Food service. And ambiance. First time visit. . Will try location in Birmingham. Enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. read more

Food was average Service was good Ambiance was too loud to talk Fish and chips were very good Fried chicken was overdone and dry Pretzels and cheese sauce excellent read more

McKenzie was an awesome server! So much positive energy! She made the evening delightful!

We tried Culinary Dropout for the first time, and it was super solid! The restaurant is open air concept and has a fun, welcoming atmosphere. We went for lunch but it clearly is vibing as a hang out weekend venue. I REALLY wanted a salad but that's a no go these days, so I ended up with a French dip type sandwich instead. It was enormous. Easily enough food for two meals. The fries were perfectly crunchy and some of the best I've had in a while. Our waitress, Becca, suggested we order the Brussels sprouts, and I'm so glad she did. They were absolutely delicious ....maybe too delicious because I had to take most of it home. Becca was genuinely kind, attentive, and made us feel welcome without ever being pushy. She checked on us at just the right times and really elevated the whole experience. We'll definitely be back :-) read more

A friend asked me to join her at Cullinary Dropout. From my experience, it is pretty clear to see the dropout part, as this is pretty run of the mill food. I think it likely gets "new kid on the block" bumps on ratings, as it should not have this high of ratings. Or did I just have a bad night to come there? First, this is a chain restaurant. I don't hold that against it, but I find chains tend to lack the attention a local restaurant, where the owners are in the place, tend to be better overall in quality, service, etc. Second, this place is WAY overhyped. The concept is very neat, so give kudos, but, in the end, it comes off like most chain restaurants and lacks the soul to make this a great experience. The atmosphere is cool. It is very open, so a bit noisy, but that is usual for restaurants these days. Arrived early, so got a seat at the large bar. Tried to convince her to just sit down and enjoy the bar, but she wanted a table. Service was average. Nothing to complain about, nothing to rave about. Kept on top of things, so can't complain. The ribs are fine, but way oversold. Fall off the bone, so not my favorite, as I like a little pull. I won't fault them for that, as some people like the meat uber soft. Not really fond of the sauce on it. Again, that is a preference thing. The menu makes them far more appealing sounding. THe star on the plate was the slaw. I am so-so on slaw, but this was my favorite part of the meal. The fist & chips were overbreaded. Fries were limp. Her fish & chips was definitely the low point. High point was on the Mississippi mud pie, which was a highlight. Not enough to kick it up a star, but definitely enough to keep it above dropping to a 2. I did like the drinks, so if she ever wants to venture for cocktails and appetizers, I will certainly give it some thought. OUtside of that, I would rather hit Drake's (another chain). read more

See all

Second trip back since my first experience about a year back. Yesterday was with a business partner, so I didn't actually "pay" for the meal. Ordered some apps and I asked what the soup of the day was.... Chicken Noodle the waitress says. I ordered a cup soup with the apps. Apps come and go,,.,, She takes our food order. While waiting for entree's, I ask about the soup. Her response, "Oh I forgot to put that in". We all make mistakes for forget things. But no follow-up if I still wanted a cup of soup. I chalk it up as a loss. But the comments from our six top were "not only didn't she write anything down, she didn't really seem interested in our table. Moving on, I ordered the fried chicken. (The menu says "trust us, it's worth the wait".) What was served, was anything but crispy/crunch, and the borderline soggy. If you look at most of my Yelp reviews, I always try to be graceful, and think of how difficult, it must be to run a restaurant, and typically score on the high end. Not this time, and although I was a guest of my party, most at the table were very underwhelmed. (Person who actually paid for dinner ordered fish and chips. Her comment was "super simple dish, and they serve room temp/soggy fries.) Maybe just an off day, I've been twice, and genuinely not impressed in the least. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Yes, yes, yes!!! The vibe, the fresh and flavorful food, drinks, staff, ambiance... I loved it all! Can't wait to come back and visit. read more

See all

Came here when I saw sticky rice on the menu, but they were all out. The whipped feta and tahini with strawberries was our start, and what an intriguing combo of flavors! The strawberries on top were not roasted as advertised. We moved on to Steak Frites and it was cooked to perfection but, truffle butter was completely absent. Service was friendly, and the patio was comfortable even on a warm night. read more

