Local Goat - Pigeon Forge
This dining emporrium, located on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, debuted in 2016, when it was known as the Billy Goat Tavern, and it has been a hit with visitors and locals alike ever since. We typically visit for lunch on Saturdays and sit at the bar (but if the bar isn’t your thing, there’s a large dining room as well, and it’s all an attractive space). There are plenty of screens with sports to watch in the bar area, which is always a good thing. On the other hand, the atmosphere isn’t excessively rowdy, so it is easy to hear each other talk — and don’t be surprised if you find yourself in conversations with others around the bar.
As may be discerned from the name of this establishment, the accent here is on local, as in locally sourced food and ingredients. This makes for a menu that offers a lot of fresh options, which range from various appetizers and salads to first-rate burgers and steak — perhaps from one of the cows you passed by on the way here. A lot of care goes into ensuring that your order will constitute an absolutely delicious, substantial dining experience. And the options here tend to be substantial: If you and a dining companion have light appetites, for instance, a single burger may suffice as a meal for both of you. The shoestring fires that accompany the burgers are awesome as well.
The beer selection here is impressive and, not surprisingly, features several local drafts. The Goat swaps beers in and out regularly to keep it interesting. The bartenders/servers are awesome, and unlike some other local restaurants, the Local Goat has a full bar.
As a general rule, Pigeon Forge restaurants offer an amenity that many downtown Gatlinburg restaurants do not, and that is a parking lot. As an informal barometer of the popularity of the Local Goat, a quick glance at its sizable parking lot often reveals the presence of numerous vehicles even during the “low season.” But that isn’t surprising: between the food, the service, the drink options, and the comfortable environment, the Goat has earned its popularity.
(2167 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, (865) 366-3035)
By: Michael Kem-Thomas, our featured guest writer, friend and past buyer