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Storefronts including a vertical neon sign for Gray’s
Gray’s on Main in downtown Franklin.
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Franklin’s Essential Restaurants

Come for the history and charming downtown, stay for the steaks and duck-fat fries

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Gray’s on Main in downtown Franklin.
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Located just 21 miles south of Nashville, Franklin is stepping out of Music City’s shadow with a booming food and drink scene to call its own. A popular and growing city with deep roots and a dose of quintessential Southern charm, Franklin is experiencing a dining renaissance with notable restaurants popping up in just about every corner of town. Whether you’re a resident or looking for an excuse to make the half-hour drive from Nashville, these restaurants are the perfect alibi for a culinary adventure.

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1892 Restaurant

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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.

Red Pony

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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.

Franklin Mercantile

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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.

Merridee's Breadbasket

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A downtown Franklin favorite since 1984, Merridee’s Breadbasket is an easy choice for breakfast thanks to its house-made pastries. But don’t overlook the lunch menu, which features a selection of hot and cold sandwiches on freshly baked bread. The expanded outdoor courtyard is also the perfect spot to take the air with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.

Gray’s on Main

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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.

Biscuit Love Franklin

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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.

1799 Kitchen & Cocktails

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Named for the year Franklin was founded, 1799 is a date-night destination stocked with bourbon and buttery cuts of beef. From its perch within the Harpeth Hotel, the restaurant doles out a robust Southern-influenced menu that includes dishes like broiled oysters, grilled quail, grass-fed beef tenderloin, and brandied wild mushrooms.

Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

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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.

Burger Up Franklin

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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.

Radish Kitchen

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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.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille

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Tennessee’s first location of the Texas-based Perry’s chain is in Franklin’s burgeoning McEwen Northside complex. Clocking in at a roomy 11,000 square feet, the elegant grill house has grown a loyal local following thanks to its butcher-fresh USDA Prime aged beef, signature tableside carvings, and flamed desserts. Don’t miss the restaurant’s famous pork chop either — it’s cured and slow-smoked for up to six hours with pecan wood then glazed, caramelized, and topped with signature herb-garlic butter.

Bishop's Meat & Three

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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

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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.

Wild Ginger

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Those with a hankering for something a bit beyond the basic California roll need look no further than Wild Ginger. Uncommon sushi ingredients like mango, pineapple, Cajun spice, and filet mignon keep things feeling fresh here. If you prefer your dishes land-based and cooked, the wok menu features standouts like Mongolian beef and umami chicken.

The Rutledge

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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.

1892 Restaurant

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.

Red Pony

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.

Franklin Mercantile

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.

Merridee's Breadbasket

A downtown Franklin favorite since 1984, Merridee’s Breadbasket is an easy choice for breakfast thanks to its house-made pastries. But don’t overlook the lunch menu, which features a selection of hot and cold sandwiches on freshly baked bread. The expanded outdoor courtyard is also the perfect spot to take the air with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.

Gray’s on Main

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.

Biscuit Love Franklin

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.

1799 Kitchen & Cocktails

Named for the year Franklin was founded, 1799 is a date-night destination stocked with bourbon and buttery cuts of beef. From its perch within the Harpeth Hotel, the restaurant doles out a robust Southern-influenced menu that includes dishes like broiled oysters, grilled quail, grass-fed beef tenderloin, and brandied wild mushrooms.

Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

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.

Burger Up Franklin

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.

Radish Kitchen

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.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille

Tennessee’s first location of the Texas-based Perry’s chain is in Franklin’s burgeoning McEwen Northside complex. Clocking in at a roomy 11,000 square feet, the elegant grill house has grown a loyal local following thanks to its butcher-fresh USDA Prime aged beef, signature tableside carvings, and flamed desserts. Don’t miss the restaurant’s famous pork chop either — it’s cured and slow-smoked for up to six hours with pecan wood then glazed, caramelized, and topped with signature herb-garlic butter.

Bishop's Meat & Three

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.

Yats

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

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.

Wild Ginger

Those with a hankering for something a bit beyond the basic California roll need look no further than Wild Ginger. Uncommon sushi ingredients like mango, pineapple, Cajun spice, and filet mignon keep things feeling fresh here. If you prefer your dishes land-based and cooked, the wok menu features standouts like Mongolian beef and umami chicken.

Related Maps

The Rutledge

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.

Related Maps