Schnitzel was a bit tough and overcooked but my husband's piece was tender. The kraut was excellent, and the cheese dish side was good (their version of Mac n cheese, reminds me of gnocci). The potato cake was excellent. Dessert was supposed to be German chocolate cake but it was not traditional for sure, but I can say it was delicious and a huge portion served with warm dark chocolate sauce, the pretzel appetizer was the best ever, made fresh and was served with a thick mustard dip and ?beer cheese dip. It was enough for a meal on its own. We went on Christmas afternoon at 4 pm. There was about a 15 minute wait, but the service was great and we would definitely go back just for the atmosphere. I'd like to go in warmer weather and sit outside in their big outdoor dining area. read more

See all

The gluten free schnitzel was delicious! Unfortunately, other than the schnitzel, there isn't much else that is GF other than a GF bun. They no longer have a dedicated GF menu read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Gluten free schnitzel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

I have been to Pigeon Forge countless of times and I have tried many restaurants. Well to start off we had to wait to be seated for about 5 minutes. Even though there were no customers there. It took about 10 minutes for them to take our drink orders. I had to order a salad because everything else was over 15$. The bathroom smelt like my grandma's attic. The only positive thing was that the waiter was nice and the warehouse games blitzball league was on the TV. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - This was my family's disappointing food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

See all

The food was absolutely delicious . I went with very high expectations and from the moment we stepped in, they exceeded every single one!! The food was amazing, specially with the dipping sauce. The portions were to make sure you're well fed! We ate lunch at 1:00 pm and by the time we left pigeon forge at like 9pm we were stuffed lol. Tony our waiter was beyond Great! Very attentive, had a sense of humor and regardless of how busy it was he continuously checked in with us. Even gave us a military discount upon seeing our credit card w/o us asking. They have both outdoor and indoor sitting, The food presentation was nice and complimented the food and ambiance, which was a cute relax family restaurant. The pineapple upside down mixed drink was amazingly delicious, tasted like a dessert. The sausage sampler is definitely a plus, it came with 3 different types of huge sausages and different dipping sauce. The Omas cheddar cheese potato cakes were perfect- you get 3 of those nicely sized. The traditional Schnitzel is a thin, all white breaded pork chop, it was tender and it was big enough for 3 of us to get a nice size piece. The spatzle and cheese is like mac & cheese and the first side to be devoured . The German potato salad was also very good. I didn't use salt and pepper on anything, just dipping sauce! I will say that I love mustard soo their dipping sauce was right up my alley!! The german chocolate cake was rich and chocolaty and their apple strudel was delish. I ate the crap out of the cookie they put in the ice cream The prices, specially for where they are located are great & affordable. I enjoyed my time from the moment we stepped in to stepping out! This is A MUST when visiting Pigeon Forge or simply driving by!!! read more

See all

I loved eating at Wild Bear Tavern for lunch. Our party of five came on a Friday afternoon and were seated right away. As of November 2020, they did temperature checks on everyone, and they required masks. The food at this German tavern was outstanding. My chicken schnitzel sandwich was well seasoned and juicy. I enjoyed the topping of sauerkraut too. My hungry husband devoured the brat burger, and my son loved his chicken tenders and fries. The breading on his tenders was out of this world and the fries were too. (I may have stolen more than one fry from his plate) Bathrooms were incredibly tiny but did the job. Everything else about our visit was great! We would come back here if on vacation in the Pigeon Forge, TN area again. read more

See all

Great German food!! I think the only one in the area too! The website only shows breakfast but they do lunch and supper too. We stopped here all by chance coming back into pigeon forge from Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg. Service was great they make you feel like family that is well taken care of. Everything we ordered they could do. My husband ordered something that was not on the menu and since they had everything to make it they said "oh yeah, no problem we got you!" It came out just as he wanted it too. Would totally go back again. I got a pineapple upside down drink and I normally don't do hazelnut with anything but it was a really good drink. read more

See all

A little gem on the south side of Pigeon Forge. We got the pork schnitzel, cheese spaetzle, and Brussels sprouts that were all amazing! Smoked old fashions and great German beer. Highly recommend this place! read more

With all the raving reviews I saw online about this place I figured it would be a bit more grand than it was. The staff is friendly but the food was average. I have tried many German spots where I live and most these spots beat out Wild Bear by far. So, maybe for this area it just is the best you can get? The best part was the pretzel but it's hard to mess that up. read more

