This is the first negative review I've left. First, the place is very run down and is filthy. Think Restaurant Impossible... This place could be on that show. The carpet is very dirty, our entire table was very sticky, the decor is very outdated, and the service is slow. I don't even want to know what the kitchen looks like. The calamari was very tough but tasted good. A couple of positive things I can say is they have the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had, and the bloody Mary is excellent. With that being said, we will not be back because of how disgusting the place is.
(2)
Lon Z.
This place was OK.... My husband and I were really confused by our appetizer: it was a blended lump of imitation crab with some chewy artichoke and a ton of cheese, served with 4 packs of those soup crackers you get at an old country buffet. I thought it was going to be a dip or something served with toasted baguette but it was...weird. The pizza we got was OK too, the cheese on the pizza was glorious, but the bottom of the crust was half burnt, and it wasn't much like NY style pizza. The service was OK, the place was fairly clean and the prices were moderate. I think it just came off as a lack of concern for the food, it was all edible but not entirely enjoyable. Would not go back.
(2)
Jason R.
Pretty good food, server was very helpful with the menu and specials. Garlic knots were very good.
(3)
Jamie A.
From the outside this place looks like a casual bar and pizza place but once inside it just looks run down and old. Despite this we sat down and ordered drinks were priced ok for cocktails. I had no idea that you could ruin a Cuba Libre. The rum was watered down and the Coke was flat with no lime to be found. Their prices are insane for what the place is. You're better off at Olive Garden which is at least clean.
(1)
Elizabeth K.
Terrible. We were looking for a place to sit down and eat after playing arcade games at the Fannie Farkle's across the street, and we decided to try this place. Everything was greasy, service was terrible, and the decor was like we were in the 1970's. Terrible ambiance. There was a fly buzzing around, and our toddler kept shouting out "a fly, a fly"! If you want pizza, we loved the mellow mushroom, which is in a nicer portion of the strip.
(1)
Jen L.
We had a party of 6 adults and 1 baby. They told us they were cleaning off a table right now... 10 minutes later she said "they're still cleaning it."....10 minutes later "still cleaning it" then she gave it to someone else, but thankfully the party she was about to seat realized we were there first and said so. I got a calzone and split it with my husband. It was the biggest and blandest calzone I've ever had. Neither of us finished our half. The rest of our party got pizzas and the lunch size was big enough to split and they were pretty happy with their pizza which is the only reason this review has more than one star. I most likely wouldn't go back.
(3)
Kelly W.
We LOVE this place!! Make sure you ask to sit on the patio. It's beautiful. The pizza is amazing, but if you order pizza, order the garlic knots separately. You won't regret it! Also, order the mushrooms as an appetizer. You won't regret it!
(5)
Deron B.
They were able to accommodate my large family gathering of 28 people with no problems. I called to make the reservation and they had the table already set up for us. No need to put a deposit and we were allowed to have separate checks. We were sat at several 2-person and 6-person tables in close proximity to each other, so we were able to talk and visit easily. Our 2 waitresses did an excellent job taking care of us. We received our food at relatively the same time, which is quite a feat for a group this large. There was a wide variety of Italian food to choose from, and their pizza and extremely large calzones were the highlights. Note that one of their calzones easily feeds two people. Everyone enjoyed the food and it was relatively economical for a restaurant on the Parkway, considering the quality and freshness. Very impressive. Please note that they have very limited parking spots at the back of their lot. So walk there from your hotel or public parking, if possible. Also, the free trolley stops right in front of their restaurant.
(5)
Jason C.
Service was fast and fantastic. Chicken parm was AWESOME- great bread, good amount of cheese. We also all shared a pizza which was very NYC style with real sliced Italian sausage yum. Fountain soda was perfect. French fries were also very very good. They advertise "best in town" and after being here seven days I agree. A must go if you want pizza or subs.
(5)
Andrea P.
Ate dinner here on NYE before the festivities started in downtown. Gatlinburg was packed with people and we knew that anywhere we picked was going to be a long wait, especially with 6 people. We stopped in to ask the wait and to our surprise it was only 25 minutes! The standing room inside is very limited but they have several rocking chairs outside on the main street (great for people watching!). Once we were seated the service was fast, unexpected since it was packed inside! The drinks came out immediately after we ordered them and the food shortly afterwards. My husband and I ordered a calzone to share and thankfully we didn't order anything else. The Calzone was the size of football or maybe bigger! The two of us could only eat 1/2 of it. It was absolutely delicious! The table next to us ordered a pizza which also looked very appetizing! When we walked in a man that was leaving raved about the steak and pasta special as well, so I guess we will need to return so we can try other things on the menu as well! It was also great that they had the bowl games on the TV's for us to watch and they were placed so that everyone had a good view of the TV's.
(5)
Sue C.
Me and my girls ordered a pepperoni pizza... Yummy! My husband ordered one of their burgers... He Loved it price was good... Food was good. Staff was super friendly. Nice place to take the family.
(4)
Lillian C.
