Contributed by Gatlinburg Town Square guest, Hannah Henderson. -- The food and drink offerings in and around Gatlinburg are extensive, typical of a resort town. As fans of all things barbecue, on a recent road trip to Gatlinburg, my family and I decided to try some of the many barbecue restaurants in and around Gatlinburg. Here is a run-down of the local spots we tried and the dishes that gave our tastebuds a kick. Bones BBQ Joint - 231 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Bones BBQ Joint is right near the Gatlinburg Town Square Exploria Resorts, which makes it a really convenient location to pick up your dinner after a long day of sightseeing in the area. Devour fall-off-the-bone spare ribs with a wonderful smokey char, a chunky vinegar slaw, and delicious creamy mac n' cheese. Bones BBQ Joint isn't the highest rated barbecue place in Gatlinburg. It should be, though. This place turned out to have the best ribs of all the restaurants we tried. Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que - 714 River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Sharing a building with its sister restaurant, Big Daddy's Pizzeria, this is a great place to go if you can't decide on what cuisine to eat! They also do an awesome breakfast buffet. The portions are huge and the barbecue so tasty you won't even need the extra bbq sauces they provide. Pro tip: because the restaurants are within the same building, you can sit on the pizza side and order barbecue, or vice versa! Backyard BBQ House- 8303 TN-73, Townsend, TN 37882 Previously Little River BBQ, the new owners recently took over this beautiful riverside location in Townsend. This is a great stop if you are driving the Foothills Parkway or visiting The Sinks waterfalls on the Little River Gorge Road. Backyard BBQ House definitely wins for the best setting and has a screened terrace so you can enjoy the view without the insects. The fried green tomatoes are a real treat and the hospitality is second to none. Calhoun's – locations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Maryville I would travel to Calhoun's just for their light, fluffy and buttery biscuits alone. This well-known establishment has a reputation for amazing ribs, but we found all their food delicious. If you can't decide on a single type of barbecue meat, why not try one of their trio plates with baby back ribs, chicken tenders and hickory smoked pulled pork. The portions are hugely generous, and you won't leave hungry. We enjoyed the lodge-like atmosphere of the Calhoun's in Pigeon Forge, and the great beer selection. Discovering barbecue in and around Gatlinburg Gatlinburg is a great base for sampling lots of great Tennessee barbecue. With many barbecue restaurants within walking distance of the Gatlinburg Town Square resort, it made for a tasty stay. There's nothing better than tucking into a big plate of smoky barbecue after a long hike or drive in the Smoky Mountains! About the Author Hannah Henderson is a full-time travel blogger and photographer at Hannah Henderson Travel. Raised in New Zealand, she spent 15 years living in Scotland before moving to France. Hannah loves city breaks and finding local foodie hotspots wherever she visits. Connect with her on Twitter.
