The best pizza in Nashville.

TennFold Brewing sits on Lebanon Pike in Donelson, a brewery with a big dining room and a covered patio where live music plays some evenings. It is only minutes from the airport, which suits travelers. The wood-fired dough is what separates it from a typical taproom menu, and diners say the crust holds its own even when it is dipped in the Cajun cream sauce from the shrimp and grits.

The Smoke Show pizza is the one to start with. The bacon pizza, the white pie and the margherita come up often too, and diners who need gluten-free options report that the gluten-free crust and the cauliflower crust are both good. Starters matter here: the meatballs in fire roasted tomato sauce and the fried cheese curds with green goddess dressing are the two most praised. Burgers and a blueberry chicken sandwich suit groups that do not all want pizza.

Service gets steady praise, with servers who suggest dishes and check in. The patio is pleasant, though one diner noted flies at the table, so inside may suit some visits.

Sho Pizza Bar on McGavock Pike in East Nashville is a pizza restaurant that diners treat as an occasion. The pies are wood-fired with Japanese-inspired touches, and the dining room is built around the oven, with a bar seat that looks straight into the open kitchen. Diners say the whole team works calmly, and many mention service as a highlight of the meal.

The crust is the first thing people praise, described as airy and flavorful. The Wedding Crasher with spicy soppressata is a favorite, and the peach and street corn special drew approval from a pair who ordered both specials. The Caesar salad is the starter nearly everyone orders, and diners call it the best they have had. Marinated olives, craft cocktails and the matcha tiramisu complete a dinner that feels more like a restaurant outing than a quick slice.

Booking ahead is wise, since reservations are the usual route and the room fills. Walk-ins do well at the bar and at lunch. Parking behind the building is easy, and the restaurant validates for a stretch of time.

Five Points Pizza on Charlotte Avenue serves New York style pizza that diners from New York say comes close to what they know. The crust is thin, the sauce is light and the cheese is generous, and the slice needs the New York fold to be eaten properly. The room has a casual bar, a craft beer list and a staff that diners describe as friendly and patient even in a rush.

Pepperoni with prosciutto and basil gets praise for balance, and the vodka sauce pie, the habanero cream sauce pie and a half spinach gorgonzola pie have all found fans. Garlic knots are large and firm, which sets them apart from soggy versions elsewhere. A meatball stromboli covers a bigger appetite. Vegan diners note the one vegan pizza on the menu uses cheese that is better than most, and slice combos make a quick lunch.

The pie travels best when it is eaten fresh. Diners who ordered delivery said it arrived lukewarm, while those who took it to go or ate at the bar were happier.

TailGate Brewery Music Row sits a short walk up Demonbreun Street from the Music Row hotels, and diners describe it as a happy accident for anyone who wanted a drink and a pizza in the same place. The beer list is long, with house lagers, IPAs, stouts, a fresh cider and flavored Schnack varieties such as the PB&J. A friendly bartender who asks about taste helps first-timers choose a flight.

The pizza is a real reason to come. The hot honey pie and the whipped ricotta pie are the two named most often, and the Nashville Hot pizza offers a local twist. Custom pies work in a small personal size, and one diner paired jalapeños and red onions with a stout. Wings and sandwiches add range for groups. Diners who came for the beer left talking about the crust and the toppings.

Wednesday is half-price pizza day, which regulars plan around. Street parking in front is paid through an app. The patio is busy with college students and groups, and smoking is allowed on part of it, so some diners choose indoor seats.

NY Pie is a slice shop in a Charlotte Pike plaza, and the draw for New York natives is how familiar it tastes. The crust is thin and crisp with a nice structure, the marinara has a slight spice and the ingredients taste fresh. Slices are reheated in the oven, which diners say brings back the crunch and a stretchy pull of cheese. Deep dish is not on offer, and nobody seems to miss it.

The ricotta white slice, the Greek with olive, spinach and feta, the garlic chicken white and the grandma pie with basil all get named. A newer Sriracha pizza has become a favorite of at least one local who grew up on Detroit pizza. Stromboli, wings, salads and a cheesecake that one diner called phenomenal add more to the menu. Garlic knots split opinion, so the slices are the safer order.

The dining room is small, and a line can leave little room to move. Some diners eat outside, where staff brought pizza to the table. Orders for larger parties go smoothly, but pre-ordering is smart for a crowd.

