The Tomato Head

I've been meaning to write a review, as Tomato Head remains my favorite place for lunch in downtown Knoxville. Any time I meet friends, I always suggest this place and that's where we end up going. Last week was no exception when I met up with a girlfriend and we came to Tomato Head for another delicious lunch. I love the variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes available for my friends who don't eat meat. My go to will always be the turkey melt sandwich even though today I also added the squash curry soup to my lunch. Everything was amazing. Our waitress told me that the owner was here today and I expressed a desire to meet her. And lo and behold, she made time to come out and chat with us. Mahasti, I am so glad that you took a chance and opened this place up 35 years ago! You have truly revitalized Market Square and hats off to you for never giving up!!

Visited on April 26, 2025 When we came, we were able to sit immediately. We were at a High Top outside. It was perfect for our group of 6 and dog. Our server was Emma. She was very attentive and friendly. Everyone was really friendly. The menu had plenty of options. I ordered a side ceasar and  the Smoked Salmon pizza with Garlic Oil + pesto base. I added feta and red onion. I did not get a picture, but the salad was okay. I asked for no mushrooms and when the salad came it had a bunch of black olives. I thought that was a little odd. The salad was also very small. Now to the pizza. When I tell you this pizza was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!! I ordered a second one to go. It was that good!!! It taste so fresh and perfect. I did get a side of ranch. I assume it was made fresh, but it was watery. Wouldn't even stick on my food. Not good. My to go pizza was oddly a lot smaller than the one I had at the restaurant. I ordered a Margarita, but they said they were out of lime, so they made it with Strawberry. It wasn't very good. And it was only half way filled. I think the bartender had the measurements incorrect. Everyone in our party loved their pizza as well. My brother in law also ordered another to go. I would absolutely come back. Oh and they let me use their outlet to charge my phone. Also, I love Market Square. Such a cool vibe. I love the inclusivity of the area.

We were recommended to eat here by a local. The best sandwich I’ve ever had. They use High quality ingredients and their bread is amazing. The service is top notch, all the employees are so friendly and hospitable. If I lived here I could eat here everyday and not get bored! Ask for Emma as your server, she is great and so kind!

Pizza is 9.4 light fluffy yet crispy crust.. Olive oil base 4cheese sub ricotta, garlic and oregano light char. Place is large, nice music but, plain/clean cut for the area and the quality of food. I'm only mentioning since Google asked. The art is a nice touch. Maybe more I don't know.

Our favourite from back in college, Tomato Head is still great. The menu has hardly changed, which I love. Lots of delicious salads, pizzas & sandwiches & a great selection of drinks. This will always be one of my favourite restaurants in Knoxville. So many memories here!

Stopped here on the way thru to Nashville due to the good reviews. We ordered the red pepper Air Head as an appetizer as recommended by our server, Ella. I’d never heard of something like this. Wow! It was blown up and the bread was chewy, light, and tasty! It had just a little bit of spice and marinara for dipping. I would’ve eaten one just for a meal! And the Marinara sauce was so vibrant and flavorful! We also shared the 4 cheese pizza. Omg! The cheeses just blended together so nicely and the hint of EVOO just put it over the top!! And the pizza crust had huge bubbles in it and it was so chewy and delicious!! Even the water was good! No hint of chlorine or any other weirdness you sometimes get with water. Ella was a great waitress! Very nice and helpful. We’ll definitely be back!! What an amazing place!!

Constantly fresh & delicious! Pet friendly patio!! Impressed with the employees constantly cleaning to make the restaurant sparkle from the bathrooms to the kitchen to the outside dining area. Great food!!

I work downtown and this is by far one of my places to grab a pick up order for lunch! Their “Oh Boy” sandwich, Tuscan Chicken sandwich, and hummus is SO good. I crave it 😂 Which makes it well worth the price. Highly recommend this spot.

Such a great little lunch spot. We sat at the counter. I had the small Tomato Head sandwich and the tomato bisque which was a perfect portion, and my wife got a salad. The food was delicious and we also got a few tasty beers. My wife also tried the hard kombucha and said it was tasty! Great service and a warm, inviting atmosphere in Market Square which was all decked out for the holidays. We'll be back!

Went in for an early lunch while waiting on Alpine to work on my ski gear. Since I was solo I just decided to relax at the bar, it was a sleepy Saturday January morning. I went with the bartenders pick of the Oh boy chicken sandwich. It came with blue corn tortilla chips as a side. They have a nice draft list and I settled on a crisp Schulz brau pilsner. The beer tasted a bit like the previous yeasty offering but I really didn't care, it was cold and I don't send back cold beer, that's just who I am. The service was fast, the food was timely and there were friendly hosts at the front greeting. I asked for a recommendation on a second beverage, and was offered a kombucha. It was pretty solid, not overly vinegary and I probably needed it, good call by the bartender Seattle. We chatted a bit about the trends in bartendering lately and she mentioned Sundays as a day their bar scene picked up more. So if you are looking for west Knoxville conversation that would probably be your shot. All in all I have been to Tomato head several times, it is a great upscale vibe with vegan and vegetarian options and health forward menu picks. They do bring the heat on their pizzas and had I brought a crew we would've probably gone that route. Check them out for lunch with a friend or date night. It's a granola scene that most Nashvillians would appreciate.

We went on a Friday night at 6pm and they were nearly empty but wanted to seat our group of 4 next to one of the only other tables in the restaurant. Seemed really unnecessary. I asked to get another table because why be directly next to someone else when they had about 6 servers on and 4 tables seated? Server was pretty slow coming over to us and she wasn't terribly helpful with suggestions. Food came out quickly and was very fresh and actually quite good. It was nice to have something not full of grease. Prices aren't horrible either. Server was really slow about checking back on us, refilling beverages (we had to ask) and clearing plates (manager even had to do it), so that was disappointing. What was most disappointing though based on the very lackluster service is that when you pay at the table the minimum suggested tip amount is 22%. Come on. That's the minimum for that kind of service? That's 18% service at best. Yes, I know you can manually change it but when the server is standing there staring at you it's really uncomfortable to do so. Get some more realistic tip options on your handheld. 18, 20 and 22 maybe? People never feel bad about adding more, but it makes a lot of people uncomfortable to change it to less when you're being stared at.

Even my mom who is not a huge pizza fan said that the Tomato Head four cheese pizza was delicious. If you know me, you KNOW I love pizza. Tomato Head is on my list of very good pizza. Great crust! Yummy cheesey toppings. Pro-tip, get a side of the ranch dressing for dipping, their ranch is fresh and absolutely delicious. My niece loved the Ham and Pineapple. 9" pizza is the perfect personal size. The restaurant it's self is clean and modern. Our server was meh. I saw other tables servers being exceptional. Our was not. Wouldn't stop me from returning. But we were her first table of the morning, hopefully she will have gotten herself together after we left, if not, she'll have a long day. Great food nonetheless.

Stopped in the other day when we went downtown to watch the National Championship parade. We didn't have a ton of time so we order appetizers and a salad. They were pretty good and came quickly. I forgot to take a picture of the salad when it came since we were working on the hummus. The hummus was a little spicy and the tortilla chips and pitas were good. The vegetables were fine too. The hummus was kind of gritty so perhaps blending it again would make it smoother and taste a little better? Overall, the service was good and it was cool inside so it was fine for us.

Delicious! Everything is fresh made and so yummy! We really enjoyed each dish and our server Allison was a delight!

Great service even for our large group of 7! Awesome menu options catering to all dietary needs. Several vegetarians/vegans in my group and we were all pleased.

Sandwich was cold, I was expecting a toasted sandwich, but it still had great flavor. The feta vinaigrette on the Greek salad was yummy, as was the lentil soup they gave me a sample of. The service was wonderful I never had to ask for a refill of anything. Cute little place! Great for a lunch date

This was my first time to Tomatohead and it exceeded my expectations. My parents got the LG Southwest Salad, Black Bean Hummus, 14" #12 Pizza. As for me, I crafted my own gluten-free pizza, topped with vegan cheese, goat cheesw, spinach, pepperoni, and hot honey--a delightful experience, especially considering my dietary restrictions. Despite the weekend crowd, our server, Abby, provided exceptional service, exhibiting warmth and attentiveness throughout our meal.

Would give it 0 stars if I could. I've been a few times and 2 of the times I went I found hairs in my food. Long waits for mediocre food. The pizza is the same quality you would find at a gas station but the prices are jacked up because it's "authentic".

