Pizza Time In TN!
Gameday pizza can be a great thing, pick-up or delivery enjoyed as accompaniment to the sport itself. Sometimes, however, we want to meet the pizza where it is made, to see it expertly tossed into the rafters and to bite into a slice minutes after it comes out of the oven. That’s the kind of pie we’re looking at in our guide this issue: hand-crafted and fired by folks who will insist you eat it hot. Whether you’re downtown, in Rocky Hill, or on the south side of the river, these are our top five go-eat-it-there pizza picks this fall.
A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
Owners Brian and Jessica Strutz are committed to the craft of pizza. Brian trained in Flagstaff in a pizzeria that featured the pizza oven he would eventually purchase: a Stephano Ferrara original from Naples. A Dopo pies are naturally leavened with sourdough, which makes for a delicate, chewy crust with a perfect amount of char. The Spicy Greens (with mascarpone, mozzarella, greens, chiles, and lemon) and Margherita (with plum tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil) pies pictured below were crafted by pizza masters Marcus and Kyle.
516 Williams Street | (865) 321-1297 | adopopizza.com
Sunday–Monday 5–9pm | Tuesday–Thursday 5–9:30pm | Friday–Saturday 5–10pm
Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria
An Old City favorite, Barley’s offers delectable, hand-tossed pizza alongside a bevy of beers poured from one of the great tapwalls in town. Our pizza master Izzy crafted the Barley’s All American pictured here. Pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, and green peppers atop their special herbed tomato sauce make for a classic pie. Barley’s has a wide-ranging menu and is a popular music venue as well.
200 E. Jackson Avenue | (865) 521-0092 | barleysknoxville.com
Sunday–12pm-12am | Monday – Saturday 11pm-3am
Dazzo’s Pizzeria
Sauce, dough, fresh mozz, meatballs….all made inhouse at Dazzo’s, a narrow storefront on Gay Street that opens into a delightful New York style pizzeria with black and white tile and posters a plenty adorning the walls. Pizza maestros Zack and Reid put together the Dazzo’s Supreme you see here: fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, and mushrooms sitting atop their homemade sauce. Dazzo’s is great for lunch, or dinner before the show.
710 S. Gay Street | (865) 525-2105 | dazzospizza.com
Sunday – Tuesday 11am-10pm | Wednesday – Thursday 11am-11pm | Friday – Saturday 11am-12am
South Coast Pizza
New to pizza but no stranger to Sevier Avenue, South Coast co-owner Chris Morton is a cheerleader for the fast-growing South Knoxville destination. South Coast specializes in pizza but also has some of the best smoked wings in town. The Island Home, seen here as crafted by pizza master Eric Moses, who has extensively honed his craft at pizzerias both local and overseas, bubbles with mozzarella, bacon, Italian sausage, pineapple, and spinach. Enjoy a great pie alsongside a pint of the their eponymous pale ale. If you’re hungry for other fare, try their excellent smoked wings from BBQ smoke master Jimmy Doran.
1103 Sevier Avenue | (865) 712-8884 | southcoastpizza.com
Wednesday – Thursday 4pm-10pm | Friday – Saturday 11am-11pm | Sunday 11am-9pm
Pero’s on the Hill
Pero’s has been serving fantastic Greek, Italian, and American food on Rocky Hill since 2011. Their pedegree, however, extends far back into family history and the original Pero’s on Kingston Pike. Pizza craftsman Lamar Cason ceated The Aspro Kota you see here: white sauce topped with grilled chicken, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, and sauteéd spinach. If you’re in the neighborhood in the afternoon, check out their excellent and affordable lunch menu.
7760 S. Northshore Drive | (865) 694-6900 | perosonthehill.com
Sunday 11am-9pm | Monday – Thursday 11am-10pm | Friday – Saturday 11am-11pm
We’d love to hear from you!
Tell us your picks for Knoxville’s hot spots to eat. Email our dining editor at dining@cityviewmag.com.