Can't believe everything you read. Sign said voted best ribs in pigeon forge. Must have been on a real good day. Went on a Sat afternoon but everything tasted like it was cooked on Thursday...
(2)
Jimmy K.
Great BBQ. One you think of southern food, this is exactly what comes to mind. All 4 of us order the pulled pork sandwhich, and we all thought it was great. I liked the BBQ so much, that I ended up leaving with a jar of it. This is definitely a place that I would like to try again.
(4)
Rick J.
The service was quick. The BBQ was just average though. One highlight was the smoked buffalo wings, they were tasty.
(3)
Shelley S.
Hands down best bbq in the area. Go to Bennett's everytime!
(5)
Picky E.
i had the brisket sandwich. very good. the wife had the try four and we liked that. service was in slow motion though. and i thought it was a little pricey for bar-b-que.
(3)
Shawn W.
Horrendous!!! Rude and poor customer service! Took over 30 minutes to get our food while a family of 4 that sat after us got their order in less than 10! When the order finally came out, it was wrong! Possibly racially discriminating? Oh, one more thing, no soap in the bathrooms!
(1)
Andy P.
Pretty good barbecue - especially for Tennessee - which for some reason doesn't have a lot of good BBQ out east. The salad bar is great - yeah I know it's a BBQ place - but the chicken salad (made from smoked chicken) on the salad bar is about as good as anything else on the menu - I think you'll like this place!
(4)
Catherine A.
The reason I give this restaurant a 3-star rating is because of price...my husband and I both agreed that the price was just too high for what you get. I had the brisket dinner and my husband had a combo plate with pulled pork, ribs, and chicken. Portion size was fair and the BBQ was fairly tender and flavorful...especially the chicken and ribs. We opted to add on salad bars to our dinners and the salad bar was fresh (no complaints with quality), but a bit overpriced in our opinion. Staff was friendly. If you aren't set on dining in, check out the to-go options for cheaper BBQ by the pound. Taking a few pounds of BBQ to go and purchasing sides or making your own at home would equate to a much more affordable dining experience. But then again, people dine OUT for a reason:). Just FYI...Last night my husband read on Bennett's blog that they are running BOGO lunch specials---http://bennettsbbq.blogspot.com/
(3)
Stefanie C.
The 2nd time we have been here We had the Carolina pork sandwiches with fries, potato salad and BBQ beans and the pork shoulder sandwich with deep fried corn and fries. The corn was out of this world!!!! For dessert we had peach cobbler, pecan pie and chocolate cake. All with a scoop of vanilla icecream. Everything was delicious!!! We will most definitely be back the next time we vacation here!!!
(5)
David A.
So it's my first time in Tennessee and since I was here I wanted to try BBQ. I was hearing nothing but good things about this place so My girlfriend, and 4 others went. It was a Monday night and not packed. We were seated rite away. the hostess who sat us was friendly. Our waitress came and took our order and I thought hey, let me try the brisket. my girlfriend ordered the ribs. as well did the others except one other person who had the brisket sandwich. I immediately noticed that the brisket wasn't easily pulling apart, so i went for the taste and was a bit sour and salty. I tried my girlfriends ribs and they were just ok. The waitress never came back to ask how our food was. when she finally came back as she asked if we were done she was taking our plates. I said I didn't like what I had and I was ignored. everyone else heard me at the table. service was bad and food wasn't good. If this is a taste what BBQ is like down here in pigeon forge then what a shame, i'm sure Dolly wouldn't approve. Visited 2013
(2)
Misty M.
Wait was about 40 min on a Saturday night for a party of 15 at peak time. Not too shabby, I didn't think. Their pulled pork is fantastic! Not gristle-y, but a good quality meat. My husband was a little disappointed in the sauce selection- he doesn't like honey or hot and he normally just gets a mild sauce. However choices were a mustard bbq, spicy, or honey bbq. I prefer a honey bbq and it was pretty good. Had some fried pickle chips for an appetizer. Not the best I've had, but good. They weren't soaked in grease like some places. Service was prompt and friendly. I'm a Coke purist, but they only had Pepsi. Just thought I'd mention that for my fellow Coke lovers :)
(4)
Eric R.
In a sea of restaurants in Pigeon Forge. We shared a sampler with ribs, pulled pork, & hog legs. Sides of spicy mac & cheese, cole slaw , & a baked spud. The ribs were really good & smoky, hog legs pretty good, and really liked the pulled pork. The spicy mac & cheese was exceptional! The service was quick, but perfunctory. Kind of felt like the server's goal was to hurry us through ordering & rush our dinner. Really detracted from our dining experience.
(3)
Hannah B.
Food was fantastic! I ordered a plate of the pulled pork while my husband got the ribs. Spicy Mac and cheese was yummy! The biscuit that comes with each meal tasted just like he ones my mom makes back home in Louisiana. Restaurant was clean and the staff was very friendly.
(5)
Abbi B.
Husband and I ate here for a quick lunch. I had the beef and brisket burger with fries and husband had the BBQ sampler. Everything was great!! My burger was the best I've had in awhile and his BBQ was very yummy. Can't wait to eat here again
(5)
Jayla M.
Stopped in for breakfast on our way home. It was wonderful. Great prices!!! Delicious food!!! Definitely going for lunch or dinner next time. Dying to try the BBQ. It looks really good.
(5)
Collin D.
So called "American" restaurant you can't bring firearms in. Pure garbage that the franchise should change, or it must be a Liberal owned franchise. Take your money elsewhere and don't support them.
(1)
Tim K.
The food and atmosphere were "good". It felt more like a franchise versus a good ole authentic Southern BBQ experience. Upon seating, we were given a flyer of other restaurants they partner with - definitely created the box-chain feel. We started off with the brisket-stuffed mushrooms -- very good, but quite small. The Texan Sampler was enough for two of us to share. It's a good portion, but it should be for $24. Pecan pie and scoop of ice cream were again good, but nothing to jump up and down about. Bottom line -- it was ok! But with the plethora of cool restaurants in this area, a few minutes of planning would have paid off and left me a little happier.
(3)
Vanessa C.
Had the beef brisket and ribs as well as garlic biscuits. The brisket was tender and smoked nicely! Really liked their regular sauce mixed with their mustard bbq sauce over my meats. Yes, I'm a sauce girl. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and quite delicious. The biscuits were good but pretty average. We always make a point to get some bbq from Bennett's when we are in town and they never disappoint!
(5)
Erjing C.
Great ribs
(4)
David P.
Baby back ribs were falling off the bone, perfectly cooked. Brisket and sides were great. Very good and would definitely come back. Huge portions, I really could have split my Texas Sampler with my wife, with a salad bar.
(5)
Lacie F.
They'd place is decent food wise, but our server was phenomenal. Their honey barbecue sauce was way I watery. When I out it on my sandwich it pretty kick all dripped out because it was not thick enough to cling to anything. Several people in my group like the barbecue beans, but I personally did not care for them because they were tangy and I don't like shredded pork in my beans. The fries were okay, but they were no that great. They were kind of limp and not crispy. It was fairly inexpensive, but I still would have liked better food than what I got. However the server that we had was great. They were pretty packed when my group got there, which was about nine and he never stopped. He was attentive and we had very few issues with our order. He served all of us pleasantly and made sure our drinks were refilled before we really became empty. He was not chatty but he was vey business like and professional, and we certainly did not miss the chatter. He is the reason I am giving the place three stars and not two which is what the food kind of deserved because it was not worth going back to.
(3)
Kirk R.
Our server Dee was incredibly rude .. definitely has never heard of southern hospitality. However the food was good
(3)
Michael P.
We came to pigeon forge from California. I can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences we had. Megan our server was awesome. She was super friendly and quick with the drink refills. The food was great. The musters bbq sauce was the best. If we ever travel the 2300 miles back to Pigeon Forge we will come back.
(4)
Ann L.
SO wanted BarBQue Ribs...we had several friends recommend it...yelp reviews were good...so we went. Weather was nice, so we chose the outside patio. I ordered wings and they were above the standard for sure. Delicious! I wasn't real hungry and hated the fact that the order had 18 tiny wings/ drumsticks...but they were so good, I ate 15. I loved the smokey sweet flavor. Server was friendly and quick. The only issue was the sales men outside selling timeshare who wouldn't take no for an answer.
(4)
Yesha P.
My boyfriend, his parents and I came here a few days ago while we were in Tennesse. His dad really loves southern BBQ food and is a fan of this restaurant. I'm sad to say that he was the only one that enjoyed his meal. I only got a Mac and cheese which is below average and fries because I'm a pescatarian. Let me say that these fries were disgusting. They were drenched in salt and just not pallatable. My BFs mom only enjoyed her salad and my BF hated his nachos. They were slathered in artificial cheese sauce which wasn't even good and they were supposed to have BBQ shredded pork on it and there must have been 2 tablespoons of meat. He was extremely disappointed and to top it off they were one of the most expensive things on the menu. In the restaurants defense, the manager stopped by to see how everything was and my BF mentioned that there was barely any meat on his nachos. The manager was extremely nice and said he would be happy to get him a side of meat to add to it however we were all pretty much done and not interested.
(2)
Cristy H.
Wow! Absolutely 5 Star all the way Around! My husband and I split the Texas Sampler which was plenty of food for the 2 of us. The spicy Mac and Cheese was amazing! We will def be back. Ian was our server and he certainly deserves 5 stars! All around great experience. Highly recommended to anyone looking for good BBQ.
(5)
Karen M.
Bennett's is awfully high on themselves. Our waitress was friendly enough, but we received some very shoddy service from a manager that appeared to have little or no balls. The barbecue may be adequate (for Tennessee, anyhow): the brisket was lacking that signature pink ring that indicates a quality smoked brisket, the baby back ribs were tender, but no better than those found at Chili's. The honey bbq sauce was sweet and tangy but hardly original. Our biggest complaint? The management needs to realize that they are in a tourist town and are not some 4 star Michelin rated establishment. We ordered $60 worth of entrees, in 2 dishes, to split among 3 people. (The average entree runs $16.) We also wanted to order a salad bar each. The manager wanted to still charge full price ($9.99) for the third salad bar instead of $3.99 price quoted with purchase. The waitress delivered this message, so we asked to speak to the manager. He then sent *another waitress* to deliver the same message. Nothing peeves me more than a manager that can not grow a pair long enough backup his decisions face to face. He finally came by and whimpered pathetically, "It comes from corporate. We have no control." Yeah. Right. (Eye roll) Outrageous. No one at our table would eat $10 worth of salad. Seems like a minor complaint, but it speaks volumes about how the place is run. We left feeling disenchanted when we should have had a pleasant dining experience. We'd never recommend them to anyone. Not a great way to operate, Bennet's. Poor decision making. And mediocre barbecue.
(2)
Samuel E.
I love BBQ. I live and breath BBQ. I had heard a bit about Bennett's and had it suggested and left underwhelmed to say the least. It was "OK" but honestly, the worst BBQ I've ever had. Not to say it was bad, but compared to anything else around, it just didn't compare. I ordered the brisket and it was very dry and just not that flavorful. I tried to help it out with one of the many sauces they had and there sauces were just "off", again, not bad, but not very good. Also came with green beans and Mac and Cheese. The green beans look and tasted like they came from a can and the Mac and Cheese looked and tasted like it came from a frozen Stouffers box. My wife got a BBQ sandwhich, and again, it was just very "OK". The price was pretty good and the staff was very friendly though, so that helped.
(3)
Robert M.
It is not the fancy place or the best BBQ but for the area it is excellent. Fast service. nice Salad bar. Good food. Look for coupons!
(4)
Samantha D.
Not a good value. $100 for burnt burgers, dry ribs two kids meals and three drinks (plus 3 salad bars). Kids charged full price for salad bar.
(2)
Tiffany D.
Bennetts BBQ was pretty good. I came here for lunch last week with my family and I was pleased. I had the cheese squares over chili for an appetizer and they were good. For my entree I had BBQ chicken, loaded baked potato, green beans, and the salad bar. The chicken was very tender and had a good flavor. My family had a mix of the pork sandwich, the BBQ combo, and steak. Everyone enjoyed their food.