Bill was great! It was busy and not enough staff to cover (had a call out). He had a great attitude despite being overwhelmed. We got great service and a lot of laughs with Bill. I feel like they need more staff but we definitely made a great memory tonight! Can't wait to go back because of Bill. read more

We have been coming to Pigeon Forge for over 20 years and must have (mistakenly) driven past this place at least that many times. We corrected that travesty this trip and SO GLAD we did! The potato pancake appetizer was delicious, just enough bacon to be noticeable without overpowering. The edges of the pancake were crispy but not burned, and the applesauce was a great compliment to the richness of the cheese. The Traditional Schnitzel was some of the best I've ever had, the pork was pounded thin and tender. The Spatzle was AMAZING; seasoned perfectly and was almost like gnocchi mac & cheese. SO GOOD! The wife tried the Chicken Schnitzel and didn't love the lemon butter sauce (too lemon-forward), but calmed it down with some apple sauce. The chicken itself was good and seasoned well. Wanted to try the Black Forest Cake for dessert, but they were sold out. Opted for the German Chocolate Cake instead and it was very good; perfect amount of pecan coconut frosting to cut the richness of the chocolate. The outside patio seating was awesome (no wait) and the service was excellent. We'll definitely be back! read more

See all

My partner and I came to Wild Bear Tavern after doing a morning hike in the Smokies. We opted for Wild Bear Tavern because we read a lot of good reviews about the food + CDC covid guidelines being followed. We sat down for a late lunch and were seated immediately. Food: Pot Roast - My partner got the pot roast and really enjoyed the dish! Very good sauce with tender meat chunks and veggies. Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich - Really large sandwich with a lot of crispy chicken schnitzel. It is dry though, so I would recommend asking for sauce to eat in the sandwich. The fries on the side were very thick and good! Service: Our waiter seemed nice, but either seemed relatively new or unaware because he was a little confused about the menu when we were ordering and didn't ask us about all the possible options for our entrees. He also interrupted us in the middle of our meal (like 10 minutes into us eating) to ask if we wanted dessert or the check which I found to be extremely rude. He then proceeded to give us the check and then waited for us to put a card down so he could process it. I have never had this happen to me basically, so it threw us off so much. I am not sure if they wanted to kick us out because of other customers or they didn't like us, but it was pretty uncalled for. I would have given more stars because I did like the food, but the service was really rude since they tried to rush us to leave the restaurant while we had just started eating. read more

See all

My wife and I stopped by Wild Bear Tavern on a wim as we came back into Pigeon Forge after a day in the mountains. We sat on the patio in perfect weather and had an incredible and informative server. They were (sadly) out of sauerkraut so my wife ordered the Bratwurst with Rotkohl and Spatzle with cheese and I had the Traditional Schnitzel with German Potato Salad and Spatzle. The bratwurst and rotkohl were good but the schnitzel , potato salad and spatzle were some of the best I've ever had. It was absolutely amazing! Seriously, this is a place you have to visit. It was the highlight of the food on our trip and I will definitely be back. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Busy and understaffed BUT you would never know it. Speed of service and attitudes were excellent. However they were second to food qualify which was outstanding. The German pot roast was the best. Highly recommend! read more

What a great find! If you like German food, this is a great option in Pigeon Forge. Everything we had was excellent; schnitzel, sausage sampler, spatzel, potato pancakes, German chocolate cake and apple strudel were all excellent. We were here for 5 nights over Christmas/new year. We were so impressed we went here twice. read more

An unexpected gem found during vacation. Authentic German food. German beer from a local brewer. Great service with a side of humor. The decor was clean and reminds me of gausthauses in the Rhon Mountain. Worth the stop. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by their menu options. The staff was very friendly and attentive! Thank you, Michael. He provided a brief history on how an old pancake house became a small tavern that serves German food and beer, among other options. The food was authentic. I'm German and I'm sort of a foodie! We had the extra large pretzel with the Obatzda (beer cheese) and stone ground spicy mustard. Jojo and I shared the sausage sampler with sauerkraut, rotkraut, gerken, demi loaf and stone ground spicy mustard. I highly recommend the Wild Bear Tavern for your German food craving! Servus! read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Entrance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

See all

The breakfast was amazing! Server very nice and attentive. Ambiance is perfect for German Beer Tavern.

