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Outdoor Dining - Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, Townsend, TN

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

5 (3782)
$50 and over
American
7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 45 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • 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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • 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
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Jeff Carter
  • Private party facilities
    Our Lodge Event Center offers beautiful, indoor and al fresco spaces, while our farm-to-table restaurant, Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, provides fresh, local and artistic cuisine. Our award winning Chef Jeff Carter prepares elevated Appalachian fare, guaranteed to please every palate.
  • Private party contact
    Anna Bartlett: (865) 448-6000 ext. 3
  • Neighborhood
    Knoxville
  • Cross street
    Apple Valley Way
  • 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.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Experiences

  • New Year's Eve - Prix Fixe Dinner

    $1.00 per party

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 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!*

Private dining

What 3,782 people are saying

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

5.0
5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • East Tennessee

    Best Overall

  • East Tennessee

    Best Food

  • East Tennessee

    Best Service

  • East Tennessee

    Best Ambiance

  • East Tennessee

    Best Value

  • East Tennessee

    Innovative

  • East Tennessee

    Great for outdoor dining

  • East Tennessee

    Romantic

  • East Tennessee

    Great for scenic views

  • East Tennessee

    Good for special occasions

  • East Tennessee

    American

  • East Tennessee

    Most Booked

  • Knoxville

    Best Overall

  • Knoxville

    Best Food

  • Knoxville

    Best Service

  • Knoxville

    Best Ambiance

  • 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 an exceptional dining experience with "wonderful service" and "impeccable food preparation." Guests consistently praise the "beautiful setting" and "warm, welcoming staff." The inventive menu features standout dishes like the "Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop" and "Chicken and Ricotta Gnocchi." A true gem in East Tennessee!

3,783 Reviews
  1. Charles VIP

    E. Tennessee73 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of our two favorite restaurants between Charleston and Cincinnati.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Wade

    Indiana1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant exceeded all expectations. Top notch food and service. Great location tucked away in the woods with a classy but rustic feel. One of the best Filets I’ve ever had. Better than anything I’ve ever ordered at Ruth’s or Capital Grill. Tip of the hat to this Chef.

    Is this helpful?

  3. John

    Louisville1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience...outstanding food and ambience !!!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Norine VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Justin was attentive and exceptional. Very knowledgeable about the food. The entire experience was first class. See you next trip.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Elliot

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The burger that I got was cooked to perfection. My girlfriend got the beef tips and they were phenomenal! The fresh flavors, great atmosphere and wonderful wait staff made this restaurant a 10/10 in my book. I highly recommend this establishment

    Is this helpful?

  6. Peggy

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The server Maggie was outstanding . We will be back and asking for her again .

    Is this helpful?

  7. Norine VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Justin provided exceptional service. He was very attentive to every detail. Top notch service and impeccable food preparation . Michelle provided expert guidance on a wine to suit our taste. Everyone was warm and welcoming. Keep up the great service!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for your kind words, Norine! We’re thrilled to hear that Justin and Michelle provided exceptional service and helped make your dining experience memorable. It’s wonderful to know that the attention to detail, food, and wine selection all made such a positive impact. We’ll be sure to pass along your thanks to both Justin and Michelle. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another fantastic visit!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Michele

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have eaten here many times. Always greeted warmly from the hostess. The food always changes and is excellent. It may be pricy, but you thoroughly enjoy your meal. We highly recommend that you give Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro a try!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review, Michele! We’re so glad to hear you’ve enjoyed every visit and always feel warmly welcomed. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are thrilled that you continue to enjoy the changing menu and quality of the food. We look forward to your next visit!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Tom

    E. Tennessee9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The menu is inventive in detail, and the food is reliably excellent. All the staff are focused on being friendly and helpful. Servers have a well practiced schtick to perform about the menu, restaurant philosophy (true farm to table) that is sweet but tiresome if you’re hungry. A special go-to spot in a beautiful setting near the park boundary! I can’t wait to return.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for your kind review, Tom! We’re so glad to hear you enjoy the inventive menu and consistently excellent food. It’s also wonderful to know that our staff’s friendly and helpful service left a positive impression. We truly appreciate your feedback about the menu presentation, and we’ll be mindful of keeping things quick and to the point for those who are ready to eat! We look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful setting soon!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Paula VIP

    Hawaii2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really great food. Attentive service. Large group near us quite noisy. They fry many things on the menu with equipment used for oysters which limited my choices significantly as I am allergic to oysters.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for sharing your feedback, Paula! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food and found the service attentive. We also appreciate your comments about the noise and allergy concern. We understand how important it is to accommodate allergies, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the shared equipment. Please don’t hesitate to reach out ahead of your next visit so we can ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience for you. We hope to welcome you back soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is rated 5 stars by 3782 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. East Tennessee
  4. Knoxville
  5. Knoxville

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 45 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Apple Valley Way
  • Neighborhood
    Knoxville
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–1:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Southern, Contemporary Southern
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • 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
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    Our Lodge Event Center offers beautiful, indoor and al fresco spaces, while our farm-to-table restaurant, Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, provides fresh, local and artistic cuisine. Our award winning Chef Jeff Carter prepares elevated Appalachian fare, guaranteed to please every palate.
  • Private party contact
    Anna Bartlett: (865) 448-6000 ext. 3
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