Hard Knox Pizza Bearden — Restaurant in Knoxville

This used to be our absolute favorite place for pizza until the recent changes that have been made. They changed to a counter service type of restaurant and the quality of the food is not what it used to be. Being from Chicago it was refreshing to have found a great pizza place in Knoxville. My family would look forward to visiting Hard Knox a few times a month. We would take all of our out of town guests there as we would rave about the pizza, the menu and the service. Our last visit was a complete disappointment. The first thing you will notice is that it is a counter service and they have to lines cramped together. After getting over that when the food was served, it was extremely disappointing. I am not one to order salads but used to love their Greek salad. It used to have a great presentation and was very fresh. It used to have red onion, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes and a very good Greek dressing. All the ingredients were served in the plate separate around the lettuce. The salad this time was not as fresh. It looked like a bag of prepared salad was served on a plate with 2 rings of green peppers, a few olives and cucumbers with mozzarella cheese and a vinaigrette. They did away with the Greek dressing, pepperoncini and substituted the Feta with Mozzarella. Not even sure why they call it a Greek salad. We asked the waitress if they had changed the salad and she replied yes. She did mention that we could still get the Greek dressing and Feta on the side. Maybe had the change to counter service had not happened, the waitress could have explained the change prior to ordering. One thing is for sure, it is no longer worth getting a salad at Hard Knox. You are better off getting a bag of salad at Kroger. When we finally got our pies, they were smaller and just like the salad, the toppings were minimal, the size of the pie was smaller and not cooked as well as it used to be, it was doughy and cold. Needless to our last visit was an extreme disappointment. By changes that they had made and the compromise that they have made in the quality of the food makes them lose the differentiation they had over other pizza places. As it is now, you are better off going to Blaze. I appreciate the need to reduce costs to improve margins however, I would be much happier to pay more as long as the quality and the service is there. I would not have noticed or complained about a 10% price increase. It would have been unnoticeable had the experience been as good as they used to be. The changes they have made are very noticeable and, in my opinion, detrimental to the business. Needless to say, we will not frequent any more. Reading the prior review, I can tell we are not the only ones that noticed the changes. It is a shame that things have changed...

"A Slice of Heaven"

I recently enjoyed a meal at a local pizza place, and it was a delightful experience. Here's why I highly recommend it:

Amazing Pizza: The star of the show, the pizza, was absolutely fantastic. The crust was perfectly thin and crispy, the sauce was rich and flavorful, and the toppings were fresh and abundant. It was everything you'd want in a pizza.

Variety: The menu offered a wide range of pizza options, from classic Margherita to creative specialty pizzas. There's something for every taste, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Fresh Ingredients: You could taste the quality of the ingredients in every bite. It's evident that they prioritize using fresh, high-quality produce.

Cozy Atmosphere: The restaurant had a warm and inviting ambiance. It's a great place to dine with family and friends or even for a casual date night.

Friendly Staff: The staff were attentive and friendly, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. They were happy to provide recommendations and accommodate special requests.

Quick Service: Despite the restaurant being busy, our food arrived promptly. It's an excellent option for a quick and satisfying meal.

Value for Money: The portion sizes were generous, and considering the quality of the food, the prices were reasonable. You get a lot of bang for your buck.

Takeout Option: If you're in a hurry or prefer to enjoy your pizza at home, they offer efficient takeout service.

In summary, this pizza place offers a slice of heaven for pizza lovers. With outstanding pizza, a welcoming atmosphere, and friendly service, it's a must-visit for anyone craving a delicious and satisfying pizza meal. Whether you're dining in or taking out, you won't be...

Hard Knox has changed from a Table Service system to a Cash Register line system of service, which requires that you give your order at a cash register & pay AND tip before one even receives any service. I have served previously at many establishments and typically leave 25-30% gratuity and I severely regretted leaving 25% due to the following: it took 15 minutes to receive the beer and water that I ordered upon entry, it took 3 requests to obtain plates, napkins & silverware to be able to eat (inexcusable), and then it took 3 requests for to go boxes, and I finally had to get up and obtain to go boxes for the entire table after 20 minutes of waiting to actually tru to leave. It was VERY disappointing & quite impressionable service, especially since I had observed "runners" (not servers) standing around & carrying on casual conversations with one another multiple times. I will go back to Hard Knox though, since Register line system is brand new & establishments need time to adjust. However, in my experience, the system that they've implemented actually causes longer waits & a poorer quality of service, so I hope that they do some unique tweeking to counter those effects. I heard that they have some new & skilled management blood coming in, which is another reason that I'm not giving up on them, besides their great pizza and salads. Unfortunately, their consistently poor service takes away so much from the casual dining experience. I have faith that they'll...