Meek’s Kitchen: Best Burgers in Tennessee

It took 5 months since they opened, but we finally made it to Meek’s Kitchen—and we weren’t disappointed. It is the best hamburger that I have had in Tennessee. Even more, it is tied for first place with my favorite burger ever: Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Things could not have been better because we got the best seats in the kitchen, across from the grill, and got to observe the kitchen in action.

First, you need to know that Meek’s Kitchen is located in a Marathon gas station across the street from the Sevierville Walmart on the parkway. (Yes, the really busy one). Lisa and I have visited Gas Station Tacos in Pigeon Forge so going into a gas station for lunch was not unusual for me, an adventurous foodie. We went at noon, a busy time, but easily found parking on the side of the Marathon station and walked in to find our friend Anita.

As luck would have it, Anita got there first and saved us seats at the counter, right in front of the grill so we got a really good view of the busy kitchen.

You come here ready for a hamburger or hot dog and the menu delivers. I found the prices to be excellent due to the high quality product.

Meek’s uses grass fed ground beef in the ‘smash burger’style. The flavor is everything that you want in burger.

Order at the counter or the cash register and you can watch the work in progress.

There is also an interesting warm potato salad dish that I will try some day.

A big advantage to having lunch in a gas station is the access to any kind of drink that you could want. We were able to have caffeine free Diet Sprite, which is hard to find in eateries. Definitely a perk!

Burgers are all cooked fresh and fries and onion rings are hot. I love burgers served like this! This photo is the first option on the menu, the Gourmet Cheeseburger.

Each burger contains two 3 ounce patties with spring mix lettuce on a brioche bun. The brioche bun is my favorite and the best choice for this kind of burger. They were outstanding and we had to get ‘to go’ boxes to finish the rest later as the burgers were generous portions.

I have been reading my friend Tad’s assessments for Meek’s Kitchen for 5 months and it was even better than I imagined so Anita, Melinda, and I plan to go back again and again. Meek’s Kitchen delivers an outstanding hamburger and fries,etc. You will not be disappointed.

My friend Tad says, ” nothing will ever top a REAL Frank Allen’s cheeseburger, but Meek’s Kitchen comes very close! They do have the original recipe for Frank’s slaw, and it is delicious. The restaurant area is spotlessly clean, as well.”

We didn’t order cheesecake, but imagine that they are wonderful—just look at the flavors.

Here are some tips for first timers.

  1. Meek’s Kitchen is quite popular so this is a place that you may not be able to grab a quick lunch. Plan for it to take a while to order and get your food, then enjoy it.
  2. I noticed the crowd thinned out more after 1:00 p.m. so a late lunch would be a good idea too.
  3. I sat across from the grill and noticed the next day that my jacket smelled like cooking hamburgers (not a bad thing), so be aware that you may attract animals or other foodies by sitting close to the grill.
  4. It looked like some customers were doing take-out so that seems to be an option.
  5. There are places to sit at a long counter and several table areas. People ordering to-go seemed to be standing around waiting for their orders so it may look more ‘peopley’ during the lunch rush. Worth the wait!

Meek’s Kitchen is a local treasure and a place that I want to go on a regular basis. It is convenient and one of the best hamburgers that I have enjoyed during my foodie adventures so I bet that you will like Meek’s Kitchen too. Who wants to go next week?

See you out and about in Sevierville.

Brunch at the Cottage in Pigeon Forge

We noticed a new restaurant had opened to good reviews in Pigeon Forge so it was time to make a visit. In fact, I have made 2 visits in the past month with two different groups of friends who were curious and wanted to try it. The Cottage is located at 3215 Parkway in Pigeon Forge and offers breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Come along and see what we ordered on both trips.

The dining room is bright and pleasant in nuetral colors. An inviting space for brunch.

Coffee is good and I enjoyed the individual creamer. I appreciate dish ware and enjoyed the cup as well.

In addition, mimosa options can add a festive vibe to the meal.

Can’t decide? Have a mimosa ‘flight!’ Or, share a flight with friends.

Voila!

Whether an appetizer or a meal, the fried green tomatoes with a generous serving of pimento cheese and pork belly jam is filling—and shareable.

I often order avocado toast so that was an easy decision. It was served on crusty bead with two eggs to your preference. Consequently, you will be full for the next 6 hours.

Someone in your party will probably order Eggs Benedict with home fries. They look so good!

Shrimp and grits are a good choice as well.

When the server brought our plates, my friends gasped when they saw the height of my order: the egg souffle sandwich. It is a show-stopper! You will notice it immediately on the tray.

I asked if there was cheese in the egg to make it so solid. The waiter asked the cooks and they simply whip the eggs and then cook them in a narrow thing to allow the egg to climb and achieve height . It was excellent and I will order it again some day. But to be sure, I could only eat a quarter of it. Definitely be hungry to attempt the egg souffle sandwich!

The brunch menu offers both sweet and savory choices so everyone in your group should be able to find something to suit their taste. But make sure to bring an appetite if you come to the Cottage. We think that it will be nice addition to the local restaurant scene so go and enjoy!

Here is the website to learn more. https://www.thecottagepf.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL3Y3hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5Snk3UzNuc0RrT2NKTFZQAR6PeyC-emi47bINLF4bKIdiSYK71r5D45qSGVNiH__BBXRwSdA3qpmGauBpXQ_aem_p5WbgM6Fp2d_9l3qsBHflw

Only a few miles from Sevierville, the Cottage is worthy of a visit with friends or family. Buen provecho!