As you drive by the Hot Spot gas station you may not be impressed by the little restaurant due to it being attached to a gas station even though the quaint lights do give it a warm welcoming feeling. Inside the mix of antiques and decor push the weirdness of being inside a gas station aside. Most importantly.....the food! Delish!! I had a Thai shrimp special with a peanut Sauce that was phenomenal!! The beef tenderloin Tournades my husband had were good but could have used a little more flavor. Definitely recommend! read more

Extremely disappointed. Menu changes included considerable increase in price. Food was nothing like it was prior to this opening. And we had a large party and some of our food appeared to have been sitting for a while. As always, Mae was exceptional and did everything to welcome us with the hospitality of the Cafe as it used to be. Hoping this is a 'start up' issue only read more

Amazing assorrment of delicious food. I went with a party of 6, we all had something different and we all loved our choices. I started with the chicken livers and they were melt in your mouth delicious. The chicken cordon bleu is not disappointment at all. Great space and especially love that you can bring your own wine and beer in for no additional charge. And I must mention that I am from Denver and travel around the counrty and this restaurant is one of my favorites. read more

So glad we were told about this lovely restaurant by one of the local merchants in Franklin! It was unexpectedly charming, delicious and affordable. read more

Caffe Rel - Delicious pan seared scallops on linguini - American Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

This is the fanciest food I've ever had in a building attached to a gas station! You must stop here if you are hungry in Franklin. Sooooooo worth the stop! It's alllll so yummy! read more

The best food within 100 miles. Huge menu to choose from and love the crab bisque. I wish it was closer to me. I would eat there everyday.

Great food, great service! We went in to eat last night and we're quickly seated. Our waitress was very good and well versed in the menu. Food came fast and we enjoyed everything from the bread served at the beginning to the house wine. I couldn't recommend this place any higher. We will be back! read more

Unique and inviting restaurant that creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere. But you want to know about the food, yes? There is no way on God's green earth that you could be served more delicious and appealing food. Their menu is expansive and offers dishes that would meet anyone's standard and preferences. The staff is amazing and accommodating. Expect excellence. You will surely find it. Brenda Weakley read more

Wonderful food and excellent service, with reasonable prices. Can't wait to go back. Just wish they were open more days of the week!

Went there for lunch today. We walked out after 15 minutes. Place was not that busy. No one came to see what we wanted to drink. We were giving them a "one more time" visit since the last time we ate there the food was horrible. A waitress came out after us and asked if we wanted her to be our server. That was nice but we won't be going back. I guess they did not want our business. read more

Absolutely delicious!! The service was unbelievable! Super attentive! The bread and oil they provide in the beginning is wonderful! We had the snails and tails which had so much flavor, we almost died and went to heaven! The blue crab bisque was amazing! Not fishy and very rich!! The Cuban is monstrous and delicious! The steak burger special was delightful! Definitely recommend this little hole in the wall place!! It is next to a gas station and looks very unappealing from the outside, but trust me once you walk in and smell the amazing aromas you will know you've entered a food paradise!! read more

The food is spectacular and the service is amazing, i can assure you that the staff are VERY accommodating.

The food is just amazing. If food alone were the reason for 5 stars, I would give it 5. But.... I require a very strict gluten free diet. They offered 3 choices: shrimp & Grits, salmon an a vegetarian dish. That said, shrimp and grits were awesome! My companions had scallops and said they were extraordinary!!! They do offer a very limited selection of wine, but we were able to bring our own beverages without a corking charge! Nice! The down side... a gourmet restaurant in a gas station. The bathroom was part of the gas station and disgusting. And it's cash or check only. Does anyone still write checks? If you are looking for awesome food, have cash and don't mind waiting until the next stop to use the restroom, you will love this place. read more

If you are in the school of thought that any food establishment connected to a gas station is going to be less than par. Well, be ready to be amazed. This place is amazing. We drove pass the gas station twice to finally locate the place but it did not disappoint. The ambiance is great, the decor is well done. The kitchen seems small but they pump out some of the most amazing, delicious dishes. I had the Osso Bucco and it was delectable. Nice portion size as well. I'll be totally honest, they had me sold the bruschetta they bring as you sit down. #NomNom. read more

Not sure what all the good reviews are about. I asked our waitress Mai what is the best seafood dish on the menu is and she suggested the shrimp scampi which is listed on the menu with steak. It was dry and quality of shrimp tasted like what I could get out of Red Lobster. We got the gyro extra meat and it was the worst gyro meat ever! My daughter got the Alfredo and it was not good. Dry! We also got the filet sandwich and an entree salad. We waited FOREVER! This was at 2pm so not even a busy time. We will not go back. Food and service was not good. read more

In a class by itself, this restaurant never fails to delight. Casual elegance and fantastic food and service. Lunch or dinner are superb.

