The pizza here is consistently fantastic, which is why we continue to come back. Unfortunately, the service timing has become a recurring frustration for us. On several visits, we have specifically requested that our garlic cheese bread and salad arrive before the pizza so we can actually enjoy the appetizer and salad course first. Tonight, we again had a very clear conversation about this request, yet everything arrived in the exact opposite order. What was most frustrating was being told that "the pizza comes out when the pizza comes out," as though there is no ability for the front staff and kitchen to coordinate timing. In an open-concept restaurant where the order staff and kitchen are working side by side, it seems like simple communication could easily solve this issue. We truly enjoy the food and want this restaurant to succeed, but proper pacing of a meal is part of good dining service. Appetizers and salads should enhance the experience -- not arrive simultaneously with or after the main course. We hope management will take this constructively because the food deserves service that matches its quality read more

Went at lunch and you order at the register take a number and sit down. This place is self serve, including drinks. There was a bar though which is closed during lunch. We got the lunch special, which is a 10 inch pizza and a drink for $15. Very good and the crust had a lot of crunch. Very generous on the toppings. I will be back. read more

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Great quality pizza! Visiting from out of town on a business trip my husband and I wanted pizza but do not like chain restaurants. We decided to try this place and awe are so glad we did. Our whole crew joined us and there was not a sour face in the bunch. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Garlic knots were so tasty. We both got a different 8 inch pizza because we couldn't agree on one. We narrowed it down to the Hawaiian with pepperoni and the Rocky Balboa. The 8 inch would have fed the two of us just fine with four large slices per pie, but as I said they had so many flavor combinations that we wanted to try we could narrow it down to one pizza. The pie did not disappoint. The crust was cooked to perfection, the sauce had great flavor, there were plenty of toppings. The staff were so friendly. The food came out fast. I literally have no complaints! We will be back! read more

Fun atmosphere, quality pie, great service - no complaints! The Feb. special, Gettin' Figgy With It, was quite good, blessed with a captivating and successful plethora of flavors and textures. read more

This is what a person expects from a pizza when thinking of pizza. Sourdough crust. Good toppings. Tasty sauce. Wood oven cooked. Very fast in time between when I ordered by phone and pick up. So quick I was surprised and had to scramble a little to get there before it was cold. I cannot speak of dining experience because I ordered takeout. The pizza was good and that made me happy. read more

Decent pizza. We ordered 4 pies. Staff were friendly. Clean in the inside. I have definitely had better pizza. Caesar Salad was better than the pizza. read more

Keep in mind that this review is done after only one visit. However, reading the other reviews, I think we actually got a really good feel for how it must always be! The man and I were visiting Knoxville to celebrate a graduation. We had an afternoon alone to explore and by the time we were finished with exploring we were HUNGRY!! All we could think about was pizza. I looked on Yelp and found Hard Knox, it seemed to be a local place especially given the name, so we entered it in GPS and headed over to have some grub. WE. WERE. NOT. SORRY!!! Super cool vibe and it was early so the place wasn't crowded at all. We ordered a calzone, small salad (not small by the way), cheesy garlic bread and "Roni Rolls". I know, I know, we were craving pizza but didn't even get one! It was alright though, fun to try the other things. Service was super friendly and there were plenty of people around to help us out, point out things, get refills, etc. There were probably 10 employees and all of them seemed welcoming and friendly toward us. Calzone was huge!!! I took a piece and he ate as much as he could, but we still took home almost half. Seems we were offered two sizes of salads and we chose the smaller of the two, and it was still pretty darn big! Delicious and big! Plenty of dressing and ingredients were fresh and cold. Cheesy garlic bread was simply amazing, their pizza dough has got to be incredible, the dough on the garlic bread was made of the same and it was the best dough I think I've ever had in my life, addicting! The Roni Rolls were made with the same amazing fresh dough and tucked inside was ooey gooey mozzarella cheese and crisp pepperoni. OMG, so good and I dipped every single one of them into that sauce.... except for one last bite that was only dough, I wanted to savor the dough all alone and end on a happy mouth note. Yes!!! Iced tea was one of the best I've had in a restaurant too. Unsweetened, fresh brewed, and icy cold, just how I love it. If I'm ever within a days drive of Knoxville, I will make sure and be hungry because I am coming back y'all, this place is the best!! THANK YOU!!!!! read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Hard Knox Pizzeria: Cheesy garlic bread, salad, Roni Rolls - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Updating my review because I love this place and eat here all the time. The garlic knots have been consistently good as well! I love getting their Sunday special- two pizzas, an app, and a salad for just $50. read more