Okay, so I'm from DC and we're into really good food. Because you're either an immigrant with some bangin' recipes (or into some real good soul cooking) or you're a well-traveled yuppie who's eaten authentic food overseas. We get the real stuff here, we're spoiled. I don't go to the south often but when I do, I forget that there's even an "American" rendition of italian food. I am trying to be calorie conscious so I get the antipasto salad, a large as my entree. Before the entrees even come out the waitress brings out this humungous basket of garlic knots. There were easily 12 massive rolls for a table of 4. They're insanely good and piping hot from the oven, but they're also swimming in oil and just drenched in cheese! The side salads the other three get, were almost entree sized (just throw a chicken breast on top and call it a meal!) When the entrees come out, everything is on a MASSIVE platter. Enormous amounts of food enough for two per plate! My salad was MASSIVE; I've quite frankly never seen such a big salad in my life. If I would have known, I'd ordered the small because everywhere else a small indicates a "side" portion. Now, my qualms about this place, why this much food? Are we in Texas?? Everyone here did not finish all the food on their plates so we had to throw away so much food! I know we could doggie bag it, but unless I was going to work the next day, there's no reason to do so (not to mention leftover salad is nasty!) Two, the antipesto was "amusing" to say the least. There were pickled carrots, cauliflower, and celery on it which I'm pretty sure isn't served in real antipesto. I guess seeing that I'm in Gatlinburg, Tennessee expecting prosciutto and hand buffalo mozzarella is a little much but at least throw in some artichoke hearts. The meats and cheeses served in this salad were the type of rectangular luncheon meats that scream po-dunk blue collar town.Wrapped together in a log and sliced, these meat/cheese coils decoratively arranged around my salad. Salami was the weird thick slices reminiscent of the circular, oscar mayer shrink wrapped stuff. Slices of pepperoni lined the rim of my plate. I was expecting like a little chopped salami on top (mid-range at least?) but this was altogether something else. I don't hate it- it's that little bit of southern American kitsch I was looking for in Gatlinburg. Hate to say it, but even Romano's Macaroni grill offers a more authentic experience. Our waitress was extremely nice and enjoyable (the hostess not so much). I'd encourage you all to go here if you wanted Texas portions and some really good greasy garlic knots (nothing wrong with being greasy if you rock it) but if you wanted some more traditional fare it's a bit disappointing.
(3)
Amy B.
Meh. Bloody Mary was overly priced but okay. Bartender was waaaaayyyyy more interested in football than us. Food is over priced but the burger wasn't bad. We watched our food sit in the window for a good 10 minutes while bartender had a ciggie break. Fruit flies everywhere.......he did redo our app without us having to ask, which is the 2nd star. The place is unkempt and it definitely needs a good cleaning. Go across the street to 5 Guys for a better burger.
(2)
Alyssa N.
On our last day in Gatlinburg, we ordered pizza and rolls to go to see if this was really the "best." Although the food was good, I don't think it was great. The rolls were full of flavor but absolutely drenched in butter. The pizza was a little disappointing, but I guess that's what happens when you have high expectations. Overall I was satisfied with everything, the only thing I didn't particularly like was that if you want carry out, you have to order it in the very back of the restaurant (I also had to ask if they did to go orders, nothing on their menu says anything about it).
(3)
Robert S.
Nothing spectacular about this place. It's seen better days. Could use a good cleaning. All the tables, chairs and lights are dirty and old. Ordered a pizza and, well it tasted like a $0.99 special from Walmart frozen food isle. Absolutely nothing makes me ever want to go back. Only reason I gave it two stars is because our waiter was very friendly, but totally not worth the money for the quality of food. Very disappointed. I can see it may have been the best a long time ago, however now it should be renamed "way past its prime Italian"
(2)
Tabitha S.
We come here every time we go to Gatlinburg! Fast friendly service and the food is delish. Baked Ziti is yummy and hubby loves their pizza! Garlic Bread is AH MAY ZINNNNNG! and their hand battered fried motz sticks are STOOOO PENNN DIS! Every time we have been here it hasnt been super busy and we have never had to wait to be seated. Very yummy and worth a GO!
(5)
Cody F.
Ok, it's July. It's hot, but turn up the A/C. And it's peak season, so I understand that it's packed and things might be a bit slow. And, everyone runs out of paper towels in the washroom once in awhile. Dueling screaming kids is no fault of the establishment, but it is the atmosphere today, so I'm left with that impression. Hot, slow, dingy, and screamy. So, we're just going to eat these garlic rolls and go find that little Cuban joint that has 4.5 Yelp stars. To-go box and...check please. You couldn't drag me back here!
(1)
Richard B.
Great pastas and pizzas. The shrimp alfredo is also very good. But this place is known for it's garlic rolls. Another good thing to try here is their Italian Sausage with Speghetti. A little hard to find but well worth the search. Their salads are also very fresh. Service is so so depending on the waitress or waiter.
(5)
Shaylee S.
Wanted to try this place after hearing great things. We went to the location with the rotating doors. It was early lunch and we were the only people there. We were seated quickly but our server was nice but kind of slow or distracted? Another couple came in and had a different server who was more attentive. My boyfriend and I just ordered a lunch cheese pizza. I could have swore it was 8 on the menu but it was $10 on the check. Either way it was a cheap lunch for us both. The pizza was good, tasted authentic and the ingredients are fresh. I thought it could have been cooked a little more but had lots of cheese. Decor is pretty dated, the place was pretty big. Regret not ordering the garlic knots! The other couple told us they were good but really oily. I'd go back. If you just want really good pizza and atmosphere I'd go to the Mellow Mushroom, I have one at home though.
(3)
Alex S.
Just awful. Service was great.
(1)
Jo G.
Not a chain restaurant it is family owned. Pizza was great, bathroom not so great. Their bloody Mary's are a mix not hand made. That was disappointing. For as busy as they were it was quiet. The staff is friendly. Maybe in a slower season it would be better but one visit a vacation is enough
(3)
Barbara P.
Worst service ever!!! The spaghetti was worse than fazolies!to waitress 40 mins to bring our waters. I do not recommend this place
(1)
J S.
The waitress was friendly, and had a thick eastern Eurpoean accent. That's the extent of the nice things I can say about this establishment. Felt like I needed to shower after leaving this place. The food was not good. Floor & tables were shabby & needed a cleaning, despite the smell of bleach in the air. I knew this place was a winner when, after the meal I visted the bathroom, and I found myself standing in a puddle of piss that had leaked from the urinal to the floor. Not to worry, there was an industrial size fan blowing the bathroom stink out into the dining area (presumably to quickly dry the urine soaked floor).
(1)
Juan O.
Good pizza, calzone and good service. Don't get picky with multiple ingredients because it turns out REALLY expensive. Tthey charge premium per individual ingredient
(3)
Peter S.
Great tasting food. My family absolutely loved this place. I thought it was pretty good. The food was really good.
(5)
Renee W.
You HAVE to go for the garlic rolls!!! We are going back a second night in a row. Your pizza is the best we've ever had.
