This dining destination in Leiper’s Fork — the adorable unincorporated rural village in Williamson County — has an old-school Southern charm, as well as a standout menu from chef Dylan Morrison. Named after the year the house it resides in was built, 1892 Restaurant honors time-old culinary traditions with a daily rotating menu featuring smoked short rib, zucchini-noodle carbonara, and house-churned cookies and cream ice cream.

Chef Jason McConnell first made his mark on the Middle Tennessee restaurant scene when he opened this upscale gem in 2006, serving seasonal dishes reflecting his Southern roots and travel experience. Spiced feta dip, eggplant meatballs, and hickory-grilled bone-in rib-eye go down easy in Red Pony’s atmospheric digs. These days, you could do a whole Main Street crawl of McConnell restaurants: The chef also runs brunch favorite 55 South and special-occasion steakhouse Cork & Cow across the street.

Cozy and quaint, this rustic homespun spot is a go-to destination for breakfast and lunch among locals — one order of the creamy Parmesan grits and it’s easy to understand why. The couple who own Franklin Mercantile, Graeme and Corrie Asch, let their Southern roots shine through in everything from sweet potato pancakes to the mashup of guacamole and pimento cheese that adorns the Guacamento sandwich.

This 19th-century Main Street building once housed a pharmacy; now it’s a three-story restaurant staple. The rustic-chic decor complements hearty, beautifully plated Southern dishes like heritage fried chicken, fried pimento cheese balls, and shrimp and grits — the perfect accompaniment to the soulful live music featured Thursday through Saturday evenings. Gray’s on Main also has a worthy sibling nearly next door: Cocktail bar O’ Be Joyful offers pimento burgers and one of the largest collections of whiskey in town.

The third Tennessee location of this popular Nashville-born chain doles out Biscuit Love’s classic bonuts — the fried lovechild of a biscuit and a doughnut — with lemon mascarpone, East Nasty biscuit sandwiches with chicken, and sweetly spiced Chronic Bacon. You’ll find it all right off of downtown Franklin’s Main Street, in the historic Corn House, mercifully without the lines usually waiting at the Gulch cafe.

Another good pick for date night, Culaccino brings refined Italian food and a charming outdoor patio to downtown Franklin. Robust plates from chef Frank Pullara include veal shoulder-stuffed ravioli marinated in bone marrow, robiola cheese, and butter sauce; heritage pork osso buco; and slow-fermented wood-fired pizzas.

For a quality patty, the move is Burger Up. You can get classic burger combos but also venture into less-common territory with bison or turkey patties, toppings like fried jalapenos and onion jam, and sides such as truffle fries and fried mac and cheese bites. The covered outdoor patio with lawn games also makes Burger Up an easy option for those toting antsy children.

At Amanda Frederickson’s fast-casual Radish, which also has a Nashville location, you’ll find bowls brimming with seasonal vegetables and lean proteins. And whether you opt for a signature dish or build your own, it’ll look as good as it tastes thanks to Frederickson’s background as a cookbook author, chef, and food stylist who once worked in Williams Sonoma’s test kitchen.

This modern meat and three serves up staples like tender chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, catfish, fried chicken, and more in a casual counter-service environment. Hot tip: The family behind Hattie B’s owns Bishop’s, so you can scratch your itch for some of Nashville’s most coveted hot chicken here — sans endless lines.

You don’t need to book a trip to Louisiana for Cajun cooking — the New Orleans-style dishes at small chain Yats more than fit the bill. Step up to the counter and order one of the handful of rotating dishes on the chalkboard menu; it’s $9 for a full order or $10 for a half-and-half split of dishes like jambalaya, chili cheese etouffee with crawfish, and red beans with smoked sausage. Take note that this place is BYOB.

The Honeysuckle’s been known to welcome a celebrity or two — and if you’re able to score the curtained booth off to the left, you too can have an avoiding-the-paparazzi experience. Elevated Southern fare feels right at home in a space built using reclaimed materials and filled with tufted leather banquettes. Try the deviled eggs five ways, duck-fat fries with Alabama white sauce, and beef and pork meatloaf.

Franklin gets the unique distinction of being the Rutledge’s first location — a second has since opened in downtown Nashville. The slick, modern space here includes a large round bar that serves honey lavender margaritas, seasonal mules, and espresso martinis alongside upscale gastropub fare — charcuterie boards, avocado deviled eggs, hand-cut ribeyes, cheeseburgers — and unexpected seafood options like sushi and lobster rolls.