The Tomato Head is a pizza restaurant in Market Square, Knoxville.
The Tomato Head on Market Square, Mahasti Vafaie's Persian-American pizza counter since 1990, is downtown Knoxville's longest-running independent restaurant.
Signature dishes: Mahasti pizza, Veggie sandwich
Must order: The Mahasti pizza with the sun-dried tomato pesto, or the veggie sandwich at lunch.
Tip: Weekend brunch runs 11:00-15:00; happy hour Sunday to Thursday from 16:00-18:00 for slices.
Address: 12 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the bourbon-and-burger counter since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with bread from Flour Head Bakery.
Signature: House burger, Bourbon flight
Order: A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
Tip: Walk-up runs weeknights before 18:00; the bar stays open past kitchen close on weekends.
The Tomato Head Bearden on Kingston Pike at Gallery Shopping Center, Mahasti Vafaie's West Knoxville arm of the Market Square original, runs the same pizza.
Signature: Mahasti pizza, Veggie sandwich
Order: Same Mahasti pizza pesto build that runs at Market Square.
Tip: Bearden opens 10:00 on Saturdays for brunch; the Kingston Pike location is reliably easier than downtown on weekends.
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the bourbon-and-burger counter since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with bread from Flour Head Bakery.
Signature: House burger, Bourbon flight
Order: A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
Tip: Walk-up runs weeknights before 18:00; the bar stays open past kitchen close on weekends.
Yassin's Falafel House at Marble City Food Hall, Yassin Terou's Syrian falafel and shawarma counter named Reader's Digest Nicest Place in America in 2018.
Signature: Falafel sandwich, Hummus plate
Order: A falafel sandwich with hummus and the daily Mediterranean salad sides.
Tip: The downtown location runs from Marble City Food Hall while the original Walnut Street space rebuilds; West Knox and Alcoa branches stay open.
Yassin's Falafel House on North Peters Road in West Knoxville, the original Yassin Terou Syrian counter, runs the falafel and shawarma menu that earned.
Signature: Falafel sandwich, Shawarma plate
Order: A falafel sandwich with the chicken shawarma plate and a side of hummus.
Tip: The N Peters Road location runs reliably weeknights; weekend lunches fill the small dining room.
Buddy's Bar-B-Q on Kingston Pike, the original flagship since 1972 where Buddy and LaMuriel Smothers opened the chain, anchors Knoxville's East Tennessee.
Signature: Pulled pork plate, Pit-smoked turkey
Order: A pulled-pork plate with two sides and a sweet tea.
Tip: The Kingston Pike flagship is the original; the chain runs a dozen East Tennessee locations now.
Sweet P's BBQ Uptown Corner on Tazewell Pike, Cookie Patton's North Knoxville barbecue and soul food counter, runs the brand's pulled pork and brisket since.
Signature: Pulled pork sandwich, Soul food sides
Order: A pulled pork sandwich with the daily soul-food sides.
Tip: Closed Mondays; weekday lunch is the easiest window before the dinner crowd.
