Hard Knox Pizza Central — Restaurant in Knoxville

Tucked into a casual strip center off Kingston Pike, Hard Knox Pizza may look unassuming from the outside—but don’t be fooled. Inside, this place serves some of the best wood-fired pizza in Knoxville. The crust is chewy and blistered just right, thanks to a blazing 900°F oven.

Their menu is full of creative combinations: “The Knoxville” features sausage, jalapeños, and onions on red sauce with melted mozzarella, while “The Bronx” boasts pepperoni, basil, and ricotta dollops. I tried the “Big Nasty,” a spicy meat-lover’s dream with house-made hot sauce, bacon, and banana peppers—it was bold, spicy, and satisfying without being overwhelming.

What sets Hard Knox apart is the dough. It's got a nice pull, great flavor, and holds up to loaded toppings without getting soggy. Their salads are fresh and well-portioned, and they offer gluten-free crust options that are surprisingly good.

It’s a laid-back, family-friendly spot with local beer on tap and casual counter service. If you’re craving pizza that hits harder than the name implies, Hard Knox Pizza is where you need to be. Simple,...

Hard Knox Pizza truly impressed me from start to finish. I ordered the Bone Crusher 8 inch pizza, and it was a perfect balance of flavors. The olive oil gave it a rich, savory base while the fresh, well seasoned meat was cooked to perfection, especially since I requested it well done. The crust had just the right amount of crispiness without being too thick or thin. Every bite was packed with flavor, and it’s clear they use high quality ingredients and take great care in their preparation.

For dessert, I couldn’t resist the s’mores pizza, and it did not disappoint. The combination of gooey marshmallows, rich Nutella, and the crunchy graham cracker topping created a delightful texture and taste experience that I’ll definitely be ordering again. Beyond the food, the customer service was outstanding, friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Hard Knox Pizza is a standout in the Knoxville area and has earned a permanent spot on my go-to list. Highly recommend...

There wasn't anything wrong with the pizza per say... It was just incredibly expensive for what it was and the ingredients just didn't pop or leave a lasting memory. The most exciting ingredient was a balsamic reduction which seemed watery in both mouthfeel and flavour profile.

The pizza itself came out fairly quickly and looked like it had all of the toppings until I picked it up and they shluffed off. Literally just a "meh" experience. Nothing bad, nothing great. Just so-so. Take your grandparents here if you want to try somewhere new but don't want to shock the system.

There's a lot of other pizza joints in the area that make even a pepperoni pizza look and taste like a million bucks so I'll stick to those.

Google asked if I wanted to leave a review which is the only reason I remembered...