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Tom & Earl's Back Alley Grill

Located on the Parkway in the heart of Gatlinburg, TN the dog-friendly Tom & Earl's Back Alley Grill serves delicious bar and grill eats with a Southern spin in a casual and inviting atmosphere. Dogs are welcome to join their owners on the outdoor patio. Popular menu choices include fried green tomatoes, creamed corn fritters, jumbo wings, grilled cheese paninis, BBQ brisket sandwiches, and Hillbilly Philly cheesesteaks. Wash it down with an ice cold draft or bottled beer. Visit Website

Or call (865) 325-6022 for more information.

Reviews

BringFido Guest Rating
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

Tom & Earl's Back Alley Grill has received a rating of 4.7 out of 5 bones by 62 canine critics on BringFido and 4.5 out of 5 by 1,006 guests on TripAdvisor.

  • Tamara
    Oct 23, 2023
    Great food for you and your pup!

    The food here is pretty good. They are also very dog friendly. They brought out a bowl of fresh water for our dogs. We were able to order some unseasoned chicken breasts for our dogs. It was very nice to sit and let our dogs have some rest. It’s in a quiet alley area as well.

  • Rhody
    Oct 14, 2023
    A respite in a chaotic town!

    We had been driving up in the mountains that day admiring the fall colors and even got to hike with our dog on the dog friendly Gatlinburg Trail. On our way back into town, we hadn't eaten all day so we stopped here for a mid afternoon meal. The town was horribly busy and we had little hope we'd get a table here but we got lucky. We had an adorable and friendly waitress. My husband and I both ordered the Denver's Top Shelf Lit (basically a Long Island Ice Tea) which definitely had alcohol in it which is the way we like them. We ordered the wings to start. They were good, quite tastey but in our opinion a little small in size as we are use to meatier ones (especially when they were advertised to be bigger). My husband had the burger and it was big and juicy. I ordered the fried bologna with pulled pork sandwich. I've NEVER in my life had fried bologna but know it is a southern thing so when in Rome...IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I couldn't even eat the whole sandwich and had to take half of it home. It was insanely delicious. The fries were also excellent. When we were ordering our meals, I started to ask if there was something I could order for our dog and the waitress right away said they could grill up a chicken breast or a hamburger patty. I ordered the hamburger patty thinking it was going to be a kid's sized. Nope. Same patty as what was on my hubby's sandwich. 8 ounces for $5. What a bargain. We took half of that home too for our dog's enjoyment another day. We couldn't have been more thrilled with this place, especially when the town was overrun with families because it was the schools' fall break. Definitely a place to go!

  • Mario
    Oct 10, 2023
    Excellent

    I went here with my 2 Bichon frise dogs on a Friday evening. I was on vacation, coming from New Jersey and one of the highlights of my trip was this restaurant. There was live music and a friendly staff. My dogs received a free treat and the food was delicious. Across the street was a pleasant place to walk the dogs along the river and it was close to shopping. Great experience, highly recommend for dog owners!!

  • Kyra
    Aug 31, 2023
    great food, mostly friendly staff

    we came on a super hot day so they brought both our dogs waters & were very sweet to our 2 pups! they were patient with my rescue dog who sometimes barks when she is frightened.

    the manager, however, was in a bit of a bad mood that day as she did get snippy with us a few times.

  • Kimberly
    Jul 10, 2023
    Highly recommend

    We found this restaurant by chance while in Gatlinburg. it is a hidden gem! they were extremely accommodating to our pup, the service was excellent, the food was delicious, prices were cheaper than any other place we went and parking at the closest lot was only $2.00 an hour. it is located close to a scenic river and has a covered patio. I cannot say enough good about it! we will definitely be back!!

  • Aletha
    Jun 13, 2023
    Enjoyable meal!

    We enjoyed our meal; however, it was a busy day so we had to wait a little while for a table. Even so, there was an area to wait with seating and shade. Friendly staff! We would definitely eat there again.

  • Elizabeth
    Apr 2, 2023
    Friendly Staff

    The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The food was very pricey and wasn't worth the money to my family. We paid over $70 for three meals and an entree. Otherwise it was nice.

