Hospitality – Out and About in Sevierville

Brunch at the Cottage in Pigeon Forge

August 1, 2025outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

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!

Lunch at My Little Italy

July 28, 2025outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

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.

Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort

July 23, 2025outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

A while back, I was driving home from the REI store when I realized that I was across the street from the entrance of the Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort. Being a local, I may never stay there so I decided to go and take a peek and maybe see my friend Heidi in the coffee shop. Five minutes later, I was walking into the new resort at Dollywood. Here are the beautiful things that I saw during my quick trip to see the new Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort.

There is a spectacular view when you walk into the front door of the Heartsong Hotel and Resort.

A beautiful photo of Dolly Parton in the entrance area.

Outdoor areas have multiple fire pits and seating areas. Very inviting.

I imagine that this outdoor area is pretty spectacular at night.

There are several lounges for relaxation and meeting friends.

The Acoustic Lobby was the most interesting place on the ground floor and I was attracted to the colors.

Same room, better view!

There is memorabilia in this room that requires some time to examine to appreciate it.

Things to do and open spaces to enjoy relaxing days.

The indoor pool looked rather large through the window and the gift shop had all kinds of amenities.

The coffee shop had a wide variety of treats, snacks, and things to tide you over until meal time.

Pretty things on the walls.

If I get a chance to stay overnight at the Heartsong Lodge and Resort then I will certainly do so because it is a relaxing, inviting place in the Smoky Mountains.

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

July 25, 2024outandaboutinsevierville1 Comment

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!

Tiny Houses, RVs, and ‘Glamping’ at Ridge Outdoor Resort

May 27, 2019May 28, 2019outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

There is a new place to stay overnight in Sevierville with ‘tiny houses’ and RV sites. Soon, there will be ‘glamping’ Safari tents too. Come along and take a quick look at the Ridge Outdoor Resort on Middle Creek Rd, across the street from Sweet Frog Yogurt and Smoky Mountain Espresso.

This property once was a church, then it belonged to the Holston Methodist Conference.

You may recognize the building from those previous incarnations. It has since been purchased and quickly becoming a camping destination in Sevierville. The main building can be used for weddings, events, and fundraisers. Inside, one can also find a coffee shop and internet cafe. They are also planning a camping store and a fitness center.

Each RV spot has a nice set-up. I especially like the round fire bowls. Each RV site will have a picnic table, fire bowl, water, sewer, electric, cable and Ethernet.

The RV area is spacious and has a nice view of the mountains. It is only a small walk to the main building. A resort style swimming pool should be open by June 1st. It will be 116 feet long and will also have a swim shelf.

There is a playground for children to enjoy during their stay. A pickle ball area and a basketball court are also in the plans.

I was especially interested in the ‘tiny houses’ on the property. I have seen them on HGTV and wanted to see one.

There was an ‘Open House’ on a Sunday so I was able to look around and take several photos. I can see how campers would enjoy sitting on the deck with such a view and a fire bowl.

Doors open wide to a mountain view. The owners’ dog was enjoying the afternoon sun.

Love the view!

The dog is posing pretty in the kitchen area.

This will be a nice view from the kitchen sink.

The bathroom is bright and convenient.

The bedroom did not feel tiny; rather, it felt compact and comfortable.

A flat screen TV is located at the end of the bed.

As I strolled back toward the front door, I noticed the nice little table for dining. I think that these tiny houses are manufactured by Clayton Homes. They are extremely nice!

You can see that the campground is located conveniently across the street from Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt and Smoky Mountain Espresso Coffee. It is also in view of Middle Creek Road and the larger Veterans Boulevard, very close to Dollywood properties.

I can’t wait to visit again when they put up the ‘glamping’ (glamorous camping) tents soon. The ‘safari tents’ may be ready by July. They are waiting for the orders to arrive from Norway. That is going to be fun!

It is getting even more fun to camp in Sevierville.

Sevier County Hospitality Trade Show 2018

March 4, 2018March 4, 2018outandaboutinsevierville3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a Facebook announcement about the Sevier County Hospitality Trade Show and decided to check it out. It was free so I went after work and caught the last 45 minutes. While there, I saw some old friends and some of our favorite businesses in this area. If you ever go, this is what you may see. Follow along!

This was the announcement that I saw on Facebook. Looked good!

I had never visited the Sevierville Convention Center so it was fun to explore it for the first time.

Beth Madison works the table for Relay For Life.

If you need music then contact Stephen Goff. We enjoy seeing him perform in this area.

I always enjoy talking with Linda Sink Hyder with the UT Extension office. Look for her at the Sevierville Farmer’s Market this summer too.

These seminars looked good for all kinds of businesses and organizations.

Our favorite bar-b-q place!

My nieces and nephews really enjoy visiting Wilderness at the Smokies. It may be time for another visit.

If you have not visited Anakeesta yet then you really need to go. Ride the open air chairlift to the top.

This booklet is a great resource for visitors.

I asked them to look ‘burly’ for the photo.

Businesses that support the hospitality industry can be found at this event as well.

Getting hungry yet?

I have not visited this attraction yet, but it may be on my ‘summer list.’

A great local insurance company. Consider them if you need it.

A popular new business in town. Visit their location behind Staples and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

A ‘one-stop-spot’ for visitor information.

Sean Pearson and Joe Luneke from First Tennessee Bank.

After this terrible flu season, it is good to know the location of another Urgent Care facility.

I liked this display. Can’t wait for summer and these kind of activities!

I am sure that you are hungry now! Our favorite Pigeon Forge Restaurant.

Next year, I want to try my luck at this wheel.

Smoothies created by the convention center to replenish energy for the event.

A nice amenity at the convention center.

On the way out to my car, I spied our favorite Sevier County native and some of the best places to visit here.

I had little time at this event and had to hurry, but it was nice to get an overview of some of our best hospitality groups in Sevier County. Keep up the good work!

See you there while out and about in Sevierville.

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