Pizza that needs no razzle-dazzle to hype up its flavor.
A lot of restaurants we cover here at Cityview are beautiful, upscale sit-down affairs. The salad fork on the far left and all that (I had to look that up, by the way). And don’t get me wrong, places like that make for quite an enjoyable dining experience. But sometimes, there’s nothing like a fresh-baked pizza, and as my years in New York taught me, sometimes the best pies are the ones you least expect. Today, we’re leaving behind the healthy eats of last issue and diving into the world of blackened ovens and fist-bumping chefs in search of the perfect bite of that American classic: pizza.
Baker Boy Pizza Company
It may seem small, but the Baker Boy’s got a big oven, so come prepared for a big pizza! Walking in, I could see the chef flipping the dough through a small window, and I decided to walk over and say hello. This turned into me getting something of a chef’s special, a huge 24” behemoth of a pie loaded with mushrooms, spinach, and cherry tomatoes that burst in my mouth. I’m sure there were more toppings as well, but it’s the tomatoes that I remember—and I’m not usually much of a tomato eater. I’m told the closest thing to what I ordered is the Very Cherry, but hey, maybe next time I go in, there’ll be a Cityview Special on the menu so you can have a taste, too. Wink wink.
East Knoxville | 701 North Cheery Street | bakerboypizzacompany.com
A Dopo Pizza
I didn’t know pizza restaurants took reservations! A Dopo may open at 5 p.m., but if you want to sit right away, you better get your foot in the door a few days in advance. Having found my way to a table, I can see why there’s a line at the door. A Dopo is known for its quick-baked sourdough pizza; 90 seconds in their thousand-degree oven is all it takes and then it’s out and on the table. I got a Margherita pizza and managed to eat the whole thing (they did say they recommended one per person), but if you want something a bit flashier, my guests got themselves a Pizzicletta. Piled high with arugula, aged prosciutto, and A Dopo’s white sauce—a blend of mascarpone cheese, local cream, and pecorino Romano cheese—it’s a heavenly selection.
Downtown | 516 Williams Street | adopopizza.com
Cruze Farm Pizza Barn
I’ll be honest with you, researching this article was the first I’d heard of Cruze Farm doing pizza, but sure does make sense, doesn’t it? Great dairy means great cheese, which means great pizza. That, at least, was the thinking that opened the doors of the Pizza Barn seven years ago. The barn’s got the same classic Americana look you expect from Cruze Farm, and the names of the pizzas are equally classic. Dumb Blonde is the name of the three-cheese specialty white pizza that caught my eye, but I’d be remiss not to mention the Cowboy’s Ways for all you carnivores out there. With pepperoni, house-made Italian sausage, ground beef, ham, and bacon, it’s a meat lover’s dream!
East Knoxville | 2723 Asbury Road | cruzefarm.com
Big Ed’s
Back in high school, I spent my fair share of time over at the Oak Ridge Playhouse as an actor, and always just next door was the face of Big Ed, smoking his cigar. I don’t recall if I ever actually ate there back then, but it still felt like a trip down memory lane stepping through the doors. Everything from the name to the lighting down to the signed Miss America ’83 photo on the wall gives me a feeling of stepping into some classic mafia movie (not sure if that’s a universal experience or just me, though). I got myself a small David’s Veggie and managed to eat all but one slice in one sitting. My stomach probably thought that was a mistake, but my tastebuds sure didn’t!
Oak Ridge | 101 Broadway Avenue | bigedspizzaoakridge.com
South Coast Pizza
Bicycles on the ceiling and all the pizza comes in boxes – this place is made to move! But that didn’t stop me from taking a seat at one of the picnic tables and chowing down. What caught my attention here were the sauce base options – hot sauce, Korean BBQ, and the one I ultimately decided on, pesto. You can get an 8” personal pie here, so it’s a great place to go solo (though going with friends seems to also be a favorite for some patrons). I can also attest to the richness of the chocolate lava cake, which I got as a bit of a belated birthday treat. early! And while you’re there, be sure to check out Brother Wolf as well for cocktails and small plates. If you’ve never tried the gnocchi, give it a taste!
South Knoxville | 1103 Sevier Avenue | southcoastpizza.com
Pizza Palace
Pizza is definitely an American classic, but it’s also a Mediterranean one, and there’s something extra authentic about pizza places that offer good cuisine that doesn’t come with crust. That’s Pizza Palace for you. Around since 1961, Pizza Palace offers not just pies, but also lasagna, ravioli, and even veal cutlets. This article is about pizza, though, so let’s talk about cheese. This pizza is the kind that is dripping hot strings of cheese down all the way from your mouth to the plate. Minus some minor mouth burns, that’s some good cheese, which – in this writer’s opinion – makes for a good pizza.
East Knoxville | 3132 Magnolia Avenue | visitpizzapalace.com
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