Mind blown. Great vegetarian pizzas. Got the 1,4, and 7 but it was the #7 that took top place for me. Such great flavors, thick cheese, great crust.

Very cool spot! So many vegetarian and vegan options and very dog friendly. I saw the staff feed unhoused patrons and it was heartwarming. The staff is friendly and attentive. I had the baked tofu salad, which was great. My fiancé had a 9 inch pizza with pepperoni and house pickled jalapeños... very spicy. They have dog bowls for the doggo and managed to get the pup some chicken, which she wolfed down. Nice view of the market place and clean bathrooms!

Got take out and I was not impressed. Sandwich was super dry and side of chips is not too exciting. Toppings were slim and it didn't taste like much. Staff were super friendly though. Would have to try something else if I ever went back. Pricing not great for what you get in my opinion.

Good food with great atmosphere. It's not easy to find a restaurant that caters to hot tea drinkers. A small thing it seems, but plenty of hot water puts the meal over the top for me. Highly recommend the puff daddy appetizer.

Looked like grandma's house, strange vibes. Just very bland looking not much to see. The service was okay but took forever to get our food. The lady who served us was very awkward but nice... The food was mid. I could have made it much better at my house if i'm being honest. If no other restaurants are available then go but if not would not go there again. Also took about an hour to get our food after we ordered.

Incredible pies and service. We also enjoyed a perfectly paired Tuscano on the patio. Beautiful food and wonderful service (Andie was on point!) even on a super busy Saturday evening! We loved the ambiance and even got to enjoy the music from the Dogwood Arts Festival.

For a pizza chain in Knoxville, they have a lot to contend with. However, they in stand their own due right, with amazing food, service, and an atmosphere that is clean, inviting, and warm. On this visit, I got the White Zombie, and it was bitter, yet citrusy; like a mixture between a Blue Moon and an IPA. The pizza was a 4-cheese, 9-inch, and you could tell that the dough was house-made. The cheeses blended seamlessly, and the service was imaculate. If you need a late-night snack, and you're craving pizza in Market Square, stop in.

This was just a great meal from start to finish. Have only been here once before about six years ago, makes me wish I'd come back sooner! Washed down with a cold Yuengling, nice job!

Well, we decided to try our luck getting a table at The Tomato Head around 5:30pm, on a Saturday during the Chalk Walk and Big Ears Festival. The way the waiting list works is, you give the host your number and they text when a table is ready. Amazingly, we put our name in and a table was available within ten minutes. We have been here as a family many times before. In fact, our ten year old suggested here because she loves the personal pizza. Both kids enjoy coloring the oversized paper kids' menu. The restaurant was buzzing with families and kids and patrons as it usually is during an event Downtown. And our service was great. Staff is friendly and helpful answering question regarding the menu. Our girls always get a cheese pizza (sometimes with bacon on it). And my husband and I get two sandwiches and split so we get a half of each sandwich. I cannot remember which sandwiches we picked this visit (I'm sorry!) because we always get different ones and they are always delicious. Thankful for another delicious visit.

Went for pizza on our way through town, and the staff was so friendly. The interior was bright and decorated with work by local artists, and we were seated next to the window overlooking the kitchen. I had the Greek salad, with a great house made feta dressing. The pizza was also delicious, kids loved it too. They had a great draft beer selection, all local options. Great spot for a family!

Tomato head is a total crowdpleaser when deciding where to eat in Knoxville. There are a few locations that you can check out, and now I've been to this location two times. I've had a good experience and servers every time that I've been here, and I love that there is something for everyone- whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian, want to drink alcohol, or are looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage you can find some thing wonderful here. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Griffin pizza with caramelized onions, garlic, Portabella, mushrooms, and it was delicious! Also enjoyed the ginger sparkler non alcoholic drink which was super refreshing. Soups and salads here are solid choices as well. Atmosphere is casual and fun.

Gluten-free pizza lovers beware! The cut the size of their gluten-free pizza crust by A LOT! But guess what they didn't cut? The price. I love when I pay the same amount but receive less food (not really)

Great good but very expensive for the food and atmosphere. The servers are always phenomenal!

Delicious pizza! Quick and polite service. Great ambiance! Stopped in after a Vols game with friends! Perfect place for an after game dinner!

