The Greenbrier — Restaurant in Gatlinburg

Interesting, unique place we were excited to visit. We had an idea about it thanks to some YouTube reviews. I like more of a straighforward, old-fashioned steak house, but we wanted to try Greenbrier for our 25th anniversary. I thank them for having a rose waiting on my wife's place setting.

We each ordered a beer, and they were poured to the top. And they were good. Our great server, Joe, offered my wife a sample before.

They start here with a complimentary "spoon cornbread" with a scoop of butter on top. I would prefer some hardcrust bread with high quality butter, but it was good. Nothing special at all, but good. We were told that more egg in the batter makes this a wetter cornbread. So you eat it with a spoon.

My wife got the chopped salad and I got potato soup. The salad was very good and the dressing was outstanding. The soup was average. Panera has better potato soup IMO.

Joe then brought out a palate-cleansing small scoop of lemon sorbet for each of us. It was very good.

My wife got the salmon and risotto, and I got the bone-in ribeye with twice-baked potato. The salmon was outstanding. (We sampled each other's food.) Best I've ever had. We were told the skin would be crispy and easy to eat, which it was. It was fantastic, and it was hot. The risotto was perfect. A great entree.

My steak was very disappointing -- especially, of course, for the price. I'm not an expert on steaks. I've never had a dry-aged steak before. But I think I know a good steak. I ordered mine medium-well. It was more medium-rare inside and well done on the edges. But none of it was juicy, tender, or flavorful. It was barely lukewarm. Not one drop of juice came out of the steak from beginning to end. The steak had no glisten to it at all. It looked dry. I've seen the steaks here on YouTube videos and they look much better than the one I was served. I almost wonder if they slid me an old steak. I had it happen before at Stoney River in Atlanta. I knew it was a bad one, because I'd had several perfect steaks there before. I told them, and they gave me a certificate for another steak in the future. Compared to juicy, hot steaks from Ruth's Chris, Bone's in Atlanta, Morton's, Stoney River, others, Greenbrier's was terrible. The potato was so-so. Mine are better.

Creme brulee was complimentary for our anniversary. We were told the creme brulee usually doesn't come with the scoop of chocolate mousse on top, but I see it on other pics here. Regardless, it was delicious.

Very nice atmosphere after driving up the narrow, curving road. But I don't care as much about atmosphere as I do quality of food. Some of my favorite eating establishments are dives. Greenbrier has a great, cozy bar setting that is apart from the dining room. If my steak had been even decent, I would have given Greenbrier five stars easily. When you bill the steaks as your specialty and charge these prices, you need to deliver. I'm sure they'll say I should have said something when I was there, but I just wasn't up for the tension on our anniversary. And Greenbrier should have done...

This place is truly a delight in the Gatlinburg area of the Smoky Mountains. We ate there on our wedding day 21 yrs ago & went back this year to celebrate our anniversary. I thought I made reservations for 7pm but I made them for 5pm. We showed up & they were booked solid. We were so sad as this place remodeled & had a newer, delish menu & such wonderful memories for us. The mgr, Lewis, and the hostess, ANNA, asked us to wait a few minutes & they would see if they could work something out. We sat by the nice indoor fireplace & watched Anna walk back & forth, saw tables move around & then she walked to us with a beautiful red rose for me & said "I could not stand to think you all are here from out of town to celebrate your anniversary & would not be able to have dinner with us." She was so very sweet & truly went above & beyond to get us a table & not upset other diners. Her kindness was something you don't see everyday in many restaurants especially in any big city. The fact they didn't just say we are sorry, we are full, good-bye. Incredible customer service. Then we had the pleasure of being served by EMMA. She knew our situation and happily took us on as an extra table in an already very busy restaurant. She was excellent. She took the time to review all the menu items we asked about & she offered some amazing suggestions. We had their chicken marsala....so delicious and also their beef short ribs with filet medallions. Started with a yummy asparagus & cauliflower creamy soup and a fresh salad. We are not big alcohol drinkers so we had an iced tea which was very fresh -- being from the south I do not like tea that is not fresh -- and we had hot tea. Since it was our wedding anniversary they offered us several dessert choices and we went with the vanilla creme brûlée .... my husband does not normally like this dessert but he loved this one. Our meal was truly incredible. Excellent service, delicious, fresh, homemade food. And, we were treated like special guests but to tell you the truth we watched all the servers and they all treated everyone special. Their Mgr, Lewis, is a young guy....under 30. He was top notch. He has great people skills and that has trickled down to the entire staff. My only regret is we do not have this restaurant in our hometown in Texas. Their food and service would run the others out of business. When you are in the Smoky Mountains and particularly Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge .... find the The Greenbrier Restaurant, make reservations in advance and go there for dinner. Well worth your time and money. Oh, we had an anniversary dinner for under $100 (tips not included in that amount). Also, the decor is really romantic. Perfect place for an anniversary dinner like ours, special date, birthday or just to spend quality alone time with someone you love. A romantic vibe. And, as an added bonus, when leaving and driving back to Pigeon Forge we saw a black bear on the side of the road. Wow !! Don't feed...

Ah, The Greenbriar in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Nestled amidst the smoky majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains, it's a haven of Southern charm and culinary delights—what better time to experience it than at Christmas? Walking into The Greenbriar is like stepping into a cozy Christmas fairytale. The warm glow of fairy lights twinkles overhead, casting a soft hue on the exposed brick walls and rustic wooden beams. The air is filled with the tantalizing aroma of roasting meats and spices, a symphony that promises a feast for the senses. Our waiter, Tyler, greeted us with a smile as warm as the crackling fireplace in the restaurant's center. He exuded Southern hospitality, and his recommendations were spot-on, guiding us through the menu with the expertise of a seasoned Christmas elf. I opted for the Carolina trout stuffed with mushroom duxelles served over red pepper beurre blanc and roasted asparagus for my dinner. If you will, imagine delicate mountain trout, its flesh flaky and sweet, each bite a delightful dance on the tongue. But the pièce de résistance, the show's undisputed star, was Chef Jason's Beef Wellington. Picture this: a tenderloin of filet mignon, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, swaddled in a crispy puff pastry crust that glistened like burnished gold. The buttery and flaky pastry revealed the juicy pink meat within culinary artistry. Andy said each forkful was an explosion of savory flavors, the richness of the beef perfectly balanced by the earthy mushrooms and the hint of Dijon mustard. It was, without a doubt, a miracle on a plate. No meal is complete without a toast, and what better way to raise a glass than with The Greenbriar's signature Cocktail, The Dylan! This festive concoction began with raw pecans lit on fire on an oak wine barrel stave, the fire extinguished, and a snifter glass is washed with pecan smoke, black cherry ice spheres are dropped into a smoke-washed snifter, and finally, Heaven’s Door TN bourbon, house-made Madagascar vanilla bean syrup, & bitters with black cherries. The balance is beautiful with the smoky sweetness of the bourbon and pecans. As we stepped out into the crisp mountain air, our bellies full and heart's content, we knew we had experienced something exceptional. The Greenbriar had woven its magic, transporting us to a world of cheer and culinary excellence. It was a Christmas to remember, a testament to the power of good food, good company, and the timeless spirit of the season. So, if you're ever in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, do yourself a favor and make a reservation at The Greenbriar. Ask for Tyler, savor Chef Jason's culinary mastery, and raise a glass of the Dylan to a Christmas well spent. Just be sure to make your reservations early – this gem will be booked solid all...