I'll be altruistic and give Altruda's 5 stars for the overall experience. We had great service and I love how the tables are segmented off into different "rooms" which makes the ambiance more intimate and quieter. The meals came out with a family style salad, which included neat toppings such as beets. The rolls doused in cooked garlic might be some of my favorite bread from any restaurant. Our server was prompt and did a great job anticipating our needs. I ordered the veal canzanese, which is breaded veal in a red wine sauce with mushrooms, ham, and cheese. My mom ordered the same dish but with chicken. Literally could not tell the difference between the chicken and veal. While the sauce tasted fine it's not a good idea to dowse a breaded meat in sauce because they were extremely soggy. I probably wouldn't order the veal again. I enjoyed how the meat sauce for the spaghetti had parsley in it - made it taste different from other bolognese. However, the meatballs, though large, were dry and bland as all get out. Some of the driest meatballs I've had in a while. Altruda my word, I'll give them 5 stars for the overall experience. Service 5, ambiance 5, and food 3.5. read more

Altruda's - Family style salad with garlic rolls - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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1/2 My fiancé and I randomly decided to try Altruda's for a date night, and I wanted to love it so badly because the atmosphere is absolutely a 10/10. The second you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into a little restaurant in Italy. It genuinely gave me Lady and the Tramp sharing spaghetti vibes. Cozy, romantic, intimate and completely my kind of atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting for us. We both had water, so I can't speak to the wine or cocktail selection. My fiancé ordered the lasagna, and I ordered the rigatoni with basil. I'll admit I didn't realize the rigatoni was literally pasta with oil and basil no marinara, no cheese, just a LOT of basil. And when I say a lot...I mean a lot. Neither of us really enjoyed our entrées, although we did eat them halfway. The salad was a disappointment. The lettuce seemed old and was extremely limp, and the chickpeas were soggy and tasted like they had been sitting in the dressing for quite a while. Nothing tasted particularly fresh. Overall, I'd give Altruda's 2.5 stars. The atmosphere alone makes me want to love this place because it is SO my vibe, but ultimately I'm going to a restaurant for the food, and ours just didn't hit. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but based on this visit, I loved where I was sitting a whole lot more than what I was eating. read more

Great family-owned Italian restaurant! One thing to know before you go: they only take reservations for parties of six or more. We arrived around 5:20 p.m. and were seated immediately, but by 5:45 there was already a wait. If you're dining with just one or two people, there are several seats available in the bar area. I started with an Old Fashioned. The moment I saw the bright red cherry and small ice cubes, I knew it probably wasn't going to match the quality of the food. It was drinkable, but they could definitely upgrade their Old Fashioned program because the food deserves it. Every table starts with a fresh salad and warm bread. The salad was very good, and the bread was absolutely delicious. I decided to try something new, the Pollo Dill, and I'm glad I did! It featured chicken and rigatoni tossed in a rich, flavorful Parmesan cream sauce. It was outstanding and easily my favorite dish of the night. We also ordered the Pollo Parmesan and the Pollo al Limone, and both were excellent. Our grandkids enjoyed the spaghetti with a huge meatball, which they quickly devoured. The service was attentive throughout the meal, and our water glasses were never empty. The restaurant has the warm, welcoming character you'd expect from a longtime family-owned Italian restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Italian food with generous portions, friendly service, and plenty of charm, this place deserves a spot on your list. Just get there early if your party has fewer than six people. Cheers! read more

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Awesome. That's the only way I can accurately describe this experience. This unassuming brick strip center holds a hidden treasure. Beyond the big wood doors lies another world. Step in and be transported to an old farmhouse in Italy complete with a stone wall and fireplace. The level of coziness and comfort is incredible. We began with their signature salad served family style. Then, per my request, they made me veal piccata which is not on the menu. It was cut with a fork tender. Served with a side of pasta with meat sauce made this meal epic. Our waiter was very engaging and helpful. This restaurant is now one of my favorites. Thanks Altrudas read more

Altruda's - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This was our first time visiting. We got to the restaurant at 6 on. Saturday and they were very busy with almost a full lobby. We were told 20-30 minutes and were seated in 25. Perfect! The waitress was amazing, in top of all her tables with drinks, never rushed us, provided suggestions and was very nice. M The food was delicious! We tried the stuffed mushrooms, the bread and salad, the Dill Shrimp and Tiramisu for dessert. Everything was hot, fresh and well paced. This is an excellent, romantic spot. Dimly lit tables, individual booths, you can have a conversation. We will be back with our family for another meal soon. read more

