Such a cool experience! Saw the billboard while driving to our campsite at Elkmont and decided to check it out. We didn’t buy tickets in advance, and only waited a few minutes to get on the next available tour. Our guide was great! (I think her name was Aliyah?) She made the tour a lot of fun with her commentary. It was pretty strenuous with a lot of stairs and uneven ground. It was slippery in some parts where the ground was wet. Be prepared- wear comfortable shoes with good grip. The views are definitely worth it. The caverns are beautiful on camera but truly breathtaking in person.

It was a wonderful experience—it’s not every day you get to see a real waterfall inside a cavern. Absolutely beautiful! The cave is filled with fascinating ancient formations and an underground river. At the end of the tour, we even got to taste fresh spring water straight from the waterfall—it was crisp, mineral-rich, and delicious. The story behind this place is truly captivating.

The coolest cave we have ever been in. Loved that we got to hike up and down a bit. It made it feel very adventurous. Conway was the best kind of tour guide. Great with the kids. Very patient with the entire group. He made the tour so fun with his humor and willingness to answer all of our questions. Including the selfy he took while taking our family picture. Be sure and tip him extra. Highly recommend

Definitely one of the top caves I have been to and I have visited a lot in different areas across the USA. This is well worth the visit! We had a great tour guide (Ellie) and all the staff was helpful and friendly. Use caution if you have limited mobility. There are a few sections you have to be able to crouch low and climb up/down uneven stairs. I think this adds to the charm of the cave because it has not been overly developed but it does mean you need to be stable, balanced, and have decent mobility. Overall I highly recommend!

It's a great concept. The caves themselves are really, really cool. It's awesome and the tour guide (Brandon I believe) was very knowledgeable and fun. The issue is with the groups. I feel like there needs to be a limit on group size because it gets insanely packed with 4 families of 4+ people including young kids. The tour felt very rushed because at each stop everyone was stopping and taking their time getting pictures and not being considerate of anyone else trying to get any. I went with my fiance as an engagement celebration and we got 2 mediocore selfies because no one would let us get a chance to get any good ones, everyone was coming in front of us or behind us or kinda pushing us out of the way. We had a very kind woman offer us a picture twice, the first time we didn't get a chance and the second in front of the water fall I was about to hand her my phone and a family butt in front of me and my partner and we didn't even end up getting one. We were right behind the tour guide the entire time and still didn't get much time or picture opportunity so I can't even imagine being at the back. Overall not a very good experience for us and we're both very disappointed and upset. I hope they limit group size. The walkways aren't that big in some areas too. Our experience was not worth the $50+ we spent for us two.

Caverns were cool. Staff is super friendly. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Steps to get back to the surface were many and very steep but was worth it. If you have breathing or heart problems I recommend staying above ground as coming back out is very strenuous

What a great experience exploring the wonders underground. The tour guide was very informative throughout the tour. Beautiful well lit walkways, watch you head in certain areas Along the path. Huge open caverns and unique formations abound. See complete darkness and one of the tallest underground waterfalls. You’ll love the history of the caverns and how it was discovered, great experience visiting here.

Went in for dinner today and got take out pulled pork dinners. The pork was alright but not the best I ever had. The mild bbq sauce was really good. Both dinners came with two sides. I got green beans & Tennessee bbq beans. These sides were absolutely fantastic. My other dinner had fries that were coated. These aren't my favorite but a lot of people like them. The coleslaw was alright but nothing special. The people were nice & the service was fast and accurate. This is now the only bbq place in Townsend. If your looking for bbq I would recommend a visit.

we saw the reviews online and thought that this would be a great place to try out. I smoke my own meat at home and thought this would be an excellent place to try. They were short-staffed and the weight was long to be seated. Once seated however our waitress was very quick in taking our order. I ordered the brisket and my wife ordered the three ribs and we got the whole chicken à la carte. The brisket did not taste like it was smoked at all and actually tasted as if it had been boiled and reheated as well as the ribs. The chicken was dry and was not able to eat. We did not finish the ribs or the chicken. I would suggest anyone traveling through to choose another establishment to get food from. I normally do not give poor reviews but seeing how they did not want to make the customer happy and only wanted to give me 10% off my meal I only had no choice but to give this poor review.

