Everything You Need to Know About Dining at Paula Deen’s Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

April 21, 2025

A highlight of any vacation to Pigeon Forge is some good old-fashioned Southern cooking, and one of the best places in town to enjoy a meal is at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen! This family-style restaurant opened its doors in April of 2015 and has quickly become one of the most popular dining establishments in the Smokies! While they used to not accept reservations, you’ll be happy to know that you can now make reservations online! Here is everything you need to know about dining at Paula Deen’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge:

Paula Deen’s Restaurant Pigeon Forge Location

Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is located at The Island in Pigeon Forge, a massive shopping and entertainment complex with so many fun things to do, including retail shops, rides and games, restaurants, and more! You can’t miss it–just look for the towering 200-foot-tall Great Smoky Mountain Wheel! along with many other fun things to do! You’ll find plenty of free parking adjacent to the restaurant, or you can ride the complimentary tram from the large parking lot at The Island.

What to Expect at the Paula Deen Restaurant

Paula Deen’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a 300-seat dining area upstairs where you can enjoy tiered seating with a view of The Island’s show fountain and the Ferris Wheel. After your meal, stop by the Paula Deen store on the first level, where you can browse thousands of retail items!

What does family-style mean?

Paula Deen’s in Pigeon Forge is known for serving classic family recipes, including mouthwatering Southern-style entrees, down-home side dishes, and delicious desserts in a family-style setting. This isn’t quite the same as a buffet; instead, platters of food are placed at the table for everyone to share. Each table can select 2 to 4 entrees and 4 sides, and just like being at home, you are free to help yourself to as much as you like!

Is dessert included?

Yes! Each person at the table will automatically receive their own dessert, and it’s already factored into the menu price.

How far in advance can I make reservations?

You can make reservations online up to 1 month in advance for lunch or dinner only for groups of 10 people or fewer.

Can I get a to-go box for leftovers?

While Paula Deen’s in Pigeon Forge is all-you-can-eat, to-go boxes are not available.

Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen Pigeon Forge Menu

Start your morning with a traditional Southern-style breakfast featuring hearty down-home dishes and breakfast meats! Breakfast is served from 8 AM to 10:15 AM. Popular breakfast menu items include Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Creamy Hashbrown Casserole, and Sweet Piggies in a Blanket.

Beginning at 11 AM, Paula Deen’s restaurant menu for lunch and dinner is virtually identical, with tasty dishes like Best Ever Southern Fried Chicken, Georgia Fried Catfish, and Beef Pot Roast. Of course, you can’t leave without trying some of their yummy desserts such as Banana Pudding, Seasonal Cobbler, and Paula Deen’s signature melt-in-your-mouth dessert, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake!

More Restaurants at The Island

Paula Deen’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge isn’t the only delicious place to eat at The Island! Enjoy a fun and unique meal served with a side of sarcasm at Dick’s Last Resort, or head to Margaritaville for good food and drinks. There’s also the best pizza in Pigeon Forge at Mellow Mushroom, and a genuine taste of the Smoky Mountains at Timberwood Grill. You can’t go wrong with any restaurant you choose at The Island!

Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge

Stay close to Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen at one of our Pigeon Forge cabin rentals! Our cabins are private, so you can enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains while still being just minutes away from the excitement along the Pigeon Forge Parkway! While staying with us, enjoy a variety of excellent amenities, including pools, game rooms, home theaters, hot tubs, mountain views, free attraction tickets, and so much more!

Check out all of our cabins in Pigeon Forge TN today to stay near Paula Deen’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge and all of the other exciting dining, shopping, and entertainment options at The Island! We look forward to seeing you soon!