(5)
J S.
The waitress was friendly, and had a thick eastern Eurpoean accent. That's the extent of the nice things I can say about this establishment. Felt like I needed to shower after leaving this place. The food was not good. Floor & tables were shabby & needed a cleaning, despite the smell of bleach in the air. I knew this place was a winner when, after the meal I visted the bathroom, and I found myself standing in a puddle of piss that had leaked from the urinal to the floor. Not to worry, there was an industrial size fan blowing the bathroom stink out into the dining area (presumably to quickly dry the urine soaked floor).
(1)
Juan O.
Good pizza, calzone and good service. Don't get picky with multiple ingredients because it turns out REALLY expensive. Tthey charge premium per individual ingredient
(3)
Tabitha S.
We come here every time we go to Gatlinburg! Fast friendly service and the food is delish. Baked Ziti is yummy and hubby loves their pizza! Garlic Bread is AH MAY ZINNNNNG! and their hand battered fried motz sticks are STOOOO PENNN DIS! Every time we have been here it hasnt been super busy and we have never had to wait to be seated. Very yummy and worth a GO!
(5)
Cody F.
Ok, it's July. It's hot, but turn up the A/C. And it's peak season, so I understand that it's packed and things might be a bit slow. And, everyone runs out of paper towels in the washroom once in awhile. Dueling screaming kids is no fault of the establishment, but it is the atmosphere today, so I'm left with that impression. Hot, slow, dingy, and screamy. So, we're just going to eat these garlic rolls and go find that little Cuban joint that has 4.5 Yelp stars. To-go box and...check please. You couldn't drag me back here!
(1)
Shaylee S.
Wanted to try this place after hearing great things. We went to the location with the rotating doors. It was early lunch and we were the only people there. We were seated quickly but our server was nice but kind of slow or distracted? Another couple came in and had a different server who was more attentive. My boyfriend and I just ordered a lunch cheese pizza. I could have swore it was 8 on the menu but it was $10 on the check. Either way it was a cheap lunch for us both. The pizza was good, tasted authentic and the ingredients are fresh. I thought it could have been cooked a little more but had lots of cheese. Decor is pretty dated, the place was pretty big. Regret not ordering the garlic knots! The other couple told us they were good but really oily. I'd go back. If you just want really good pizza and atmosphere I'd go to the Mellow Mushroom, I have one at home though.
(3)
Alex S.
Just awful. Service was great.
(1)
Jo G.
Not a chain restaurant it is family owned. Pizza was great, bathroom not so great. Their bloody Mary's are a mix not hand made. That was disappointing. For as busy as they were it was quiet. The staff is friendly. Maybe in a slower season it would be better but one visit a vacation is enough
(3)
Mandy H.
This is the first negative review I've left. First, the place is very run down and is filthy. Think Restaurant Impossible... This place could be on that show. The carpet is very dirty, our entire table was very sticky, the decor is very outdated, and the service is slow. I don't even want to know what the kitchen looks like. The calamari was very tough but tasted good. A couple of positive things I can say is they have the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had, and the bloody Mary is excellent. With that being said, we will not be back because of how disgusting the place is.
(2)
Andrea P.
Ate dinner here on NYE before the festivities started in downtown. Gatlinburg was packed with people and we knew that anywhere we picked was going to be a long wait, especially with 6 people. We stopped in to ask the wait and to our surprise it was only 25 minutes! The standing room inside is very limited but they have several rocking chairs outside on the main street (great for people watching!). Once we were seated the service was fast, unexpected since it was packed inside! The drinks came out immediately after we ordered them and the food shortly afterwards. My husband and I ordered a calzone to share and thankfully we didn't order anything else. The Calzone was the size of football or maybe bigger! The two of us could only eat 1/2 of it. It was absolutely delicious! The table next to us ordered a pizza which also looked very appetizing! When we walked in a man that was leaving raved about the steak and pasta special as well, so I guess we will need to return so we can try other things on the menu as well! It was also great that they had the bowl games on the TV's for us to watch and they were placed so that everyone had a good view of the TV's.
(5)
Lillian C.
Okay, so I'm from DC and we're into really good food. Because you're either an immigrant with some bangin' recipes (or into some real good soul cooking) or you're a well-traveled yuppie who's eaten authentic food overseas. We get the real stuff here, we're spoiled. I don't go to the south often but when I do, I forget that there's even an "American" rendition of italian food. I am trying to be calorie conscious so I get the antipasto salad, a large as my entree. Before the entrees even come out the waitress brings out this humungous basket of garlic knots. There were easily 12 massive rolls for a table of 4. They're insanely good and piping hot from the oven, but they're also swimming in oil and just drenched in cheese! The side salads the other three get, were almost entree sized (just throw a chicken breast on top and call it a meal!) When the entrees come out, everything is on a MASSIVE platter. Enormous amounts of food enough for two per plate! My salad was MASSIVE; I've quite frankly never seen such a big salad in my life. If I would have known, I'd ordered the small because everywhere else a small indicates a "side" portion. Now, my qualms about this place, why this much food? Are we in Texas?? Everyone here did not finish all the food on their plates so we had to throw away so much food! I know we could doggie bag it, but unless I was going to work the next day, there's no reason to do so (not to mention leftover salad is nasty!) Two, the antipesto was "amusing" to say the least. There were pickled carrots, cauliflower, and celery on it which I'm pretty sure isn't served in real antipesto. I guess seeing that I'm in Gatlinburg, Tennessee expecting prosciutto and hand buffalo mozzarella is a little much but at least throw in some artichoke hearts. The meats and cheeses served in this salad were the type of rectangular luncheon meats that scream po-dunk blue collar town.Wrapped together in a log and sliced, these meat/cheese coils decoratively arranged around my salad. Salami was the weird thick slices reminiscent of the circular, oscar mayer shrink wrapped stuff. Slices of pepperoni lined the rim of my plate. I was expecting like a little chopped salami on top (mid-range at least?) but this was altogether something else. I don't hate it- it's that little bit of southern American kitsch I was looking for in Gatlinburg. Hate to say it, but even Romano's Macaroni grill offers a more authentic experience. Our waitress was extremely nice and enjoyable (the hostess not so much). I'd encourage you all to go here if you wanted Texas portions and some really good greasy garlic knots (nothing wrong with being greasy if you rock it) but if you wanted some more traditional fare it's a bit disappointing.