Emmy Squared Pizza on 12th Avenue South makes Detroit style pizza, and its fans include people from Detroit and Brooklyn. The room is compact, with three seating areas that still feel open, and servers get praise for making lunch feel like a good time.

Pizza is the reason to go. The Detroit style pie has a thick base and crisp edges, and the Colony pizza with honey is a favorite. Gluten-free pizza earns some of the strongest praise, with diners calling it among the best. The burger is juicy, and waffle fries with Kewpie mayo come alongside. Caesar salad and a white pizza broaden the menu.

Reservations are accepted, but a few diners had trouble with seating on large parties, so confirm the setup early. Lunch is busy. The kitchen turns pizzas quickly, and takeout is possible.

Angelo's Picnic Pizza is a small neighborhood shop on Hazelwood Drive in Smyrna, with carry-out and a few places to sit. Diners who moved from the Northeast say the pizza is the closest they have found to home. A cheese pie shows the style at its simplest: a crisp crust, a lightly sauced flavor and plenty of mozzarella, with less grease than many New York style places.

Slices are huge. A couple who ordered several slices for dinner found they had enough for the next day too. The lunch deal of two one-topping slices and a fountain drink is popular. Beyond pizza, the meatball calzone is made to order and comes with ricotta and mozzarella. Sicilian pizza earns praise for its thick, soft crust, and the wings and meatballs left a good impression on one family trying the menu.

When the shop is busy, the cashier is upfront about the wait, and the pizza often comes out sooner than quoted. Delivery orders have drawn complaints, so picking up is the better plan. The cheese pizza is the safest first order.

Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria on Buchanan Street is clean, modern and full of nods to music and film, from R&B references on the menu to silhouettes on the restroom doors. Parking is easy, and the staff walks first-timers through the ordering process. Diners place orders at the counter or kiosks, and a line forms at busy times but moves.

The pizza is built to order. A Slim is a personal pie that fills a diner up, and toppings are unlimited, with a choice of sauces. The S+H Hot Chicken pizza is the pick that diners recommend to each other in line, with good flavor and a little kick. Vegan diners have a full pie in Nothing But a V Thang, with vegan cheese, pepperoni and sausage on a seasoned crust. Garlic butter sauce for dipping the crust is worth adding.

Wings, including lemon pepper, and the Ms. Berry cinnamon roll with blueberry sauce and lemon glaze add more to a table. The Tuesday deal draws regulars, and the shop also has a location at the airport, which travelers use before flying home.

Nicky's Coal Fired on Centennial Boulevard has the feel of a converted factory, with a roaring coal oven at the center of the room and the smell of dough and char reaching the parking lot. Diners from New York say the blistered crust and coal-oven punch come close to what they know from home, and a Hey Paisano pie with spicy drizzle is one that people remember.

Pizza is only part of the story. The focaccia with butter has fans who think about it for weeks, and the scratch-made pasta gets favorable attention, including a crawfish spaghetti with a rich cream sauce and plenty of crawfish tails. Meatballs, the Big Italian salad, the kale Caesar and tiramisu round out a meal. The butternut squash ravioli and cauliflower appetizer have won guests over at events.

The space works for larger gatherings, including a private Maxwell Room with brick and wood. Happy hour is popular, so seating can fill. A diner who could not get a table once had the order carried next door to the neighboring brewery, a gesture that shows how staff treat guests.

Two Boots Nashville sits on Broadway near Vanderbilt and the Virgin Hotel, a laid-back pizza parlor with a playful menu. Pies carry names like Cleopatra Jones, the Buckminster, Big Maybelle and Earth Mother, and the slices behind the counter are big New York style wedges. Diners describe the staff as friendly and accommodating, and the music and outdoor seating suit a relaxed night.

The crust is thin and slightly toasty, and the sauce is the part that wins praise: one couple said it was the best they have found and now drive a long way for it. White pizzas and hot garlic knots are popular starters. The standout is the vegan lineup. Diners rate the custom pie with vegan cheese, pepperoni and sausage, and the Earth Mother, as some of the best vegan pizza they have eaten. Gluten-free pizza also earns favorable mentions.

Ordering a whole pie means a traditional cut rather than the big slice cut. The parking lot is small, so some diners park elsewhere and walk, and late hours help after Broadway events.