Excellent!! Went late so there wasn't any brisket left but going back tomorrow!! Delicious. Next day...UPDATE...Went back for the brisket..... .omgoodness AMAZING!! Definitely a good place for delicious food and excellent service!!

I always love coming to this restaurant! I have never had a complaint about the food nor the service. This is true southern bbq.

Food was good. Meat needed more smoke and was too moist. Coleslaw and baked beans tasted like they were from a can/jar. Service was great - very quick to fill our order. It appears as if only recently reopened after COVID, so I’ll cut them some slack on the food quality and will definitely try them again next time I’m in town.

When are amazing waitresses responds, we have Blackberry or Pecan Cobbler. Only answer to give is, One of each please. And yes, you are correct I did get the ice cream. Food, Service was great, and clean. I will stop again.

Had a blast!! We love and enjoy coming to Tennessee every year!! And this is the best place to eat at!! MOUTH WATERING!!

Food was amazing. Fast service. Friendly staff. Very clean. Nice environment. I asked for the bacon extremely well done.

Spacious dining area. Sunday morning, 9 am no wait. Clean. Employees all seemed quite serious, hurried and polite. Service was fine. Food was okay. Nothing hideous, but also nothing super tasty, creative or memorable. It's a pancake place, and they do have pancakes, but nothing creative or interesting...no fun flavors, add ins or toppings. And the actual pancake was "meh." The biggest food issue was probably the hashbrowns. I would not recommend. 4/4 people who ordered them at our table would not recommend. They are rubbery, a little over cooked and difficult to chew. Over all: Okay if you're hungry. Disappointing if you're looking for a "warm southern pancake hug" kinda meal.

My boyfriend and I stopped in for a late breakfast/brunch. The inside was beautiful and has a homey feel. The inside of the restaurant has a lot of space for larger groups of people. Everything appeared very cleanly. The ham, gravy and biscuit was delicious. Just as good as my moms cooking at home!

I'm surprised by the low reviews. This was one of the only places in this town that didn't feel like an overpriced tourist trap with bad food. Stopped in for breakfast with a large group and the staff were very accommodating. We had biscuits and gravy, several hearty omelets, oatmeal, etc, plate lunches with okra and grilled chicken; everyone enjoyed their meal. I haven't found REAL biscuits and gravy at a restaurant in years and Townsend pancake house delivered. If I'm ever in Townsend again this will be my first stop.

We had the spinach baked ravioli with onion soup and the gyro plate. Both were good, and we were THRILLED to find a place offering something other than sandwiches and pizza and also willing to do a carry-out order. We stopped by they following day for breakfast, which they serve until 3pm. Hallelujah! So many other places stop serving at 11am. Had eggs, a biscuit with gravy, and country ham. Nice-sized portions and decent flavor.

We ate breakfast here on our last morning in town. To be honest we had put it off because of the poor reviews. The food was actually very good. Atmosphere was pleasant. Our waitress wasn’t very friendly and even asked me to leave a tip as I paid my bill in cash. I told her I had already left it on the table. Never had a waitress literally ask me to leave a gratuity as I paid. I thought that was very awkward. Other than that, we would eat there again next time in town.

The food was pretty good and came out super fast. The service was prompt and respectful, however our waitress said everything at a whisper so it was difficult to hear what she was saying. The cleanliness of the restaurant could use a little more attention from ownership and the pricing was too high for what you get. If it is convenient, then go! Just don't go out of your way if you're expecting something super special.

When you walk in there is a small entryway that would contain the line of people waiting to order if there had been a line when we rolled up. Since it was early 4:50pm, I assume there was not yet a crowd and we walked right up and were able to order quickly. I ordered off the Specials menu and got the Seared Salmon. My husband got a pulled pork sandwich and our girls split a pizza and pretzels and cheese. There was actually enough cheese to eat with the pretzels which was nice. Usually places give you a teeny tiny container of cheese and a big hunk of pretzel. I did not try the pizza, but it looked all right. The kids didn’t love the blackened parts from the wood fire oven but they ate the rest. My salmon was pretty good and the potatoes were buttery. The vegetables were okay. Green beans, yellow beans, carrots, and the like. They tasted like they were cooked in butter but I guess that’s how most stuff is made out here. The ambiance inside the big room with the fireplace was nice. You could see outside because the whole wall was a screen. The river rushing by was very pretty. There was a private event or we would have sat outside by the river.