(3)
Elizabeth K.
Terrible. We were looking for a place to sit down and eat after playing arcade games at the Fannie Farkle's across the street, and we decided to try this place. Everything was greasy, service was terrible, and the decor was like we were in the 1970's. Terrible ambiance. There was a fly buzzing around, and our toddler kept shouting out "a fly, a fly"! If you want pizza, we loved the mellow mushroom, which is in a nicer portion of the strip.
(1)
Jen L.
We had a party of 6 adults and 1 baby. They told us they were cleaning off a table right now... 10 minutes later she said "they're still cleaning it."....10 minutes later "still cleaning it" then she gave it to someone else, but thankfully the party she was about to seat realized we were there first and said so. I got a calzone and split it with my husband. It was the biggest and blandest calzone I've ever had. Neither of us finished our half. The rest of our party got pizzas and the lunch size was big enough to split and they were pretty happy with their pizza which is the only reason this review has more than one star. I most likely wouldn't go back.
(3)
Alyssa N.
On our last day in Gatlinburg, we ordered pizza and rolls to go to see if this was really the "best." Although the food was good, I don't think it was great. The rolls were full of flavor but absolutely drenched in butter. The pizza was a little disappointing, but I guess that's what happens when you have high expectations. Overall I was satisfied with everything, the only thing I didn't particularly like was that if you want carry out, you have to order it in the very back of the restaurant (I also had to ask if they did to go orders, nothing on their menu says anything about it).
(3)
Sue C.
Me and my girls ordered a pepperoni pizza... Yummy! My husband ordered one of their burgers... He Loved it price was good... Food was good. Staff was super friendly. Nice place to take the family.
(4)
Kelly W.
We LOVE this place!! Make sure you ask to sit on the patio. It's beautiful. The pizza is amazing, but if you order pizza, order the garlic knots separately. You won't regret it! Also, order the mushrooms as an appetizer. You won't regret it!
(5)
Deron B.
They were able to accommodate my large family gathering of 28 people with no problems. I called to make the reservation and they had the table already set up for us. No need to put a deposit and we were allowed to have separate checks. We were sat at several 2-person and 6-person tables in close proximity to each other, so we were able to talk and visit easily. Our 2 waitresses did an excellent job taking care of us. We received our food at relatively the same time, which is quite a feat for a group this large. There was a wide variety of Italian food to choose from, and their pizza and extremely large calzones were the highlights. Note that one of their calzones easily feeds two people. Everyone enjoyed the food and it was relatively economical for a restaurant on the Parkway, considering the quality and freshness. Very impressive. Please note that they have very limited parking spots at the back of their lot. So walk there from your hotel or public parking, if possible. Also, the free trolley stops right in front of their restaurant.
(5)
Jason C.
Service was fast and fantastic. Chicken parm was AWESOME- great bread, good amount of cheese. We also all shared a pizza which was very NYC style with real sliced Italian sausage yum. Fountain soda was perfect. French fries were also very very good. They advertise "best in town" and after being here seven days I agree. A must go if you want pizza or subs.
(5)
Lon Z.
This place was OK.... My husband and I were really confused by our appetizer: it was a blended lump of imitation crab with some chewy artichoke and a ton of cheese, served with 4 packs of those soup crackers you get at an old country buffet. I thought it was going to be a dip or something served with toasted baguette but it was...weird. The pizza we got was OK too, the cheese on the pizza was glorious, but the bottom of the crust was half burnt, and it wasn't much like NY style pizza. The service was OK, the place was fairly clean and the prices were moderate. I think it just came off as a lack of concern for the food, it was all edible but not entirely enjoyable. Would not go back.
(2)
Jason R.
Pretty good food, server was very helpful with the menu and specials. Garlic knots were very good.
(3)
Jamie A.
From the outside this place looks like a casual bar and pizza place but once inside it just looks run down and old. Despite this we sat down and ordered drinks were priced ok for cocktails. I had no idea that you could ruin a Cuba Libre. The rum was watered down and the Coke was flat with no lime to be found. Their prices are insane for what the place is. You're better off at Olive Garden which is at least clean.
(1)
Richard B.
Great pastas and pizzas. The shrimp alfredo is also very good. But this place is known for it's garlic rolls. Another good thing to try here is their Italian Sausage with Speghetti. A little hard to find but well worth the search. Their salads are also very fresh. Service is so so depending on the waitress or waiter.
(5)
Robert S.
Nothing spectacular about this place. It's seen better days. Could use a good cleaning. All the tables, chairs and lights are dirty and old. Ordered a pizza and, well it tasted like a $0.99 special from Walmart frozen food isle. Absolutely nothing makes me ever want to go back. Only reason I gave it two stars is because our waiter was very friendly, but totally not worth the money for the quality of food. Very disappointed. I can see it may have been the best a long time ago, however now it should be renamed "way past its prime Italian"
(2)
Barbara P.
Worst service ever!!! The spaghetti was worse than fazolies!to waitress 40 mins to bring our waters. I do not recommend this place
(1)
Amy B.
Meh. Bloody Mary was overly priced but okay. Bartender was waaaaayyyyy more interested in football than us. Food is over priced but the burger wasn't bad. We watched our food sit in the window for a good 10 minutes while bartender had a ciggie break. Fruit flies everywhere.......he did redo our app without us having to ask, which is the 2nd star. The place is unkempt and it definitely needs a good cleaning. Go across the street to 5 Guys for a better burger.
(2)
Peter S.
Great tasting food. My family absolutely loved this place. I thought it was pretty good. The food was really good.
(5)
Renee W.