(4)
Sonya R.
I have to admit coming from New Orleans we're very skeptical about going to different eateries. This is by far the best barbecue we have ever had, you can't go wrong with anything you order on the menu. Service was great as well!
(5)
Ed P.
After an exhausting day in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, my wife and I decided to order carry out for dinner. While she made a quick trip through a nearby grocery store, I placed an order over the phone with Bennett's Pig Bar-B-Que. Placing the order was simple and the kind woman on the other end of the line said that our meals would be ready in five or ten minutes, which I think is a really quick turnaround. Upon arrival at the restaurant ten minutes later, our food was ready and the transaction couldn't have been easier. Back at our cabin, I opened up the bag to find our individually packed meals. I ordered their ultimate pork shoulder sandwich with grilled onions, topped with sweet honey-bbq sauce, and served on garlic toast with pickles ($11.99). This included two sides and I went with fries and coleslaw. The meat was moist and tender. The sauce was too sweet for my taste, but the onions on my sandwich helped balance it out a little. The fries were still pretty crisp, even after traveling awhile in the Styrofoam container, and the slaw was pretty good as well. I thought I ordered my wife the Carolina pork sandwich ($10.49), but when we opened her box there was no coleslaw on top of the sandwich. No worries though, I just gave her some of mine to top off her sandwich. To round out her platter she chose bar-b-que beans along with macaroni and cheese. The sandwich was roughly the same as mine, just on different bread and with slaw instead of onions. The beans were good but a little too saucy and sweet. The macaroni and cheese was surprisingly great. Overall I would have liked to have tried some of the other sauces that the restaurant features, as I was not a big fan of the sweet honey-bbq sauce. Besides that fact, the food was good and I would not hesitate to eat at Bennett's again. The service was also top-notch.
(4)
Joel D.
I had the 3 meat combo. The brisket had a good flavor, but was a bit dry. The ribs were just okay. The sausage was good. They have a good variety of bbq sauce. The beans were tasty and the corn was very good. Our waiter was very nice. I doubt if I would go back because of all the other bbq joints in the area.
(3)
Lee H.
Enjoyed every bit of it. From warm welcome to warm thanking as we left. Brisket was awesome, pork shoulder great and sauces out of this world Salad bar nice and fresh. One thing to stay away from is the Mac and cheese though. That was a bit disappointing. All in all those complaining of bad service either came on an off night or were rude to their servers first.
(5)
Rick D.
First off, I love BBQ. There are a handful of us in Chicago that truly appreciate good BBQ. Since I consider myself a student of different BBQ styles I was pretty excited to give this a try. The first thing I see when we pull in is the enormous smoker outside the restaurant. The smell coming from inside was great. We were seated right away and after looking over the menu, I decided that I would give the Texas sampler a try. It included Brisket, Pulled pork, smoked sausage, ribs and a large chicken leg (along with cole slaw and a biscuit on the side). The chicken leg was incredibly juicy, the smoked sausage had a nice mild smoke flavor to it, the pulled pork was moist and sweet with a small touch of heat. The real winners were the brisket and ribs, Brisket was moist and a had a perfect pull and smoke ring. The ribs were meaty and has a great smokey flavor. 4 sauce choices that ranged from mild to hot and also a mustard based one. All were pretty good. None of them stood out to me but since all the meat was cooked so well, I didn't find a need for sauce at all. Restaurant was very clean and our server was very friendly. Loved it and would highly recommend.
(5)
Joel C.
Loved the BBQ sauce. Had different varieties right at the table so you can add what you wanted. Had the baby back ribs with fries and a baked potato. Again, the rib sauce was fine, but the ribs were just average. The meat wasn't as moist and didn't fall off the bone like I'm used to. The fries were enjoyable, but nothing special. Baked potato was just fine. In the end, I'd go back, but it's not a place I'd really go out of my way to go to again.
(3)
Matthew C.
This review is from 2/19/2012. I found Bennett's to be quite the opposite of what most reviews here say. My waitress was super friendly and very helpful, the salad bar was awesome, and the food was quite good. If you're a BBQ snob, this place might not be for you, but it served its purpose of getting my belly full without emptying my wallet, so I can't complain.
(3)
Brittany M.
My husband and I dined here for a late lunch to hold us over until dinner. Dylan was our server he did a great job he is very informative and one of the most friendly people we had met while in pigeon Forge. My husband had a choice of three meets and two sides all of which were delicious I highly recommend to beef brisket (yum) and the grilled chicken. I had the salad bar it was thebomb.com . And one of the best salad bars I had ever seen everything was extremely fresh. We would go back here and we would recommend it to friends.
(4)
Donna P.
Bennett's knows BBQ!!! The staff was amazing and handled the huge crowd with ease. Bring a friends to help you eat the portions are HUGE!!!!
(4)
Paula B.
When my daughter and I stopped in on one of our frequent trips to Pigeon Forge, we were following the advice of my parents who raved about Bennett's. When we entered, the hostess looked us up and down and said, "Just two?" with her eyebrows raised, seeming to us in a condescending tone. We answered yes, and she walked us through the restaurant past many filled and empty booths in the main dining area and brought us out to the front porch to sit in an empty room. After a while, someone noticed us sitting there and took our order. Before our food arrived, a large party of 15 or so entered the room we were in and pulled several tables together. They were a family group and several children were with them, running around, yelling, etc. It was not an enjoyable meal experience. The ribs we had were okay -- not remarkable -- and we vowed that we would not go back to Bennett's because they made us feel like outcasts just because ... why? We were a mother/daughter duo. We never could figure it out. At this point in my life I would have asked to be seated in the main dining room with the rest of the customers and if they refused, I would have left. Two years ago when we made this visit, I didn't want to "rock the boat" so to speak and I took whatever treatment I was given by restaurants/servers.
(2)
Billy W.
We were so excited to get some good ribs and BBQ. The sign claims to be the best so after we had rode by a few times the past few days we decided to give it a try. We arrived and waited for 10 minutes which was not bad at all. Greeted immediately. We were seated and waited for a few minutes for a waiter. The waiter came about 10 minutes after we sat down and said he had something else to do. He came back and took our order. We waited 45 minutes for our food and our full rack of $25 ribs came out cold. The manager came over and only offered to help with dessert at first. I was shocked. DESSERT? He was about to walk away after we declined dessert and not do anything. Mikey the waiter was good and went to the manager and spoke to them and he said the GM took off the ribs. The manager was terrible and acted like he did not care. Waiter said that the kitchen gets backed up when crowded. Poor management but the ribs would have been killer if they were served hot.
(3)
Suzanne A.
The pulled pork sandwich was so tender! I favor the sweet BBQ sauce over the others so far but one thing is for certain, TN knows what they are doing when it comes to BBQ!!!
(4)
Karen O.
We were shopping across the street when my husband and I both caught the aroma from this restaurant. We couldn't resist going for dinner. Everything on the menu looked good, so we finally settled on the Texas Sampler to split. As the name suggests, there was a bit of everything. It was Devine. The meat was tender. The choices of sauce were amazing and varied. It came with 2 sides. He got the homemade Mac and cheese, with pepper jack cheese and I the green beans. There was more than enough food for two and we left very full. The server, Michael was experienced, attentive, and just plain fun! We will be returning before going home! We highly recommend trying it out.
(5)
Natasha L.
I ordered the beef ribs to go. The menu states it had taken them 22 years to perfect those ribs and they were delicious! The ribs were a rich dark color and tender, exactly how beef ribs are supposed to be! It was smokey and beefy tasting. My husband got their steak also to go and stated that was cooked to perfection and yummy. I wished we would have eaten in to get more of the experience. Good BBQ. The sides, well, they were toddler-sized portions. Really. I am not making it up.
(3)
Katie C.
Growing up on my family's BBQ in the BBQ Capitol of Owensboro, Ky, I usually don't enjoy eating out at these types of restaurants. But this one certainly didn't disappoint. We got the salad bar, which was your typical salad bar, but good none the less. As our main meals, we ordered all pulled pork....pulled pork platter, pulled pork sandwich, and a kids pulled pork sandwich. I will say this, if you have a hungry kid, the only difference between the adult and kids plate was the adult got one more side. That's it. The pork was amazing. The sauces were even better! Between all of us we got the macaroni and cheese (delicious and spicy!), French fries (nothing spectacular), a loaded baked potato, and the deep fried corn. The corn was awesome! Our kid, who never EVER eats any type of corn, was begging us to let him have the rest of it. The kids meal also came with a "dirt" dessert which was chocolate pudding with crumbled Oreos and gummy worms. He loved it. Practically licked the bowl clean! All in all, it was a good meal. I'd definitely go back to try anther type of meat.
(4)
Mary S.
Bennett's is excellent. Great prices! Very attentive service. There is a reason they get the #1 BBQ award every year. They have the best ribs. We have really good BBQ in Mississippi and I will have to admit Bennett's is special.
(4)
Cindy K.
Food was decent. The kids had the chicken breast and they liked it a lot. My husband had the Carolina Pork sandwich. He liked it and thought the coleslaw really had a great flavor and made the sandwich. I had the 1/2 rack of ribs. The waitress said they were fall off the bone but they really did not. They were decent though. The BBQ sauce however was really good. I would say the service was what suffered. Our waitress was fine but the food took forever to come to the table. It arrived almost 45 mins after we finished our mozz sticks. They were also out of lemonade for the kids and then also out of the chocolate pudding for the kids dessert. It was decent but don't think I would need to come back.
(3)
K C.
The sliced pork was somewhat fattier than I would have liked but the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches were excellent! The spicy mac and cheese was amazingly good!! Beans were good..nothing special really. The employees were fantastic and couldn't have been nicer! My only complaint is that the woman that took our order (take out counter) seemed to not know the menu very well. I had to correct her on the Texan Sampler when she told me I had to pick out three meats when the menu in front of us clearly states that five meats are included. Also there were discrepancies in the online menu vs the menu in the restaurant at the counter so be aware of this. Overall, I would definitely come back. The food was very good and they don't skimp on the gigantic portions!
(4)
Gary G.
We ordered takeout...The ribs were awesome. The baked beans, potato salad and Cole slaw very tasty. The chicken wings were good but not great. This place is definitely a winner for the ribs. If u like fall off the bone delicious. .go to Bennetts.
(5)
Michael E.
Overly sweet BBQ sauce can make even a old shoe taste good, but that doesn't mean that shoe is good BBQ. I got the sausage, and it tasted like store bought polish kielbasa. Very little flavor. My wife got the burnt ends and they were way too fatty and not that flavorful. The sides were good however, but it seems like most BBQ places have good sides but have problems with the protein. You good a lot of food for your buck, but unfortunately large portions does not equal good food. The service was great and the menu is expansive, I just didn't find the food that good.
(2)
Traveling G.
Chicken and brisket was the best. Ribs and pull pork just ok. Server was great, prices are good for the area. My daughter had the salad. It was fresh and clean.
(3)
Kace K.
Good pork sandwich! Sides were pretty good, mac and cheese was iffy. The house BBQ sauce was delicious!
(4)
Glenda B.
Ribs were awesome, baked beans average , nice salad bar. My husband had the chicken and he didn't offer to share! :) Service was great!
(4)
Rona H.
I had the pick three combo: BBQ chicken, half rack, and pulled pork with cole slaw and potato salad. The ribs were ehh, I've had better, and the chicken was moist. But I really liked the pulled pork especially with their honey-based BBQ sauce, on point! And the sides were actually very good as well.
(3)
Robert D.
Food is really good, service (1waitress) for the whole place is very weird and uncomfortable. There is no atmosphere and we felt awkward being here, place is a ghost town. We won't return.
(3)
Lori B.
Pulled pork was great and really liked the honey bbq sauce. Other than the meat, Mac & cheese, green beans, salad bar was ok. Nothing fantastic. Would go back to try more smoked meats :) service was friendly and prompt.
(3)
Richard B.
Ribs were over cooked and not very good. Price was high for the quality
(2)
Jessie M.
