The first time my son and I drove through Pigeon Forge, our mouths were agape. Look at that roller coaster! That building is upside down! Is that…The Titanic?? The town’s main drag, Great Smoky Mountain Parkway, is lined with so many over-the-top attractions on either side that it’s hard to keep your eyes on the road.
While there are activities everywhere you turn, finding places to eat is a little harder, especially if you’re looking for non-chain restaurants. Pigeon Forge is big on pancake houses, burger spots, and dinner theaters. But good, old-fashioned home cooking is not as easy to come by.
Which is how we found ourselves waiting for over an hour for a table at The Old Mill. At home in Birmingham, I would laugh if someone asked me to wait that long at a restaurant. It was late, and we were tired and hungry, but The Old Mill’s thousands of positive Yelp reviews convinced me it would be worth it. And I’m very glad we did.
About The Old Mill
The Old Mill’s name is both accurate—the restaurant was built in 1993 near a still-functional gristmill dating back to 1830—and not. More than a single eatery, there is actually an entire complex called Old Mill Square that is home to multiple restaurants, a creamery, distillery, general store, pottery studio, and several other shops…