In the heart of Knoxville, a restaurant that began as a dream three decades ago has grown into a cornerstone of the city’s dining scene. The Tomato Head, with locations on Market Square and in West Knoxville, is the creation of Mahasti Vafaie, who first opened the doors in August 1990. What started as a single café has blossomed into a beloved gathering place where creativity, community, and great food come together.
Mahasti’s path to opening her own restaurant was not a straight line. After studying engineering at the University of Tennessee, she found herself drawn back to the restaurant industry where she had worked during high school and college. A trip to New Orleans, and a visit to a lively café there, sparked something bigger: the idea of creating a space in Knoxville that had that same energy, a place where people could relax, connect, and enjoy thoughtfully crafted food. That vision became The Tomato Head.
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