See all

In September of 2025, Phoenix-based Culinary Dropout (founded in 2010) opened its 19th location on the southern periphery of Cool Springs. It's the first location in Tennessee, one of the best culinary choices in the McEwen Northside neighborhood. If you're unfamiliar, it's essentially a 45-acre miniature city that was carved out of a field in 2018. I remember that overgrown grassy area just 10 years ago, and even Culinary Dropout was still a vacant lot in 2023. We're lucky that this rapidly developing neighborhood now hosts this exemplary eatery! And what I'm about to say is something I've never said before. Lily is literally the greatest server we've ever had in 50 states, 82 counties, and over 2,500 restaurants spanning over half a century on this planet! Request her!! She is fabulously professional, highly knowledgeable, and perfectly sociable. There was a snafu in which our server never appeared. So Lily rushed over to take our table outside her section. She gave impeccable advice for menu items, kept water glasses full, and managed to be perfectly attentive to our every need without being bothersome in the least. So charming and helpful! So, as for the food, get the house-made pretzel balls with three-cheese fondue! Get the chicken katsu. The 36-hour ribs are also good. Pro tip: The coleslaw might be the best I've ever eaten at a restaurant!! And the ribs come with coleslaw. We haven't even tried the Wagyu pigs in a blanket, prime rib dip, and fish and chips yet! Thank heavens there's a spot in Williamson County that stays open to midnight on Friday/Saturday! Please don't ever change that! But best of all, the atmosphere and service are outstanding! read more

See all

I honestly don't know why we hadn't been here until tonight, but we will definitely be back. I can't say enough about the hospitality, truly from the moment we walked in, hostesses were lovely and welcoming. Then our waiter, Ali couldn't have been more knowledgeable, attentive and accommodating. The food...so good! We got the pretzel bites with fondue for an app, delish. Then my husband got the steak frites and I had the most amazing fish and chips. It's my husband's birthday and they brought him a Mississippi mud pie, y'all the espresso fudge that comes with it, chefs kiss. We had not one but two different managers come by to make sure everything was amazing and it was! Don't sleep on this place like we did. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fish and chips, delish! - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Found myself at Cool Springs area at lunchtime and decided to try this spot. I got there right at 11 and was able to park on the street right beside the restaurant. Started the meal off with a local brew "Ted Loves Cerveza"recommended by the server. This was a light and refreshing Mexican style lager that was excellent. For the entree, I chose the fried chicken which came with coleslaw, mashed potatoes and a biscuit. The chicken consisted of a thigh, leg and half of a breast, so if you are into dark meat they hook you up. The chicken was crisp and seasoned. Overall, everything was pretty good but the beer was the star of this show. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

See all

A friend told me about this place so I decided to come here for a lunch date with my daughter. When we first walked in, I was surprised by how nice the place was. The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Our server was very nice and attentive. Since it was our first time here, he recommended several of his favorites. I finally settled with steak frites and Copa mundial (limited time soccer themed cocktail). The copa mundial was very refreshing and just the right amount of sweetness. The skirt steak was perfectly cooked medium rare. My daughter enjoyed her mac and cheese and strawberries as well. Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend others to try. read more

See all

Need a new brunch place? You found it! Stopped in on a Sat with friends for brunch and it was awesome! Wait staff is great and we sat in the patio (perfect day for it). Inside there is plenty of seating and they had a musician inside and his music was pipped throughout the building which was nice! During brunch hours they have select cocktails that are half off! Their Boozy Bellini is delicious and fun! We started with their Whipped Feta & Tahini and highly recommend. Good portion to share! For an entree had their Ham & Egg Grilled Cheese with a side salad. The dish was delicious and shareable too! Grilled cheese was perfect and had avocado and tomato in it! Bread was really good! Side salad was a good size and great balsamic dressing. Ended with their Giddy Up Espresso Martini which was a great way to end a meal! read more

See all

4.5 Stars!! This place was great and my friend and I really enjoyed our experience. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and staff were super nice! I recommend getting a reservation, because this place does get very packed! While I overall enjoyed my dish, next time I go I will probably get something else. I got the meatloaf and it was pretty standard. The mashed potatoes it was served with were really good though! My friend really enjoyed her steak and said it was very nicely cooked. Would recommend this place :) read more

I ordered the "yesterday's soup" and thought it was delicious. So why 2 stars??? Purely based on the extremely small portion. I don't think I have ever had such a small bowl, even when ordering a cup-sized vs bowl-sized portion. If this had been 4 ounces larger it would have earned a 5-star review. Sorry to do this but feel this restaurant needs to think about the portion size. read more

