Tennessee Pizza Joint Serves Lasagna So Good, It’s Practically A State Tradition
It was a rainy afternoon in Memphis, Tennessee, when I stumbled into Coletta’s. I was chasing down rumors of a pizza joint that somehow makes lasagna better than most Italian grandmas. Turns out, the whispers were true.
This place has been feeding Memphis since 1923, and while their barbecue pizza gets all the headlines, the lasagna is what keeps locals coming back for Sunday suppers.
It’s the kind of dish that makes you wonder why anyone would order anything else, until you remember this is also the birthplace of BBQ pizza.
A barbecue-pizza legend with Sunday-supper soul
Memphis knows Coletta’s as one of the city’s oldest family-run restaurants (established in 1923), a title it’s held through decades of serving families who return generation after generation.
The barbecue pizza put them on the map, but walk through those doors and you’ll notice something bubbling in the kitchen that smells nothing like smoked meat.
Lasagna sits right at the heart of the menu, a nod to the Italian roots that built this place back in 1923. You might arrive planning to order pie, but one whiff of that meat sauce and melted cheese will change your evening plans.
This is Sunday-supper food served in a pizza-parlor setting, and somehow it works perfectly.
The dish locals swear by
Coletta’s builds their lasagna the way tradition demands: tender pasta sheets stacked with generous portions of mozzarella and Romano, then filled with savory Italian sausage that adds just the right amount of spice.
The house meat sauce ties everything together, the same sauce that anchors half the menu and keeps regulars ordering the same dishes year after year.
Rich and cheesy barely begins to describe it. I watched a table of four order three pans between them, and not a single bite went back to the kitchen.
This lasagna satisfies in a way that goes beyond nostalgia, though plenty of Memphis folks will tell you it tastes exactly like childhood.
What to order around it
Start smart by ordering toasted ravioli or a mini barbecue pizza so you can taste what made Coletta’s famous in the first place. These appetizers give you a sense of the parlor’s roots while leaving plenty of room for the main event.
Let the lasagna take center stage once it arrives. If you somehow find space afterward, tiramisu or cannoli make a sweet Memphis-style finale that rounds out the Italian experience.
Hotel-bound visitors can order delivery and get the same greatest hits without leaving their room, though the dining-room buzz adds something special to the meal.
Two rooms, same family warmth
Coletta’s operates two locations, one on South Parkway and another on Appling Road. Both post their current hours online and fill up fast during prime dining times, so planning ahead helps if you’re visiting on a weekend.
The atmosphere stays consistent no matter which location you choose. You’ll find the same red-sauce comfort and pizza-parlor buzz that locals grew up with, the kind of environment where families celebrate birthdays and friends gather after work.
Walking into either spot feels like stepping into a Memphis tradition that’s been perfected over nearly a century of service.
When the craving hits
Lunch service runs smoothly at Coletta’s, but dinners really come alive on weekends when families pack the dining room.
Lasagna appears on the daily lineup, so you never have to worry about timing a special or calling ahead to confirm availability.
Just arrive hungry and let your server guide you toward a fresh salad and garlic bread while the kitchen works its magic.
I’ve found that weekday lunches offer a quieter experience if you prefer a more relaxed meal, though the weekend energy adds to the charm.
Either way, the lasagna tastes exactly the same, which is to say absolutely perfect.
Why a pizza joint makes a benchmark lasagna
Coletta’s never drew a line between pizza-parlor culture and old-school Italian cooking, which explains why plates of ravioli, manicotti, and cannelloni feel perfectly natural next to bubbling pies.
The kitchen treats every dish with the same care, using recipes that have barely changed since the restaurant opened.
That approach means the house lasagna gets the same attention as their famous barbecue pizza.
Regulars understand this balance and treat the lasagna like a rite of passage, something every Memphis food lover needs to experience at least once. Most end up coming back monthly.
Practical details for your visit
Both Coletta’s locations list their addresses and hours on the restaurant website, making trip planning straightforward. Parking proves easy at either spot, with dedicated lots that can handle busy dinner rushes without much hassle.
Bringing a large group or planning a post-game carb-loading session means a quick phone call helps the kitchen prepare.
Out-of-town visitors staying nearby can place online orders through the Appling location, though I always recommend dining in if your schedule allows.
The atmosphere adds something special that takeout containers just can’t capture, no matter how good the lasagna tastes.
Bottom line
Memphis draws food lovers for its barbecue and blues, but Coletta’s proves the city has serious Italian chops too. Come for the iconic barbecue pizza that put this place on the map, but make sure you order the lasagna before you leave.
In a city that celebrates bold flavors and portions big enough to share, this pan of layered comfort stands out as something truly special.
It’s exactly why a Tennessee pizza joint can claim a lasagna worthy of state-tradition status, and why locals have been filling these tables for nearly a hundred years. One bite explains everything.