Just when you think Franklin has hit “maximum brunch level,” fantastic new spots keep popping up to try to satisfy our insatiable hunger and thirst for the morning meal. Whether you love to linger over a multi-course weekend feast accompanied by bubbles or bloody marys, or you’re more of a “grab-and-go” breakfast lover, there are plenty of old favorites and new arrivals to make your morning the most important meal of, well, the morning!
1. Biscuit Love
Many Franklin residents were sad to learn that the owners of the charming Victorian cottage known as the Corn House were selling the building, and that change would require Biscuit Love to close their downtown restaurant location. Owners Karl and Sarah Worley were a little emotional, too, because the Franklin Farmers Market was where they sold their first delicious buttery biscuit sandwiches through the window of their initial food truck. Lucky for all of us, their Berry Farms location is still going strong, so the Southern Benny, the Brekkie Burrito, and decadent Bonuts can still be part of our breakfast rotation.
2. Perenn Bakery
When Aubrey and Tyler O’Laskey first visited Williamson County, they fell in love with Franklin’s welcoming vibe and the opportunity to raise their family in a place with open space to garden and play. Their way of thanking the community was to open Perenn Bakery, a phenomenal bakery and café by day that turns into a romantic bistro at night. The CIA-trained chefs are masters of pastry and bread, grinding their own flour to create morning masterpieces like house-made ricotta served on grilled toast and a drizzle of truffle honey or a bruléed croissant French toast with vanilla bean creme anglaise and maple syrup. That last dish is like an international vacation for your taste buds without a passport!
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3. Merridee’s Breadbasket
Meridee’s Breadbasket has been a downtown institution on Fourth Avenue since 1984, when Meridee Erickson started selling fresh pastries and made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch classics to grateful customers. Through the years, the menu has expanded to include rotating pastry and bread specials plus a full gourmet coffee program. Even though Meridee passed away in 1994 [look for the tree honoring her at Five Points,] her spirit of joy and hospitality still runs through every inch of her beloved restaurant.
4. Karrington Rowe
From the team behind Nashville favorites Germantown Café and Park Café, Karrington Rowe is a great pick for late risers since they don’t open until 11:00 am, except on weekends when they swing open the doors an hour earlier. But when they do start serving earlier, brunch is in session until 3:00! Saturday’s brunch menu is a little more limited than Sunday’s, but both offer traditional egg dishes and French toast. Things get even better on Sunday when the menu adds internationally-inspired dishes such as spicy North African shakshuka and continental cuisine like crème brûlée French Toast.
5. Two Hands
Few of us knew Australian coffee culture was a “thing” until Two Hands came to town. They are definitely obsessed with their coffee and brunchy goodness at Two Hands in The Factory at Franklin. You can go light and healthy for breakfast with an açaí bowl topped with seasonal fruit and a freshly-squeezed cold-pressed juice. You can also start the day with a treat like a miso caramel brownie or a filling steak & egg dish featuring seared market-cut Wagyu steak, hash browns, sunny egg, mixed greens, and French anchovy dressing. Being Australian and all, you know that Two Hands’ “snacky hour” is a fantastic way to wind down after work with small plates and drinks.
6. Fika Café
Fika Café is a charming neighborhood gem on Front Street in Westhaven. Their short list of specialty coffee drinks limits decisions and keeps the line moving for those simply seeking morning caffeination. However, it would be a shame not stop and sit a spell, lest you miss out on their outstanding breakfast menu, ranging from savory breakfast burritos and tacos to indulgent brioche French toast topped with caramel buttermilk syrup and fruit. The kitchen thoughtfully avoids seed oils and also offers several gluten-free and vegetarian options.
7. The Puffy Muffin
The Puffy Muffin is a dual threat. It’s the go-to bakery for special occasion custom cakes and also a beloved family-run restaurant that has delighted Brentwood diners since 1986. The family’s dedication to hospitality makes every customer feel at home as soon as they walk through the door and sit down for a slice of the quiche of the day, a breakfast sandwich, or a Morning Power Bowl that will fend off any hunger pangs until brunch. Or, you could just come back for some of their signature chicken salad if you’re still feeling peckish at midday.
8. Frothy Monkey
The downtown location of Frothy Monkey is a bit of an architectural wonder, thanks to the building’s former use as the manse for the Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church. The lovely hardwood floors might creak a bit, but even the larger rooms offer nice little nooks for quiet conversation over coffee drinks, including rotating seasonal selections. If you get a hankering for biscuits & gravy in the afternoon or an omelet as “breakfast for dinner,” Frothy Monkey is there for you with brunch served all day.
9. Puckett’s Restaurant
Puckett’s Restaurant wasn’t voted “Best Breakfast in Williamson County” multiple times for nothing. The nostalgic country store vibe of the popular restaurant fits in perfectly with a menu of classic Southern breakfast skillets and platters. It takes cast iron to hold up to Bubba’s Eggs Benedict, a buttery split biscuit sitting on a bed of home fries topped with your choice of bacon or sausage along with two fried eggs and white pepper gravy. The server might need two hands for that one!
10. Herban Market
Herban Market combines a market selling local products and organic groceries with a delightful little cafe to create a mission-driven space to encourage healthier lifestyle choices. Of course, it’s easier to eat clean when the food is as delicious as the smoothies, matcha drinks, and coffee options that Herban Market offers. There’s no reason to feel guilty about eating pizza for breakfast when you know the eggs and the pigs who provided the sausage, bacon, and ham are all pasture-raised on regenerative farms. Plus, the food is objectively delicious, so there’s that advantage, too.
11. 55 South
With locations in Brentwood and Franklin, 55 South offers two options to get the crew together for a weekend brunch event. Named after the interstate that runs from Memphis to New Orleans, the brunch menu is a culinary journey from the Mid-South through the Mississippi Delta to the Gulf Coast with plenty of delicious stops along the way. Forget what you’ve ever heard about months with an “r” in them; fresh Gulf oysters are always on the menu for brunch at 55 South, and they are perfect for slurping with a “Beermosa.” Hot chicken and waffles are another standout choice, or maybe you might opt for a cinnamon roll pain perdu, basically a glazed French bread version of French toast. Oui, oui!
12. Franklin Mercantile Deli
Tourists and locals alike take advantage of Franklin Mercantile Deli’s convenient location just off the town square. The “Merc” features wall decor from local artists, comfy mix-and-match furniture, and a menu focused on recipes passed down by the owners’ parents in Tennessee and Louisiana. Among the classic favorites are Parmesan cheese grits and Marmar’s sweet potato pancakes served with warm maple syrup. Thanks for passing down that recipe, Marmar!
With all these great options, there’s sure to be a breakfast option for everyone. What’s your favorite?
