This downtown Knoxville wood-fired pizzeria transforms simple sourdough into something magical. 🍕
Since opening in 2016, owner Brian Strutz has been crafting “Neapolitan-ish” pizzas that cook in just 90 seconds.
The secret lies in his naturally leavened dough that’s fed daily like a beloved pet, creating a crust that’s both tender and charred.
Nobody’s leaving disappointed – this place earned recognition as one of USA Today’s Restaurants of the Year for 2025, the only pizzeria to make the prestigious list.
How A Dopo Won Locals’ Hearts
A Dopo conquered Knoxville through pure obsession with craft. Brian Strutz opened the restaurant following his father’s death, transforming personal loss into culinary passion.
His journey began with backpacking through Italy with his wife Jessica, learning from Neapolitan grandmothers at wood-fired ovens. 💫
After working at Blackberry Farm and apprenticing at Pizzicletta in Arizona, Strutz brought his sourdough expertise to downtown Knoxville.
The restaurant’s popularity exploded through word-of-mouth, with locals discovering naturally leavened dough that’s more flavorful and digestible than typical pizza.
Reservations now require booking weeks in advance, with devotees planning date nights and celebrations around securing a coveted table.
The restaurant’s intimate 40-seat space creates an exclusive experience where every pizza emerges from a Naples-imported wood-fired oven that required removing windows just to install.
Food Highlights
- Spicy Greens: Mascarpone base topped with market greens, mozzarella, and chili oil that brings perfect heat balance to fresh, peppery leaves – frequently mentioned as the must-order favorite among regulars who make this their go-to selection.
- Truffle Pizza: Aged mozzarella with white truffle oil, speck ham, mushrooms, chives, and fig jam creating an earthy, luxurious experience that showcases why this earned national recognition for elevating sourdough pizza to “dinner-only delicacy” status.
- Soppressata: Traditional Italian salami pizza featuring house-made mozzarella and spicy cured meat that delivers authentic flavors on the signature sourdough crust with perfectly charred edges and tender center.
- ‘Nduja & Mushrooms: White sauce pizza topped with spreadable spicy Italian pork sausage, roasted mushrooms, oregano, and house-made mozzarella offering bold, smoky heat balanced by earthy mushrooms and creamy cheese.
- Margherita: Red sauce with house-made mozzarella, fresh basil, and olive oil showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to simple perfection using only crushed plum tomatoes and sea salt for the sauce.
- Marinara: Minimalist vegan option with tomato sauce and basil that demonstrates how superior sourdough and quality ingredients can create satisfaction without heavy toppings, perfect for appreciating the crust’s complexity.
Atmosphere
A Dopo occupies an inviting industrial space with concrete floors, cement walls, and polished metal accents. 🕯️
The intimate candlelit atmosphere seats about 40 diners at handcrafted Tennessee white oak tables made by local artisans.
The open-concept kitchen showcases the Naples-imported wood-fired oven where pizzas dance through flames, creating dinner theater for food lovers.
Dramatic low lighting and mismatched delicate plates add sophisticated charm, while the carefully-curated wine selection features bottles under $30 and local beer on tap from neighbors like Crafty Bastard and Last Days of Autumn.
Bottom Line
- Advance planning essential – reservations book solid weeks ahead, but the experience rewards patience with nationally-recognized excellence
- Perfect for special occasions – intimate setting with candlelit tables creates ideal date night or celebration atmosphere
- Authentic Italian techniques meet local ingredients for genuinely unique sourdough pizzas unavailable elsewhere in Tennessee 🧄
- Quality over quantity approach means every detail from daily-fed starter to imported oven contributes to exceptional final product
Address: 515 Williams St, Knoxville, TN 37917
📞 (865) 321-1297
🕔 Open Sun-Thu, 5 PM–9:30 PM | Fri-Sat, 5 PM–10 PM