Brunch is the magical mealtime in between breakfast and lunch. It’s the perfect excuse to sleep in, indulge in dessert, and a glass of champagne before noon without judgment.
What’s not to love?
Franklin and surrounding areas in Williamson County have a long list of fabulous brunch spots to choose from. Whether you fancy a made from scratch, country spread, or healthier options with organic, locally sourced ingredients, we’ve got you covered.
Meridee’s Breadbasket
First on the list is a Franklin staple, Meridee’s Breadbasket. Meridee’s is the type of place you walk in, take a deep breath, and say to yourself, I think I’ll treat myself to a sticky bun today.
This home-style bakery has been featured in Southern Living, Food Network, and the PBS show “Southern Crossroads,” and for a good reason. The breads, muffins, scones, and dozens of other baked goods are made from scratch daily; you won’t find any premade mixes here.
Windows into the kitchen allow visitors to see the bakers hard at work, turning flour, sugar, and butter into delightful pastries. If brunch at home is more your style, Meridee’s also offers homemade coffee cakes and loaves of fresh bread to go.
My suggestion is don’t skip the egg bread; your French toast just got an upgrade!
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The Country Boy
A few miles outside of Franklin in the utopic village of Leiper’s Fork, step back in time to experience brunch at The Country Boy Restaurant.
The Country Boy is the kind of joint you might remember your dad or grandfather reminiscing about where a group of gentlemen would gather every morning to shoot the breeze and drink their morning coffee.
The red and white checked accents throughout the diner and friendly waitresses, sure to call you “sweetie” or “honey,” will take you right back to grandma’s kitchen.
Country Boy opened in 1968 but eventually closed down for a time until a local couple decided to bring back this gathering place that locals had dearly missed. Aside from the nostalgic atmosphere, this southern comfort food is second to none.
The pancakes that cover the whole plate, country ham, and of course, buttermilk biscuits are just to die for. The beloved Country Boy Restaurant is the quintessential country breakfast spot that you simply must experience to understand truly; you’ll thank me later.
Puffy Muffin
Before I even moved to the Franklin area, I remember hearing about a fantastic bakery and restaurant named The Puffy Muffin.
The catchy name always stuck in my head, so of course, I jumped at my first chance to try this legendary place in Brentwood. I am happy to report; The Puffy Muffin totally lived up to the hype, it’s the perfect little cafe for “ladies who brunch,” see what I did there?
The story goes, that about 33 years ago Linda Stone started selling little rolls, she named “puffy muffins” out of her home, and now the place has turned into a household name in this neck of the woods. The full-service restaurant, bakery, and catering service is a thriving business, owned and operated by Linda’s daughter, Kristi Stone.
As you walk in the door, it is hard not to be overwhelmed, in the best of ways, by the display cases of freshly baked cinnamon buns, jumbo muffins, and breads. If you’re dining in, the French toast topped with fresh berries is a fan favorite as well as the spinach and bacon quiche, made from scratch, of course!
The employees at Puffy Muffin strive to treat each patron that walks in the door like they are part of the Puffy Muffin family, and it shows through the smiles and warm welcomes you will surely receive.
Pro tip: After brunch, be sure to grab a loaf of their one of a kind, Almond Poppyseed bread to take home, on second thought, make that two!
Frothy Monkey
My go-to spot around Franklin for meeting friends for a midmorning coffee and brunch always has been Frothy Monkey. The vibe is familiar and cozy, similar to where you might imagine the cast of “Friends” hanging out.
But don’t let the laid back “90s” ambiance fool you; the menu features eclectic recipes and locally sourced ingredients. If you’re on the hunt for lighter fare, try the Quinoa Bowl, which includes chilled red quinoa, herbed tofu, marinated chickpeas, sprouts, cucumbers, and sun-dried tomato pesto.
This dish is full of flavor and good for you ingredients, making it the perfect post morning run brunch. For a more traditional southern brunch with a twist, go with the Farm Breakfast featuring two farm-fresh eggs, Broadbent’s bacon or sausage, herb roasted potatoes, orange wedges, and your choice of toast.
Also, we simply can’t talk about Frothy Monkey without mentioning their signature coffee drinks. The Hummingbird is their version of the classic southern Hummingbird Cake in coffee drink form.
It starts with freshly brewed espresso and steamed milk, with the additions of house-made pecan sauce, cinnamon, Frothy Monkey banana syrup, and a dried pineapple garnish.
If coffee’s not your jam, the Golden Monkey will warm you right up with steamed turmeric milk, honey, and cinnamon. I could go on here, but you get the picture, Frothy Monkey literally has something for everyone.
Biscuit Love
If you haven’t figured it out by now, we take our biscuits very seriously here in the South. We know a good biscuit when we eat one, which says quite a bit about the line down the street at Biscuit Love in downtown Franklin.
It all began in 2012 when a local couple, Karl and Sarah Worley, launched their Biscuit Love food truck in an Airstream trailer. Since then, they have opened three more locations, including inside the historic “Corn House” in downtown Franklin that was once home to the owners of the Lily Flour Company.
It’s incredibly difficult to decide what delicious biscuit creation to order; however, you can’t go wrong with the “East Nasty,” which was named the best sandwich in America by Bon Appetite in 2015 and is considered one of the best biscuits in Franklin.
This mouth-watering creation starts off with their signature “angel biscuit,” a light and flaky yeast biscuit, topped with a fried boneless chicken thigh, aged cheddar, and house-made sausage gravy.
If you’ve got a mid-morning sweet tooth, try the “Lily,” which is biscuit French toast, topped with lemon mascarpone, blueberry compote, and house syrup. Wash it all down with freshly squeezed orange juice or local Muletown coffee.
Ruby Sunshine
A newer addition to downtown Franklin’s brunch scene is the New Orleans’ inspired restaurant Ruby Sunshine.
Indulgence is the name of the game with this all day long brunch menu featuring classic dishes from the Big Easy. Relaxing on the patio with a view of the town square, sipping on a “Boozy Iced Coffee,” and a plate of “Bananas Foster Pain Perdu” is a morning well spent!
This mouthwatering New Orleans favorite is made with french bread french toast covered with rum flambeed banana, raisins, and butter caramel sauce.
If a savory brunch is more up your alley, try the Grilled Fish St Peter, featuring the grilled fish of the day over a cheesy grit cake, sauteed spinach and tomatoes, a skewer of grilled shrimp finished with a Creole mustard hollandaise sauce.
Disclaimer: You might want to include a post-brunch nap in your schedule for the day! But if you are able to power through, Ruby Sunshine is home to a few of Franklin’s must-try cocktails too!
Choosing where to brunch around Franklin might just be the toughest decision of your visit, the good news is, you can’t go wrong with any of these delightful eateries. Raise your mimosa and toast to biscuits and bacon, done right!
