First thing I will say about Adopo is reservation, reservation, reservation. If you don’t have one, chances are you won’t be eating here. Make sure you plan well in advance because they are only open for dinner and reservations go quickly. In my opinion, this is the place to beat for the best pizza in Knoxville and it seems like it is popular with Yelp reviewers alike, landing the number 38 spot out of 100 for America’s best pizza.

If you are looking for the ordinary, greasy, cheesy pizza, you won’t find it here. This is a Neapolitan wood fired pizza on a sourdough crust with slightly burnt edges topped with fresh made ingredients. However, if you order take-out you have a New York Style crust. If you are dining in, the pizzas are 12-13” and can easily be eaten by one person with a couple slices to take home if you’re not too hungry. It’s always nice to order a couple different pizzas with friends and try a variety. You won’t be disappointed.

I’ve had the Insalata which is served up with local greens, smoked sweet potates, legumes, herbs, house-made pickles topped with a citrus vinaigrette. This is definitely a light, crisp and fresh option.

Calabrese

I typically go for the pizza here because it can’t be beat. My go-to for the red base is the Calabrese. This pizza is topped with spicy salami, basil, Castelvetrano sliced olives, chili oil and house-made mozzarella cheese.

“Nduja & Mushrooms

For the white base my go-to is the “Nduja and Mushrooms. This pizza is topped with mushrooms, oregano, house-made mozzarella and ‘nduja which is a spreadable spicy Italian pork sausage. Both pizzas have the right amount of spice, but I typically ask for a side of red pepper and kick it up a notch. The Funghi, Soppressata, and Sofia are delicious as well, or you can choose your own toppings.

Pizzicletta

Another white base favorite is the Pizzicletta with 16 month aged prosciutto, arugula, lemon and olive oil. This pizza is fresh tasting with the arugula with a hint of lemon, it’s definitely ones to try as well.

As far as beverages, you are provided with still or sparkling water upon arrival which they keep replenished. They have a good list of Italian wines and beers as well as an option called “Surprise Us” which is a bottle of wine chosen for you along with a bowl of Sicilian olives.

Gelato

They typically have a specialty pizza listed on the board behind the host station, along with their rotating house-made gelato flavors, which you cannot leave without trying. Some of my top flavors have been the Stracciatella, Cherry Mascarpone, Dark Chocolate, and Ferrero Rocher. They also allow you to get two flavors in one serving. This is creamy and smooth. It’s the perfect ending to a delicious dinner.

The atmosphere here has a cozy feel, more of a date night feel in the front part of the restaurant. If you can land a two-seat table by the window, you have the best seat in the house. The other two-seat tables are located in the middle of the floor. These can get a little crowded with servers coming by, and they are a little close to the table seated next to you. There is also a large tables along one of the walls, with an area in the back of the restaurant for larger parties.

In Italian, “a dopo” means “see you later” and this place will definitely see me soon!

For another pizza review, check out my review of Knoxville’s Pizza Palace!

-Tennessee Taster