  • Paige
    Mar 1, 2023
    Great for pups!

    our dog was welcomed with open arms on the outdoor patio and the minute we got a table, a waitress came over and gave him a bowl of water!

  • Kaylyn
    Feb 2, 2023
    Great service!

    We walked right up and were greeted with a smile and they were super kind to our pups, too. Food was delicious and exactly what we needed after a long hike. Our server Katie was very knowledgeable and attentive. Perfect spot for the humans and the pets!

  • Jessica
    Jan 11, 2023
    Great lunch with the pups!

    We stopped in to have drinks and lunch while walking River Road behind the grill. It was a beautiful mid 60s day for January. One of thr employees came out to play with our pup before we even got to the door. We were offered dog water and were told they could cook her an un seasoned grilled chicken breast for lunch. Many fun drinks to choose from and delicious food. Everyone was so nice including the other patrons dining with their dogs on the patio.

  • Shelly
    Oct 23, 2022
    So fun! Excellent service.

    We just arrived in town and we were starving. We had a short wait. We were given dog bowls for our dogs right away with fresh water. The human food was excellent and the beer was cold!

  • Matthew
    Oct 1, 2022
    Great location

    This place was great. The food was good, the live entertainment was good and the staff was great. They were very accommodating for our dog and all the other dogs that were there.

  • Emily
    Sep 14, 2022
    Accommodating

    This location was great. osito loved the staff and was able to get a $5 chicken breast for himself. will be coming back again.

  • Melanie
    Aug 14, 2022
    Great!

    Great place- they gave our min pin a water bowl with ice! relaxing and very good food!

  • Amanda
    Aug 1, 2022
    Amazing service and food!

    Went for dinner after a rainy day - they opened up the back patio specifically to accommodate us and our pup. They brought him a fresh bowl of water and provided exceptional service considering we were the only ones on the patio. Food was delicious, and the staff was so accommodating!

  • Cheryl
    Jul 26, 2022
    Best place for dinner with a dog.

    on June 29, 2022 after hiking the Gaitlinburg trail my husband and I were looking for a place to eat without pup Archie. We called Tom and Earls to see if we could eat there with Archie and if we needed to make a reservation. The person on the phone was very nice and asked when we would arrived. I told them we coming off the trail and would be there is fifteen to twenty minutes. They said no reservations but to just let the host know we had spoken. we arrived nervous because it was a busy afternoon at 1, but when we spoke to the host they sat us at a table where Archie immediately layer down against the wall. Before we were even asked about drinks Archie had an ice cold bowl of water and a glass of ice to chew. We ordered and everything was delicious. as a animal lover how people treat animals tells me a lot about them and everyone we dealt with at Tom and Earl’s went out of there way to make Archie comfortable and feel welcome.

  • Jodi
    May 14, 2022
    Absolutely perfect

    we had a late lunch here today with Liam my fur baby. as soon as our waiter came to the table he also had a bowl of water for Liam. best service and the burgers are AMAZING! we will definitely be returning customer’s.

  • Stephanie
    May 12, 2022
    Pet Friendly

    The outdoor patio was very dog friendly and they even brought out our dogs water bowels. The food was good and they have a covered awning for hot sunny days.

  • Brandi
    Apr 30, 2022
    Great food and dog accommodation.

    we had an amazing lunch, and they were very accommodating to the dogs on the patio! there were 3 other families with their dogs there also.

  • Kristin
    Feb 7, 2022
    Very dog friendly Patio!

    there’s an extra entry way on the patio for the four legged kids to go in and out of and they brought water out first thing when we sat down! The food was great and the service was super friendly and quick! Definitely recommend taking your pets here for a quick bite :)

  • Lynn
    Oct 31, 2021
    Otis loved it!

    it was so dog friendly. This was my very first trip with my dog Otis out to eat in a restaurant. I think he did great! Thanks for being so accommodating.

