Gatlinburg Tennessee Gathering + Neighborhood Upgrade!

My cousin Darleen from Jackson Michigan touched base with us.  She let us know that she, her mom (my first cousin), her daughter, her daughter’s husband and their little girl were making a last minute trip to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area.  She wondered if we’d have time to meet with them…

Of course we had the time.  Heck, we’re retired!  So we settled on a date while Darleen picked the time and place to meet…

Almost no matter what route we take to Gatlinburg from our home, the drive time is between an hour forty minutes and two hours.  In order to avoid the usual gridlock in Pigeon Forge, we came the back way through the edge of the park.

Upon arrival in Gatlinburg, we were pleased to find a parking garage with plenty of spaces right across from the restaurant where we were meeting.  It was fairly calm at noon with minimal traffic or pedestrians…but there was a lot more activity when we headed toward home.  FYI, Gatlinburg is located right next to the entrance to the Smoky Mountains National Park.  

Darleen had chosen a restaurant where they’d eaten on previous occasions, one that they really liked.  This is Howard’s Steakhouse, Gatlinburg’s oldest restaurant.  It’s been around since 1946, quite an amazing feat in such a competitive area, one that has literally hundreds of dining options!

I would guess that this big bar is a significant contributing factor to the bottom-line/profitability of Howard’s.  We didn’t visit the Pub which is located on the second floor.   

The fellow that greeted us and had our table for 7 set up, told me that by 3 PM or so, tourists come down off the mountain/out of the Smoky Mountain National Park and things get a little crazy in town.

Laurie and I arrived at Howard’s before the other family members… They were staying in Pigeon Forge and they got bogged down in traffic.  The outdoor patio with Leconte Creek flowing alongside was quite appealing but it was noisy and it would have been hard to talk over the rushing waters.  I opted for inside seating with a view of the creek.  

Once everyone arrived, I grabbed a couple of photos.  In this one I captured the 3 adult generations of my dad’s side of the family.  From the left, Nancy (first cousin), her daughter Darleen and Darleen’s daughter Ashley.

Who could resist a photo of such a cute cousin…along with her dad Jeff.  Abrielle is Ashley and Jeff’s daughter.  I asked Abrielle if she was a little spoiled…and she proudly said that she is!  Ashley, Jeff and Abrielle recently moved from Delaware to a new home in northern Virginia. 

This appetizer, a big batch of onion rings/deep fried onions were a hit with the group.  Laurie and I did start out with a couple of brews… $4.50 for a Miller Lite and $5.00 for a Blue Moon is a touch pricey for those brands.

I won’t be sharing any variety from Howard’s menu… Everyone ordered basically the same thing…one variation or another from the burger menu!  Laurie and I both ordered a Cordon Bleu Burger with French fries. ($14.95 each) The burgers are formed from ground sirloin and they were very good…juicy and flavorful!

The menu is actually quite large…steaks being the key focal item but lots of choices are available.  However the steak prices were “above my pay grade”.

Darleen took this group photo just before we left the restaurant.  From the left Jeff, cousins Abrielle and Ashley, Laurie and yours truly.

Then it was Laurie’s turn.  She took this photo of me with Nancy and Darleen.

It was a nice gathering… The inside restaurant wasn’t too busy so we were able to sit around and talk about life and family for a couple of hours. 

Service at Howard’s Steakhouse was pleasant and efficient.  Our waitress was from somewhere in Eastern Europe.  She was a little hard to understand but she was patient and more than willing to repeat herself.  The restaurant has a little bit of a ‘worn’ look but it is cozy and the creek adds quite a bit to the ambiance. 

Howard’s Steakhouse is located at 976 Parkway in Gatlinburg Tennessee.  Phone: 865-436-3600.  They are open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.  Their website is at https://www.howardssteaks.com/, but it doesn’t feature a menu…definitely a weird omission!  

Later in the day, Laurie and I decided to try a new ice cream parlor that opened not too far from our house.  It features Hershey’s Ice Cream!  Another amenity for the neighborhood...

Décor on the ice cream parlor is colorful and appropriate.  Tellico Village’s Little Italy Restaurant is located right next door at 316 Lakeside Plaza in Loudon Tennessee.  The owners of that restaurant also own the ice cream parlor. 

These 2 friendly young ladies were manning the ice cream scoops and milk shake machine when we visited.  The operation is still in its opening phase, with additional products and flavors to be added.  In addition, it will serve as the local coffee shop!

That’s it for now… Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave