Dinner at Do

Last Sunday evening, we decided to have dinner for the first time at a fairly new restaurant in downtown Sevierville. Do (pronounced ‘dough’) is an Italian restaurant that features scratch made pasta and pizza baked in a stone-fired oven. We tried a little bit of everything and liked it all.

Do is located across the street from the Sevier County Court House at 160 Court Avenue and around the corner from the ‘sister restaurant,’ Graze Burgers. Because it is open for dinner only, parking should not be a problem. On weekends, parking will be even better. When we went on a Sunday evening, we were able to park on the street and very close to the restaurant. Convenient!

The design is upscale, and modern, yet comfortable and intimate. The large windows add ample light in the open area and you can look into the kitchen, if you like. This would be a good place to have a graduation party or any other celebration. We could tell that Do is a place to take one’s time and enjoy a meal like the European way. And so we did.

Tables are attractive and ready to serve.

The table lamps are pretty as the sun sets behind the courthouse.

The bar is cozy and offers refreshment and entertainment on the large TV.

We looked at the menu and decided to order what we wanted, but to split a pizza—which was the perfect balance.

Here is a link to the menu.

https://dopizzapasta.com/sevierville-do-scratch-made-pizza-and-pasta-food-menu

I started with a side salad that was quite fresh and packed with greens.

Friends enjoyed the Italian sausage and potato soup with two pieces of Italian bread on top. Next time, I may try the chicken and white bean soup.

We decided to share a Neopolitan mushroom pizza. The waiter alerted us that it did not have a red pizza sauce, but we decided to try it—and it was excellent. Four ladies were able to have one generous slice + half of another. That is all we wanted with our soup or salad. There are many tempting items on the menu that are worth exploring in the future. In addition, the children’s menu looked good, including a child’s pizza.

We did not order dessert, but the Tiramisu and Lemon Italian Cream cake looked divine.

Although we walked in at a good time to get a table, I would recommend having a reservation in advance.

Hours are Sunday – Thursday 4pm to 9pm.

Friday – Saturday 4pm to 10 pm.

Our waiter was very efficient and helpful, but not intrusive. He did a great job and kept things moving, but at a relaxed pace.

Here is a link to the Do website. You can see a menu and order online as well.

https://dopizzapasta.com/

As we prepared to leave, we walked by this large table with a good view of the street and the courthouse. This would be my favorite table for a larger group.

A quiet Bruce Street on a Sunday evening.

As you can see, Sunday evenings are great time to try Do restuarant in downtown Sevierville. We will return again and wish it much success!

See you out and about in Sevierville.

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.

Lunch at My Little Italy

Friends and I recently met at My Little Italy restaurant to have lunch with an Italian flavor. The restuarant is located in the small, former Cheesy Steaks building on Highway 66, but has plenty of parking and dining area. We could smell the wonderful aromas of tomato and garlic as we walked into the door, signaling a good meal to come. Here is what we found.

Within a moment of entering the restuarant, I recognized that the quiet soundtrack playing in the background was correct!

We sat inside the dining area closest to the kitchen and the side door. This is an additional dining area that should accommodate customers well.

I usually like to order lasagna at Italian restaurants so I kept it the same here. There are lots of dishes to choose from and something for everyone. The owner /chef of My Little Italy spent decades working in restaurants in the Little Italy neighborhood in New York City—and you can tell because the flavors really capture that experience.

Here are the dishes that we ordered for lunch.

Greek salad was a starter.

Lasagna with plenty of sauce was excellent.

Of course, spaghetti was very good. The meat sauce was very satisfying.

And the exclamation point at the end of the meal: an order of Tiramisu to share with tablemates.

Wrapping up our meal, I asked the server who was the little boy depicted in the restuarant rugs and signage. The picture of the little boy is the server’s son, the owner’s grandson. Truly, it is a nice representation of a local family business.

You can find My Little Italy restaurant on Facebook to get the latest news. For example, there is a lunch special going on right now between 11:00-3:00 that offers pasta, house salad, drink, and bread for $12.99 . Maybe check Facebook before you visit as they will alert you if there is a repair need and they may have to close, as is the case right now with a kitchen hood repair.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574463236974

My Little Italy is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Sunday.

My friends and I will return again before the summer is over to have another taste of Italy. Anyone who enjoys Italian food will enjoy dining at My Little Italy on 1758 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Dinner at Muchacho Alegre Mexican Restaurant

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

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!

Great Smoky Mountains Food Truck Rally & Show 2023

(Caution—the pictures in this article may make you quite hungry!)

