I think this might have been a case of me just ordering the wrong thing. I called my order in for carryout and the service was great. The food was done really fast even though they were packed. I was in and out with no issues, and my food was hot. The hush puppies were good. I ate all of them. The collard greens had no seasoning, but the green beans did and they had meat in them for extra flavor. I ordered the hot roast beef sandwich, which came with mashed potatoes and green beans. The beef was cooked medium rare and was tough as a shoe. I couldn't eat it, although the gravy was good. Because the food was so uneven, I really think I just ordered the wrong item. There are so many places on the strip and I'm only here for the weekend, so I probably wouldn't go back. I wouldn't want to risk my food not being good again. read more

We stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner on a Friday in June, based on a recommendation from close relatives who had visited about a year ago. The place appeared busy, and we were told there would be about a 20-minute wait for a party of two. Judging by the size of the ramp leading to the entrance, we imagine it gets much busier during peak times. While we waited, we were told our name would be called over the intercom system, which reaches both the outside area and the adjacent Old Mill General Store. We took the opportunity to browse the store while waiting. After a brief visit to the General Store, we made our way back up the ramp and spent a few moments reading the informational signs about the mill's history. Soon after, our name was called, and we were seated. Shortly after placing our drink orders, we were brought corn fritters and corn chowder. I hadn't had a chance to request the vegetable beef soup instead, but when my wife asked if I could switch out my soup, our server, Natalie, was happy to accommodate. She was kind and provided polite, attentive service throughout the meal. My wife ordered the Meatloaf, and I chose the Pot Roast and Gravy. The food was good, but everything about the experience felt incredibly scripted--like a well-oiled machine focused on volume and turnover. This is not the kind of place we would typically choose. While it's efficient and the décor is charming, the overall atmosphere felt commercialized and impersonal. From the check-in process to paying our bill, we felt more like a number than guests. Natalie did a fine job, but the system itself lacks warmth or authenticity. There was no real engagement or sense of connection to the experience. For that reason, we wouldn't return. If you're curious, it might be worth stopping by once to see the place--but for those looking for something more personal or unique, we recommend exploring options off the beaten path. read more

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This is just really good down home cooking. It does get really busy, but it's got a lot of seating and moves quick. Lots of things to do while you wait. Really enjoyed the chicken fried steak and chicken. Quiche was good also. Nice homestyle type restaurant good for large groups. read more

It is worth the wait. They quoted 1 1/2 hour wait and we were seated after 40min. If you want to experience a good old southern food, this is the place. Main dish comes with corn chowder, salad, corn fritters and dessert. Ordered fresh water rainbow trout with sweet potato. Delicious! Did I mention it also comes with mash potato and green beans to share? A lot of great food. Needless to say, I had a lot of leftovers. Go! You will not be disappointed. read more

I love good Southern cooking and this place was excellent. We had a thirty minute wait which seemed to go by quickly. It is a comfortable wait outside if you are visiting from out of town with pamphlets for things to do and maps on the long ramp up to the restaurant. This place is huge inside, super- busy and runs like a well-oiled machine. We were a party of seven and once we were seated our humorous, good natured, and sarcastic waiter took excellent care of us. All meals came with corn fritters and corn chowder (not vegetarian) which was fantastic. I ordered a Reuben for lunch and it was as delicious as any deli would offer. As busy as this place is, our server was extremely attentive to every need and made us laugh (which was a complete bonus). I would love to come here again for dinner next time. This was an excellent experience and such a warm welcome to the area. This place welcomes tourists. A must do if you are visiting the area. read more

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We enjoyed our meals here at Old Mill Restaurant. My only "gripe" - we went later thinking it wouldn't be busy... ha! Were we ever wrong. We waiting an hour and 15 mins for a table for 2. But the wait was worth it. They have a streamlined operation for sure. You put your name in and they will call you over a speaker system (that even goes into their store next door! Once seated, our server was there immediately. We had drinks within a minute and ordered. Salads and cornbread nuggets came out in the next 5 mins (or less!). Meals followed in maybe about 10 mins. Piping hot and very good. I didn't realize it was "family style" with the sides. We got a bowl of mashed potatoes and green beans with our dinners: Chicken and Dumplings for me, country fried chicken for my husband. Big servings so we have left overs for dinner tonight. Dessert is also included with dinner! Banana pudding and pecan pie (to go!). read more

