often get asked is, "What's a good place for breakfast in the Smokies?" We always recommend one of our favorite pancake restaurants – Smoky’s Pancake Cabin! Located on the Parkway, Smoky’s Pancake Cabin is approximately 10 miles from either of our pool cabins. It is a further drive if you are staying at Mountains on My Mind in Wears Valley, but in our opinion, it is definitely worth the extra few minutes of driving! Smoky's Pancake Cabin has a wide array of breakfast items, including gluten-free options. Mom and I arrived around 8:30 am on a sunny morning near the end of May. The restaurant was comfortably full with people enjoying their breakfast. We were seated immediately. Despite loving breakfast and pancakes, we needed a few minutes to figure out what we were each in the mood to eat for breakfast. Our waitress was very friendly and kept returning to our table every few minutes to see if we had made up our minds but was not pushy or rude trying to get us to order. Once we placed our orders, we were served within 15 minutes. We were very impressed with how quick and efficient the service was despite the restaurant having numerous guests. The speed of service and friendliness of the staff was only rivaled by how delicious the food was. After much deliberation, Mom ordered the mixed berry pancakes – thick, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh fruit. According to our waitress, the fruit topping can change throughout the year depending on what fruit is in season and easy to source. Mom’s fruit topping consisted of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. I ordered the fruit crepes, also containing the same fruit as Mom’s pancakes. I knew I needed some protein, so I didn’t have a sugar crash later in the day, and also ordered a side of eggs, cooked medium well. Mom and I decided to split a side of bacon that had four slices. We both enjoyed our food immensely.
Everything was delicious and full of flavor but still had a very homemade taste, which was wonderful. Our fruit was crisp, juicy and fresh – a distinctly different texture and taste from previously frozen fruit. The food arrived at our table still hot and slightly steaming. Our waitress kept our drinks topped off, and she promptly brought us additional items we needed for our meal, such as extra napkins and a knife after I accidentally dropped mine on the floor. When we were finished eating, she brought our check but was not pushy or rude about trying to get us to leave. The host who had seated us was also running the register, and he made sure we had enjoyed our meals. Due to COVID-19, our waitress and other staff members were wearing masks, but this did not keep any employee we encountered from being friendly and polite. Have you eaten at Smoky's Pancake Cabin? What did you order? Let us know in the comments below!
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(Guest post by Amanda) If you want to eat some good southern food during your next vacation to Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains, visit Sevierville’s oldest restaurant: Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant & Farmhouse Grill. Although connected, the Farmhouse Restaurant and Farmhouse Grill are two distinct restaurants. Today I’m reviewing Applewood’s Farmhouse Grill. Location: If you head South on the Parkway, just past the Tanger Outlets you may notice a picturesque orchard on the right-hand side. Nestled between the orchards and the West Prong Little Pigeon River, Applewood Farmhouse Grill sits on the aptly named Apple Valley Road. The complex that houses the Farmhouse Grill also holds the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, Apple Valley Creamery and Bake Shop, Apple Barn Winery, and Christmas & Candle Shop. If you are coming from one of Peaceful Cabin Rentals three luxury cabins, you can take Wears Valley Rd. to the Parkway, then make a left onto Apple Valley Road. Environment: The southern charm catches your attention before you even enter any of the restaurants or shops. Although the facility is large, the building runs longways. This keeps the parking close to the restaurants and stores. The architecture is beautiful and features gazebos, an outdoor fire pit, and porches covered in rocking chairs. When you enter the Farmhouse Grill, there is a cozy waiting area. We ate there at the start of the year, during the off season, so we were seated immediately. The atmosphere is homey, reminiscent of Cracker Barrel, but larger and brighter. Although the interior is large, it is sectioned into nice, neat little rooms so as not to feel overbearing. The large fireplace in the center of the room and cute country décor justify the name; you truly feel like you are dining in a farmhouse! We sat at a booth beneath a lovely painting of the mountains in fall, and were soon brought a basket of Apple Fritters and Apple Butter along with glasses of Apple Julep. Food:
From the start, the food is delicious! However, the Apple Fritters definitely steal the show. The crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside fritters are the ideal vehicle for that sweet apple flavor. The best way to describe the Apple Fritters is like little apple cakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Dip it in the Apple Butter, and your taste buds will thank you! The Apple Julep, a blend of fruit juices, is also delicious, but I was satisfied after one glass. If you can’t get enough of the fruity drink, though, they freely share the simple recipe on the wall of the waiting area. The food is a little pricey but comparable to many of the restaurants in the area. At the time of writing, their website mentions a $9.99 weekday lunch special, so there are ways to eat at the Farmhouse Grill while staying on budget. I ordered the Apple Julep Grilled Chicken, which came with soup, potatoes, and a Farmhouse Side. I chose their creamy Loaded Potato Soup, swapped my potatoes for green beans, and settled on Mac & Cheese for my side. Between the portion sizes and multiple sides, the food was plenty to fill me up. The Apple Relish was a delicious take on grilled chicken, and the sides did not disappoint. While I can’t remember what other members of my family ordered when we ate there, I do know that my mom (who, by the way, does a fabulous job ensuring guests have a wonderful stay at our cabins!) ordered the veggie soup. This side is a hearty soup filled with veggies, and she enjoyed it. Service: The friendly locals are part of the appeal of Pigeon Forge, and Applewood Farmhouse Grill staffs several! Service was prompt, and our food arrived quickly. Now, it was the off-season when we ate there, so there might be a wait