Awesome evening, great food, and great team . From the greeting with Joy, and the lovely, helpful Victoria serving us as well as helping us meet Will the restaurant manager and Will the chef, a great gal (whose name we lost) who gave us insight into the pretzels! Thank you all, Chef Matt and wife Sue read more

Very cool place! Excellent cocktail selection AND dog friendly!!! Lost 1 star just for not having many gluten free options. I went for brunch with my friend and my dog. Guava pineapple mimosas were delicious. There wasn't anything gluten free on the brunch menu so I just ordered a side of bacon and two eggs.that said, I don't think it's fair for me to comment on the food. Great servers, yummy looking menu for those who don't have allergies, definitely would recommend checking it out! read more

It's been ages since a restaurant made me stop mid-bite and say "wow," but this place did it--out loud, in public, no shame. Kylie, our server, deserves a medal (or at least a raise). She knew the menu so well I'm convinced she helped write it, and she guided our first-timer confusion like a culinary sherpa. The food? So fresh I briefly considered asking for the recipe and starting a garden. I could practically feel the lime in the salad giving my taste buds a little zesty high-five. We all ended up sharing plates because hoarding this food felt morally wrong. Every last bite was joyful. And don't even get me started on the decor--perfection. Do yourself a favor and snap a selfie with Johnny Cash; he's the strong, silent type and photographs beautifully. I'll be back... repeatedly, enthusiastically, and definitely hungry. read more

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Wow. Wife and me met daughter here for random lunch. Much different than Scottsdale AZ location. Very inviting, cozy , comfortable, slight upscale, touch of sports bar, ambience. Service excellent. Basic burger, amazing. Chicken Katsu delicious. Think we found a new spot in our dining rotation! Really recommend a try when in the area. read more

Great spot. Excellent bartenders and servers. Good food, too. Try it out! Bathrooms are clean, too! read more

Culinary Dropout Franklin is the 16th location in the chain, primarily found in warm climates where the patio is often a central feature. The name is provocative--it combines "culinary" (skilled cooking) with "dropout" (rejecting tradition), giving you a clear sense of the vibe before you even step inside. We visited at 2:00 PM on a Saturday, and it was bustling, as was most of Aspen Grove, thanks to a beautiful day. Here's the lowdown: Casual & Fun Atmosphere: This isn't a spot for a quiet, romantic dinner. Expect a lively, energetic environment with lots of seating variety, a large bar area, and music at a volume that encourages conversation. Think "upscale casual" or "modern tavern." Comfort Food with a Twist: The menu centers on familiar, craveable dishes elevated with high-quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations. It's the kind of food a talented chef might make on their day off. Strong Bar & Social Scene: Culinary Dropout boasts a curated beer list, clever cocktails, and an atmosphere that encourages socializing. Exceptional Service: We were well taken care of by Cindy, who led our experience with expertise and genuine hospitality. She truly made our visit memorable. What We Ate: Starter: White truffle deviled eggs with crispy prosciutto and chives--a perfect example of comfort food rejecting tradition. Entrees: Asian Crunch Salad with purple cabbage, avocado, sesame, roasted cashews, Fresno peppers, dried mango, Thai curry vinaigrette, and shrimp; and a Turkey Pastrami Sandwich with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, 1000 Island dressing with Dijon mustard on ciabatta (substituted for pretzel roll). Dessert: House Potato Chips with Homemade Onion Dip--potentially the best homemade chips we've ever had. All of this was accompanied by a few beers and classic cocktails. Minor Issue: Despite a number of open tables, we had to wait briefly for a table. It was a small hiccup in an otherwise excellent visit. In a Nutshell: Culinary Dropout offers approachable, elevated comfort food, excellent drinks, and a fun, high-energy atmosphere perfect for groups and socializing. It's the opposite of a stuffy, traditional restaurant. read more

Culinary Dropout - Turkey Pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, 1000 island dressing and dijoin mustard. Substituted ciabatta bread for the pretzel roll - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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We stopped in to celebrate our 20th anniversary without a reservation and honestly didn't expect to get a table. The place was packed. But the hostesses were so kind about it and somehow found us a cozy booth in about ten minutes! Morgan took great care of us all night and made it feel easy and relaxed. Then Will, the manager, came by to congratulate us and surprised us with a little treat. Def be back! read more

Our first time here was amazing! Cannot say enough great things about our server Isaiah. He was the best and gave great recommendations! We will definitely be back! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

If I could leave one word, it would be EXCEPTIONAL! But honestly, one word isn't enough because our experience at Culinary Dropout was incredible from start to finish! From the moment we turned the corner from the parking lot, we were wowed. The curb appeal is amazing, and once you walk in, you're hit with the best aromas, the sound of glasses clinking, and the energy of Saturday College Gameday in the background. The vibe is just perfect -- fun, lively, and welcoming. There were couples, families, solo diners, and big groups... everyone just looked like they were having a great time. The host staff was super friendly and got us seated right away even though we arrived a little early for our reservation. Our server, Hannah, was amazing -- professional, warm, and super knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us awesome drink and entrée recommendations and was so sweet with our son too. We went with her suggestion, the Mongolian short rib, and wow -- it was absolutely delicious! The sticky rice, the marinade, the tenderness of the meat... perfection. And then came the live music, which just took the whole atmosphere up another level -- upbeat but not too loud, just fun and energetic. Even the manager, Dylan, stopped by to check in and was genuinely friendly. You can tell everyone there really enjoys what they do. We were so impressed we tipped 35% because the whole experience deserved it! Already booked another reservation for a Girls' Night Out on Thursday because I can't wait to go back. 10/10 recommend! read more

Culinary Dropout - Dining area - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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If you're looking for basic food in a pretty setting, this may be the place for you. * The hosting experience was unwelcoming, with too many people crowded at the front. * After being seated, it took about 15 minutes for someone (not our waiter) to take our drink order. Our actual waiter didn't arrive until roughly 25 minutes later. * The food was mediocre. For a restaurant branding itself with a "culinary" angle, I expected more creativity. The meatloaf was very straightforward--nothing memorable and honestly something you could find at Costco. The Caesar salad was heavy on dressing and croutons, light on actual salad. I'd like to give it another try, but based on this experience, it's hard to feel motivated to come back. read more

Beautiful restaurant but extremely loud. The food was okay. The spicy California roll was teeny tiny, had zero flavor, and tasted a bit like tuna from a can. The Chopped Chicken salad was bland and unappetizing. Forced down half of it and left the rest. The MAC burger was very good. The fresh pretzels with fondue were amazing. Don't think we'll be back. Very overpriced and the flavor profiles leave much to be desired. North Italia across the street is 1000% better. read more

Alyssa was an amazing server! Lunch was delicious and we had a great experience. The booth was very comfortable.

This restaurant is one of my favorites! So yummy, amazing service. The servers KNOW the menu and it shows. I love the vibe, the atmosphere is great. And the food is great. The servers always recommend the best food on the menu. I definitely recommend visit this place for my nights out! It is a bit loud in there so sit on the patio if you want to talk a lot:) read more

Ordered the meatloaf. Went with a group of 6 on Monday night. We had reservations so sat down right away. Server was very attentive and friendly. Everything we ordered came out great & was delicious. The restaurant was decorated for Christmas, very fun atmosphere. The only thing I didn't love was the bill process. It came as one and there was a code to scan where we could all then pay our checks separately using our phones. The weird part was you couldn't use a credit card on there, the only 2 options were Apple Pay or Venmo? It seemed really weird to me that Venmo was an option but not a credit card. I'm old school and didn't love that part of the experience. read more

Food was awesome! Waiter AND the hostess went above and beyond. Went here for my birthday with a group and had a great time. The ambiance is inviting. The vibe is upbeat but casual. Four different dinner menu items for each person in the group and we all were very impressed. The drinks were some of the best we had ever had! True mixology! The birthday guest also gets a gift and it's not lame like at most restraints. We will be back for sure. I look forward to trying their brunch! read more

We stumbled on this place after looking for a local store. This is in a newer hype part of Franklin, near lots of options for food. We walked in and were greeted right away, and even though we didn't have a reservation, they put us on the list for a quick 10 minute wait. We went to the bar first and the bar tender was very helpful in providing us recommendations for drinks, I got the Cali & Tay margarita and my husband got the Playboi Stache. Both drinks were really food, mine was more on the spicy side, but I like spicy! One we were sat, our server Zoe was so sweet and helpful in making suggestions for what her favorites are. We ordered the BBQ pork belly nachos as the appetizer, sooo good! Perfect to share and the pork belly was poked to perfection. For my dinner, I ordered the Korean rib eye cap. The meat was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. It had onions, mushrooms and bean sprouts, and the sauce was divine! My husband had the spicy rigatoni, also excellent! The sauce was so flavorful and the portions were just right. We ended our meal with the monkey bread which was amazing! They pair it with cooked apples and vanilla ice cream, melts in your mouth! Even with all that, we walked away not feeling over stuffed and will definitely be back! The restaurant has a great vibe, a tad loud because of the hard floors, but still a great ambiance. If you have a big group, I'd recommend making reservations! It was only 2 of us, so it was easy to slip in without one. read more

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The bartender we had was Brayden and he was the best! Helped us pick out food that was delicious and perfectly made. The drinks were phenomenal! Hospitality was the best part. We will always return for a friendly bartender. read more

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Didn't realize it was a chain as I tend to dine at local eateries. As a local, we have so many new restaurants to try it blows my mind! This didn't feel like a chain and the crowd was extremely diverse which is a plus for us. I got the Pub Burger which was amazing while extremely messy. There are so many more selections (menu a 10 out of 10). I look forward to trying in the future. It's like someone shined a light in my brain and took all my secret food desires! read more

Culinary Dropout - Diner - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Ugh, I want to love this place- great location, fun vibe, great sports bar area. We had a less than awesome experience on a packed Saturday night- we addressed the issues with management while we were there (server was not prepared to be working a busy night, didn't know the menu, forgot our order, took 30 minutes to get drinks, only received part of our order and she asked if we were even still hungry and wanted the rest of our food...unfortunately I could go on- all that to say, she was very nice and by no means did anything on purpose, she was just new and inexperienced in hospitality service). That said, management handled the situation as best they could- we will give this restaurant another try because honestly, almost every other table other than the three in our section appeared to be having a great evening and the food on their tables looked great (some of the items were ones that we ordered but never received). I'm going to attribute our experience to the growing pains of opening a new location and working out the kinks of service. Hopeful to have a better experience in the future. read more

A new favorite. My husband and I dined for the first time for brunch at Culinary Dropout. The staff greeted us with warmth and we were shown to a booth. The live music playing was wonderful and not too overpowering as to drowned out the conversation. Our server Becca was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and gave us suggestions based on our likes and dislikes. We had management check in on us at the table just to see how our experience was going which we found refreshing. The chef and cooking staff were very diligent in food safety and preparation as I watched from the booth. They took care with each plate making sure everything was perfect before sending it out to a guest. I got Chicken with gravy and biscuit with a side of potatoes and my husband chose their burrito. The food came out hot and fresh as it's a made from scratch kitchen. Our portions were large and were a great value for the price. Cocktails had fresh ingredients including pressed juices which added depth of flavor. I can say for the first time in a long time everything from start to finish was perfect. We will be coming back again and again. read more

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The restaurant has an upbeat, casual atmosphere -- a little loud, but not uncomfortably so -- with TVs throughout the bar area. The staff were friendly and relaxed. They offer live music on certain nights, which we weren't present for; that feature may add significantly to the experience. The menu is familiar, though nothing in particular stood out. We tried the wagyu beef pigs in a blanket, which tasted similar to supermarket versions, and the prime rib au jus, prepared medium-rare as requested. The food was fine and filled the need, but nothing was especially memorable in flavor or presentation. Overall, it's a pleasant spot for a casual bite, perhaps more so if you catch the live music, but the dishes themselves didn't leave a lasting impression -- the kind of meal you might easily recreate at home. read more