Everything that could be said, has been said. 5 stars is an understatement. So grateful to have this restaurant in our home town. read more

Caffe Rel - And this was just an appetizer. Excellent. Bacon wrapped scallops with a marinara sauce over linguine. - American Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

One of the best restaurants in the area. French Cajun fusion at its best. Odd because it is connected to the hot spot gas station. They only accept cash and the bathrooms are next door in the gas station and often unclean. But it's still worth it. There is an atm at the gas station as well if you forget cash. I have never been here before when there wasn't a wait. The snails and tails appetizer is excellent and their tasty marinara sauce comes free with bread. read more

Well the fact that we are back for lunch after dinner the night before should say it all. Unbelievable price to quality ratio. They could easily charge twice what they do. Absolutely amazing. Service is phenomenal as well. Thank you chef Long. So far we have had the Mac and cheese, filet sandwich, New York sandwich, pork osso bucco, baked salmon, and the crab bisque and all were five stars and none were more than 18.95, pork osso bucco. Hopefully we will be able to return again. read more

Local shop in town recommended this restaurant - did not disappoint!! Will definitely make this a regular stop on our way home from the mountains. Hubby had the Oyster Po Boy - perfectly fried. I had the Greek Salad with homemade dressing and a side of meatballs. Both were above average!! The menu has so many choices we will definitely be back. Our waitress, Marina, was wonderful. She has the most adorable Russian accent. read more

This was our second time here. We took several friends from Florida who read the high reviews and wanted to give them a try. I got the turkey sandwich with jalapeno bacon (to die for) with a side of chips. My sandwich was great and our guests enjoyed their meals just as much. Desert was a huge slice of chocolate cake, took 3 to eat, and a sample of their Italian wedding cake and blackberry cheese cake. Our server was WONDERFUL and she made sure to take care of all of our needs. I'm sorry, but I don't remember her name. This is a great place! read more

Absolutely Wonderful! The service, the people and the food were great! It took several drive bys to realize that the restaurant was actually in this huge gas station. It was! They don't take reservations so, unless you don't want to stand in line for a while, you better arrive no later than 5 o'clock. The food is very upscale and tasty and, the prices are very very reasonable for the quality. This is not typical Southern cooking...more European (French perhaps?) We highly recommend. read more

The best restaurant in Franklin, NC, hands down. A local favorite!! Delicious food at reasonable prices , Chef Richard runs a meticulously clean establishment, delicious food, and awesome desserts! Staff are highly trained professionals. read more

It's true. A French restaurant in a gas station. We'd seen it on Jim Stacy's show and went today. Both of us had the specials but didn't do without the gruyere mac and cheese. Nothing was bad. The service was on point and our creme brûlée dessert was a perfect ending Remember to bring cash as they don't do credit cards. You won't be disappointed and the bathroom is really in the gas station. read more

Took my staff out for Christmas dinner. Mussels, mussels, give me your mussels! Mussels Aioli again, loaded with garlic = yum. Blue Batard loaded with crab meat. Gruyere Mac and Cheese infused with Rosemary. Tender scallops hugged by crispy bacon over lightly sauced pasta. Walnut chicken with an amazing delicious crusty coating. Hungry yet? You should be! My third time trying dessert. Tiramisu was disappointing - dry, spongy and small portion for the cost. Everyone else reported that their meals and dessert were good. Fab coffee! Service was solid and spunky. read more

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I frequently make the comment to my husband "Never go to a restaurant connected to a gas station ". I was proven wrong today. We were traveling through Franklin, North Carolina and found Caffe Rel on Yelp. I'm glad we gave it a try. The blue crab bisque is delicious. My husband had the lamb burger and gave it a 5/5. This place has a great menu with quality food, a great value and cozy ambiance. Wish we didn't live 400 miles away. If we ever get back this way we will make sure to eat at Caffe Rel. read more

WHAT HAPPENED CAFFE REL? Had lunch Saturday with a friend I'd been telling how great Caffe Rel is. We rode there from Robbinsville. We ordered blue crab bisque. Two thumbs up. He ordered a lamb burger with home made potato chips. Chips were either soggy and flexible like a piece of wet lettuce or crisp and stale. His lamb burger was bland. We told the server about the chips who bought out "fresh". These were flavorless. I ordered the Asian chicken salad. Chicken was tough as if pre cooked with grill marks on and then reheated in a microwave. the salad consisted of a heap of romaine lettuce with sesame seed dressing. That's all just shredded romaine. I've eaten here in the past and the food was really good. Did the owner sell? He wasn't there so maybe that's why the food quality was off??? read more

I wasn't able to experience this restaurant. We noticed on the menu that it was pretty pricy and said CASH ONLY, no cards accepted. I don't carry cash on me so I had to go elsewhere. Maybe next time. The parking lot was crowded and there was a line waiting to be seated. This is usually what says eat here it's great. I wish they accepted credit cards. read more