Old Mill Restaurant - Chicken and dumplings and country fried steak. - American Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Following the recommendation of my Yelp elites and tons of others we visited this restaurant. This is one of oldest restaurants in America and everything about this place is unique. The country vibe, decor and the ducks outside made it so beautiful. The southern hospitality as its best and EVERY dish prepared had a finest and amazing flavor. We ordered the country BBQ ribs with an order of the country fried chicken. Our dish came with soup, house salad, mashed potatoes and a dessert. As for drink we had the sweet tea. All am going to say about the entire experience is it was AMAZING. We enjoyed every bite. The ribs were tender, the chicken savory and very tasty. The hospitality of the staff was top notch and we had refills on our drinks without even asking and We didn't even had to wait much time for a table. Special recognition for the staff that works in the kitchen and the bakery. The deserts were wonderful. Thank you for making every dish with so much love! PS: The pecan pie and ice cream will make you want to come back for more! read more

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We visited this area for the first time. The line was SO LONG that I almost didn't go in but said let's just see how long it is... little to my knowledge they seat like 200 people at once so what I thought would be hours worth of wait time, ended up being 20-30 minutes. So if you see a bunch of people standing outside, that's typical. Try it anyway, it's worth it and it goes fast. Check out the general store beside it while you wait. You can hear the intercom there too. You can also feed the ducks while you wait. Food was 10/10. You get soup, salad, entree and family style sides. I ordered chicken pot pie, husband got chicken fried chicken. We split both, there was plenty to go around. Hearty portions! read more

A lot of what people will think of the old mill may come down to how much you like classic southern food. I enjoyed my meal here and had a very pleasant experience which I'll share below but it wasn't a top meal despite the food being pretty good and the ambiance/scene along the river being nice. As others have noted, this place gets busy but I was lucky to walk right in with my small party of two. Service was prompt and when some of the bussers accidentally cleared our table during the entrees, the waitress apologised profusely and brought us new stuff immediately (on top of the quick free refills on our drinks). All meals come as complete sets with a main with the salad, soup, corn fritters, side choice, and dessert. The maple butter is nice but I didn't think the corn fritters had much flavor. Greens lacked texture and were kind of peppery but others might like that. Homemade salad was fine but nothing special and it was nice to hear that they make all of their own salad dressings in house. Corn chowder like some of these other sides I've mentioned was pretty plain and didn't seem worth the space in my belly. Again nothing offensive about any of the sides but given the reputation here I was wondering if my take could be off maybe or expecting too much? Mashed potato's, which came as a bonus side (accidentally) as I wanted to try the chicken dumplings and our waitress let me sub those as a side, were strong. The waitress had also recommended the chicken dumplings main as a popular choice and if I could order again I probably would have chosen that. Waitress also recommended catfish secondly, which is what I got, and this was solid too. The bread they use in the fry is tasty and a good ratio to the fish and well spiced. My son got a typical grilled cheese and fries which were fine but nothing special (dipping his bread in my chicken dumpling mush was delicious and I'd recommend). Given the price ($10 kid meal) it was more than adequate, especially with how it came with a drink and desert. My meal at $25 ish was also a very fair value and I went home with a fair amount of leftovers which was nice. Despite some less than stellar commentary here on some of the sides I will be happy still to eat them as leftovers. Deserts were slightly disappointing and given the velocity at which they are pushing food out, I get the limited menu of items for this (we also came later in the evening so one or two of the five ish items were out). I also noticed at the kitchen window the desserts (probably like the sides I'm guessing too) were seemingly being pre-made, which gives a little bit of a school cafeteria feel and makes you wonder about the quality ceiling. All of this quality commentary could be disregarded potentially because A) you just love this type of food regardless and/or B) given the price points and type of restaurant prioritizing service and not thinking too hard other than making sure food is fresh is probably sufficient. In summary, I would come back here and value and experience wise I think it's worth it. I might try different sides next time or just change my expectations. Staff were also pleasant and generous so overall this was a positive experience. read more