Just are here two nights ago. Got the ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Brisket and ribs were very dry. Pulled pork was decent but for the price I expected more. Ribs were chewy like they had been reheated in a microwave. Brisket tasted as though it had been left under a heat lamp for along time. The appetizer (cheese squares) was by far the best food we had due to its unique flavor. Other than that was very disappointed.
(3)
Alicia M.
What a gem of a place to eat. It really stands out, even with all the entertainment available in the area. I tried the ribs, and enjoyed the flavor. There were many options for side dishes. The spicy cheese appetizer, on a bed of chili, was tasty. I had coffee which was also pretty good. This is a nice place to eat, and a good break from corporate chains in a tourist-trap area.
(4)
Meliss F.
I was craving some good southern bbq. I had went to another place that a friend referred us to and it was terrible. So we ended up trying Bennett's. From the time we opened the door till the time we departed, our service was off the charts! You should ask for Ray, he was the best waiter we had on our vacation. He knew "every" ingredient that was in the food. I ordered the full rack of jumbo baby back ribs, and it was AMAZING!!!! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and loaded baked potatoes, and he was very happy with it. I will visit Bennet's every time we are in TN! This is a must for a lover of good bbq!!
(5)
Eddy2121 ..
The food was dry and cold. The dining room is clean. For $9 you can do better. There are much better places you can go.
(1)
Ziana C.
Wow, talk about a disappointment. Serving sizes were quite small, Taste was just ok. BBQ sauce, Kraft is better, We order a selection of items from the pork shoulder to the Texas Sampler. My 82 year old mother cleaned her plate and could have eaten more. The ribs were not very flavorable, The sausage was at least tasty. The bread was flat and plain...poor immitation of Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits. Keep truckn' don't stop.
(2)
A S.
Average food and drink and awesome rolls.mints and toothpicks at checkout and very nice staff
(4)
Joel P.
This place is great! Very good BBQ, super friendly staff. They also have a salad bar, that's pretty rock and roll in my opinion. I had a brisket sandwich and it was very very good! I'm a huge wing guy, and most of the time they are not very good from BBQ joints... These where amazing! Nothing like a "buffalo wing" but super tender and just right on the smoke!!! Sauces where good. I mean really it was just good BBQ!!!
(5)
Elizabeth L.
This restaurant was quick and yummy! It was definitely worth stopping and trying. I think it is more of a lunch place than a dinner place, though. The food was good, the servers were nice and did a great job, not pricey, and it was clean. I can't ask for anything more. :) Would come back for sure!
(4)
Nora B.
Fantastic food, attentive staff with good recommendations for us first time guests! Everything was great, from the BBQ to the sides and sauces and even the drinks. No complaints at all. Try it if you're in the area.
(5)
Julie S.
Good food and big portions! The pork shoulder was very moist, even without sauce. Our server was Michael--knowledgable of menu items and very attentive.
(5)
Laura C.
This is another favorite stop during vacations for my family and I. We love to come in early for breakfast. The waitresses are always really attentive and nice and the food, for the most part, is delicious. I'm not a huge fan of scrambled eggs on the buffet, but that's really the only negative comment I have. I really recommend the bacon!!
(4)
Rosie T.
I ate there twice over a four day weekend recently - and enjoyed it. My thing when visiting areas is to find good food - doesn't have to be "the best ever." My first visit I had the pulled pork sandwich with side of bbq beans and mac and cheese. The pork was done excellent. The house bbq sauce that comes in a small pitcher is nice - more vinegar based than what I am used to but still good. Before I forget - they bring your utensils to your table in a smallish metal pail. Napkins are a roll of paper towels on each table. I actually enjoy this because I am a slob when it comes to eating bbq. Anyway - the pulled pork sandwich - NOT the North Carolina pulled pork - was meat on a bun, which I adore. The North Carolina version comes with slaw on the sandwich. The mac and cheese tasted more like boxed elbow mac and cheese, but was still cooked per directions. The beans - yes, mooshy but with pieces of pork and nice sauce. I just mixed them and the mac and cheese together. Second visit I got the combo, which give you choices of 3 meats and two sides. I got the ribs, pulled pork, and tenderloin. All were good and cooked properly, but the ribs was only two ribs. One thing I liked about this place is that they made me an Arnold Palmer - a 50/50 mix of lemonade and iced tea. And it was made correctly. This place is busy and full of families, so be prepared for kiddies running all over.
(4)
Rich D.
I thoroughly enjoyed this meal at Bennett's on a recent trip through here. Service was prompt and attentive, in a very good southern way, if you know what I mean. Tried everything I could as I grabbed some bites from other guests. The chicken and ribs were great. The brisket sandwich was HUGE, but a bit dry, as well as the pork being dry. The hamburger was also huge and tasted just like home grilled. Green beans were excellent, baked beans had good flavor but too much sauce, corn was overcooked, fries were a great steak style and tasty, and the corn biscuit had a nice crispy outside texture but still soft inside. Oh, also the BBQ chicken noodle soup was just awesome, and the salad bar was excellent. All in all, an good meal, and I'd stop here again if given the chance. Atmosphere: 3 Service: 4 Food: 3 Value: 4
(3)
Dew E.
Decided to try some BBQ tonight, so we tried out Bennett's. Busy but still got in pretty quick. Food came out fast & as ordered. About $15 per person for our orders (2 shared the TX combo). Nice staff. The pulled pork was dry, but not bad with a little sauce. Not too much though...sauces ok in moderation...but not great if you use too much. The brisket seemed to be the table's favorite...A little fat to cut off but pretty normal. The chicken 1/4 seemed oddly small. I liked the Mac & Cheese but the consensus was the beans tasted "ketchupy". Potato salad & Corn muffins ok. Oh...and the place was cold. Really cold. Warmer outside. Weird on a late September night... Vote of 3 was a compilation of the party of 4. Of the connected restaurants (owned by the same people), we by far preferred Mamas.
(3)
A J.
This was the third Johnson family place we went to. Full disclosure, my hubby wanted ribs, we yelped for Tony Roma's and the location we were directed to is a Hard Rock Cafe now. So off to Bennett's we went. I'm picky about BBQ, not always a fan. That said, the pork sandwich was the best I've had in some time, so tasty! My hubby liked the ribs, said they were a bit overdone, but a good flavor. The potato salad was ok, but the beans were excellent. Service was impeccable as usual.
(4)
priscilla f.
I went here last night. The bbq was just MEH, the pork dinner I had was dry, the best part of the meal was the BBQ sauces, those were just ok....they tasted pretty similar though. the other plate that was had was the 3 meat combo, pulled pork, sausage and brisket...the sausages and brisket were awful... *this is a perfect place if you're looking for mediocre chain food* *the only flavor out of the two dishes was thanks to the condiments* Corn bread was dry, coleslaw was OK, baked potato was OK.... .i could care less about the services or sides though...we came here for BBQ and it was just MEH. very disappointing, im expecting good bbq in tennesse, and i've been mislead with Bennett's.
(2)
Jason B.
Nice BBQ atmosphere. The food and prices were pretty good. The ribs were cooked just right, though I prefer a much heavier dry rub. I didn't taste much a rub. The ribs were not fatty at all. The pulled pork had good flavor, but a little fatty. The brisket tasted good, but was also fatty. Like much of BBQ, sauces are personal preference. Out of their 5 sauces, I only liked 1 of them. Not their fault, just my taste preference.
(3)
Steve E.
As always this the best place in the Smokeys for BBQ...service is always exceptional. If you dont eat here you are missing out !
(5)
Judy H.
My husband and I tried Bennetts for the first time. We had great meals. I had the brisket which was delicious and you could cut with a fork. Sauce was great as was the cole slaw. My hubby had the ribs which were delicious too. He had the salad bar and said that it was good too. Would definitely go back--yummy.
(5)
Matthew O.
So, I am a 13 year old boy, with a peanut allergy. I went there with my Mom and step dad one day, because we were on vacation and wanted some BBQ. A person recommended this place to us, but I wish I wouldn't had found out about this place. They say there BBQ is Texas style but it was more of a North Carolina style. Sadly their food wasn't very good. The only two pluses about this place is that they are great with allergies, and they had great customer service. I would recommend it if you like North Carolina style BBQ, but if you are like me and like Texas style BBQ, and not North Carolina style BBQ.
(2)
Julia N.
I ate here last week with a group of friends. We were there on Saturday around 3 pm, in between the lunch and dinner crowds. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, the food came out fast, and it was tasty. The sauces were good, our meats were not dry, and the sides were standard BBQ fare. I would not say it was the best, most innovative BBQ I have ever eaten, but it was definitely not a disappointment. We ordered a variety of food between the six of us, and none of us were disappointed. We were, however, very full when we left.
(4)
Robert M.
I really dig this place. They have authentic bar-b-que in this place. The atmosphere puts you at ease and immediately you want to have a good time. Almost the whole place is a booth. I had the beef briquette sandwich which almost disolved in my mouth. Great selection of BBQ sauces to add to it. The slaw was INCREDIBLE. This is the sweet kind. I also had the BBQ beans which I thought were pretty great. I would have eaten a pint of the things. My son had a cheese burger. He said it was nicely cooked and a great taste. He finished the thing quickly. Parking is VERY tough. Hard to get in and out. If you have a large vehicle, you may want to think otherwise. Most is behind the restaurant in a small lot.
(4)
Rui C.
Beef rib is fine, baby back rib is worse than hungry bear's, bbq chicken is too sweet. Can't order rib only, must come with sides. I will recommend hungry bear definitely than Bennett's
(3)
J W.
YUCK! The ribs were odd tasting but the pulled pork was good. Very rude server DeDee, I left a comment card in the box since the owner requests and have heard nothing about our visit on 4/7/13
(1)
John M.
Menu claims "best BBQ in the world" ... maybe it should be changed to "best BBQ in Pigeon Forge". The BBQ was okay but definitely not the best. The food arrived as ordered but was room temperature. The corn most likely came from a can and the creamy mac&cheese from a stouffer's frozen meal. Additionally, the fries were soggy and cold. The only bright spot was the friendly staff. I would come here again if someone else wanted to go but with all the choices on the strip, I would select another lunch option. The food is average at best and over priced. Two lunch plates cost $22.
(2)
Taylor S.
Meh. Just alright. Friendly people, decent food, but there are probably better BBQ places in the area.
(3)
Eric B.
Best BBQ ribs I've had so far in TN. So good in fact that on a recent trip to PF, we decided to skip the pancake houses for breakfast and head back to Bennett's for a second round. Well worth it.
(5)
Steve D.
Final stop of a week-long excursion through the south trying the different BBQ the region has to offer. You get a fair amount of food for the portions, but the price reflects the tourist-y area the restaurant is in. As for the food itself, I had the five-meat platter, so I feel like I got a pretty good sample of what Bennett's has to offer: 1.) Chopped pork: mushy and cold. Big disappointment, frankly 2.) Sausage: OK, but this tends to turn out pretty similar no matter where you go, at least to my palate. 3.) Ribs: VERY meaty, which is great, with an OK smokey flavor. Definitely not bad, and something I'd consider getting by itself as an entree. 4.) Brisket: Solid. Not spectacular, but solid. Easy to dry this cut out but, to their credit, the brisket was juicy and flavorful. 5.) Chicken: Surprisingly good. This is the most hit-or-miss item at most BBQ places and I tend to avoid it for that reason, but it was pretty darn good. If I had to pick one meat I'd have gone with that. The beans were not very good, but the Mac and Cheese is great (you know why I love the south? Mac and Cheese is always a vegetable). Avoid the landmines on the menu and you can put together something pretty tasty, but the joy of BBQ, at least to me, is being able to try all the different cuts. On that score, Bennett's was a slight disappointment.
(3)
Lydia Z.
Bennett's was a nice little find while we were in town. We saw the sign that said "best ribs", a little presumuous, but we bit. They were pretty good but not the best we have had. We ordered a slab of ribs, pulled pork, bbq chicken. The chicken was not good - pretty dry. The pulled pork and the ribs were good. The salad bar looked great. We didn't have it but it looked good. The service was good.
(4)
Ben N.
