Curtis Stone - The R.
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We stopped into Ole Red for lunch while walking through Gatlinburg, and the moment I stepped inside, I felt like I’d been transported straight to Nashville. The vibe is undeniable, great layout, solid service, and live music that’s genuinely hard to pass up. On atmosphere alone, Ole Red delivers five stars easily.
The food, however, didn’t live up to the setting or the price tag. I ordered the Pulled Pork Bar-B-Que Sandwich with house-smoked pulled pork, vinegar slaw, pickles, Ole Red BBQ sauce, on a potato bun, plus a side of fully loaded tater tots with white queso, taco meat, and sour cream. The BBQ pork itself was a major disappointment. Honestly, I’ve had better pulled pork reheated from the grocery store. It lacked flavor, depth, and anything resembling “house-smoked” character. The fully loaded tater tots were solid and easily outshined the sandwich.
The surprise star of the table was the cornbread. We tried to sub it instead of fries and were told it had to be ordered separately... once it arrived, I understood why. It came out in a massive cast-iron skillet and was some of the best cornbread I’ve had in years. Warm, rich, and absolutely worth it.
All in all, Ole Red feels a bit like a tourist stop: great energy, live music, and a fun experience, paired with mid-range, predictable food. I probably wouldn’t go back specifically for a meal, but there’s nothing wrong here.. just don’t come expecting the food to match the hype.