Tennessee is known for barbecue and hot chicken, but in small towns and quiet neighborhoods you’ll find Italian spots run by families who’ve cooked the same recipes for years.
Expect slow-simmered red sauce, hand-rolled meatballs, and pasta made the way they learned at home. Many of these restaurants stay under the radar, loved by regulars and easy to miss if you’re just passing through.
If you’re craving a relaxed plate of Italian comfort with friendly service, this list maps out places worth the drive across Tennessee. Bring an appetite and plan to linger over cannoli.
1. Savelli’s Italian Restaurant, Knoxville
Walk through the door and you’ll smell garlic simmering in olive oil before you even see the menu. The Savelli family has been feeding Knoxville since the 1970s, and their lasagna still uses Nonna’s original recipe…