Culinary Dropout in Franklin, Tennessee brings together the best parts of a modern American restaurant and the easygoing warmth of a standout neighborhood gathering place. This British-style gastropub chain is known for its quirky decor, inventive cocktails, and comfort food that feels familiar yet thoughtfully elevated.
Whether you are stopping in for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, the experience is designed to feel relaxed, lively, and memorable. With a 4.70-star rating from 820 reviews, it has clearly earned a strong reputation for delivering food, drink, and service that keep guests coming back.
What makes Culinary Dropout especially appealing is the range of ways it serves its guests. Outdoor seating offers a comfortable option for enjoying a meal in the open air, while dine-in service, takeaway, delivery, and on-site service provide flexibility for any schedule or occasion.
It is also a popular choice for solo dining, casual meals, celebrations, and group outings, with table service and catering available for those looking to make any gathering feel special.
Guests can enjoy a broad selection of beer, cocktails, coffee, comfort food, healthy options, and happy-hour drinks and food, along with a great dessert menu, a strong wine list, and a celebrated beer selection.
Live music, sports, a bar on site, Wi-Fi, and restroom access add to the comfort and convenience, helping create an atmosphere that is both welcoming and full of energy.
Culinary Dropout is built for people who want more than just a meal—they want a place that feels inviting, dependable, and worth returning to. Its casual yet upmarket setting strikes a balance between laid-back and polished, making it a fitting choice for brunch reservations, business lunches, dinner plans, or an evening out with friends.
Accessibility is also thoughtfully addressed, with wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and toilet facilities ensuring a more inclusive experience for every guest.
Located at 4020 Aspen Grove Dr Ste 101 in Franklin, TN, and accepting reservations as well as credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, Culinary Dropout combines convenience, quality, and hospitality in a way that makes dining feel easy and enjoyable from start to finish.
Our Specialties
Every dish tells a story. Explore our carefully curated menu featuring seasonal favorites and signature creations.
Our chef's signature creations featuring locally-sourced ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.
We partner with local farmers and suppliers to bring you the freshest seasonal ingredients every day.
Every plate is prepared with attention to detail, combining traditional recipes with modern presentation.
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
jalapeño, molasses, fries
griddled sweet potato, eggplant, snap pea, bok choy, shiitake mushrooms, black rice
coleslaw, tartar sauce
broccolini, smashed potato, gravy
charred scallion, bok choy, soft egg, crispy onion, yuzu sticky rice, thai chili
sweet corn, toasted couscous, heirloom tomato & caper relish served medium
buttermilk biscuit, smashed potato, gravy
chicken sausage, roasted mushroom, spinach, calabrian panna, pecorino bread crumb
prime skirt steak, black truffle butter, french fries
queso oaxaca, refried black bean, roasted corn slaw, salsa borracha
torched meringue, lemon curd, butter toasted almonds, strawberry coulis
chocolate ganache, espresso fudge, whipped cream, toffee crunch
changes daily, please call the store for details
cinnamon apple brioche & vanilla ice cream
Change up your routine with the bright, bubbly, fruity orange flavor.
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
Enjoy the crisp and refreshing taste with sweet, smooth cherry flavor.
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that america loves.
The cold, refreshing flavors of lemon and lime, perfectly blended.
Sparkling mineral water, sourced and bottled in monterrey, mexico, offering a refreshing and crisp taste.
avocado, radish, miso aioli, sweet soy
cucumber, sriracha, cashew, togarashi
spicy crab, avocado, cucumber, toasted sesame
tuna, salmon, shrimp, avocado, spicy crab, cucumber
fresno chili, cilantro, yuzu soy caramel
toasted cheese croutons
purple cabbage, avocado, sesame, roasted cashew, fresno, dried mango, thai curry vinaigrette
grape tomato, cucumber, heirloom carrot, parmesan, buttermilk ranch
golden raisin, snap pea, goat cheese, farro, garden herbs, smoked almond, poppy seed vinaigrette
heirloom tomato, grilled corn, crushed egg, old bay bread crumb, garden herbs
avocado, bacon, heirloom tomato, white cheddar, deviled egg, bacon bbq ranch
tavern ham, white cheddar, avocado, ciabatta, breakfast potatoes
slow roasted bbq pork, crispy potato, charred onion, poblano pepper, sunny side up egg, flour tortilla
egg, sausage, crispy potato, avocado, sour cream, provolone fondue
butter toasted almond, banana caramel, chantilly
sunny side up egg, spicy old bay gravy, fresh herbs
egg white, black bean, avocado, roasted zucchini, red pepper, chipotle yogurt, pumpkin seed, pico de gallo
bacon, breakfast potatoes, grilled bread
pretzel roll, swiss, coleslaw, 1000 island
japanese milk bread, spicy miso aioli, napa slaw, hoisin
fontina, horseradish crème fraîche, au jus
havarti, bacon, mayo, house bbq sauce
double cheeseburger, onion, lettuce, pickle, 1000 island
served with fries
meat, cheese, bun, served with fries
served with fries
fresno chili, cilantro, yuzu soy caramel
buffalo sauce, honey mustard seed, shaved carrots & celery, parmesan
gochujang, mint, cilantro
black bean, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo
corn bread stuffing, pimento aioli, cajun butter, parmesan
grilled strawberry, apricot preserve, pistachio crunch, grilled ciabatta
"It's better the next day" Changes daily, please call the store for details
famous onion dip
sea salt
crispy prosciutto, chive
chef’s selection of thinly sliced meats, cheese & snacks
honey mustard crème fraiche
Hear from our valued guests
Favorite new restaurant in the area. Awesome food, prepared well, fantastic drinks, great staff. The salmon and the crispy rice were so good! Can’t wait to come back!