Great pizza! Very friendly place. Always fresh ingredients and pizzas come out hot and fast. Highly recommend.

We stopped here for dinner. Employees were very nice and accommodating. We ordered half cheese and half roni. The pizza was delicious. Wood fired pizza is one of my favorite types of pizza. The fresh mozzarella was so good. Next time we are back we will be adding a bunch more things to try like their garlic knots etc read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This is the first time that I have been to Hard Knox Pizza. The pizza had good flavor and crust was great, however I was very disappointed in the size of the pizza for the price they charged. I don't think that I would go back based on that alone. read more

I used to be a big fan, and maybe it's just that my expectations have changed due to a super high qual pizza offering now in town, but it feels like it's gone downhill. Too expensive for inconsistent and lackluster flavors. I enjoy the atmosphere and service, but can't find a pizza I love anymore. read more

Warm welcome....this is a neighborhood gem. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. The scent of good pizza hits you at the door. We order the family special with is a great deal. 1 pizza great white hope and 1 rocky top. The salad was delicious and cheese sticks were perfect. This is one of the best pizza places I have been to and definitely will come back when in town. Don't take my worth go try it for yourself read more

They have a bunch of gnats. They get in your food and drinks. I think it's so gross. I killed about 5 in my table. I asked to be moved and even then I was fighting with them. I believe they have a gnat infestation. read more

Not impressed! $75 for three personal pizzas? Absolutely crazy no pizza is worth that even if it was imported from Italy. I won't be back I am not impressed at all. read more

Anytime we are in the area, we stop in for some pizza. We are never disappointed. Great wood fired pizza and lots of choices. They usually have a specialty pie every month. No matter what you choose you can't go wrong. Plenty of parking and the dining area is always clean. The staff are always friendly and accommodating. It does get busy at lunch but they still churn out those pizzas pretty quickly. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Wood fired oven filled with yummy goodness. - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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A few friends and I had never tried Hard Knox so we decided to meet up for dinner. They weren't super busy which was great for us. We ate dinner around 7-7:30PM and sat on the patio. You go inside and place your order and pay. Then, they give you a number and bring out your order. The food came out lightning fast! Several of my friends ordered beers. They have a decent selection on tap. I don't drink beer so I can't tell you what they ordered. I can talk about the food orders though! My friends ordered the Barbed Wire pizza and sylvester calzone. The Barbed Wire comes with local pulled pork, smoked mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon, jalapeño & topped with bourbon reduction. The Sylvester calzone comes with pepperoni, bacon, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, sweet Italian sausage, and house made red sauce. They loved both of the items. I ordered the Rocky Balboa pizza, caprese salad, and roni roll. Everything I ordered was delicious. The Rocky Balboa pizza comes with provolone, sweet Italian sausage, red & green pepper, onion, dried oregano, crushed red pepper, extra virgin olive oil. I asked them to be light on the red onions and they were accommodating! The caprese salad was delicious! It came with three slices of tomatoes from Two Chicks & a Farm, fresh mozzarella, topped with fresh basil, sea salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction. Everything combined was perfect on a summer evening! Then, I ordered the roni roll for the table. It's handmade dough rolled with fresh mozzarella & pepperoni. I aded fresh spinach that was worth the $1 upcharge. Service was friendly. They came to clear plates but never rushed us. I appreciate the other Yelper who said the sweet tea was delish! I ordered it and they were so kind and got me a to go cup when I asked for a refill. Everyone enjoyed their meals and I would definitely come back. I can't wait to try other items on the menu. read more

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The pizza is ok, my coworkers love it so much, but for me it's not my fav. Not bad at all, just ok. I'll eat without complaint here if it makes the others happy. read more

Since Dazzos's decline, this may be the best pizza in Knoxville. It's not wow, like a top pizzeria in NY, but it's still quite good and may be the best local option. Knoxville has had some amazing pizzerias like Big Ed's, Dazzo's, etc but they all seem to self destruct. read more

Food is delicious and fresh! I had the half Greek salad and veggie pizza with pesto and balsamic glaze. So good.

