On April 1, I visited Guy Fieri’s restaurant, Flavortown, in its newest location in Pigeon Forge. The restaurant has been running for less than a month, opening its doors to the public on March 8.
When approaching the restaurant, a mural reading “Welcome to Flavortown” is painted on the exterior with Guy Fieri’s face and huge bowling pin depicted on either side.
My boyfriend and I went in to reserve a table around 5:30 p.m. and were told there would be a two hour wait. Considering it would be our only opportunity to try the restaurant, we decided to wait it out. They took our number and told us they would text us when our table was available.
Right outside the door, plenty of shops were available to occupy our time: a toy shop, general store, boutique, candy and dessert shops and even a coffee shop.
After about 30 minutes, my phone buzzed with a automated text message from the restaurant telling us our table was ready. The restaurant has a 15 minute time frame to make it back to the restaurant after the message, so we raced back to make it in time.
Once we were seated, we got a better look at the place.
A large window between the kitchen and dining area allowed guests to peer in and watch their food being made. Above that window, a golden pattern shimmered on the wall, seemingly moving in the right light. Some walls were plainly colored, but others had large, vibrant patterns, depending on the area of the restaurant.
Worth noting is that Flavortown is not just your typical restaurant – it has an arcade and bowling alley within its facilities also. While we did not visit these sections of the restaurant, it gave off the same vibes as a Dave & Buster’s.
Our drinks were brought out in mason jars, reminiscent of southern culture. Before taking our orders, the server suggested we consider the “Trash Can Nachos,” a pile of nachos stacked within a small, aluminum-looking trash can and then presented on a plate.
My boyfriend ordered the bacon macaroni and cheese burger, described on the menu as having “crispy bacon, cheezy mac n’ cheese, SMC (Super Melty Cheese),” the normal fixings (lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle), crispy onions, donkey sauce (Guy Fieri’s trademark) and served on a brioche bun. I ordered the chicken bacon ranch sandwich, served with fried chicken tenders, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing and regular fixings, all mushed together between a brioche bun as well.
After waiting about 15 minutes, our meals were brought out and placed in front of us. Each main dish was accompanied by a fry trio: waffle fries, potato wedges and the standard fries. They were all mixed together in a small replica of a frying basket on the food tray.
My sandwich was stacked so high, I deemed it nearly impossible to eat, but I tried anyway. At first bite, I noticed the sweeter taste of the brioche bun and the finely shredded lettuce. The flavors of the chicken and bacon complimented each other well, especially with the cheddar cheese layered on top. Only about five bites made me feel stuffed.
While the restaurant was more on the expensive side, that was to be expected given the novelty of the restaurant. Our meals fared more in the $15-$20 range, which was the median price range. Menu items range anywhere from $9.95 (the Vegas fries) to $32.95 (grilled ribeye).
Overall, I would give my Flavortown experience an 8/10. The food was great, the atmosphere was lively and the presentation was impressive. My only critiques would be the wait times and prices as a college student, but otherwise it is definitely on par with other dining experiences in the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area.
Downtown Flavortown is at 2655 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For more information, visit https://downtownflavortown.com/.
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