The food here has been fantastic in the past; the beer is great - from what I understand it's house-brewed, they typically have seasonal styles on tap. Unfortunately on our last trip the server had two other large tables besides ours. We had made a reservation; were asked to come in earlier (1/2 an hour - no big deal) the Single server that seemed to be working was then saddled with two other large (9+) tables - I felt bad for him but he was getting a workout in.... Regarding the food; the two things I was looking forward to, the potato pancakes and the smoked shoulder were both out, and for some reason they've removed the Jägerschnitzel from their menu. The sausage was on point, and the pretzels delivered. But although the pot roast was tasty, it wasn't satisfying when I had my hopes set on something else. Beyond that we ordered apple strudel to go, then it took them 30 minutes to bring it out - supposedly they had lost a fryer? Traditional strudel isn't deep fried so that was disappointing to hear...... The restaurant itself is in a great location, awesome views of the mountains - it would be nice if the outdoor wasn't right on the main street (noise) but it wasn't too bad sitting out there enjoying a beer. Overall I'd like to rate them higher but they just seem to be going through the motions - maybe its a staffing issue? read more

Authentic German is a bit stretched. However, it was a good try. The beer selection was great. Attentive service and food was okay. I would not go there for food, but I loved the beer selection. Food portion sizes are pretty generous. read more

See all

Hands down best German food I've had in 15+ years. Fun spot in a place you'd least expect it. Service was great and knowledgeable. Definitely a fantastic birthday dinner on vacation. I will absolutely return if we come back to the area read more

See all

Dropped into bar Only about 8 people in whole place Ordered 2 beers and brat with potato cake Brat was all hard and unedible although we ate. Prices high This place was nothing like the previous year. Stay away read more

They were out of a lot of stuff. The food came out barley warm. The schnitzel was a little dry and overcooked. The red cabbage and sourkraut tasted like it came straight out of a can. read more

Hidden gem. The pancake house across the street was packed but the food here was soo good! Huge portions so plan to share. Staff very friendly. We will be back! read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Applestrusel pancakes and brat! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Well, it's a restaurant. It serves food and drinks. But none of it is particularly good. I got a breakfast platter with eggs, sausage, bacon, a potato pancake, and a biscuit with gravy. It was all serviceable. The side of pancakes I got was better but nothing special. The service was pretty poor. We waited at the host stand for at least five minutes while staff looked at us but didn't come over. The person taking our drink orders didn't know the menu and forgot to put one of the items in. Maybe this is par for course in a tourist town, but I was disappointed. read more

Went to Wild Bear for authentic German food, not even close. The pork jager-schnitzel was burnt and deep fried been to Germany several times and never had it deep fried. The spanish speaking cook put hunters gravy on the spatzle not on schnitzel second attempt by him on jager-schnitzel just as burnt. The German beer was flat and they bake the apple strudel then freeze it and deep fry it just like no where in Germany. What a waste of time and money. No Authentic at all. read more

Was seated within a minute of arrival. Service was friendly and quick. Our appetizers were out quickly and the food wasn't far behind. Everything was delicious and very large portions. The front is more of a bar setup while the back is separated without much noise spillover. It's much bigger than it looks from the outside. Has an antique pub feeling with dim accent lighting. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Less than half of the giant pretzel and potato pancakes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

See all

Having not had authentic German food in a while, I was happy to find one on our vacation to Pigeon Forge. Overall, it was a solid experience. Since we had our dogs, we sat on the patio (which they advertise). They did allow us to sit at a table close to the building, but the rest of the patio appeared closed. I'm not sure why, since it was beautiful out, they advertise as being dog friendly, and it was a Friday night. The food was decent and authentic adjacent. The schnitzel was spot on and so was the pretzel. The spaetzle was covered in cheese and almost too rich; however, I squeezed the crap out of the lemon and the acidity was a relief. The potato pancakes were okay. There was a bit too much going on and they tasted more like hash browns than anything. Service was okay. All of our food came out at once. The drinks were really decent! I had one that tasted like an Apple strudel and it was a delight. read more

See all

Good German food. Nice portions and prices. Good atmosphere and staff. Great desserts!

