Bring your appetite and explore Williamson County’s best bites, from new bakeries and Brooklyn-style Italian to a family-owned butcher shop.
By Kate Robertson on October 27, 2026
©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins
You can’t talk about Tennessee food without mentioning Memphis barbecue or Nashville hot chicken. While tangy pork ribs and blazing crispy chicken are indisputably delicious, Williamson County residents know there are plenty of other fire flavors a little closer to home.
Check out some of the area’s newest hot spots serving a variety of different cuisines.
Rising to the Occasion Perenn
After launching four bakery-cafes, a fine-dining restaurant and a catering company in Nevada, the husband-and-wife team of Aubrey and Tyler O’Laskey set their sights on Middle Tennessee, opening the doors to Franklin’s Perenn in May of 2025.
Nestled in a historic building on Main Street with a patio overlooking the Harpeth River, the spot serves beautiful breads and decadent pastries from dawn until early afternoon, then transforms into a cozy yet elegant restaurant for dinner service.
Indulge in all three meals at Perenn: Start with soft scrambled eggs in a perfectly flaky croissant for breakfast, enjoy a gooey grilled cheese sandwich for lunch and end the day with a classic roast, crispy potatoes and Yorkshire pudding that’s served every night of the week.
Ryder and Michaella Zetts
SOS Counter
Franklin’s SOS Counter, which started as a home bakery called Sourdoughs of Somerset, expanded far beyond naturally leavened loaves when it opened a brick-and-mortar spot in spring 2026.
In addition to sourdough bread in a wealth of sweet and savory flavors – dark chocolate chunk, everything bagel, havarti dill and more – it serves ultra-trendy shokupan (Japanese milk bread), croissants, danishes, cakes and upscale handhelds like braised short rib dip, Cubano and katsu chicken sandwiches.
©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins
Burgers, Pizza AND Ziti – Oh, My!
Casual spots that don’t skimp on flavor and fun abound.
Truce
Truce opened in the Brentwood neighborhood in May of 2026, serving a broad range of modern American fare.
The airy, expansive dining room overflows with fresh flowers and bouquets, while the menu highlights the “clean” ingredients in dishes like apple-brie chicken salad, grass-fed seared steak, and short rib mac and cheese. Abstainers will especially appreciate the long list of elaborate, creative booze-free beverages.
Crush Yard
Also in Brentwood, Crush Yard pickleball court and bar opened in June 2026 and has been, well, crushing it.
With eight pickleball courts, a golf simulator, a self-serve beer wall, a bar and grill, and live music, there’s enough to entertain paddlers, putters, imbibers, and all-around good-time-havers for hours.
Both seasoned players and newbies are welcome on the courts (individual and small-group pickleball lessons are available for those who need to learn the basics), though noshing on bar classics (pizza, smoked wings and cheeseburgers) doesn’t require any instruction.
©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins
In-N-Out Burger
Legendary California chain In-N-Out Burger set up shop in Franklin in early 2026 to much excitement. In fact, the joint was so anticipated that the city named the entire street after the franchise’s signature burger; the iconic spot sits on Double Double Drive.
Pelato
Finally, Pelato brought the Northeast to the Southeast in March 2026, serving its Brooklyn-style Italian fare in Franklin.
Items are served family-style, and when the table groans under the weight of platters piled high with garlic bread, arancini, fried calamari and baked ziti, there’s no squabbling, only gobbling.
©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins
Pleased to MEAT You The Franklin Butchery
With Middle Tennessee’s deep roots in agriculture and ranching, it’s no surprise that Williamson County has some of the best beef around.
Family-owned, The Franklin Butchery opened in 2026 and serves beef and pork from Bear Creek Farm, just 25 minutes down the road in nearby Thompson’s Station.
The Butchery’s display cases also stock chicken, lamb, and seafood, and its small seating area invites customers to enjoy lunch (its double cheeseburger and beef-tallow fries draw raves) or its new dinner service. Keep an eye on the shop’s social media for special events, such as luxe beer, bourbon and dry-aged steak dinners.
Char Restaurant
Coming Soon to Cool Springs
The area’s culinary scene shows no signs of slowing, either. Upcoming Franklin openings include a pair of steakhouses in Franklin’s Cool Springs commercial district: Char Restaurant, which offers “Southern-style steaks and seafood” with live jazz at four locations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama; and Roots Prime Italian Chophouse, a sister restaurant to Serrato’s Steakhouse, which boasts three Middle Tennessee locations and will incorporate housemade pasta and traditional Italian bites on its menu.
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