This place somehow maintains high quality and a honest personable feeling in the monstrosity that is Pigeon Forge. There is pretty good ambiance inside after you pass the line up queue outside and get to your table. This is a bustling operation that appears to be able to seat hundreds. The vegetable plate was great- the green beans in particular were delicious. Be sure to visit their old general store as you leave wheee you can purchase stone ground cornmeal ground by their waterwheel! read more

Old Mill Restaurant - Vegetable plate- grits, apples, collard greens and green beans - American Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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I thought this was good, but not great. I split a dish with my wife for lunch, and it was not as satisfying as she found it. Service was okay, too. read more

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Food was pretty good. I had the fried chicken and it was juicy and piping hot. I liked the seasoning in the breading as well. We came with a large group and the reviews seemed to be that some food seriously lacked flavor. The corn fritters for the table were the highlight with the maple butter they gave. I could've eaten the entire basket. You definitely get a lot of food for the price so good value there. Our server was friendly, but it was not clear to many people that there was a charge for sharing a plate. While we understand why you'd be charged as the sides and items are family style, there needs to be better communication from the staff when it's ordered. read more

Old Mill Restaurant - Fried chicken breasts - American Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Good stick to your ribs breakfast restaurant. The staff are sooo friendly and the food came out quick and hot. My husband and I split a large country breakfast and it was plenty of food. They bring complimentary muffins, butter and jams to the table to start you off. The coffee is a good brew too. Love it here. read more

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Amazing food and huge portions. Cool family country vibe. In watching the servers they truly make the experience. Unfortunately we got a waitress named Iwona that was not up to speed. She was nice but just not up to speed and when all the tables around us were out of drinks and wondering where she was we noticed she was just sitting down at a vacant table. She may be a nice person but she is not cut out for a fast paced job at this location. Food 5+ Overall service 5+ Our waitress 1 read more

This is two reviews, one for dinner and one for breakfast. Overall this is a large, busy restaurant but they are able to get folks in pretty quickly. I don't think either time we waited as long as they said we would. There's lots of parking but you might have to walk a little. Dinner = 4 stars Two of us got the trout and it was so much food for the price! I can't eat ham so they let me switch out the corn chowder and green beans. The cream corn was decent, the mac and cheese was okay, and the mashed potatoes were really good. The corn fritters are so good!! It was a large piece of fish but there wasn't a ton of meat on it. The pecan pie was yummy. Also, the only place the side options are listed is under the vegetable plate, but there's no indication which items are vegetarian. Breakfast = 3 stars Similar to dinner, the amount of food you get with the old mill country breakfast is crazy for the price. The banana nut muffins were probably the best part though! It's nice that it comes with OJ but I'd rather have had coffee; it would've been nice if there was an option to sub it. The eggs, biscuits, and pancakes were good, and the home fried potatoes were okay...some pieces were overcooked and dry. The grits were TERRIBLE. First, they were so watery and flavorless. Second, why serve grits family style especially without little bowls for everyone? Literally the worst grits we've ever had and our waiter was surprised we didn't want more... read more

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Good consistency of food quality. My only complaint is a personal preference that I feel like being herded through and a sense of being rushed to eat and get out. read more

Missed trying this spot last time we were here in July so we made sure we stopped in for lunch this time. We were seated really quickly and our server got our ordersim quickly. I ordered the fried chicken that comes with green beans, and mashed potatoes. It was delicious. I went with the breast option and they had plenty of meat on both. My wife went with the turkey with stuffing, green beans and mashed potatoes. She loved it. Both meals also came with corn fritters and maple butter. Also included was their corn chowder soup. Both of which were very good. After our meal our server took the time to let us know about the area and his thoughts. Good to hear from a local. Very clean inside. Tons of seating. read more

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Great food and service! Portions are huge! You won't leave hungry, that's for sure!

