Found: Excellent pulled pork BBQ sandwich and sauce at Big E's on Highway 111 between Cookeville TN and Livingston TN. Look for panel truck next to BJ's Western Store and Karen's Dog House of Beauty. This is near intersection of Highway 111 and Highway 293. No building - just panel truck with menu on a board propped up on the bumper. BIG sandwiches from a guy who knows how to do Q.

Best Italian restaurant in Gatlinburg - not a chain and great pizza, pasta, and salads.

Definitely Bobby Q's. Ribs are great but pulled pork and chicken are good too. Poolroom slaw is a hot coleslaw that is really good. The banana pudding has been featured in Ladies Home Journal. Come on down and eat some Q!

Bobby Q's is outstanding. Try the ribs, chicken, or pulled pork. They have a hot slaw called poolroom slaw that is very good (or you can get it mixed half and half with regular slaw for a cooler version). Their banana pudding has been featured in Ladies Home Journal.

El Tapatio has fine Mexican food - there are two locations in Cookeville; one on Jefferson Avenue and one on Willow Avenue.

Mauricio's on Peachtree Street is very good Italian in a restored Victorian home and is a special place for dinner.

Tucked into the Elks Plaza on the Parkway in Gatlinburg is the Best Italian restaurant. I would absolutely recommend that, particularly for the garlic rolls. You have to seek it out to find it but worth the effort.

Cookeville - about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville - has El Tapatio which has excellent Mexican food and Bobby Q's which is not very close to the interstate but is worth the 10 minute or so drive.