Mel's Diner in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Just off of Pigeon Forge Parkway (US 441) on Wear's Valley Road (US 321) is a little piece of the past, a reminder of the unique features of the roadsides during America's Golden Age. Mel's Diner in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with its shiny, streamlined exterior topped with a red, retro-designed neon sign, most definitely smacks of a gimmicky tourist trap. But don't let the 50's themed motif fool ya for a second, because inside is served some of the finest American table fare in the Smokies!

Once inside, a hostess promptly seated us, and gave us neat-o menus right out of American Graffitti (I almost expected Johnny Milner to come roaring up in his '32 Deuce!). We ordered good ol' burger baskets with French Fries, and they were quite exceptional, to say the least (blew away national chains like Bel Air Grill), and the shakes were outta sight; cold, creamy, and thick, just like they oughta be!

If you want a quiet, relaxing dinner, however, go someplace else. Mel's Diner is noisy; filled with the clanking of glasses and silverware and the music of the era blaring from the jukebox (which, ironically, plays CD's istead of those old "Stax of wax"). It is a tight fit as well (like most of the diners of the era), so there is really no room to spread out and relax.

That did not stop Luchrisa and I from enjoying ourselves immensely (we're weird like that!). No, we thought it was just the neatest thing to read all of those old ads and magazine covers (especially those long extinct, like "Look"), and hearing "That'll Be the Day" over the noisy dining room. I think it'd be a great place to bring the kids, but not for a romantic dinig experience!

Although the name may remind one of the TV show "Alice", the 50's memorobilia, the black-and-white checkered floor, and the huge Wirlitzer jukebox will feel more like the set of "Happy Days". Why, even the appetizers ("Starters") are named after the cast of the long-running TV show: Richie's (onion) Rings, Joanie's Chips and Salsa, Potsy's Potato Skins, Chachi's Cheese Nachos, Mrs. C's Chicken Fingers, Fonzerelli Cheese Sticks, and Ralph Malph Nachos. With names like these, one must wonder why the proprietor didn't just name the place "Arnold's" (copyright infringement, perhaps?).

Their forte is the good ol' 50's style basket dinners, served, of course, in those nifty little red baskets lined with waxed paper. These are called "Jukebox Heroes", and are named for various Rock n' Roll artists of the 50's and 60's: The Beach Boy Basic Burger (Plain), Chubby Checker Cheese Burger (choice of Swiss, American, or Cheddar), Richie Valens Mexican Burger (Jalapenos and cheese), Big Bopper Bacon Burger, Buddy Holly Chili Burger, and the Little Deuce Coupe Burger (with spicy Cajun seasoning). All Jukebox Heroes baskets come with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and choice of chips, fries or pasta salad.

If you'd rather have a sandwich basket, then one can choose from the Hot Diggity Dog (2 Regular or 1 foot long with choice of fixin's), Bette Davis B.L.T, Fantastik Fried Bologna (with a fried egg, if you like), Rockin Robin (Chicken, Ham and Swiss Cheese), The Boardwalk Philly Cheese Steak, James Dean Grilled Chicken, Wipeout Chicken Salad: Served cold on toasted bread, Fabulous Thunderbird (Chicken, cheese, barbecue,and bacon), Sweet Pam's Fish Fillets, Fat Freddies Country Style Steak, Doo Wah Diddy Philly Chicken Cheese, Fabulous Cades Cove Pulled BBQ, and, of course, a sandwich fit for the King (sorry!), the Elvis Country Club Sandwich with Ham, Turkey and Bacon!

Their breakfasts have equally catchy names, such as "The Supreme's 3 Egg Omelete", "Tutti Fruitti Pancakes", and "Jimmy Mack's Waffles" (for a little Motown flavor!). And, of course, what 50's-themed diner worth it's vintage Hamilton Beach Malt Mixers wouldn't serve a wide variety of thick, frosty milkshakes? At Mel's, diners can choose form Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, Chanana (Banana and Chocolate mixed, of course), Strawberry, Pineapple, Butterscotch, Oreo, and Reese's, made with their signature peanut butter cups crushed up and mixed into a vanilla shake.

From the vintage red booths to the advertisements and magazine covers of the era, Mel's Diner is a true Fifties experience; even moreso for someone my age who wasn't alive to experience it. Talking to fellow diners old enough to remember that special time, they all agree; Mel's diner is the next best thing to actually traveling back in time for a trip down Route 66!