Don't! Ignorance galore! we had a reservation and waited 45 minutes and then were told that we needed to wait an additional 30 minutes to wait for the patio that we requested because we didn't want to eat in the filthy basement

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The store was clean and had a nice ambiance, and the hostess was very friendly. The bathrooms smelled bad but were clean. The menu is a QR code but is quite confusing. Our pizza was burnt and the ranch was watered down and honestly not that good. Probably wouldn't return but it's not the worst.

Hostess wasn't welcoming My son loved his pizza, my food was ok Table service was great!!

I had the build your own pizza (pepperoni, black olives and hot honey) with a side of Caesar salad. The meal was great. They also have a nice selection of cocktails and drinks.

If you are looking for a fresh sandwich or salad, they will not disappoint. Pizzas are a great option as well. Always clean and the service staff is attentive and pleasant. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a simple option in Market Square that rarely has much of a wait.

2 tiny sandwiches, small pizza, and a calzone that was literally all bread with about an ounce of cheese, small side salad, and 2 Miller lites $100. Slow service, once food was dropped, never saw our server again. I was looking forward to trying this place with our out of town guests, they didn't enjoy their food either. It's a one and done for us.

This is an almost totally unbiased review. Heard about this restaurant for the last year and this was our first chance to stop by. It does have an odd name, well to me any ways, but don't let that put you off if it has. They do a lot more than tomatoes! We had pizza, the #1 and #2, no jokes there please, the pizzas are numbered. They were delicious, I prefer a meaty pizza but did have a slice of the sun dried tomato (yes they do do some tomatoes) and pesto one (no 1) and my taste buds loved it. It is a busy place so we sat at the bar to eat. We were looked after well and their Tennessee Blues cocktail was a hit with the Missus!. We will be back, I've heard great things about their biscuits!

The Tomato Head's pizza is amazing! The crust was fluffy yet crispy, sauce was full of flavor, and the bacon was perfect. One of the cleanest/freshest pizzas I have ordered in a restaurant. I also got a side of their Southwestern Salad (delicious) and you can really taste the homemade-ness of the chipotle ranch. Employees were super friendly and wearing their masks properly. Tables were socially distanced, which is appreciated. 10/10 recommend this place!

I have been to tomato head multiple times and have had the best time but this one was quite the WORST EVER. Saturday (October 30th, 2023 11:45 ish) my friend and I went to tomato head and sat at the bar for quick seating. DAY B. was our server. When we sat down she asked what we would like - I said water with lemon. I then got water with no lemon, I then asked very politely for lemon again. A handful of minutes goes by and no lemon. I THEN SEE HER PICK HER NOSE with her right hand, not washing it after.. When I saw she had a free moment I asked if they had lemon and she said she would get it. I thought that she would put on gloves and put my lemon on a plate like a normal establishment, BUT NO SHE GETS THE LEMON WITH HER BARE BOOGERY HAND AND quite literally reaches out and hands it to me IN MY HANDS. After that I was completely disgusted she picked at her nose and then proceeded to hand me a slice of lemon with her bare hand - THE EXACT ONE SHE PICKED HER NOSE WITH. The icing on the cake was that after that encounter she never again once asked us if we were doing good, needed anything or just even check up on us. NOTHING. And I have never experienced anything like this ever. DO NOT DINE WITH DAY B. theres no telling where her hands have been and she will most likely be super rude and passive with you. Tomato heads chicken salad sandwich is truly the best I have ever tried, not knocking on their food but this service was disgusting. DAY B. needs to be TRAINED with cleanliness. 2 weeks before this awful encounter - I had a male server (young freshman at UTK) who was very nice and made my experience the best it's ever been at tomato head. HE IS THE REASON I will be continuing to come back to this restaurant - I will never again dine with this girl and from now on I will wait for proper seating in the dining room so I don't have to witness anything that is this disgusting again.

So yummy! Homemade crust made to order- my 13 yo son could not believe it was vegan- flavorful but not too spicy/acidic sauce, and amazing fresh cheese! My son and hubs had the regular and I had goat cheese and pepperoni. Highly recommend- wish we had a place this good near home!! A great dinner before seeing Nate Bargatze!

