eating it up at the gondolier

Great food at great prices, the Gondolier Restaurant in Sevierville knows how to do it right.
The owners and managers Rita and John Papaioannou have had plenty of experience. “John has been in the restaurant business for years,” stated Rita. Working first in New York before for moving to Sevier County.
His cousin in Athens, TN. who began expanding and selling franchises around the state, started the restaurant chain. “Gondolier Restaurants are located in Chattanooga, Sweetwater, Athens, and all over. When my cousin said there was an opportunity in Sevierville we couldn’t pass it up,” stated John.
According to the Papaioannou’s the community couldn’t have been more welcoming. “Right from the start people were friendly and loved us being here. They never complain. They just tell us how good our food and delicious it is,” stated John. “They especially love our pizza’s.”
Manager Angel Turrubiate, who moved to the area from Florida, echoes those feelings. “We have many regulars who come in almost daily, stated Turrubiate. “It’s like a ritual for them. I’ll be driving down the street and people will be waving at me. Then I get to work and customers come in and say ‘Hey did you see me waving to you?’  It’s such a friendly area and people are just great here.”
What’s also great is the food at the Gondolier. They have a wide selection of choices from authentic Italian dishes like lasagna and stromboli, to Greek salads (the Papaioannou are Greek), appetizers, pizzas, full dinners and a complete kids menu with prices starting at $3.29.
According to customers and employees alike, the desserts are to die for. “They are our slice of heaven,” stated server Sandra Trentham, who has been at the restaurant for three years.
The cakes are made in Athens and delivered to the restaurant and the no-crust cheesecakes are light and fluffy and handmade on site.
”We don’t make any money on the cakes because they are so expensive to produce,” stated Rita. “But they are delicious and the customers love them.”
The restaurant has been in business in Sevierville for seven years and the Papaioannou’s have been in charge of making sure everything is perfect for their customers as owners for the last three. “Our health scores are always in the 90s,” stated Rita. “We are very proud of that.”
Prices are very affordable and the food servings are large.
For home cooking that tastes like your mother made it there is no place like the Gondolier.
The Sevierville location is at 964 Dolly Parton Parkway and their number is 865-428-8050. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Stop in and say hello to John and Rita and be sure to try any of the dishes, but most of all the cheesecake! You won’t be sorry that you did.