Southern Foods to Savor in Greater Franklin, TN Area

Williamson County dining options range from upscale to down-home.

By Phil Newman on March 27, 2016

It’s all a matter of good taste at local restaurants in Williamson County that give residents and visitors plenty of unique dining options.

Upscale

$$ Catch the spring breeze on Wild Iris’ outdoor patio and snack on handcrafted appetizers or partake of the full bar.

$$$ The Red Pony’s chef/owner Jason McConnell offers a relaxed but upscale atmosphere where you can chat easily over a glass of wine or peer through a wall of glass into the kitchen as top chefs prepare dishes.

$ Elevated Southern cuisine dubbed “urban country” at Mack and Kate’s where delicate dishes are made with the love of the South.

$$ Homestead Manor in Thompson’s Station is an event-focused, farm-to-table dining destination opened by Puckett’s owner Andy Marshall.

Barbecue

$ Texas-size pork, brisket, ribs and chicken make mouths water at Judge Bean’s Bar-B-Que in Brentwood.

$ Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nolensville is a classic joint that features succulent burgers, brisket, catfish, stews and killer barbecue.

$ Todd Masters (the barbecue sauce guy) instituted Jack of Hearts Bar-B-Que after devising his prized recipe one night in his kitchen, and his legendary sauces are for sale on location.

International

$$ Local Taco presents Tex Mex cuisine infused with Southern and local flavors.

$$ Sopapilla’s conjures the flavors of New Mexico from margaritas to tacos.

$$$ Wild Ginger tenders an eclectic blend of Pan-Asian, South American and Western cuisine. “The fusion here is something you often find in a big city … you can experience so many blended cultures on one plate,” says frequent customer Kalina Neely.

Coffee and Juice Shops

$ Frothy Monkey smells of fresh-drip coffees and swirling lattes while locals enjoy caffeine breaks, lunch dates and even special evening events.

$ At Fat Bottom Brewery you will find coffee-infused porter Java Jane.

$ Known for its greens, roots and power shots, Juicebar in Brentwood makes healthy drinking delicious.

$ Jamba Juice serves up classic smoothies, yogurt bowls and more at its McEwen Drive shop just south of Cool Springs.

$ Honest Coffee brews premium coffee via a microroastery, espresso bar and pour-over stations.

$ Just Love Coffee provides customers with hand-roasted blends along with a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.

$ Franklin Juice Co. has everything from organic cold-pressed juices to superfood elixirs and juice cleanses.

$ Tropical Smoothie Café offers a big selection of custom smoothies as well as breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and wraps.

Quick Bites

$ Puckett’s anchors Leiper’s Fork with its country charm, Southern favorites and live music. The fare is just as savory at downtown Franklin and Nashville locations, and at seafood-friendly Puckett’s Boat House in Franklin.

$ In Merridee’s Breadbasket in downtown Franklin, you’ll find a much-celebrated selection of baked goods, boxed lunches, coffees and extended breakfast/lunch menus.

$$ BurgerFi in Brentwood presents a from-the-farm menu with highlights including four different Angus beef burgers.

$ The mission at Brown Bag Restaurant in Franklin is to serve delicious, healthy food at reasonable prices every day.

$ Country Boy is a long-time dining staple in Leiper’s Fork that closed for awhile and reopened in 2016, with the restaurant known for its breakfasts and meat-and-three menu.