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Outdoor Dining - Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, Townsend, TN

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

4.9
4.9
3566 Reviews
$50 and over
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • 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.

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Regional American (Southern), Regional American (Contemporary Southern)
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–1:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (865) 336-2138
  • 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
  • Neighbourhood
    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 - 5 Course Meal

    US$1.00 per party

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Join us at the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro to enjoy a pre-fix, coursed menu that you won't want to miss. Executive Chef Carter and Culinary Team will be preparing a Special handcrafted menu to bring you joy, while ringing in the New Year with your friends and family. There will be an optional tableside Wine Pairing available that will be sure to pair with our fixed menu. We can't wait to celebrate New Year’s Eve with you! *We are requiring all parties 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 member. Approximate price will be $115/pp++. Thank you! We look forward to serving you!*

What 3,566 people are saying

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
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • East Tennessee

    Best Overall

  • East Tennessee

    Best Food

  • East Tennessee

    Best Ambience

  • East Tennessee

    Great for outdoor dining

  • East Tennessee

    Romantic

  • East Tennessee

    Great for scenic views

  • East Tennessee

    American

  • Knoxville

    Best Overall

  • Knoxville

    Best Food

  • Knoxville

    Best Service

  • Knoxville

    Best Ambience

  • 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

    Lively

  • Knoxville

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro offers a "fantastic dining experience" with its farm-to-table menu featuring fresh, seasonal flavors. Guests rave about the "excellent service," "beautiful setting," and "amazing food." The cozy, rustic ambiance combined with attentive staff makes it a perfect spot for special occasions. Highly recommended!

3,566 Reviews
  1. Regina

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We always enjoy The Dancing Bear. Food was absolutely wonderful!! Brad has waited on us many times and he is a great waiter!! Very attentive .
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for your kind words, Regina! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal at Dancing Bear and that Brad provided excellent service. He truly is a great asset to our team, and we’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to him. We look forward to welcoming you back for another wonderful experience soon!

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  2. Therese

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every year when we come to Tn on vacation we look forward dinner at Dancing Bear . Food was outstanding and service was great. Be sure to get a speciality cocktail and go to the fire pit after your meal - can not wait to come again
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Therese, thank you so much for making us part of your annual Tennessee vacation! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the food, service, and specialty cocktails. The fire pit is the perfect way to cap off the evening, and we’re excited to welcome you back again next year! Until then, safe travels and we can’t wait to see you again soon.

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  3. Penny

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate Sunday brunch for the first time. It was outstanding! The food was delicious and seasoned well from the breakfast items to lunch items. We will be back!!

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  4. Jeremy

    Alabama

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place for a nice dinner. Great food and ambiance!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for the wonderful review, Jeremy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the food and ambiance. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great dinner soon!

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  5. Mattie

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love the Dancing Bear Bistro in Townsend Tn 💗The Dancing Bear makes you feel cozy and comfortable from the time you walk in till you leave. The Appalachian farm to table food and cocktails are always so wonderfully prepared and taste magnificent. The staff are warm and friendly and very knowledgeable about the food and the cocktails. Then there is the cozy cottage feel with fireplace inside and the fire pit out side for guess to enjoy a beautiful cocktails after dinner, along with s’mores from the s’mores bar. Driving into the Dancing Bear lodge and Bistro also makes you feel as if you left the hustle and bustle of community and you are on a mountain in the woods.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for your kind words, Mattie! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful anniversary dinner with us. It means so much to us that you felt cozy and comfortable from start to finish, and that you enjoyed our farm-to-table dishes and cocktails. We’re so lucky to have such a warm and knowledgeable team, and we’ll be sure to pass along your special mention of Aileen—she truly is a gem! It’s wonderful to know that the ambiance, both inside and out, helped create such a memorable experience for you. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another perfect evening in the future!

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  6. Sarah

    E. Tennessee

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We are always blown away by this place! Very very consistent.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for your continued support and kind words, Sarah! We’re thrilled to hear that we consistently exceed your expectations. It’s always a pleasure to welcome you back, and we look forward to keeping that high standard going for your next visit!

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  7. Julia

    E. Tennessee

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Unanimously the best meal my husband and I had of 2024. We were seated on the patio on a 40 degree night, and it was perfectly comfortable. The pork belly “small plate” knocked our socks off, and the veggie pasta was outstanding. Our only regret was not leaving room for dessert, because that doughnut bread pudding looked BOMB. Didn’t particularly care for our server. He was easily distracted and kept repeating himself. A dinner for 2 turned into a 2 hour affair, but the biggest hangups were coming back to take our order and bringing us our bill. Could have been an off night for him, we’ve all been there, and it didn’t alter our experience to keep us from ever coming back.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Julia! We’re so glad to hear you and your husband enjoyed your meal, especially the pork belly and veggie pasta—it’s an honor to be named your best meal of 2024 so far! Dining on the patio on a crisp night sounds like a perfect way to enjoy the evening, and we’re thrilled you found it comfortable. We appreciate your feedback about the delays you experienced. It’s always our goal to provide attentive and seamless service, and we’ll use your input to ensure improvements are made. We hope next time you’ll save room for dessert! We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable dinner.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jeanne

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant and quiet, easy to talk to each other Food was extremely good and waitstaff was well informed about each dish and shared their favorites. The bar, while small, was extremely well stocked and quite helpful and made a wonderful old fashioned! Look forward to a return visit!
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you so much for your kind words, Jeanne! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the ambiance, food, and service at Dancing Bear. Our team takes great pride in sharing their knowledge of the dishes and offering recommendations, so it's wonderful to know that made your experience even better. We're also glad you enjoyed the Man in Black—our bar team loves crafting the perfect cocktail! We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable visit soon.

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  9. Katelyn

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food, drinks and service were all on point. There’s also a fire pit where you can make your own s’mores after dinner.
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for the great review, Katelyn! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the food, drinks, and service during your visit. And yes, the fire pit and DIY s’mores are a perfect way to end a meal! We’re glad you had a wonderful experience and look forward to welcoming you back soon.

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  10. Tammy

    E. Tennessee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing and the service excellent. We will definitely be back
    Dancing Bear Appalachian BistroResponded on November 18, 2024
    Thank you for your kind words, Tammy! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed both the food and service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another fantastic experience!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is rated 4.9 stars by 3566 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 27 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
  • Neighbourhood
    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, Regional American (Southern), Regional American (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
    (865) 336-2138
  • 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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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