You HAVE to go for the garlic rolls!!! We are going back a second night in a row. Your pizza is the best we've ever had.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Mandy H.
This is the first negative review I've left. First, the place is very run down and is filthy. Think Restaurant Impossible... This place could be on that show. The carpet is very dirty, our entire table was very sticky, the decor is very outdated, and the service is slow. I don't even want to know what the kitchen looks like. The calamari was very tough but tasted good. A couple of positive things I can say is they have the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had, and the bloody Mary is excellent. With that being said, we will not be back because of how disgusting the place is.
(2)Lon Z.
This place was OK.... My husband and I were really confused by our appetizer: it was a blended lump of imitation crab with some chewy artichoke and a ton of cheese, served with 4 packs of those soup crackers you get at an old country buffet. I thought it was going to be a dip or something served with toasted baguette but it was...weird. The pizza we got was OK too, the cheese on the pizza was glorious, but the bottom of the crust was half burnt, and it wasn't much like NY style pizza. The service was OK, the place was fairly clean and the prices were moderate. I think it just came off as a lack of concern for the food, it was all edible but not entirely enjoyable. Would not go back.
(2)Jason R.
Pretty good food, server was very helpful with the menu and specials. Garlic knots were very good.
(3)Jamie A.
From the outside this place looks like a casual bar and pizza place but once inside it just looks run down and old. Despite this we sat down and ordered drinks were priced ok for cocktails. I had no idea that you could ruin a Cuba Libre. The rum was watered down and the Coke was flat with no lime to be found. Their prices are insane for what the place is. You're better off at Olive Garden which is at least clean.
(1)Elizabeth K.
Terrible. We were looking for a place to sit down and eat after playing arcade games at the Fannie Farkle's across the street, and we decided to try this place. Everything was greasy, service was terrible, and the decor was like we were in the 1970's. Terrible ambiance. There was a fly buzzing around, and our toddler kept shouting out "a fly, a fly"! If you want pizza, we loved the mellow mushroom, which is in a nicer portion of the strip.
(1)Jen L.
We had a party of 6 adults and 1 baby. They told us they were cleaning off a table right now... 10 minutes later she said "they're still cleaning it."....10 minutes later "still cleaning it" then she gave it to someone else, but thankfully the party she was about to seat realized we were there first and said so. I got a calzone and split it with my husband. It was the biggest and blandest calzone I've ever had. Neither of us finished our half. The rest of our party got pizzas and the lunch size was big enough to split and they were pretty happy with their pizza which is the only reason this review has more than one star. I most likely wouldn't go back.
(3)Kelly W.
We LOVE this place!! Make sure you ask to sit on the patio. It's beautiful. The pizza is amazing, but if you order pizza, order the garlic knots separately. You won't regret it! Also, order the mushrooms as an appetizer. You won't regret it!
(5)Deron B.
They were able to accommodate my large family gathering of 28 people with no problems. I called to make the reservation and they had the table already set up for us. No need to put a deposit and we were allowed to have separate checks. We were sat at several 2-person and 6-person tables in close proximity to each other, so we were able to talk and visit easily. Our 2 waitresses did an excellent job taking care of us. We received our food at relatively the same time, which is quite a feat for a group this large. There was a wide variety of Italian food to choose from, and their pizza and extremely large calzones were the highlights. Note that one of their calzones easily feeds two people. Everyone enjoyed the food and it was relatively economical for a restaurant on the Parkway, considering the quality and freshness. Very impressive. Please note that they have very limited parking spots at the back of their lot. So walk there from your hotel or public parking, if possible. Also, the free trolley stops right in front of their restaurant.
(5)Jason C.
Service was fast and fantastic. Chicken parm was AWESOME- great bread, good amount of cheese. We also all shared a pizza which was very NYC style with real sliced Italian sausage yum. Fountain soda was perfect. French fries were also very very good. They advertise "best in town" and after being here seven days I agree. A must go if you want pizza or subs.
(5)Andrea P.
Ate dinner here on NYE before the festivities started in downtown. Gatlinburg was packed with people and we knew that anywhere we picked was going to be a long wait, especially with 6 people. We stopped in to ask the wait and to our surprise it was only 25 minutes! The standing room inside is very limited but they have several rocking chairs outside on the main street (great for people watching!). Once we were seated the service was fast, unexpected since it was packed inside! The drinks came out immediately after we ordered them and the food shortly afterwards. My husband and I ordered a calzone to share and thankfully we didn't order anything else. The Calzone was the size of football or maybe bigger! The two of us could only eat 1/2 of it. It was absolutely delicious! The table next to us ordered a pizza which also looked very appetizing! When we walked in a man that was leaving raved about the steak and pasta special as well, so I guess we will need to return so we can try other things on the menu as well! It was also great that they had the bowl games on the TV's for us to watch and they were placed so that everyone had a good view of the TV's.
(5)Sue C.
Me and my girls ordered a pepperoni pizza... Yummy! My husband ordered one of their burgers... He Loved it price was good... Food was good. Staff was super friendly. Nice place to take the family.
(4)Lillian C.
