Wow! Just wow. Every bite is orgasmic. Even the salad. Moynihan was superb and like a family member, not just a server. The smoked whiskey was on point. Terrific atmosphere with romantic lighting and warm fireplaces. Outside fire pit to enjoy relaxing drinks is extra special. read more

Tonight was our 8th NYE at the Bear. The culinary team really outdid themselves this year. The Pre fixe menu was a culinary experience that was worth every penny. Everything from the app to dessert was a perfection. My favorite was a toss up between the risotto and the halibut. The service was impeccable as always. Sissy was our server and she took really great care of us. I cannot recommend NYE at Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro enough. It rivals any high end restaurant in Nashville, Chicago or New York. It's by no means a cheap meal. That said, in my opinion, the value you receive is far greater than the cost of a meal. If you're looking for a memorable dinner that is in equal measure adventurous and comforting in a place rife with authentic southern culture, then this is your spot. read more

My husband and I came to stay at Dancing Bear Lodge and had heard great things about the Bistro. It was an incredible experience. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was absolutely beautiful, but the real reason we enjoyed our visit was John. Our server John was so wonderful and truly made the entire evening for us. His passion for what he does is so obvious. Everything he recommended was incredible and he was such a friendly and attentive server. My husband said we would go back simply to have John serve us again! We wish we didn't live in Michigan so that we could return more frequently. The chefs attention to detail and flavor was obvious! We loved learning about the history of the recipes and all of the ingredients from John. We cannot wait to return to Dancing Bear. read more

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Still 5 stars for me. Also might have just had one of the best steaks of my life this weekend. Hoping that the Truffled Filet Minion stays on the menu or I'm going to be one unhappy camper next time. The topping and sauce is to die for - not to mention the steak is cooked perfectly. The charred Cesear is also a staple. Tried the bacon/crab soup and I loved it - it was too heavy and smoky for the others I was with but I thought it was a great combo. The bread with the salted butter dipped in it was perfection. They had blue cheese olives on hand so I had the perfect dirty martini. Empress martini was like a dessert for me - loved the raspberry garnish for this. Special shoutout to our favorite server Jake. We were debating what to do afterwards and discussed with him. He wasn't sure what to recommend and, unprompted, went in the back and polled his coworkers and came up with an awesome suggestion for us. Appreciated him going above and beyond. Also need to note the interesting "bark" wall in the bathrooms. I just love the upscale "lodgey" feel of this place. It was raining so couldn't toast the marshmallows outside but they still had the marshmallow bar available. I saw one person roasting their s'more over the tiny candle centerpiece at their table ;) Can't wait to come back! read more

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Outdoor dining. Absolutely lovely location. We have been roadtripping around the smokies and stopped here for dinner before our flight. Just absolutely lovely way to end our journey through the smokies. Amazing good, lovely vibe and scene and top notch service. Make the stop! read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Outdoor dining. Absolutely lovely location. - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

I thought this restaurant had wonderful service, great food, and a beautiful atmosphere.

This is an amazing bistro and highly recommend it - sits up in the hills in Townsend. The vibe in the evening with the lights around the patio and fire going with a s'mores bar at the fire pit was a special touch after having an amazing dinner! Reservations are needed. The ambiance is cozy with a huge fire going in the huge fireplace that is the focal point when you walk in. Excellent service and our dinner was exceptional. You will not be disappointed and well worth treating yourself too! read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Bone in pork chop! - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

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The ambiance was lovely, we had a table outdoors on the patio. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the area and their food. My husband thought the pork-chop was the best that he has ever had. Unfortunately the crust on the trout that I ordered was too salty. We are from CA and have found food around the area salty in general. I guess that they cater to local tastes. We have traveled throughout the world and I regret to say how many meals I have had that would have been truly wonderful if there wasn't too much salt for my taste. Salt is so easy to add and so hard to subtract! read more

First time going here about a week ago and LOVED everything about this place! The atmosphere and staff were exceptional. We ordered sangrias at the bar which I wasn't too keen on because it was fizzy tasting? The food was delicious though! There was lamb ribs and meatballs! I have never tried lamb before so I appreciated the waitress saying if I don't like it, she would get me something I would. But I loved it! The meat was moist and chewy but too much. The meatballs though should definitely had spicy on them!! (So my reasoning for the 4 star is the sangria and this). Otherwise it was beautiful and loved the unlimited s'mores bar outside for dessert read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

This should be 7 stars!! Excellent service, food, cocktails, ambience. We enjoyed the fresh baked bread, pasta, burgers, salmon, s'mores and dessert. Highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