The food was fantastic authentic German cuisine. You have to try the potato pancakes, Bavarian pretzel (huge), apple strudel. Joshua was a wonderful waiter, so accommodating and great conversationalist. The atmosphere was congruent with the German theme. read more

Great atmosphere,lots of seatings, great staff and service. Food is great. Always come here when in TN. Recommend her if you like German food. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Traditional Schnitzel :Boneless Pork lightly breaded with Jager Sauce with two sides : German Potato Salad, and Rotkohl. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

I'd give 6 stars if I could! Amazing service and delicious food. The place was spacious and cozy. They took a great care of us for lunch on Christmas day. Price was reasonable and food was generously portioned. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Pork schnitzel and potato cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Food was so overpriced for microwave quality food. I love another Bavarian restaurant and sought out one in this area and I am beyond disappointed. $28 charcuterie plate was missing half of the items and all of the veggies. They don't tell you ahead of time and then you are stuck with it, no discount. The main course was similar to frozen microwaved food. Their menu just uses flowery words to dress up terrible food. Would not recommend. read more

Food was delicious!!! Got there about 5:30 pm on a Sunday and beat the crowds. Restaurant was very nice and clean, and even at 60 years old we got carded for our drinks. But I suppose that's a good thing. Overall we were very pleased with our meal. read more

So tasty, great service, comforting atmosphere!! Happened upon this place after Dollywood. The beer is cold and delicious and we will definitely be back! read more

Food quality and service was great, all staff was friendly and the German selection great. Didn't give the 5 stars only cause during 2 separate visits they didn't have 2 menu items I always look forward to on a German restaurant... other than that, if you like authentic goulash, this is the place, I also lived the chocolate cake and apple strudel. read more

Terrible customer service, so rude and unprofessional. Took forever to even get me seated and then gave me attitude. Do not recommend at all. read more

Great food with reasonable prices. Prompt and courteous service. Ambiance is good, beautiful decor and both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Wild Bear Tavern - Breakfast hash and apple strudel pancakes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Ample parking, roomy inside, with attentive staff who immediately seated us. Full offerings of standard German beers - dunkel, pilsner, hefeweizen, either 17 or 23 ounces. German beef stew with vegetables in tasty brown sauce with two sides. Recommend the side upgrade to spaetzle and cheese, plus the red cabbage. Pork schnitzel thin, crisp on outside, with crisp potato pancake. Portions ample so didn't try the desserts. read more

Awesome food and service!! I will be coming back when in the area again. Can't say enough about how good this place is.

This place is a bit of a hidden gem. Located next to Wild Bear INN (fitting, I know), if you blink you'd miss it, but boy you sure don't want to. I don't usually have a chance to eat German, but this place does it right. The service and the food were fantastic! My only thing is that there were some menu options that I would have loved to have had for lunch, but they only offer them at dinner time. I still won't hold that against them since my meal selection was amazing. Shout out to Tammy, our server, she was great! First, lets start off with Oma's bacon and cheddar cheese potato pancakes *drool*. with a side of apple sauce, these potato pancakes are a definite appetizer to order. It is gigantic too, so plenty to share. Nice and crispy, they do it right. The Liverwurst appetizer is also an excellent selection. I know this isn't usually people's go to, but this is really good, with the mustard that they have here, which is flipping so good all by itself. This is served with Swiss cheese, molasses loaf, and sauerkraut. The Pretzel appetizer is first off giagantic! But its so fresh and soft that dipped in the yummy mustard or the cheese spread, makes for a very satisfying bite. Now for the dish that won my heart! the Traditional Schnitzel! I am being truly honest when I say this is the best schnitzel to date, that I have ever had. It was perfectly breaded and fried, where it was juicy and you could cut it with a butter knife. The lemon butter sauce on top was so tasty. You have the option of salad and one side or two sides. I went with salad and one side. The salad was a basic garden salad, but let me tell you the blue cheese dressing was really good, and nice and chunky. For my side dish, I went with Spatzle (pronounced Schpetz-luh), which is a cheesy noodle side. Really good! Now for those who enjoy from the alcohol option, they have a really great deal for a flight. We got six options of a mixture of scotch, whiskey and bourbon, including Four Roses Yellow Label, which was my favorite. I was also told the breakfast here is definitely worth it. You can tell that everything here is fresh. I am looking forward to coming back on my next visit up here. read more

See all