This is part three of a four part series, click below to read parts 1, 2, and 4!

• Part 1: Rich History
• Part 2: Must-see Locations
• Part 4: Lodging and Camping

The Misty Taste of Moonshine

So we’ve hit some Blue-Ridge-Mountain history and must-see sights, but what about the eats? After all, what’s an RVing road-trip (or any mode of road-tripping for that matter!) without some delicious places to wine and dine? Well, we’ve got you covered. In this section, we’ll dunk our heads deep down into some of the best eatery options you have in the Blue Ridge area!

Must Visit Restaurants

As you can imagine, there is an almost infinite number of awesome restaurants along the Blue Ridge range, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the best.

Mabry Mill Restaurant | Meadows of Dan, VA

Let’s imagine a hypothetical situation: you’re cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you hear a sound—a rumble, deep and throaty. You brush it off. Just in your mind. Passing by mile post 176.1, you see what looks like an old gray home, water billowing into a pond. You hear the sound again—a dragon’s roar now—and realize it’s your own stomach! Well, you’re in luck; that old gray home is actually one of the best restaurants on the route! The old gray home that houses Mabry Mill Restaurant is actually a century-old gristmill, surrounded by a tranquil pond bordered by luscious greenery. Built by Ed and Lizzy Mabry in 1908, Mabry Mill has been a staple sight and destination in the area for over a century. Not only is the outside postcard-beautiful, but inside, Mabry Mill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everything from buckwheat pancakes to apple butter and ham can be found at this little corner of heaven—ready and hot all day long. Mabry Mill also offers bluegrass music and handmade gifts from the gift shop. It’s honestly the perfect place to stop for a breather on your long drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway!

The Park Grill | Gatlinburg, TN

Part classy and cultured, part rustic and rural: if that description strikes you as just the right balance, then The Park Grill might be perfect for you! Open for lunch and dinner daily, The Park Grill is a place where you can sit back and relax on your road-tripping adventure. It offers an inviting venue, easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, and an awesome menu selection, including (my personal favorite) award-winning ribs! If you wish to strike that balance between new and old, rustic and contemporary, wild and mild, this is the ideal destination for you!

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Grill | Sevierville, TN

Sevierville may be a smaller town (under 15,000 inhabitants), but with restaurants like Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Applewood Farmhouse Grill, it’s veritably bursting with favors! If you’re in the market for a road-trip breakfast local, look no farther than Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. While the restaurant does serve lunch and dinner, the breakfast is all the rage, and you won’t want to miss it! If you’re more of the bar-and-grill type of person, you can also check out the Applewood Farmhouse Grill, located near the Applewood Restaurant. All and all, the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Applewood Farmhouse Grill are the perfect rest stop on your Blue Ridge road-trip!  

Captain Jim's Seafood Buffet | Pigeon Forge Area, TN

But let’s say you want a more exotic experience, one not often found in an area like the Blue Ridge Mountains? Well, Captain Jim’s Seafood Buffet has you covered! Offering a mouth-watering menu of almost every imaginable seafood, Captain Jim will provide you the retro-contemporary experience you crave while also letting you eat some awesome food. This is the place for those of you who want to live a little more on the edge!

12 Bones Smokehouse | Asheville, NC

Asheville is the kind of place where the restaurant owners know the farmers. What does that mean for you? Well, better food of course! And when it comes to barbeque, there’s no better place in North Carolina than 12 Bones Smokehouse. Nationally known as a restaurant of the presidents because of President Obama’s several drop-ins at the local, 12 Bones offers that laid-back, fun-loving atmosphere you’ve been searching for! Pulled pork, beef brisket, and baby back ribs are just a few of the tastiest highlights found at 12 Bones, and it’s all served with finger-licking sauces. If you’re up for some barbeque, 12 Bones smokehouse is definitely your destination!

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Bringing the Blue Ridge Mountains Home

After everything you’ve experienced—all the memories and fun on your Blue Ridge road-trip—you’re definitely going to want to bring something back with you! What better way to remember than with some certified Blue Ridge recipes? Below we’ve outlined some of the best recipes from the Blue Ridge area that will keep you tasting and remembering the Blue Ridge Mountains no matter where you are.

Fried Potatoes & Onions

It might be simple, but fried potatoes and onions is one of the best-tasting, most memorable Blue Ridge recipes out there!

Ingredients:

• Potatoes and onions
• Bacon grease
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

You may choose to peal or leave the skins on your potatoes; also, you can choose to cut up or grate them. Put bacon grease into a skillet and heat. Once the grease is hot, add the chopped onions. After a bit, add potatoes and reduce to medium heat. Add salt and pepper, and cook until the potatoes are done. Enjoy!

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Country-Cooked Biscuits

There’s nothing better than some old-fashioned, country-cooked biscuits; it’s one of the best Blue Ridge recipes out there!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup thick sour milk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons lard

Instructions:

Mix together the baking soda, flour, and salt, then work in the lard. Add milk slowly and mix it all up until it turns into a soft dough. Put on a lightly floured board and knead until the dough is smooth. Roll and cut. Put in a pan and bake in an oven heated to 450 degrees. Bake until lightly browned and serve hot!

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Lima Bean Sausage Skillet

Let’s say you want something a little zestier. Lima Bean Sausage Skillet might be the perfect option!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 2 tablespoons fat
• 1 cup canned tomatoes
• 2 cups cooked or canned lima beans
• 1/2-pound sausage

Instructions:

Cook onions and celery in the fat, then add the sausage and cook until brown. Add the other ingredients. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve and savor!

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Graham Cracker Cake

So you want to remember the sweetness of your Blue-Ridge-Mountains trip? This Graham Cracker Cake recipe will help you do it!

Ingredients:

• 1/2-pound butter
• 1 pound box Graham Crackers, crushed
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup sweet milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup grated coconut

Instructions:

Mix the cream butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time. After this, add baking powder to the crumbs. Add milk and coconut. Mix it all up well. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Spread crushed pineapple between the layers. Sit back and enjoy the sweetness!

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Wrapping-Up All the Tastiness

Whether you’re a rustic eater, a retro restaurant kind of person, or a home-recipe enthusiast, there’s plenty of options for you in the Blue Ridge Mountains area. On your next road-trip to America’s most romanticized mountains and one of the tastiest corners of the country, be sure to check out some of the options given above. We wish you the best of luck on your Blue Ridge taste-testing adventures!