Okay, so I'm from DC and we're into really good food. Because you're either an immigrant with some bangin' recipes (or into some real good soul cooking) or you're a well-traveled yuppie who's eaten authentic food overseas. We get the real stuff here, we're spoiled. I don't go to the south often but when I do, I forget that there's even an "American" rendition of italian food. I am trying to be calorie conscious so I get the antipasto salad, a large as my entree. Before the entrees even come out the waitress brings out this humungous basket of garlic knots. There were easily 12 massive rolls for a table of 4. They're insanely good and piping hot from the oven, but they're also swimming in oil and just drenched in cheese! The side salads the other three get, were almost entree sized (just throw a chicken breast on top and call it a meal!) When the entrees come out, everything is on a MASSIVE platter. Enormous amounts of food enough for two per plate! My salad was MASSIVE; I've quite frankly never seen such a big salad in my life. If I would have known, I'd ordered the small because everywhere else a small indicates a "side" portion. Now, my qualms about this place, why this much food? Are we in Texas?? Everyone here did not finish all the food on their plates so we had to throw away so much food! I know we could doggie bag it, but unless I was going to work the next day, there's no reason to do so (not to mention leftover salad is nasty!) Two, the antipesto was "amusing" to say the least. There were pickled carrots, cauliflower, and celery on it which I'm pretty sure isn't served in real antipesto. I guess seeing that I'm in Gatlinburg, Tennessee expecting prosciutto and hand buffalo mozzarella is a little much but at least throw in some artichoke hearts. The meats and cheeses served in this salad were the type of rectangular luncheon meats that scream po-dunk blue collar town.Wrapped together in a log and sliced, these meat/cheese coils decoratively arranged around my salad. Salami was the weird thick slices reminiscent of the circular, oscar mayer shrink wrapped stuff. Slices of pepperoni lined the rim of my plate. I was expecting like a little chopped salami on top (mid-range at least?) but this was altogether something else. I don't hate it- it's that little bit of southern American kitsch I was looking for in Gatlinburg. Hate to say it, but even Romano's Macaroni grill offers a more authentic experience. Our waitress was extremely nice and enjoyable (the hostess not so much). I'd encourage you all to go here if you wanted Texas portions and some really good greasy garlic knots (nothing wrong with being greasy if you rock it) but if you wanted some more traditional fare it's a bit disappointing.
(3)Amy B.
Meh. Bloody Mary was overly priced but okay. Bartender was waaaaayyyyy more interested in football than us. Food is over priced but the burger wasn't bad. We watched our food sit in the window for a good 10 minutes while bartender had a ciggie break. Fruit flies everywhere.......he did redo our app without us having to ask, which is the 2nd star. The place is unkempt and it definitely needs a good cleaning. Go across the street to 5 Guys for a better burger.
(2)Alyssa N.
On our last day in Gatlinburg, we ordered pizza and rolls to go to see if this was really the "best." Although the food was good, I don't think it was great. The rolls were full of flavor but absolutely drenched in butter. The pizza was a little disappointing, but I guess that's what happens when you have high expectations. Overall I was satisfied with everything, the only thing I didn't particularly like was that if you want carry out, you have to order it in the very back of the restaurant (I also had to ask if they did to go orders, nothing on their menu says anything about it).
(3)Robert S.
Nothing spectacular about this place. It's seen better days. Could use a good cleaning. All the tables, chairs and lights are dirty and old. Ordered a pizza and, well it tasted like a $0.99 special from Walmart frozen food isle. Absolutely nothing makes me ever want to go back. Only reason I gave it two stars is because our waiter was very friendly, but totally not worth the money for the quality of food. Very disappointed. I can see it may have been the best a long time ago, however now it should be renamed "way past its prime Italian"
(2)Tabitha S.
We come here every time we go to Gatlinburg! Fast friendly service and the food is delish. Baked Ziti is yummy and hubby loves their pizza! Garlic Bread is AH MAY ZINNNNNG! and their hand battered fried motz sticks are STOOOO PENNN DIS! Every time we have been here it hasnt been super busy and we have never had to wait to be seated. Very yummy and worth a GO!
(5)Cody F.
Ok, it's July. It's hot, but turn up the A/C. And it's peak season, so I understand that it's packed and things might be a bit slow. And, everyone runs out of paper towels in the washroom once in awhile. Dueling screaming kids is no fault of the establishment, but it is the atmosphere today, so I'm left with that impression. Hot, slow, dingy, and screamy. So, we're just going to eat these garlic rolls and go find that little Cuban joint that has 4.5 Yelp stars. To-go box and...check please. You couldn't drag me back here!
(1)Richard B.
Great pastas and pizzas. The shrimp alfredo is also very good. But this place is known for it's garlic rolls. Another good thing to try here is their Italian Sausage with Speghetti. A little hard to find but well worth the search. Their salads are also very fresh. Service is so so depending on the waitress or waiter.
(5)Shaylee S.
Wanted to try this place after hearing great things. We went to the location with the rotating doors. It was early lunch and we were the only people there. We were seated quickly but our server was nice but kind of slow or distracted? Another couple came in and had a different server who was more attentive. My boyfriend and I just ordered a lunch cheese pizza. I could have swore it was 8 on the menu but it was $10 on the check. Either way it was a cheap lunch for us both. The pizza was good, tasted authentic and the ingredients are fresh. I thought it could have been cooked a little more but had lots of cheese. Decor is pretty dated, the place was pretty big. Regret not ordering the garlic knots! The other couple told us they were good but really oily. I'd go back. If you just want really good pizza and atmosphere I'd go to the Mellow Mushroom, I have one at home though.
(3)Alex S.
Just awful. Service was great.
(1)Jo G.
Not a chain restaurant it is family owned. Pizza was great, bathroom not so great. Their bloody Mary's are a mix not hand made. That was disappointing. For as busy as they were it was quiet. The staff is friendly. Maybe in a slower season it would be better but one visit a vacation is enough
(3)Barbara P.
Worst service ever!!! The spaghetti was worse than fazolies!to waitress 40 mins to bring our waters. I do not recommend this place
(1)J S.
The waitress was friendly, and had a thick eastern Eurpoean accent. That's the extent of the nice things I can say about this establishment. Felt like I needed to shower after leaving this place. The food was not good. Floor & tables were shabby & needed a cleaning, despite the smell of bleach in the air. I knew this place was a winner when, after the meal I visted the bathroom, and I found myself standing in a puddle of piss that had leaked from the urinal to the floor. Not to worry, there was an industrial size fan blowing the bathroom stink out into the dining area (presumably to quickly dry the urine soaked floor).
(1)Juan O.
Good pizza, calzone and good service. Don't get picky with multiple ingredients because it turns out REALLY expensive. Tthey charge premium per individual ingredient
(3)Peter S.
Great tasting food. My family absolutely loved this place. I thought it was pretty good. The food was really good.
(5)Renee W.
You HAVE to go for the garlic rolls!!! We are going back a second night in a row. Your pizza is the best we've ever had.
