A local’s guide to the best breakfast in Pigeon Forge
The Pigeon Forge dining scene is ever-growing, ever evolving. We’ve got gorillas and pigeons selling tacos now, so pretty much the sky is the limit. But breakfast? Ah my friends, breakfast is the last bastion of traditionalism in an ever changing world.
Bacon. Biscuits. Sausage. Pancakes. That’s the menu for approximately 125% of breakfast spots in Pigeon Forge. So, how do you differentiate between the various flap jackeries? Well, some of it is in the nuance. Is a pancake at Reagan’s House significantly different than one at Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin? That’s when we are talking about personal preference. So, while I kid about menus tracking along similar lines, I do like to acknowledge the ones that step out and do something unique.
This isn’t the first time we’ve ranked breakfast spots in the Forge and it probably won’t be the last. Things change. Restaurants open. Others close. And new experience beget new opinions. A place where we had a great experience previously can stumble, let us down.
So, all we can do is work with the best information we have and give our opinions as they exist today, to help you have the best Smoky Mountain vacation you can.
You’re looking for breakfast recommendations in Pigeon Forge? We’re here to help. Also, as always, these are our personal ratings as of this writing. We reserve the right to adjust. Also, for the record, we like all of these restaurants and would not have any hesitation eating at any one of them. Because we rank one higher does not mean any of the others are bad and should be avoided. When a place deserves that designation, we’ll say it. Also, one last caveat, this is Pigeon Forge, restaurants in Sevierville or Gatlinburg aren’t in consideration for this list.
Ranking the best breakfast spots in the Pigeon Forge
1. The Cottage
There may be some recency bias here as The Cottage is still new on the Pigeon Forge Dining scene. But this bright, friendly and welcoming, spot on the strip marks a certain departure from the norm – the norm being pancake cabins that are surprisingly dark and a little dreary. This spot, which serves up a Southern Classic Brunch, offers delicious takes on classics. It’s a slightly elevated take, but not one that crushes the pocketbook.
The breakfast tacos and breakfast burrito are especially good – and are not in any way promoted by Mexican wrestling themed animal mascots. We recommend the shrimp and grits, short rib omelet, or something from the variety of pancakes and waffles. Still, the best thing on the menu might be the biscuit board served house-made jam, honey and butter. Simplicity for breakfast – and for life, I suppose – is not a bad thing.
2. Lil Black Bear Café
We go from the new guy on the scene to the veteran. The Lil Black Bear Café is a tiny spot near Patriot Park. The menu is small but expertly done. What are we talking about? Hot golden pancakes, French toast, bacon, egg and cheese served with toast, 2 eggs with meat and cheese with toast omelet and a 2 eggs with veggie and cheese with toast omelet. That’s it. That’s the breakfast menu. No need to waste time thumbing through 17 varieties of fruit flavored flapjacks. And honestly? Do you really need that much more to choose from? Paradise.
3. Old Mill Restaurant
When it comes to Smoky mountain breakfasts you’ve got three basic varieties. You’ve got the elevated brunch, seen above. You’ve got the griddle and flapjack method. And finally, you’ve got the old farmhouse style. The Old Mill is at the top of that subset. Classic country breakfast offerings done well and done affordably. We’re not really elevating anything or reinventing the form. But we are doing a country breakfast like somebody’s grandma – maybe yours – used to do it. It’s not complicated and it is fantastic.
The Old Mill has the added bonus of actually being connected to real Pigeon Forge history, being located on a site that dates back to the very founding of the town. But we’re not basing this on history. The Southern Omelet – a blend of sugar-cured ham, onions, green bell peppers, mushrooms, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese combined with three eggs – is the go-to.
Also, this is the best farmhouse dining place in Pigeon Forge.
Articles related to Breakfast in the Smokies
4. Brick and Spoon
We return to the idea of a Southern Brunch with the Brick and Spoon, a growing franchise across the Southern U.S. with multiple locations in Southern Mississippi and Alabama and outliers in Texas, Florida and yes, Pigeon Forge. You want to catch the vibe at Brick and Spoon? The first think listed on the online menu is the Bloody Mary, which I – as a connoisseur of all things Bloody Mary, appreciate.
This is not farmhouse breakfast dining. The Day Starters include Deviled on the Bayou – tasso deviled egg, fried shrimp and sriracha aioli, Bake Brie Bruschetta – caramelized apples, golden raisins, pecans, balsamic reduction & brie cheese and Banana in Pajamas – crispy banana eggrolls & foster sauce. They have beignets, a variety of omelets including the Killer Creole with shrimp, tasso, onions, red & green bell peppers & cheddar jack cheese, topped with house made hollandaise and multiple variations on eggs Benedict, the crab cake benny is a personal favorite.