After a recent anniversary visit with my wife, I feel like Dancing Bear is a massive hidden gem in Eastern TN. We thoroughly enjoyed it, from start to finish. Dancing Bear is a farm-to-table restaurant with a bit of a Gulf Coast feel due to the influences of the head chef. Menu changes are frequent, in fact, the menu today is already different than it was in our visit on 10/26. Ambiance was super intimate & classy, & service was what you'd expect at a high-end downtown restaurant. For cocktails, we enjoyed their gold rush & raspberry blossom mixed drinks. Fantastically prepared & pleasing to the eye. For food, we ordered their crispy, glazed pork belly burnt ends as a starter which were fantastic in both flavor profile & presentation. Seriously, very good. I had their sweet tea brined pork chop platter with green tomato & jalapeño jam, & my wife had the sorghum glazed Joyce Farms chicken. I'd recommend everything we ordered, honestly. Anyway, if you're in Eastern TN & in need of good drinks and/or food, get a reservation at Dancing Bear & then send me a thank you card. read more

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Probably the best dining experience my wife and I have had in the mountains. Wonderful atmosphere. Service is top notch and the food is out of this world. We have made this our anniversary meal place. Worth every penny! read more

Best Restaurant in East TN! Fantastic food and service! Warm, comfortable environment and we can't wait to go back!

What can I say about the perfect place that has not already been said. While spending a few days in towns, and we stumbled upon this place, found it on yelp mainly because it was dog-friendly. It was super cold and their insulated, heated patio was the perfect venue for us to have several meals. We absolutely fell in love with the food and the staff the first time we went that we instantly booked a return trip for the next night. Everything on the menu was fresh, seasonal, local, and expertly done. We were blown away by every bite we took out of every single dish we tried. The staff were knowledgeable, attentive, and had absolutely brilliant recommendations that I otherwise would have not selected. If you are anywhere near this place, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It is absolutely perfect; Conner and Jack will take care of you! read more

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The ambiance of this place is insane. Absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I was blown away. The food was amazing. We got the charcuterie plate and it was Devine. My boyfriend got the wagyu burger which was delicious and I got the filet and it was amazing !! So tender. The service was ok, I think our waiter was grouchy or something. But I'd def go back. read more

Food and drinks were prepared perfectly, the service is highest standard and the ambiance is so breathtaking. Clearly a great destination for a memorable dinner. read more

Blown away every time. The menu changes and is always phenomenal. We've brought friends from all over the country, and they all rave about this place afterwards. Beautiful setting, exceptional service, meal always impresses, read more

There are not enough superlatives available to praise the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro! We were visiting the Smoky Mountains on our roadtrip and stayed locally for two nights. We wanted a nice dinner, and stumbled across the Dancing Bear on OpenTable. I made a reservation, and we got on our way. Unfortunately, there was an accident on one of the local roads so we had to detour. I called the restaurant and thankfully they were very accommodating with our 15 minute delay. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the bistro was part of beautiful lodge facilities in a serene woodland setting. The inside of the bistro was very cozy, with dimmed lighting and a fireplace. After being seated, we received complimentary corn bread with home-made butter. We skipped starters and went straight for the main course. I had the Filet Mignon and my mom had the Bouillabaisse. Both were absolutely wonderful. I did mention that I would have loved a bit more veggies with the filet mignong, because the 2 small potatoes cut in half an the one piece of broccoli didn't stretch very far. For dessert, we had the seasonal cobbler and the dark chocolate coffee pot de creme. Both made for wonderful endings to a great dinner. Of our entire two week roadtrip, this was probably the best dinner we had! Would love to come back here one day. PS: Get yourself the Man In Black cocktail, you won't be sorry. read more

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Mussels with grilled Foccocia...Bitter orange margarita,Man in Black,Old Red, Ckrn bread with Sorghgum bitter, Trout with Grits, Garden Vegetable pasta (w/ shrimp), Lavender lemon creme Brulee & French pressed coffee. Amazing evening, excellent dood & great service. Highlights:mussels,trout and Brulee! read more

Omg you have to eat here! Family brought me here and it didn't disappoint. We sat on the patio in the evening with a beautiful view. The food is sourced locally and the menu is based off this. We started with the burnt pork belly which was tender and delicious that had some veggies that had some spice to them. Family members had the filet which was cooked to perfection and very tender. I went with the duck gumbo. The duck was delicious and the sausage was divine, and the sauce was good. Other family had the starter of gnocchi and asparagus. Very nice sauce and the gnocchi was light and pillowy. We finished the meal off with the flourless chocolate cake and crème brûlée. Hands down the crème brûlée was out favorite, the right vanilla flavor and the sugar torch was just right. The chocolate cake was a mix for the family as it had a gritty texture that I didn't like but others didn't mind. We then went and sat at the fire pit pulling up chairs. They have a smores bar but we were to full. It was peaceful and relaxing. A few things to consider, the pathway to the restaurant from parking is dirt and bark fairly smooth with no lights, leaving we used our phones for light. Sitting on the patio I would suggest bringing a coat or shawl for the evenings. read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Smore bar - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