This was our 3rd or 4th visit here and always good. My wife had a really good flounder sandwich and I had mussels over pasta. I ate and ate and ate and couldn't finish them all; in fact, for a while I couldn't even see the pasta as it was doused with mussels. Located in the back of a filling station as it is, this is unquestionably the best gas station food I've ever had! :) read more

Only stopped in for some dessert to go, but the place was packed so I'm guessing the regular food is worth going for. Surprisingly nice on the inside (for being attached to a gas station), and pies were tasty. Got a bourbon pecan, "snickers" pie, and Belgium chocolate pie. Sadly they didn't have any blackberry cheesecake, which sounded delicious. Might have to come back for lunch one day! read more

Caffe Rel - Belgium chocolate cake slice - American Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

Read all the reviews and thought "No way can this be that solid of a place"... so on a rainy Thursday I pulled fully expecting to be seated and begin eating... instead I was greeted with a 15 minute wait and the offer of a glass of wine. Seated in about 10 minutes I was presented with a fairly diverse menu and a plate of fresh bread and an oil and tomato sauce. You need to start with the crab bisque..... you need to start with the crab bisque! The Philly is something to behold, juicy meat and fresh cheese, it doesn't get much better. Great service, great food and great prices. read more

Not sure about the décor. It reminds me of an Antique store. Not sure what the dining style is, French, Italian, American. Needless to say, if you want delicious tasting food served by extremely friendly staff, this is the place for you. Everything was great. I got the Pot roast. With the mashed potatoes, it was so tasty in my mouth. Our server Lori was the best. Drinks were kept full. She was a pure joy. read more

After moving to the area (Clayton, GA) almost a year ago, it's been a challenge to find anything other than the abundant Southern / comfort food places. This place is a gem with a creative menu using fresh ingredients. I think they are mis-classified on Yelp as "American Traditional" when the menu is heavily slanted to European with a dominant country French and Italian theme. Just wish we had found it 9 months ago! read more

Caffe Rel - Don't be fooled by their location next to gas station. Nice cozy upscale decor. Scratch the drive to Highlands & go 2 Franklin - American Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

This place is just weird. It's a great little cafe with a bit of an identity crisis, but appears to be New Orleans-ish. The kicker is that it's attached to and shares bathrooms with a gas station in the middle of Franklin, NC. The service was decent, menu is huge, portions are huge and tasty. We shared a Cuban sandwich and the bread, which we kind out was flown in fresh from Montreal each week, was excellent. We didn't have dessert, but they have amazing-looking cakes so could be worth a splurge. read more

This place is truly excellent. My wife and I visited on a busy Saturday. We didn't have to wait for a seat, service was fast, and the food came out quickly. Our server, Melissa, was super friendly and made us feel welcome immediately. She was happy to answer any of our questions and give us recommendations. We sat on their beautiful patio and enjoyed the traffic of people at the gas station next door. It was a better dinner and show than Medieval Times! My wife got the macaroni and cheese and was very happy with it. The sauce was rich and creamy, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. I got the classic Reuben. It was probably the best I've ever had. For desert we shared a slice of key lime pie (which was not green! as a former Floridian, this is always something I look for) and a serving of tiramisu. They were both excellent. Probably the best I've ever had of either of those as well. The beauty of the food here is that it is classic dishes done perfectly. They don't try to spiff it up with strange ingredients or flashy techniques. This is a top recommendation. You have to visit! Also note: they only take cash or checks! No cards! read more

Great service & delicious food! We had the lunch alfredo and the prime rib sandwich. Both were amazing. The food came out quickly and the waitress was very quick to get refills. read more

Still swooning. . . all the positive ratings validated! Visiting Nantahala Forest for a few days and looking for high-quality dinner. Caffe Rel did not disappoint! Setting is humble. Food is divine. Our server, Mae, was terrific. We savored homemade bread with brushetta (more like a caponata because capers), bacon-wrapped scallops and pasta, steak/shrimp scampi and an incredible three-layered chocolate cake. Yikes. Yum. Highly recommended. read more

There was 12 in our party. The survivors did a great job. The food was 100% everyone had a good time and enjoyed the food they ordered

Who'd guess the best restaurant in Franklin adjoins the Hot Spot gas station? Inside is nice and the food is tasty and portions generous! Very popular, but they don't take reservations. read more

DELICIOUS FARE!! & CLOSED ON TUESDAYS FOR WINTER/SPRING I grew up in Franklin, N.C., and was in high school when this restaurant opened. That was all the way in 2003! To date - Caffe Rel has maintained its high standards of excellent food and service. It is hands down my favorite place to eat in Macon County, and I love how the staff has created an environment that caters to small town values and COMMUNITY - as well as delicious fare. You can't find that anywhere else. BUT -- You should know the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays for Winter/Spring. This is a MUST-GO! read more