Live music was a great surprise. Food was an interesting combination of bar food and Asian influences. I got the Korean prime rib which was amazing and she had the French dip which was also good. Service was friendly and fast especially for how busy it was when we were there (about 5:45-6:45pm).
This restaurant was superb! My husband had been looking at this restaurant since October, and we finally had the opportunity to go. Haley was our server, and she was wonderful. The food was delicious. Becky was the manager and she checked on us frequently and was very attentive. The gentleman Jarron delivered our food was great too. Absolutely everything was phenomenal! We are looking forward to going back. We also ended up being seated by the live music. The gentleman who were performing were Dan and Oliver. They were great, and very, very talented! Blessings to you and yours
Tried Culinary Dropout and it definitely lived up to the hype. The chicken sandwich was delicious and the aioli sauce really made it stand out. The fried chicken was crispy, hot, and full of flavor, definitely recommend ordering it. The margarita was decent, although the cilantro was a little overpowering for my taste, but still drinkable. Great location with plenty of parking which is always a plus. Overall, a fun spot with good food and a great atmosphere!
Loved everything about this restaurant, the vibe upon walking in is both swanky and casual. Feels lush and upscale but you can bring your whole family in to enjoy. Love the partially enclosed outdoor patio space and cozy dining chairs by the stage for different dining styles. Brought my little one here for dinner and she had a ball enjoying the fondue, ordering from the kids menu (including in menu photos), and being kindly doted upon by the friendly staff. Plus a fun etch a sketch to keep her entertained while waiting was a cherry on top! The food was great and the service was super friendly. Lots of options from soups and salads to sushi to fusion entrees. Wanted to try so many things! Service got a bit slow when it started to get busy but there were a lot of people working. Plenty of parking available at the nearby garages and everything is super walkable. We will be coming back!
We had a wonderful experience here. The staff was very friendly and inviting. Service was great and the food was delicious. We ordered the pork belly nachos and they came out quickly. They had plenty of toppings and lots of flavor. The breakfast burrito was huge. I would highly recommend. My husband got the ribs and loved them. They fell off the bones and were very tender. They also have live music. Would definitely recommend this restaurant! We will definitely go back!
From one service industry employee to another, give Alyssa a raise! My family and I will definitely be back next time we want to do brunch. I also saw the review about the clothing the servers wear. Personally I think it’s great the servers get to keep their style while at work instead of boring all black uniforms. They are not scandalous🙄. The food is definitely worth the price, it’s upscale but you won’t leave hungry either. Don’t be discouraged by other bad reviews, if you want a nice place to go that has personality and friendliness this is it for you.
5* fun. Sat at the bar for happy hour. Our bartenderTyler was super attentive and got us off to a great start. Cold beer and a fun cocktail. We shared the very tasty Tempura Shrimp sushi with round one. For round 2 we opted for the house made potato chips & onion dip. I could've ordered another. The Brown Bag beer says cheap without saying cheap. I mean, c'mon. If you go out and they serve a mystery beer in a brown bag for $3.50 what are you expecting - lol. Overall a great way to relax after work. I'll be back
Great restaurant! Our server, Brennan, was sweet and energetic. They really stress that everything is made from scratch. We had 2 other people stopping to ask how our meal was and if we needed anything. Very good service. Cool atmosphere too. They have music Thursday nights sometimes and on Friday and Saturday nights as well as Saturday brunch. We easily got a reservation online for lunch on a Thursday but weekend evenings are harder. Everything we ate was delicious. I highly recommend the whipped feta. The pretzels are awesome too but I was a little annoyed with our 12 pretzel serving (enough for at least 4 people). Appreciate there is a half serving which would have been nice to know. I'm not sure why there would be a 12 pretzel serving on the menu. My butternut squash and kale salad with salmon was amazing as well as my husband's chicken katsu sandwich. Not gonna lie, the milk bread taunted me. Lol Highly recommend and we will definitely be back.
One of my best finds ever! Looking thru Google Maps, found Culinary Dropout and was intrigued by the name and saw great reviews. So is this review necessary? Perhaps not. But deserved…YES. Haley was one of the reasons. We took ALL her recommendations and ended up with a great dining experience. We booked outdoor seating for 7 and got seated about 6:55! Haley talked up the soft pretzel bites/fondue and we ordered it . So glad we did. The pretzel (scratch made) was soft, chewy, and tasted like a pretzel. Dipping them in the fondue was amazing. 5 stars. My wife got the fish and chips and they were great. I got the crispy chicken katsu. A sandwich. Not something I would order for a dinner but hearing how Haley described it…I gave it a go. Glad I did. Probably one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. The chicken was breaded in panko and felt light. Topped with a sweet and savory slaw. And the bread was not an after thought. The bread was as much the star as the rest. Together, hard to find a better sandwich. At least as good as the famous Conquistador in Savannah (another GREAT sandwich). And did I mention Haley. She advised and took care of us to help make the dining experience special. Thanks for the great food and service.
Common questions about Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout is located at 4020 Aspen Grove Dr Ste 101, Franklin, TN 37067, United States, Franklin, TN, United States.
You can reach Culinary Dropout by calling +1 615-716-3699.
Culinary Dropout has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on 820 customer reviews.
Culinary Dropout features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Culinary Dropout features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Culinary Dropout features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list, Live music, Serves local specialty, Sport.
Culinary Dropout features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Culinary Dropout features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Late-night food, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
Culinary Dropout features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Culinary Dropout features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi.
Culinary Dropout features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively, Trendy, Upmarket.
Culinary Dropout features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists.
Culinary Dropout features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Lunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
Culinary Dropout features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Culinary Dropout features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
Culinary Dropout features the following parking: Free parking garage, Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Culinary Dropout features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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