I hadn’t eaten at Red’s Drive-In since 2014. I mainly ate there because when I worked there, when attendance was so high, we got a free meal voucher. One of the places we could go was Red’s. We could get a 1/4 lb Cheeseburger, fries, and a drink. The burger was mediocre at best, the fries were just plain fries, and usually cold. It was free, so it tasted better(?).
In 2016, we went to Dollywood and randomly stopped into Red’s to get an ice water and noticed that the inside had been remodeled a little. They had added Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. We didn’t eat there, but instead left to go eat at Margaritaville at The Island in Pigeon Forge.
When we eventually went back to Dollywood in 2017 during the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. And Red’s wasn’t even on the radar, just based on the memories of their food.
The Counter at Red’s
When we decided that we were going to eat at every restaurant at Dollywood this year and review all of them, we went to Red’s for dinner during our most recent visit.
Dollywood’s website describes Red’s Drive-In as the following:
Menu classics from the ’50s are today’s favorites at Red’s Drive-In where the Jukebox Special third-pound bacon cheeseburger, third-pound cheeseburger are served with crispy, golden fries. Red’s also serves the thickest milk shakes in town.
Red’s Drive-In was added to the park in 1995 with the addition of Jukebox Junction. It was inspired by the real place in Sevierville, TN, where Dolly Parton had her very first hamburger. Red’s now has some awesome signs hanging around the restaurant showcasing the history behind the restaurant, as well as the history of the section itself.
This is what the one regarding Red’s says:
Sign telling about Red’s
In 1946, the same year Dolly was born, Paul “Red” Clevenger built an eating establishment on a small piece of property he leased on Bruce Street in Sevierville, called Red’s Cafe. The menu at Red’s Cafe offered a variety of short-order items, but it was Red’s hamburgers that gave the eatery its reputation. Red was known for his kindheartedness. When a family would order hamburgers cut in half for their children, Red would smile and say, “They look like they could eat a whole hamburger themselves.” Then, he would throw in an extra hamburger “on the house.” His benevolence extended to animals too. At any given time, several stray dogs could be seen lying around the cafe. Red would say, “If the customers don’t like the animals, they can leave. Red wore a long-sleeved white starched shirt, khaki pants, a long white apron and a paper hat. He was notorious for suddenly posting a “closed” sign on the door and might remain closed for several days. When he reopened, there would be a line waiting to buy a hamburger.
One big change we noticed was the fact that the burgers are now 1/3 lb instead of 1/4 lb. We stepped up to the counter and spoke with the host named Danny. He was very pleasant and welcoming. We both ordered the Cheeseburger and Fries and a refill of our 2018 refillable mug. With my Gold Season Pass discount, the total came to $21.66. For a theme park, that’s a pretty good deal. The order was sent to the kitchen, which they are all made to order. It didn’t take long at all to get our order and we found a table.
Toppings Bar and Freestyle Machine
One of the first things I noticed about our order, which comes in a cardboard tray, was how much heat was coming off of our food. Our burgers came plain and included a trip to the toppings bar, which includes onions, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Another great change is the addition of crinkle cut fries, as opposed to the normal shoestring fries. I added tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard to mine…and got plenty of ketchup for my crinkle cut fries. John got strawberry Pibb Xtra to drink, and I couldn’t in good conscience get anything other than Coca-Cola. Other than a Cherry Coke, but I don’t like the cherry that comes in the Freestyle machines.
With the burgers all dressed, we ate. It was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had at Dollywood. It had a great flavor and was hot. The fries were fresh and crispy. It was a surprise to me that Red’s had changed so much in so little time. It was a great change. We were planning to go elsewhere for a dessert in the park, when we saw a teenager carrying out a milkshake. Throughout the years, I can tell you that Red’s milkshakes have always been incredible. It’s so think, it’s more like soft-serve ice cream. We decided to get a Chocolate milkshake each.
The milkshakes (with our discount) came to $7.07. It was so good!
Red’s has been brought back to it’s former glory…and I, for one, can’t wait to get back and eat there!
Fun Tip: The front part of the restaurant has a row of diner stools…along the wall has USB plugs and outlets to recharge your phones/devices.
The Dish with John and Joie 