Time to carb load! Sharing some Italian restaurants in Knoxville to find everything from “angel hair” to “ziti”!

 

Cappuccino’s – Chef Frank welcomes you to share creations inspired by his Sicilian heritage. Originally opened in 1977, Cappuccino’s has long served as a place where food, friends, and family come together to enjoy a fresh take on traditional Italian flavors. They offer a combination of distinct flavor profiles from several regions across Italy and quality produce, seafood, and meats from across East Tennessee. Today, their intimate Italian ambiance, love of local ingredients, and commitment to bringing people together over a delizioso menu is what keeps guests coming back time and time again. Whether you’re looking for fresh, seasonally-inspired specials or classic Italian flavors, their goal is to create a unique culinary experience for you and your loved ones.

 

Altruda’s - Inspired by his mother Geraldine Ida Altruda, Chef Paul Meyer has been serving up Knoxville favorites for over 30 years. He notes, "For me, Altruda’s is all about people… and homemade salad and garlic rolls. My story started with my mother, Geraldine Ida Altruda. Born in Italy in 1925. She made the journey to America when she was 12. She was the youngest of 13 siblings. Mama Altruda settled in Plainview Long Island, married, and had five boys. We all grew up cooking with mama in the kitchen. From the time I was able to stir a bowl, I began developing what would later become my passion. Large family dinners were one of my fondest memories growing up. The traditions centered mostly around the kitchen. Every Sunday we would congregate at one of my brothers' or cousins' homes for a full day of food and fellowship. The homes were filled with conversation, aromas, and delicious Italian food. Reminiscing about those good times, I know why I ended up in the restaurant business. Mama taught me the importance of family. 

She also taught me the care and attention that needs to go into creating good food. Why make food when you can create a recipe that excites the senses and can be passed like secrets words of wisdom, from one generation to the next. Those secret recipes live on today. You can enjoy those recipes at our Altruda’s restaurant on North Peters which opened in 1988. The care and attention has not changed for generations. We use only the freshest ingredients. Everything from sauces, salad dressing, to bread is all made from scratch on a daily basis. Our chefs arrive five hours before dinner to begin the process. All of our entrées are made to order to ensure the perfect union of flavors and appearance. Our signature salad dressing contains 18 ingredients precisely measured and dispensed in a specific order that cannot be duplicated. It’s been 38 years now in the restaurant business. I’ve enjoyed every minute. It’s all about salad and homemade garlic rolls. If you take the same care and attention for the small details that you do for the main dish; combine that with a true desire to make people feel like family and life is good. Mama agrees." 

 

Penne for Your Thoughts – Penne For Your Thoughts LLC started as a Knoxville food truck and quickly grew into a beloved community restaurant. Blending classic Italian dishes with modern twists, they pride ourselves on fresh, local ingredients and chef-driven creations. From signature garlic waffle fries to customizable pastas, they aim to bring comfort and creativity to every dish they serve.

The menu is a love letter to both tradition and innovation. Drawing on the bounty of East Tennessee, they source ingredients from nearby farms and purveyors wherever possible. Each recipe is crafted with care — whether it’s a classic red-sauce penne, a boldly spiced Cajun mash, or signature flatbread pizzas with unexpected twists. This commitment to quality and locality lends each dish a warmth and authenticity guests can taste. As they evolved beyond the food truck years (voted Knoxville’s Best Food Truck several years running), they carried that mobile spirit into their brick-and-mortar home in Lakeside Village at 9430 S Northshore Drive. Behind each plate is a passionate team — chefs, cooks, servers — united by a simple mission: to delight. We value a workplace built on respect, creativity, and fun. Whether you’re ordering our “Mac Daddy,” “Pastative Thinking,” or a simple salad, they want you to feel seen, welcomed, and satisfied. 

 

Gavino’s – Family-owned pizzeria serving up New York style slices, hearty pastas, salads and more. Stop by and say hello to Chef Mark Bibby and team. Mark Bibby notes, "I have been a chef my whole life but for the first time I am taking a leap with my own restaurant. Before we found Gavino’s, I knew that I wanted to work with Italian food and I have had the privilege of getting some great New York Pizza recipes and true Italian ingredients. Since taking over I have been able to add a few of my own items while keeping the NY Italian feel. Italian food is all about family and Gavino’s has not only become my home but the home of my whole family. We truly are a family restaurant with my wife, daughter and son by my side. I welcome you to come try our home cooked meals and hopefully you can become a part of our family too."

