If you have ever been to Pigeon Forge, you have probably eaten at or heard of The Old Mill Restaurant. This is one of the most popular places to eat in town, especially if you want southern food! You may love to visit this restaurant every time you are in Pigeon Forge, but how much do you really know about it? Here are 5 things you didn’t know about The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge TN:
1. Almost everything is made from scratch every day.
One aspect of The Old Mill Restaurant that sets it apart from other places to eat is that almost all of the food served is made from scratch every day. The chefs wake up extra early to start making breakfast for the morning crowd, including gravy, biscuits, and much more. Their signature corn chowder that is served with every meal for lunch and dinner is also made from scratch. So are the delicious desserts you’ll want to try after your meal! Nothing tastes quite as good as food made from scratch!
2. Flour and corn used in the restaurant are ground by the mill.
Now you know almost all of the food served by The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge TN is made fresh. A fun fact you may not know is all of the cornmeal and flour used in the restaurant is ground by the working grist mill right next door. This mill is almost 200 years old, and its stones are used to ground wheat and corn into flour and meal. They are then sent to the restaurant to be used to make bread, biscuits, cornbread, corn chowder, and many more delicious foods you can try!
3. All the bread used in the restaurant is made in the bakery on site.
While quite a few items are made in the restaurant’s kitchen, the bread used for sandwiches and french toast is actually made in the bakery on site. The Old Mill has its own specialty bakery where they make all kinds of delicious breads, such as sourdough, cinnamon raisin pecan, and green olive. Once the bread is baked for the day, the bakery sends some over to the restaurant to use for meals. Not only can you try the bread at your meal, you can stop by the bakery and pick up some bread to take home!
4. The plates, bowls, and shakers are made by potters on site.
If you’ve eaten at The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge TN before, you probably noticed the gorgeous plates and bowls that food is served on. Every dish comes in a unique glaze, though you might spot one or two with the same coloring. A fun fact you may not know is these dishes are made across the street at Pigeon River Pottery! This is a pottery house where potters use clay from the East Tennessee area to make these beautiful dishes. They are used in the restaurants on the property, but you can also purchase some to take home! Don’t miss out on other cool pottery stores in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!
5. You can take home pantry staples and food mixes to make dishes at home.
We know you wish you could take home the delicious meals you’ve had at the restaurant. While you can’t do that, you can take home some pantry staples and food mixes that you’ve had in the restaurant! Right next door to The Old Mill Restaurant is the General Store, where you will find freshly ground flour and cornmeal from the mill you can take home. You can even bring home old fashioned pancake mix, biscuit mix, or the signature corn chowder soup mix to try to recreate your favorite dishes at home.
The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge TN probably holds many memories of your trips to the Smokies, and now you know a little more about the restaurant you love! We know you enjoy walking around The Old Mill after you eat, but are you trying to decide what else you want to do? Check out these Pigeon Forge attractions you’ll want to try when you stay with us!
