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Outdoor Dining - Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, Townsend, TN

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

4.9 (3850)
$50 and over
American
7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining
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 3,850 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

4.9
4.9 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

    American

  • East Tennessee

    Most Booked

  • Knoxville

    Best Overall

  • Knoxville

    Best Food

  • Knoxville

    Best Service

  • Knoxville

    Best Ambiance

  • Knoxville

    Best Value

  • Knoxville

    Innovative

  • Knoxville

    Healthy

  • Knoxville

    Great for fine wines

  • Knoxville

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Knoxville

    Romantic

  • Knoxville

    Good for special occasions

  • Knoxville

    American

  • Knoxville

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro offers an exceptional dining experience in a picturesque setting. Known for "great craft cocktails," "amazing food," and "the best service," this restaurant consistently delivers a memorable ambiance. Guests rave about the "beautiful location," "friendly staff," and "outstanding cuisine," making it a "must-visit" in Townsend, TN.
3,850 Reviews
  1. Donna

    East Tennessee7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My spouse, who is very picky about fish, said the rainbow trout was perfect and ate every bite. I love the pork chop and have enough left for today's lunch Hope to enjoy the Bear again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ira

    Las Vegas1 review

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food - absolutely worderful. Tasted great, good temperature, creatve menu. Service - Good until the food arrived. Server ignored us from that point on...had to flag down other staff for refills and more wine. Wine took so long to arrive that it threw off the timing and we diddn't order dessert. No cappuccino or coffee after dinner...only a full french press that we could take with us in a "to go cup."

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  3. Lynn

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was great as usual. We never miss dining here when we’re in town

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  4. Kelly

    Asheville / Western North Carolina1 review

    2.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    No one was at the inside entrance to direct us. We had to go find someone to get the hostess. Our table was not fully set (no forks); we had to ask for that from our server who did not notice it when he finally got to our table - we had already been seated ~15 minutes when he first came. The place was not at all full, and a few servers were just standing around. We had seen our server in the bar area talking to the bartender (who we found out later was training him). The server rarely checked back to see if we needed anything and was very slow in getting the few things we did ask for (forks, salt, and a cup of decaf coffee). Our server was, at least, courteous. Other servers were not so much (I.e. one female server waited until I got out of her way as she stood in the path as I was on the way to the buffet - I had to wait to the side to let her by though her hands/arms were not full). Might sound picky to some, but we’ve been coming for a few years now and have received such good service in the past. This was a special meal for my husband (Father’s Day), and it was just not a good experience. Having said all that though, the food was great, the ladies on the buffet were sweet and we loved the atmosphere (especially the live music!).

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  5. Leon

    East Tennessee1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This has become our "go-to" favorite place to eat and celebrate!

    Is this helpful?

  6. David VIP

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lived up to the hype. Creative menu, superb wine list.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Donald

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food, service, atmosphere was superb!!! Highly recommend!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for the fantastic recommendation, Donald! We’re so glad you enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere. Can’t wait to welcome you back soon!

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  8. Riley

    East Tennessee1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our experience at Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro was outstanding! My husband and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary last night and we felt so special. Our table was set up so sweet with a hand-written card from the staff. Our server Cissy was PHENOMENAL. She was so attentive and made sure that our experience was wonderful. She helped us navigate the drink and food menu to determine what was best for us. I would recommend this place over and over again to everyone!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you so much for sharing your special anniversary experience with us, Riley! We’re honored you chose Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro to celebrate such a meaningful occasion. We’ll be sure to pass your wonderful compliments to Cissy—she’ll be thrilled to hear how much you appreciated her care and guidance. We look forward to welcoming you both back for many more memorable moments!

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  9. Herb

    Detroit / Eastern Michigan15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a delightful evening outside at the Dancing Bear. The food was delicious as were the cocktails. I would highly recommend an evening at the Famcing Bear!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded on June 12, 2025
    Herb, thank you for spending your evening with us—we’re so glad you enjoyed dining al fresco! From the kitchen to the bar, our team puts a lot of heart into every detail, and it means the world to hear it made your night special. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Suzanne

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great craft cocktails, amazing food and the service is the best.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for the wonderful review, Suzanne! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the craft cocktails, food, and service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another great experience soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is rated 4.9 stars by 3850 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 41 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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