A few decades ago, Pigeon Forge was a wide spot in the road to Gatlinburg, with just a handful of modest motels whose unpretentious guests spent much of their vacations sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk, enjoying the Smoky Mountain scenery and watching the traffic pass by. Those days are long past. Pigeon Forge is now a boulevard of the garish, gauche, and grotesque: pancake houses, $9.99 magic shows, carnival rides, fourth-rate "hillbilly" entertainments, cavernous Vegas-like attractions, souvenir shops, mini-golf courses. Sex shops and Christian stores just down the road from each other. The gamut of mid-range chain restaurants (Tony Roma's, Longhorn, Olive Garden, etc., etc., etc., etc.). And, of course, Dollywood. A straightforward BBQ place like Bennett's tends to get lost in the shuffle in a circus like this. And that's all right in my book. A pulled-pork sandwich was full-flavored and smoky, but the pork seemed like it might have been sitting in a walk-in for a day or two. It could have been a bit fresher-tasting. I appreciated that the not-bad, tangy sauce was served on the side. Prices seemed a notch high for what you get: Over $10 for a BBQ sandwich, fries, and sweet tea. Atmosphere and decor reflect the split-personality disorder that is all too common in BBQ places trying to make too many people feel at home: Barn-like structure for those who think only rural people eat BBQ, lots of NASCAR photos for the exurban demographic that probably dominates Pigeon Forge's tourist base, and Chicago-sounding blues on the sound system for the Yankee touristas who think of BBQ as a largely African-American urban phenomenon. Service was quick and friendly. While I was there I noticed that Bennett's seemed quite adept at handling a huge group of about 30 folks that came in behind me. Not a bad lunch stop if you're just passing through, like I was....
(3)
Chip R.
We decide on Bennett's for dinner during our family vacation. We were seated promptly and the waitress was polite and friendly. We order teas and a water for our toddler. They came out quickly and we took some time choosing our dinners. I chose the chicken dinner while my husband had the half rack of ribs. My husband said the ribs were ok. He would have given four stars. The ribs were overdone and hard to eat. He had the fries which he said were good. He did state that the sauce had no real flavor. My chicken was very good. It wasn't dried out and was very flavorful. When I tried the sauces, I again found they had no real flavor. I had the baked potato and salad. The salad as delicious and huge. Our toddler had a side of Mac and cheese and ate from our plates. He enjoyed it. Overall the portions are large and the food is pretty good. The service was great as well as the atmosphere.
(3)
John V.
Doesn't open until 8a.m. for breakfast, really, what happened to early morning when most of us eat breakfast. I went shopping at Kroger's and then returned for breakfast. The breakfast buffet was just as large as their other location in Gatlinburg and the food was good overall with a few exceptions. The fresh Kiwi, pineapple, honeydew, and cantaloupe were all excellent! Two eggs, custom fried, over medium, were perfect! The following improvements should be made: don't over fry the bacon, and open earlier. Jamie waited on us and did an excellent job! She was very friendly, answered all our questions, served us quickly and professionally. The manager was nice however when I showed her we were short tongs on the buffet she said she would take care of it and then didn't. There were still no additional tongs when we left and the restaurant was slow, so she should have had time to get the tongs.
(3)
Nikki K.
I'm surprised that more people haven't given Bennett's a great rating. We went down to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area for our wedding and honeymoon, and were told by several friends to check this BBQ place out. We finally made it on our third day, and wish we had gone sooner so we could have gone back! The staff couldn't have been nicer as they welcomed us, and even helped us with our particular request (our friend's had left a gift certificate for us and they knew exactly what we were talking about as we told them about it). The place seemed very clean and comfortable. Bathrooms were also very clean, and easy to find (many places they hide them I swear). My husband ordered the 3 meat combo plate and I had the ribs. He loved everything he tried which included ribs, brisket and pulled pork. His sides were bbq baked beans and mac and cheese. My sides were mac and cheese also and potato salad. I'm not 'always' a rib person, they're messy and I don't like that. But let me tell you, I would have licked the sauce off my shirt if it had spilled, these were THAT good. The portions were more than enough, and I had plenty of leftovers, even some of his to take back to our cabin (good heated up too, always a good sign). The prices were very reasonable, food was great, service was really good. We will DEFINITELY be back and I seriously recommend this place to anyone visiting the area. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Stacy A.
The service was good. The food was OK. However, it was overpriced for the quality and flavor. There are a lot better places to eat in Pigeon Forge.
(2)
Amanda F.
I haven't been into BBQ for a while, because of pregnancy aversions to meat and strong flavors--but I thought it was time to nip that in the butt (pork butt, that is). Anyhoo. I thought this place was just alright. It had a salad bar, which is unique in a BBQ restaurant and sort of what drove our party to try it out. However, the salad bar was small and consisted more of prepped mayo-based salads than actual raw veggies and fruits. I guess I can't expect too much in a meat-eater environment. I got baby back ribs and the salad bar to share with my hubs. While good, the ribs were fattier than I hoped and a little salty. And I wasn't terribly fond of the BBQ sauce they put on--so I had to compensate for what they had at the table. Cornbread was just okay, somewhat dry. All-in-all, I thought the experience was sort of meh. I think if I were to spend the same amount of money on BBQ, I would have gone with a Famous Dave's or something. Because then, I would sort of know what I was getting and at least like my choices. Oh and we tried to use the online coupon, but they made a big stink (or the waitress did) about us not printing it out and only showing it on our phones. Umm...don't we live in the age of technology? It was sort of annoying that they wouldn't take the coupon, but I didn't want to argue such a dumb subject with such a dumb policy.
(2)
Mandy B.
One of my favorite BBQ places. Always eat here when I visit PF. Nice portions and fresh food. They have one of the best blackberry cobblers, too!
(4)
Tim H.
Was very surprised how good the BBQ was here. We shared one of the sample plate and two people can get full off of it. The ribs were great, so was the sausage. The worst tasting item was the BBQ chicken, not that's its was bad just sort bland. The baked beans were very good also, overall great experience. Daughters cheeseburger was good tasting also. Server was sorta slow and still learning here way.
(4)
Stephen S.
Awesome BBQ. Get the Texan Sampler to get a little taste of everything. The potato salad and coleslaw are both amazing.
(5)
George C.
Thought we would give it a try here on vacation. Used the 15% Coupon found in the vacation booklet....didn't know it was just a scheme to get you in.....then they add 15 percent gratuity for a party if you are just standing together? Contacted the manager and received a rude response....won't be back back...beware.
(1)
Michael C.
Not good bro not good. Service was awesome and the salad bar was decent however the main course was horrible and all the sauces sucked too. I've had beef jersey that was more moist than the ribs.
(2)
Bill S.
Bennett's isn't one of America's grander barbecue houses, but it does serve up some pretty good pork and sides. We went for the pulled pork sandwich which was moist, lean and served hot, and the sauces offered included a tangy vinegar -- not bad -- and a mustard-base which lacked just a tad for a mustard taste but satisfied us just fine. The cole slaw was delicious, not too much mayonnaise -- thank you, Lord -- and the baked beans and fries were yummy. We didn't try the ribs, and our short review is based on just one experience here. The servers were friendly, service a little slow on a crowded afternoon. We'd come back.
(3)
Ray B.
I see some of the other reviews are talking about the great service received. The experience I had was not so much. The food is still great, though, and it's a good spot for lunch, the service just was a little, we'll, rude. The building was just about as clean as any tourist town's Bar-B-Q.
(3)
Philip N.
Went here the other day, and it was delicious. The waiter I had was Justin, and it was his first day, most people would do terrible on the first day, but Justin was amazing. Justin always had our drinks filled and checked on us frequently to make sure everything was okay. This restaurant is a great choice for anyone.
(5)
Chuck C.
Love Bennett's! Get the baked beans! Awesome!
(5)
Waylon T.
Huge portions and damn good BBQ. My family all enyoned a meal one evening while visiting Pigeon Forge. Service was quick and pleasant. I would advise moderation when eating there. The food is so good you could easily leave there over stuffed and miserable. I ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich which came with Coleslaw and Mac'n'Cheese. Wife had BBQ Brisket with 2 sides. But the favorite for the night was the hog legs which were awesome! Oh and Salad bar had a good selection and everything was fresh. I would definitely visit again.
(4)
BJ P.
Very good BBQ sauces and BBQ. We ordered the BBQ sampler...brisket, pulled pork and ribs were very good. Blooming onion wasn't great.
(4)
Mike O.
Stopped in for a basic BBQ lunch and we all left full. Each of us tried something different and all decided the beef brisket is best by far. Service was friendly and fast. Nothin fancy, but fast and tasty grub.
(3)
Scott M.
Had a sampler of ribs, pulled pork, and sausage. Pass on the sausage and get a second "order" of ribs! Pulled pork had OK flavor, but was a little cold. Good sauces, try the hot one (vinegar based)...pretty decent. Oh, great baked beans! We were placed in the back room with a large table of folks that must have been castoffs from "Jersey Shore". Lots of product, chains, volume, and ignorance. Fortunately, they left around the time our food arrived. Bottom line...Worth a stop for sure, and we would go back. Could easily give 3.5 stars if an option.
(3)
Jamie R.
Great BBQ! -Prices were fair -Staff was friendly -Service was fast -It was pretty clean for its age -Meat was full of flavor and I could eat it without sauce, no fat -Sauce was on the sweet side good flavor I have had others that were similar -Unbelievable desserts
(5)
Victor M.
Waitress seemed to rush our order which I dislike because I like taking my time to order from the menu. I ordered the beef brisket with BBQ beans and corn on the cob. Presentation was good but food lacked temperature. Food was luke warm and BBQ sauce was too tangy....ease up on the vinegar. It wasn't too bad aside from the rushed waitress and food temperature. Not the best BBQ In town but also not the worst. On the other side my wife hated it and my Childs meal was over-cooked and dry. She had a cheeseburger that looked like a hockey puck. Probably would not come back. The title of the best BBQ was either fake advertisement or someone with no taste buds. Judge for yourselves!
(2)
Barry H.
We needed some pork BBQ for a football party and decided to try Bennett's. We all thought the BBQ was very good and they gave you plenty of sauce, condiments, and even after dinner mints.
(4)
Steven P.
Good selection of Bar-B-Que sauces. Worth a stop for sure, and we would go back.
(3)
Kayse R.
I've ate here a hand full of times, different parts of the day & the food is always great. Nice staff makes the experience even better.
(4)
S. R.
A reasonable BBQ restaurant. The service was good but have to agree that the pulled pork was dry.
(4)
Meg S.
My husband and I went here for the breakfast bar and it was delicious! It was so much better then all the pancake restaurants for breakfast. The food was fresh, tasty, and the service was excellent. They have a wonderful fruit bar that includes a variety of fruits and they are all fresh. We will definitely return the next time we visit Pigeon Forge.
(5)
Tabitha T.
Bennett's BBQ was clean , friendly and relatively quick. The brisket was tender, but not as smokey as it should be. They only have one kind of sauce and it is the very sweet ketchup style. Smoked sausage was good but cold--may have come from a package. Pork shoulder was better than the brisket. Overall, what you'd expect from a BBQ joint in Pigeon Forge. Not bad, but not great. I'm not sure there are any better choices for a casual restaurant, so I guess I'd return if driving through the area at meal time.
(3)
Charlotte W.
Get the Slider Combo!!! Great service and good prices!!
(5)
Rick C.
Fast competent service decent food. I would eat here again maybe tomorrow ,they have a breakfast bar.
(4)
Sam G.
Not the most friendly staff. Maybe because everyone is complaining about the food! Ribs were the worst. Cold and weird tasting. Tasted more like ham than anything else. Sides were gross. Dinner was expensive!! Drinks were empty. To somewhere else!!
(1)
Cathaleya C.
Great BBQ ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket, however, I thought the ribs were a little tough and chewy. The fried okra was new to me and really good paired with baked beans.
(4)
Cole M.
There aren't a whole lot of bbq places in East Tennesee, most of the best can be found in Memphis and will be of better quality too. But Bennett's is really the best with the highest quality you'll find in all of East Tennessee. It's very well priced and a nice place to dine for the whole family, always great customer service too although sometimes you'll find a bit of a wait in their often full parking lot.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
James C.
