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Outdoor Dining - Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, Townsend, TN

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

4.9
4.9
3706 Reviews
$50 and over
American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Romantic
At Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, we know that great food begins with fresh, quality sourced local ingredients. On our Modern Appalachian menu, Chef Jeff Carter and culinary team present seasonal and delicious dishes that are familiar and steeped in tradition yet enhanced with bold new dashes of flavor and component combinations that may surprise and delight you.

Dancing Bear provides a premium lodging experience. We bring the same commitment to excellence to our award-winning restaurant and full bar. Whether enjoying a romantic dinner for two or bringing the extended family together for a celebratory meal, we want your night out in Townsend to be a special experience. We offer a refined assortment of modern Appalachian cuisine — all served among elegant surroundings and calming wooded vistas.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Southern, Contemporary Southern
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–1:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking is available just outside the restaurant in most cases. During special events such as concerts or weddings, parking is just off Highway 321 at the entrance to Dancing Bear next to Apple Valley Country Store with buses running people up to the restaurant and lodge event center.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Jeff Carter

Experiences

  • New Year's Eve - Prix Fixe Dinner

    US$1.00 per party

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2025 only
    We will be hosting a multi-course, fixed price meal for $135++ without an A La Carte option. Dietaries will be accommodated to the best of our ability. *We are requiring all reservations to add a CC on file to reserve a table for this special experience, which is what the $1.00 charge is, to get the table reserved. All other sales will be handled at the Bistro, night of by your service staff member. Approximate price will be $135/pp++. Thank you! We look forward to serving you!*

What 3,706 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • East Tennessee

    Best Overall

  • East Tennessee

    Best Food

  • East Tennessee

    Best Service

  • East Tennessee

    Best Ambience

  • East Tennessee

    Best Value

  • East Tennessee

    Innovative

  • East Tennessee

    Healthy

  • East Tennessee

    Great for outdoor dining

  • East Tennessee

    Romantic

  • East Tennessee

    Great for scenic views

  • East Tennessee

    Good for special occasions

  • East Tennessee

    American

  • Knoxville

    Best Overall

  • Knoxville

    Best Food

  • Knoxville

    Best Service

  • Knoxville

    Best Ambience

  • Knoxville

    Best Value

  • Knoxville

    Great for brunch

  • Knoxville

    Innovative

  • Knoxville

    Healthy

  • Knoxville

    Great for fine wines

  • Knoxville

    Romantic

  • Knoxville

    Good for special occasions

  • Knoxville

    Lively

  • Knoxville

    American

  • Knoxville

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro offers a "quaint and romantic" dining experience, nestled in the picturesque Smoky Mountains. Guests rave about the "incredible flavor" of dishes like the filet and duck gumbo, while the "impeccable service" adds to the charm. The outdoor seating and fire pit create a "beautiful atmosphere" perfect for special occasions.

3,706 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner VIP

    E. Tennessee2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always amazing. My husband and I are repeat customers and the staff, the food, the ambiance, just never disappoints.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Denver5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very nice. Service was great, and the food was amazing. Would highly recommend, but be sure to make reservations
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad you enjoyed the food and service. Reservations are always a great idea, and we appreciate you sharing that tip. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Paul

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was impeccable! Dinner was amazing! We definitely will be back!!!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Paul! We're so glad you enjoyed the service and dinner. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another amazing experience!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Meredith

    E. Tennessee1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Just fantastic service, food, cocktails and atmosphere!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for your kind words, Meredith! We're thrilled you enjoyed the service, food, cocktails, and atmosphere. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to your server—our team loves making each visit special. We hope to see you again soon for another fantastic experience!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Danielle

    E. Tennessee1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Definitely lived up to the other great reviews! Lovely atmosphere, great service, great food! We split 3 meals between 4 of us, had Whiskey Lemonade (can't remember actual name, but it was great) So glad we could try it while staying at the Dancing Bear Lodge! Butterscotch Creme Brulee was a perfect end to a very nice meal.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your fantastic review, Danielle! We're so happy to hear that we lived up to the great reviews and that you enjoyed the atmosphere, service, and food. The Whiskey Lemonade sounds like it was a hit — we’ll be sure to keep that on the menu! We're glad you had a great time while staying at the Dancing Bear Lodge, and we're thrilled you finished with the Butterscotch Creme Brulee. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  6. BirthdayGirl970

    Denver4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a lovely local restaurant with delicious food and attentive, friendly service.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed the food and had a positive experience with our team. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back soon!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Chad

    Detroit2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, great drinks, perfect service and a beautiful setting.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your wonderful review, Chad! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food, drinks, service, and setting. We look forward to welcoming you back for another perfect experience soon!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Eric

    Western NC6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely brunch with great food and a lovely staff!!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your kind review, Eric! We're so glad you enjoyed your brunch and had a great experience with our staff. We can't wait to welcome you back for another lovely meal soon!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Sandra

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We started with the Appalachian charcuterie board and ordered the gnocchi with chichen and the pasta with msuhrooms for dinner. Every morsel of food was flavorful and perfect. We always enjoy the great food and impeccable service.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your wonderful review, Sandra! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the Appalachian charcuterie board and your entrees — it sounds like a fantastic meal. We're also thrilled to hear that Aileen provided you with great recommendations and impeccable service. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her. We look forward to welcoming you back for more delicious meals soon!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Alice VIP

    E. Tennessee27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My favorite restaurant in my area! Always a great experience!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for the wonderful compliment, Alice! We're so grateful to be your favorite spot and are thrilled you always have a great experience with us. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is rated 4.9 stars by 3706 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Southern, Contemporary Southern
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–1:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking is available just outside the restaurant in most cases. During special events such as concerts or weddings, parking is just off Highway 321 at the entrance to Dancing Bear next to Apple Valley Country Store with buses running people up to the restaurant and lodge event center.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Jeff Carter
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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