Month: July 2024

Dinner at Muchacho Alegre Mexican Restaurant

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A friend and I decided to meet for dinner at Muchacho Alegre because I had not been there before, but I had noticed ‘a buzz’ online about it. Originally a Ruby Tuesday, it is now home to delicious Mexican cusine. Sevierville has a variety of Mexican restaurants in town and locals have their favorites, but this new entry on the scene has developed a following. Here were some things that I enjoyed during my first visit to Muchacho Alegre.

First, it is located at 630 Winfield Dunn Parkway. The name is upbeat because “muchacho alegre’ means cheerful/happy boy in Spanish.

The foyer is cute and follows the decorative theme of colors and happiness.

The waiting areas will hold a crowd. This is just one area for guests. There were more.

This looks like a nice background for photos. I am sure that the sombreros are in frequent use for birthdays and general merrymaking. We love the little bear carving in the left corner.

Chips and salsa are critical so I was very happy with what was brought to the table. The waiter brought us a larger than usual container of salsa and it was a little thicker than found at some restaurants—which I like a lot! It was nice having a small molcajete of my own in which to enjoy the salsa. Muy bien!

Janet ordered fajitas that were accompanied by…

…this! A generous portion of rice and fixings.

I ordered Birria tacos, which are sometimes hard to find in this area so I was happy to see it on the menu. Muy rico!

I dipped my tacos in the birria, pictured above. Birria is a broth / beef consomme with ingredients that create rich flavor. The sauce may have originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco and is prepared on special occasions like weddings and holidays— which may explain why it is not easy to find on menus. I did not ask for their recipe, but it may have included cumin, chiles, bay leaves, onion, and cilantro, etc. so be ready for rich flavors.

Other specialty sides include plantains and yucca. I want to try that next time.

Alas, there was no room to enjoy dessert, but you may like Pastel de Tres Leches, churros, flan or a banana chime.

The Dia de los Muertos themed custom wallpaper behind the bar area is both modern and eyecatching. In fact, it is visually spectacular. It was my favorite view.

As we were leaving, I think that we spotted a real muchacho alegre.

Muchacho Alegre served good food and the waiters were very attentive. The dining areas are spacious and you don’t feel like you are sitting too close to others. It is a place that you don’t want to be in a hurry; rather, take your time and linger over the meal. I enjoyed Muchacho Alegre and know that I will return muy pronto. But next time, I must invite muchos amigos para la cena.

Here is a link to the restaurant Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558580516704

Buen provecho!

Lunch and a Treat at Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream

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It was busy for a Tuesday in July so I got lucky and found a parking space across the street, just in time to meet friends for lunch at the still new Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream in downtown Sevierville.

Red’s Soda Fountain is located at 114 Court Avenue, beside the Central Hotel and within steps of the courthouse and the Dolly Parton statue.

Clearly, this place will be a foodies dream!

I love a specialty entrance mat.

There are booths arranged along the left side of the room, extending to the back wall. Tables and stools are to the right. Red’s is a large, open space where you can see good things being made fresh at the fountain.

Several lunch options are provided by Seasons 101 and they looked excellent, as shown in this photo from Red’s Facebook page. They make the hotdogs there. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094535967980

Anita, Elaine, and I decided on the same thing for lunch: a ‘the Works Hot Dog’ and a Phosphate—a home made soda.They made Anita a Diet Cherry Coke and I had a Cherry Sprite. Very refreshing!

Good hot dog and I really enjoyed my phosphate!

I cannot tell the difference between malts, floats, and ice cream sodas, but the treats are amazing!

My friends opted for single scoop ice cream , which is very generous! They recommend the Espresso Crumble.

An old jukebox plays music for free and lends an authentic feel to your time in Red’s Soda Fountain.

A picture on the wall full of nostalgia.

This is a screenshot that I found in a search for more background on the original Red’s Cafe, containing photos of the original proprietor and the first location downtown. Anita says that the original location is where the piano lessons building is located on Bruce Street.

Here is a link to my previous story from 2021, the mural of Red’s Cafe in downtown Sevierville depicting Red Clevenger and his famous customer, Dolly Parton. The link also includes a video of Dolly retelling her memories of Red’s Cafe when she was young. https://outandaboutinsevierville.com/2021/10/10/reds-cafe-second-mural-in-downtown-sevierville/

On a back wall, there are two maps with pushpins to show visitors’ home countries. It looks like Red’s Soda Fountain has made fans from all over the world.

We ended up staying over an hour and a half for our lunch because Red’s Soda Fountain is a place where you want to linger and anticipate special order drinks and treats. We noticed a nice crowd during our visit, especially for a Tuesday, and know that it will be popular for a long time.

As we said our goodbyes, I glanced over at the courthouse and noticed visitors who had just had ice cream in Red’s, now taking photos with the Dolly Parton statue. Truly, the soda shop is in an excellent location in downtown Sevierville.

We enjoyed lunch and treats at Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream and I’ll bet you a single cone of chocolate that I will be back there next week. There are some new things on the menu to enjoy next time. Red’s is certainly a special place to go when you are out and about in Sevierville.

If you have already visited Red’s, leave a comment on what you tried and recommend!