The Apple Barn & Cider Mill was such a fun find during my time in the Smoky Mountains! What makes…read morethis place special is that it isn't just somewhere to run in, buy something, and leave. The entire property feels like a destination worth taking the time to explore. I loved the relaxed, old-fashioned atmosphere. There's something wonderfully nostalgic about visiting a place centered around apples, cider, country shops, and Smoky Mountain hospitality. Give yourself time to wander because there is more to see here than you might expect. For me, places like this are part of what makes traveling memorable. The big attractions may get most of the attention around Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, but I also love finding stops with their own personality and sense of place. The Apple Barn definitely has both. It's a great addition to a Smoky Mountains itinerary, especially if you enjoy discovering local flavors, browsing for something unique to take home, or simply finding an interesting place away from the area's larger attractions. I also found plenty of charming details that caught my photographer's eye, which always makes a stop even more enjoyable for me. Definitely worth allowing some extra time for this one rather than treating it as a quick stop. I'd gladly return the next time my travels bring me back to the Smokies!

Some attractions sell an experience…read more Some sell a product. The Apple Barn Cider Mill somehow manages to do both. What started as a simple stop turned into one of the more enjoyable experiences of our trip. The star of the visit was our guide, who took us on a cider journey through the various flavors and offerings. She was friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what she was doing. She answered questions, explained the differences between the ciders, and made the tasting experience fun instead of feeling like a sales pitch. And since there's a chance she might somehow see this review: Happy 40th Birthday! Sorry I forgot your name, but your hospitality certainly wasn't forgettable. Now let's talk about the cider. Excellent. There was a large variety of flavors available to sample, making it easy to compare styles and find a favorite. Whether you're new to cider or consider yourself a seasoned enthusiast, there's enough variety here to keep things interesting. After sampling our way through the lineup, we wound up purchasing a glass of the original apple cider and enjoyed it outside. And honestly, that's where the experience really came together. Sitting outside with a fresh cider in hand, playing cornhole and Jenga, enjoying the atmosphere, and slowing down for a little while made for a genuinely relaxing afternoon. No rushing. No crowds pushing you along. Just good cider and good company. We also picked up a growler to bring back to the hotel because one thing became very clear during the tasting process: leaving empty-handed would have been a mistake. The Apple Barn Cider Mill does a great job creating an experience that's welcoming, fun, and memorable without feeling overly commercialized. Great cider. Great staff. Great atmosphere. Five stars. And judging by the growler currently waiting back at the hotel, I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

A great little county store. The have all kinds of prepared jams, jellies,and pickles. Even things…read moreyou didn't know you needed. Picked hot boiled eggs for instance. I got one of my favorites muscadine grape juice. I got some a few years ago and it is very good so I stocked up on a few bottles. Worth the drive over from Pigeon Forge.

We found this place on YouTube from people that post reviews. We did a visit our last trip and we…read morelove this place with all the variety of homemade products. Highly recommend this p,ace that is located away from the busy tourist area. The staff are very welcoming and will help you with all your questions. We will be back in December to get our favorite items. They also have some Carmel puffs that we like better than Buces Nuggets from the famous gas station. Bucces if I'm spelling it correctly.

We booked the Chef's Table for our anniversary, and everything was absolutely amazing. We have…read moredined at many high-end establishments, and The Appalachian does such a great job of delivering exceptional food and service without the pretentiousness that can sometimes come with it. Our chef for the evening, Derek, was a wealth of information. He could tell us where everything on our plates came from, from memory. The chefs at this restaurant are THAT attuned to the ingredients they're working with. He even described what made the wines work with the food and admitted he wasn't always a wine pairing believer, but has quickly become one. Our server, Amanda, was sweet, pleasant, and incredibly accommodating. This girl noticed me lifting my hair off my neck (those open woodfire grills add an extra level of heat to the kitchen) and brought me a hand fan FROM HER PURSE. That caused one of the kitchen team to notice and bring me an electric fan. Like I said, stellar service. Even the general manager, Dan, was involved in our service that evening. It truly felt like the entire team was paying attention and genuinely wanted us to have a wonderful experience. Would I recommend the restaurant? 100%. Would I recommend the Chef's Table experience? 1,000%. Being in the kitchen, watching the team operate like a well-oiled machine, and getting dishes that aren't on the menu (I'm looking at you, tuna tartare), made it well worth it. We will probably do it again in a different season to see how the menu changes. @serenity_now_travel_concierge

Of the 5 night we were in town, we visited The Appalachian 3 times - not just for the quality of…read morethe food, but also for the quality of the people. From ensuring they source fresh, seasonal ingredients to creating a welcoming atmosphere, it's obvious that everything is done with passion and attention to detail. The night we came in for dinner, we had the joy of having Mariah as our server. We had the fried chicken skins, the à la carte ribeye and sirloin, mashed potatoes, broccolini, and summer squash, and then the cobbler for dessert. The drinks were strong pours, everything was seasoned perfectly, and the service was impeccable. Another night, we came in for drinks and dessert and had the goat cheese cheesecake and Pots de Crème. If you're looking for a restaurant that's the perfect combination of great food and great vibes, this is absolutely it.

Excellent food and beer! Natalie is a top tier server and went out of her way to make sure we had…read moreeverything we needed!