Great atmosphere, the service is always great and the pizza is A plus. My favorite is the Barb wire. Keep everything as it is on the menu except get barbecue sauce as your base read more

It was a little strange standing in line to order pizza, but that seems to be the model for lots of places these days. My daughter and I ordered a 12" pizza and a small Caesar salad and it was just right for the two of us. She's vegetarian so it limited what I could eat but there were still plenty of options for us. Dough seemed very fresh and the food was delivered to our table promptly. Quaint little spot. We will go again. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - D'mata Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Pizza was tasteless and more crust than pizza. Ordered a white and red and neither were more than mediocre.

I wasn't sure what this was I just saw Hard Knox. To my surprise it was a wood fire pizza place. I love wood fire pizza. The staff was very friendly. The restaurant was clean and the pizza was awesome. We go the Knoxville a lot and I will be back here again. read more

This place is a MUST go to. Was on my hit list and did not disappoint at all. There was 4 of us and we ordered 3 and only have 2 slices of the veggie left. The restaurant was fairly large inside nice wooden table with comfortable chairs red chairs. As soon as you walk in there are menu on the wooden wall and the open glass area where the wooden burning oven is and the pizza maker. You walk straight ahead and there is a dine in register to open from and next to it is a carryout counter. The employees are the register was very nice. Filled our drinks and give us our number for the table. The atmosphere was very inviting and open. The bar area that looks like they had a good number of draft beers. There was an employee's walking around checking on everyone and refilling the fountain drinks. The brought out the first 2 pies within 10 minutes and the 3rd immediately after. I am usually a veggie person when I haven't been to a place before but went off the deep end and order a pie called the Vitello which had spicy capicola, peperoni, bacon, banana peppers, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes and an Italian dressing. Although I didn't taste too much dressing, it would not have need it. The had the perfect amount of meat and heat. Incredible flavors. The barnstormer had pepperoni, banana peppers, and mozzarella cheese. It had TONS of pepperoni. A crazy amount. The veggie featured spinach, mushrooms, artichokes, sea salt, red onions and mozzarella cheese. Amazing. There is nothing wrong with this place. and I will definitely return. Everyone you go with can find something here to LOVE. And the bathrooms were on point. read more

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One of my fave pizza places in Knoxville, period. 4.75/5 IMO. - definitely beats any local pizzas you can get sent to your house - reminds me of a more italian feel and taste, in terms of being thin and not overbearing on any certain flavors - the inside renovation is awesome with different varieties of tables and good atmosphere to hang out and have a good lunch - big fan of the barbed wire pizza and the iron mike! - staff is very friendly and will come over just enough (but not too much) to check on you - plenty of parking but is busy section through there, be aware of people Try this place, one of my staples. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Barbed wire - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Very good. But not mind blowing enough for the outrageous price. We ordered a large pizza for 3 people and it was like a small. When we left we had to go get something to eat read more

Excellent excellent excellent! Wood fired pizza. The crust was hard on the outside and chewy on the inside. Not too thick, not too much sauce, and perfect amount of cheese. Make it a point to stop in. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Meatball pizza - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

A lot of different pizzas to choose from and every month there is a seasonal option that they feature. I love the gourmet options they have and even just the whites and reds on the menu because they are a little more than just your average basic toppings. The space is huge; there is seating available outside as well. The barbed wire pizza is a great twist on the average bbq pizza. It's got pulled pork and a bourbon glaze and jalepenos. We also got the seasonal one in May which featured peaches with rosemary and prosciutto with a balsamic glaze. The crust is thin and the pizzas are loaded with the toppings. Only thing is it is a bit pricey for the size you get. A 12 inch gourmet pizza is around $20; we got 2 pies for $42. But it was delicious so I guess it's worth it; not all the time though. read more

