Time for Some Pizza!

Once again we got together with our friends Linda and Norm for dinner.  This time we decided that pizza sounded like a great idea!  A couple of local pizza restaurants had opened locations in Knoxville’s Turkey Creek shopping area in the recent past…so that’s where we headed.

This is Gavino’s Restaurant and Pizzeria on Parkside Drive.  I picked Gavino’s over other local options for a couple of reasons.  First of all, Linda prefers thicker crust pizzas and my bride prefers thin crusts.  Gavino's offers both types!  Secondly, Gavino’s menu offers a decent selection of non-pizza options should anyone prefer try something else.  The goal was to keep everyone happy…

This photo shows part  of the dining area.  Like so many restaurants and bars these days, it’s has a bit of an ‘industrial’ look…but it is roomy and bright.  We arrived at about 5:30 PM but by 6:00 PM the restaurant had seated a decent sized crowd of patrons, always a good sign.

I’m not sure that everyone was enthusiastic about my taking a group photo…but I did anyway!  Norm and I had beer while Laurie had a mixed adult beverage and Linda went for a Sangria.  My Miller Lite draft was $2.50 and Laurie’s house special for the day, a Long Island Ice Tea, was $5.00.

On to the pizza!

Norm and Linda ordered this Sausage and Onion rectangular Sicilian Pizza. ($21.99) It was huge!  FYI, the basic Sicilian Pizza is $15.99 plus $3.00 each per topping.  They definitely enjoyed their pizza but it was just too big for 2 people…

In our opinion, one negative regarding the pizzas at Gavino’s is that they’re so huge…with no size options for folks who might want to order an appetizer or just who have smaller appetites.  A foursome could get around the size issue “if” they could agree on the pizza toppings and crust.  Half toppings are offered…at $2.00 per topping.

This was Laurie and my huge Sausage and Pepperoni thin crust round Neapolitan Pizza. ($20.99)  The basic pizza is $14.99 plus $3.00 for each of the toppings.  It was a very good pizza…in our opinion tying for the best pizza in East Tennessee along with the version offered by Tellico Grains in Tellico Plains.  The sausage and pepperoni at Tellico Grains is a bit more distinctive while the crust at Gavino’s Pizza holds up better.

We all agreed that Gavino’s serves a quality pizza.  Service was efficient too.  The big issue in my mind is that if 2 people go to Gavino’s for dinner, they would both “have to” want pizza or skip it altogether.  Frequently, Laurie would like a personal/small pizza for dinner…with toppings that I wouldn’t touch…and I’d order something else from the menu.  That could never happen here…

Needless to say, we all took leftover pizza home with us.  As it turns out, we all like leftover cold pizza! Laurie prefers it heated a bit though.

Gavino’s original location in the area is in the Bearden neighborhood.  The Turkey Creek location is in a strip shopping center at 11316 Parkside Drive.  Phone: 865-218-0000.  The Gavino’s Pizza website is found at http://www.gavinospizzeria.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave