One of the many advantages of vacationing in Pigeon Forge is having such a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. Along the Parkway, at The Island, and off the little side streets in the area, you’ll find cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and dessert shops that run the gamut in their offerings. Cuisines include German, Cuban, Italian, Japanese, American, Chinese, Mexican, and more. Pigeon Forge also has many restaurants serving up burgers, breakfast favorites, pizza, Southern comfort foods, and seafood. But what would a Southern town be without its barbecue (BBQ, bar-b-que)?
If you’re not from the South, you’re thinking…barbecue is a grill. But in good ole Tennessee, it’s a staple dish you can’t pass up. In Tennessee, many many towns having entire festivals to celebrate it! Whether it’s chicken, pork, or beef, we love our barbecue in Tennessee! One of the best and most popular barbecue joints in Pigeon Forge is Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que, located at 2910 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. It has been locally owned and operated since 1991, so you get that small-town charm when you dine. When you step inside, you’ll get a warm Southern greeting before sitting down at a cozy booth or table with a red-and-white checkered tablecloth underneath a Mason jar chandelier. It feels like a down-home country place where you can fill up and relax.
The award-winning barbecue is tender and packed full of flavor, hickory smoked to perfection. With an attention to detail that ensures every guest gets a mouthwatering cut of meat, Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que hickory smokes each piece of meat for up to 14 hours. Whether you order ribs, chicken, brisket, or pulled pork, you know that your barbecue will be tender and juicy because it’s been soaked in Bennett’s own special sauce. Then meat is served with sauce on the side, so you can slather on as little or as much as you like. It’s no wonder that in 2019, Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que in Pigeon Forge was named Best of Pigeon Forge’s 1st Place Best Barbecue and 1st Place Best Ribs! It was also a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner 2012-2018! They know how to do barbecue right.
What’s on the menu?
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. Their 50-item breakfast bar has all those Southern favorites, along with fresh fruit. Visit the hot bar for scrambled eggs, smoked BBQ pork, bacon, grits, sausage patties, French toast, pancakes, sausage gravy, and oatmeal. Then get some bakery treats – homemade cinnamon donuts, biscuits, and blueberry muffins – before finishing it off with grapes, berries, melons, bananas, and fresh seasonal picks.
If you’re stopping in for lunch, have your pick from starters, ribs, lunch platters, burgers and sandwiches, soups and salads, and more. Start with the hickory wings, fried pickles, brisket-stuffed mushrooms, onion blossom, or spicy cheese squares. Then fill up with beef brisket, pork shoulder, smoked sausage, hog legs, catfish, chili, ribs, and steak, just to name a few. Or you can check out the large salad bar that’s loaded with lots of toppings and plenty of cold sides. Be sure to leave room for dessert, which includes pecan pie, chocolate cake, or blackberry or peach cobbler with ice cream.
For dinner, try one of the signature dinner platters, piled high with a sampling of the different meats and sides Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que offers. Delicious sides to pair with the barbecue include: baked potatoes, bread, French fries, potato salad, green beans, spicy macaroni and cheese, beans, deep-fried corn, and coleslaw. For drinks, choose from soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade, hot tea, milk, coffee, hot chocolate, bottled water, or bottled and draft domestic and imported beers.
Of course, Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que hasn’t left out the kids. The children’s menu is for kids 10 years old and under. Meals come with a drink, side, and dessert. Kids can choose from bar-b-que chicken, chicken tenders, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a bar-b-que pork sandwich, a Hebrew National hot dog, a corn dog, ribs, popcorn shrimp, and a grilled boneless BBQ chicken breast. Their “dirt” dessert is a fun creation with chocolate pudding, gummy worms, and chocolate cookie crumbles. They can wash it all down with milk, apple cider, tea, lemonade, or a soft drink!
Groups & Catering
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que knows that large (or small) groups are an important part of vacationing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Many people come to the Smokies for church retreats, weddings, family reunions, corporate weekends, and group getaways. And of course, these groups want to eat well! Bennett’s provides, accommodating groups in the restaurant or catering events at other locations. Along with outside catering options, Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que offers special dine-in group menus for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
For updated menus and pricing, along with other information about catering and group dining, email cindy@bennetts-bbq.com or call 1.800.992.9780 or 865.429.0082. If you’re in Pigeon Forge for a family reunion, Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que is a great option. They offer delivery in some areas, or you can pick up your feast to enjoy in your cabin. With fully equipped kitchens and dining areas in our cabins, you’ll have a space to lay out a buffet and dig in!
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que also has gift cards available (in any denomination), which are great for the person who has everything. Or you can pick up some of their unique products, including t-shirts, hats, steak sauce, steak seasoning, hot sauce, and Bennett’s Famous Bar-B-Que Sauce by the pint. Products are available in store, or you can order online or call 1.800.992.9780. If you’ll be visiting both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you have 2 locations to check out! The Gatlinburg restaurant is conveniently located at 714 River Road. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que also has a great family of restaurants, giving you even more dining options. Be sure to check out Alamo Steakhouse, Mama’s Farmhouse (Southern food, family-style dining), Big Daddy’s Pizzeria, Mama’s Chicken Kitchen, Joe and Pop’s Sub Shoppe, and Mad Dog’s Creamery.
Want a cold drink and a relaxing afternoon? Try KJ’s Saloon lounge at the Gatlinburg location of Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que. KJ’s Saloon lounge offers comfortable booth seating, pub-style tables, and a full patio for outdoor dining. There is no cover charge, and they serve up appetizers and drinks seven days a week. Sip on hand-stirred margaritas and specialty drinks, get ice-cold beer, and enjoy happy hour drink specials. Appetizers are served all day long, and dinner entrees are served at night in the lounge area. You’ll also have free parking and can play Golden Tee Golf, darts, and pool!
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que offers big plates of food at reasonable prices throughout the week, but you can also go online for discount coupons. For that great Southern barbecue taste, stop by Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que in Pigeon Forge. You’ll find something to meet the tastes of everyone in your group on their expansive menu. Start your day with a hearty breakfast, or stop in for lunch after a few hours of laser tag, go karts, and arcade games. You’ll have worked up an appetite after all that fun in Pigeon Forge, and you’ll be ready for a big barbecue feast at a Pigeon Forge favorite – Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que.
Family of restaurants
In the mood for something besides barbecue? Bennett’s is part of a family of restaurants, so you’ll have your pick. Choose from steak, Southern favorites, ice cream and donuts, or pizza!
- Bennett’s Pit BBQ
- Alamo Steakhouse
- Mama’s Farmhouse
- Mad Dog’s Creamery & Donuts
- Big Daddy’s Wood-fired Brick Oven Pizzeria
- Joe and Pop’s Sub Shoppe
- Mama’s Chicken Kitchen
Don’t forget to check out our wide selection of Pigeon Forge cabins for a place to call home during your time in the Smokies. We have 1-2 bedroom cabins for honeymoons and romantic escapes, 3-6 bedroom cabins for family vacations and small group getaways, and large group cabins for retreats and reunions. You can splurge on a luxury property, save with a budget-friendly cabin, or bring along your four-legged friends at the pet-friendly properties we offer! Our cabins have fully equipped kitchens, along with a variety of amenities to choose from. You’ll find big screen TVs, private indoor pools, theater rooms, fantastic views, locations near downtown Pigeon Forge, cozy living areas, king-size beds, bunk beds, and more.