Life has a funny way of circling back around. Over thirty plus years ago (really, we’re not that old!), my friend Sara Smith Covert and I spent part of our teenage years together in youth group. I was a little older, and as life would have it, we grew up, started families, and followed our own paths. Fast forward a few decades, when Audley and I moved “home” three years ago, Sara reached out with the sweetest invitation: come check out our family pizza shop in Viola!

Tucked just outside McMinnville, Viola’s Pizza Company may be off the beaten path, but it’s become one of our family’s favorite spots. With our daughter MacKenzie Gracie and her little family now living in McMinnville, we’ve happily made it a monthly tradition to gather there for dinner, and let me tell you, it’s worth the hour drive every time.

A True Family Business

Sara and her husband Brian, along with their teenage children and occasional help from their grown and married sons, run the restaurant together. From greeting customers with a smile to pulling fresh pizzas out of the oven, it’s clear this is a labor of love for the entire family. Their fantastic customer service makes every visit feel warm and personal. You’re not just another order, you’re part of their community.

Locally Sourced, Scratch-Made Goodness

One of the things I admire most about Sara and Brian is their commitment to using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. But what really sets their pizza apart is the scratch-made sourdough crust … chewy, flavorful, and the perfect base for their imaginative toppings. You can truly taste the passion that goes into each pizza, from first bite to last.

Their creativity shines through in the specialty pizzas with flavors you’d never expect but can’t stop thinking about once you’ve tried them. A few of our favorites include:

• Mexican Street Corn Pizza – bursting with bold, tangy flavors.
• Dill Pickle Pizza – flavorsome, zesty, and surprisingly addictive.
• Pineapple Pulled Pork Pizza – a sweet and savory masterpiece that makes the big pizza chains taste like cardboard in comparison.

Once you’ve had these, you’ll never want to go back to Domino’s, Papa John’s, or Little Caesar’s again.

Start and End on a Sweet Note

Every visit begins the same way for us: garlic knots fresh out of the oven, dripping with buttery goodness.

And no meal is complete without a scoop or pint of locally made ice cream they keep on hand from Sunrise Dairy in Crossville, Tennessee, just up the road, or a comforting latte made in-house just for you.

It’s the perfect ending to a small-town dinner filled with flavor and friendship.

Why We Keep Going Back

For us, Viola’s Pizza Company is more than just good food. It’s supporting a local business owned by friends who put their heart into every bite. It’s about gathering our family around the table in a cozy, welcoming place. And it’s about cherishing the way God brings people back into your life in the most unexpected and wonderful ways.

So if you ever find yourself wandering through the Tennessee countryside, take the scenic route to Viola. You’ll find not just a pizza worth bragging about, but a little piece of small-town charm that makes the trip unforgettable.