Returned to CDO with friends for a spontaneous brunch spot pool day! The drinks alone are reason enough to visit. We all loved the Giddy Up Espresso Martinis, which were topped with adorable soccer ball design in celebration of the World Cup. We also enjoyed the Serrano & Jalapeño Bloody Mary (definitely brings the heat!), along with the Two to Mango Margarita and the returning Endless Summer Margarita, each had their own place and none disappointed! For brunch, I ordered the Southwest Breakfast Bowl. It was fresh, colorful, and packed with vegetables, making it feel nourishing without being heavy. The flavors worked well together, especially the combination of eggs, veggies, and southwest-inspired seasonings. My only suggestion would be adding a starch element, such as crispy breakfast potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes, to provide a little more texture and make the bowl feel more balanced and substantial. Even so, it was flavorful, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. What really stood out was the service. Our team was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about both the food and drink menu, making the entire experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. Overall, a great spot for brunch with friends, especially if you're looking for creative cocktails, a lively atmosphere, and excellent hospitality. I'll definitely be back for another round of drinks and for sure that Endless Summer Margarita. read more

See all

This was our first time going here. Literally did a brunch search in Yelp and this was one of the places that popped up. Glanced at the menu and decided to check them out. The neighborhood was nice and the design of the restaurant was very nice. I have to do an extra special shoutout to our service MACKENZIE who was an absolute superstar!!!!!!! We were blown away with her kindness, her recommendations of the food and cocktails. She was very attentive and very professional. We (my wife and the other couple) were left speechless at her excellent customer service. She made everything so easy to understand and we greatly appreciate her. She was a 10/10 just by herself. Now on to the food. My wife really enjoyed her breakfast plate. The rest of us ordered the fried chicken plate and it was soooooo good!!! The chicken was perfectly seasoned and fried to perfection. Nice crispy outside and juicy tender inside. The smashed potatoes were nice and creamy and the gravy that was on top was delicious!!!! Oooohhhhhh my goodness that gravy was sooooooo good!!!!! The coleslaw was also good but that gravy and chicken stole the show. Definitely a perfect 10!!!!!! The cocktails we ordered were amazing. My wife loved her mimosa and I loved my Dropout Whiskey shot so much that I came home and tried to recreate it myself as soon as I made it home but I failed miserably. Whatever you all are doing at this place PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING!!!!! ( unless you have to ) I was highly satisfied and will continue to recommend Culinary Dropout to anyone who visits this area. Again thank you again to Mackenzie for being the absolute BEST server that I've came in contact with. read more

See all

Came here for lunch with a coworker. It was nice enough we could sit outside with the patio heaters. Our waiter was crazy nice and helpful! He really made the experience great. Wish I had caught his name. I had a perfectly sized, delicious kale salad and my friend had the famous chicken sandwich. We were very satisfied and the presentation was on point. Would definitely come back. It is a little pricey because of the area but worth it for the ambience, staff, and food. read more

Culinary Dropout - Kale salad - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Culinary Dropout is an American Gastro Pub serving elevated comfort food and classic Cocktails. I love the interior of this restaurant. We went for for a weekend lunch, but they also have Brunch options on the weekends. My wife got a Breakfast Burrito, which is a huge Burrito and I got the 36 hour Pork Ribs and the Ribs are so tender the meat falls off of the bone. They sauce their Ribs but not a Dry Rub. There is some street parking and a free to park garage right beside the restaurant. This is a large restaurant that also offers Reserved Private Group Dining. The staff were friendly providing very good service. I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in to a solo artist playing guitar and singing. It was nice. I believe you can go to their website and see who and when will be playing Live music. They have a full Bar serving Beer, Wine, Cocktails and some Mocktails. They offer Apps, Antipasti, Sushi, Salads, Sandwiches, Entrees and Sides. I will finish the review by saying this is a Scratch Kitchen making all of their Sauces and Dressings in house and handcutting their Fries and marinating their Ribs for 36 hours just to name a few. This is a great Date Night place or just a place to enjoy some tasty food and drinks. It's about 20 minutes South of Nashville in the Cool Springs area.Enjoy!!! read more

See all

We come here regularly. Always a great meal! Location is nice, too! If you get the pretzel bites, as for some teriyaki sauce to go with the cheese. read more

