Great food can easily be the highlight of your trip. Who doesn’t love looking for new restaurants and hidden eateries when traveling? This is because the flavors and tastes these locations offer cannot be recreated in many large chain diners, such as with Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Despite being a popular tourist spot, Pigeon Forge is home to some of the finest cuisines and food items that the South has to offer. From sizzling catfish to spicy Mexican tacos, Pigeon Forge has a spot for you no matter what you’re in the mood for. However, looking for hidden culinary outlets is no easy feat. You must dig deep, research, and investigate to find the restaurant you’re looking for.
This article will be your guide while you’re planning your food trip and leave your taste buds singing for days:
Read Food Blogs
You must read food blogs if you’re looking for a compiled list of restaurants with detailed reviews. The content on these blogs is divided according to region and cuisine. Therefore, depending on what you’re in the mood for, you can customize your research and hit relevant keywords, which will ultimately lead to a relevant food blog.
So if you desire Mexican food while you’re in pigeon forge, all you need to do is look up Mexican restaurants in Pigeon Forge, and you’ll be connected to an article that lists all the places you need to visit. Most food bloggers are known to try out the places they mention on their blogs, and the research they compile is authentic and comes from experience.
Ask the Local Population
No one knows their city better than the locals. Hence, you should rely on their expertise to guide you on the best eateries. Often locals also know of underrated places, so if you want to try something unique, ask them.
When conversing with a server, bartender, or shopkeeper, ensure you’re courteous instead of prodding them for answers. If you’re looking for specific food items like ‘apple pie’ or ‘cinnamon rolls.’ mention it to them. Ask them how far these extraordinary eateries are, what’s the best item on their menu, and when you should visit them.
Check Out Online Reviews
Websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and even platforms like Reddit can walk you through numerous hidden gems around pigeon forge. Unlike food bloggers, these online reviews give you a basic idea of what made the restaurant stand out without giving many details.
Some reviews can inform you what the peak dining hours are if it is easy to get a table, and what food items are not worth the money. If you turn your location services on while you’re at pigeon forge, the search engine can provide you with recommendations close to you, as well as their reviews and ratings. But, if you will use online reviews to guide you, try reading at least a few comments instead of settling for one guest post and allowing it to influence your decision.
Participate in a Food Festival
Food festivals are events that showcase various food items that you can either purchase or taste. This festival highlights a specific ingredient, cooking style, or cuisine. For instance, if you go to a meat festival, you’ll find different types of cuts, meat products, and dishes that celebrate this product. Therefore, if you are in pigeon forge, you should at least attempt to join in on a food festival. These events benefit local restaurants and allow you to support the economy. Below is a list of some of these events:
- Dollywood Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival:
During the summer, around late May, the Dollywood theme park is set for its annual barbecue and bluegrass festival. This event runs for a week and welcomes tourists from all over the world. You can choose from various barbecue outlets like the Hickory House, Big Skillet, Red’s Diner, or Market Square Booths. Each venue has its way of roasting and cooking meat products.
Once you pick out the food you want, you can slather it with an irresistible topping of your choice, from vinegar sauce to locally produced honey mustard. Numerous sides, including buttery grilled corn, baked beans, and potato salad, complement your meal. Furthermore, the musical lineup consists of the finest bluegrass musicians and their acoustic instruments, like the five-string banjo, mandolin, and steel guitar.
- The Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival:
The state of Tennessee takes its Fourth of July celebrations seriously and stays true to its American heritage; the city of pigeon forge goes all out on the 4th of July. The festival takes place in Patriot Park along Old Mill Square and features a vast collection of American cuisine. You can indulge your palate by eating classics like funnel cakes, hot dogs, and hamburgers. But if you’re looking for culinary gems, you can also find slow-cooked pork sandwiches, grilled chicken, and fresh-cut fries. There is also live music, and an impressive fireworks display, leaving you with a full belly and a thoroughly entertaining night.
Use Social Media
Social media is a great tool to help you conduct localized searches. As a foodie, you can use social media like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok to look for unique restaurants. Social media marketing is a great way for restaurants to get consumers. You can also follow local influencers who hail from Tennessee, as they are known to share their favorite dining out spots, vendors, and meals. If you’re trying to narrow your research further, use hashtags like #Pigeonforgefoods, which prompts social media only to display posts that use this hashtag.
On the other hand, you can follow restaurants in Pigeon Forge by joining their Facebook or Instagram pages. Certain groups are dedicated to food spots and dining places where numerous foodies like yourself congregate to discuss their experiences. Hence, becoming a member gives you access to personalized lists of culinary gems that can make your search easier.
Final Thoughts
Tennessee is known for many things, but the quaint town of pigeon forge is its best tourist attraction. If you are on a journey to explore, learn and taste the various cuisines available in Tennessee, you will have a great time down here. Despite being small, Pigeon Forge is home to some of the finest restaurants that the South has to offer. You can find many meals, from BBQs to warm ciders. However, if you’re looking for specific outlets, you must research.
What makes these venues stand out is the fact that they’re not relatively well known. So, like a game scavenger, rely on tools such as social media, online reviews, and food blogs to navigate through Pigeon Forge and try these rare culinary delicacies.