There’s a lot more to Italian cuisine than pasta—but there’s also the pasta.
Growing up, a night out at a nice restaurant with the family almost always meant Italian. Perhaps it’s just that my parents found that spaghetti was a safe option when they had me and my little sister in tow, but I like to think that it was because Knoxville has such a variety of Italian restaurants to try. It certainly helps that, almost without exception, the food is really, really good. Even today, as an adult, if I’m searching for a special place – either to bring the family or that special someone – Knoxville’s Italian restaurants are my first, and usually only, stop.
Bella
Now under the ownership of Jimmy Loup, Bella is a must-visit for fine Italian cuisine. If you only have one chance to go, heed my words: you order the Pasta in the Wheel. Even the lactose intolerant among us (like myself) have to experience it once. Let me describe it. A huge wheel of grana padano cheese, xcheese melt into the penne tossed into its creamy core. Add the meat of your choice, and voilà! You have a one-of-a-kind dining experience to share with your friends and family. There’s plenty of other amazing items on the menu as well, not to mention a classy yet inviting atmosphere, but come on – how can you pass up this cheesy opportunity?
Maryville | 121 West Broadway Avenue | bellamaryville.com
Emilia
Right in the heart of downtown Knoxville, the glass doors of Emilia open from Market Square into a warm, bright diner-style restaurant filled with fragrant smells. Inspired by the Emilia-Romanga region of Italy, Emilia offers a seasonal menu of fresh-cooked Italian fare, so each visit gives you the chance to try something new – though the seafood might find a way onto your plate more than once, or twice. Their menu also clearly marks their vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, so even with the rotating menu, you can be sure there’ll be something for everyone.
Downtown | 16 Market Square | emiliaknox.com
Cappuccino’s
Cappuccino’s has called the Bearden area home for almost half a century. My dad remembers going there for Sunday brunch as a kid, and even then, he says, it was one of the nicest restaurants in town. A step into this restaurant is like stepping through time and space back to a classic Italian dinner, and that’s before you dig into the food. Mushroom ravioli is my personal temptation, but there are many options for the more carnivorous among us as well. Top it off with a creamy cannoli, and it won’t be long until you’re sending your own kids here!
Bearden | 7316 Kingston Pike | cappuccinos-italian.com
Altruda’s
With Altruda’s, I must begin with a warning: beware the garlic rolls, because once you’ve eaten one, you might not be able to stop, and then how will you have room for the rest of your dinner? Altruda’s is well-known for the garlic rolls they serve with every meal (the rolls and I are certainly well-acquainted), but that’s not all this 30+ year veteran of the Knoxville Italian scene has to offer. A wide variety of pastas awaits your taste buds, or perhaps you’ll venture out and give the Eggplant Nicole a try. The Cannelloni is not, note, a Cannoli, but it’s still very much worth a taste.
Cedar Bluff | 125 N Peters Road | altrudas.com
Louis’ Restaurant
The Original Louis, as some call it, has the distinction of being the oldest restaurant on this list, dating all the way back to 1958. A few years in New York taught me not to question the credentials of which restaurant is truly the “original” among the many, but there’s certainly no question that there’s a reason they’ve been around this long. Dinner can find you with classic Italian pasta, a charcoal-broiled steak, or even a calf’s liver, if that’s your sort of thing. If you pay them a visit, perhaps you can discover which other Louis-es they used to compete with; you’ll certainly discover why their menu has kept them in business so long.
North Knoxville | 4661 Old Broadway | theoriginallouis.com
Osteria Stella
Located in the Old City, Jessica and Aaron Thompson’s Osteria Stella offers an elegant, upscale dining experience for couples and parties alike. It’s a taste of northern Italy, with cuisine dreamed up by consulting Milanese chef Amalia Brusati and brought to life by Osteria Stella’s culinary team. Where the restaurant really shines, though, is its wine list (the most comprehensive in Knoxville, they say!), with hundreds of Italian selections both by the glass and by the bottle. The tables fill up fast, though, so make sure you make a reservation 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!
Old City | 108 W Jackson Avenue | osteriastella.com
Amici
Amici is not your average Italian restaurant. It describes its offerings as “Alpine Appalachian cuisine” with “local ingredients and Italian techniques.” I’ll admit, I’m not sure I could tell you what Alpine Appalachian cuisine really means, other than “really good.” Whether you’re looking for a classic Italian entrée with a homegrown twist or you’re more in the mood to sit down and kick back with a pizza, Amici has an offering for you. I’d heard of pineapple on pizza before, but I’d never heard of peaches on pizza; I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t have it in me to give that one a try. Oh, well – next time!
Maryville | 1420 E Broadway Avenue | amicimaryville.com