Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria

Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria

Gatlinburg, Tennessee · Serving the Parkway since 1976

New York-style Italian food from the heart of the Gatlinburg Parkway, and one of the longest-running restaurants in town.

Two locations downtown, a from-scratch kitchen, and a menu spanning classic pasta, signature specialties, hand-tossed pizza, calzones, and a cocktail program worth stopping for on its own. It's the kind of neighborhood Italian spot every tourist town wishes it had, and Gatlinburg gets to call it a local institution.

Staying nearby? Browse our Gatlinburg cabin rentals, minutes from the Parkway.

Two locations

The Original — Elk's Plaza

The full sit-down experience, with the complete menu, full bar, cocktail list, wine, and draft beer. Dine-in, takeout, and catering.

The Express

A walk-up-friendly option on the Parkway — the right stop for a quick slice or a to-go order mid-day. No full bar at this location.

Both are open daily from late morning into the evening, with later closing on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary seasonally — confirm at bestitalian.com before you go.

The food

The menu is built around a from-scratch kitchen, with batters, sauces, and pasta preparations made in-house daily. All the Italian standards, alongside signature specialties and New York-style hand-tossed pizza in multiple sizes.

Pasta runs from fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti to more involved preparations — chicken marsala, chicken piccata, chicken florentine, and slow-braised short rib.

Pizza includes a full build-your-own option with more than thirty toppings alongside specialty pies, plus a cauliflower crust alternative. Calzones, wings, and a kids menu round out the offering.

Full current menu at bestitalian.com.

The bar

The Original's cocktail program is one of the more ambitious in downtown Gatlinburg — a rotating list built around Italian spirits and flavor profiles. House signatures include a nitro espresso martini served on draft, an Italian lemon cake martini, a Sicilian peach old fashioned, and a spumoni cold brew. Limoncello is available by the glass or carafe.

Draft and bottled beer covers local brews alongside the domestics, and the wine list leans Italian, available by glass or bottle. Happy hour pricing applies on select cocktails during the early afternoon.

Good to know

• No reservations needed — both locations are walk-in friendly
• The two locations are different experiences — Elk's Plaza is a sit-down restaurant with the full menu and bar; the Express is a quicker counter-style stop
• Catering is available for groups and events — inquire through bestitalian.com
• Cauliflower crust is offered as a gluten-conscious alternative to the standard dough
• Go early on summer evenings — the Parkway fills up between six and eight

Nearby

The Elk's Plaza location sits at the top end of the Parkway, steps from several major stops. See our things to do guide for more.

• Alibi Speakeasy — also in Elk's Plaza, hidden behind a coffee bar. Dinner here followed by drinks there is the natural pairing
• The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar — dessert, handled
• Ripley's Haunted Adventure — a short walk down the Parkway
• Anakeesta — mountaintop gondola and adventure park, with the Astra Lumina walk after dark
• Crockett's Breakfast Camp — the next morning's answer to a late Italian dinner
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the entrance is minutes from downtown

Frequently asked questions

How long has Best Italian been open?

Since 1976 — one of the longest-running restaurants on the Gatlinburg Parkway.

What's the difference between the two locations?

The Original at 968 Parkway is the full sit-down restaurant with the complete menu, cocktails, wine, and draft beer. The Express at 710 Parkway is a faster, walk-up-friendly option for a quick slice or a to-go order.

Is there a full bar?

At the Original location, yes — full cocktail menu, wine list, and draft and bottled beer. The Express location doesn't have a bar.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, at the Original location.

Do they cater?

Yes — inquiries through bestitalian.com.

Is there a gluten-free option?

A cauliflower crust pizza is available as an alternative to the standard dough. If you have celiac disease rather than a preference, ask staff about kitchen handling before ordering.

Do I need a reservation?

No — both locations are walk-in friendly.

Is it good for families?

Yes. There's a kids menu at the Original, pizza is the universal answer with children, and neither location is so formal that a restless four-year-old is a problem.