Can't believe everything you read. Sign said voted best ribs in pigeon forge. Must have been on a real good day. Went on a Sat afternoon but everything tasted like it was cooked on Thursday...
(2)Jimmy K.
Great BBQ. One you think of southern food, this is exactly what comes to mind. All 4 of us order the pulled pork sandwhich, and we all thought it was great. I liked the BBQ so much, that I ended up leaving with a jar of it. This is definitely a place that I would like to try again.
(4)Rick J.
The service was quick. The BBQ was just average though. One highlight was the smoked buffalo wings, they were tasty.
(3)Shelley S.
Hands down best bbq in the area. Go to Bennett's everytime!
(5)Picky E.
i had the brisket sandwich. very good. the wife had the try four and we liked that. service was in slow motion though. and i thought it was a little pricey for bar-b-que.
(3)Shawn W.
Horrendous!!! Rude and poor customer service! Took over 30 minutes to get our food while a family of 4 that sat after us got their order in less than 10! When the order finally came out, it was wrong! Possibly racially discriminating? Oh, one more thing, no soap in the bathrooms!
(1)Andy P.
Pretty good barbecue - especially for Tennessee - which for some reason doesn't have a lot of good BBQ out east. The salad bar is great - yeah I know it's a BBQ place - but the chicken salad (made from smoked chicken) on the salad bar is about as good as anything else on the menu - I think you'll like this place!
(4)Catherine A.
The reason I give this restaurant a 3-star rating is because of price...my husband and I both agreed that the price was just too high for what you get. I had the brisket dinner and my husband had a combo plate with pulled pork, ribs, and chicken. Portion size was fair and the BBQ was fairly tender and flavorful...especially the chicken and ribs. We opted to add on salad bars to our dinners and the salad bar was fresh (no complaints with quality), but a bit overpriced in our opinion. Staff was friendly. If you aren't set on dining in, check out the to-go options for cheaper BBQ by the pound. Taking a few pounds of BBQ to go and purchasing sides or making your own at home would equate to a much more affordable dining experience. But then again, people dine OUT for a reason:). Just FYI...Last night my husband read on Bennett's blog that they are running BOGO lunch specials---http://bennettsbbq.blogspot.com/
(3)Stefanie C.
The 2nd time we have been here We had the Carolina pork sandwiches with fries, potato salad and BBQ beans and the pork shoulder sandwich with deep fried corn and fries. The corn was out of this world!!!! For dessert we had peach cobbler, pecan pie and chocolate cake. All with a scoop of vanilla icecream. Everything was delicious!!! We will most definitely be back the next time we vacation here!!!
(5)David A.
So it's my first time in Tennessee and since I was here I wanted to try BBQ. I was hearing nothing but good things about this place so My girlfriend, and 4 others went. It was a Monday night and not packed. We were seated rite away. the hostess who sat us was friendly. Our waitress came and took our order and I thought hey, let me try the brisket. my girlfriend ordered the ribs. as well did the others except one other person who had the brisket sandwich. I immediately noticed that the brisket wasn't easily pulling apart, so i went for the taste and was a bit sour and salty. I tried my girlfriends ribs and they were just ok. The waitress never came back to ask how our food was. when she finally came back as she asked if we were done she was taking our plates. I said I didn't like what I had and I was ignored. everyone else heard me at the table. service was bad and food wasn't good. If this is a taste what BBQ is like down here in pigeon forge then what a shame, i'm sure Dolly wouldn't approve. Visited 2013
(2)Misty M.
Wait was about 40 min on a Saturday night for a party of 15 at peak time. Not too shabby, I didn't think. Their pulled pork is fantastic! Not gristle-y, but a good quality meat. My husband was a little disappointed in the sauce selection- he doesn't like honey or hot and he normally just gets a mild sauce. However choices were a mustard bbq, spicy, or honey bbq. I prefer a honey bbq and it was pretty good. Had some fried pickle chips for an appetizer. Not the best I've had, but good. They weren't soaked in grease like some places. Service was prompt and friendly. I'm a Coke purist, but they only had Pepsi. Just thought I'd mention that for my fellow Coke lovers :)
(4)Eric R.
In a sea of restaurants in Pigeon Forge. We shared a sampler with ribs, pulled pork, & hog legs. Sides of spicy mac & cheese, cole slaw , & a baked spud. The ribs were really good & smoky, hog legs pretty good, and really liked the pulled pork. The spicy mac & cheese was exceptional! The service was quick, but perfunctory. Kind of felt like the server's goal was to hurry us through ordering & rush our dinner. Really detracted from our dining experience.
(3)Hannah B.
Food was fantastic! I ordered a plate of the pulled pork while my husband got the ribs. Spicy Mac and cheese was yummy! The biscuit that comes with each meal tasted just like he ones my mom makes back home in Louisiana. Restaurant was clean and the staff was very friendly.
(5)Abbi B.
Husband and I ate here for a quick lunch. I had the beef and brisket burger with fries and husband had the BBQ sampler. Everything was great!! My burger was the best I've had in awhile and his BBQ was very yummy. Can't wait to eat here again
(5)Jayla M.
Stopped in for breakfast on our way home. It was wonderful. Great prices!!! Delicious food!!! Definitely going for lunch or dinner next time. Dying to try the BBQ. It looks really good.
(5)Collin D.
So called "American" restaurant you can't bring firearms in. Pure garbage that the franchise should change, or it must be a Liberal owned franchise. Take your money elsewhere and don't support them.
(1)Tim K.
The food and atmosphere were "good". It felt more like a franchise versus a good ole authentic Southern BBQ experience. Upon seating, we were given a flyer of other restaurants they partner with - definitely created the box-chain feel. We started off with the brisket-stuffed mushrooms -- very good, but quite small. The Texan Sampler was enough for two of us to share. It's a good portion, but it should be for $24. Pecan pie and scoop of ice cream were again good, but nothing to jump up and down about. Bottom line -- it was ok! But with the plethora of cool restaurants in this area, a few minutes of planning would have paid off and left me a little happier.
(3)Vanessa C.
Had the beef brisket and ribs as well as garlic biscuits. The brisket was tender and smoked nicely! Really liked their regular sauce mixed with their mustard bbq sauce over my meats. Yes, I'm a sauce girl. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and quite delicious. The biscuits were good but pretty average. We always make a point to get some bbq from Bennett's when we are in town and they never disappoint!
(5)Erjing C.
Great ribs
(4)David P.
Baby back ribs were falling off the bone, perfectly cooked. Brisket and sides were great. Very good and would definitely come back. Huge portions, I really could have split my Texas Sampler with my wife, with a salad bar.
(5)Lacie F.
They'd place is decent food wise, but our server was phenomenal. Their honey barbecue sauce was way I watery. When I out it on my sandwich it pretty kick all dripped out because it was not thick enough to cling to anything. Several people in my group like the barbecue beans, but I personally did not care for them because they were tangy and I don't like shredded pork in my beans. The fries were okay, but they were no that great. They were kind of limp and not crispy. It was fairly inexpensive, but I still would have liked better food than what I got. However the server that we had was great. They were pretty packed when my group got there, which was about nine and he never stopped. He was attentive and we had very few issues with our order. He served all of us pleasantly and made sure our drinks were refilled before we really became empty. He was not chatty but he was vey business like and professional, and we certainly did not miss the chatter. He is the reason I am giving the place three stars and not two which is what the food kind of deserved because it was not worth going back to.
(3)Kirk R.
Our server Dee was incredibly rude .. definitely has never heard of southern hospitality. However the food was good
(3)Michael P.
We came to pigeon forge from California. I can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences we had. Megan our server was awesome. She was super friendly and quick with the drink refills. The food was great. The musters bbq sauce was the best. If we ever travel the 2300 miles back to Pigeon Forge we will come back.
(4)Ann L.
SO wanted BarBQue Ribs...we had several friends recommend it...yelp reviews were good...so we went. Weather was nice, so we chose the outside patio. I ordered wings and they were above the standard for sure. Delicious! I wasn't real hungry and hated the fact that the order had 18 tiny wings/ drumsticks...but they were so good, I ate 15. I loved the smokey sweet flavor. Server was friendly and quick. The only issue was the sales men outside selling timeshare who wouldn't take no for an answer.
(4)Yesha P.
My boyfriend, his parents and I came here a few days ago while we were in Tennesse. His dad really loves southern BBQ food and is a fan of this restaurant. I'm sad to say that he was the only one that enjoyed his meal. I only got a Mac and cheese which is below average and fries because I'm a pescatarian. Let me say that these fries were disgusting. They were drenched in salt and just not pallatable. My BFs mom only enjoyed her salad and my BF hated his nachos. They were slathered in artificial cheese sauce which wasn't even good and they were supposed to have BBQ shredded pork on it and there must have been 2 tablespoons of meat. He was extremely disappointed and to top it off they were one of the most expensive things on the menu. In the restaurants defense, the manager stopped by to see how everything was and my BF mentioned that there was barely any meat on his nachos. The manager was extremely nice and said he would be happy to get him a side of meat to add to it however we were all pretty much done and not interested.
(2)Cristy H.
Wow! Absolutely 5 Star all the way Around! My husband and I split the Texas Sampler which was plenty of food for the 2 of us. The spicy Mac and Cheese was amazing! We will def be back. Ian was our server and he certainly deserves 5 stars! All around great experience. Highly recommended to anyone looking for good BBQ.
(5)Karen M.
Bennett's is awfully high on themselves. Our waitress was friendly enough, but we received some very shoddy service from a manager that appeared to have little or no balls. The barbecue may be adequate (for Tennessee, anyhow): the brisket was lacking that signature pink ring that indicates a quality smoked brisket, the baby back ribs were tender, but no better than those found at Chili's. The honey bbq sauce was sweet and tangy but hardly original. Our biggest complaint? The management needs to realize that they are in a tourist town and are not some 4 star Michelin rated establishment. We ordered $60 worth of entrees, in 2 dishes, to split among 3 people. (The average entree runs $16.) We also wanted to order a salad bar each. The manager wanted to still charge full price ($9.99) for the third salad bar instead of $3.99 price quoted with purchase. The waitress delivered this message, so we asked to speak to the manager. He then sent *another waitress* to deliver the same message. Nothing peeves me more than a manager that can not grow a pair long enough backup his decisions face to face. He finally came by and whimpered pathetically, "It comes from corporate. We have no control." Yeah. Right. (Eye roll) Outrageous. No one at our table would eat $10 worth of salad. Seems like a minor complaint, but it speaks volumes about how the place is run. We left feeling disenchanted when we should have had a pleasant dining experience. We'd never recommend them to anyone. Not a great way to operate, Bennet's. Poor decision making. And mediocre barbecue.
(2)Samuel E.
I love BBQ. I live and breath BBQ. I had heard a bit about Bennett's and had it suggested and left underwhelmed to say the least. It was "OK" but honestly, the worst BBQ I've ever had. Not to say it was bad, but compared to anything else around, it just didn't compare. I ordered the brisket and it was very dry and just not that flavorful. I tried to help it out with one of the many sauces they had and there sauces were just "off", again, not bad, but not very good. Also came with green beans and Mac and Cheese. The green beans look and tasted like they came from a can and the Mac and Cheese looked and tasted like it came from a frozen Stouffers box. My wife got a BBQ sandwhich, and again, it was just very "OK". The price was pretty good and the staff was very friendly though, so that helped.
(3)Robert M.
It is not the fancy place or the best BBQ but for the area it is excellent. Fast service. nice Salad bar. Good food. Look for coupons!
(4)Samantha D.
Not a good value. $100 for burnt burgers, dry ribs two kids meals and three drinks (plus 3 salad bars). Kids charged full price for salad bar.
(2)Tiffany D.
Bennetts BBQ was pretty good. I came here for lunch last week with my family and I was pleased. I had the cheese squares over chili for an appetizer and they were good. For my entree I had BBQ chicken, loaded baked potato, green beans, and the salad bar. The chicken was very tender and had a good flavor. My family had a mix of the pork sandwich, the BBQ combo, and steak. Everyone enjoyed their food.
