Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast

Pigeon Forge’s main drag is crowded with pancake houses. Among the less garish of the bunch is Sawyer’s Farmhouse, a rustic-themed eatery where pancakes are a blank canvas on which customers can request whatever they like.

I am partial to strawberry banana pancakes because the fairly bland cakes are filled with bananas that soften as the pancakes cook, adding curious tenderness and caramelized flavor. On top are slices of fresh banana and syrupy berries. Alongside comes a pitcher of warm maple syrup, which my waitress described as “homemade,” but did not elaborate. The syrup menu also includes blueberry, cinnamon creme, and peanut butter.

Other pancakes options: chocolate chip (peanut butter syrup recommended), blueberry, pecan, and silver dollar. Beyond pancakes, the kitchen offers Belgian waffles in all sorts of configurations, including one topped with chicken tenders; fruit-filled crepes; eggs and omelets with sugar-cured or country ham; and lovely, lightweight buttermilk biscuits, with or without sausage gravy.

Although Sawyer’s is popular with tourists, I’ve noticed that regular clientele include a lot of customers who seem to be locals and workers at nearby tourist attractions.