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Brethren Road Trips The travel logs of our members. Q- joints, restaurants, entertainment, reviews while we travel around the 50 states. Also, Post here for a shout out to members to meet up with while on the road. |
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02-17-2021, 02:24 PM | #1 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 08-20-10
Location: Livermore, CA
Name/Nickname : Tim
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Heading to Gatlinburg, how about the BBQ?
Hello all, long time no see.
Heading to the Smokeys for a little family vacation, may as well seek out some BBQ while we're at it. Quick search tells me there are some possible winners in the area, has anyone tried any of these places? Delauder's BBQ Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que Calhoun's in Gatlinburg
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Backwoods Party G2 MAK 1 Star XL BGE SM BGE Weber 26" & JJ Blackstone 36" & 22" Brick Santa Maria Pit |
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02-17-2021, 02:52 PM | #2 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-11-03
Location: Chicago Southwestern Burbs, but always south of Madison Ave.
Name/Nickname : Professor Dickweed
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My wife and I were there October before last, there wasn't much there in the way of barbecue. From Pigeon Forge at the top of the strip to where it dead ends in Gatlinburg, it is one tourist spot after another. Places to eat are heavy on kids and families.
That couple mile strip has more pancake houses than I've ever seen. One every half mile or so. So when in Rome, ..... we hit Paula Dean's place for some southern cooking and across the outdoor mall for some Ole Smokey's moonshine. Spent the next day walking about a 8 mile smokies trail and walked into Gatlinburg, did a wine tasting, ended up at Outback Steakhouse for lunch. Still had a great time, but no BBQ to be found. Beautiful area for sure. Have fun!
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. Bill-Chicago The death of "willkat98" Me: If you aren't woke, that means you're still sleeping, right? Kid today: That's racist! Bandera, M-BGE, WSM, Gold Kettle, Kenmore Gasser, 36Qt Turkey Fryer, ECB, Dutch Oven, Black Iron BBQ Viper-M, Blackstone 36" Griddle |
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02-17-2021, 03:53 PM | #3 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 10-11-20
Location: KANSAS CITY
Name/Nickname : T
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Been to the Gatlinburg many times . . .never saw any signs of promising looking BBQ. Than again, I am from KC and there are only a handful of travel destinations I generally consider it in the first place.
The restaurant scene in Gatlinburg really isn't the calling card of the destination other than top class tourist fare-pancakes and candy apples and the like. But there are a lot of cabin rentals in the area that come equipped with charcoal pits if you catch my drift. |
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02-17-2021, 03:55 PM | #4 |
Phizzy
Join Date: 10-05-08
Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods, Nazis and scrap iron chefs trying to harvest body parts
Name/Nickname : Gore (surprise!)
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We were there last October. I'd have to agree with Bill on this. It is like one big carnival there, lots of kids and families. Get yourself a corndog and some moonshine samples and you should be good. For the record, we did eat at Calhoun's. It wasn't great, but not bad either, just not memorable. I believe the best thing we had were the bacon-wrapped burnt ends, which of course were not burnt ends, but chunks of tender chuck as I recall, still good though. Also had potato skins which I haven't seen on a menu in forever. After those appetizers, we were pretty stuffed.
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Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1" , and dubbed "Phizzy" by Sir Ron. |
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02-17-2021, 05:00 PM | #5 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 06-08-12
Location: Columbia, TN
Name/Nickname : Robb
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Welcome back! Being new to TN and having only been to Gatlinburg once, I asked kid neighbors who have been there many times. Showed them your lair and here’s what they said.
“Calhoun's is the only one that stands out to us. We really like the blue moose and the place called the brewery in pigeon forge.”
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MAK 3 Star — Camp Chef FTG 900 — 26.75 Weber kettle — Weber Q3200 Follower of Jesus, Husband of 1, Father of 9, Lover of people "Ya don't win friends with salad!" Come follow my adventures on Instagram: @rwaltersbbq |
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02-17-2021, 05:09 PM | #6 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 08-20-10
Location: Livermore, CA
Name/Nickname : Tim
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The places I mentioned in my OP have a ton of positive reviews online, but you know what they say, that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
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Backwoods Party G2 MAK 1 Star XL BGE SM BGE Weber 26" & JJ Blackstone 36" & 22" Brick Santa Maria Pit |
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02-17-2021, 08:00 PM | #7 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 09-24-08
Location: Cleveland, TN
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Bbq in that area, meh....
Buddy's is a Knoxville based chained with about 20 stores and is probably your best bet (although I know nothing about Delauders). Calhoun's is a solid restaurant and has good ribs, but not really traditional BBQ IMO. Bennent's is similar to Buddy's but I like Buddy's better and then there is also a very similar Corky's (Memphis based chain). Hit up Local Goat and AppleBarn in Pigeon Forge, and of course Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg.
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Weber 22.5" Silver and Assassin 36 grill |
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02-17-2021, 09:58 PM | #8 |
Take a breath!
