One rule of thumb for finding a great meat-and-three is to step off the beaten path. Tucked into a Franklin side street, Barbara’s Home Cooking is a converted home cranking Southern staples out of its kitchen. The menu rotates but usually includes pot roast, pork chops, poppy seed chicken casserole, and a collection of soul-nourishing sides.

Part health food market, part cafe, part restaurant, no matter what you’re heading to Herban Market for, you can almost always count on a line out the door. That’s because husband-and-wife founders, Matt and Ashlea Hogancamp, make all their dressings, spreads, sauces, and baked goods from scratch without preservatives and artificial sweeteners. Whether it’s the golden milk latte with a gluten-free brownie or the shop’s infamous breakfast tacos and burgers, you’ll find yourself fully satiated and feeling good about it.

If you have a hankering for something beyond the basic California roll, look no further than Wild Ginger. Uncommon sushi ingredients like mango, pineapple, Cajun spice, and filet mignon keep things fresh here. If you prefer your dishes land-based and cooked, the wok menu features standouts like Mongolian beef and honey sake chicken.

Situated on the corner of a tiny strip mall in Cool Springs, Cafe India’s reputation has spread beyond Franklin’s borders and well into Nashville as one of the best spots to grab Indian food in Middle Tennessee. Locals have been diving into its biryanis and tandoor specials since 2014 and don’t show any signs of slowing down. Cafe India also bakes special occasion cakes using a variety of flavors (the mango is a popular choice) and intricate designs — be sure to place your order for pick up a few weeks in advance.

Miss Daisy King is a doyenne of Southern cooking, having authored 14 cookbooks, appeared on several national TV shows to talk recipes, and also owned Miss Daisy’s Tearoom in Franklin for over 14 years. While the tea room closed up shop, Miss Daisy now offers her casseroles, meatloaf, salads (like Southern pecan chicken), dips, soups, sandwiches, and sweets to go from an unassuming strip mall storefront off of Hillsboro Road. Grab a chicken divan casserole and carrot layer cake for a hearty dinner at home or take a few of Miss Daisy’s pimento cheese sandwiches and fudgy brownies for a picnic in the park.

Tennessee’s first location of the Texas-based Perry’s chain is in Franklin’s burgeoning McEwen Northside complex. Clocking in at a roomy 11,000 square feet, the elegant grill house has grown a loyal local following thanks to its butcher-fresh USDA Prime aged beef, signature tableside carvings, and flamed desserts. Don’t miss the restaurant’s famous pork chop either — it’s cured and slow-smoked for up to six hours with pecan wood then glazed, caramelized, and topped with signature herb-garlic butter.

Named for the year Franklin was founded, 1799 is a date-night destination inside the Harpeth Hotel. Chef Thomas Tuggle heads up the kitchen here, doling out a robust Southern and Creole-influenced menu that includes plenty of seafood, game, and produce from local farms and outlets. On the menu: freshly shucked oysters, elk carpaccio, steelhead trout, a fat-cured bison strip, and heirloom carrots with Leiper’s Fork honey.

Another good pick for date night, Culamar is chef Frank Pullara’s second venture in Franklin. While Culaccino — his first foray on Main Street — is known for its robust plates of corzetti pasta with braised rabbit and slow-fermented wood-fired pizzas, Culamar (née, Bestia Mare) takes things to the coast, with seafood fare and dishes with a Mediterranean touch. Oysters, hamachi crudo, and beef carpaccio share the menu with risotto, sea scallops, and cioppino in a light, bright, and airy space.

Cozy and quaint, this rustic homespun spot is a go-to destination for breakfast and lunch among locals — one order of the creamy Parmesan grits and it’s easy to understand why. The couple who own Franklin Mercantile, Graeme and Corrie Asch, let their Southern roots shine in everything from sweet potato pancakes to the guacamole and pimento cheese mashup that adorns the Guacamento sandwich.

Chef Jason McConnell first made his mark on the Middle Tennessee restaurant scene when he opened this upscale gem in 2006, serving seasonal dishes reflecting his Southern roots and travel experience. Grilled lamb chops, buttermilk polenta, and coffee-rubbed pork porterhouse go down easy in Red Pony’s atmospheric digs. These days, you could do a whole Main Street crawl of McConnell restaurants: The chef also runs brunch favorite 55 South and special-occasion steakhouse Cork & Cow across the street.

A downtown Franklin favorite since 1984, Merridee’s Breadbasket is an easy choice for breakfast thanks to its house-made pastries. But don’t overlook the lunch menu, which features a selection of hot and cold sandwiches on freshly baked bread. The expanded outdoor courtyard is also the perfect spot to take the air with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.