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Whether you’re craving a warm plate of pasta, a quick slice or just looking to “wine” down, Knoxville has lots of Italian dining options.
From downtown Knoxville and the Strip to West Knoxville and beyond, we have you covered with a list of favorites compiled by our newsroom staff of longtime East Tennesseans and Knoxville newcomers.
But for the sake of supporting local, you won’t find any Olive Gardens, Carrabba’s Italian Grills or CiCi’s Pizzas on this list − though Knoxville has plenty of chains to choose from, as well.
Did we miss your favorite spot? Please send an email to ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com if you think a restaurant should be added to the list.
Italian restaurants in downtown Knoxville and the Strip
These are some of the most popular Italian restaurants in the center of the Scruffy City.
A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
This restaurant is a Knoxville favorite, but don’t take our word for it. A Dopo was named one of the top 20 best places for pizza in the U.S. and Canada in 2023 and landed on USA TODAY’s 2025 Restaurants of the Year list. Be sure to make a reservation!
Address: 516 Williams St.
Phone: 865-321-1297
Brother Wolf and Osteria Stella
Esquire and USA TODAY named Brother Wolf one of the best bars in America, and the accompanying Osteria Stella is equally delicious and exquisite. The authentic food menu is written in Italian, but don’t be afraid to seek help from co-owner Aaron Thompson, who’s also a sommelier.
Address: 108 W. Jackson Ave.
Phone: 865-247-4729
Da Vinci’s Pizzeria & Calzones
Da Vinci’s is known as the place you stumble into after a few drinks in the Old City, but it’s also a great place if you’re craving just a single slice. Sit down or take a slice to go on your walk to the next bar.
Address: 113 S. Central St.
Phone: 865-637-5040
Dazzo’s Pizzeria
With homemade dough, sauces, mozzarella and meatballs, Dazzo’s is great for dine-in or takeout. Its location right on Gay Street (on the quieter side toward the bridge) makes it a prime choice.
Address: 710 S. Gay St.
Phone: 865-525-2105
Emilia
The only Italian restaurant on Market Square, Emilia offers “simple, seasonal Italian cuisine made by hand.” This upscale spot is owned by locally renowned chef Matt Gallaher, who served as the personal tour chef for Kings of Leon before transitioning to the state governor’s mansion.
Address: 16 Market Square
Phone: 865-313-2472
Oscar’s Restaurant
Oscar’s has a little bit of everything, and the food is refreshingly simple. This restaurant remains a favorite for college students near the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus.
Address: 1840 Cumberland Ave.
Phone: 865-524-3663
Italian restaurants in West Knoxville
Just head west down Cumberland Avenue and Kingston Pike to find even more Italian food.
Altruda’s
This restaurant has been around since 1988 and is named after the owner Paul Meyer’s mother, Geraldine Ida Altruda, who was born in 1925 and came to the United States from Italy at age 12. She taught her five boys how to cook, and the authentic taste lives on at Altruda’s.
Address: 125 N. Peters Road
Phone: 865-690-6144
Cappuccino’s
Cappuccino’s is part of the Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants, one of the most notable restaurant groups in Knoxville. The menu includes traditional Italian dishes, as well as some unique items, like the “orange and white” scallops.
Address: 7316 Kingston Pike
Phone: 865-673-3422
Forno Grill
With the heartbreaking closure of Naples Italian Restaurant afew years back, Forno Grill stepped up to fill a West Knoxville void. As described in a Shopper News story, “Forno Grill doesn’t have the 1970s atmosphere of Naples, but the food quality and preparation more than justify a visit.”
Address: 743 N. Campbell Station Road
Phone: 865-218-8300
Gavino’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
Gavino’s in Bearden is going strong serving New York style pizza and classic Italian dishes.
Address: 5211 Kingston Pike
Phone: 865-200-5571
Hard Knox Pizza
In 2014, owners Dimpal Patel and Alexa Sponcia bought the popular Hard Knox brand, which now has three locations and a menu of pizzas named after boxers and fighting terms. The newest location shares a building with Ebony & Ivory Brewing, Knoxville’s first and only Black-owned brewery.
Bearden address and phone: 4437 Kingston Pike, 865-602-2114
Central address and phone: 2300 N. Central St., 865-263-2633
Hardin Valley address and phone: 10847 Hardin Valley Road, 865-896-3760
Penne for Your Thoughts
Penne for Your Thoughts has tasty food with clever names, such as Pastalavista Baby and Pesto Both Worlds. This local brand started as a food truck and opened in Knoxville’s first food hall before moving to its own brick-and-mortar location.
Address: 9430 S. Northshore Drive
Phone: 865-766-5817
Red Onion Pizza
Far from a traditional pizzeria, Red Onion is a must-try due to its interesting fusion of Italian, Indian and Pakistani flavors.
Address: 3625 Sutherland Ave.
Phone: 865-584-7445
Savelli’s Italian Restaurant
Small in size but filled with flavor! This neighborhood restaurant has all the traditional Italian dishes you would expect, according to the Savelli’s website, as well as “coastal seafood favorites” that include Maryland-style crab cakes and Grouper Piccata.
Address: 3055 Sutherland Ave.
Phone: 865-521-9085
Sergeant Pepperoni’s Pizzeria
This pizzeria is not Beatles-themed, though that would be awesome. But the important thing at a restaurant is flavor, and Sergeant Pepperoni’s seems to have a lot of it, with its Pop-Eye Pizza among the most popular items ordered.
Address: 4618 Kingston Pike
Phone: 865-247-0380
Italian restaurants in other Knoxville neighborhoods
Downtown and West Knoxville have the most Italian restaurants we could find, but there are other options scattered throughout the city.
Bella Roma Pizza
The Bella Roma menu has every delicious item you would expect from an Italian restaurant − at an affordable price − as well as the choice of creating your own pizza or calzone.
Address: 7817 Oak Ridge Highway
Phone: 865-692-4224
Elidios Pizza
Elidios has pizza by the slice, which is too rare of an offering these days. The restaurant also has a small selection of non-pizza items, including a meatball parmigiana hero and baked ziti.
Address: 6714 Central Avenue Pike
Phone: 865-687-1002
Little Nicky’s New York Pizza
Knox News checked in with the owners of Little Nicky’s in 2022 after Hurricane Ian destroyed their home-away-from-home in Fort Myers, Florida. After evacuating, the owners decided to “put our 100% focus and attention on Tennessee.” And the attention to flavor is evident.
Address: 8917 Oak Ridge Highway
Phone: 865-896-0125
The Original Louis Drive in Restaurant
The origins date back to 1958, when The Original Louis’ Restaurant opened its doors, and the restaurant still prides itself on consistency. “When you come in today, the spaghetti tastes just like it did in 1991. And that’s no joke,” owner Jimmy Brinias told Knox News in 2018.
Address: 4661 Old Broadway
Phone: 865-688-4121
Pizza Palace
It’s built right into the name: Pizza Palace is considered Knoxville royalty. The restaurant has been featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” as well as other food-focused TV shows, and has been in operation for more than 50 years. Its marquee alone is considered a landmark in the Scruffy City.
Address: 3132 E. Magnolia Ave.
Phone: 865-524-4388
Super Mario’s Pizza
Still craving carbs after all this? That’s nothing a pizza and seasoned French fries can’t handle. Super Mario’s offers classic pies, as well as modern options, like the buffalo chicken pizza. The menu also includes seafood, pasta, sandwiches and more.
Address: 736 N. Broadway
Phone: 865-525-3010
Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.
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Dining and Cooking