Red Oak Bistro

Red Oak Bistro - A Refined, Intimate European-Style Cafe
Local Expert's Rating:
5.0 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Red Oak Bistro offers a seasonal menu featuring locally-sourced ingredients, a well-curated drink menu, European-style tapas, and an intimate, welcoming atmosphere that makes it perfect for dates or quiet dinners. Expect gracious, attentive service and mouthwatering food. 

- The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team

Gatlinburg is chock-full of fabulous restaurants, but not all of them are cozy, intimate, and brimming with atmosphere. If you’re craving a relaxing, quiet meal a few steps away from the hustle of the tourist hotspots, Red Oak Bistro might be the perfect stop. The atmosphere is relaxed yet sophisticated–perfect for a date or a dinner with friends.

Expect a different kind of experience when you step through the doors. Extensive open shelves showcase a lovely drink selection, warm dropped lights create an intimate atmosphere, and you can choose between an indoor bar or dining room seating and a cozy outdoor deck. You’ll find comfortable kick-back seating both inside and out: plush chairs and a sofa near the indoor fireplace, and welcoming patio furniture outside by an outdoor fire pit, along with tables and chairs for those enjoying a full meal.

Drinks
A beautifully-curated drink menu enables you to choose the perfect pairing with your meal. You’ll find wine, bourbon, whiskey, and beer–many of them local–to enjoy with your meal. The drink selection isn’t the biggest of all area restaurants, but it offers an excellent variety of options to appeal to a wide range of tastes.

Fresh, Seasonal Menu
Red Oak Bistro maintains high standards for every ingredient and menu item, which is why they source as many ingredients as possible locally from area farmer’s markets; it’s also why their offerings change by the season. No matter when you visit, expect fresh food, including gluten-free and vegetarian options for pretty much anyone in your party.

European-Style Tapas 
No matter the season, you’ll be impressed by the array of tapas options on the menu. Grab a drink and a fireside seat and order an array of Red Oak Bistro’s tapas options, and everyone in your group is almost certain to find something they’ll adore.

The husband and wife team that runs Red Oak Bistro goes out of their way to make guests feel welcomed, cared for, and at home. And the thoughtfully-crafted atmosphere makes Red Oak the ideal environment for unwinding with friends, whether you’re just ordering drinks and tapas or sitting down for a full meal.

Red Oak Bistro is located just off Glades Road in Gatlinburg at the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, a short drive from the heart of the town’s tourist activities. You’ll find easy access to parking and a lovely surrounding neighborhood, characterized by small artisans’ shops, ateliers, and a smattering of other pubs and restaurants.

Insider Tips: 
– Red Oak Bistro keeps slightly unusual hours; they are typically only open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
– Red Oak Bistro is available for special events like smaller wedding receptions, and they pull off these events with panache.