(4)Sonya R.
I have to admit coming from New Orleans we're very skeptical about going to different eateries. This is by far the best barbecue we have ever had, you can't go wrong with anything you order on the menu. Service was great as well!
(5)Ed P.
After an exhausting day in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, my wife and I decided to order carry out for dinner. While she made a quick trip through a nearby grocery store, I placed an order over the phone with Bennett's Pig Bar-B-Que. Placing the order was simple and the kind woman on the other end of the line said that our meals would be ready in five or ten minutes, which I think is a really quick turnaround. Upon arrival at the restaurant ten minutes later, our food was ready and the transaction couldn't have been easier. Back at our cabin, I opened up the bag to find our individually packed meals. I ordered their ultimate pork shoulder sandwich with grilled onions, topped with sweet honey-bbq sauce, and served on garlic toast with pickles ($11.99). This included two sides and I went with fries and coleslaw. The meat was moist and tender. The sauce was too sweet for my taste, but the onions on my sandwich helped balance it out a little. The fries were still pretty crisp, even after traveling awhile in the Styrofoam container, and the slaw was pretty good as well. I thought I ordered my wife the Carolina pork sandwich ($10.49), but when we opened her box there was no coleslaw on top of the sandwich. No worries though, I just gave her some of mine to top off her sandwich. To round out her platter she chose bar-b-que beans along with macaroni and cheese. The sandwich was roughly the same as mine, just on different bread and with slaw instead of onions. The beans were good but a little too saucy and sweet. The macaroni and cheese was surprisingly great. Overall I would have liked to have tried some of the other sauces that the restaurant features, as I was not a big fan of the sweet honey-bbq sauce. Besides that fact, the food was good and I would not hesitate to eat at Bennett's again. The service was also top-notch.
(4)Joel D.
I had the 3 meat combo. The brisket had a good flavor, but was a bit dry. The ribs were just okay. The sausage was good. They have a good variety of bbq sauce. The beans were tasty and the corn was very good. Our waiter was very nice. I doubt if I would go back because of all the other bbq joints in the area.
(3)Lee H.
Enjoyed every bit of it. From warm welcome to warm thanking as we left. Brisket was awesome, pork shoulder great and sauces out of this world Salad bar nice and fresh. One thing to stay away from is the Mac and cheese though. That was a bit disappointing. All in all those complaining of bad service either came on an off night or were rude to their servers first.
(5)Rick D.
First off, I love BBQ. There are a handful of us in Chicago that truly appreciate good BBQ. Since I consider myself a student of different BBQ styles I was pretty excited to give this a try. The first thing I see when we pull in is the enormous smoker outside the restaurant. The smell coming from inside was great. We were seated right away and after looking over the menu, I decided that I would give the Texas sampler a try. It included Brisket, Pulled pork, smoked sausage, ribs and a large chicken leg (along with cole slaw and a biscuit on the side). The chicken leg was incredibly juicy, the smoked sausage had a nice mild smoke flavor to it, the pulled pork was moist and sweet with a small touch of heat. The real winners were the brisket and ribs, Brisket was moist and a had a perfect pull and smoke ring. The ribs were meaty and has a great smokey flavor. 4 sauce choices that ranged from mild to hot and also a mustard based one. All were pretty good. None of them stood out to me but since all the meat was cooked so well, I didn't find a need for sauce at all. Restaurant was very clean and our server was very friendly. Loved it and would highly recommend.
(5)Joel C.
Loved the BBQ sauce. Had different varieties right at the table so you can add what you wanted. Had the baby back ribs with fries and a baked potato. Again, the rib sauce was fine, but the ribs were just average. The meat wasn't as moist and didn't fall off the bone like I'm used to. The fries were enjoyable, but nothing special. Baked potato was just fine. In the end, I'd go back, but it's not a place I'd really go out of my way to go to again.
(3)Matthew C.
This review is from 2/19/2012. I found Bennett's to be quite the opposite of what most reviews here say. My waitress was super friendly and very helpful, the salad bar was awesome, and the food was quite good. If you're a BBQ snob, this place might not be for you, but it served its purpose of getting my belly full without emptying my wallet, so I can't complain.
(3)Brittany M.
My husband and I dined here for a late lunch to hold us over until dinner. Dylan was our server he did a great job he is very informative and one of the most friendly people we had met while in pigeon Forge. My husband had a choice of three meets and two sides all of which were delicious I highly recommend to beef brisket (yum) and the grilled chicken. I had the salad bar it was thebomb.com . And one of the best salad bars I had ever seen everything was extremely fresh. We would go back here and we would recommend it to friends.
(4)Donna P.
Bennett's knows BBQ!!! The staff was amazing and handled the huge crowd with ease. Bring a friends to help you eat the portions are HUGE!!!!
(4)Paula B.
When my daughter and I stopped in on one of our frequent trips to Pigeon Forge, we were following the advice of my parents who raved about Bennett's. When we entered, the hostess looked us up and down and said, "Just two?" with her eyebrows raised, seeming to us in a condescending tone. We answered yes, and she walked us through the restaurant past many filled and empty booths in the main dining area and brought us out to the front porch to sit in an empty room. After a while, someone noticed us sitting there and took our order. Before our food arrived, a large party of 15 or so entered the room we were in and pulled several tables together. They were a family group and several children were with them, running around, yelling, etc. It was not an enjoyable meal experience. The ribs we had were okay -- not remarkable -- and we vowed that we would not go back to Bennett's because they made us feel like outcasts just because ... why? We were a mother/daughter duo. We never could figure it out. At this point in my life I would have asked to be seated in the main dining room with the rest of the customers and if they refused, I would have left. Two years ago when we made this visit, I didn't want to "rock the boat" so to speak and I took whatever treatment I was given by restaurants/servers.
(2)Billy W.
We were so excited to get some good ribs and BBQ. The sign claims to be the best so after we had rode by a few times the past few days we decided to give it a try. We arrived and waited for 10 minutes which was not bad at all. Greeted immediately. We were seated and waited for a few minutes for a waiter. The waiter came about 10 minutes after we sat down and said he had something else to do. He came back and took our order. We waited 45 minutes for our food and our full rack of $25 ribs came out cold. The manager came over and only offered to help with dessert at first. I was shocked. DESSERT? He was about to walk away after we declined dessert and not do anything. Mikey the waiter was good and went to the manager and spoke to them and he said the GM took off the ribs. The manager was terrible and acted like he did not care. Waiter said that the kitchen gets backed up when crowded. Poor management but the ribs would have been killer if they were served hot.
(3)Suzanne A.
The pulled pork sandwich was so tender! I favor the sweet BBQ sauce over the others so far but one thing is for certain, TN knows what they are doing when it comes to BBQ!!!
(4)Karen O.
We were shopping across the street when my husband and I both caught the aroma from this restaurant. We couldn't resist going for dinner. Everything on the menu looked good, so we finally settled on the Texas Sampler to split. As the name suggests, there was a bit of everything. It was Devine. The meat was tender. The choices of sauce were amazing and varied. It came with 2 sides. He got the homemade Mac and cheese, with pepper jack cheese and I the green beans. There was more than enough food for two and we left very full. The server, Michael was experienced, attentive, and just plain fun! We will be returning before going home! We highly recommend trying it out.
(5)Natasha L.
I ordered the beef ribs to go. The menu states it had taken them 22 years to perfect those ribs and they were delicious! The ribs were a rich dark color and tender, exactly how beef ribs are supposed to be! It was smokey and beefy tasting. My husband got their steak also to go and stated that was cooked to perfection and yummy. I wished we would have eaten in to get more of the experience. Good BBQ. The sides, well, they were toddler-sized portions. Really. I am not making it up.
(3)Katie C.
Growing up on my family's BBQ in the BBQ Capitol of Owensboro, Ky, I usually don't enjoy eating out at these types of restaurants. But this one certainly didn't disappoint. We got the salad bar, which was your typical salad bar, but good none the less. As our main meals, we ordered all pulled pork....pulled pork platter, pulled pork sandwich, and a kids pulled pork sandwich. I will say this, if you have a hungry kid, the only difference between the adult and kids plate was the adult got one more side. That's it. The pork was amazing. The sauces were even better! Between all of us we got the macaroni and cheese (delicious and spicy!), French fries (nothing spectacular), a loaded baked potato, and the deep fried corn. The corn was awesome! Our kid, who never EVER eats any type of corn, was begging us to let him have the rest of it. The kids meal also came with a "dirt" dessert which was chocolate pudding with crumbled Oreos and gummy worms. He loved it. Practically licked the bowl clean! All in all, it was a good meal. I'd definitely go back to try anther type of meat.
(4)Mary S.
Bennett's is excellent. Great prices! Very attentive service. There is a reason they get the #1 BBQ award every year. They have the best ribs. We have really good BBQ in Mississippi and I will have to admit Bennett's is special.
(4)Cindy K.
Food was decent. The kids had the chicken breast and they liked it a lot. My husband had the Carolina Pork sandwich. He liked it and thought the coleslaw really had a great flavor and made the sandwich. I had the 1/2 rack of ribs. The waitress said they were fall off the bone but they really did not. They were decent though. The BBQ sauce however was really good. I would say the service was what suffered. Our waitress was fine but the food took forever to come to the table. It arrived almost 45 mins after we finished our mozz sticks. They were also out of lemonade for the kids and then also out of the chocolate pudding for the kids dessert. It was decent but don't think I would need to come back.
(3)K C.
The sliced pork was somewhat fattier than I would have liked but the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches were excellent! The spicy mac and cheese was amazingly good!! Beans were good..nothing special really. The employees were fantastic and couldn't have been nicer! My only complaint is that the woman that took our order (take out counter) seemed to not know the menu very well. I had to correct her on the Texan Sampler when she told me I had to pick out three meats when the menu in front of us clearly states that five meats are included. Also there were discrepancies in the online menu vs the menu in the restaurant at the counter so be aware of this. Overall, I would definitely come back. The food was very good and they don't skimp on the gigantic portions!
(4)Gary G.
We ordered takeout...The ribs were awesome. The baked beans, potato salad and Cole slaw very tasty. The chicken wings were good but not great. This place is definitely a winner for the ribs. If u like fall off the bone delicious. .go to Bennetts.
(5)Michael E.
Overly sweet BBQ sauce can make even a old shoe taste good, but that doesn't mean that shoe is good BBQ. I got the sausage, and it tasted like store bought polish kielbasa. Very little flavor. My wife got the burnt ends and they were way too fatty and not that flavorful. The sides were good however, but it seems like most BBQ places have good sides but have problems with the protein. You good a lot of food for your buck, but unfortunately large portions does not equal good food. The service was great and the menu is expansive, I just didn't find the food that good.
(2)Traveling G.
Chicken and brisket was the best. Ribs and pull pork just ok. Server was great, prices are good for the area. My daughter had the salad. It was fresh and clean.
(3)Kace K.
Good pork sandwich! Sides were pretty good, mac and cheese was iffy. The house BBQ sauce was delicious!
(4)Glenda B.
Ribs were awesome, baked beans average , nice salad bar. My husband had the chicken and he didn't offer to share! :) Service was great!
(4)Rona H.
I had the pick three combo: BBQ chicken, half rack, and pulled pork with cole slaw and potato salad. The ribs were ehh, I've had better, and the chicken was moist. But I really liked the pulled pork especially with their honey-based BBQ sauce, on point! And the sides were actually very good as well.
(3)Robert D.
Food is really good, service (1waitress) for the whole place is very weird and uncomfortable. There is no atmosphere and we felt awkward being here, place is a ghost town. We won't return.
(3)Lori B.
Pulled pork was great and really liked the honey bbq sauce. Other than the meat, Mac & cheese, green beans, salad bar was ok. Nothing fantastic. Would go back to try more smoked meats :) service was friendly and prompt.
(3)Richard B.
Ribs were over cooked and not very good. Price was high for the quality
(2)Jessie M.