This place is absolutely wonderful! My friend made brunch reservations on a Sunday as an early birthday present for me and we had the best time. The restaurant itself is so cozy and has the perfect atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Most of all, the food was delicious! They offer a brunch buffet and it is fantastic. The have a huge spread of amazing brunch items such as biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, bread pudding, and so much more! There was so much food I couldn't even fit it all on my plate. We enjoyed our meals in front of a live band that played a wonderful selection of Appalachian style music. I can't rave about this place enough! I would highly recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a special meal around the Townsend area. read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Amazing brunch! - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

I recently took a trip up to Tennessee for a wedding. I had heard around the WWW that this place was one of the best/most romantic restaurants in the entire South. So I had to check it out. The entirety of the area is winding roads with beautiful views as you snake your way towards the Smoky Mountains. The town of Townsend is the last real town before you enter the National Park. I drove into the resort and walked into this absolutely beautiful building. It's dimly lit inside; seemingly lit only by candlelight and windows. I was really stunned. It's gorgeous. So we get our super friendly server and get to ordering. Before we got anything we ordered, out came the complimentary corn bead, served with a delicate, creamy butter, and drizzled with some honey. Super good. Best, softest corn bread I've had in a long time. Apps. We got two boards, because we're extra. The Appalachian Lunchable (Benne Seed Bacon, Deviled Eggs, House Pimento Cheese, Sea Salt Crackers, Smoked Salmon Rillette, Biscuits & Jam, Benton's Country Ham, Pickled Vegetables). And the Artisan Cheese Board (Ashe County Marble Blue, Green Hill Brie, Red Dragon, Thomasville Tomme, Sea Salt Crackers, Spiced Nuts, Fig & Almond Cake, Grapes, Seasonal Jam). There were SO many things to eat here. Variety on boards like these are always appreciate. So many combinations to try. I was a fan. I can't go over everything, but I can say that the best items were the smoked salmon and the brie; target those. And the things that could use replacing were the deviled eggs, yawn, and that it, actually. Everything else had its place in the little meal. For my main, I had the North Carolina Rainbow Trout and Grits (Cornmeal Dusted Trout, Creamy Grits, Conecuh Sausage, Gulf Shrimp & Crawfish, Preserved Tomatoes). WOW. I was a fan. That cornmeal dusting was so, so good. The tender fish was sitting on top of a sloppy mess of all those meats and the grits all jumbled together. I really loved this dish. This should be your top priority. I also got my hands on a scallop dish that I don't remember what it was exactly and they don't have it on their menu anymore. Probably for the best. It was not five stars. It wasn't three stars, either, but it just needed some help. Poor searing, lackluster sauce, and a textureless pairing with some roasted parsnips. I don't like dissing restaurants. All the dishes just can't be winners, it's ok. Now, dessert. I can't find the menu item exactly, but it was a parsnip themed carrot cake with a cream in the middle and a crunchy twist of something on top that made this delectable. So soft, so slightly sweet, and their honey made a return to make this a dynamite dessert. Overall, if you're in the area of the Great Smoky Mountains with your significant other. I think you'll be doing yourself a huge favor by bringing them here. read more

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We stayed at the Dancing Bear Lodge while visiting the Smoky National Park area and ate here two nights in a row. We really enjoyed our meal the first night and decided that we weren't going to get much better in the area. Plus there were still items in the menu we wanted to try. The food was fresh as expected for a farm to table and wonderfully prepared. The bread and butter service was really tasty with added sorghum syrup over the butter. The first night we weren't very hungry so we shared the beef tips for an appetizer, a gem salad and then the Appalachian Cioppino. It was plenty of food and the Cioppino was very unique, with a bit of creole taste reminiscent of a gumbo. This night, they also had a fire going with all the ingredients for s'mores. The second night, we had the clams and mussels, potato soup, striped bass and filet. All of the food was nicely prepared. If you are in the area, this is a great place to stop for a meal. Though many venture specifically here to dine. read more