We saw the announcement on Facebook and knew that a food truck rally would provide a fun lunch meeting. Smoky Mountain Foodie, Elaine, and I met Melinda around 1:15 at the Sevier County Fair Grounds to see what was cooking for lunch. It was quite a task making a choice. Here is what we found during the outing.

A nice crowd was gathering by 1:15, but lines were not too long. Several people had bought food and were tailgating in the parking lot. A good idea!

I was interested in brisket, but we kept walking to see what else was there.

A lady had ordered this extreme funnel cake so I had to take a picture.

I think that I have had a Lobster Dog from this truck before. We were pondering the stuffed avocado.

Elaine and I eventually settled on something from the Pommes Frites truck. I know that means ‘fries’ in French so I tried to make it sound that way when we ordered at the window. We found a table and chairs at the little pavilion and settled in for lunch. Top photo shows a brat with kraut and fries while the bottom photo shows fries with two dipping sauces. Pretty good, but eat them fast and don’t let them cool down.

We will definitely look for this truck next time. Looked really tempting.

A patron let me take a picture of his onion rings—a generous portion that the picture doesn’t quite do justice. I heard that the fried cherry pie (pictured right) was outstanding and had a cream cheese surprise inside with the fruit filling.

The Kettle Corn vendors were quite friendly and working hard. They have free samples too.

After lunch, I saw this food truck advertised ‘real ice cream’ —and it did not disappoint. They said that regular ice cream tends to be 4% milk fat, but theirs is 10% milk fat. In fact, they said that they have to go out of state to get their ingredients. Soft serve chocolate ice cream is a special treat and it may have been one of the best that I have tried in recent memory.

Soon, it was time to stroll back to the car so we could all get home in time for the Vols game. A nice crowd of people enjoyed the sunny weather and a variety of food options, something for every taste. We had a great time and hope to see more food truck rallies so close to home. Next time, we may even tailgate.

Bon appetit!

Dinner at Ristorante Della Santina

At long last, my friends and I finally made a reservation for dinner at Ristorante Della Santina. This restaurant has been open for a while so I was excited when it was time to go. The dinner at Ristorante Della Santina made for a nice summer evening—Italian style!

The restaurant is located at 2004 Red Bank Rd. so it was only minutes away from our meeting point.

We made a reservation for 6:00 on a Thursday evening because we heard that it can be busy on the weekends. This worked out well because we were seated immediately at a table of our choice.

My friends and I do appreciate a nice tablecloth for a dining experience.

The restaurant offers pasta, seafood, chicken, and other specialities. We decided on our entrees: lasagna and eggplant parmigiana. Spaghetti is always my second choice, but the lasagna was the entree for this first dinner at Della Santina.

We loved the fresh Cesar salad and homemade dressing. Delightful starter.

Anita’s eggplant parmigiana was excellent. I am looking at this picture and want some now.

This picture may not capture the height of the lasagna, but it was a generous portion. Leftovers later!

It is hard to find Spumoni so I had to order it. Spumoni is an Italian milk sherbet with 3 flavors: cherry, pistachio, and chocolate. Ristorante Della Santina serves Spumoni covered in a chocolate shell. Divine!

Always be sure to order Spumoni if you can find it!

Don’t you appreciate a nice to-go container? This is a good one.

We enjoyed our dinner at Ristorante Della Santina very much and plan to return soon to celebrate Elaine’s birthday. I would say that is the nicest Italian restaurant in Sevier County and a good destination for a special dinner. A little more than 5 miles from downtown, it is worth the drive through Dolly Parton Parkway to get your taste of Italy.

Buon appetito!

Tamale Express

We heard about a new restaurant at 1354 Dolly Parton Parkway, in the small strip mall east of Sevier County High School. I had heard good things about it so Lisa and I decided to give it a try on Thursday after work. I liked Tamale Express very much and recommend it for foodies and people who like to try new things. This is not a typical Mexican restaurant that has chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. No Margaritas and maybe no tamales on a regular basis. However, Tamale Express brings something new to the local food scene.

We entered the restaurant and ordered at the counter. I ordered a #1 and Lisa ordered a #2. Be ready because the portions are generous and filling.

Birria is a meat stew or soup made with meat (beef in this case) and marinated with adobo made of spices, dried chiles, garlic, herbs, vinegar and cooked in a broth. It was excellent and not too spicy at all.

To our great regret, the restaurant was out of Choco-Flan. Next time! Also, we will try the street corn next time as well.

The fresh add on station was very nice with two kinds of salsa, cilantro, and more. We admired the beautiful tiles on the side of the of station.

The cashier remembered me saying that I had a late afternoon snack so he cut the sandwich in half and thoughtfully put the other half in a to-go box. My barrio torta had the softest bread—delightful! Dipping it into the liquid reminded me of another favorite sandwich: the French Dip. Very nice and not too spicy. The sandwich was quite thick so half for me was perfect.