Just are here two nights ago. Got the ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Brisket and ribs were very dry. Pulled pork was decent but for the price I expected more. Ribs were chewy like they had been reheated in a microwave. Brisket tasted as though it had been left under a heat lamp for along time. The appetizer (cheese squares) was by far the best food we had due to its unique flavor. Other than that was very disappointed.
(3)Alicia M.
What a gem of a place to eat. It really stands out, even with all the entertainment available in the area. I tried the ribs, and enjoyed the flavor. There were many options for side dishes. The spicy cheese appetizer, on a bed of chili, was tasty. I had coffee which was also pretty good. This is a nice place to eat, and a good break from corporate chains in a tourist-trap area.
(4)Meliss F.
I was craving some good southern bbq. I had went to another place that a friend referred us to and it was terrible. So we ended up trying Bennett's. From the time we opened the door till the time we departed, our service was off the charts! You should ask for Ray, he was the best waiter we had on our vacation. He knew "every" ingredient that was in the food. I ordered the full rack of jumbo baby back ribs, and it was AMAZING!!!! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and loaded baked potatoes, and he was very happy with it. I will visit Bennet's every time we are in TN! This is a must for a lover of good bbq!!
(5)Eddy2121 ..
The food was dry and cold. The dining room is clean. For $9 you can do better. There are much better places you can go.
(1)Ziana C.
Wow, talk about a disappointment. Serving sizes were quite small, Taste was just ok. BBQ sauce, Kraft is better, We order a selection of items from the pork shoulder to the Texas Sampler. My 82 year old mother cleaned her plate and could have eaten more. The ribs were not very flavorable, The sausage was at least tasty. The bread was flat and plain...poor immitation of Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits. Keep truckn' don't stop.
(2)A S.
Average food and drink and awesome rolls.mints and toothpicks at checkout and very nice staff
(4)Joel P.
This place is great! Very good BBQ, super friendly staff. They also have a salad bar, that's pretty rock and roll in my opinion. I had a brisket sandwich and it was very very good! I'm a huge wing guy, and most of the time they are not very good from BBQ joints... These where amazing! Nothing like a "buffalo wing" but super tender and just right on the smoke!!! Sauces where good. I mean really it was just good BBQ!!!
(5)Elizabeth L.
This restaurant was quick and yummy! It was definitely worth stopping and trying. I think it is more of a lunch place than a dinner place, though. The food was good, the servers were nice and did a great job, not pricey, and it was clean. I can't ask for anything more. :) Would come back for sure!
(4)Nora B.
Fantastic food, attentive staff with good recommendations for us first time guests! Everything was great, from the BBQ to the sides and sauces and even the drinks. No complaints at all. Try it if you're in the area.
(5)Julie S.
Good food and big portions! The pork shoulder was very moist, even without sauce. Our server was Michael--knowledgable of menu items and very attentive.
(5)Laura C.
This is another favorite stop during vacations for my family and I. We love to come in early for breakfast. The waitresses are always really attentive and nice and the food, for the most part, is delicious. I'm not a huge fan of scrambled eggs on the buffet, but that's really the only negative comment I have. I really recommend the bacon!!
(4)Rosie T.
I ate there twice over a four day weekend recently - and enjoyed it. My thing when visiting areas is to find good food - doesn't have to be "the best ever." My first visit I had the pulled pork sandwich with side of bbq beans and mac and cheese. The pork was done excellent. The house bbq sauce that comes in a small pitcher is nice - more vinegar based than what I am used to but still good. Before I forget - they bring your utensils to your table in a smallish metal pail. Napkins are a roll of paper towels on each table. I actually enjoy this because I am a slob when it comes to eating bbq. Anyway - the pulled pork sandwich - NOT the North Carolina pulled pork - was meat on a bun, which I adore. The North Carolina version comes with slaw on the sandwich. The mac and cheese tasted more like boxed elbow mac and cheese, but was still cooked per directions. The beans - yes, mooshy but with pieces of pork and nice sauce. I just mixed them and the mac and cheese together. Second visit I got the combo, which give you choices of 3 meats and two sides. I got the ribs, pulled pork, and tenderloin. All were good and cooked properly, but the ribs was only two ribs. One thing I liked about this place is that they made me an Arnold Palmer - a 50/50 mix of lemonade and iced tea. And it was made correctly. This place is busy and full of families, so be prepared for kiddies running all over.
(4)Rich D.
I thoroughly enjoyed this meal at Bennett's on a recent trip through here. Service was prompt and attentive, in a very good southern way, if you know what I mean. Tried everything I could as I grabbed some bites from other guests. The chicken and ribs were great. The brisket sandwich was HUGE, but a bit dry, as well as the pork being dry. The hamburger was also huge and tasted just like home grilled. Green beans were excellent, baked beans had good flavor but too much sauce, corn was overcooked, fries were a great steak style and tasty, and the corn biscuit had a nice crispy outside texture but still soft inside. Oh, also the BBQ chicken noodle soup was just awesome, and the salad bar was excellent. All in all, an good meal, and I'd stop here again if given the chance. Atmosphere: 3 Service: 4 Food: 3 Value: 4
(3)Dew E.
Decided to try some BBQ tonight, so we tried out Bennett's. Busy but still got in pretty quick. Food came out fast & as ordered. About $15 per person for our orders (2 shared the TX combo). Nice staff. The pulled pork was dry, but not bad with a little sauce. Not too much though...sauces ok in moderation...but not great if you use too much. The brisket seemed to be the table's favorite...A little fat to cut off but pretty normal. The chicken 1/4 seemed oddly small. I liked the Mac & Cheese but the consensus was the beans tasted "ketchupy". Potato salad & Corn muffins ok. Oh...and the place was cold. Really cold. Warmer outside. Weird on a late September night... Vote of 3 was a compilation of the party of 4. Of the connected restaurants (owned by the same people), we by far preferred Mamas.
(3)A J.
This was the third Johnson family place we went to. Full disclosure, my hubby wanted ribs, we yelped for Tony Roma's and the location we were directed to is a Hard Rock Cafe now. So off to Bennett's we went. I'm picky about BBQ, not always a fan. That said, the pork sandwich was the best I've had in some time, so tasty! My hubby liked the ribs, said they were a bit overdone, but a good flavor. The potato salad was ok, but the beans were excellent. Service was impeccable as usual.
(4)priscilla f.
I went here last night. The bbq was just MEH, the pork dinner I had was dry, the best part of the meal was the BBQ sauces, those were just ok....they tasted pretty similar though. the other plate that was had was the 3 meat combo, pulled pork, sausage and brisket...the sausages and brisket were awful... *this is a perfect place if you're looking for mediocre chain food* *the only flavor out of the two dishes was thanks to the condiments* Corn bread was dry, coleslaw was OK, baked potato was OK.... .i could care less about the services or sides though...we came here for BBQ and it was just MEH. very disappointing, im expecting good bbq in tennesse, and i've been mislead with Bennett's.
(2)Jason B.
Nice BBQ atmosphere. The food and prices were pretty good. The ribs were cooked just right, though I prefer a much heavier dry rub. I didn't taste much a rub. The ribs were not fatty at all. The pulled pork had good flavor, but a little fatty. The brisket tasted good, but was also fatty. Like much of BBQ, sauces are personal preference. Out of their 5 sauces, I only liked 1 of them. Not their fault, just my taste preference.
(3)Steve E.
As always this the best place in the Smokeys for BBQ...service is always exceptional. If you dont eat here you are missing out !
(5)Judy H.
My husband and I tried Bennetts for the first time. We had great meals. I had the brisket which was delicious and you could cut with a fork. Sauce was great as was the cole slaw. My hubby had the ribs which were delicious too. He had the salad bar and said that it was good too. Would definitely go back--yummy.
(5)Matthew O.
So, I am a 13 year old boy, with a peanut allergy. I went there with my Mom and step dad one day, because we were on vacation and wanted some BBQ. A person recommended this place to us, but I wish I wouldn't had found out about this place. They say there BBQ is Texas style but it was more of a North Carolina style. Sadly their food wasn't very good. The only two pluses about this place is that they are great with allergies, and they had great customer service. I would recommend it if you like North Carolina style BBQ, but if you are like me and like Texas style BBQ, and not North Carolina style BBQ.
(2)Julia N.
I ate here last week with a group of friends. We were there on Saturday around 3 pm, in between the lunch and dinner crowds. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, the food came out fast, and it was tasty. The sauces were good, our meats were not dry, and the sides were standard BBQ fare. I would not say it was the best, most innovative BBQ I have ever eaten, but it was definitely not a disappointment. We ordered a variety of food between the six of us, and none of us were disappointed. We were, however, very full when we left.
(4)Robert M.
I really dig this place. They have authentic bar-b-que in this place. The atmosphere puts you at ease and immediately you want to have a good time. Almost the whole place is a booth. I had the beef briquette sandwich which almost disolved in my mouth. Great selection of BBQ sauces to add to it. The slaw was INCREDIBLE. This is the sweet kind. I also had the BBQ beans which I thought were pretty great. I would have eaten a pint of the things. My son had a cheese burger. He said it was nicely cooked and a great taste. He finished the thing quickly. Parking is VERY tough. Hard to get in and out. If you have a large vehicle, you may want to think otherwise. Most is behind the restaurant in a small lot.
(4)Rui C.
Beef rib is fine, baby back rib is worse than hungry bear's, bbq chicken is too sweet. Can't order rib only, must come with sides. I will recommend hungry bear definitely than Bennett's
(3)J W.
YUCK! The ribs were odd tasting but the pulled pork was good. Very rude server DeDee, I left a comment card in the box since the owner requests and have heard nothing about our visit on 4/7/13
(1)John M.
Menu claims "best BBQ in the world" ... maybe it should be changed to "best BBQ in Pigeon Forge". The BBQ was okay but definitely not the best. The food arrived as ordered but was room temperature. The corn most likely came from a can and the creamy mac&cheese from a stouffer's frozen meal. Additionally, the fries were soggy and cold. The only bright spot was the friendly staff. I would come here again if someone else wanted to go but with all the choices on the strip, I would select another lunch option. The food is average at best and over priced. Two lunch plates cost $22.
(2)Taylor S.
Meh. Just alright. Friendly people, decent food, but there are probably better BBQ places in the area.
(3)Eric B.
Best BBQ ribs I've had so far in TN. So good in fact that on a recent trip to PF, we decided to skip the pancake houses for breakfast and head back to Bennett's for a second round. Well worth it.
(5)Steve D.
Final stop of a week-long excursion through the south trying the different BBQ the region has to offer. You get a fair amount of food for the portions, but the price reflects the tourist-y area the restaurant is in. As for the food itself, I had the five-meat platter, so I feel like I got a pretty good sample of what Bennett's has to offer: 1.) Chopped pork: mushy and cold. Big disappointment, frankly 2.) Sausage: OK, but this tends to turn out pretty similar no matter where you go, at least to my palate. 3.) Ribs: VERY meaty, which is great, with an OK smokey flavor. Definitely not bad, and something I'd consider getting by itself as an entree. 4.) Brisket: Solid. Not spectacular, but solid. Easy to dry this cut out but, to their credit, the brisket was juicy and flavorful. 5.) Chicken: Surprisingly good. This is the most hit-or-miss item at most BBQ places and I tend to avoid it for that reason, but it was pretty darn good. If I had to pick one meat I'd have gone with that. The beans were not very good, but the Mac and Cheese is great (you know why I love the south? Mac and Cheese is always a vegetable). Avoid the landmines on the menu and you can put together something pretty tasty, but the joy of BBQ, at least to me, is being able to try all the different cuts. On that score, Bennett's was a slight disappointment.
(3)Lydia Z.
Bennett's was a nice little find while we were in town. We saw the sign that said "best ribs", a little presumuous, but we bit. They were pretty good but not the best we have had. We ordered a slab of ribs, pulled pork, bbq chicken. The chicken was not good - pretty dry. The pulled pork and the ribs were good. The salad bar looked great. We didn't have it but it looked good. The service was good.
(4)Ben N.