(5)J S.
The waitress was friendly, and had a thick eastern Eurpoean accent. That's the extent of the nice things I can say about this establishment. Felt like I needed to shower after leaving this place. The food was not good. Floor & tables were shabby & needed a cleaning, despite the smell of bleach in the air. I knew this place was a winner when, after the meal I visted the bathroom, and I found myself standing in a puddle of piss that had leaked from the urinal to the floor. Not to worry, there was an industrial size fan blowing the bathroom stink out into the dining area (presumably to quickly dry the urine soaked floor).
(1)Juan O.
Good pizza, calzone and good service. Don't get picky with multiple ingredients because it turns out REALLY expensive. Tthey charge premium per individual ingredient
(3)Tabitha S.
We come here every time we go to Gatlinburg! Fast friendly service and the food is delish. Baked Ziti is yummy and hubby loves their pizza! Garlic Bread is AH MAY ZINNNNNG! and their hand battered fried motz sticks are STOOOO PENNN DIS! Every time we have been here it hasnt been super busy and we have never had to wait to be seated. Very yummy and worth a GO!
(5)Cody F.
Ok, it's July. It's hot, but turn up the A/C. And it's peak season, so I understand that it's packed and things might be a bit slow. And, everyone runs out of paper towels in the washroom once in awhile. Dueling screaming kids is no fault of the establishment, but it is the atmosphere today, so I'm left with that impression. Hot, slow, dingy, and screamy. So, we're just going to eat these garlic rolls and go find that little Cuban joint that has 4.5 Yelp stars. To-go box and...check please. You couldn't drag me back here!
(1)Shaylee S.
Wanted to try this place after hearing great things. We went to the location with the rotating doors. It was early lunch and we were the only people there. We were seated quickly but our server was nice but kind of slow or distracted? Another couple came in and had a different server who was more attentive. My boyfriend and I just ordered a lunch cheese pizza. I could have swore it was 8 on the menu but it was $10 on the check. Either way it was a cheap lunch for us both. The pizza was good, tasted authentic and the ingredients are fresh. I thought it could have been cooked a little more but had lots of cheese. Decor is pretty dated, the place was pretty big. Regret not ordering the garlic knots! The other couple told us they were good but really oily. I'd go back. If you just want really good pizza and atmosphere I'd go to the Mellow Mushroom, I have one at home though.
(3)Alex S.
Just awful. Service was great.
(1)Jo G.
Not a chain restaurant it is family owned. Pizza was great, bathroom not so great. Their bloody Mary's are a mix not hand made. That was disappointing. For as busy as they were it was quiet. The staff is friendly. Maybe in a slower season it would be better but one visit a vacation is enough
(3)Mandy H.
This is the first negative review I've left. First, the place is very run down and is filthy. Think Restaurant Impossible... This place could be on that show. The carpet is very dirty, our entire table was very sticky, the decor is very outdated, and the service is slow. I don't even want to know what the kitchen looks like. The calamari was very tough but tasted good. A couple of positive things I can say is they have the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had, and the bloody Mary is excellent. With that being said, we will not be back because of how disgusting the place is.
(2)Andrea P.
Ate dinner here on NYE before the festivities started in downtown. Gatlinburg was packed with people and we knew that anywhere we picked was going to be a long wait, especially with 6 people. We stopped in to ask the wait and to our surprise it was only 25 minutes! The standing room inside is very limited but they have several rocking chairs outside on the main street (great for people watching!). Once we were seated the service was fast, unexpected since it was packed inside! The drinks came out immediately after we ordered them and the food shortly afterwards. My husband and I ordered a calzone to share and thankfully we didn't order anything else. The Calzone was the size of football or maybe bigger! The two of us could only eat 1/2 of it. It was absolutely delicious! The table next to us ordered a pizza which also looked very appetizing! When we walked in a man that was leaving raved about the steak and pasta special as well, so I guess we will need to return so we can try other things on the menu as well! It was also great that they had the bowl games on the TV's for us to watch and they were placed so that everyone had a good view of the TV's.
(5)Lillian C.
Okay, so I'm from DC and we're into really good food. Because you're either an immigrant with some bangin' recipes (or into some real good soul cooking) or you're a well-traveled yuppie who's eaten authentic food overseas. We get the real stuff here, we're spoiled. I don't go to the south often but when I do, I forget that there's even an "American" rendition of italian food. I am trying to be calorie conscious so I get the antipasto salad, a large as my entree. Before the entrees even come out the waitress brings out this humungous basket of garlic knots. There were easily 12 massive rolls for a table of 4. They're insanely good and piping hot from the oven, but they're also swimming in oil and just drenched in cheese! The side salads the other three get, were almost entree sized (just throw a chicken breast on top and call it a meal!) When the entrees come out, everything is on a MASSIVE platter. Enormous amounts of food enough for two per plate! My salad was MASSIVE; I've quite frankly never seen such a big salad in my life. If I would have known, I'd ordered the small because everywhere else a small indicates a "side" portion. Now, my qualms about this place, why this much food? Are we in Texas?? Everyone here did not finish all the food on their plates so we had to throw away so much food! I know we could doggie bag it, but unless I was going to work the next day, there's no reason to do so (not to mention leftover salad is nasty!) Two, the antipesto was "amusing" to say the least. There were pickled carrots, cauliflower, and celery on it which I'm pretty sure isn't served in real antipesto. I guess seeing that I'm in Gatlinburg, Tennessee expecting prosciutto and hand buffalo mozzarella is a little much but at least throw in some artichoke hearts. The meats and cheeses served in this salad were the type of rectangular luncheon meats that scream po-dunk blue collar town.Wrapped together in a log and sliced, these meat/cheese coils decoratively arranged around my salad. Salami was the weird thick slices reminiscent of the circular, oscar mayer shrink wrapped stuff. Slices of pepperoni lined the rim of my plate. I was expecting like a little chopped salami on top (mid-range at least?) but this was altogether something else. I don't hate it- it's that little bit of southern American kitsch I was looking for in Gatlinburg. Hate to say it, but even Romano's Macaroni grill offers a more authentic experience. Our waitress was extremely nice and enjoyable (the hostess not so much). I'd encourage you all to go here if you wanted Texas portions and some really good greasy garlic knots (nothing wrong with being greasy if you rock it) but if you wanted some more traditional fare it's a bit disappointing.
