The Honeysuckle Local & Social in Franklin, Tennessee
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The Honeysuckle Local & Social, located in the Cool Springs area, a hop skip and jump south of Nashville, is upscale Southern with a Lodge like eclectic atmosphere, fireplace included.
So far, we’ve eaten here four times, and each time it gets better. The third occasion was an intimate blogger dinner and simultaneously a business dinner separately for my husband, which means I can tell you about a lot of food in one post. Only one of the four dinners was complimentary.
The Cocktails are splendid and inventive. I tried three so far, all unique and wonderful. I had the Manhattan (middle) and was very impressed with the Honeysuckle (far right) made with Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Lillet Blanc, AITA Rhubarb Shrub, Orange Bitters.
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The oysters are as noteworthy as the atmosphere, and I’ll be making a special trip just for oysters and a French white wine that was served at the blogger dinner. Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2014, was one of the best French whites I’ve had, so good that even those who don’t like white loved this wine.
Of course they serve shrimp and grits for lunch and dinner, which claim the freshest, most tender wild gulf shrimp and bowl full of comfort.
The SUPERFOOD SALAD will fill you with health and happiness with gold and ruby beets, quinoa, heirloom carrots, dried cranberries, baby kale, corn, black eyed peas, citrus wild honey vinaigrette.
During the Blogger dinner we sat at the big round table by the fire, on an evening of light snow flurries, and it was such a fun night. If you have a party of 6 or 8, reserve the round table by the fire. Here is Scarlett from Family Focus Blog and Callie from Luv Cooks, two great bloggers to follow.
We were served an enticing array of starters, and an amazing charcuterie plate. We would have been happy just having appetizers and cocktails and felt satisfied.
PEEKYTOE CRAB CAKES – lime serrano slaw, red pepper jelly, a great appetizer or even a small plate share
This is the Pan Fired Gulf Grouper with braised leeks, wild mushrooms and spinach, brown butter caper emulsion
prepared with spinach, and a big favorite of my husband’s. (Me too).
I highly recommend a special visit to the Honeysuckle just for the meatloaf. It’s huge, tender, and oh that zinfandel gravy!
Think about something your millionaire uncle would love.
WILD MUSHROOM MEATLOAF a blend of ground beef & pork, select roasted vegetables, wild mushroom zinfandel gravy is probably a dish they will never take off of the menu.
During this visit, the owner took me back in the kitchen to talk about some of their cooking techniques. They sous vide their vegetables, which means they are sealed and cooked in simmering water for hours, attaining a certain bite, yet making them more succulent. They dry age their beef, which I had a change to swoon over.
One of the signature steaks is their dry-aged cowboy ribeye, which I almost ordered, but realized it would be too much with all the sides and starters. Instead I had filet mignon oscar. There are several choices for topping your filet, and I loved the retro vibe of this dish. Of course, I did. I drink manhattans.
Dry Aged Beef is one of calling cards of the Honeysuckle Social & Local
The filet was cooked perfectly to order, tender, and the crab was sumptuous and sauce was heavenly. There is a nice picture of it on the Honeysuckle landing page.
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER sous vide and charred, chive oil, spicy red pepper aioli. Yes, that’s okra and brussels sprouts in the background. Notice the cauliflower is roasted almost whole. They do carrots the same way.
The fish tacos are perfectly spiced, balanced and high on Mr. ST’s list which says a lot. The duck fat fries are tasty with the right amount of grease and salt to not stop eating, only I wish they were thinner. The tacos are served with a lime slaw and you can order grilled fish and the catch of that day was grouper.
My mom’s favorite dessert at the Honeysuckle is the pumpkin bread pudding with blackberry ice cream. Retro Rose has had it twice already. Enough said.
My Personal Lunch and Dinner Recommendations
(So far, we haven’t had a bad bite. The only thing that I’m not crazy about are the biscuits, but biscuits are a personal thing.)
The Honeysuckle is open for lunch, dinner, brunch and don’t forget happy hour.
Lunch: You can’t go wrong with the grilled fish tacos, or the super salad, but I haven’t had their sandwiches, and I’m craving their oyster BLT.
Dinner: Meatloaf and Grouper (or any steak) will satisfy any big eater, looking for flavor. Make sure you order some oysters and the charcuterie plate. Try at least one vegetable and save room for dessert.
Light Eating: The 700º Salt Block with scallops or filet or gorge yourself with oysters. You cook your own at the table, and these are on the lighter side.
Cocktail: If you like classics, the Manhattan or Old Fashioned. If you are daring, the Honeysuckle.
Salads: Any salad will delight you. I’ve had the super salad twice, but others swear by the winter salad. If you’re getting a steak, you might want the wedge, which is chunky marries a steak well.
Vegetables: The cauliflower is amazing, huge and for sharing, but I ate all the carrots.
The Honeysuckle Social & Local is open for brunch, but I haven’t enjoyed that yet. Breakfast macaroni and cheese looks tempting, and you can get some of the regular lunch items as well as egg dishes.
Let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear from you. For more pictures and restaurants from Spinach Tiger, connect with me on Instagram, and don’t forget to subscribe.
Hello! My sister, mother and attended Made South last weekend and chef serving bites told my Mom he’d send her the recipe for your FANTASTIC bread pudding made with squash and other good items. She never received it so I thought I’d write to you. Thanks so much for considering my request.
Oh, how I wish I had been there! The dinner and the atmosphere sound splendid, and you have had such a wide array from their menu! Great post, Angela!!!
They are officially on my “must try” list!!!
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Hello! My sister, mother and attended Made South last weekend and chef serving bites told my Mom he’d send her the recipe for your FANTASTIC bread pudding made with squash and other good items. She never received it so I thought I’d write to you. Thanks so much for considering my request.
Worst experience of my life at Honeysuckle, I would not return if it was free.
Oh, how I wish I had been there! The dinner and the atmosphere sound splendid, and you have had such a wide array from their menu! Great post, Angela!!!
They are officially on my “must try” list!!!
Wow!! What a feast. Wish I could have been there just to look at the food. Well, and yes, taste too. They oysters look incredibly good.
Thank you Marisa. It was so much fun, especially the blogger dinner.
Looooved the food here! Was happy to give it a try for the first time. I’ve been back once already, and plan to keep it up.
That’s cool Phillip. I’m going back for oysters.