One of our friends was craving for Italian food for dinner, and we wanted to explore restaurants we have not yet been, so we landed here. Our service guy was really nice. The interior was a little too dark. The dinner rolls basket that comes with our pasta is tasty, but I'm shocked to see the rolls were just swimming in butter. The salad is the only 10/10 highlight. I got the sausage spaghetti with their home made sauce. After I had three bites, the sauce already separated, with a pool of clear liquid at the bottom of the spaghetti. The flavor is on the very plain side. And the sausage was just ok. read more

Altruda's - Dinner roll - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Ok So from NY and still searching for good Italian food ! First time - too dark - service was excellent - Salad was excellent- Bread what happened here rolls in butter - tasteless .... I ordered linguine white clam sauce - mistake - small portion - for the price -,few chopped clams on top - I see other interesting items on menu - will give it a second visit ... They could do better ! read more

(4/5) Altruda's - Knoxville, TN Driving down from Northern Virginia to Nashville (over a 10-hour trip!), we stopped in Knoxville for the night and decided to try Altruda's. This was on October 24, the day before my Nashville Half Marathon, so I wanted a solid pre-race carb meal -- and Altruda's absolutely delivered. We started with the Tortellini Tricolore -- delicious, creamy, and rich. I had to stop myself after five or six pieces to save room. For mains, I ordered the Spaghetti Marinara (keeping it vegetarian before race day), and my friend had the Rigatoni Anthony with ham. Both entrées came with Altruda's famous house salad -- they brought us a large shared bowl with garlic bread on the side, and even offered free refills. The salad was fresh and full of flavor -- crisp romaine, earthy beets, mushrooms, and a light, tangy dressing. The spaghetti itself was fairly simple -- not mind-blowing, but exactly what I needed before a race: light, tomato-based, and not greasy or heavy. The Rigatoni Anthony was richer and creamier -- a bit much for me that night, but it tasted great. The ambiance is warm and rustic, with that classic old-school Italian vibe. Service was friendly and efficient even late at night. Overall, it was exactly the kind of comforting, hearty meal I wanted before race day. I ended up finishing first in my age group at the half marathon the next day -- maybe a little Altruda's magic helped. I'd gladly stop by again the next time I'm in Knoxville or passing through Tennessee. read more

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Man, their salads with dinner entrees are awesome. Honestly, could be better than the dinner entrees themselves. Food is good, atmosphere is kitchy, staff are prompt and polite kitchen, it's not ridiculously priced for what you get. It's not cheap either, but you do get a ton of food. We've tried a few pasta dishes and a couple different entrees. We've enjoyed them all except the lasagna was cold in the center. Very cold. We've yet to find a favorite entree there but we'll keep trying. read more

My husband has taken me here on several occasions! Exceptional every time! I give this place with food, service and ambiance. Amazing memories are made here. read more

Altruda's - Entrance area - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This place is incredible!!! The ambiance is amazing- we felt like we were eating in an Italian library. Our server was very friendly and helpful. The salad had lots of fixings (but is iceburg lettuce which is not my personal favorite) and the garlic rolls are COVERED in garlic (super yummy). I had the Pollo Dill- I have never seen a dill pasta dish and I love dill. It was unique and very good. We also had the sausage stuffed mushrooms and Pasta e Fagioli which was very good. read more

Altruda's - Pollo dill - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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The food was very good , we got the lasagna and a chicken parm, we also got the appetizer sampler which we could have done without, it was just ok. But the lasagna is worth going back for. The bread is nice because it's covered in butter and garlic. I loved how the restaurant is broken up into smaller dining areas. And the service was top notch. read more