  • Stephanie
    Oct 27, 2021
    Great food and Service

    the have a fenced in patio area and are very quick to bring the pup a bowl with fresh water without even being asked. the food was great and the service was better. it was so nice to feel welcomed with our fur baby at a restaurant.

  • Trevor
    Oct 8, 2021
    Cool Spot

    Small patio but plenty of room for our lab and small group.

  • Lisa
    Jun 18, 2021
    Small dog friendly patio with friendly service

    I won't remember the food, but the drinks were good and the waiters were attentive and friendly. They welcomed all the dogs on the patio and made sure they had clean, cool water.

  • Stefani
    Jun 8, 2021
    Good Visit

    They were busy and appeared well run - they waited to seat us until they could actually attend to us (some big parties had been seated just before we arrived). As we waited at a nearby table outside the restaurant, the hostess brought out water for the pups, which was very sweet. The patio is small with a big awning, so you may not be protected from sun and you certainly will not be protected from the kind of rain they can get in these parts!

    They offered us two different tables - one with the potential for more room for the pups to wander.

    Our waitress was great (Anzhela with great nails!) and a nearby waitress was also sweet and pet our pups. The other patio server (waiter) seemed indifferent to the dogs. Folks around us seemed happy and entertained by the pups. Our dogs are generally quiet, except for the heavy breathing of our Frenchie and the occasional bawl of our bluetick. I can understand if more active or barking/whining dogs could be a problem on a small patio.

    We would come back but I don’t know that we’ll brave Gatlinburg traffic or parking costs again. But the food was very yummy and they have a great selection of drinks!

  • Michael
    May 28, 2021
    Great atmosphere!

    Nice small patio is covered, we rode out a heavy rain while having lunch. Zack our waiter was great and loved our Aussiedoodle, bringing him water and petting him every chance. The burgers were gourmet and very thick. The beer battered fries were outstanding. Good quality beer. Nice hidden gem. We'll be back.

  • Mary
    May 22, 2021
    Fun

    We brought our Corgi & Mini Schnauzer for a meal on the deck.
    Awesome staff...food is so-so. Fun place to people watch.
    If the food was better we would have given 5 bones.

  • Brandy
    May 22, 2021
    Awful General Manager

    This place was our very 1st restaurant choice after 9 hours of travel with 2 dogs to TN. Us and our 2 dogs were tired and starving. The Owner really needs to remove themselves from bringfido.com.
    Our dog (which these are our fur children) started laying a little bit out from our table, not one server said anything to us. Almost done with our meal, the General Manager Rob comes by very rudely/quickly (walking away as he says it) that we need to move our dog he's blocking the server path. It was extremely rude and the conversation could have went completely different, however Rob has no actual people skills. I asked our server to have Rob come back and explained to him how rude he was, immediately the guy was trying to bully/intimidate me by trying to get closer to me and I wasn't having it. He then said we need to leave, in which I responded do you want me to pay 1st? He walked away from us. We were paying and I asked 2 servers to please provide his name and the Ownership name, he ended up coming back.
    Now at this point I wasn't very friendly with my own words and I'm glad, this guy obviously hates dogs and is probably pretty rude most days. I cussed him out.We were told to leave, threatened to have cops called. I of course was trying to put my food in a to go box, yelling very colorful things back. Now for the kicker, for about 20 minutes of our meal a young boy, approximately 4 years old, blocked the door for the server, opening and closing it, slowing down the server entrance/path. Not one server made any comment they were truly polite and dealt with the kid. And good ol Rob never addressed that situation, but my dog committed high treason. We still paid our server a 25% tip to prove that we aren't bad people until provoked. So food/server were decent, but Rob needs some skills in communication or to be sat on the unemployment line. No worries though, we won't be back.

  • Kara
    May 10, 2021
    Great Little Spot for the Dog!

    They we’re very accommodating and so sweet to our dog! They made sure she had fresh water and we were able to order her a chicken breast for dinner!

  • Kay
    Apr 30, 2021
    Patio not always open

    We stopped here with our dog hoping to enjoy dinner, it was a nice evening in late April however the patio was not open so we could not eat here with our dog so it may be a good idea to make sure it is open before paying for parking. We ended up walking down the street to Howard's.

