I've only ever had a very solid, nice time at JJ's. They know who they are: old-school, laid-back,…read morereliable, and cozy. There's nothing flashy or attention-grabby about JJ's, no pomp or pretension. In a market that seems saturated with conceptually whacky cocktail and wine bars, I find the simplicity of JJ's refreshing. If it's chilly outside, JJ's invites you to tuck in from the cold and enjoy a board game. On temperate evenings, this is just the place to pull up a chair on the patio and enjoy a beveragino while you people-watch downtown Franklin's historic Main Street. And, just to cover all my bases, if it's grotesquely hot (as it so often is in TN), JJ's affords you the opportunity to drown your sweaty sorrows in a classy manner. Whatever the occasion, no matter the weather, you can count on comfort & consistency at JJ's - and that is worth every star!

We stopped by JJ's Wine Bar while attending Franklin's Main Street Festival, and it was a great…read morebreak from the heat. We sat on the shaded porch, enjoyed some wine, and watched the festival crowd pass by. We shared the spinach dip and charcuterie board, which paired nicely with the wine. The self-serve dispensers were a fun feature and made it easy to try several different wines with smaller pours instead of committing to a full glass. It was a relaxed and enjoyable stop, and we would gladly return the next time we're in Franklin.

Food: the Bolognese was very tasty! It wasn't a large plate so I ended up ordering a salad after…read more(Kale/Goat Cheese). Both were good! Service: I ate solo so chose a seat at the bar. The staff were attentive. My food came quickly as well. Ambiance: Nice for a date night but would be fine for a family meal as well. Parking was easy to come by. They have street spots and a free parking deck.

For how expensive this place is, I expected way better. The portions were only okay and I wish we…read morewould've gone somewhere else. We started with the beef carpaccio, which was tasty and really had me excited for our entrees. I got a glass of wine and my wife got a mocktail. The mocktail was $12(?!?) for essentially fruit juice. She liked it for what it's worth. Our entrees came and I was disappointed by the portion size when it was set down and then even more so when I took a bite. The pasta was super al dente and an unpleasant to eat. I finished my meal and was still hungry even after splitting an appetizer. The only redeeming part about our experience was our waiter who took great care of us despite it being a busy dinner rush.

Here's a little local insider tip...if you go on a Monday, ask about the secret menu burger. It may…read moresound like "just a cheeseburger," but trust me, it's anything but ordinary. They take the leftover steaks from the weekend, grind them fresh into an incredible burger patty, and top it with a house-made sauce that has just a hint of truffle. The result is one of the best burgers I've had in Franklin! Pair it with their crispy fries, and you've got a meal that's hard to beat. Before the burger arrived, I started with an Old Fashioned, and it was fantastic. I got so excited about that burger I almost forgot to mention it! It was well-balanced, perfectly made, and a great way to kick off the evening. We sat downstairs at the bar, and our bartender was outstanding. She had a great personality, was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. One piece of advice, make reservations if you can. Even on a Monday night, the restaurant was packed, which tells you everything you need to know. Whether you're looking for an excellent steak dinner or you're in on the local secret of the Monday burger, Red Pony is definitely worth a visit.

We had a great time at Red Pony! We took a couple friends there to celebrate their engagement. The…read moredrive there was easy and there is a large parking garage very close by. It's a bit dark inside but the decor is really nice. It was extremely loud when we first sat down but the volume improved when a large group next to us left. I like that we can see the kitchen at work from the dining area. They have a great cocktail program, I highly recommend you try some. The food was great from the start. They brought us a complimentary truffle gnocchi since it was our first time there and it was excellent. The apps were great, with the bread and butter(s) and the brisket buns standing out. Mains were well executed, with my personal favorite being my girlfriend's filet. The desserts were also great and the flavors matched the season. One of our guests had a nut allergy and they did a great job accommodating us. The server was eager to talk but never encroached on our experience. I'd love to go back next time I'm in town!

