“A dopo” means “see you later” in Italian, but now that a Knoxville, Tennessee pizza restaurant bearing that name has been recognized by USA Today, the owners will likely start seeing more customers sooner than later.
USA Today this week released its second annual Restaurants of the Year list, and A Dopo Sourdough Pizza is the sole pizzeria to be included among the 44 eateries that cook up everything from BBQ and seafood to tacos and Cajun cuisine.
According to the national newspaper/website, the report “isn’t just another list of hot spots with monthslong waits for reservations in major metros like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. It’s a celebration of local flavors and stories, curated by reporters from across the country who know that a meal of Italian cuisine in Mamaroneck can be just as rewarding as one in Manhattan.”
Open for dinner only, A Dopo specializes in sourdough “Neapolitan-ish” pizzas and small-batch gelatos along with New York-style pies.
Brian and Jessica Strutz opened A Dopo in 2016 following the death of Brian’s father. “That was the thing that pushed me to take a big risk, which is what [A Dopo] was,” the pizzaiolo told KnoxNews.com.
He said the recognition by USA Today proves “the people that are the boots on the ground running A Dopo right now are the best in the business.” He added, “Our dough is naturally leavened, not just as a buzzy marketing thing. We obsess over the temperature, the time, the art of fermentation, and how and when we feed our starter….We believe that [the] pizza we make is a little bit more flavorful as a result of that and, in some cases, maybe more digestible.”
According to USA Today, “The unassuming A Dopo in downtown Knoxville is a local culinary gem that elevates the concept of sourdough pizza to a dinner-only delicacy. Most often requiring a reservation for a guaranteed seat at a candlelit table, A Dopo specializes in ‘Neapolitan-ish’ pizzas, including a mouth-watering truffle pie made with aged mozzarella, white truffle oil, speck ham, mushrooms, chives and fig jam. Don’t sleep on the small-batch gelato or the impressive selection of Italian wine and local beer. Owned by a leader in the Knoxville food scene who supports budding restaurateurs, A Dopo is a must-try for anyone who thinks their favorite pizza can’t be topped. Just let A Dopo’s flavor change your mind.”
In 2023, A Dopo ranked No. 19 in “Yelp’s Top Pizza Spots in the U.S. and Canada.”
