Some Gatlinburg restaurants announce themselves loudly, but this one wins you over with aroma alone. Tucked inside Elks Plaza, Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria feels like the kind of place you almost miss, then immediately tell people about after dinner.
The garlic knots pull you in first, but the creekside setting, giant portions, and crowd-pleasing Italian menu are what make this spot stick. If you want the version of Gatlinburg that feels a little more local and a lot more satisfying, keep reading.
A tucked-away location that feels like a real find
Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza has that rare hidden-spot energy that makes a meal feel a little more exciting before you even sit down. It is right on the Parkway at 968 Parkway Ste #9, but the setup makes it feel pleasantly tucked back from the usual tourist rush.
You are still in the middle of Gatlinburg, yet somehow it feels like you found a side-door secret.
That sense of discovery shows up again and again in customer reactions. More than one visitor mentions finding it by accident, then leaving impressed that such a busy town still has a place that feels slightly off the main path.
In a destination packed with flashing signs and high-volume foot traffic, that quieter entrance actually works in its favor.
The Elks Plaza location also matters because regulars clearly distinguish it from other options nearby. Several reviews specifically say this is the location they prefer, and they are not vague about it.
They mention better dine-in flow, a more relaxed feel, and a stronger overall experience, which is exactly the kind of detail smart travelers want before picking a restaurant.
I like that this place does not rely on gimmicks to sell the hidden-gem angle. The draw is practical: central location, casual setup, and a dining room that feels approachable instead of overproduced.
It is easy to reach, easy to understand, and still gives you that satisfying I-found-the-good-one moment.
For visitors who want a dependable meal without another long, chaotic strip-restaurant experience, this is the kind of address worth saving. The restaurant opens daily at 11 AM and stays open into the evening, with later hours on Friday and Saturday until 10 PM.
That makes it useful whether you need a midday reset or a comfort-food dinner after a full day in town.
Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza earns attention because it feels discovered, not manufactured. In Gatlinburg, that difference matters.
When a restaurant can feel hidden while still pulling nearly four thousand reviews and a strong 4.4-star rating, it is doing something very right.
The garlic knots are the aroma that starts everything
If this restaurant has a signature move, it is the garlic knots. They are the item people bring up before the pizza, before the pasta, and sometimes before the patio view.
The smell alone sounds like half the experience, and once they hit the table, they immediately set the tone for a meal that is generous, comforting, and unapologetically crowd-pleasing.
Review after review points to the knots as a must-order. One guest said they were the best garlic knots they had ever eaten, while another recommended ordering a dozen and taking extras home for later.
That kind of enthusiasm does not happen around a forgettable starter, especially in a town where people are constantly comparing meals from one stop to the next.
What makes them stand out is not just flavor, but the way they seem to become part of the restaurant’s identity. People talk about them the same way they talk about a place’s view or hospitality.
They are not an afterthought on the menu. They are one of the reasons people choose to come here in the first place.
Now, to be fair, not every review reads like a love letter. One recent customer found them too firm and wished the marinara were included instead of added at an extra charge.
That kind of feedback is worth knowing, especially if you are particular about softer rolls or expect a sauce on the side by default.
Still, the larger pattern leans strongly in favor of the knots. Many diners connect them with the bigger appeal of this restaurant: hearty portions, bold seasoning, and food that feels satisfying rather than precious.
Even people who came for pasta or pizza often circle back and mention the garlic rolls as one of the highlights.
If you are deciding where to start, start there. In a place known for New York-style pizza and big Italian plates, it says a lot that the garlic knots manage to steal so much attention.
They are the item most likely to hook you fast, and they help explain why this tucked-away restaurant keeps earning repeat visits.
New York-style pizza is the headline order for good reason
Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria describes itself as a casual spot for New York-style pizzas, and that is clearly the centerpiece of the menu. Plenty of diners come here specifically for pizza, and many leave sounding genuinely impressed by the crust, the size, and the overall value.
In a tourist town where pizza can easily feel rushed or generic, that is a meaningful win.
The positive reviews get specific, which usually tells you the praise is real. One guest loved the crunchy bottom and chewy middle of the crust on a spicy Italian pizza, while another family from Canada said the plain cheese and deluxe were easily the best they found in town.
Those are not vague compliments. They are the kind of details people remember because the food actually landed.
Portion size also shows up repeatedly. Customers mention that medium pies are big, and several note that prices feel fair for the amount of food you get, especially by Gatlinburg standards.
When a restaurant combines location, comfort, and portions without pushing into ridiculous pricing, people notice fast.
That said, the pizza experience is not completely one-note. One recent reviewer thought the pepperoni pizza felt underwhelming for the price and did not love the overall flavor on day one.
Another found a Margherita too cheese-heavy for their taste, preferring something lighter and more traditional.
Those mixed notes actually help paint a more believable picture. This is not a delicate, minimalist pizza place chasing strict authenticity points.
It is a hearty, broad-appeal Italian restaurant serving pizza that many people find delicious, filling, and worthy of a repeat visit, even if some preferences vary depending on style and expectations.
The strongest signal might be how often people return for it. One reviewer visited twice in three days, and another party ate here twice in two days because everything was so satisfying.
When guests come back that quickly in a town full of choices, the pizza is doing exactly what it needs to do: delivering a dependable, craveable meal that earns another order.
Creekside seating gives this spot more charm than you expect
One of the smartest reasons to choose this restaurant is that it offers more than just a plate of pasta and a place to sit. The creekside patio gives Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza a genuine atmosphere boost, and customers talk about it like it is part of the meal.
In Gatlinburg, where scenery can either feel magical or overcrowded, this setup lands in a very pleasant middle ground.
Several reviews mention sitting outside by the river and loving the view. One guest called it a wonderful creekside dining experience, while another described a bright, fresh atmosphere after recent remodeling and said their group enjoyed pizza and pasta on the patio overlooking the water below.
That kind of feedback makes the restaurant feel less like a quick stop and more like a place where you actually want to linger.
The patio also seems to soften the energy of the Parkway. Instead of nonstop noise and packed sidewalks, you get a calmer backdrop with moving water and mountain-town air.
It is a simple advantage, but it matters, especially if you have spent the day walking, shopping, or navigating the heavier traffic around downtown Gatlinburg.
Another nice detail is that the setting works for different kinds of diners. Families, couples, and larger groups all seem comfortable here, and one review even appreciated being able to dine outside with dogs.
That flexibility adds to the restaurant’s appeal because it feels welcoming without being fussy.
Of course, atmosphere cannot totally carry a restaurant, and a few guests note that the view outshines the food for them. Even so, most comments pair the patio with positive notes about service, portions, or specific dishes, which suggests the setting is not a distraction from the meal.
It is a multiplier.
If you are choosing between indoor convenience and outdoor charm, this is one place where the patio is worth requesting. The creekside seating gives Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria a more memorable personality than many casual restaurants on the strip.
When the food is warm, the table is outside, and the water is right there below you, Gatlinburg feels especially easy to enjoy.
The pasta menu pulls serious praise from repeat customers
It would be easy for a pizza-first restaurant to treat pasta like backup material, but that does not seem to be the case here. At Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza, the pasta dishes earn their own loyal following, and some guests sound even more enthusiastic about them than the pies.
That matters, because it tells you the kitchen is reaching beyond one popular category.
Fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, ravioli, chicken Florentine, vegetarian primavera, and chicken parmigiana all show up in reviews, which gives a pretty wide snapshot of the menu. Several diners describe the pasta as fresh, delicious, and generously portioned.
One person even called it the best pasta they had ever had, which is strong praise no matter where you are traveling.
The portions seem especially notable. More than one reviewer says the plates are big enough to share, and one guest joked about leaving feeling dramatically overfull after a creekside meal.
For travelers watching value in a tourist-heavy town, that kind of serving size can make a restaurant feel instantly more worthwhile.
There are also some thoughtful menu wins for mixed groups. Families mention that picky eaters were accommodated well, and vegetarian diners still have visible options, even if one review noted an accidental meat lasagna swap that had to be corrected.
Another customer found the eggplant chewy on a return visit, so consistency may vary depending on timing and dish choice.
Even with those minor caution flags, the larger picture stays positive. Guests repeatedly describe the food as hot, well-seasoned, and comforting, and one reviewer compared the antipasto salad to something from an Italian grandma’s kitchen.
That is exactly the kind of compliment that makes a casual restaurant sound more personal and memorable.
If pizza grabs the attention first, the pasta is what proves this place has range. Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria is not just feeding the table with giant portions.
It is giving diners enough variety and enough flavor to justify repeat visits, second-day lunches, and the kind of reviews that sound like people are already planning their next order.
Service keeps showing up as one of the restaurant’s biggest strengths
A restaurant can have a good menu and still lose people on the details, but Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza gets frequent credit for service that feels genuinely helpful. Across dozens of comments, diners mention kind staff, attentive servers, and a team that handles busy moments without making the experience feel cold or chaotic.
That kind of consistency matters as much as the food, especially in a tourism-heavy town.
Some of the strongest praise comes from moments when things could have gone wrong. One customer shared that their pizza fell off the table because of the pizza holder, and the staff immediately offered to remake it and adjusted the bill.
Another family dining during a crowded holiday stretch said their drinks never got low before being refilled, and they specifically remembered how appreciated they felt by their server.
That welcoming tone seems to extend to different kinds of diners. Families with kids mention patient help and flexibility, large groups say the restaurant gets people in and out efficiently, and one reviewer appreciated a server who answered questions honestly and even checked with the kitchen when needed.
Those details make service sound attentive without being stiff.
The hostess and waitstaff also seem to handle wait times well. One reviewer on a busy Saturday night before Christmas was told forty-five minutes and got seated in about thirty, with text updates that made the process easier.
That level of organization can change the whole mood of a dinner, especially when Gatlinburg is packed.
To keep it balanced, not every service-related comment glows. One reviewer who received the wrong lasagna noted there was no apology, just an exchange.
Still, even that review praised the food enough to return twice in three days, which suggests the overall experience remained solid.
When you read through the reactions, a pattern stands out: people do not just leave talking about pizza or garlic rolls. They talk about how they were treated.
In a casual Italian restaurant, that can be the difference between a one-time stop and a vacation tradition, and this place seems to understand that better than most.
What to know before you go, from hours to expectations
If you are planning a visit to Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza, a little context goes a long way. The restaurant is open daily at 11 AM, closing at 9 PM most nights and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, which makes it easy to fit into a lunch break or a later dinner after sightseeing.
It is also priced in the moderate range, so it lands as a comfortable mid-trip meal rather than a budget slice stop or a splurge dinner.
The first practical tip is simple: make sure you are heading to the Elks Plaza location. Multiple reviewers emphasize that this specific spot is the one they prefer, and they are clear about wanting others not to confuse it with a different nearby setup.
If you want the fuller dine-in experience people keep praising, that distinction matters.
Another expectation to keep in mind is portion size. This is not a restaurant built around tiny plates or careful restraint.
Garlic rolls, calzones, pasta dishes, and pizzas are all described as large, filling, and often shareable, so ordering with a little strategy can save both money and table space.
It is also smart to go in knowing what this restaurant is and what it is not. Based on the reviews, Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria is not trying to be ultra-refined or rigidly old-world.
It is a casual, busy Gatlinburg Italian restaurant that leans into comfort, abundance, and a crowd-friendly menu.
That means your experience may depend partly on what you order and what you value most. If your ideal pizza is ultra-light and minimalist, you may want to calibrate expectations.
If you are after hearty portions, strong marinara, a family-friendly setup, and a good chance of leaving full, this place starts making more sense very quickly.
For many travelers, the biggest surprise is that a restaurant this central still feels slightly hidden and notably relaxed. Between the hours, the accessible location, and the repeated praise for staff and scenery, it checks more boxes than you might expect.
In Gatlinburg, that combination is exactly what turns a good meal into a memorable stop.