Welcome to
World Foods Pizzeria & Deli
We are a casual eatery where comfort meets culinary creativity, offering a diverse menu that satisfies all appetites.
Welcome to World Foods:
Nestled in the heart of Cookeville, TN, World Foods exudes warmth and welcomes guests with open arms. With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu bursting with mouthwatering dishes, it's the perfect place to unwind and savor a delightful meal.
Our diverse menu caters to every palate, whether you're looking for a leisurely dinner with loved ones, a lunch catch-up with friends, or just to grab a quick slice. World Foods offers a relaxed setting where laughter flows as freely as the conversation. Come as you are, and leave with a satisfied heart, a full stomach, and a smile.
OUR MISSION:
To enhance the lives of our employees and customers alike and the people they care about through not only short-term opportunity and comfort but also the lasting memories and connections created through the love, fellowship, and sense of community derived from the creation and consumption of good food.
WORLD FOODS HISTORY
World Foods was established in 1999, as a dream of Al and Sharon DeFosche’s coming to fruition stemming from their infamous pizza house parties that continued to grow from just a "couple friends" until it led to a full blown restaurant.
They decided on a commercial unit in Cookeville’s Historic WestSide District, that had seen its share of Cookeville history and needed some TLC before they could open. Al did most of the work himself with the help of friends. The ceiling inside is original and was carefully hand repaired by Al himself piece by piece. For the pieces he couldn't salvage, he worked with a local ship building company to have them manufactured as exact replacements.
Old-Style Family Recipes
When Al & Sharon opened World Foods, they weren’t thinking about ‘highlighting’ cultures, they were simply sharing the food they knew and loved. Most of the recipes were family recipes or friend's family recipes, the kind with sloppy handwriting, frayed corners, and covered in stains. The kind you get handed down and treasure for a life time.
Al & Sharon ran World Foods for many years and turned many people into regulars with their old-style family recipes and charming, open kitchen atmosphere.
That’s still our focus today: honoring their heritage, keeping the recipes true, and serving the community a menu you can’t find anywhere else in Cookeville.
Handing Over the Torch
In early 2016, Al and Sharon were ready to retire and move closer to their daughter in North Carolina. They sold the business and buildings to an employee, who vowed to always keep the heart of World Foods the same, never change the quality of the ingredients, and to enhance the lives of employees and customers alike through the lasting memories and connections created by the love and fellowship shared from the creation and consumption of good food.
The World Foods Family
What will never change is the heart of our kitchen, the people in it. Our crew is like family, and they treat everyone who walks through the door the same way. They go above and beyond, because they truly care about the folks we serve.