  • Victoria
    Apr 6, 2021
    Loved it!

    Food was great and people were awesome. We sat on the patio and my Lola chilled. Its off the beaten path so it wasn’t as hectic.

  • Steven
    Mar 22, 2021
    Great food, drink & pet friendly

    Great place to stop for lunch & dinner with our dog.
    We came twice because it was a win win, because they are very dog friendly & the food was spot on too. The outdoor area is where you can bring your dog and have food & drinks, even the dog got a bowl of cool water. Very good service, food & cocktails would highly recommend if your looking in Gatlinburg for a place to eat & drink with your dog.

  • Patty
    Mar 10, 2021
    Terrible

    Dog friendly my ARSE. Only if your dog is half dead and not wanting to play with other dogs are you welcomed. We were asked to leave within 5 minutes of ordering cocktails, why you might ask? Well, because our dog was whining to play with the one other dog there. He was not barking or acting up, just wanted to play with the one other dog nearby. FU Tom and Earls. Shouldn't advertise that your dog friendly unless you really MEAN IT. So they give you a bowl of water, big deal. The manager sucks but the waitress with the blue hair was very nice.

  • Kimberly
    Feb 23, 2021
    Nice patio for the puppies

    We enjoyed eating on the patio with Gracie Rose. She had a nice, cold bowl of water to start.

  • Amy
    Nov 24, 2020
    Great Spot

    Great pub food! My husband said it was arguably one of the best cheeseburgers he’s had. The back patio is off the street so our pup was able to chill out and take a break from the chaos of The Village foot traffic.

  • Christine
    Nov 1, 2020
    Perfect Place To Bring Fido

    The staff was friendly and efficient. They brought water out for our dog. The atmosphere was fun with the live music and the food was very good. Fantastic experience!

  • Timothy
    Sep 28, 2020
    Great Time at Tom & Earl’s

    Great food and service once again, they welcomed me and my family (wife and pup), got a seat on outside patio, weather was great, atmosphere was relaxing, will definitely come here again!!!

  • Lora
    Sep 23, 2020
    Great Location

    I completely recommend this restaurant. the staff was so friendly and amazing. We brought our 2 Great Danes and they were very welcoming. the food was really basic but very good. the atmosphere was inviting and I would come back here again.

  • Beverly
    Sep 22, 2020
    Nice Outdoor Porch

    In nice weather this is a great place to dine with your dog. They bring a bowl of ice water with no asking. The food is not super fancy, but is very good.

  • Kate
    Sep 15, 2020
    Great Place

    This place is located off of the main street in Gatlinburg. Quiet and away from crowds, which is exactly what we were looking for. Food was great and our two pups were greeted with a bowl of cold water. Humans and dogs approved.

  • Erin
    Aug 27, 2020
    Perfect Location!

    This restaurant is in a great location. It’s both located at a perfect stopping point on Gatlinburg’s main drag and also far enough back from the road to feel a little less chaos from the crowds.

  • Larry
    Aug 22, 2020
    Nice patio to relax and eat with your pet

    We enjoyed the food and drinks and our dog was made to feel right at home. We will make Tom & Earl's a regular stop in the future.

  • Mel
    Jul 16, 2020
    Great place

    Good food , Great staff. Saw us and sat us right away on the patio and brought dog water before they brought us menus. Dogs come first especially on a hot hot day

  • Kelsey
    May 21, 2020
    Off The Beaten Path

    Good quiet place off the beaten path. Nice patio for you and your pup. We were seated and our dog was greeted with a bowl of ice water.

  • Lindsey
    Sep 20, 2019
    Beautiful Location, Friendly Staff

    Had a wonderful dinner at Tom

  • Jennifer
    Sep 2, 2019
    Great Experience

    Long day of travels and an absolutely packed town this was just the place to get away. They did have a long wait but brought a dish of water out to our Poodle while we waited! They had a pet only entrance and had a pet concierge who greeted Mila with a second pale of ice water before we even got into our seats on the patio. The food was good and atmosphere even better with the live music. We will certainly go back again!

