Paula Deen’s Kitchen in Harrah’s Cherokee Casino closed in 2013. Information below is maintained for historical purposes.
Cherokee stepped up its reputation in the eyes of foodies in 2011 by adding a restaurant named after Food Network Star: Paula Deen. Since that time, Paula Deen’s Kitchen in Harrah’s Cherokee Casino has become THE place to eat when you visit Cherokee, NC. Her signature take on traditional southern food styles is causing ripples in the culinary minds of tourists and locals alike.
The food is the main reason that you visit a restaurant, so we will start with the menu. Deen chose dishes that fit every taste when she picked the menu for this restaurant. From lowland favorites like Shrimp and Grits to seafood feasts from the boiler, the variety will fit every taste. The portion sizes are not small, so make sure that you bring an appetite. For instance, this restaurant produces one of the largest and best tasting chicken pot pies that you will ever have. The pot pie is topped off by a huge puff pastry that, when soaked in the juice from the chicken pot pie, is amazing. The boiler pots of seafood are also huge and prepared to perfection.
The food is paired amazingly with décor and the atmosphere. The way the restaurant has been designed, it is quite and you feel as if you are the only people seated in the huge dining room. And if the décor and the atmosphere is amazing, you will be floored by the service. Polite, pleasant and professional are the catchwords for the day. Firstly, they allow you to make reservations. As one of the hot spots in the Smokies, the tables fill up fast. Secondly, they are nice. The wait staff treats you like you are the only person in the restaurant and your experience is their only concern.
Of course, the fact that it is located in the home of gaming in the Smokies doesn’t hurt either. Harrah’s is an ever expanding project in Cherokee, NC. They have added lots of shopping, lots of dining experiences and of course with the addition of Paula Deen’s Kitchen they have added an upscale dining establishment that is still rising like a shooting star in the culinary scene of Western North Carolina. Located in the casino itself, you are mere feet from a great meal when you are playing cards or trying your hand at one of the many video gaming machines.
Check out Paula Deen’s Kitchen at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. If you are looking for a memorable meal that will make you wish you had more room in your belly and more time in your schedule, this is the only place you need to eat while you are in the Smokies. Go in and try Paula Deen’s take on southern tradition.
In fact, just visiting the restaurant is a step through time. It is housed in an old farmhouse, hence the name. When you walk to your table you trod decades old boaords in the floor that have seen thousands of feet throughout the year. This used to a be a farmhouse that was a stop on the way to 
Along with their shooters, they have tons of chocolate creations. From truffles ti brio to bark to fudge, their are more varieties of chocolate in this shop then you will find in more stores twice its size. You can find those items from the past that were favorites of yours as a child to new creations that are fresh from their research and development department. For instance, they have an Aztec “Spicy” Turtle. This creation is just the right blend of pecans, caramel and dark chocolate with just a bit of spice to make it interesting. Or maybe you are in the mood for something a little strange, like – Dark Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers. These are honest to goodness Ritz crackers that have had a layer of peanut butter spread on them and then dipped in wonderful dark chocolate. The slight bitter of the dark chocolate with the sweet of the peanut butter and the savory cracker is a treat that you will not believe.
Recently, on an anniversary date with my wife, we decided to try something new: the restaurant at the Lodge at Buckberry Creek. This establishment had been recommended to us by friends and they told us that it was the best dining experience in the Smokies. I have lived here since 1996 and I thought I had heard about all of the supposed ‘best dining’ experiences an I had not heard of this one before. Little did I know that we were in for the best meal we had ever had as a couple.
The deck off the back of the restaurant looks out over the park to Gatlinburg. You can just barely see Gatlinburg from the deck and there are none of the garish lights or noise drifting in from town. This was in October so it was a bit chilly and the fall colors were perfect. The waitress, a very professional and courteous young lady got a fire going in the outside fireplace and in moments we were toasty warm. The staff at the restaurant is amazing. Every single person that we dealt with was wonder, well-informed with the menu and ready to help in any way that they can. She gave us menus, explained the specials and took our orders. Throughout the meal she was the perfect waitress: always there when we needed her but unobtrusive. Back to the menu and the food
Here is the premise behind the show. Once you walk in the door you will realize that you are in an indoor riding arena. The horseshoe shaped seating area covers three sides of the dirt covered ‘ stage.’ The crickets chirping and the man-made stars in the sky lend to the atmosphere. Once the action kicks off though you don’t have time to think about the scenery anymore, this high energy show will keep you on the edge of your seat. Horses, trick riding, games, competitions and plenty of music makes the time fly by. And the competition is the biggest part of the night. The idea is that the two sides of the audience are competing. Throughout most of the year, it is a competition between the North and South, during the winter months it is still the north and south but this time it is the North and South Poles. And not only is the cast involved in this competition but the members of the audience get brought down into the arena itself.
But let’s not forget the food. The food is just as big a highlight as the show. And because it is Dixe Stampede, the food is as big as the show. You get a whole rotisserie chicken, pork tenderloin, corn-on-the-cob, potato wedges, creamy vegetable soup, a biscuit and dessert. I know this sounds like a lot of food, and it is, but if you don’t finish everything they will bring you a doggy bag so that you can take the leftovers back to your hotel or cabin. The food is amazing and the fact that they can serve more than a thousand people while putting on a multi-million dollar show means that you get to watch two shows in one: the show in the arena and the show that the servers put on in the audience.
And speaking of gaming, Harrah’s Cherokee has games to fit every taste. State of the art video slot machines line all of the walls and most of the floor pace but their are also computerized versions of many of the game sof chance that you see in Las Vegas. As of 2012, after attaining approval from the North Carolina legislature, Harrah’s Cherokee now has traditional hand dealt Blackjack, Roulette and Craps tables. This live gaming, with live dealers, has taken Harrah’s Cherokee to the next level and brought in gamers that are looking for a more Vegas-style experience. Whether you are into video gaming or live gaming, Harrah’s Cherokee has what you are looking for and has thousands of vsiitors each year.
And don’t forget to stop back by for lunch or supper. Take a look at the appetizers first, the fried green tomatoes at the Riverstone Family Restaurant take a back seat to no one. Breaded, thick cut tomatoes are a great start to any meal. Let Riverstone Family Restaurant introduce you to fried green tomatoes. The sandwiches are some of the best in the area as well. The Riverstone Burger is simply gigantic and will leave anyone full. The menu even has a new section for vegetarian selections, including a garden burger. Still, don’t look past the entrees. Actually, aim right for it if you’re hungry. The menu consists of Southern staples like steaks, grilled chicken, country fried steak, and the like. A few of their specialties include country ham, rainbow trout, beef liver and onions, and frog legs. Sample a few of their Southern specialties; it will do your taste buds a world of good.
The Cheese Cupboard opened its doors in 1969 downtown. For the small scale of the store, the variety of cheeses, imported chocolates and imported beers on hand is surprising. It’s hard to find any empty shelf space in here. From Brie to Blue, and cheddar to Camembert, the Cheese Cupboard is a turophile’s (cheese lover) dream come true in 
The Hofbrauhaus dining area is also a large part of the appeal. Cozy and quaint, with seating for no more than 12 or 16, this is one of those places where if you have a big enough group; you just might be dining alone, something hard to find in Gatlinburg. The interior looks like a small, turn-of-the-century German gastro pub. Dark wood and furnishings highlight the dining area. A little reminder, your waiter will also be cooking for you and bringing your drinks. They will also be the person working the register downstairs in the cheese shop. Patience is a virtue; good things come to those who wait.