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Loved the pizza and we will be back. Definitely worth adding mushrooms. Service also good

Excellent fresh pizza from a wood fire oven. Fantastic flavor and fast service. Highly recommended

Driving through Knoxville to drop off my granddaughter and found this gem.They offer a great variety of pizzas. We ordered the Marci-Roni and they certainly don't skimp on the toppings. Absolutely delicious wood fired pizza and great service too! read more

What can I say, this is some good pizza. This review is based on food, service, cleanliness, atmosphere, and value. This joint has a high-temp, open-flame pizza oven that can quickly produce a perfectly crispy crust, with hot melted gooey cheese goodness! I love the selection of specialty pies, and the fact that you can build your own. All the toppings were fresh. We shared a salad, and it was also delicious. The dining area was very clean and comfortable. This was a hybrid between a fast-casual, and full blown table service restaurant. We ordered at the counter, but the food was delivered to our table we selected. Plates and dishes were constantly bussed as we finished each course. Everyone was very friendly, and that tied everything together nicely. It had a great vibe. The price wasn't bad! You could get your belly stuffed here for less than most places in town. Well worth the value. I can't wait to go back! read more

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The food was very good. I had the "Roni" pizza along with a salad for lunch. It was very good.We also had the cheese bread. The serve was outstanding read more

Wife and I stopped in because I was craving a calzone. I got the Sylvester and she the Lucia. Compared to some run of the mill quick serve pizza the prices might seem higher however the size of the calzone outweighs that. And it's not just a puffed dough. The calzones are stuffed to the brim with ingredients. The quality of the food is apparent from the first bite. If their pizza is half as good as the calzones I would be in heaven. The house marinara is fantastic and not high in acidity, making for a smooth flavor to add to the calzone. We also split a hard knox half salad. The house made vinaigrette is the best. We left so full, and taking home 2 halves of calzone. We will be returning. Need to bring our little one in to demolish a cheese pizza lol Thanks Hard Knox for a great dinner date! Your food and staff are both top notch. read more

Overall good pizza but didn't blow me away. I will say some of the best garlic knots I've had in a while. Nice and doughy in the middle and great flavor. I've had better quality prosciutto then what came out. The prosciutto was the deciding factor on why I ordered that pizza. Mushrooms were cold, mozzarella was cold. I felt like the combo of it being constructed poorly and being rushed out showed when it got to the table. All in all, cool little boxing theme for a pizza place and I would visit for a round two. Hopefully then it will be a knockout win! read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Graziano - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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I love the meatballs and the food !! Everyone here is so polite and professional this has been one of my favorite places to visit since I've moved to Knoxville read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Mini Meatballs - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

4 stars for all around tasty pizzas and a good atmosphere! My friends and I came here craving pizza and this restaurant sure did satisfy that craving! The service was good and the food came out super quick because of the wood fired oven they use. I think we were super hungry and ordered a pizza and appetizer for each person and somehow managed to finish it all haha. I got the bonecrusher pizza and it was pretty good! Lots of meats. The roni rolls were soooo good! My friends preferred the roni rolls over the cheese bread. read more

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Stopped here for lunch on the way back from vacation in Gatlinburg. It was Sunday lunch and there was no crowd. Service was great and pizza was delicious. Nice relaxed casual atmosphere. We got the Rona pizza which was great. Wood fire pizza was nice and crispy with crispy pepperoni and bacon. I wish I could try other pizzas too. If we go through Knoxville again, we will be back. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Rona pizza - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Yes, the pizza is awesome. But my favorite thing here? The chicken Caesar salad. The perfect amount of lettuce to dressing ratio, and the chicken it so flavorful with red pepper flakes that gives it a bit of a kick. Also comes with amazing crunch croutons and some soft, buttery, and warm garlic bread. Must eat. read more

Hard Knox Pizzeria - Chicken Caesar salad - Pizza Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee