Another fantastic find on our trip to Johnson City... another box checked: PIZZA! We found Scratch Brick Oven and at first I thought we were in the wrong place because it's tucked into a residential area. But the second we parked, we could smell that wood-fired oven doing its thing. That smoky, toasty aroma? Instant confirmation we were exactly where we needed to be. Is this place fancy? Ahhhh... NO. And that's part of the charm. We went early for dinner (around 4:30ish). A few people were coming and going. You fill out your order on paper sheets and they make 12" pies, perfect for individual tastes. We ordered a plain cheese as our barometer (because you always judge a pizza place by the basics). I built mine with pepperoni, red onion, fresh mushrooms, and roasted whole garlic cloves. While I was trying to be subtle snapping photos, Theodore opened the door to the wood-fired oven and invited us to take a look. OMG. I LOVE a wood fire oven, and this one was glowing red hot. He explained the pies cook in about six minutes. They're thin crust but sturdy enough to hold their toppings once they cool and set a bit. Just look at the pics. Again... not fancy. Paper plates. Plastic utensils. But honestly? You could serve this on a paper towel and it would still be phenomenal. MIND. BLOWN. The crust is perfectly balanced and crunchy. The red sauce? Perfection. They smoke the meats in house, and that pepperoni was unlike anything I've ever had. And the roasted garlic? Absolute game changer. I imagine they already have a huge following, but if you haven't tried this place yet... put it on your list. Immediately. read more

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Thank you Jamie and crew for hosting our private party! (TNTECH Orchestra) The pizzas were great and the staff friendly! Korean pork belly was a big hit! Y'all, get yourself some pizza here. read more

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Run don't walk to this pizza place. It's a treasure in Johnson City! We had just returned from a trip to Charleston SC and had wood fired pizza in the heart of James Island, it was just so-so, but this wood fired pizza is the best I've ever had! They didn't skimp on the toppings, the sauce and crust were outstanding and I loved the relaxed vibe of the place. They even have a record player with dozens of albums so you can pick one out and put one on to suit your mood. The fresh herbs were a wonderful addition to the experience. You need to check this place out, you'll be glad you did. read more

Scratch is back after some remodeling small hiatus! Best pizza in Tennessee, best pizza in the south! Nothing like it anywhere else either! Great beer and wonderful record collection for customers to play! Scratch does their very own charcuterie for their meats and grass fed all beef pepperone to top it off with! A true Northeast Tennessee Gem!!! Scratch boasts a 100 plus ton wood fired bread oven and not a miniature dome wimpy "pizza" oven like all the other gas assisted wood fired pizza joints. You have to go up New England to find any oven like this and this puppy takes two weeks to fully heat up and the coals in the back reach well over 1100 degrees F or up to 590 C!!!! This place isn't a cover band when it comes to wood fired techniques and has a completely original process. Pure passion and no pretentiousness whatsoever. Gluten free options, vegan or whatever you wish. Real cane sugar glass bottle sodas! The trust pizza is the local favorite option that the pizza chefs pick their own toppings and it truly is a worthy risk. Been around almost 20 years and still kicking with an updated coat of paint and vibe! People are known to have driven from Atlanta from Memphis from Birmingham even from New Jersey and Chicago just to try or enjoy the pizza again. Scratch is more than a restaurant it's an experience that will never be forgotten!! read more

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First. I love this place. Great pizza and service! BUT please anyone, guest or team member, check the stylus on the turntable for dust. And use the record cleaning pad if possible. After a few hour of listening to your favs as if they are playing under a wet blanket can cause psychoacoustic damage to the staff and mess up your order. Let's all be happy! read more

Best pizza I've had in a long time!! Will definitely be returning. After living here for 5 years I regret not eating here sooner. Everything is so fresh and delicious! People are awesome! read more

Pizza are one size a little big for 1 person and not quite enough for two. Limited specialty toppings. Not a fan of the spicy pepperoni Crust is great and sauce not a great value for money read more

Love so much about this place.... But the specialty pizzas should match the description. Ordered one that did not contain red onions as they cause me digestive issues and they put red onions on it. Years ago we quit frequenting them after marking green peppers off for a limited trust pizza and on three consecutive occasions, they created a pizza with green peppers. Feels like revisiting previous issues. read more

The pizzas are incredible! You won't regret it, I promise you. I will recommend the white sauce with the basil and garlic, but that's just me. read more

Such great pizza and customer service. Highly recommend the cheese sticks!! Totally our new go to pizza spot.