Came here on a sweltering day for lunch with a coworker & client, who we'll call Dennis because…read morethat was his name. Culamar is drenched in natural light and decorated simply - nothing too loud or busy about the place, thus perfect for a working lunch. The menu was odd and we all struggled to understand the categories it was broken up into. Each item read as a series of arbitrarily listed ingredients. Our (half asleep, disinterested) waitress informed us the dishes were, in majority, "tapas style", a term I find exhaustingly passé. I began to dream of restaurants down the road we could have selected, but we were here and we must stay the course! I had to keep it together for Dennis. We ordered 6 dishes for the three of us to share, and you know what? They were all excellent. Really such outstanding bites. I was stunned by how much I enjoyed the beef carpaccio, the calamari was the best I've ever had (amazing tempura fry!), the Gnuddi (basically a massive gnocchi) in browned butter and crisp sage was a pillowy delight. In spite of my initial concerns -- the hiccups of a confusing menu and our less-than-energetic waitress -- we all left with pleased palates.

What a total disappointment! Oysters the size of a dime…read more$4.50-$5.00 Get this: Martini: $16, 3 olives the size of a small wrinkled marble extra $4 then $2 martini charge $22 martini 1 1/2 oz maybe. Seafood platter $115 then an extra $4 charge because I used my Am Express card. I have never been told that I am cheap but even the really nice watress was embarrassed. I did tip her well it's not her fault. She works for an overpriced low par restaurant. It does not deserve even one star below.

Amazing little cafe that connects to a very nice and chic hotel, the staff are very friendly and…read moreknowledgeable on their food/beverage options. We ordered the cherry yogurt danish and the ham and cheese croissant, we also got the breakfast plate which was all very delish. Modest wait but the coffee was made very well! Recommend to anyone stopping by downtown Franklin

This place is located in the Harpeth hotel where we are staying. We strolled in for a morning…read morecoffee and decided to stay for breakfast. The lattes were absolutely perfect. We got an omelette to split and they split it on two plates for us without being asked... so nice. The omelet was delicious. The folks here were very friendly and the ambiance of this small cafe is perfect. Even if you are not staying at the hotel ... you should consider for coffee and or breakfast while in downtown Franklin

Be sure to check out this gem! Sunday means all-day happy hour, and my friend and I celebrated…read moreGalentine's here and it was the perfect vibe for it. The service was some of the best we've had: attentive, warm, and so generous. I couldn't decide between the house salad and the miso soup (both sounded amazing), and they kindly surprised me with a house salad topped with their housemade dressing, such a thoughtful touch. The miso soup was stellar, too. We started with the mango crab rangoons (highly recommend), then ordered a mix of rolls: two cooked: the Hotel Cali and Tidal Wave and two vegan: the Eden (a must!) and the Cowgirl. Every single one was delicious. To drink, we loved the China Doll and the Sangria Spritz cocktails. The lighting and overall mood of the restaurant i beautiful, warm, cozy, and perfect for lingering. We'll absolutely be back!

The food is delicious, they have a great happy hour but the service from the bartenders is woefully…read moredisappointing. I've been a couple times and each time the bartenders are lacking in friendliness, accuracy, and efficiency. It seems that they pay more attention to the service bar and chatting with each other, it's surprising to me that management doesn't notice the bar is in need of supervision and improvement. I've had to to get my own napkins, chopsticks, and even had a food runner drop off my food to a couple sitting beside me and scurry away before any of us could tell her that she made a mistake ‍. It's possible that the service is better at the tables though, I sit at the bar because I go solo. Still, the food and ambiance are worth a visit, I will be back...the chargrilled edamame is delicious!

We went there for our wedding anniversary. My wife picked it and it was a good choice…read more The food was exceptional and very tasty. I had duo filet mignon and my wife had the boneless short ribs. Both were excellent. We split a flourless chocolate torte for desert which was outstanding. The fresh sourdough bread was amazing. Our server was Dawn who was extremely attentive and friendly. Great service. It is expensive here but the quality was top notch.

Food is good. No bread at the table at a steakhouse was odd. The salmon was amazing, pork chops…read morewere good. The service was good. I feel like the prices of the food don't quite match. It's very expensive for what you get. The bathroom was clean and well-stocked. Very small dining room, but they do have a few booths, which was nice, otherwise a few small uncomfortable wooden tables/chairs. I will try this place one more time at some point, maybe for lunch, though the lunch menu prices are also very high.