Our journey started with a Google search for the best breakfast near me, which led us to Ember & Elm in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Once I saw the picture, I remembered that Dollywood was creating a new resort and everyone was raving about the new restaurant inside. We had to see what the hype was about and fortunately for us, the resort was only a couple of minutes down the road.

The HeartSong Resort was newly opened and I had heard about the work being done, but never did see a building being erected. It all made sense once we traveled off the beaten path and up the hill from the original resort named DreamMore. The HeartSong Resort fits perfectly in the Smoky Mountain region in both design and appeal.

To get to the restaurant you have to walk through the resort, which was fun because we wanted to check it out before our meal. The lobby was especially grand with a massive stone fireplace and a very homey cabin vibe. We even sat for a moment to just soak in the intricate attention to detail and stunning setting. Dollywood has won the award for the most beautiful park in the world a couple of times now, so I would expect to see the resort be just as opulent. We were not disappointed in the slightest.

Inside, the walls were lined with abstract art that was both fitting and elegant. Everything was very clean and inviting as we were escorted to our seats.

They do a great job of creating an experience for their guests that is curated perfectly to your specific needs. One of the first questions they asked us was if we had any food allergies and were willing to create modifiers to the meal to suit our dietary restrictions. I even saw the chef come out and talk with other guests to ensure the way they prepared their food was going to be safe and plated as per the visitor's specifications.

Once our food arrived we were ready to dig in, but not before taking a couple of pictures, of course. My sunny-side-up eggs were cooked perfectly and the crispy breakfast potatoes featured onions and peppers, was a very nice (and tasty) touch.

My wife ordered the same thing as me but was pleased to have her biscuit which she described as perfectly flaky. She is a really good cook who also makes incredible biscuits, so I would consider that a very high compliment!

My favorite part was the seasonal jam they brought out for us. The peach jam had chunks of real fruit and the whole thing was super smooth and delicious, but I liked the raspberry lemonade jam most. It was so good I couldn't help but scoop out the rest and eat it by itself!

The restaurant wasn’t very busy so we almost had it all to ourselves. We intended to have a fancy breakfast date and the intimate setting, unbelievable food, and great service made the experience very memorable.

Sometimes it's nice to dress up and do something special. We loved Ember and Elm and would highly recommend going here for a romantic breakfast date.

I do not doubt that you too would enjoy the best breakfast date at Ember & Elm in Pigeon Forge. The restaurant may not be visible from the Parkway, but it can be found easily enough and trust me you will want to seek it out. For more information on the menu and hours, please visit the Ember & Elm website. Also if you would like to book a night make sure you check out the HeartSong Resort to start your Smoky Mountain experience.

If you are in need of a walk to work off those extra calories head on into the Smokies and hike the trail to Laurel Falls.