I don't think I can say enough great things about this wonderful, charming restaurant!! The old, nostalgic feel of the chapel makes this restaurant a unique dining experience. It is absolutely beautiful and has a stunning view of the creek. The food is delicious and the service is awesome. We enjoyed a delicious Italian style sub and chips. The portions are very satisfying. You don't want to miss this dinning experience when you are visiting Townsend.

Great food and worth the stop. You order your food at the entrance and then find a spot. They have both indoor and outdoor seating with several tables with a wonderful view of the river. We got Loaded Tots, Chicken tacos, chicken salad sandwich, and flatbread pizzas. Drinks are self service as well as bussing your own table. We enjoyed this as it meant no interruptions by servers until the food was delivered. Prices were pretty reasonable, plenty of parking, and friendly staff.

It used to be a church and the vibe of the place and the outdoor area is palpable. You can even eat in the chapel, in pews with tables. Good vibe in this entire space - no kidding. The food is good but on the pricey side given the flavors. The $18 ish brisket sandwich is basically a brisket doused with sauce, the “big” burger is just a big large patty you could fry at home…. BUT the flat bread is the thing to go for. The pork belly and apple flatbread OUTSTANDING for this foodie [flavor, freshness and uniqueness] and flat out 5 stars. Giving the food review 4 stars for that alone. The fish & chips were fresh, light and good. The burger…. ugggh ooooof. glad i went, worth going to and i would go again. val

What a treasure!! Not only is the atmosphere a total vibe but the service and food were great! I had the burger with a GF bun and the bun was great! My husband had the gator and we had the chocolate torte for dessert. We enjoyed the live music and the musician was giving us trivia questions on the songs. So fun!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely delicious food with an even better view! We had a wonderful experience dining riverside at The Abbey. Every dish we tried was flavorful and freshly prepared—from the cheesy pulled pork tots to the perfectly cooked burger and crispy chicken tenders. The pulled pork sliders were also a hit! The real standout, though, was the service—friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Sitting outside by the river added a peaceful and scenic touch to the meal. Highly recommend for a relaxing bite with a beautiful view. We’ll definitely be back!

This is a must if you are in the area. We had the pork belly pizza and OMG!!! Who knew apples on pizza was such a beautiful thing!!! Also had the loaded tater tots, a meal in itself! Plenty of beer to choose from, I recommend the cider with cinnamon! It was fabulous! If you are in or going thru Townsend TN you must eat here! The old church is a great atmosphere, sitting right in the Little River. We loved it!!! Took the fish home. It was good too!

We found the Townsend IGA to be an excellent little grocery store. They have every type of beverage I would ever expect and prepared hot food as well. The store is very clean and well organized. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed shopping here.

This is a nice, local grocery store. You can even pick up a few souvenirs. This has all the offerings of a typical grocery just not as many options as some of your larger stores. You could smell the deli and hot foods available when you walk in the store. Jim was the cashier that checked us out and he did a great job! He was very nice. Each checkout is manned by a cashier, so no self-checkout. It was kind of nice.

The staff here were all very friendly the store stocked everything we needed but I felt like I was walking around in a refrigerator. Other than that, great little grocery

Stopped here to use the restroom during my trip, walked right in the door to the restrooms with a lady yelling that the store is apparently closed and told me that I couldn’t use the restroom due to them not letting people in the store after being closed. Maybe lock the doors and if I’m already in the store then I find no problem.

Bought tenders and wedges for lunch. Chicken was so dry. Not edible. Wedges were ok and the star of this gas station staple. What happened to this place? The food used to be fantastic. Now it's not worth stopping for.

I love coming into this store any time I visit Townsend simply because it smells so good and it’s clean and the staff are always friendly.