This restaurant was very busy when we visited in August. The waitress and entire kitchen staff were very efficient and organized. The food was good and very generous portions. We would definitely return. read more

Old Mill Restaurant - Exterior front - American Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Food 10 Service 100 Ambiance 100 If you're not eating at the old mill then have you really been to Pigeon Forge? The food is fresh and hot and so delicious. The best place for some home made country cooking! read more

absolutely amazing service, our server ERIN( by all means I couldn't have asked for a better server) her service was on point and was consistently at the table if we needed something, she had it ready. 100/10 experience we enjoyed our food and loved the service. The ambiance was nice because they're wasn't many people at night. read more

Old Mill Restaurant - Amazing place!!!!! - American Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Came here during peak fall foliage weekend and was pleasantly surprised for Sunday brunch that our wait was only 15 minutes! They know how to get people in and out without feeling rushed. Whatever process chain they have in place clearly works. If you like carbs and hearty portion sizes, this is the place for you. Our breakfast entrees were huge, enough where my wife and my entree were plenty to share amongst our 2 young boys. Each entree comes with a glass of orange juice and some banana nut muffins. The muffins were plenty moist and while could have used 20% more structural integrity so they don't disintegrate, I appreciated that they were warm and came with preserves and butter, which were fantastic. I got the chicken fried steak country breakfast, while my wife got the french toast. And here's the laundry list of what it comes with: biscuits (which were super tender and best part of the meal), grits (arguably the least impressive part of the meal), sausage gravy, pancakes, two eggs of your choice, an orange slice to make you think you're healthy and the entree itself. You will leave stuffed. I will say, the chicken fried steak was pretty tough (needs more tenderizing) and the fry was a bit hard, but nothing gravy can't fix. The sausage patty was kinda meh too for my wife. The french toast with the compote was excellent though. While the food itself is ok overall besides quantity, the historic vibes and service really lift this place. On the outside while waiting, you can go watch geese, look at the historic old mill or check out any of the sister shops in the plaza since the loud speaker system is plenty loud to announce when you're table is ready, or better yet, go walk around after your super heavy meal :). All in all, definitely a place you need to go checkout while vacationing in the Smokies. read more

Get here early, the line gets long but at least it moves quick. That being said, the food is actually really good - grease spoon through and through. Portions are HUGE. Huge proper biscuits, great fruit preserves, the banana muffins they bring to the table are average but the fresh orange juice that comes with the meal is tasty. Tip - don't order the same thing as someone else. If one person gets the biscuit breakfast, order the pancakes. If you have a group of 3, 1 person order pancakes, the 2nd order biscuits, the third get an omelette. Just share - you'll have plenty of food for everyone and the price is very fair in this day and age. It's loud, large, busy but the service is quick and attentive. read more

First time visiting this restaurant and it did not disappoint! Great server! Food is delicious!

We were not real hungry but it was our last night and we wanted to eat here. The trout was amazing perfectly seasoned fries were fresh. My wife said the turkey and gravy was outstanding and the gravy was made from scratch. Good service nice atmosphere busy place but they get the job done. read more

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Best meal of our vacation! This place is super busy, but don't let that stop you. The wait was less than 30 minutes and the food was absolutely worth it. We had an excellent server who was happy, energetic, and kept the sweet tea coming. My husband and I both ordered the fried chicken. This came with corn chowder (fantastic) a dinner salad with homemade dressing, and corn fritters (amazing!!). An then the fried chicken....oh my!! We both ordered the mixed, which means white and dark. One breast and four, yes four legs. And the flavor was amazing.::oh yes..don't forget dessert comes with. You MUST stop here on your travels. read more

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Service was fast, friendly & enjoyable. We had lunch. Country Fried Chicken meal. Restaurant was clean and we had great service. Recommend! read more

This is a must stop if you are in the city. Food is amazing and service and very friendly.

