Planning to spend your Christmas holidays in the Smoky Mountains? Wondering where to enjoy a delicious and festive meal with your loved ones on Christmas Day? After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the joy of sharing a table and a toast with those you love most on this special occasion.
While there is a special kind of magic to a homemade Christmas feast, whipped up in your very own Smoky Mountain cabin surrounded by loved ones and incredible views, it’s also a lot of work. Luckily, for a more relaxed approach to Christmas dinner, the Smokies region offers no storage of delectable options to choose from. In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of thirteen wonderful restaurants where you can enjoy a mouth wateringly good Smoky Mountain Christmas dinner, you won’t soon forget!
Pigeon Forge Restaurants Open on Christmas:
Gaucho Urbano: For a hearty and delicious meal, head to Gaucho Urbano, a Brazilian steakhouse that offers a variety of grilled meats, salads, sides, and desserts. Enjoy their rodizio service, where servers bring skewers of meat to your table and carve them for you, or order from the various other menu options they offer. They’re open from 4 pm to 10 pm on Christmas Day, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
Hard Rock Cafe: Immerse yourself in music history and rock memorabilia at Hard Rock Cafe, a restaurant that features a collection of items from legendary musicians, such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. Enjoy classic American dishes, such as burgers, wings, ribs, and steaks, as well as their signature cocktails and desserts. They’re open from 11 am to 11 pm on Christmas Day.
Chesapeake’s: Seafood enthusiasts, rejoice! Chesapeake’s is the place to go for a variety of the freshest seafood around, such as oysters, crab, lobster, shrimp, and fish, as well as steaks, chicken, and pasta. Don’t miss their raw bar, where you can sample different kinds of oysters and clams. They’re open from 4 pm to 9 pm on Christmas Day, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
J.T. Hannah’s: Seeking a casual and family-friendly atmosphere to enjoy Christmas dinner? J.T. Hannah’s is a great option. They serve American dishes, such as burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and pizzas, as well as some specialties, such as ribs, chicken, and catfish. They also have a kids menu and a gluten-free menu. They’re open from 2 pm to 10 pm on Christmas Day.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen: Embrace Southern-style cuisine at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. They serve dishes inspired by Paula Deen’s recipes, such as fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, and mac and cheese. Enjoy their famous biscuits, cornbread, and butter cake. They’re open from 2 pm to 8 pm on Christmas Day, however, you can’t make reservations at this location, so be prepared to wait for a table.
Smoky Mountain Brewery: For a uniquely local experience, head to Smoky Mountain Brewery, a brewery and restaurant that brews their own beers, such as ales, lagers, stouts, and IPAs. They also serve a variety of dishes, such as pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wings. Enjoy live music and sports events on one of their 20 plus TVs. They have two locations in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, and both are open from 11 am to 10 pm on Christmas Day.
Gatlinburg Restaurants Open on Christmas:
Fannie Farkle’s: For a fun and laidback Christmas meal, consider Fannie Farkle’s. They serve carnival-style cuisine, such as corn dogs, funnel cakes, nachos, and lemonade. As you munch on your carnival-inspired goodies, enjoy their arcade, where you can play games and win prizes. They’re open on Christmas Day, but their hours may vary, so check their website or call them ahead of time to confirm.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co: Movie enthusiasts will love Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, a restaurant that pays tribute to the film Forrest Gump and its characters. Enjoy seafood and American dishes, such as shrimp, fish, burgers, salads, and soups, as well as themed drinks and desserts. They also have a gift shop for souvenirs and memorabilia. They’re open from 11 am to 4 pm on Christmas Day, but their hours are subject to change, so check their website or call them to verify.
Cherokee Grill: For a more conventional dining experience, you’ll want to head to Cherokee Grill. They serve traditional American dishes, such as steaks, chops, ribs, chicken, and seafood, as well as salads, soups, and appetizers. Enjoy their wine and beer selection, as well as desserts and coffee. They’re open from 11 am to 9:30 pm on Christmas Day.
Smith & Son Corner Kitchen: Sports enthusiasts, Smith & Son Corner Kitchen is your spot. They serve dishes inspired by the local flavors and ingredients of the Smokies, such as smoked meats, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas. Enjoy craft beers, cocktails, and wines, as well as live music and entertainment. They’re open from 2 pm to 10 pm on Christmas Day.
Crockett’s Breakfast Camp: Start your day right at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, offering a hearty and delicious breakfast. They serve American breakfast food, such as pancakes, waffles, omelets, biscuits, and gravy, as well as specialties, such as skillets, scramblers, and benedicts. They also have a bakery where you can buy fresh bread, muffins, and pies. They’re open from 7 am to 1 pm on Christmas Day, and while you can’t reserve a table ahead of time, you can reserve a spot in line on their website.
Sevierville Restaurants Open on Christmas:
Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant: Experience country family cooking at Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. They serve dishes made with fresh and local ingredients, such as fried chicken, ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn. Enjoy homemade apple fritters, apple butter, and apple julep as well. They’re open from 10:30 am to 8 pm on Christmas Day, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen: For Southern-style cooking, visit Five Oaks Farm Kitchen. They serve dishes based on the recipes of the original owners of the farm, such as chicken and dumplings, pot pie, meatloaf, and fried catfish. Enjoy biscuits, cornbread, and desserts. They’re open from 12 pm to 8 pm on Christmas Day, and while you can’t reserve a table ahead of time, you can reserve a spot in line on their website.
A Mountainside Holiday
Plan a Christmas to remember by allowing Parkside Resort to host you and your loved ones during the holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a spontaneous holiday vacation as a surprise for the family this year or to plan next year’s festivities while everyone is together, Parkside has got you covered! Plan your very own Smoky Mountain Christmas, complete with charming accommodations, a festive atmosphere, tons of holiday activities to get you in the mood, and experiences you’ll only find in the Smokies this time of year. And as you can see, there is a healthy selection of drool-worthy restaurants for you and your loved ones to choose from when planning the perfect Christmas dinner. Whether you want a casual or fine dining experience, a seafood or breakfast feast – you’ll find something that suits your taste and budget this Smoky Mountain Christmas!
So, what are you waiting for? Book your cabin today and get ready for the ultimate Smoky Mountain Christmas vacation. And don’t forget to check out these restaurants that are open for Christmas in the Smokies, and maybe even make a reservation or two. You’ll be glad you did!
Parkside Resort is the NEWEST luxury cabin resort in the Great Smoky Mountains!
