Walking into Elvira’s Cafe is like walking into a small-town Smoky Mountain country store, complete with all the good cheer and southern hospitality that implies. However, Elvira’s is not a small-town country cafe. It is a very large restaurant that seats maybe a hundred or more and has people lined up for those precious seats during the height of tourist season.
Nevermind issues of scale. In fact, much of what you eat here really does reflect the values of a good country cook. BLTs are available with tart fried green tomatoes instead of ripe red ones. If you want to make this sandwich extra-good, get it made with extra-cost Benton’s bacon (from down in Madisonville), which is smoky and thick-cut — the highlight of any meal at Elvira’s.
On the side of whatever else is on the plate, whether breakfast or lunch, choose fried apples. They’re a passion here in apple country — cooked so they’re soft but still with bite, their fruity tang balanced by enveloping thick syrup.
On the side of lunch, which can range from burgers and “grown up grilled cheese” to buckwheat crepes and a prime-rib wrap dressed with basil pesto, there are good house-pickled beets, fried okra, hearty onion rings ($1 premium for those), and a homespun hash brown casserole.
Other Nearby Restaurants
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Bakin Bishop
Pigeon Forge, TennesseeCharming bakery in the Smokies just outside Pigeon Forge, Bakin Bishop makes fantastic cupcakes with even more fantastic icings. Each one assembled to order.
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Grandmothers Kitchen
Sevierville, TennesseeGrandmothers Kitchen is a serene oasis of true country cooking and genuine hospitality. Smoked meats are great; coconut pineapple cake is a must-eat.
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Carver’s Applehouse Restaurant
Cosby, TennesseeIn the rolling country north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Carver’s is known for apple fritters, fried pies, and lovely local produce for sale.
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Litton’s
Knoxville, TennesseeLitton’s hamburgers range from minimal beef patties to a Thunder Road burger with pimento cheese, onions & hot pepper, Desserts: good pie & Italian cream cake.
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Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast
Pigeon Forge, TennesseeSawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast is a reliable, full-menu breakfast spot on Pigeon Forge’s bustling Parkway. Pancakes are a specialty.
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Louis Original
Knoxville, TennesseeSupple spaghetti noodles topped with thick, salty red sauce headline at Louis Original, Knoxville’s old-school Italian-American restaurant favorite.