My favorite local pizza spot in Johnson City. BYOB and perfect for a casual dinner. We always opt for the "Trust" pizza and it never lets us down. Everything is always made from scratch and you can tell their ingredients are fresh. Highly recommend if you're in the Tri-Cities. read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

Don't judge a place by its exterior! This place is a perfect example. We ventured to find some great pizza in Johnson City based on reviews and were so glad we did! This place doesn't look like much but they are putting out some amazing pies. Upon walking in we were greeted by 2 pizza makers who are in plain view. That's always nice. Ordering consists of marking off dough type, ingredients, sauce etc on a series of small clipboards. We went with a classic pepperoni pizza with fresh basil. They use a hand built bread oven. Brick built, wood burning over 1200 degrees!! The way this chars the pizza dough is phenomenal! Hand made pepperoni and great ingredients! Amazing pizza! Give it a try if you are ever in the area. read more

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We stopped in on our way home to SC..we wanted to get some good pizza & BOY we were thoroughly pleased!! It was about $65 for two large & one personal pizza but well worth it. They didn't have sides of ranch so that was a bummer but overall awesome experience. Friendly staff!! read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Everyone eating some 16" Large Pizza's at a park since we were traveling with 3 dogs. - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

This was the second time we've had this. First time was soon after 1 bite challenge by Bar Stool. First time we bought 1 pizza and grabbed one from our normal pizza spot since we only come to JC a couple times a year. It was so good we decided to get scratch this time only. Not sure if lack of employees or what. Parking here is already problematic so we park and walk across street. Go to the main door it's locked probably because of no help or covid. So go to the back where you could eat outside. Door there says go to opposite side to the window. We had called it in, go to the window ring the bell and pay. Then get told to come back to the door that said go to the window to pick up the order. Pizza this time was lackluster and overdone. If you want to try it only do 1 for your first try. Maybe we just caught it on an off day. read more

Johnson city has some very great hidden gems for food. This is one of them. Ordered two "trust" pizzas. That's where you trust the cooks and they make it how they want. I was pleasantly surprised with apples and smoked ham and peppers. Crazy good combinations. 4/5 because the pizza was absolutely delicious 5/5 for the "trust"pizza 3/5 for the lack of condiments and strange setup of the parlor. Overall a solid 4/5! read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

What can I say about this place? It's a quaint little tiny building the employees were extremely nice, and helpful. The pizza was absolutely delicious, I will definitely be back If your local you know about it, if not you need to try it read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Personal pizza. 10' for $11. Up to 7 toppings - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

The best pizza I've ever had in my life. Got it to go and it was waiting for me when they said it would be. Large size for the price AND I can't believe the Rice Krispie treat with marshmallows and Oreos!! WUT! I'd move here just for this pizza joint and I don't even eat pizza that often. My pizza toppings: tomato, roasted red peppers, garlic, spinach, basil read more

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Love the vibe of the outdoor eating area. The homemade pepperoni is so freaking good! It's personally the best I've ever had. read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Back of the building - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

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The real deal! Having spent more than a decade around NYC and Philly, I've had my share of good slices and I'm especially leery whenever folks try to convince me that the local pizza is amazing. In this case, it's well deserved. Go with the Faith pizza and for fun surprises. Also, the Rice Krispie bricks are a real crowd pleaser. read more

This is becoming my favorite pizza joint fast. Only my second visit. Unique way of approaching pizza. Trust Pizza is where the cooks make what they think you will like and you have to trust their opinion and limited trust where you cross out what you do not like or circle what you do like and then the cooks throw their spin on it afterwards. There are two crust types (multi grain) and three sauce/pastes and plenty of meats and veggies to choose from. One of my favorite was the whole roasted garlic. Service is wonderfully bohemian. Fits a college town young and lots of energy friendly and knowledgeable about their craft. The venue is unique. With a turntable where you can pick an album to listen to while dining. the range of artist is expansive. We heard Johnny Cash and Journey in our short visit The tables and chairs are ecliptic I did not see three chairs the same. I sat in an kitchen table round back chair while my wife was in a secretary's chair and my son was in a square lobby chair from the 70's Parking is a little challenging but once you arrived it is worth it. Great pizza and fun atmosphere read more