5. Frizzle Chicken Café
The food here is good. It’s a pretty classic Southern breakfast place with a lot of eggs, bacon, fried chicken and waffles and pancakes. But you don’t just come here for the food. It’s the ambiance that sells it. More specifically, the dozens of animatronic singing chickens that serenade diners with clucking versions of classic soundtrack songs and more. You might hear “Frozen’s” “Let it Go.” You might hear the “Star Wars” theme clucked like it’s never been clucked before.
The food is good. But if want to create some memorable experiences on your vacation which one if going to make a bigger impact? The time you had a Colorado omelet that was really good – or the time you had a Colorado omelet that was pretty good while being serenaded by Dolly Part-hen and Hen Solo? Yep. You got it.
6. Reagan’s House of Pancakes
Pancakes in the mountains are big business thanks to a Hoosier couple that moved to Gatlinburg and found that there’s gold in them there stacks of Jacks. The Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg remains the top of the form but several other imitators have done quite well.
Reagan’s is so good, it has two locations about a mile apart on the strip, and has the added benefit of a good breakfast buffet. There was a time that you could come to the mountains and breakfast buffets were everywhere. There’s a few places hanging on but the quality is failing. The last time I went to Shoney’s, I nearly wept. Reagan’s, somehow, is hanging in there and offers a buffet of which your grandparents would be proud.
7. The Collier Group of restaurants
Among its wide variety of area restaurants, the Collier Group operates three different structures built on the foundation of pancakes. You have Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin, Smoky Pancake Cabin and Smoky Mountain Pancake House. Each offer a classic Pigeon Forge Breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, breakfast meats and more. The menus are deep with feasts, skillets, scramblers and platters. It’s a good hearty breakfast.
8. The Sunliner Diner
American’s diners were built to serve breakfast. What do you need? A griddle and the ingredients. That’s about it. The Sunliner’s breakfast offerings are a bit deeper than Mel’s, which accounts for this ranking. The go to? That 10 oz. New York Strip and eggs is an American diner classic.
9. Mel’s Classic Diner
Have griddle? Will serve breakfast. Mel’s offers breakfast foods that can be cooked on the Griddle. We’re not reinventing the concept of breakfast here. See the above listing for Sunliner’s. Again, this is a really good option to get a nice breakfast in the Smokies.
10. Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast
Is it technically farmhouse dining? I’m not so sure. Were the farmhands eating pineapple and banana crème crepes or pancakes covered in M&Ms? Then probably not.
But let’s not get too caught up in pedantry. If you’re looking for a substantial breakfast that tastes good and loads you up enough to the point that you can skip lunch, Sawyer’s is a tasty option. I’m a big fan of the breakfast platters. The Forge – two eggs cooked to order, home fries, gravy & biscuit. and choice of smoked bacon, sausage, country ham OR sugar cured ham is a favorite.
11. Krispy Kreme
I want to tell you a little story.
The year was 2001 and the Vols were traveling to Gainesville to face Florida as double digit underdogs. Coach Phil Fulmer – who was best when he could play the nobody respects us card – got 200+ yards from running back Travis Stephens and took the upset win over his nemesis Steve Spurrier. It was Spurriers final home game as Florida coach though he hadn’t announced it yet.
There was euphoria back home as the win put the Vols into the SEC title game against an LSU team they’d beaten easily earlier in the year. A large group of fans including your faithful narrator and his wife drove down to campus to greet the team in a move that proved to be a stunningly effective jinx.
Still, in the glow of victory and slapping fives with Casey “The Iceman” Clausen we made a late night run to Krispy Kreme for some donuts and yes, the Hot Light was illuminated. It was legitimately one of the greatest nights of my life.
On a previous version of this ranking, we had a reader question the legitimacy of recommending a franchise donut shoppe for breakfast. And I want to reply.
First, sometimes you need a breakfast on the go and can’t sit around for brunch, a farmhouse breakfast or a pancake house. Sometimes donuts and coffee is what’s needed whether you’re heading to the mountains, a day of outlet shopping or on the way home.
Second, when the Hot Light is illuminated Krispy Kreme is a next level dining experience whether its 2 a.m. and you’re slightly buzzed from hanging out in the general vicinity of Jason Witten, Dante Stallworth and the boys or it’s 7:30 a.m. and you’re trying to get your day started. Finally, there are 10 other places on the list where you can get Shrimp and Grits, omelets, biscuits and gravy and the like. One donut shop is that outrageous?
I apologize for nothing. You can have my Krispy Kreme when you pry it from my cold, dead hand which is probably going to be sooner rather than later because of all times I’ve eaten at the restaurants on this list.
Do you have a favorite breakfast in Pigeon Forge? If so, let us know in the comments and on the socials
