The Old Mill Restaurant

The Old Mill Restaurant: Huge Portions of Comfort Food
Local Expert's Rating:
5.0 / 5
The Bottom Line:

The Old Mill Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in the Smokies. Expect to wait up to 90 minutes and then be served more comfort food than you could possibly eat. Although the prices may look a little steep, remember they include ‘fixins,’ drinks, and even a homemade dessert. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

- The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team

The Old Mill Restaurant is not a place where uppity foodies are likely to feel comfortable – this is where visitors and locals go to get massive portions of good, home-cooked Southern comfort food. The restaurant, which is located on the banks of the Little Pigeon River, is one of the most popular dining choices in the Smokies and offers visitors excellent views while they dine. As a result, waits often exceed 90 minutes during peak season.

All of the meals have insanely large portions and include more food than any one individual should eat in a single sitting. In addition to the main course, meals include the following ‘fixins’.

Breakfast
Most entrees include orange juice, homemade Old Mill banana nut muffins, biscuits, fresh homemade seasonal preserves, and grits.

Dinner
All entrees include a drink, corn chowder, homemade corn fritters, side salad, world-famous green beans, a choice of potatoes, and a fresh-baked dessert.

Some of the highlights from The Old Mill Restaurant menu include:

Slow-Cooked Green Beans
The Old Mill slow-cooks the green beans and seasons them country-style.

Corn Chowder
The hearty chowder is made out of fresh corn, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and other ingredients.

Pecan Pie
It is no accident that the Old Mill Restaurant serves over 700 slices of pecan pie each day! This homemade dessert may fool you into thinking it’s Christmas.

The Old Mill Restaurant is likely to bring back memories of eating at Grandma’s house, but only if you grew up in the South. However, Yankees and Southerners alike will enjoy the Southern hospitality, delicious comfort food, and gargantuan portion sizes. They’ll probably have to wheel you out, but you’ll come running back for more.

Insider Tips:
If you don’t have a big appetite, you can split an entrée and pay a little extra for two sets of ‘fixins.’