Checked out Culinary Dropout with some coworkers and we had such a great time! Lovely staff, atmosphere, food, and drinks. I got the Spicy Rigatoni which was so tasty. They also had live music with great song choices. Great spot for a post work happy hour! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

LOVED CULINARY DROPOUT in Cool Springs!! Our waitress MacKenzie Ward & Manager Will were so wonderful!! If I could give them a 10, I would!! Favorite restaurant in the Franklin area! read more

Culinary Dropout - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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This place doesn't take itself too seriously... thank God. The menu reads like a wisecrack, but the food hits hard. A Korean ribeye cap and tempura shrimp roll? Yes please. Cocktails that don't screw around. It's loud, fun, a little irreverent, and exactly what Cool Springs needs: food with guts and a sense of humor. read more

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Service was great! Chicken Katsu sandwich was great, and so were the cocktails. Definitely a diverse and varied food experience. Worth checking out. read more

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The food was super. The service was great. Enjoyed the atmosphere. Highly recommend. Can get busy at times so factor that in.

The food was excellent, the hostesses were so least, and Madison our server was INCREDIBLE. She had a smile that lit up the room and she made incredible recommendations on food and drink options. We will go back and we will ask for Madison. read more

Had Brunch there for the first time and our server Alyssa was amazing! Recommended the Burrito and Monkey Bread for dessert! Both outstanding. read more

Great service, Gavin was our server the first night and Daniel was our server the second night (we went two nights in a row because of how good the food, service, and ambiance are amazing. There was live music, TV screens but also felt upscale all at the same time. read more

Culinary Dropout - Restaurant - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Great roomy and delicious, very cool location. the service was great and parking is easy.

CDO is one of our favorite spots! Dylan is always so welcoming and truly goes above and beyond. Will always has a smile and makes you feel like you belong. Ryker keeps the bar (and the whole team behind it) rocking! Shoutout to Thomas and Christa -- they're always so kind. Kylie is such a joy to have as a server, and McKenzie was incredible with my kids! The food, the ambiance, the live music... it's all amazing. We always have the best time here! read more

Warning! Check your credit card statements! I hosted a business lunch on 2/27/28. The bill came to $259.28. I added a $50 tip for a total of $309.28. When my credit card statement came, Culinary Dropout added $10 to the tip amount and processed it for $319.28. I suspect they figured a) I wouldn't notice or b) I wouldn't care because this was my corporate card ans I was expensing it. They figured wrong because now I'm stuck with a discrepancy in the expense reporting tool at work that I have to resolve. I've disputed the charge with the card issuer but it sure does make me wonder if this was intentional. read more

Seriously one of the absolute best restaurant experiences we have ever had. Super friendly service and amazing sushi, Thai crunch salad (yum!!!!), desserts and sandwich dip... kids' meals were also great. We will be back soon and have a feeling this restaurant will become our go-to spot in the future! Special thanks to Gage, Chef Will and Chef Helen for making today so special for our family. read more

