For those looking for a night of bowling, Pigeon Forge has more to offer than Dollywood or its beautiful mountains; celebrity chef Guy Fieri has a restaurant in Downtown Pigeon Forge with many of his classic dishes alongside bowling lanes and arcade games.
Downtown Flavortown is a destination with duckpin bowling, arcade games, and a menu curated by the one-and-only Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
If you’re looking for a fun break from your Pigeon Forge vacation, you can go bowling for an hour or two with family before or after having some tiki cocktails and American fare and jumping into some other fun activities. This will leave family and friends saying, “that was money!”
Going Down to Flavortown
Downtown Flavortown is in The Mountain Mile Mall, which, those familiar with Pigeon Forge know, has multiple shops and restaurants. It’s also close to many of the attractions like the TITANIC Museum, The Island, and the famous Dollywood theme park.
After a day taking in the sights and attractions of Pigeon Forge, you can head off of Route 441 for some bowling and great eats.
Duckpin Bowling at Downtown Flavortown
What you’ll notice when you walk into Flavortown is the decor: it’s bright and vibrant, and it lends itself to a family-friendly party vibe. Most of the space is taken up by the 14 lane duckpin bowling alley. This makes it great for birthday parties or group events, and it also makes it an upbeat and fun atmosphere.
Duckpin bowling is great for breaking those typical nights out with friends or significant others, since it isn’t a game many people are familiar with, but can be picked up quickly and engages the competitive spirit.
You can get a lane and enjoy some quality time with a couple of cocktails or a beer bucket. The lanes are open from 11 am to 11 pm making it a great choice for a post hike hangout or a way to close out the night.
How is Duckpin Bowling Different From Regular Bowling?
The lighter, shorter pins make it harder to get a strike in duckpin bowling compared to traditional bowling. They are laid out much the same as regular bowling, in a triangular formation.
The rules for duckpin bowling are similar to traditional bowling, including scoring, except you get three tries instead of two. Overall, it’s an approachable game for kids of all ages, and adults enjoy it too. It’s something cute for a date night, and allows for some friendly competition.
Entertainment and Food at Downtown Flavortown
Duckpin bowling is a big draw at Downtown Flavortown, but it isn’t the only thing there is to do there. The space is 43,000 square-feet, and includes a restaurant, bar, and arcade. This provides a lot of options, especially if you are with people who aren’t big fans of bowling, or if you want to stick around after a couple of games.
An Arcade With the Classics
Downtown Flavortown’s arcade is a big one and has classic style arcade games we all grew up with as well as more innovative and futuristic types. It’s 10,000 square feet and has games like racing and sports, and there are also games that offer gifts and prizes.
Something that stands out at this arcade makes it a destination for something other than bowling. Pigeon Forge can also be your destination for virtual reality gaming since this arcade offers some new and exciting games using VR experiences.
Get Down on Guy’s Famous Bites
The menu at Downtown Flavortown is developed by the celebrity chef and personality of Guy Fieri. This means, you’re going to get the opportunity to try some of his trademark dishes like his Trash Can Nachos and the popular Donkey Sauce.
It has something for everyone including the kids, and it’s reminiscent of American diner fare with milkshakes and big-bite burgers. The menu also offers personal pizzas and shareables like wings and nachos, which always add a little pizzazz to an evening out with the friends.
What else can you expect to munch on? Well, here are some of the dishes that stand out for us:
- Hot Chicken and Waffle Sliders: This iconic dish takes the form of tiny sliders perfect for sharing (or hoarding for yourself). We’re talking chicken tenders with a hot honey sauce, some maple butter, and pickled red onion to cut through those savory bites.
- Motley Que Pulled Pork Sandwich: This sandwich was featured on Guy Fieri’s show, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, and has pulled pork bathed in a brown sugar bbq sauce with coleslaw, onion straws, and Guy’s trademark Donkey Sauce.
- Old Skool Steak Sandwich: Go for a classic sandwich using hangar steak and covered with sauteed peppers and onions. It’s served with an A1 Donkey Sauce, and, like all sandwiches on the menu, comes with a basket of fries.
- American Royal Ribs: For those looking for a bigger plate, you can get a full or half rack of these ribs that are dry rubbed and basted in the famous bourbon brown sugar BBQ sauce. They are served with mac ‘n cheese, crispy onion straws, American slaw, and pickles.
- Blackened Salmon: This classic blackened salmon is served with andouille sausage, a dirty rice, and garlic-lime compound butter for some Louisiana flavor.
- Big Bite Burgers: These burgers are made using 100% USDA ground beef and include Guy’s award winning Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger with a garlic brioche bun. Options also include the Big Philly Bomb and the “Do-Nut Try This At Home” Burger which uses a vanilla glazed donut for a bun—it works, trust us.
- Personal Pizzas: Get a 10” pizza perfect for one person or for sharing with other bites. Choose between fun choices like the chicken avocado, BBQ chicken ranch, and the Fat Boy, which is covered in mac n’ cheese, french fries and bacon. Pizzas also come with a gluten free cauliflower crust option.
Grab Classic Tiki Drinks at the Tiki Bar
Downtown Flavortown also has a Tiki bar that offers many of the classic tiki cocktails such as the Planter’s Punch, Mai Tai, and Piña Colada, and you can drink them out of Flavortown’s collectible tiki mugs—something to take home as a keepsake.
It’s a full bar, so if you’re looking for beer, hard seltzer, or other cocktails, you won’t be left out. We have to highlight Guy’s Famous BBQ Bloody Mary, which uses Guy’s signature sauces in a bloody mary mix and comes with candied bacon and beef jerky.
Old fashioned margaritas are also on the list as well as Guy’s “Bubblin’ Bowls,” big cocktail bowls perfect for sharing.
Flavortown is Great for the Kids
The bar makes this a great spot for adults that want to have a good time bowling or eating out, but there are plenty of options for kids, too. Kids will be able to indulge in Guy’s Freak Shakes, two milkshake options that come in a souvenir glass they can take home.
Duckpin bowling is also a great game for kids since it uses a lighter ball and lighter pins. Traditional bowling can tend to be a little more difficult for kids because of the size of the lane and size and weight of both the ball and pins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is on the Menu at Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown Restaurant in Pigeon Forge?
Many people come to Guy’s restaurants to try out his signature items. Downtown Flavortown offers many of the options, including his Trash Can Nachos, Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger, and his Motley Que Pulled Pork Sandwich. In general, the menu offers classic American fare with a flare.
What Hours Are the Lanes Open for Bowling?
The duckpin bowling lanes at Downtown Flavortown are open from 11 am to 11pm. We do suggest that you check with the website or give them a call just in case the hours have changed or they are all booked up. You can reserve lanes for one or two hour slots.
Why Is Downtown Flavortown a Unique Bowling Experience?
Since there is an arcade, bar, and restaurant, Downtown Flavortown is a great spot for parties and larger gatherings. You can reserve space for parties and events, and the space has a family-friendly atmosphere that is just plain fun.
Can You Eat While You Bowl?
Yes, wings, nachos, and other finger foods give you the opportunity to eat while you bowl; you can also order from the bar and enjoy cocktails.
Conclusion
Whether you live in town or are visiting on vacation, Downtown Flavortown offers a great opportunity for bowling, Pigeon Forge style!