Friendly. Smiles * laughing * joking. It's a real small town love, hard to find s these days. Plus they are collecting to feed the less fortunate during the holidays. A+ in my book.

Stopped in for a quick lunch-service was fast and pork sandwich was one of the best I’ve had in a while. It was served hot and their spicy barbecue had a perfect twang to it and was not really spicy.

On the 4th of July they were struggling with having enough staff but those who were there were amazing! The food was definitely worth the wait. The atmosphere is missing in action, it's like they're not even trying for any sense of ambience, but that's OK given the quality of food. It's a great place to watch the fireworks on the holiday.

We stopped by on a whim. We remember the other restaurant that used to be in this location and were curious about the new one. We are glad we stopped! Our food was delicious! It was served hot and the service was fast and friendly. Serious about making sure we were happy. Don’t drive by. Stop in. Support local businesses and get to know the people of Townsend.

So much to improve upon. 1st, get a new short-staffed sign for the front door (obviously not fresh) or get some staff. That's been an issue too long. 2nd, if you close at 9, why are customers being turned away at 8:40? If you're open, you're open. 3rd, learn how to stock for a busy day, so you're not out of 6+ menu items by 8 PM. 4th, don't leave your 5-day new hire to be the face of the business, without proper training (but, TY for hiring her). Poor girl was clueless. It's not enough to have hard-working employees, as so many reviews described. They have to be efficient, so they can be smart-working. They also need to know how to greet n seat, what foods you're out of, which salad dressings you have, and so much more. Wanted brisket, but had to go with the pulled pork. The taste was meh, and it was sitting in a large amount of liquid in a bowl. I ate half of it and couldn't push through the rest. The fries had zero seasoning (not even salt). The fried pickles and okra were good, but obviously not made in-house. Potato salad was good, the coleslaw also meh. While we're eating, I overheard a customer saying all their food was cold and not good, and they wanted to only pay for the drinks. Overall, you had your shot. I'm not coming back. Until management/ownership does their job, I'll eat elsewhere. I suggest others do the same. So much potential, but you gotta do better, even for us tourists.

Juicy half chicken & ribs. Cowboy beans were really good with the peppers. Salad bar was not setup as of 07.24.2025.

Worse meal of the weekend. Smoked chicken was like the turkey from Christmas vacation. So hard and dry it was not edible. Baked potatoes were so overcooked they were tan in the middle. Just awful.

My husband had the ribs with slaw and fries. I had the smoked chicken, slaw, and fries. The restaurant is a little rough around the edges, but the waitstaff was very friendly and hard-working. The meats were great, and I'm not a huge smoked meat person. They brought 3 different bbq sauces to the table and these were delicious.The fries were good, too, but I saw the onion rings and wish I would have ordered those. The coleslaw was very bland.

I have been to this pizza hut before, in the past it was a good place to eat but has gone downhill the last few years. We drove in from Cades Cove campground to get a pizza because it’s cold and raining. The employees told us we can’t eat there because they only have 2 employees. We asked if we could get it to go and eat it without any service. They got rude with us for asking. Last time I tried to eat here they had closed early. This has become a bummer of a Pizza Hut I don’t recommend it.

We called from across the street to see if they would deliver to us at a festival, I would like to give more information but we sat on hold for 15 minutes, not an exaggeration because we were timing it to see how long it would take. Terrible. Don't know if the food is any good?

7/29/25 Just a heads up for those people who live in Townsend or those visiting. This store says they are open until 10pm, but they close at 8pm. I attempted to place an order at 830 for pick up. Understand they have a pizza hut call center that answers if the store doesn't pick up locally and takes your order. I drove past a different pizza hut to order from this one because it is closer to my house and would still be hot when I got home. Placed my order and a couple minutes later, I get a call saying sorry, the store you ordered from closed early. Now, Im mad because Townsend doesn't have alot of options for food. Today, 7/30/25, I called and spoke to the manager at the store to find out why they had closed early. I was met with an indifferent attitude of we close early due to staffing shortages, and someone higher than him needs to change the listed hours online. He also informed me that 8pm is closing until further notice. There was no, Im sorry for the inconvenience, nothing. Corporate, you may want to check into this store.