Note to Dylan (the manager): Thank you for your response. There was not just one person that was dressed inappropriately. It was multiple women. One of the ladies (today) was wearing what appeared to be black skintight yoga pants with a black top showing her midriff and it didn't look like she was even wearing a bra. One of the other ladies was wearing skintight leopard pants with a top showing a large portion of her midriff. The bartender was wearing a top showing her midriff although it was slightly more tasteful. One of the other servers that had longer hair and a denim top had a plunging neckline. The hostess was wearing a top that was very revealing of her chest along with multiple piercings (I can understand maybe one piercing or a tattoo but this was excessive and distracting). I'm all for personal expression but it should be tasteful because people are coming there to eat and have a nice time with their colleagues, friends, family and possibly on a date with their spouse. I'm from Dallas and I would say that your restaurant falls more within the "breastaurant" category considering the way your employees dress. More of a "feast for the eyes" (and not in a good way) than a place to come and eat. I would never bring someone here on a date. Review: We had a great experience with Kailyn as our server. She was warm and friendly and took care of us. We appreciated her professionalism and her recommendations. She was genuine and kind. You should continue to focus on hiring more people like her. This was our second visit to this restaurant in a week. I'm afraid we don't have a desire to come back though. The food was good although a little overpriced even for happy hour. We enjoyed the charcuterie board, the side salad, the wagyu pigs in a blanket and the chips, which were amazing. The drinks had quite a bit of ice in them and they were just ok. It was even harder, however, to enjoy ourselves as we were so distracted by the inappropriate dress of the servers around us. It made us uncomfortable. I don't want to look at young women that are barely dressed or wearing workout clothes while I eat food. The women in this restaurant (the hostesses and the women on the bar side) are showing way too much skin. This degrades an establishment that is "trying" to look "high end." I'm not sure what kind of vibe you are going for here. Classy or trashy? In addition, on our first visit last week, our server (name removed as the manager is addressing the issue), who was mostly efficient, was always directing us to just spend more money so that her tip was higher. She seemed very disingenuous. No one wants to only have recommendations that are the most expensive items on the menu in each category. Most customers will see right through this kind of tactic. This is NOT service. This Is self-interest without care at best. A good server will ask you what kind of food you like and will tailor their suggestions to your preferences. Your servers may need more training. I will say that there was one gentleman who stopped by to greet us on the restaurant side that was super pleasant and very warm and welcoming (I can't remember his name but he was an African American man that was a server). He was a great representative for your restaurant. He is the reason that this review is a 3-star review instead of a 2-star review. I will check back on Yelp to see if the manager addresses the appropriate dress for his/her employees. This could be a great restaurant if the servers were trained to be genuine and they fixed the dress code. I would be willing to come back to this restaurant if they fix the inappropriate dress issues and train their staff a little more. I'll try them again in a few months and update my review then. read more

Good food but prices are about a third higher than the experience warranted. Staff is very friendly.

Went for Happy Hour with a friend last night. It was busy, naturally, but that didn't stop Sydney and Ryker from providing an excellent experience. I have never had poor service at this location, but those two made it extra enjoyable last night. Sydney's smile is warm and genuine. Ryker was attentive, and engaged in conversation. In most other restaurants the staff doesn't really have time to engage, but Ryker made a point to be personable. Being in customer service, I appreciate that a lot. Thank you, Sydney and Ryker for a wonderful experience. I'll be seeing you again at the bar! read more

I've been to Culinary Dropout three times just this week, and every visit has been such a great experience! Once for lunch, where I had the rainbow roll and feta tahini dip. Both so fresh and flavorful. I came back for happy hour and tried the sangria and spicy tuna crispy rice, which were the perfect combo, especially with the great energy at the bar. And today's brunch sealed the deal for me. The fried chicken was incredible, crispy and seasoned just right. The ambiance is always amazing, especially with the live music and how beautiful the patio is on a nice day. I also want to shout out Carolina, the bartender. Friendly, attentive, and always makes you feel welcome. You can tell she genuinely enjoys what she does. Highly recommend Culinary Dropout for any occasion- lunch, happy hour, or brunch. It never disappoints! read more

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Food was good. Cocktails were heavy on ice and low on beverage. Service was slow. Seating was very slow, even with the restaurant half empty. Very loud. read more

From the moment we walked in, we received true VIP treatment. We went for brunch while visiting Franklin for the day, and everything about the experience was unforgettable. The star of the show was without question the white truffle deviled eggs--absolutely incredible. We also shared the soft pretzel with provolone fondue, hot wings with the best ranch I've ever had, the whipped feta and tahini dip, and the slicer board. Every dish was delicious and perfectly prepared. For drinks, the Serrano & jalapeño Bloody Mary was bold and super spicy--perfect if you like a real kick. I personally loved the heirloom vegetable Bloody Mary for something fresh and unique. The house-made fresh-squeezed POG juice was such a fun surprise and made for the best mimosa. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, the food was out of this world, and the service was beyond amazing. This brunch is one I'll be thinking about for a long time... and dreaming about that ranch dressing! Culinary Dropout is an absolute must if you're in Franklin. read more

Culinary Dropout - White Truffle deviled eggs - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Great food. The server was amazing and gave great suggestions. Steak frites and the ribeye cap were delicious. Highly recommend going on a night with live music read more