Altruda's - Chicken parm and lasagna - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Good food, great ambiance. Came here for dinner last night looking for something tasty and filling. Altruda, hit the spot perfectly. We came around 7:30 on a Thursday night the restaurant was busy, but not super packed. We were lead to a room in the back and given the menu. Our server greeted us with waters and asked if we wanted anything else to drink. She answered our questions and gave really good suggestions. I took her suggestion of the Pollo ala Melanzane with marinara sauce instead of the meat sauce. My husband got the Snapper ala Limone. While you are waiting for the main dishes you get a salad and garlic rolls. The rolls were hot, garlicky and delicious. The salad was lightly dressed and fresh. Our main dishes were really good. I loved mine. The flavors were great and it was nice and cheesy. The snapper was light and flaky. Both were served with noodles. Everything we had was really good. I definitely want to come back and try more things. The service and the food make this place great. read more

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Food was great, as always! We sat at the bar so we could watch the Vols game and the service was fantastic! Always refilling waters and checking in. Ambiance is homey and would come here time and time again. read more

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Overall Altruda's is a nice place to go for Italian food. The food itself was very good, nice atmosphere, great customer service, very friendly, lots of parking. We tried the chicken parm and the chicken Amanda, along with a side of meatballs. I found the portions a bit small, especially the chicken breast for both dishes. Although the meatballs were huge! Was also put off by the plating they used. They put the chicken parm on one dish, pasta on another very small dish, very odd. First thing I did was move the pasta over to the plate where the chicken was. Just makes it easier to eat and looks nicer. The chicken Amanda was excellent. A vinaigrette infused chicken breast and we chose the fettuccine alfredo with it. For some reason that dish was served on one plate, go figure. Both meals include unlimited salad and fantastic garlic bread soaked in garlic butter. read more

The food was not good. Pasta was over cooked. Salad was too much dressing. Ghhhgghhhhjjkkkytredfcvbggfvvb My Gibberish for having to add too many didgets read more

The waitress is sweet and attentive. The atmosphere is good, nice music. The food is not good. The breaded lemon chicken is soggy, the fried artichokes has no flavor. It is an expensive for what it is. read more

Ordered Fettuccine Alfredo and it was absolutely horrible, egg noodles and the Alfredo tasted as if it came out of a jar. The rolls were just frozen rolls and they were swimming in butter. Spent over $100 for 3 plates of egg noddles. What a joke!!! read more

We gathered for a family dinner tonight at Altrudas. FYI, they will not take reservations for less than six. The indoor decor is nice. All the servers were dressed in black which was classy. The dining rooms (I think there about six) had tables squeezed in tightly. It was noisy so it was difficult to hear conversations at our table. The food was reasonably priced but not outstanding. It was flavorful but not the best I've tasted in Knoxville. A three star review is average which is a fair assessment on this evening's visit. Our server was pleasant, but we felt rushed. She handed out to-go boxes while I was still eating. After she handed out the to-go boxes, she asked if we wanted dessert (check in hand) and readily handed it to us when we declined. read more

Altruda's - Pollo Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Great food. Love their salad!! The spaghetti La Grande is so good especially with the ricotta and meat sauce. Service is always great. read more

Best Italian in Knoxville--hands down! From the garlic rolls and salad, to just about any entree.. it's consistent and wonderful. Fettuccini is amazing! I've been coming to this restaurant for 30 years and I've never had a bad experience. Service is always flawless, the ambiance has always been so quaint and cozy. Even in a dining room full of people, it still has a private feel. Love it!! read more

Altruda's - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Great ambiance and service. The food is good but the sizes are not really worth the price. The salad is really good and the ingredients all work well together. Have a pretty good wine selection but the bar area isn't open since Covid. read more

Last review was 7 years ago....wow. Back for another visit! Really enjoyed our experience - the inside as you walked in was decorated very nicely. The staff was very kind and tended to any requests that came up. The food came out cooked great and to temp as well. The scallop dish was amazing. Will be back soon! Definitely a great food to have on a cold day :) read more

An overpriced, small portioned, knock-off Olive Garden. Mama mia, what a disaster! Authentic Italian food seekers, avoid this place at all costs. read more

We had high hopes for dinner here based on the reviews but sadly we were disappointed. First the good - our server was helpful, pleasant, and our glasses were never empty. The salad was very good - dressing was spot on. Now - everything else. Garlic rolls were just plain thick rolls covered in butter and garlic. No flavor and way too greasy. The lasagna had potential but they use ground beef with no flavor and thick store bought style noodles. The best thing about it was the cheese on top. The fettuccine Alfredo with chicken was worse than store bought Alfredo sauce. The chicken wasn't freshly made it was cold chunks heated up and the noodles were egg noodles. Egg noodles??? It was gritty and had zero flavor - you couldn't taste garlic or anything. And to top it off the bowl of egg noodles was $28! The tiramisu horrible as well. It was thick and custard like and again no flavor. We really did want to like this place - being new to the Knoxville area we were searching for a great Italian restaurant. This was not it. It was overpriced and a let down. read more

