Junction 35 Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

So as a local this is the third time my husband and I have tried junction 35. First time the food was cold but our server was so sweet so we didn’t say anything, second time I was pregnant and got food poisoning still didn’t say anything, and tonight for my husbands birthday we attempted to eat again for our first night out together in forever for his birthday. His license expired on his birthday so last week he went and got his new license and it’s in paper form with a barcode you can scan on it. While waiting on our table we went over to downtown flavortown and we’re able to get a drink no problem.

Once our table was ready our server who’s name I can’t remember but he was either bald, balding, or had a buzz cut I couldn’t tell with the lighting refused to accept my husbands valid ID when less than 100 yard away he was served no problem with his ID scanned. This is just a really upsetting experience. My husband and I rarely get date nights out and had this night planned for weeks. We walked out before ordering. I don’t get why one policy on the same lot is accommodating and just scanned the ID to make sure it was valid and our very annoyed server wouldn’t even do that or try. We won’t be back and will inform our other local friends to not come either.

I had super high hopes this place we just caught on a bad night the other two times but how dismissive our server was is disappointing. I doubt this will change anything or this review will even be read but please know that on the same lot “the mountain mile” it makes no sense one establishment will scan your ID and another won’t. So a warning if you’ve gotten a new license don’t even try to get a drink here until you get the hard copy. My husband and I have lived here our entire lives and have never had this issue since turning 21. Ever. Not in Knox county, cockle county, sevier county, this is the only restaurant who has ever refused to even scan a paper ID that was just issued due to his license expiring on his birthday (which is today) and got his new one before his birthday. Sadly, this almost ruined my sweet husbands birthday we worked so hard to get planned out. I’ve never in my life left a 1 star review ESPECIALLY working in tourism myself and ever thought I would until this happened. We are enjoying our doordashed Taco Bell in bed and making the best of our night but just a warning to anyone who has a valid paper ID, they will not serve you. But if you want accommodating great service for drinks check out flavortown!

I came back to edit to respond to the owner, I sincerely appreciate your response. You seem to really care and I really appreciate you taking the time to read and problem solve this issue. I really appreciate you problem solving the temporary ID issues, I totally understand why your policies are in place I had just hoped it would have been scanned like at the other restaurant in your complex. I want to apologize for not being kinder in my review, I was just so sad my husband didn't get the birthday celebration he deserved but I really appreciate your response and we...

We had dinner here last night. The host was so sweet and helpful - she explained that there was a wait because, though there were open tables, she was the only one there to bus tables and host. We still got in pretty quickly.

Our server had zero personality. He explained nothing and was not friendly. He never cleared our appetizer plates or platters, even after our entrees came, so we eventually set them on the empty table next to us that hadn’t been cleared yet, which he never even seemed to notice or question. He would stop by and all of our glasses would be empty, one person would say they need a refill, and before anyone else could speak up he’d dart off to grab that one drink, then he’d return and it would repeat. I felt like we spent most of our meal asking him to refill one drink at a time because he wouldn’t slow down or pay attention. The sweet tea was all sugar no flavor and served warm.

We got a coupon from a store a few shops over for free fried pickles, so we started with those and the smoked wings with blackberry sauce. The pickles were kind of boring but fine. The wings were excellent, both the smoky chicken and the sauce were delicious. One of my sons got a burger and he said the mashed potatoes were the best part of his meal and his potatoes were watery and bland…. He said it tasted like they forgot to put any sauce on it but by the time our server came back he had finished it anyway. My other son got the Nashville Hot chicken sandwich - the chicken was juicy and the sauce was smoky and flavorful. Both he and I got the Brussel sprouts. He didn’t like them because he thought they were too sweet but my bf and I enjoyed them. I had the chicken salad sandwich and though the meat was well smoked, the sandwich was very boring. My bf got a burger and enjoyed it. His grits were also tasty. We tried a side of the bologna (just ok) and pastrami (pretty good just a really salty). My kids said that the meal wasn’t their favorite and that it wasn’t worth the price, which we had to agree with as this was the most expensive meal of our trip so far (well over $100), and it just wasn’t that kind of experience.

My bf and I got one flight to split and again, sadly, it just wasn’t quite as good as other experiences we’ve had in the area. We found many of the moonshines to have a strong rubbing alcohol smell with too much sugar trying to cover it up. We acknowledge that their moonshine is a higher proof than many others, but even the higher proof stuff at other places is smoother with better flavor.

My bf did a tasting after dinner on the distillery side. I will say that both of the servers were very friendly and fun. Though we didn’t enjoy many of their spirits (I know others do but this was our experience), we did love their Bam Bam Vodka and took one of them home.

Overall this place just didn’t quite live up to expectations and the price didn’t match the...

I was in Gatlinburg for my 60th birthday celebrating from Charlotte, NC with family and friends. My friend recommended we go there to celebrate my birthday dinner. As her coworker had been and raved about the foog and the moonshine. The wait wasn't bad for a party of 8. We shopped next door and the time flew by about 35 minutes max. We get seated and Brianna is our server. She started out really good, but unfortunately it went all downhill after the appetizers. The items ordered, beyond burger, smash burger, chicken sandwich, wings, brisket, side salads to replace fries and salmon. Appetizers were loaded fries and fried pickles. It was crowded as college football is in full swing. But unfortunately for Brianna there were 2 servers dining and people that just eat out alot! We know good service. As it was my birthday, I expected at the very least a cake, scoop of ice cream something to commemorate the occasion. I really wished I had of taken the wheel on where we ate. But I didn't. Back to the food, the smoked wings were okay nothing to write home about. The brisket was divine!!! The salmon was served well done. She didn't ask how my daughter wanted it, she assumed well done. My daughter the server said you never serve salmon well done unless asked. That had to go back. Smash burger was dry, how is that possible. Yeah, I don't know either. Loaded fries and fried pickles were excellent! When I asked about the birthday brownie they were sold out. Womp, womp. Don't you think they should keep some for these special occasions? I guess not, but it definitely affected this review. We asked for our check and she threw the moonshine tickets on the table. Literally threw them. Her attitude was awful! There is a complimentary moonshine tasting after you pay for a meal. The bam bam shot is probably the best one there. I wasn't overwhelmed by the tasting, but maybe because we had 2 previous tastings. Hard 5o compete with Gatlinburg. The moonshine tasting was good. Great server there. Of course I the birthday girl tipped him because he was professional and courteous! As for the others diners and I didn't pay for my meal, my tab was picked up. They collectively didn't want to leave a generous tip, like the norm. But left a tip based on service. Which was not very good I'm sure. I would recommend this place for football only. Not a special occasion or celebration event. Fell very flat and a disappointment for a birthday celebration. Unfortunately, no one answered the phone to confirm this for a month of trying to call. Maybe that would have helped knowing they don't do birthday...