Birthday Celebrations in Townsend, TN

When I first moved to Tennessee, we made regular evening drives around the Cades Cove Loop Road in the Smokies to see the wildlife (mostly deer) but I haven’t been in many, many years.  For low crowds and good wildlife viewing, early morning is the best time to go but we have to leave home earlier than Bev wants to get up, but staying in Townsend saves an hour. 

When Bev had her BD in April, she said she wanted to go to the Appalachian Bistro at Dancing Bear Lodge for her BD dinner but we had yet to make it.  So, when Pat (SIL) and I both had Sep BD’s a plan was born – let’s combine the events.  We made a reservation at the Bistro for Sunday night and reserved a two BR cabin on the river for two nights so we could hit the loop road Monday morning.  Then we could do anything else we wanted in the park and take in the sites/shopping in Townsend the remainder of Mon, before spending a second night and coming home on Tue morning.

We made the hour drive up (up river) to Townsend in time to check in, drop our stuff at the cabin, and make our 5:30 dinner reservation. 

Originally, dancing bear contained cabins, and a lodge with the restaurant and Bev, Rhett and I had eaten there a long time ago but the lodge/ restaurant building burned to the ground in 2013 and new owners (Oldham Hospitality) took over in 2014.  Rather than rebuild the lodge with rooms, they added to the number of cabins and built the bistro and an event center.  Everything is located on a 37acre wooded area up on a hill except the three riverside cabins which are just over a mile away.

The two-bedroom cabin was very nice and seemed to have everything we needed and a balcony that hung over the river.

We arrived at the bistro for our 5:30 reservation and the place was pretty empty.

Unlike many restaurants these days, the Appalachian Bistro doesn’t have a large number of menu choices but they seem to have something for about everyone.

We began the meal with a complimentary have glass of champagne, for our birthdays, and a cocktail for the girls then we each ordered different meals.  

Light-eating-Pat had the Fried Green Tomato appetizer (no description available).

Bev changed her mind several times then settled on the “Local Wagyu Bistro Burger - Sixteen Peaks Wagyu Beef, Benton’s Bacon, Smoked Onion & Tomato Jam, Bibb Lettuce, Tillamook Cheddar, Garlic Aioli, Brioche Bun, Herbed Fries"

And I had the “English Mountain Rainbow Trout - Herb Brushed Trout, Cherokee White Eagle Polenta, BI-Colored Corn, Lima Bean and Crawfish Succotash, Smokey Local Corn Sauce, Trout Roe, Charred Corn, Rock Shrimp & Tomato Relish, Basil” but it was quite different than this online menu description.

The place is obviously geared toward fine dining and the service was very good but we all thought our meals were nothing really special and after tasting Bev’s burger, I see no reason to pay extra for the tenderness of Waygu since it’s ground and with the toppings, it just tasted like any good ground beef. 

I checked the website for the Blount County located Sixteen Peaks Cattle Company where they raise Akaushi Cattle (Japanese breed) and their ribeye steak is $58/lb.  I believe I’ll pass as my jaw muscles need the exercise from more chewing.

After dinner we sat on the porch for a while and listened to the river as the sun went down behind the trees.

Photos can be slightly enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

9/13-9/15/26 event date