When you work in and around Pigeon Forge, you develop those places that you go to over and over, those ‘go to’ restaurants that you can always say: “Hey, let’s go there!’ and everybody agrees. Calhoun’s in Pigeon Forge is one suck place.
Calhoun’s is an East Tennessee tradition. With locations all over Knoxville, one in Gatlinburg and one in Pigeon Forge, there is almost always a Calhoun’s nearby to make sure you have a full and satisfying meal. In Pigeon Forge, Calhoun’s is locate din the Walden’s Landing shopping complex. If you are driving through town, headed toward Gatlinburg, you will see Walden’s Landing on the right hand side of the road between traffic lights 2 and 3, but much closer to 3. As you are facing Walden’s Landing, you will see Calhoun’s on the left hand side. Park the car and head inside. This is a large restaurant, so depending on when you go will determine whether you will have a long wait, but I would bet, that at night you will have a little bit of a wait.
Calhoun’s is one of those restaurants where the starter and the dessert are almost always a must. One of my favorite appetizers is their Fresh Baked Soft pretzels and Beer Cheese. The pretzels come out piping hot, soft and tender with salt baked right on. They are served with a side of beer cheese. This is almost like a fondue cheese and has just the right amount of bite, that a good cheese sauce should have. And for dessert, you will want to save room for their Banana Pudding. Just like mom used to make, this banana pudding is old school. Rich, creamy, full of flavor and fresh bananas, nothing in this banana pudding comes from a box. It is cooked to perfection.
And, if you are looking for an entree, check out their salads. These are a little less caloric then some of the other dishes on the menu but no less tasty. Their Southern Salad is a chef salad with strips of fried chicken across the top and their Smokehouse Salad is to die for. The Smokehouse is covered with chicken, ham and bacon making this a meat-lovers dream. Imagine a salad with all of the best meats you plan to find at a restaurant right on top of the salad itself.
But, if you are looking for one of the best steaks in town: the “Ale” Steak is out of this world. Marinated in Cherokee Red Ale from the Smoky Mountain Brewery, this is one of the most tender steaks you will ever encounter. When paired with the perfect sides, Spinach Maria and Tennessee Corn Pudding, you have a meal that you will remember each and every time you come back to the Smokies.
Add Calhoun’s to your itinerary the next time you are in Pigeon Forge. Stop by and try one of their wonderful salads or a great steak but be sure you start with the soft pretzels and beer cheese and end up with a bowl of banana pudding, I promise you will not be disappointed.