 

Osteria Stella – Owners Jessica “Rabbit” King and Aaron Thompson are pioneering Knoxville’s first restaurant to recreate Northern Italian cuisine through the lens of authenticity of Chef Amalia Brusati, a consulting chef who recently arrived from Italy’s fashion and design capital. Chef Amalia’s dishes are simple and rustic, with many having only five ingredients. Her recipes were handed down by her family, which she polished with techniques mastered at Milan’s culinary academy. All pastas and breads are produced in house. The kitchen uses top quality ingredients, both imported from Italy and locally sourced. Osteria Stella is a love letter to their baby daughter, Stella, who celebrated her first birthday on the restaurant’s opening night.

Consulting Milanese Chef Amalia Brusati and Chef de Cuisine John Hasentufel, Sous Chefs Logan Kuchinic and Ryan Bolton at Osteria Stella have collaborated to execute this vision, expressing traditions from Amalia’s home to the highest culinary standards, and with a shared love for local produce. Everything from stocks, to pasta, to the ladyfingers in the tiramisu are made lovingly in-house. Curated by Thompson, the wine list of 200+ bottles is the most comprehensive in Knoxville for Italian wine and perhaps in all of Tennessee. Thompson favors family-owned wineries that produce less than 100,000 cases, and in most instances, under 20,000, with female-led operations spotlighted, where possible. The wine list represents a definitive selection of producers representing all 20 of Italy’s regions.

 

Emilia – Chef Matt Gallaher’s second downtown Knoxville restaurant serves simple, seasonal Italian cuisine inspired by the Emilia-Romanga region of Italy. All their pastas are made in-house daily. Matt's team notes, "'HANDMADE ITALIAN': Two words that speak volumes.  When we opened in 2016 our vision was to bring authenticity in Italian cuisine to Knoxville.  Authenticity to us is handmade, seasonal cooking and we marry local ingredients with the best products from Italy."

 

Amalfi – A newcomer to Knoxville in the Bearden neighborhood, this Italian Ristorante is "A Boston institution and a family legacy." In 1936 Horace Consolmagno, an Italian immigrant from a small village near Salerno, opened his restaurant in Boston’s historic and stylish Back Bay, quickly becoming the place to be and be seen, attracting world-class musicians, maestros and leaders from the business community. In 1965, Mario Izzo, the longtime manager, bought the restaurant and expanded the menu with additions from his childhood in Campania and other parts of Italy that he encountered in his extensive Italian travel. "Amalfi" as it came to be known, on symphony nights would have a dozen Nobel laureates, Julia Child, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fielder of the Pops and many other noted celebrities and was a unique fixture in the Boston community. Though Mario sold the restaurant in 1981, the family tradition now continues as Paul, Mario’s grandson, brings Amalfi to Knoxville.

 

Savelli's – Look up "hidden gem" in the dictionary and there's probably a picture of Savelli's on Sutherland Avenue, also in the Bearden neighborhood. Their team notes, "We are a family owned and operated Italian Restaurant, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. A Knoxville staple, we have been located at 3055 Sutherland Avenue for over 26 years. We have a loyal following as well as constantly gain new fans and friends for life after their first Savelli's experience. The minute you walk in the door, you know you are somewhere special. Savelli's has that intimate, neighborhood feel that our clients love. Dine in the intimate candlelit dining room with the sound of Italy's finest in the background and celebrate among loved ones with your favorite bottle of wine.

One of the only BYOW restaurants in Knoxville, we have hosted celebrations with both local and world known celebs such as Peyton Manning and Tommy Lasorda, among many others. We specialize in traditional Italian fare, gas brick oven hand-tossed New York style pizza, sub sandwiches, and our very popular coastal seafood favorites such as Maryland-style crab cakes and Grouper Piccata. We also have a wide selection of vegetarian entrees to satisfy vegetarians. The kitchen is managed by the Owner/Chef Elizabeth Savelli and the Front Of The House managed by Elizabeth's daughter, Kat. Let our family help make your celebration a memorable one."

 

The Original Louis Drive in Restaurant – Serving Knoxville’s Finest Italian Dishes Since 1958, the Original Louis’ Restaurant has been an icon of great food in North Knoxville for over 50 years. They are family owned and operated, and taking care of your family is their main concern. Their made-from-scratch spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, and hand-breaded onion rings are what they're known for, but they also offer a wide selection of tasty dishes that are sure to please the entire family. They're also known for drive up carry out - call ahead to order, then just drive up and they’ll bring it out to you! Curbside service available all day.