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Great pizza made from "Scratch". Great food and atmosphere. I've been to Chicago a few times and their deep dish is the best I've had outside of the Windy City ... in some cases better than Chicago Pie shops. Very fresh and tasty. If you're not picky, do yourself a favor and order the trust pizza. read more

How can you celebrate Pi(e) Day without a whole pizza pie? Well folks, just trust me, this pizza is as good as it gets for an unpretentious and funky pizza joint. Their wood burning pizza oven runs 24/7, and it's a thing of beauty. Trust and Limited Trust - SBO's claim to fame in Johnson City is their two ordering options called the "Trust" and "Limited Trust". If you're a non-picky eater, this is fantastic choice as you leave it up to the pizza makers to decide your toppings and sauce. The Limited Trust is a bit more restrictive as you cross off the toppings and ingredients you don't want on it. Anything is fair game including apples, fennel, and mandarin oranges. Having said that, they sprinkle a little bit of everything around the pie so that each bite is slightly different (and honestly mind-blowingly awesome). No two Trust pizzas are the same. Chicago Pizza - I am really tempted to order their Chicago pie but always forget that you'll need to call ahead 2 hours before and that's a lot of commitment for me so I haven't done so yet. If anyone has tried it, I'd love to hear about it. BYOB - Yes, this place is friendly for that. Bring your favorite pizza pairing beverage and enjoy! read more

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Best pizza in the Tri-Cities, bar none. If you have no idea what you want go for the trust pizza. They've never steered me wrong. read more

Okay, I will admit it here. I am a pizza snob..... This was one of the top 3 pizzas I have ever eaten. Multigrain crust, red sauce, smoked chicken, roasted garlic and red onion. Delicious ! read more

The pizza there is so nasty and it was so cold. it's like your chewing on a take out card board box and that's no joke. I wouldn't feed it to a starving dog off the streets. My 4 year old grandson even said that it was bad and if we could leave and go somewhere else because he was hungry. I felt so bad for my grandson because we had waited out in the " hallway" really are we in school or something..smh. Just to sum this up, I would NOT recommend anyone to eat here. #foodwashorriable #servicewasawful This was the worst pizza place that I've ever been to. Y'all don't even deserve my star, perhaps your dumpster does! read more

If you love pizza, this is the place for you! Cute environment, friendly staff and excellent food! You get to customize your order and toppings and then they bake it fresh. The pizza is delicious! Highly recommend! read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

It looks like just a house on the corner of a neighborhood, so it's quite easy to miss. Make your way in and first thing you will notice that it.... ummm..... "feel" like you're in a house. Wait, it IS a house!! Make no mistake though. Cool decor, record/DJ corner, mismatched chairs, custom brick oven peeking out from the back... this place dishes out some AMAZING foods!!!! We opted to get their big pizza and put our trust in them, literally. We circled trust. They'd do a much better job of explaining how things work there than me, so if you are visiting for the first time just know that the staff is second to none and will gladly walk you through the process. Also had their salad which tasted like it was just picked right out of their garden. Whether they actually have a garden or not I'm not sure... BUT they do have a wood burning brick oven that... well... let's just say that no other type of oven will compare. Yes, I'll leave it at that. I had heard soooo much good about this place, and my visit here did not disappoint. At all!!!! read more

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I'm from St Augustine and was up visiting my parents when we happen to drive by. Don't be fooled by the outside appearance... this place is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Best pizza I've ever had in my life. I'm back home now and still thinking about it. Don't be scared to go "FULL TRUST" with your pizza. They will not let you down. Absolutely delicious read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

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Best pizza I have ever had, hand down! This was a Yelp find and boy did it do its job. I had the green curry sauce and trusted them to do the rest (I am vegetarian). My wife had the red sauce and meat and loved hers to. We both agreed it was the best pizza we've ever had and we are knocking on the door to 40. We live out of town but would come back just for this pizza! If you don't know, you NEED to know. :) read more

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Thanks to Google I found this little spot and I'm so glad I did! I was a little confused when I arrived as to where to park. The parking is in the back and a little displaced from the restaurant. I got a small pizza with my choice of toppings.The pizza was so good and was well priced for the quality! I honestly wish they had more items on their menu. read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

Really great wood fired pizza. I lived in Italy for 3-1/2 years and am not a fan of the pizza stateside. But Scratch is great. Wish they were open more often. read more

