3 Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

In these parts, BBQ means just one thing—pulled pork. And while many spots in town may serve shredded pig, they're not serving a sandwich that makes you want to buy a T-shirt to prove you've been there; for that experience, head to this unassuming old-school joint that'll leave you full but drooling for more. BBQ travels well, so order sandwiches and slaw to go and enjoy them 20 minutes away at the Chimney Rocks Picnic Area in the national park.

If you're packing a picnic for the park—or if you just need a meal that's not fried—this long-standing organic spot is an outlier in a town built on pancakes and pizzas. The simple menu of wraps, sandwiches, and salads is made to order but ready almost as fast as grab-and-go.

Enjoy an idyllic stream-side setting that's just right to sip the signature sweet tea (served sweet, either hot or cold). Savor the sherried tomato bisque, or sample creative salads like dill pea or arugula tossed with strawberries and feta with a citrus vinaigrette. The attentive staff is eager to make recommendations from the limited menu while you share a basket of warm wild-plum muffins.