barbecue can be enjoyed at one of the best restaurants in Wears Valley

April 04, 2025

6 Hidden Restaurants in Wears Valley TN You’ll Want to Try

If you’ve been to the Smoky Mountains before, you know how much delicious food you will find. From extremely popular places to local joints, you may have a hard time deciding where to go. We want to share some restaurants in Wears Valley TN you may have never heard of. All of these hole-in-the-wall eateries are local and serve delicious food. Check out these 6 hidden restaurants in Wears Valley TN you’ll want to try:

1. Pawpaw’s Catfish Kitchen

jambalaya can be enjoyed at one of the best restaurants in Wears Valley

If you love seafood and New Orleans style dishes, you should eat at Paw Paw’s Catfish Kitchen, one of the top restaurants in Wears Valley. This locally-owned, family-run restaurant is a great place to try these authentic dishes. For appetizers, you should try the boudin balls or alligator bites. You can get chicken and sausage or shrimp and okra gumbo. There’s also jambalaya, red beans and rice, and crawfish etouffee You’ll also find muffulettas, po boys, fried entrees, and so much more. Be sure to save some room for their signature dessert, a white chocolate bread pudding.

2. Hillbilly Restaurant

For great southern breakfast and lunch, you should try Hillbilly Restaurant. This restaurant in Wears Valley TN has all the classics, from pancakes to biscuits and gravy. They serve all kinds of eggs platters with proteins for breakfast. For lunch, you should try one of their burgers, which is their signature dish. The Holy Moly burger is cooked in Cajun seasoning then topped with pepper jack and jalapenos. The Ol’ Henry burger is smothered in blue cheese, while the Cuzin Bo’s Dream is a burger with fried bologna on top between two pieces of sourdough. You’ll also find other sandwiches and salads on their menu.

3. Gepetto’s Italian Restaurant

spaghetti can be enjoyed at one of the best restaurants in Wears Valley

Gepetto’s Italian Restaurant is a great local hole in the wall place to go when you want delicious Italian food. You can get hand tossed pizza with all kinds of toppings. They have several different sandwiches, including an Italian sub and a meatball sub. You’ll find chef salad and chicken salads if you want something light. They also have classic pasta dishes, including lasagna, ravioli, chicken marsala, and more. No matter what kind of Italian dish you want, Gepetto’s has it!

4. Boss Hogg’s BBQ

A restaurant in Wears Valley TN you won’t want to miss is Boss Hogg’s BBQ. They have delicious southern barbecue dishes, from pulled pork sandwiches to baby back ribs. You can also get chicken, brisket, or smoked sausage. For sides, you can get cole slaw, baked beans, or mac and cheese. Planning on taking a trip into the national park for a picnic? Boss Hogg’s serves family packs where you can choose a few meats and sides, so you can have an easy meal in the mountains from one of the best restaurants in Wears Valley!

5. The 50’s Diner

burger can be enjoyed at one of the best restaurants in Wears Valley

Want to try a hidden local joint that makes you feel like you stepped back in time? The 50’s Diner will do just that as one of the great restaurants in Wears Valley! You’ll feel like you walked into the neighborhood’s local diner where you can get delicious comfort food. You can get sandwiches a la carte or as a combo with a drink and side. The menu is simple, but the food is delicious! Try the cheeseburger, BLT, chili cheese dog, or fried bologna sandwich. If you save room for dessert, you can get a root beer float, banana split, or a sundae.

6. Stonehouse Pizza

Are you craving pizza? Stonehouse Pizza is one of the top restaurants in Wears Valley. You can create your own pizza, but you should try one of their signature pies. The meat lovers pizza includes pepperoni, ham, sausage, hamburger, and bacon. They also have a veggie pizza with green bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, olives, and mushrooms. Not only do they serve pizza, they also have sandwiches and salads. They have a meatball sub, Italian sub, and veggie sub. You can also get bread sticks, cheese sticks, and chicken wings.

If you want to try local restaurants in Wears Valley TN, these are just a few of the ones you will enjoy. Since you have an idea of where you would like to eat, you might want to have some ideas for what you want to do. Check out our free attraction tickets you’ll receive when you book a cabin with us for some fun things you can do in the area!