After eating at the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, TN, three words came to mind: “It’s worth it!” This phrase seemed to be the theme of our entire trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition to fun shopping and attractions at the Old Mill, the food at the Old Mill Restaurant was savory, delicious, and well worth the wait! Keep reading to learn why!
The Old Mill Restaurant Details & Location
Address:Â 164 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge TN Â 37863 |Â Hours:Â Daily 8 am – 9 pm (off season hours vary)
Location:  The Old Mill Restaurant is located off of Old Mill Avenue in Pigeon Forge, TN.  From Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drive north through Gatlinburg, TN on US-441. This will take you directly to Pigeon Forge, TN.
After entering Pigeon Forge, the Old Mill Restaurant is located just off of US-441 on the right. Because they do not take reservations, it is first come, first served, so plan accordingly.
The Old Mill is rich with amenities and things to look at and do
If you go to the Old Mill website, there is a list showcasing all the many things you can do at the Old Mill. We went to a darling little shop underneath the restaurant while we waited to be seated. Some of the other amenities at the Old Mill include:
- The Old Mill General Store
- Dining
- The Old Mill Creamery
- The Old Mill Pigeon River Potter
- A Tour of the Historic Old Mill
- The Old Mill Candy Kitchen
- The Old Mill Farmhouse Kitchen
- The Shop Sassafras
- The Old Forge Distillery
Visiting the Old Mill allows you to get a taste of old fashioned Tennessee hospitality and is a beautiful addition to you trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Old Mill Restaurant is a popular location so be prepared for long wait times
When my sister and I first arrived at the Old Mill Restaurant, the parking lot was super crowded and we saw a long line of people wrapped around the outside of the restaurant. My sister dropped me off and found a place to park while I walked up to get in line.
When I first put my name on the waiting list, I was told that the wait would be 1 hr. 45 min. I have NEVER waited that long to eat. We were tired from a full day of hiking to Laurel Falls and watching the sunset at Clingmans Dome. The last thing I wanted to do was wait to eat.
I went to the bathroom to clear my head and thought about maybe leaving and hitting a fast food place instead. While washing my hands, a woman next to me told me she had waited 2 hours and had just finished her meal. Then she looked me square in the eyes and said, “It’s worth it!”
How could a 2 hour wait be worth it? Taking a deep breath, we decided that since this may be our only visit to TN we would wait. Thankfully the shops had a PA system so we could shop and browse while we waited. As we finally sat down, we heard strangers who were leaving echo the woman’s sentiments all around us, “That was delicious!” “The food here is so amazing!” “Boy, that was worth the wait!”  Even the gal sitting next to us said, “You’ve never been here? It’s worth it!” There was that phrase again. “It’s worth it.” Would it be?
Bottom line – Yes, it’s worth it!
The woman and those around us were right! The Old Mill Restaurant WAS worth the wait. It was worth the price. It was even worth the calories. The pie crust was flaky, the corn chowder was savory, and don’t even get me started on the corn fritters!
My sister took one bite into the corn fritter and blurted out, “This would brighten up any day!”  We both burst out laughing.
These meals were HUGE. We shared our main entrée and got our own salad and sides. Maybe it was the wait that made us like the food so much or the joy of good company. All I know is that southern homestyle cooking never tasted so good.
We finished our chicken pot pie, green beans, and mashed potatoes, and then ended our visit to the Old Mill Restaurant with some homemade berry cobbler topped with ice cream.
Our bellies full, we packed up our leftovers (you WILL have leftovers) and headed towards our hotel.  Overall, eating at the Old Mill Restaurant really was worth it! I hope you get the opportunity to visit the Old Mill Restaurant and Great Smoky Mountains National Park for yourself. If not, at least you can see it through my photos! Thanks for reading and sharing my adventures with me!
Happy travels!
Juventa Vezzani
One of my bucket list items is to visit all 60 National Parks! For detailed posts about my adventures, click here!
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