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Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays, and this year I looked forward to having it at Dancing Bear. It was our first meal here, and it was done both in the style of buffet and where the first, second, and dessert course were brought to the table. First course was a wonderful roasted pumpkin soup with candied pepitas and pickled pear relish. The second course was a roasted root vegetable salad with baby kale, goat cheese, toasted pistachios, cranberries, and pistachio vinaigrette. My husband who normally doesn't care for salads, ate every last bit of this one. The buffet or the "Bear-Fay" as they call it at Dancing Bear consisted of: turkey breast, glazed Virginia ham, beef tenderloin, pomegranate glazed salmon, Yukon mashed potatoes, homemade buttermilk herb rolls, and stuffing. I loved every bit of the buffet, except for the duck sausage cornbread stuffing, which had a bit of an acquired taste. And lastly, the sweet ending was a slice of chocolate torte with autumn spiced creme fraiche and candied pecans. But if chocolate torte isn't your thing, don't worry, they also had a mini dessert station set up outside by the fire along with make your own s'mores, coffee, cider, and tea. After dinner, we sat outside by the crackling fire and made a few s'mores and enjoyed the elevated rustic ambiance of the Dancing Bear Lodge. It has got to be one of my favorite places now. A special thank you to our server, Jack. He made the night just that more special with checking in on us and making us feel right at home. read more

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Celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro. Food, service & ambiance were all amazing. My pork chop was delicious as was my husband's filet mignon & he said the chocolate sorbet was the best thing he's ever tasted. We highly recommend Dancing Bear for any special occasion! read more

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Amazing food and outstanding service. Had the filet which was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The charred Caesar salad was flavorful. Will definitely be back! read more

5 stars .very high quality trout and everything else . Brought a friend from China. She was impressed. And I was impressed as well. read more

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From the amazing atmosphere to the welcoming service, this place is a gem. We drove from Gatling (45 min drive) and it was so worth it. Food absolutely amazing drinks unique and delicious. You would expect it to be more expensive, very humble prices. Cannot recommend enough! read more

The food was delicious & our server Brad had great recommendations throughout. The autumn spice espresso martini was one of the best I've ever had! Great ambiance & we loved the fire pit outside for after dinner. read more

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We visited back around New Year's and let me just say this may have been the best restaurant experience we've ever had. We have absolutely nothing negative to say about it! Our server was the best we've ever had (and I wish I could remember his name). Extremely professional, helpful, informative, quick. He made the experience feel very high end and special. We got the pork belly to share as an app and it was amazing (and large enough) to be an entree on its own - it honestly made me a huge fan of brussels sprouts. Tons of flavor and I didn't want to stop eating it. My husband got the filet and thought it was the best steak he'd ever had (and he's picky). The chicken breast was delicious, tender, juicy, and the puree they had on there was to die for. We only really ever order dessert if a restaurant has already wowed us so obviously we got the sticky toffee pudding. Probably the best dessert we've ever had out in a restaurant. The atmosphere here is also very romantic and rustic, whether you're outside or inside. It's a gorgeous property and very cozy. We look forward to coming back here while on our next trip! read more

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We visited this restaurant for dinner while in town and it was so good that we returned on Sunday for brunch. It is a farm to table restaurant and the meals were so fresh and tasty. The Sunday brunch had a good variety including salmon, potatoes, biscuits, made to order omelets and quiche. There were gluten free bakery items also. We also took a charcuterie board to go for snacking on at our Air BNB. The servers were very helpful in choosing menu items. The restaurant is a lodge with large logs and a stone fireplace which provided cozy warmth. read more

OMG we just happened to be in Townsend and was starving and this place popped up. We travel to the area about once a month and how I never knew this place existed is beyond my wildest dreams! The atmosphere, our waiter, the place, I could just go on and on eveything was just amazing. The hubs got the sweet tea pork chops which was recommended and it was to die for. I had the trout and it was good too. We had a dessert and the pork belly appetizer!! Eveything was just so good. If I recall correctly they do a seasonal menu so they may switch it out a bit but they grow alot of their own and use local vendors. You can explore the grounds they're just beautiful and they have an outdoor smores bar by the fire. what else could you want!! You must go!! read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Trout and grits - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

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Incredible experience. Top 3 Caesar salads I've had but the filet mignon was stellar. We were with a large group and I was expecting that it would be over cooked but certainly not the case. A perfect medium rare with fresh vegetables farm to table style. Charcuterie tray was stellar as well. Not to be outdone, the flourless chocolate cake was succulent and rich. Incredible service from the staff and a wine selection that makes Napa Valley look small time. I'm now making reservations for the Sunday brunch that is legendary. read more

We were invited here by a local family member as It's not a place you would just stumble across as someone visiting. Let me first just say, this place was SO COZY and inviting. The menu is unique and we were told it changes often. Everything was GREAT, although I really don't think this place could serve a bad meal. Our waiter, Jack, was awesome and very attentive. He helped us out with the menu and any questions we had. We will definitely go back when we visit again. I wish we lived closer just to have date nights here! read more