(3)Elizabeth K.
Terrible. We were looking for a place to sit down and eat after playing arcade games at the Fannie Farkle's across the street, and we decided to try this place. Everything was greasy, service was terrible, and the decor was like we were in the 1970's. Terrible ambiance. There was a fly buzzing around, and our toddler kept shouting out "a fly, a fly"! If you want pizza, we loved the mellow mushroom, which is in a nicer portion of the strip.
(1)Jen L.
We had a party of 6 adults and 1 baby. They told us they were cleaning off a table right now... 10 minutes later she said "they're still cleaning it."....10 minutes later "still cleaning it" then she gave it to someone else, but thankfully the party she was about to seat realized we were there first and said so. I got a calzone and split it with my husband. It was the biggest and blandest calzone I've ever had. Neither of us finished our half. The rest of our party got pizzas and the lunch size was big enough to split and they were pretty happy with their pizza which is the only reason this review has more than one star. I most likely wouldn't go back.
(3)Alyssa N.
On our last day in Gatlinburg, we ordered pizza and rolls to go to see if this was really the "best." Although the food was good, I don't think it was great. The rolls were full of flavor but absolutely drenched in butter. The pizza was a little disappointing, but I guess that's what happens when you have high expectations. Overall I was satisfied with everything, the only thing I didn't particularly like was that if you want carry out, you have to order it in the very back of the restaurant (I also had to ask if they did to go orders, nothing on their menu says anything about it).
(3)Sue C.
Me and my girls ordered a pepperoni pizza... Yummy! My husband ordered one of their burgers... He Loved it price was good... Food was good. Staff was super friendly. Nice place to take the family.
(4)Kelly W.
We LOVE this place!! Make sure you ask to sit on the patio. It's beautiful. The pizza is amazing, but if you order pizza, order the garlic knots separately. You won't regret it! Also, order the mushrooms as an appetizer. You won't regret it!
(5)Deron B.
They were able to accommodate my large family gathering of 28 people with no problems. I called to make the reservation and they had the table already set up for us. No need to put a deposit and we were allowed to have separate checks. We were sat at several 2-person and 6-person tables in close proximity to each other, so we were able to talk and visit easily. Our 2 waitresses did an excellent job taking care of us. We received our food at relatively the same time, which is quite a feat for a group this large. There was a wide variety of Italian food to choose from, and their pizza and extremely large calzones were the highlights. Note that one of their calzones easily feeds two people. Everyone enjoyed the food and it was relatively economical for a restaurant on the Parkway, considering the quality and freshness. Very impressive. Please note that they have very limited parking spots at the back of their lot. So walk there from your hotel or public parking, if possible. Also, the free trolley stops right in front of their restaurant.
(5)Jason C.
Service was fast and fantastic. Chicken parm was AWESOME- great bread, good amount of cheese. We also all shared a pizza which was very NYC style with real sliced Italian sausage yum. Fountain soda was perfect. French fries were also very very good. They advertise "best in town" and after being here seven days I agree. A must go if you want pizza or subs.
(5)Lon Z.
This place was OK.... My husband and I were really confused by our appetizer: it was a blended lump of imitation crab with some chewy artichoke and a ton of cheese, served with 4 packs of those soup crackers you get at an old country buffet. I thought it was going to be a dip or something served with toasted baguette but it was...weird. The pizza we got was OK too, the cheese on the pizza was glorious, but the bottom of the crust was half burnt, and it wasn't much like NY style pizza. The service was OK, the place was fairly clean and the prices were moderate. I think it just came off as a lack of concern for the food, it was all edible but not entirely enjoyable. Would not go back.
(2)Jason R.
Pretty good food, server was very helpful with the menu and specials. Garlic knots were very good.
(3)Jamie A.
From the outside this place looks like a casual bar and pizza place but once inside it just looks run down and old. Despite this we sat down and ordered drinks were priced ok for cocktails. I had no idea that you could ruin a Cuba Libre. The rum was watered down and the Coke was flat with no lime to be found. Their prices are insane for what the place is. You're better off at Olive Garden which is at least clean.
(1)Richard B.
Great pastas and pizzas. The shrimp alfredo is also very good. But this place is known for it's garlic rolls. Another good thing to try here is their Italian Sausage with Speghetti. A little hard to find but well worth the search. Their salads are also very fresh. Service is so so depending on the waitress or waiter.
(5)Robert S.
Nothing spectacular about this place. It's seen better days. Could use a good cleaning. All the tables, chairs and lights are dirty and old. Ordered a pizza and, well it tasted like a $0.99 special from Walmart frozen food isle. Absolutely nothing makes me ever want to go back. Only reason I gave it two stars is because our waiter was very friendly, but totally not worth the money for the quality of food. Very disappointed. I can see it may have been the best a long time ago, however now it should be renamed "way past its prime Italian"
(2)Barbara P.
Worst service ever!!! The spaghetti was worse than fazolies!to waitress 40 mins to bring our waters. I do not recommend this place
(1)Amy B.
Meh. Bloody Mary was overly priced but okay. Bartender was waaaaayyyyy more interested in football than us. Food is over priced but the burger wasn't bad. We watched our food sit in the window for a good 10 minutes while bartender had a ciggie break. Fruit flies everywhere.......he did redo our app without us having to ask, which is the 2nd star. The place is unkempt and it definitely needs a good cleaning. Go across the street to 5 Guys for a better burger.
(2)Peter S.
Great tasting food. My family absolutely loved this place. I thought it was pretty good. The food was really good.
(5)Renee W.
You HAVE to go for the garlic rolls!!! We are going back a second night in a row. Your pizza is the best we've ever had.
(5)