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Where do I start. WORST $120+ meal for TWO in a while. Firstly; let's start with the fact that I ordered FETTUCCINE Alfredo and was given water disgusting EGG NOODLES. Apparently, this IS their standard.... You can't call it fettuccine if you DONT USE THE NOODLE. I hate egg noodles, they're cheap, have zero flavor and barely hold sauce. The menu is riddled with egg noodles and I purposely chose the Fettuccine because of my dislike for egg.... Apparently going to an Italian restaurant and expecting to get the noodle you order... an issue. Sauce was a watery flavorless mess (which happens with egg noodles and their sogginess). An underwhelming experience doesn't even encapsulate the meal. Bread rolls are frozen and a vat of garlic butter poured on top of, they were cold when delivered. My boyfriend's veal was soggy and soaked in oil/butter we had to use the salad plate as a vessel to drain the excess into. Best part of the meal was the salad... even then the house dressing have zero flavor was main oil with little vinegar or seasoning. If I hadn't spoken to several friend after this experience and they also agreed with me, I wouldn't be posting. But clearly this establishment has lost any pride in their cooking. Dog got the veal after we peeled off the soggy breading, and I threw away $30 worth of "fettuccine" Alfredo. Ps the grey chunks in the picture is the boiled bland chicken you're adding on for $7. 2 stars for prompt service and the 40min getting us in and out from seating to out the door... read more

Altruda's - "Fettuccine" Alfredo with chicken $29 - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Hands down, Altruda's is my favorite Knoxville Italian. This place has been a staple of west Knoxville dining for as long as I remember. Garlic rolls are the best I've ever eaten. House salad is absolutely stellar. Keep up the great work y'all! Pasta dishes are outstanding. Favorites are fantastic Desserts are a great end to your meal. I've never had a bad experience here in 30 years. read more

The atmosphere is nice. This is a fantastic place with wonderful and welcoming staff. Minimal noise, so you can actually talk across the table without feeling like you're yelling. A wide amazing range of sauces, pastas, parmigiana, salads and shrimp.. They use Reggiani parmesan for their Alfredo sauces, which has a strong distinct taste to that who are not familiar may find off putting. one of the most impressive wait staff that was on top of every thing. The staff checked don us just the right amount os times and made sure our glasses where never empty. I would recommend make reservation for going. Specific recommended dishes are Rigatoni Alla Carbonara, Salad and Garlic Rolls, Ravioli, Antonio's Sampler, Chicken Marsala, Salad Rolls, Pollo Amanda, and the Chicken Parmesan. The place does not use fettuccini noodles, but rather use egg noodles. You can ask for spaghetti noodles when ordering as many find egg noodles off in chicken fettuccini Alfredo, The cannoli was great. The service exceeded expectations. Overall a fantastic dinning experience. read more

This was sooo good. Will never go to Olive Garden again for Italian free eating here! A little more expensive but worth it

Always a top pick! Highly recommend a try! Food is always great and staff makes you feel welcome every time.

Have dined here several times and the ambiance, food and service is always exceptional

I love this restaurant. I have a dish here I always order & I wish I could learn to make it myself. They are the only place, I know of, that has fried artichoke hearts on the appetizer menu. I grew up in Northern California & my mom made them at home. They are a wonderful reminder of home to me. Save room for their salad & their butter, garlic rolls. The rolls are amazing & they will send some home with you if you ask them too. It is a comfortable, homey feeling restaurant. I am never disappointed when we go there for dinner. I just wish they were open for lunch too! read more

Brought my friends. It's still delicious and I would come again. I got my usual shrimp Alfredo with ziti noodles because I like my noodles to be more al dente. I always ask for dressing on the side and I'm looking forward to my leftovers! read more

