Boudicca's Celtic Pub — Restaurant in Gatlinburg

I've been coming to Gatlinburg all my life, and I'm no spring chicken. I grew up camping in the area and now I take my children to do the same. To be perfectly honest, the town is not really my jam these days. Our more recent tradition is to get a hotel near the strip and just use the room for occasional hot water (my kids are still very young) and to take a break from meals made over the fire. We don't actual sleep there, but this rooms around here are a bargain, they're affordable even if you're not sleeping in them. I'll admit we don't walk the entire strip, but there a little portion called The Village that the kids like to walk through.

I was browsing around a shoe store in this little nook off the strip and asked the owner if there was a good spot for charcuterie and wine that wasn't sweet. I do realize this isn't the culinary capital of the world, but you never know. Anyway, he couldn't think of anything that fit that bill, but he did mention that an Irish spot a couple doors down was voted best burger in the city two years in a row. This was compelling enough and it was close!

We walked in with our kids and they took a seat a bar. I apologized to the bartender (Joey) and he assured me, it wasn't a problem. A kid-friendly bar? I was already impressed. We didn't spend much time studying the menu; we had to try that burger! The Banger Burger, with Guinness-marinated sausages, sweet grilled onions, Irish cheddar, and a thick spread of fresh mashed potatoes, was served with a hefty portion of Celtic sea salt seasoned fries. We ordered the beer cheese for dipping. It was smooth, spiced perfectly, and was the perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal. I also ordered a Magner's Pear Cider.

This is small restaurant that is perfect for takeout, but they also have several tables upstairs. The space was adorned with Irish decor, maps, witty signs, blessings, and a perfect little window nook to watch the passerby. We headed upstairs and Joey brought up our meals when they were ready. The burger itself was huge. It truly was a flavor explosion. If Irish pubs are your forte, this place is an absolute must. We dug deep into the depths of that beer cheese container. It's the type of meal that will have you wanting to lick your plate and even better, the type of establishment that makes you feel comfortable doing so. My beer was made with 100% premium pears, crisp, with a refreshing fruit flavor. Unlike other ciders I've tried, the notes of fruit weren't overstated or too sweet.

If you're like me and find the task of choosing a meal in Gatlinburg more difficult than most, this is your needle in the haystack. It's worth coming down the mountain for. The service was warm and friendly, the restaurant has a unique atmosphere, Irish tunes, and without a shadow of a doubt, the very best...

Believe the hype. I had heard that this was the best burger in Gatlinburg, and I wanted to taste it myself. Yesterday I spent two hours driving down; paid $20 for parking; and pushed my way through vaping, smoking throngs of people who lined Parkway. It took some exploring a cobblestone village to find the almost hidden entrance of this place.

When I opened the door, I was skeptical. There was barely enough room to stand, let alone sit. All 6 seats at the bar were taken. There were people standing in front of the register, the drink cooler, and the t-shirt display. But I was determined.

I ordered the Boudicca Burger and fries, and a soda. The bartender said she would bring it out to me. I asked is there seating upstairs, and she nodded. The stairs were narrow and it was a little awkward going up as others were mid trip coming down, but I made it. After a short wait, sure enough, there she was with my burger. She pointed me to the table with napkins and ketchup.

The burger is amazing. It’s two smashed patties, two different melted cheeses, and caramelized onions. The fries were crispy, thick, and far too plentiful. There weren’t even a hint of greasy, and were lightly dusted with salt. I couldn’t eat even half of them, and they were so good I felt bad about it.

I polished off the burger, dropped the box in the trash, and made my way back down the stairs, through the cobblestone village, back to the sidewalk, and shoved my way back to the parking lot where my car was parked. The drive back was only about 90 minutes.

All in all, a 5 hour trek for dinner. Was it worth it? Totally. You won’t find a better burger in Gatlinburg, and I can only think of one at this level in Knoxville. So yeah, what people are saying is true.

GO FIND...

My girlfriend and I have been to the Village a hundred times, and if it weren't for a friend asking if we'd tried Boudicca's, we never would've known this hidden gem was tucked away back there. Family owned traditional Irish pub, with a traditional Irish pub atmosphere. Cameron the bartender was a blast. Super welcoming and made sure everyone was entertained and well taken care of! Be warned that seating is limited and there is no table service. They'll bring your food to you, but that's it. Not a problem for us, but I felt like it should be noted. You always have to take those "Best X in insert city" awards with a grain of salt, but in this case, the multiple best burger in Gatlinburg awards are well deserved. Since it was my first visit, I got a plain cheeseburger to test it out, and my girlfriend got the beer cheese burger. Upon opening the box, the first thing I noticed was the mountain of fries each of us got. Neither of us could finish them. The burgers were two patties with a salted potato bun, they truly were phenomenal. I cannot stress enough how great they were. Nothing really more to say about them. An absolute must try if you're a cheeseburger fan. On the drink side, they offer a fairly wide beer selection both draft and canned/bottled. If you're a Guinness fan, they also have a really cool beer printer that will print images of your choice on your pour's head. Boudicca's is a must try if you're here, and is now in our...