We were staying at the local campground and decided to eat close by tonight. Iron forge was a…read morepleasant surprise. We were a party of 6 and started with the fried green tomatoes and a pretzel. They were delicious and everyone in the party thought so. We then ordered a mix of burgers, flat bread pizza, and blackened salmon. Three different style burgers. All delicious and so much we took leftovers back. The loaded fries were a meal by itself. Everything was amazing. Jay jay was our host and he did a great job. All six of us walking out said the same thing. We were all happy with our choice of dining and would come back.

went into this store on Easte sunday, Never heard of a fired…read morepie Joked with the employers about them, they were such good salesmen, We had to try one, Cherry pie with ice cream and chocolate sauce, hubby and i shared, (wished i got my own now) my son had the Apple pie, WELL WORTH a stop. Other goodies available, Plus other stores there to enjoy,

Mountain Brothers General Store is a locally run tourist gift shop off the beaten path not too far…read morefrom Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They sell a variety of local art, food items, mountain inspired gifts and clothing. The place is large inside and meanders through several rooms. I picked up a mug for my granddaughter and locally made pickles, jam and pancake mix. Prices are reasonable. This is a fun little stop. The staff is friendly. There is parking in their shared lot.

Hand crafted products of all types for everyone. Do many…read moredesigns and natural products. Friendly employee

We have driven by here for years and finally tried it after many YouTube and TikTok food reviewers…read moreconvinced us. We will never come to Pigeon Forge and not eat here, now! It was crowded and loud, but the speed of service, good food, and great service was worth it! Thankfully my husband put us on the list and we had a 45 minute wait but we were able to hang out in the car super close by (we have a 4 year old to entertain) and then we went to check in closer to our time to be called in. The food we got was delicious! The chips and cheese dip have been on my mind for a few months now since we went. I can't wait to go again in November!

Come hungry! Portions are large. The open faced pot roast had a lot of very tender beef. Staff…read morewas great too.

Wow!! I wish they did breakfast like this on the West Coast!…read more Five Oaks Farm Kitchen is not only an amazing restaurant, but the food, atmosphere, and staff are incredible. We arrived with a party of 13, which can be a challenge for any restaurant, but they handled our group wonderfully. Our food came out fresh, warm, and extremely tasty. Everything had that homemade, comfort-food quality you hope to find when visiting Tennessee. Our service was provided by Rob, who did a great job taking care of our large group and making sure everyone had what they needed. The decor is an experience all by itself. It's warm and welcoming, yet mesmerizing when you take in the size of the restaurant and all the incredible details throughout. It really adds to the whole Southern farmhouse experience. If you're visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Five Oaks Farm Kitchen should definitely be on your list. Great food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommended!!

Stopped in pigeon Forge to see the smoky mountains for two days while trekking to Clarksville. I…read morehave never been to the area so I was blown away. It was like a little kid Las Vegas! They literally have every fast food and chain dining experience on one block, but I didn't know that at the time but I'm tired of road trip Food so wanted to sit down for a good meal! Pulling into the parking lot and I was overwhelmed because it was huge and very crowded! We go to the desk and they tell us 25 minutes. This place was huge and very accommodating, they were getting people to their tables fast! We noticed two empty seats at the bar, so we opted to take them and had the pleasure of being served by Robert. He was attentive, made sure our waters were always full. He gave recommendations on his favorite dishes and was all around a great bartender! The guy working the other end of the bar was equally as professional. The ambience is a dark cool vibe, little trendy but people were dressed pretty casually! Answer the most important thing...The food! For an app, we got the beer, cheese fondue that came with apples, bread and pretzels. The beer cheese had a little bit of ooomph to it, which was refreshing because usually I'm not a big mustard person. The pretzel bites were incredible crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The apples were fresh all around the appetizer for 3 to 4 people so we took extra home. I ordered the 10 ounce sirloin cooked, medium with the web sweet potatoes and a side Caesar salad for a three dollar charge which ended up being a full-size salad! It was super fresh and gigantic for a side salad. The steak was cooked perfectly, in the middle with an insane sear. Their house, butter that they put on it truly elevated the flavor profile. I tried the sweet potatoes mashed and they were enjoyable, but I do not enjoy a sweet side with my food so I knew I was going to donate them to my husband and he said they were incredible, the flavor was definitely there just not my cup of tea, but I knew that from the beginning . He got the Caesar salad with grilled chicken! It had so much flavor and tastes incredible but yet melted in your mouth it was the most tender chicken I've ever had in my life, and the flavor was all there! Not even the slightest bit of any kind of dryness. One of the best bites of chicken I've ever had.! He ordered the bison meatloaf to go, and that comes with caramelized mashed potatoes and fried onion straws.... It smells incredible and I will update when we try it . * UPDATE: best meatloaf ever!!! Based on the quality/ experience on a very busy night- everything was phenomenal and I will return. Service 10/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Value 5/5

Local Goat pros and cons Pros:…read more⁃ Comfortable booths after a long day at Dollywood ⁃ Great mascot ⁃ Wide selection of food ⁃ Great sirloin steak nice and buttery crisps ⁃ Not yet owned by Blake Shelton ⁃ Good salads that are finger licking good ⁃ Many items made in house ⁃ Bake potatoes are loaded ⁃ Patriot burger (I'm still saluting) Cons: ⁃ Took over 30 minutes for food to arrive ⁃ Parking is a bit wild

Awesome little shop! I stopped by to get my sister a gift as she loves bread with oil and vinegar…read more The lady in the store was very kind and let me sample multiple balsamic vinegars. She also recommended oils to compliment each one. They have some smaller sizes so if you want to take more flavors home that's a great way to do it. Located in the village shops area, a really nice place to walk around.

Free tastings, vinegar/oil/sauces/pickles/olives…read more Tad pricey, but quality. Military discount.

I recently visited and they now have homemade ice cream! I wish I had more cash on me to buy some,…read morebut I decided to purchase meat (breakfast sausage & ground beef). They ran out of forms, so I used whatever I had to tell them my purchase for their inventory purposes.

Had their product at a retreat and got to visit their farm. Really appreciate their mission of…read moreregenerative farming...plus their meats are delicious!