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YUM!!!! Went today for mine and adopted sister's birthday celebrations! We had not been to Altruda's in years! What a wonderful evening we just had!!! Taylor & Charlotte (her training shadow) were our servers, a terrific team they were. They covered everything our group of 5 needed with total professionalism. The owner even stopped by our table, he was so enjoyable. Now the FOOD? Over the top!!! Our son & HH (hungry hubby) both order the Eggplant Nicole and it was very enjoyable & tasty! I had the Ravioli with Alfredo, soooo yummy! And HOT out of the oven. Our friends both had the Fettuccine Alfredo and took a lot home! Our server even told them exactly how to reheat it. Then came our Birthday deserts. I so enjoyed my (HH had it too) Cannoli and it was sooo close to what I remember as a child living in Italy! My b-n-law & son all had the Tiramisu, it was a real hit! My sister had the Spamoni ice cream and throughly enjoyed it! We will back soon! read more

We had the alfredo and lasagna and they were both outstanding. The house salad was a great mix with perfect ingredient ratios. The garlic rolls were delicious but could have used a bit more butter - KIDDING! They are served in a bowl with a generous portion of drawn butter. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Altruda's is one of my very favorite restaurants in Knoxville. Reliably good, and nothing beats their salad & garlic rolls! I ate here a couple of weeks ago for the first time in awhile. I ordered my "go-to" choice of Chicken Limone. It never disappoints. Lightly breaded, tender breast fillets of chicken, with a delicious lemon butter sauce. It comes with a side of pasta & marinara. However, I always request the chicken be placed on top of the plain pasta. So perfectly delicious! My friend had a baked ziti and was super happy. We shared a bottle of wine, and spent a good bit of time talking and visiting. Service never disappoints either. read more

Altruda's is simply wonderful! I've been going visiting for over 10 years! If you are dining in, you will get unlimited salad and rolls. The house salad is so hearty and packed with flavor! Changed my mind on Italian dressing for sure. The rolls....goshhh so good. I definitely have to limit myself to one, but for the indulgent, that's going to be so difficult. They rolls are hot and fresh, served coated in garlic butter with big chunks of garlic. (Good to accept before planning any post dinner make-out sessions ). I always get the shrimp dill....literally last me for days. It is so hearty and delicious!! For me, one entree would be more than plenty to share with another, especially with the salad and bread to accompany your meal. While I love dining in, take out won't disappoint a bit. You will get one large portion of the house salad per entree, as well as 3 rolls (I thiiink?-You could always ask for extra, I'm sure!) They wrap every Togo box with plastic wrap so nothing gets messy during transport. The service is so lovely as well! The owner is almost always there, offering up a warm hello and checking on you/your experience. The staff definitely echos this style of service as well. Whether dining in or out, you will be thoroughly satisfied and coming back for more! read more

Good Italian fare and seems fairly authentic. After a few hit and misses for pasta locally, we needed our carb fix STAT. Tried first on a Saturday for takeout and the wait was over an hour. On a Tuesday, we were able to pick up within about 30 minutes. The inside is charming and looks like it would be lovely for an intimate meal or date night. So, if you actually like talking to the person you eat with, Altruda could be an option. As for the grub, we ordered fettuccine alfredo with meatballs and baked ziti al forno. We heard the portions were huge, so my husband was a bit sad when he saw his baked ziti. Not sobbing in the corner sad, but he was hoping for more for the price. He liked that there was meat in it AND in a meat sauce. My portion with the alfredo was fine and the meatballs were the size of my cat's head. Probably one would have done the job. You can tell the meatballs were homemade, which is awesome, but they were a bit dry and would have loved them simmered in a sauce. We anticipated two small side salads but opened a single container with a huge amount of salad inside. SO.MANY.TOPPINGS. It had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, mushrooms, onions, and cheese. It was already dressed in a vinaigrette. They also gave us a container filled with their garlic rolls...there probably ten rolls in there. Yowza. read more

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This place used to be good, but our last experience sucked!! Great service, but the food tasted horrible. I struggled with this one since I normally like Italian, but it's a pass. read more

Altruda's - At least the friends were good! - Italian Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Worst restaurant I have eaten in. The lettuce in their salad was a mass of soggy leaves. On wedge of tomato for my wife and I. The Zinfandel wine tasted like a 5$ bottle from Walmart. Their tomato sauce was tasteless and watery. The veal was the worst. It was stale and had the texture of a pressed frozen patty. They probably have a bag of frozen breaded veal patties from Costco. 100$ down the toilet. read more