Otters Cove Bar & Grill: Lakeside Dock and Dine on Douglas Lake

About

Otters Cove Bar and Grill gives Douglas Lake a casual waterfront spot where the view does much of the work. It sits at Lakeside RV Resort and Marina off Dyke Road, north of Sevierville, and it is one of the few places in the area where you can pull up by boat, tie off and walk to your table. For cabin guests, it pairs naturally with a pontoon rental from the marina next door or a scenic drive out to the lake.

Seating is outdoors, with new covered areas for shade or a passing shower, and the tables look across the lake to the mountains. The menus include main dishes, desserts and specialty drinks, and the kitchen prepares its food fresh. Live music plays on a posted calendar, which makes weekend evenings the liveliest time to visit. The restaurant is openly pet friendly and offers a dedicated doggy menu, so the family dog can come along.

Otters Cove is open Monday and Thursday evenings and from noon Friday through Sunday, and the posted schedule does not include Tuesday or Wednesday. The restaurant notes that hours are subject to change, which is common for a lakeside spot as the season shifts, so call before you drive out in fall and winter. Parking is at the resort, and boaters can use the docks. Check the resort's website for the live music calendar.

Photo: Smoky Mountain Lakeside RV Resort & Marina