Join Date: 10-19-17
Location: Knoxville,Tn.
Name/Nickname : Gary
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I’m with Blake. Buddy’s takes it for consistently good and affordable bbq. Tuesday special $5.99 half smoked chicken, two sides, hush puppies, plastic utensils and a drink! Calhouns gets a nod only because you can park for free for four hours with paid receipt. Wolf down a plate of bbq nachos and spend the other 3 1/2 hrs across the street at Uber Gatlinburg. In Pigeon Forge be sure to hit The Old Mill for a feast you won’t soon forget. Meat loaf. Fried chicken. Catfish. Pot roast. Served up family style it borders on rediculous.
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02-17-2021, 11:04 PM | #9 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 12-31-09
Location: Hernando,MS
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Fried squirrel and oven roasted raccoon is as about as close as you are gonna get to Q in that area.Not hatin at all.Appalicia is not a BBQ destination.So I have been told.
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02-17-2021, 11:41 PM | #10 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 10-16-10
Location: Culver City, CA
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I grew up in Knoxville and used to work at the Calhoun's by Neyland Stadium - that's where I got my first exposure to cooking with smokers. Calhoun's is a fun, feed-the-masses kinda spot. By no means artisinal or transcendent BBQ, but it's a fun spot and the food is good enough. Good sides, apps, desserts etc. as well.
I don't know anything about the other spots, but I did eat Buddy's a lot growing up. Loved it then, not sure how I'd feel about it now that I've been exposed to so much other stuff. There was a Buddy's down the street from my high school and it was pretty great to smell hickory smoke all day every day. I've had good BBQ at Dead End BBQ in Knoxville, but I don't think I'd be running down there from Pigeon Forge just to eat it. I don't know if they still have the Corky's in Pigeon Forge. Whether it's there or not, it totally blows.
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50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 "Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one." - Miles Davis Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD? |
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02-18-2021, 05:14 AM | #11 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 09-13-16
Location: above knoxville Tn
Name/Nickname : Mike
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I hit the Buddys most of the time, have eat at Calhoun's and Bennets and not overly impressed with them, Buddys has really good chili , a pint of it and a small pork sandwich is my goto lol, the Bennets in PF use to not smoke the meat there but some where else and haul it in , not sure if still the same now or not
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WeberPerformer,SpiritE310,Q1000,36"BlackstoneGriddle Masterbuilt electric smoker,PB AustinLX |
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02-18-2021, 07:48 AM | #12 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 03-21-19
Location: Johnsonville, SC
Name/Nickname : Joedy
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Ate at Bennet's last summer on vacation and it was just average at best. Pitmaster was cool though and took me and FIL in the back to see their smokers. Corky's is not worth your time at all. Haven't had the rest. However, I can tell you the best place to find southern cooking is Five Oaks Farm Kitchen. Excellent food great portions. Their smoked chicken is extremely good. If you find any other restaurants good let me know we go in June.
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Isaiah 41:10-Chunky Dunks BBQ-Competition Team Propane Whole Hog Cooker Grill Master Gasser--(Deceased) Weber Kettle 22"(Hoyt) WSM 22.5"(Bertha) RecTeq 590(Fancy) Blackstone 17" griddle O.G. Barrel Charcoal Grill--(Chicken Graveyard) [COLOR="DarkOrange"][B]Clemson Orange Thermapen Mk4[/B][/COLOR] |
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02-18-2021, 09:29 AM | #13 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 08-20-10
Location: Livermore, CA
Name/Nickname : Tim
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You guys are awesome, thank you for taking the time to give your feedback.
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Backwoods Party G2 MAK 1 Star XL BGE SM BGE Weber 26" & JJ Blackstone 36" & 22" Brick Santa Maria Pit |
02-18-2021, 10:11 AM | #14 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 02-29-20
Location: Richmond VA
Name/Nickname : Jody
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Bennett's is pretty good for BBQ in Pigeon Forge. This isn't BBQ, but there's a restaurant called Five Oaks Farm kitchen, I've been once and really liked it overall. I ordered a brisket sandwich and the brisket came out dry and there wasn't a lot on the bun. I wasn't going to say anything because I don't like complaining at restaurants but the manager saw me not eating and came over so I then explained.
He was real nice and apologetic, hard me order something else so I got the fried chicken and it was some of the best fried chicken I've had. I was so full I couldn't order dessert even though I was dying for one of their HUGE cinnamon rolls. I usually got to PF a few times a year so I thought I would just go the next time I was in town, but the pandemic put a stop to that. :( |
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02-18-2021, 02:49 PM | #15 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 12-23-10
Location: Mount Pleasant, SC & Harkers Island, NC
Name/Nickname : Jay
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So y'all are saying Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville are good places for an aspiring pitmaster to open up a barbecue spot...gotcha.
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"Barbecue...it's just heat & meat" - Circa 5/10/11 - Quote by Cook |
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