I used to come to Scratch all the time growing up (lived right down the street). Workers were always super nice, outgoing people. Never had to wait later than I expected to for a pizza. Fast forward to the other day when my girlfriend & I decided to get a nice pie on our way home. We actually thought there was a small eating area inside (there used to be) so we drove to the business only to find out that you can no longer eat on site and actually can't even order inside (small window on the side of the building). So not only am I upset that we have to take the pizza away to eat it, we then proceeded to wait 45 minutes outside in the cold. We weren't the only ones waiting, and we weren't the only ones frustrated with the to-go process. All they told us was to "wait outside the screen door and they'll call your name in about 25 mins". Meaning someone had to be present outside or someone could just walk up and snatch your order that you've already paid for. Last but not least, as we got home and opened up the box, the first thing that caught both of our eyes was the smallest amount of Parmesan/Romano cheese I had ever seen in my entire life. Not even 5¢ worth of cheese in a small to-go container. Laughable. This isn't even getting 'shorted'. This is sad and ruins the reputation of a great business that once cared about satisfying its customers. I know everyone has a bad day, but you can make up for it in certain ways. Had it just been a long wait outside in the cold, I probably wouldn't be posting this. The reason for the post is to let you know that the taste of the pizza (which was great btw) isn't the only thing people care about. I hope things improve in the future, it will be a while before I return. (Which hurts to say) read more

Scratch Brick Oven - My 'side' of Romano cheese - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

This place is a local treasure. The eclectic and disheveled outside translates to a messy delicious meal on the inside. Think hippy meets pizza oven. This is not a place to go thinking you will grab a quick slice of pizza and run. This is an experience that is not to be rushed. The ordering is slighting confusing for the first time and you help yourself to bottled drinks on the honor system when you leave. You can bring your own cooler of beer or a bottle wine. That is wonderful. Best point of advice.....go full TRuST on your pizza. They do an amazing job with simple and delicious toppings. LOVE this place! read more

If you're ever in Johnson City, TN & you love a good thin brick oven pizza, then Scratch is the place for you. It's nostalgic feel has a record player, a very casual atmosphere, decent prices, and a laid back feel. The pizza was very tasty & the service was exceptional. The 2 guys who make the pizza also serve you & it's a simple and enjoyable place to hang out. If you're looking for upscale or uptown, this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for laid back, fun, play your own records & Great pizza, then you gotta check them out! PS it's BYOB (NO FEE) and serve yourself drinks from their drink fridge! read more

First time ever trying Scratch Brick Oven. I ordered a small pepperoni, sausage, and the trust. I was sceptical with the trust and the fact that they put oranges on their pizza but it was AMAZING! I ate the entire pizza by myself. I will definitely be back, a lot! read more

Scratch Brick Oven - Pizza Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

This is an awesome place. You can either make your own pizza or have them make a pizza for you. Tell them toppings you may not want but let them Decide what to put on it. It's a great marketing and awesome way to try new pizza!!! The pesto cheese sticks are awesome too. Great outdoor seating too. read more

I love their vegan trust pizza. I've never had a bad pizza from here. Their pizzas are so colorful and delicious. I love their sauces and toppings, which includes fruit. Even without cheese their vegan pizza is flavorful. The flavors are so unique. Excellent crust too. read more

The pizza was amazing!!!! The fresh ingredients and house made twist are superb! I highly recommend the pizza joint to anyone in the mood for great pizza! read more

From what I saw of Johnson City (Subway, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald's, etc.), Scratch is probably as good as it gets and deserves five stars. The building, from the outside, looks like it is about to fall over. All the more reason to take a peek inside this charming dive. The main attractions here are the house record player (and record collection, which patrons are encouraged to peruse and put on the turntable), the wood grilled oven, and "trust." Trust relates to choice of pizza toppings. Trust is trusting the dreadlocked pizza baker to pick whatever she wants for you. "Limited Trust" is scratching off toppings you want excluded and letting the baker take it from there. I did limited trust and was not disappointed. I had several house cured meats, baby spinach, thinly sliced granny smith apples, a couple different cheeses and olives. I broke open several whole dried chilis to scatter seeds across the top for a little heat. It was awesome. Being in town for business, I was dining alone and the 16" pizza for $15 would have been way too much food, so I opted for the 10" gluten free pizza for $10. The crust was thin, crisp and delicious. read more

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Best pizza in Johnson City! They have a huge selection of toppings and all fresh ingredients! I will have scratch pizza on my speed dial