Smokin' Ed's Bbq

First, let me say, Smokin' Ed's BBQ is NOT located on Conner Heights Road in Pigeon Forge. This highly rated and apparently much loved BBQ is now gone. Another Smokin' Ed's is open in Sevierville, which I had the unfortunate opportunity of trying today. It is obvious after reading the wonderful reviews from the now defunct Pigeon Forge location that the Sevierville restaurant is the same in name only! WARNING: DO NOT GO TO THE SEVIERVILLE, TN SMOKIN' ED'S BASED ON REVIEWS PRIOR TO SPRING OF 2011!!! All the old, and really good, reviews are for that of the old Pigeon Forge location. I can tell you the Smokin' Ed's in Sevierville, which just opened a couple of months ago, does NOT merit any of their accolades! The food our large group had was nearly inedible! First of all, the meat we had was room temperature, not hot. My brother's ribs were horrible. My sister-in-law had the half chicken, it was so dark and dry that she couldn't eat it. The sauce was disgusting and watered down. The only side that was decent were the baked beans. I would not refer anybody here. Take my advice, and go a few miles down the road to the newly reopened Clint's BBQ. more

Used to LOVE this place, before it got new owners and new managers and new location. Guess they are cooking way more food and have new cooks, but it is NOT the same. Also they are not even in Pigeon Forge, but in Sevierville. The Smokin' Ed's on Conner Heights in closed down. I really wanted the new place to be good because the old Smokin' Ed's in Pigeon Forge was the ONLY place to get BBQ in this area, but it is not the same. My chicken was overcooked and gritty on my first visit. I thought maybe it was an off day, so I tried again, this time ribs. They were HORRIBLE. My boyfriend really didn't believe me when I told him about the difference in this store and the old one in Pigeon Forge so I tried it a third time with him. EVERYTHING was BAD! Our meats were cold. We thought we would play it safe with pulled chicken and pork. The chicken was dry. The fries were disgusting. My slaw was more like soup. And the Texas toast they serve now instead of a bun is awful. The butter they use is rancid tasting. These new owners really need to take a step back and look at how things were being done before at the old place if they want to stay in business. The one in Pigeon Forge may have been smaller and not as decorated, but the food was perfect. Now that we've given them so many chances we will not be back. more

Let me start by saying the food was out of this world. I can honestly say that I had the best BBQ I've ever had anywhere and it is just like the BBQ they had in Pigeon Forge before this one opened. What is not the same is the service. The service was pitiful. None of the servers looked to be over the age of 19 or 20 and none looked like they had a clue of what to do. This was during lunch and it was a little busy but not all the tables were full. The owners who I knew from the Pigeon Forge BBQ were seating people and cleaning tables and talking to customers about there complaints. The table next to ours had the same problems we did. I did talk to one of them to and said what I am saying here. It is just not the same as when we started coming to eat Smokin' Ed's over the summer to the small BBQ in Pigeon Forge. There the service was great and they were so nice and helpful. Somehow if they could get some more experience in there who has been in service and is trained like at the other place this would be the best place in town. I love the food so I want to see them make it at this spot. more

Food was good. Just servers were really slow! I'll go back on an off day. more

The food was great and the portions were huge! Big screen TVs and BBQ...love it! P.S. The new light at that intersection makes it a lot easier to get in and out of too =) more

No way, even if you paid me, would I eat here. I highly do NOT recommend. more