Smith & Son Corner Kitchen — Restaurant in Gatlinburg

My family and I visit Gatlinburg frequently. We have never tried Smith & Son's. I looked at their menu from the street and decided yup, we're going here tonight. I love spinach artichoke dip and so does my wife. The burgers looked excellent. So dinner it was. We walked in to a sign and a very unfriendly lady that basically acted like hey idiot, did u read the sign? The sign said to go to the 2nd floor for seating. We got seated by a very nice lady. She put us in a beautiful spot overlooking the parkway. Was this a blessing or a curse? We were the only one's there in that section. I can imagine that's why it took so long to get everything. Service was so slow. It was not busy at all. I'm a local tour guide so I was really hoping this place was going to impress. I know it gets great reviews. My Son's burgers were excellent. My wife's taco salad had ice cold beef in it. She was disappointed which made my experience very unpleasant. Now onto my story. Which is 100% my fault but also the fault of Smith & Son's menu. I included pic's along with my story. During the appetizer ordering process I asked our waiter what was the best burger on the menu? He replied,"The Pitmaster burger." So when he came back to the table I ordered the pitmaster. He replied, "The Mac Daddy?" So I automatically thought he was saying, do you want the burger i recommend because it's the mac daddy of burgers. I didn't realize Smith & Son's has a mac n cheese pitmaster bowl.

When the bowl of mac n cheese arrived you can imagine my surprise. I stopped eating mac n cheese when I was 15. I informed the waiter of the honest mistake. He offered to have the burger made. It took almost an hour to get the first order. So I politely declined. Not sure if I'll try again? The spinach artichoke dip is...

The food at this restaurant was decent, but it’s not what I’d consider a standout or a must-visit spot. While everything tasted fine and was prepared well, there wasn’t anything that truly wowed us or left a lasting impression. It’s the kind of place where you’d leave satisfied, but not necessarily raving about the experience.

One highlight of the restaurant is the lookout at the top, which adds a nice touch to the atmosphere. It seems like a great place to relax with friends, share some food, and enjoy a drink while taking in the view. I could see this being a go-to spot for casual gatherings, thanks to the ambiance.

Our group ordered a variety of dishes, including burgers, wings, salads, and fried catfish. All of us were happy with what we ate—everything was cooked well and flavorful. The portions were fair, and the prices were reasonable, which is always appreciated. While the food was satisfying, it lacked that special something that would make me eager to return or recommend it as a must-try.

What really stood out, however, was the service. The staff was friendly, attentive, and accommodating throughout our visit. It’s clear they care about making guests feel welcome, and that definitely enhanced the overall experience.

That being said, while the service and ambiance were good, the food itself didn’t leave a strong enough impression for me to give this place more than 3 stars. It’s not bad by any means—it’s just not a place I’d go out of my way to recommend. If you’re in the area and looking for a casual meal with good service, it’s worth checking out, but I wouldn’t call it a must-visit...

Came here twice during my last stay and had two very difference experiences.

First time we sat out on the balcony for dinner, it's a little crammed, but for outside seating service is better then most who tend to get forgotten. The food was incredible, and we enjoyed being able to overlook the town. Waitress was awesome and very helpful.

Decided we loved the food so much the first time, we would end our stay and have our last dinner here, we sat inside. The service was terrible. She barley checked on us, dumped water in my Sprite (walked off before I could inform her...), was incredibly loud and obnoxious, and was behind the bar eating rather then paying any attention to service. Worst thing, is I want to say that she was a shift manager or at least the senior staff because she was barking orders to another, in a not so friendly manner. The place, wasn't even that crowded.

I wish I remembered the name of the servers, as the one really ruined it for us.

As far as location, and comfort goes, its all a great experience. Having to go upstairs is somewhat of a pain, as my wife has heart and lung issues, and, stairs can be trivial.

All in all, I enjoyed the place to a degree, but had a poor last experience. One thing I always say to my employees, "We're only as good as our last performance."

I want to say I'll give it another chance, as there's a lot of good things going for it, but service has to step up in a town with so many options. Its just "OK.", for now, and currently my worst dining experience...