Looking for a great place to grab a bite just outside the National Park, but close enough to still feel like you’re amongst the trees, try the Riverstone Family Restaurant in Townsend. It still has that country feel as if you’ve stumbled across some off the beaten path eatery in a wooded clearing.
It’s also one of the few Townsend restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meaning there’s always something for everyone on the menu. Whether it’s eggs sunny side up you’re craving, or just a sandwich to get you back on the trail, Riverstone is a great place to eat on the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”.
Townsend makes its hay at maintaining its small town charm, but sometimes your culinary options can be pretty limited. That’s one reason why there is only one fast food restaurant in Townsend. There are really only a handful of places to eat. Finding a breakfast locale can be especially hard on the first time visitor to Townsend and the Cades Cove portion of the National Park. Riverstone Family Restaurant’s breakfast choices are quite sumptuous. Whatever your heart desires, whether it is bacon to omelets to a la carte, there’s something for even the pickiest of breakfast connoisseurs on the menu. A personal favorite is the delicious country ham breakfast – eggs, grits and hashbrowns are gathered up snuggly with a thick cut of country ham perfectly aged. For those who grew up outside the South, country ham is salt-cured ham traditionally served on most Southern breakfast tables.
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 Riverstone Family Restaurant’s down-home atmosphere is one of the other reasons people keep coming back, even out-of-towners on numerous occasions. The restaurant’s oil tablecloths and the numerous knick-knacks adorning the wall will take you back to your grandmother’s kitchen. Check out all the Townsend history on the walls of the dining room, you’re sure find a few memories if you’re from around here. During the colder months, Riverstone’s fireplace crackles in one corner of the restaurant as everyone gets that warm cozy feeling while enjoying their meal – a touch home that you won’t find anywhere else.
Combine the food with the atmosphere and it’s a memory you’ll want to revisit time and again, literally. Come for breakfast and dinner, or breakfast and lunch, or all three at Riverstone Family Restaurant, it’s sure to be one of your favorite Townsend restaurants. We dare you to find a better breakfast anywhere near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Been hiking all day and need a meal that is going to stick to your ribs? Well, I think you’ve found your destination.