We dined here with our group of 25 at 2PM during the Jubilee convention in September . They accommodate us well. Its take a little while to get a table, but, year after year, they accomplish the task. We had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans. Everything was good. My steak was crisp but tender. I could cut with a fork. I love the corn fritters and the corn crowder. They do fried stuff well, so I would stick to that. Always great service considering the size of our party. We appreciate the staff for accommodating large parties of older folks! read more

We got a table by the window so we could watch the ducks on the river, which was nice. I got the white breast chicken dinner and hubby got the meatloaf. Everyone gets corn fritters and corn chowder to start, which were both delicious! I'd imagine people come here just for the chowder. It is fabulous! The chicken breasts were crunchy, brined and so flavorful ... for sure no need for a salt shaker! The banana pudding was good, but we were so stuffed it was hard to finish one dessert between the two of us! read more

Food was surprisingly good! They give you complimentary hush puppies and a cup of their famous corn chowder which was unexpected. I ordered their club sandwich which was as expected, good. I was surprised with how fast their service is for how HUGE this place is. My only gripe is that its so big that you almost feel like a number eating there and its not a very relaxing ambiance for lunch. read more

I'd come back here to pidgeon forge just to eat here again!! With entrées under $20, it's incredibly affordable, but the quality is top-notch! Comfort food at its finest. The corn chowder was the best I've ever had--rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The fritters were warm and slightly sweet with a maple touch, paired perfectly with the whipped (and likely homemade) butter. I was actually glad they limit you to two per person, because the green beans and mashed potatoes that came with the meal were to die for. Honestly, I'd come back just for those sides. The fried chicken was seasoned perfectly--crispy outside, juicy inside, and not greasy at all. From start to finish, everything felt like comfort food made with care. I can't wait to go back. read more

We waited an hour on a Sunday night with really high hopes. I see all these fabulous reviews, however just not what we experienced. Soup wasn't good, pork chops were thin breakfast style pork chops, pot pie was decent, just all around not a good meal. Very disappointed as it was hyped up tremendously. read more

Never tried corn chowder it was excellent. Hush puppies were amazing the whipped butter added the extra to it. The salad great. The main dish (deep dish chicken pot pie was amazing, my friend has grilled chicken also amazing. For dessert homemade ice cream was creamy so so good. Yummy goodness. Staff was fabulous informative. Will recommend to anyone and everyone 5star hands down read more

Our first time visiting the restaurant and the food was yummy and served quickly! Our server Savi, was very friendly & made excellent recommendations which we appreciated. Would definitely recommend stopping by while in Pigeon Forge! read more

So to start off it was a 45 min to 1 hour long wait. But the wait didn't last long cause there is tons of shops to go shop around in while waiting. And there is a benches outside of the place where you can sit by the river and watch the wildlife. Also this place may not be wheelchair accessible/friendly there was a ton of stairs around (including getting into the place). I saw one wheelchair elevator by the checkout area to get to the downstairs area. Our server was super nice didn't chat with us long though because they were super busy. Alright let's get to the food is was AMAZING they give you a ton of food. Everything we ate was delicious. And I have a tummy ache writing this from eating too much read more

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Worth the wait. This restaurant is always packed and always a wait, but worth it. The portion size of all the meals is huge, everyone walking out with to go trays. The food, atmosphere, and server were all amazing. Free dessert is also included. Will be back. read more

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I recommend going to the pottery cafe on the property for a more varied menu. The mill restaurant is very good for your typical country fare. read more

Not sure what the hype is! Service is great, nice people and very large servings. But the food was a solid 2/10, lacked flavor and felt like a small step up from cafeteria food. read more

Get here early. We arrived before they opened on a Sunday morning and had a line waiting. But they are very efficient and used to this so they sit have you seated drinks, banana nut muffins and orange juice before you can bat an eye. The food comes out fast and it's a nice clean establishment. The wait staff is friendly and accommodating. All of the food was excellent. Generous portions of eggs plenty of pancakes and bacon. We had a party of 5 and everyone enjoyed everything. read more