5 Celebrity Owned Restaurants in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Published Apr 18, 2025 5 Celebrity Owned Restaurants in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

The Smoky Mountains celebrity restaurant scene has grown into one of the most distinctive dining corridors in the Southeast — country music stars and Food Network personalities bringing their signature concepts to the Parkway. Here are five worth knowing about.

1. Ole Red — Gatlinburg

Blake Shelton's Gatlinburg honky-tonk runs live music from opening to closing seven days a week — local and regional artists performing country, outlaw country, and Southern rock across multiple stages inside the building. The atmosphere is exactly what the name suggests: loud, energetic, and built for people who want to eat, drink, and stay a while.

The menu focuses on Southern-inspired comfort food — burgers, BBQ, Nashville hot chicken — alongside a full bar running cocktails, beer, and shots. The Dirty Tractor cocktail is the signature. Ole Red is a destination in its own right on the Gatlinburg Parkway, consistently packed on weekend evenings. Walk-ins are welcome; arriving before the dinner rush significantly reduces the wait.

2. Paula Deen's Family Kitchen — Pigeon Forge

Paula Deen's Family Kitchen at The Island delivers the full family-style Southern dining experience — bowls of food passed around the table, endlessly refilled, in a 300-seat dining room with tiered seating and views of The Island's show fountain and the Smoky Mountains beyond. The concept is a seat-down version of the kind of home cooking Deen built her TV career around: fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, creamed corn, and mashed potatoes, all rotating through a menu of Southern staples.

Breakfast runs chicken and waffles, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and specialty casseroles. The first floor houses a 4,000-square-foot Paula Deen retail store stocked with her cookware, seasonings, and baking mixes. Reservations are accepted — recommended on peak Pigeon Forge weekends when The Island is at full capacity.

3. Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar — Gatlinburg

646 Parkway, Gatlinburg | jasonaldeansbar.com | Open daily | Live music daily | Rooftop bar with Smoky Mountain views

Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar is the newest addition to the Gatlinburg celebrity restaurant lineup — and the rooftop bar is the headline feature. The views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains from the top floor are genuinely impressive, and the rooftop runs its own bar and live music program that keeps the energy going well into the evening. The location at 646 Parkway puts it directly in the heart of Gatlinburg's entertainment strip.

The menu brings creative twists on Southern staples — the Redneck Egg Rolls with bourbon BBQ pork are the signature starter — alongside steaks, pot roast, salmon, fried shrimp, and a craft cocktail program with a dozen custom drinks. Live music runs daily, both downstairs and on the rooftop. Walk-ins welcome; reservations available for the main dining room.

4. Downtown Flavortown — Pigeon Forge

2655 Teaster Lane, Suite 100, Mountain Mile, Pigeon Forge | downtownflavortown.com | Open daily 11 AM–10 PM (11 PM Fri–Sat) | 43,000 sq ft entertainment complex | Guy Fieri's concept

Guy Fieri's Downtown Flavortown at the Mountain Mile is less a restaurant than a full entertainment complex — 43,000 square feet housing a 300-plus-seat restaurant, a 14-lane duckpin bowling alley, over 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art arcade games with digital G-bucks cards, and a Freaky Tiki bar. Fieri's iconic 1968 Chevy Camaro sits in the lobby for the obligatory photo op.

The menu is exactly what Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" audience expects: Trash Can Nachos, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, chili-smothered fries, the Donut Burger, stone-fired pizzas, and a Bacon Mac-N-Cheese Burger that delivers on its promise. The food is designed to be shared and photographed before it's eaten. Downtown Flavortown is the right call for family groups who want dinner and significant entertainment in one stop — and a 2026 AAMA Family Entertainment Center of the Year finalist. Reservations recommended for weekend evenings.

5. Margaritaville — Pigeon Forge

Margaritaville at The Island brings Jimmy Buffett's signature island-escape concept to the Smokies — a laid-back atmosphere of warm tropical colors, exposed wood, and multiple bars built for lingering. The 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar and its oversized outdoor deck overlook the Little Pigeon River, making it one of the most pleasant riverside dining experiences in Pigeon Forge. Live music plays on the exterior stage, and the concert stage inside runs regularly scheduled performances.

The menu leans Caribbean and Louisiana — coconut shrimp, jambalaya, Cajun shrimp and grits, jerk salmon, fish tacos, and the Cheeseburger in Paradise, the signature burger named for Buffett's song. The whole concept is deliberately unhurried: drinks, live music, river views, and food that fits the pace. Reservations available online; the outdoor deck is first-come on busy evenings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which celebrity restaurants in the Smokies have live music?

Ole Red (Gatlinburg), Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar (Gatlinburg), and Margaritaville (Pigeon Forge) all run regular live music. Ole Red and Aldean's are the most music-forward — artists perform daily from opening to close. Margaritaville runs scheduled live sets on the outdoor deck and concert stage. Check each venue's website for current performance schedules.

Which celebrity restaurant is best for families with kids?

Downtown Flavortown is purpose-built for families — the bowling, arcade, and restaurant combination gives kids and adults something to do simultaneously. Paula Deen's Family Kitchen is also strongly family-friendly, with generous portions and a welcoming atmosphere. Margaritaville at The Island is relaxed and accessible for families with younger children.

Do these restaurants take reservations?

Paula Deen's Family Kitchen accepts reservations online (recommended on peak weekends). Jason Aldean's and Margaritaville also take reservations. Ole Red and Downtown Flavortown are primarily walk-in — arrive before 6 PM on busy evenings to minimize waits. All five are significantly busier on Friday and Saturday nights during peak season.

Where should I stay to be close to these restaurants?

Ole Red and Jason Aldean's are both on the Gatlinburg Parkway — a Gatlinburg cabin puts you within minutes of both. Paula Deen's, Downtown Flavortown, and Margaritaville are all in Pigeon Forge — a Pigeon Forge cabin keeps you close to the Parkway and The Island without fighting parking.

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