A few decades ago, Pigeon Forge was a wide spot in the road to Gatlinburg, with just a handful of modest motels whose unpretentious guests spent much of their vacations sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk, enjoying the Smoky Mountain scenery and watching the traffic pass by. Those days are long past. Pigeon Forge is now a boulevard of the garish, gauche, and grotesque: pancake houses, $9.99 magic shows, carnival rides, fourth-rate "hillbilly" entertainments, cavernous Vegas-like attractions, souvenir shops, mini-golf courses. Sex shops and Christian stores just down the road from each other. The gamut of mid-range chain restaurants (Tony Roma's, Longhorn, Olive Garden, etc., etc., etc., etc.). And, of course, Dollywood. A straightforward BBQ place like Bennett's tends to get lost in the shuffle in a circus like this. And that's all right in my book. A pulled-pork sandwich was full-flavored and smoky, but the pork seemed like it might have been sitting in a walk-in for a day or two. It could have been a bit fresher-tasting. I appreciated that the not-bad, tangy sauce was served on the side. Prices seemed a notch high for what you get: Over $10 for a BBQ sandwich, fries, and sweet tea. Atmosphere and decor reflect the split-personality disorder that is all too common in BBQ places trying to make too many people feel at home: Barn-like structure for those who think only rural people eat BBQ, lots of NASCAR photos for the exurban demographic that probably dominates Pigeon Forge's tourist base, and Chicago-sounding blues on the sound system for the Yankee touristas who think of BBQ as a largely African-American urban phenomenon. Service was quick and friendly. While I was there I noticed that Bennett's seemed quite adept at handling a huge group of about 30 folks that came in behind me. Not a bad lunch stop if you're just passing through, like I was....
(3)Chip R.
We decide on Bennett's for dinner during our family vacation. We were seated promptly and the waitress was polite and friendly. We order teas and a water for our toddler. They came out quickly and we took some time choosing our dinners. I chose the chicken dinner while my husband had the half rack of ribs. My husband said the ribs were ok. He would have given four stars. The ribs were overdone and hard to eat. He had the fries which he said were good. He did state that the sauce had no real flavor. My chicken was very good. It wasn't dried out and was very flavorful. When I tried the sauces, I again found they had no real flavor. I had the baked potato and salad. The salad as delicious and huge. Our toddler had a side of Mac and cheese and ate from our plates. He enjoyed it. Overall the portions are large and the food is pretty good. The service was great as well as the atmosphere.
(3)John V.
Doesn't open until 8a.m. for breakfast, really, what happened to early morning when most of us eat breakfast. I went shopping at Kroger's and then returned for breakfast. The breakfast buffet was just as large as their other location in Gatlinburg and the food was good overall with a few exceptions. The fresh Kiwi, pineapple, honeydew, and cantaloupe were all excellent! Two eggs, custom fried, over medium, were perfect! The following improvements should be made: don't over fry the bacon, and open earlier. Jamie waited on us and did an excellent job! She was very friendly, answered all our questions, served us quickly and professionally. The manager was nice however when I showed her we were short tongs on the buffet she said she would take care of it and then didn't. There were still no additional tongs when we left and the restaurant was slow, so she should have had time to get the tongs.
(3)Nikki K.
I'm surprised that more people haven't given Bennett's a great rating. We went down to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area for our wedding and honeymoon, and were told by several friends to check this BBQ place out. We finally made it on our third day, and wish we had gone sooner so we could have gone back! The staff couldn't have been nicer as they welcomed us, and even helped us with our particular request (our friend's had left a gift certificate for us and they knew exactly what we were talking about as we told them about it). The place seemed very clean and comfortable. Bathrooms were also very clean, and easy to find (many places they hide them I swear). My husband ordered the 3 meat combo plate and I had the ribs. He loved everything he tried which included ribs, brisket and pulled pork. His sides were bbq baked beans and mac and cheese. My sides were mac and cheese also and potato salad. I'm not 'always' a rib person, they're messy and I don't like that. But let me tell you, I would have licked the sauce off my shirt if it had spilled, these were THAT good. The portions were more than enough, and I had plenty of leftovers, even some of his to take back to our cabin (good heated up too, always a good sign). The prices were very reasonable, food was great, service was really good. We will DEFINITELY be back and I seriously recommend this place to anyone visiting the area. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Stacy A.
The service was good. The food was OK. However, it was overpriced for the quality and flavor. There are a lot better places to eat in Pigeon Forge.
(2)Amanda F.
I haven't been into BBQ for a while, because of pregnancy aversions to meat and strong flavors--but I thought it was time to nip that in the butt (pork butt, that is). Anyhoo. I thought this place was just alright. It had a salad bar, which is unique in a BBQ restaurant and sort of what drove our party to try it out. However, the salad bar was small and consisted more of prepped mayo-based salads than actual raw veggies and fruits. I guess I can't expect too much in a meat-eater environment. I got baby back ribs and the salad bar to share with my hubs. While good, the ribs were fattier than I hoped and a little salty. And I wasn't terribly fond of the BBQ sauce they put on--so I had to compensate for what they had at the table. Cornbread was just okay, somewhat dry. All-in-all, I thought the experience was sort of meh. I think if I were to spend the same amount of money on BBQ, I would have gone with a Famous Dave's or something. Because then, I would sort of know what I was getting and at least like my choices. Oh and we tried to use the online coupon, but they made a big stink (or the waitress did) about us not printing it out and only showing it on our phones. Umm...don't we live in the age of technology? It was sort of annoying that they wouldn't take the coupon, but I didn't want to argue such a dumb subject with such a dumb policy.
(2)Mandy B.
One of my favorite BBQ places. Always eat here when I visit PF. Nice portions and fresh food. They have one of the best blackberry cobblers, too!
(4)Tim H.
Was very surprised how good the BBQ was here. We shared one of the sample plate and two people can get full off of it. The ribs were great, so was the sausage. The worst tasting item was the BBQ chicken, not that's its was bad just sort bland. The baked beans were very good also, overall great experience. Daughters cheeseburger was good tasting also. Server was sorta slow and still learning here way.
(4)Stephen S.
Awesome BBQ. Get the Texan Sampler to get a little taste of everything. The potato salad and coleslaw are both amazing.
(5)George C.
Thought we would give it a try here on vacation. Used the 15% Coupon found in the vacation booklet....didn't know it was just a scheme to get you in.....then they add 15 percent gratuity for a party if you are just standing together? Contacted the manager and received a rude response....won't be back back...beware.
(1)Michael C.
Not good bro not good. Service was awesome and the salad bar was decent however the main course was horrible and all the sauces sucked too. I've had beef jersey that was more moist than the ribs.
(2)Bill S.
Bennett's isn't one of America's grander barbecue houses, but it does serve up some pretty good pork and sides. We went for the pulled pork sandwich which was moist, lean and served hot, and the sauces offered included a tangy vinegar -- not bad -- and a mustard-base which lacked just a tad for a mustard taste but satisfied us just fine. The cole slaw was delicious, not too much mayonnaise -- thank you, Lord -- and the baked beans and fries were yummy. We didn't try the ribs, and our short review is based on just one experience here. The servers were friendly, service a little slow on a crowded afternoon. We'd come back.
(3)Ray B.
I see some of the other reviews are talking about the great service received. The experience I had was not so much. The food is still great, though, and it's a good spot for lunch, the service just was a little, we'll, rude. The building was just about as clean as any tourist town's Bar-B-Q.
(3)Philip N.
Went here the other day, and it was delicious. The waiter I had was Justin, and it was his first day, most people would do terrible on the first day, but Justin was amazing. Justin always had our drinks filled and checked on us frequently to make sure everything was okay. This restaurant is a great choice for anyone.
(5)Chuck C.
Love Bennett's! Get the baked beans! Awesome!
(5)Waylon T.
Huge portions and damn good BBQ. My family all enyoned a meal one evening while visiting Pigeon Forge. Service was quick and pleasant. I would advise moderation when eating there. The food is so good you could easily leave there over stuffed and miserable. I ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich which came with Coleslaw and Mac'n'Cheese. Wife had BBQ Brisket with 2 sides. But the favorite for the night was the hog legs which were awesome! Oh and Salad bar had a good selection and everything was fresh. I would definitely visit again.
(4)BJ P.
Very good BBQ sauces and BBQ. We ordered the BBQ sampler...brisket, pulled pork and ribs were very good. Blooming onion wasn't great.
(4)Mike O.
Stopped in for a basic BBQ lunch and we all left full. Each of us tried something different and all decided the beef brisket is best by far. Service was friendly and fast. Nothin fancy, but fast and tasty grub.
(3)Scott M.
Had a sampler of ribs, pulled pork, and sausage. Pass on the sausage and get a second "order" of ribs! Pulled pork had OK flavor, but was a little cold. Good sauces, try the hot one (vinegar based)...pretty decent. Oh, great baked beans! We were placed in the back room with a large table of folks that must have been castoffs from "Jersey Shore". Lots of product, chains, volume, and ignorance. Fortunately, they left around the time our food arrived. Bottom line...Worth a stop for sure, and we would go back. Could easily give 3.5 stars if an option.
(3)Jamie R.
Great BBQ! -Prices were fair -Staff was friendly -Service was fast -It was pretty clean for its age -Meat was full of flavor and I could eat it without sauce, no fat -Sauce was on the sweet side good flavor I have had others that were similar -Unbelievable desserts
(5)Victor M.
Waitress seemed to rush our order which I dislike because I like taking my time to order from the menu. I ordered the beef brisket with BBQ beans and corn on the cob. Presentation was good but food lacked temperature. Food was luke warm and BBQ sauce was too tangy....ease up on the vinegar. It wasn't too bad aside from the rushed waitress and food temperature. Not the best BBQ In town but also not the worst. On the other side my wife hated it and my Childs meal was over-cooked and dry. She had a cheeseburger that looked like a hockey puck. Probably would not come back. The title of the best BBQ was either fake advertisement or someone with no taste buds. Judge for yourselves!
(2)Barry H.
We needed some pork BBQ for a football party and decided to try Bennett's. We all thought the BBQ was very good and they gave you plenty of sauce, condiments, and even after dinner mints.
(4)Steven P.
Good selection of Bar-B-Que sauces. Worth a stop for sure, and we would go back.
(3)Kayse R.
I've ate here a hand full of times, different parts of the day & the food is always great. Nice staff makes the experience even better.
(4)S. R.
A reasonable BBQ restaurant. The service was good but have to agree that the pulled pork was dry.
(4)Meg S.
My husband and I went here for the breakfast bar and it was delicious! It was so much better then all the pancake restaurants for breakfast. The food was fresh, tasty, and the service was excellent. They have a wonderful fruit bar that includes a variety of fruits and they are all fresh. We will definitely return the next time we visit Pigeon Forge.
(5)Tabitha T.
Bennett's BBQ was clean , friendly and relatively quick. The brisket was tender, but not as smokey as it should be. They only have one kind of sauce and it is the very sweet ketchup style. Smoked sausage was good but cold--may have come from a package. Pork shoulder was better than the brisket. Overall, what you'd expect from a BBQ joint in Pigeon Forge. Not bad, but not great. I'm not sure there are any better choices for a casual restaurant, so I guess I'd return if driving through the area at meal time.
(3)Charlotte W.
Get the Slider Combo!!! Great service and good prices!!
(5)Rick C.
Fast competent service decent food. I would eat here again maybe tomorrow ,they have a breakfast bar.
(4)Sam G.
Not the most friendly staff. Maybe because everyone is complaining about the food! Ribs were the worst. Cold and weird tasting. Tasted more like ham than anything else. Sides were gross. Dinner was expensive!! Drinks were empty. To somewhere else!!
(1)Cathaleya C.
Great BBQ ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket, however, I thought the ribs were a little tough and chewy. The fried okra was new to me and really good paired with baked beans.
(4)Cole M.
There aren't a whole lot of bbq places in East Tennesee, most of the best can be found in Memphis and will be of better quality too. But Bennett's is really the best with the highest quality you'll find in all of East Tennessee. It's very well priced and a nice place to dine for the whole family, always great customer service too although sometimes you'll find a bit of a wait in their often full parking lot.
(4)