  • Stephanie
    Aug 9, 2019
    Great Dog Friendly Restaurant

    Great restaurant and extremely dog friendly. We were seated and our puppy was greeted with a big bowl of ice water.

  • Carolyn
    Jun 11, 2019
    Awesome...

    This was a great little find at the end of a long day of sightseeing. Jessica was a very friendly waitress who was gracious even though it was near closing time. Nice patio & food was awesome too. Doggie bowls for water. Thanks

  • Matthew
    May 21, 2019
    Drake Enjoyed His Time At Tom

    Drake is enjoying his time! And even got brought a nice water bowl. Great atmosphere and even got to socialize with a few other dogs outside!

    Follow me on IG @southerndood

  • Kristin
    May 3, 2019
    Friendly Staff

    The staff was super friendly. I’m pretty sure everyone who worked there pet our pup! Outside seating with dogs only. Food was okay, and somewhat over priced. But our pup was able to sit and listen to the live music while we ate dinner!

  • Mae
    Mar 25, 2019
    Perfect Place To Bring The Pups

    We had a great experience at Tom

  • Lori
    Sep 13, 2018
    They love dogs

    My doodle was greated by a very nice gentlemen that gave her a huge bowl of ice water. He took her picture and my Annie absolutely loved him. Food was excellent. We would definitely
    Return.

  • Robyn
    Sep 1, 2018
    Very dog friendly !!

    Loved this place and so did our 60 pound pitty! Brought her a big bowl of ice water and us a good local beer on draft! Good food and very friendly staff!

  • Dustin
    Aug 26, 2018
    Great spot for a bite to eat

    They were extremely accommodating to us and our 2 dogs and the even have a “pupparazi” that brought them water and took pictures with them.

  • Melissa
    Aug 14, 2018
    Love it!

    We took our Shih tzu with us for lunch there. The waiters working the patio asked several times if he needed water, even though I had brought him a bottle! Our waiter was funny and we really enjoyed our meal! We will definitely be back!

  • Mary
    More than a year ago
    great service!!

    I have two large dogs and they were very accommodating!! They even bring ice water out for the dogs in silver dog bowls nice shading, great service and food! Definitely recommend!!

  • @summit.the.pup
    More than a year ago
    dog friendly & great food

    Dog friendly in the back. They give the dogs water bowls. Great food too.

  • Megan
    More than a year ago
    2 paws up

    We went to the Back Alley Grille yesterday, 4/3/18. Staff was super friendly and immediately brought our 10 month old mini Golden doodle, Sparky, a large bowl of water. Food was good too. Burger was so big my son couldn’t finish it all, which was a good thing for Sparky because he got to sample the burger as well. Thanks for a great experience. Wet sloppy kisses all around from Sparky!

  • Tammy
    Mar 9, 2018
    Beautiful March day w the pup

    First time here.... Daphne. (My 9yr old lab), was greeted with a pat n chat from the fantastic staff. She was welcomed with a big bowl of water. Place was very accommodating.
    Definitely will be back.

  • K
    Dec 27, 2017
    Not a Covered Patio

    After googling pet friendly restaurants, we chose this one. There were 7 of us and 2 dogs on the patio. We ordered our food, and then it started to pour down rain. We all crowded under one small table with an umbrella to eat our meal. Check the weather before you go here, because if it rains, they can't do a thing for you. It is not a covered patio--just a bunch of tables with umbrellas in an open area. All in all, we pretty much stayed dry, and we enjoyed the food and live music, even though we were bunched in together.

  • Wendey
    More than a year ago
    big outdoor patio

    Great place for the dogs and okay food. Highlights were the appetizers. Very dog friendly though even on a cold day!

  • Jeff
    More than a year ago
    Perfect place to relax

    Great service even on a busy Saturday night, wonderful food and strong drinks along with fantastic music by Denver Evans. The staff was awesome providing a bowl of water for my dog on the outside patio.

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Tom & Earl's Back Alley Grill