Came here for lunch with my group of seven. Four of the seven were children. We put our name on the list and they texted or called (I don't remember which one) when they were ready to seat us. We didn't wait long. Masks are required and social distancing is enforced. The place is much bigger than it looks from the outside. The dining room is bright, open and spacious. The kitchen is visible through a big glass window, so you can watch them prep food. Our party happened to be seated directly next to the glass which I thought was cool. We came here for pizza and that's exactly what we all ordered. I ordered a 14" roasted portobello pizza with spinach and my son ordered a pepperoni pizza. The 14" pizza was the perfect size for each of us. The roasted portobello came with a pesto base and loaded with fresh toppings. My son's pizza looked like it had a ton of pepperoni on it, too. The pizzas were delicious. We didn't leave a crumb behind!

Love Tomato Head. Outside is best when the temps aren't to hot. Food is always tasty and fresh. My fav is The Tuscan Sandwich.

Food was delicious, service was great - and fast! My only complaint would be the price; while I would absolutely go back, I was surprised at how small a $7.75 slice of veggie pizza was. Just need to be more thoughtful about selecting a meal that is more filling for the cost.

Price a bit high for the portions and I hoped the food would wow, but it was just so so. Loud energy. Service great.

This place is one of my favorite low key places in Knoxville! Tuscan chicken sandwich and the Oh boy are great and I really love the chipotle tomato soup delicious!!!! Service is always great and ambiance is really nice and peaceful.

Very tasty but also very expensive Cool location right in front of the ice rink too We ended up doing the build your own. The pizza was very delicious. Even the non dairy cheese was yummy and they had cool toppings liek the benson bacon. Drinks were good too

Excellent food and ambiance every time we are in Knoxville. It's a consistent good choice. Everyone is happy! We receive cheerful and attentive service each time. It must be a fun place to work. People seem so happy there! They are all young, friendly and energetic! It's our family road-trip place.

It's overpriced for what it is honestly and although it's good, I wouldn't go again. Ambiance is great but it's market square, it always is.

I've lived in Knoxville for 14 years and eaten at several of the downtown and old city restaurants many times. Pro: I always enjoy the food at Tomato Head. Cons: I've never been to a restaurant (anywhere) that "nickles and dimes" you more than Tomato Head. One example: It's $6 to add a few pieces (literally) of avocado to a "small salad". I kid you not that was the real price - see the receipt in the attachments. Again, it's good and prepared well and such but the ingredients are not extra special or anything (they're not organic, they're not locally sourced, etc). I don't typically take the time to leave a review but gosh almighty I ordered small personal pan pizza and a small salad and it was nearly $55 by the time I tipped 20%. It's not a steakhouse, it's not a michelin 5 star restaurant, it's not in a major city, etc. In conclusion you're going to enjoy the food but you're also going to walk away wondering how you paid so much for a personal pizza and salad.

I've been here many times. Tend to order the tuscan chicken sandwich with kettle potato chips. Always a satisfying meal and the service is fair. Only complaint is that it's a tad bit expensive for what you're getting.

My wife and I were able to get a great tasting vegan pizza. Their version of a Pepperoni, mushroom, and cheese.

Very delicious hummus and blue chip appetizer. Good service and friendly vibe. Will be back again

So happy to find a vegan option in Knoxville. Came here on a Saturday night and was able to get a table for two right away. I decided to order the vegan pizza with vegan pepperoni and then a side baked tofu salad. It's so wonderful to see a vegan option for the pizza. Well isn't the best pizza I've had I was so happy to have a vegan option and the pepperoni was amazing I think it might've been sweet earth pepperoni but I'm not 100% sure. Next time I think I would get a large version of the baked tofu salad it was absolutely delicious the tofu was marinated and seasoned so well and I got the sesame mushroom dressing which was delicious. This location is on the Square it's super cute and it was really nice to eat outside and enjoy the ambience and string lights of the square. I got a sugar cookie that was vegan to go and had it later it was delicious super glad the server recommended it. This was close to our hotel and I would 100% go here again if I went back to Knoxville. Great vegan and vegetarian options if you are looking for it.

Great pizza. Vegan pepperoni was a nice option. Tasty N/A cocktails. Creative, delicious salad options. Loved the patio option, great vibe on a warm Friday night. Love it, will be back!