A warm summer day in Gatlinburg can work up a serious appetite.
After spending part of the afternoon walking around downtown, I decided it was time to get out of the heat, grab a cold drink, and find something substantial to eat. Blue Moose Burgers & Wings sounded like just the place.
Located at 515 Parkway, Blue Moose is an easy walk from Edgewater Hotel. Just walk across the bridge from the hotel to River Road, turn right, and start walking. You can’t miss it.
A Cool Break from a Hot Gatlinburg Afternoon
The place has a comfortable, laid-back sports bar atmosphere. Blue Moose has more than 40 televisions throughout the restaurant, so there is a pretty good chance you can find whatever game happens to be on.
It is lively without feeling too fancy or complicated. This is the kind of place where you can bring the family, meet up with friends, or just sit at the bar by yourself.
Since I was dining solo on this particular visit, I found a seat at the bar. After walking around outside in the summer heat, the air conditioning and a cold drink were both welcome sights.
Blue Moose is best known for its burgers and wings, and the menu offers plenty of both. You will find traditional choices alongside some more adventurous combinations. I decided this was not the day to play it safe.
I ordered the Hawaiian Luau Burger and a side of onion rings.
Pineapple on a Burger? Let’s do it.
The Hawaiian Luau starts with a half-pound beef burger topped with grilled pineapple, mango habanero wing sauce, and applewood-smoked bacon, all served on a toasted bun.
There is quite a bit happening in that description.
The grilled pineapple gives the burger a sweet, slightly smoky flavor. The mango habanero sauce adds another layer of sweetness and a noticeable kick of heat. Then the bacon arrives with the salty, smoky flavor needed to pull everything together.
It’s sweet, spicy, messy, and filling. But don’t order this if you’re trying to keep your shirt clean. Once the juice from the burger, the pineapple, and the sauce start working together, you may need both hands and a small stack of napkins. That’s part of the fun.
Some people remain firmly opposed to pineapple on pizza. We can argue about that another day. Pineapple on this burger, however, works.
As for the onion rings? Crunch town. Delicious!
More Than Burgers
Although the Hawaiian Luau was the star of my visit, Blue Moose is also known for its jumbo wings and large selection of sauces and dry rubs. The menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, chicken entrees, and plenty of familiar options for anyone who may not be interested in mango habanero sauce on a half-pound burger.
That makes it a good choice for families and groups. One person can order a cheeseburger, another can dig into a plate of wings, and someone else can choose a salad or chicken sandwich.
Worth the Walk from Edgewater Hotel
One of the best things about staying at Edgewater Hotel is how many restaurants and attractions you can reach without moving your car. Blue Moose is another good addition to that list.
My verdict on the Hawaiian Luau Burger is simple: it’s awesome! If you love a good burger or good wings, you can’t go wrong with the Blue Moose.
On a hot summer day in Gatlinburg, a cool seat at the bar and a Hawaiian Luau Burger turned out to be a pretty good plan.
Blue Moose Burgers & Wings Gatlinburg
Address: 515 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: 865-277-7008
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website: bluemooseburgersandwings.com