Good spot. It's difficult to find nice ingredients in this part of the country. I was impressed with the dishes I tried and the drinks. I hope to go back someday and try more menu items. read more

We ate here 2 nights in a row while we stayed at the lodge and got to sample many menu items. The truffle filet was outstanding! The second night we sampled several appetizers. By far our favorite was the Appalachian lunchable. It's a must. Wait staff both nights were attentive and informative of the menu selections. The seating itself was very cozy and the fireplace was roaring which made for a very memorable experience. Very nice upscale restaurant that won't disappoint! And they have an outdoor s'more station next to the fire. 5 star place all around! read more

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Visiting the Smokey Mountains NP and decided to stay at the Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, TN. Food is a big part of our trips and the on-premises restaurant made the choice an easy one. Wow! Great meals, great service, and incredibly friendly and helpful staff sum up our experience. We ate at the restaurant our second night in town and loved it so much that we begged Aryn who ran the front of the house that night to squeeze us again. It was difficult but she accommodated us. What a sweetheart! We started dinner the first night with the Appalachian Lunchable, a delectable plate of classic southern favorites (see picture for description) that was a perfect share dish. The wife then went and enjoyed the lamb chop while I did something I rarely do and got the beef tenderloin. I usually avoid the cut as I am much more of a rib-eye fan but this was cooked to perfection with wonderfully made sides and a steak sauce that was thick, hearty and was a great accompaniment to the filet. The lamb was perfectly cooked to medium rare and also had a great sauce and a silky smooth sweet potato puree along with "bacon-y kale" which made me (serious kale hater) begin to question what I now considered to be a somewhat irrational prejudice. The second night we also had the "crispy pork belly and brussels" which was a delight, along with the green goddess salad. The fat of the pork belly (charred to perfection) was perfectly offset by the bittersweet flavor of the brussels sprouts. I also must say that the drinks were fantastic. A creative bartending staff delivered up beautifully presented and creatively concocted cocktails. Barb was our server the first night while Dan took care of us the second time around. Both delivered excellent service along with Matt who was in charge of assisting with the wines. Even the runner got into the mix, giving us a discourse on the quality (or the real lack thereof) of the local Tennessee wine making scene. Hint - stick to the local brews instead. The wine list was small but offered a great variety, both in terms of type and price. Townsend is a sweet, sleepy little town offering great access to the SMNP. Gatlinburg is for those who want a little bit of night life and some daytime activities, while Pigeon Forge is for folk who are looking to keep their kids active 110% of the time. We are so glad we stayed in Townsend and while we don't have any plans to return to that part of Tennessee any time soon (other than to make a trek to Benton's Country Hams in person) we will always remember the Bistro and the wonderful meals and the staff that made us feel so good and delivered a near perfect dining experience. read more

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This was our first visit and it was fantastic! The food, drinks and dessert were absolutely delicious! The service was amazing and atmosphere was elegant but cozy. Best meal and dining experience we had during our entire visit. We will definitely be back if in the area in the future! read more

One of the most spectacular dining experiences that matched the best culinary experiences we've had across the country. Chef Jeff apparently hails from Mobile Alabama but he might as well have been trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Every single dish (we indulged in the exquisite trout cakes, tantalizing okra & kale salad, and decadent duck and chicken entrees) were flawlessly prepared with every bite highlighting different flavors and textures. The atmosphere--with the open wood fire smells against the fresh mountain air highlighted against the hanging lights of the patio--made for a magical experience. We will be making the long trek from Nashville to visit this hidden gem on at least an annual basis, if not sooner! read more

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro - Duck and half chicken - New American Near Me - Townsend, Tennessee

Outstanding in every way! The staff was terrific. Our server was enthusiastic, knowlegeabe and super nice. The atmosphere is like dining in a wooded log retreat. It's a wonderful rustic elegance. An extensive list of spirits. I really enjoyed the Jefferson Ocean-Aged with a large cube. I started off with, and savored the charred Caesar salad. The dressing was very tasty. My filet mignon was one of the best ever! It was a perfect medium. The chimichurri sauce was a bit unique, as was the potato cake with a foamed goat cheese sauce. My wife and I spilt the cheese cake with duck fat Carmel drizzle, at our servers suggestion. It was excellent. A more light and fluffy cake, as opposed to the usual heavy, thick texture. It being my birthday, I was acknowledged by the host, the server, and the food runner. I received a personalized card and two complimentary truffles. It was truly a memorable birthday dinner. read more

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