Lisa’s tacos were excellent and she was able to dip them into the broth as well. Order a Jarritos soft drink! We ordered lime soda as a treat.

We loved the small little add-ons on the fresh bar. A little bit of lime and cilantro makes it extra good.

Of course, we loved the Frida Kahlo art displayed in the restaurant.

Iconic!

Screenshots from Google Images had given me ideas of what to expect at the restaurant. Choco-Flan!

In summary, Tamale Express offers something special for those who crave Mexican food that is different from the other places in town. We arrived around 5:00, probably earlier than the usual dinner time so the restaurant was not busy. We enjoyed a quiet, very authentic dinner just yards away from the high school. We plan on going again soon—but next time we will make sure that they have some Choco-Flan waiting for us!

Penny’s Cafe in Downtown Sevierville

There is a new place to find coffee, smoothies, breakfast, and lunch in downtown Sevierville. Penny’s Cafe offers all those things and more. In addition, local artists display their work in this spacious area. I went by this summer and noticed that the cafe is already quite popular. Here are some quick observations.

First, Penny’s Cafe is located across the street from the gazebo on Bruce Street—an excellent location. In the picture above, you can see the cafe is located to the right of the old post office building. Park in the parking lot across the street, on the street, or down the street near the courthouse and just walk a short distance for a really nice cappuccino.

We got a friendly greeting as we walked into Penny’s Cafe. The menu is located on the wall to the left.

This is a nice little area to wait for a friend if you are early. The view across the street of Sims Barbershop may fo a local coming or going after a nice cut.

Young people have discovered the nice coffee and more at Penny’s Cafe. This sofa is a comfortable place to catch up with friends and refresh.

The new espresso machine makes one of the best cappuccinos that I have had this year in the U.S.
I learned to love avocado toast on a trip to California so I was excited to see several variations on the menu. I ordered “Everything Avocado Toast” on rye bread, but you can order it on two other kinds of bread as well. It had the Everything Bagel seasoning and was quite substancial. I was not able to eat both pieces and was not hungry for hours.
Penny’s Cafe is spacious and visually attractive, displaying work from local artists on the walls and in display cases. You will surely find a gift or personal treasure there.
I found myself browsing the art and wondering what would look good on my walls.
If you need a gift, one can be found in this display case…

Or this …

… or this display. I love the horse painting on the back wall and wonder where it could go in my home.
There is so much art to see at Penny’s Cafe so it would be a good idea to plan extra time to do so.

In closing, Penny’s Cafe in downtown Sevierville brings coffee, food, and art to Bruce Street that has missing for a while. The cafe has already been embraced by locals and visitors alike. Drop by and enjoy a morning drink or meal to start the day. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Here are some screen shots of the coffee menu from the Penny’s Cafe Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page to see more. Here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/pennyscafetn

Bon appetite!

Barbecue in the Mountains: Preacher’s Smokehouse

After visiting a friend in the area, we decided to try a little barbecue place that we found on our drive to Pittman Center. Located on 2929 Pittman Center Rd., the restaurant serves locals and visitors alike. As it turned out, we found some of the tastiest barbecue in the mountains.

A place to gather together and eat meat. A meat eatery.

Preacher’s Smokehouse

You will notice the gravel entrance and parking lot with a beautiful view of the mountains in the background.

Preacher’s Smokehouse is appropriately located in a cabin with a nice little front porch. The woodpile on the right side lets you know the authenticity of the food. In addition, I think that I remember some picnic tables outside to the right of the building.

I got a pork meal combo with two sides. Next time, I will try the brisket or burnt ends from the menu. I have never tried burnt ends, but they sound so good. We thought that the prices were reasonable too.

Step up to the window. Ordering is easy.

If you get here at the right time, then you can have what appears to be the ‘best seats in the house.’

The sides were excellent and the sizes were quite generous. If you have a light appetite, you could easily share with a friend. Later on, I realized that I had not taken many pictures of the food so the following are screenshots that I found online from other happy customers.

According to the Preacher’s Smokehouse Facebook page, it may be a good idea to check before you drive out there because they frequently sell out of barbecue— and that would be a monumental disappointment!

Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/preacherssmokehouse

Limited hours and limited days open make Preacher’s Smokehouse a particularly special place to get barbecue.

Monday:CLOSED, Tuesday:CLOSED, Wednesday:CLOSED

Thursday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday:CLOSED

Phone number: (865)332-9731

Writing this story has whet my appetite and I look forward to a return trip soon to Preacher’s Smokehouse.

Save some burnt ends for me!