Definitely won't be back! No atmosphere, food was terrible for the cost. Got a pepperoni pizza deap dish, nothing like we'd had at other pizza huts, it look like it was a pre-made pizza. A frozen pizza would have tasted better. I asked for some parmesan cheese to go with our over priced crappy pizza, and the said I could purchase some for a $1 + tax additional. Are you kidding me??? Never again!! Im done with this pizza hut! Gas station pizza would be better.

Drove 10 hours to come for my sisters bachelorette party so we called in an order for pickup. Went to the door and the sign was closed and doors were locked. We called again to confirm address and order but then no one would answer and instead repeatedly put us on hold. So we’re left starving and really unhappy.

This was the absolute worse pizza I have ever had. There is no eating in which was ok for me since I was getting it to go. Got it home, opened the box and the dough was absolutely raw. It was so raw that it was sticking to the box.

Ordered pizza to be picked up at 9 pm as the website shows they are open u til 10. After getting out of the river to go get our pizza we had a voicemail saying if we did not pick it up by 8 PM. They would cancel our order. Why does the website show they’re open until 10 but they canceled an order at 8 o’clock.

I took my wife and son in here yesterday. We ordered two strawberry/banana shakes and the wife ordered a waffle cone ice cream. I can't believe how good everything was!! We loved it and will be back!

We stopped in for the first time yesterday and had an overall great experience! The chocolate and dessert selection is fantastic, and everything we’ve tried so far is delicious. Very impressed with the quality and flavors! Especially love the turtle that is a turtle! =D The young guy who waited on us was friendly and personable, and made every effort to package everything nicely. My only critique is the layout and ambiance. The place is very quiet. No music or noise at all, which for me is sort of awkward. I thought the way things were laid out was kind of strange, like candy cases were very far apart on each side of the room, and I like to see baked goods displayed better, not already prepackaged in the case. Just my own preferences and observations, and nothing that would keep me from coming back. Overall, a great shop! I already want to come back for more chocolate!

This is THE ice cream and sweet treat spot in Townsend. They are super affordable and generous with their servings. We tried Apple Tree ice cream and were very disappointed - was over priced and skimpy servings. After visiting the Chocolate Bar, we will be loyal patrons every time me and my family are playing in the peaceful side of the Smokies!

We enjoyed a few pieces of chocolate during our visit to Townsend. The two guys that waited on us were friendly and personable. The price per pound seemed expensive in comparison to other chocolate stores we’ve visited. We bought a few pieces, sat and enjoyed the flavors. They also have ice cream and fudge.

This was the first time I've stopped in here and I hope to be back! Everything about this shop was lovely. The service was great, the treats were delicious, and I was disappointed that I didn't have time to relax there. It would be a great place to drink coffee while reading a book. I ate what I bought before I thought to take pictures, unfortunately. If you're passing through or close by, I highly recommend it!

The treats here are sooo yummy! My husband and i vacationed in Townsend for a week and we visited The Chocolate bar 2 times! We should have visited a 3rd time. We did not try the coffee, but im sure it was amazing also!

I LOVE their chocolates ! We were driving back from Gatlinberg/Smokeys and stopped by for coffee. Saw their chocolate stand and it looked great ! So got a collection of different (mostly dark) chocolates, and we really enjoyed them, especially their Raspberry cinnamon one, and the orange dark chocolate! Wish it was closer to home to get more.

We used Dancing Bear for the dinner after our wedding at Foothills Parkway and we could not have been happier! The atmosphere was perfect, the food was the amazing and we even had picky eaters with us and they loved every bite. Alese was so helpful and friendly with helping us plan everything from the use of the covered patio, to the menu, to making sure the cake looked amazing ( I just dropped off a bunch of flowers and they made it look beautiful). I would highly recommend Dancing Bear for an event or celebration or even just a dinner for two! We will definitely be back here when we come to Tennessee!