during the summer or on peak weekends. If you do find yourself waiting to be seated, the porches provide plenty of seating for your party. Summary: Applewood Farmhouse Grill has a distinct charm, evidenced in both the setting and the food, that captures the essence of Pigeon Forge. We had a late start to our day, so although it was almost noon Applewood Farmhouse Grill was the first meal of our day. This was the perfect jump start to our day as we prepared to run errands and perform maintenance on the cabins. I would definitely eat at the Farmhouse Grill again. I would also love to explore the other shops on site and compare Applewood’s other dining options with the Grill. Sadly, the other shops weren’t open when we were there since it was the off season. But I guess exploring more of what Applewood has to offer can be an excuse to come back to the area soon! Have you eaten at Applewood Farmhouse Grill? Share your favorite menu item in the comments! (Guest post by Amanda) If you get the hankerin’ for some wings next time you vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN, Blue Moose is the place to go. This family sports grill, located between the Parkway and Teaster Lane, is known for its award-winning wings, hearty burgers, and delicious appetizers. We have been numerous times, and it never disappoints! Less than 2 miles from one of our cabins, Cinematic Splash, Blue Moose is a place you won’t want to miss. Environment: The restaurant is very clean with indoor booths and tables and outdoor dining for when the weather is nice. Though it is a sports grill, the atmosphere is inviting and family-friendly. If your team is playing, it’s impossible to miss the action no matter where you are seated in the restaurant. Many tables have their own TV that can be set to the game of your choice, or you can watch the game on one of the numerous TVs hanging on the wall. If sports aren’t your thing, you can put on another channel. For example, Dad changed our TV to the Pursuit outdoors channel while we ate. Personally, I think too many TVs can feel overwhelming; but the good news is you can turn off the TV at your table, and the overall volume in the restaurant is not overbearing. A neat touch they’ve added to the dining experience is the ability to download an app and request songs to play. Dad has used this feature before, and they played his request. I haven’t personally used the app, but that’s mostly because I was too busy enjoying the food! Service: Although we have been a number of times, often with different servers, the staff have always been friendly and helpful with that unmistakable Tennessee charm. Food:
The food is why we go to the restaurants, right? Well, this food won’t disappoint! First, let’s talk appetizers. On our first visit, we ordered a Queso Dip’N Chips Starter. Our waiter gave us the idea to swap the corn tortilla chips for Blue’s Tater Chips, and I’m so glad we took his advice! The queso is a creamy white cheese with rich, fresh jalapeno flavor. I don’t do spicy, but even I love their queso. The peppers provide the perfect amount of kick without burning your mouth. Paired with the savory homemade potato chips, this app is the perfect start to your meal. I wish I could tell you about some of their other appetizers, but the queso is so good we always end up ordering it! Their wings made them famous, so of course we need to talk about these. We order the boneless wings because they’re easier to eat and so tender. Select from a wide variety of flavors—with a helpful spicy index—and even try samples of flavors before placing your order. The wings come with ranch, blue cheese, and some veggies (think carrots and celery). I’m not a fan of ranch, but their ranch is creamy and delicious. It provides a perfect coolness to balance the flavor of the wings. Some of our favorite wing flavors are their Black Jack, Wild Ranch, and Italian Parmesan. You can also purchase a bottle of their Signature Wing Sauce to bring home. Our Experiences: With all the Great Smoky Mountains has to offer, it’s easy to miss some true gems. Blue Moose is one of those unique places that you don’t want to overlook! Last Fall was the first time we visited Blue Moose. We take a hands-on approach with our cabins to make sure guests always have a great experience. Several times a year, we head up the mountains to take care of little maintenance, upkeep, and cleaning items, like new landscaping outside of Mountains On My Mind, doing a deep clean of the theater room at Cinematic Splash, or decorating A Pearl’s Splash for Christmas. On one of these short trips, we decided to finally give Blue Moose a try. Friends recommended we try the restaurant, so we stopped in when we arrived to Pigeon Forge on a Friday. We spent Saturday and Sunday doing repairs, maintenance work, and deep-cleaning at the cabins, so we were exhausted by dinner time on Sunday. After throwing out some dinner options, we unanimously decided to return to Blue Moose even though we ate there just two days ago! The restaurant drew us back for several reasons. First, the location is convenient and easy to get to. Second, we had worked up an appetite and knew Blue Moose would provide fast, friendly service. Third, the atmosphere is welcoming and casual, so it was a great chance to unwind at the end of the day. And, of course, delicious food was a big factor in our decision! For whatever reason, we have struggled with leftovers. The first night we ate at Blue Moose, we ordered a large platter of wings expecting left overs. But nope, we finished off the appetizer and all the wings. So when we went back on Sunday, we ordered a larger platter of wings and two Queso Dip’N Chips apps, planning to have leftovers. Unfortunately, we all goofed up and assumed someone else had the leftovers. It was a heart-breaking moment the next day when we realized we left the leftovers sitting on the table. Naturally, we were paranoid about forgetting our leftovers the next time we ate there. We did better and remembered to bring them with us, but then someone (coughMomcough) forgot to take the queso out of the plastic to-go container when she reheated it. I don’t recommend eating melted plastic in your queso. But finally, we succeeded in bringing back left-overs and heating them up! The food is just as good when reheated as leftovers. Sweet, delicious success! But our own goofs aside, Blue Moose is worth a visit. The food is fabulous, and it’s a great place to make memories with family and friends. If you’ve been to Blue Moose, share your favorite menu item in the comments below! |
Erin BooneOwner - Peaceful Cabin Rentals Categories
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