We dined at Dancing Bear for a special anniversary dinner, and we were blown away by the service and meal. We very much enjoyed sitting outside as it was just starting to get cool out, there was a fire going in a fire pit and string lights everywhere, so it was definitely a romantic setting for our dinner. Our waiters were fantastic, and I appreciated how accommodating they were to my food allergy. I often feel like a burden to the restaurant and the people I dine with when I eat out, but I never felt even close to this way. The waiters had recommendations, double checked with the chef, and even told me once that the chef decided to remake something because he wasn't sure if there was contamination. I was completely blown away by their service, and even if the food had been not good, I would probably still come back just for the service alone. But that is not even a question, because the food was phenomenal. From the appetizers to our entree, I could tell there was a lot of thought behind each of our plates, carefully and uniquely crafted, and tasted amazing. Please do yourself a favor and order these pork belly burnt ends if they still have them - they were the most tender, fall apart meat I have ever had. This was a little bit more on the pricey side of dining for us, but I plan on this being our celebration restaurant from now on. Highly highly recommend.

I dare say this is one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in the U.S.! After traveling to over 30 countries, I often say there’s nowhere like Brazil when it comes to great dining — amazing service, restaurants, and food quality — but this place is right up there! Everything tasted incredibly fresh and local, and you could tell how much care went into both the preparation and presentation. I ordered the chicken and my husband had the trout — both were flawless in texture, flavor, doneness, temperature, and presentation. For dessert, the cheesecake was phenomenal — it literally melted in your mouth and was perfectly balanced in sweetness. Del, our server, was wonderful — attentive, friendly, and kind. We’d definitely come back to try more dishes!

🐻 The Dancing Bear is one of our favorites in Tennessee—always worth the drive and never a bad meal! 🥖 The bread and butter were absolutely to die for. 🍸 Cocktails were fantastic, and the hot apple cider was superb 🍎🔥. 🥣 The dip platter was crazy good, and the steak tip appetizer had a lot going on. By the time entrées arrived, I was too full to enjoy mine, so I boxed it up—and it was still delicious the next day! 🥡 Others at the table had the Wagyu burger 🍔 and loved it, while the pork chop was perfectly cooked and flavorful 🐖👌. 🔥 After dinner, we gathered around the fire pit, toasted marshmallows, and enjoyed s’mores—a cozy, fun treat on a cold night. 🍫✨

Easily one of the best restaurants ive been to in my life. A must go for special occasions. Theres usually 3 things i look for in food when I am eating 1. uniqueness/innovation 2.Flavor profile 3. texture/temperature (or how well it was cooked) All these dishes really knocked it out the park on my scale. Rotating menu, farm to table style restaurant with extremely unique, flavorful, perfectly cooked dishes. Dancing bear truly lives up to its name bc your taste buds will be dancing with joy with every bite. Its tough to have fav dishes bc everything was so good but if i were to recommend a couple id say fav dishes: Braised Rabbit Pasta, Poched Pear Salad, Sweat Tea Brined Pork chop, Joyce Farms Heritage Chicken, for dessert BREAD PUDDING ^^ MUST GET ‼️‼️ with one of my highest rating I am giving this place a, I think this is as good as farm to table high end dining gets 4.95/5

I have never felt more invited and hosted by a restaurant in my life. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with the greatest heartfelt intentionality by the host and waitress. Then, to make it even better, the food was so fresh and everything genuinely tasted farm to table. Lots of restaurants claim this, but they can’t even tell you where their ingredients come from. The server knew where the fish was raised, and could answer any questions about how the meals were prepared. Then to top it off, my husband and I were here for our honeymoon and when we told them that, they gave us complimentary drinks and even all signed a congratulations card for us. Thank you so much for a genuinely amazing night.

The ambience as you arrive is pure Tennessee hospitality! Warm and beautiful! Our amazing server MICHELLE was helpful, knowledgeable and super efficient. Our other experience with KELLY HARRIS’ at the venue was unmatched by any culinary and guest services that one could imagine. We are grateful for the entire evening. Oh- the food! Off the charts pork chop - super scallops & squash as well as the 3 dips! The craft cocktails were perfect and the wine selections as well. We were honored to be there and can’t wait to return! A very SPECIAL place indeed.