My wife and I were in Franklin between Christmas and New Years for a family gathering and decided to try something new which was Culinary Dropout. The restaurant is located in a trendy, mixed use shopping center with apartments, shopping, and dining. The restaurant seemed to be a bit cool temperature wise despite being quite full. Luckily, we were seated on the enclosed patio which was a warmer and less noisy. I was quickly disappointed that they were out of the potato chips with onion dip as well as the nachos which were two of the things on my list to try. I opted to try the Nochebuena Margarita which was good but overpriced for what it was. I decided to order the turkey pastrami sandwich with French fries. My wife ordered a house salad and added grilled shrimp. Her salad was quite good and I really liked the shrimp. My sandwich was a big let down. The coleslaw on the sandwich made it soggy and there was so much salt on it that it crunched when you ate it. I will say that the fries were very good. Our sever was very attentive and took care of all our needs, but he kept touching me on the shoulder which really annoyed me. I may have picked a bad night, but the overpriced drinks and the food is enough to keep me from coming back. read more

Culinary Dropout - Turkey pastrami with fries - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

See all

Food was delicious, atmosphere was bright and casual, service was excellent. Only challenge is parking - use the garage - better option than trying to find street spots. read more

Had lunch here on a Saturday. The food was very good and service at table was efficient. They also had live music which was nice - it wasn't too loud and easy to listen to for all. The thing that would have made it a 5 star rating for us would have been front desk staff. She was cold and not friendly. The young woman who sat us was friendly and very conscientious of the young ladies demeanor at the front desk and made great effort to make up for it. Our server was efficient - but indifferent . We had the pretzel bites to start which were a nice surprise. Ordered a dip sandwich and bowl - both of which were good. Easy parking which is a plus and you can walk around stores while you wait for a table. read more

Culinary Dropout - Pretzel bites - New American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Such a CUTE MOOD Early dinner date & it was a total scene. Made reservations & was smooth upon entering. Service was 10/10 from host to servers. Food was so good. Steak & frites 10/10: love my medium rare steak with a good sauce. Came with a horse radish dipping sauce. Was just ok (my opinion) Fries were just right in size & crunch. Nachos were 8/10 Cheese sauce was good but seemed like chips were over cooked. Super crunchy but not the worse. It was a good shareable serving. Highlight! Beer & a shot deal all day everyday 100/100 can't beat that duo. Would like to go when they have the live music & happy hour for sure next. read more

See all

Elevated bar food and excellent drinks and local beer on draft. Our waiter, Carter, made the evening with flawless, fun service. We were very disappointed to find out they didn't have the short ribs, which was a big reason we went. read more

Carter was our server last night and he was a winner. Attentive, conversational and kind. The food was a BUST. I had the M.A.C. Burger. The overall impact was a handful of dry bun. The meat was flavorless and ate only half. The fries served with it were cool/cold and not crispy. Atmosphere was loud as we anticipated but generally a fun environment. Won't be back. read more

Great atmosphere, great service and super good food. They were very accommodating when we needed a large table for our group

We were in the area for our anniversary and had other dinner plans but after a long day we just wanted something special, cozy and close by. Following a suggestion from my foodie sister we chose Culinary Dropout! There is some street parking if you're lucky but there's also a parking garage right behind the building that's easy to navigate with a short walking path to the restaurant. We waited for about 20 mins on a Tuesday night which wasn't too bad. The dining room is huge with multiple zones & even a stage for what I'm assuming live performances along with an open kitchen. They also had a full bar and patio enclosed by plastic walls for the winter. Our server was incredibly personable, helpful, attentive and was genuinely interested in our dining experience. We were debating between apps (so many to choose from that looked amazing) and he helped us go with the pretzels. I'm so glad we listened to this suggestion because it was indeed one of the best pretzels and cheese fondue I've ever had. Leftovers for days, everything was top notch! Can't go wrong with this spot! read more

See all

This place is exactly what Franklin needed! A menu with something for everyone & a nice atmosphere full of energy! My husband & I got lucky & scored few seats at the very busy bar. Service was prompt & friendly. I ordered the Espresso Martini & it was OUTSTANDING! My husband had an IPA & like it. We were in the mood to have few small bites. We ordered the Pigs in A Blanket they are such a treat and are so fresh & good. Love the poppy seed on the breading. We also split the Chopped Chicken Salad & will be sure ordering it again & again but next time I am not splitting . All & all it was a great experience so be sure to put Culinary Dropout on ur must experience list ( oh, & don't forget to order the Espresso Martini)! Cheers! read more

See all

Honestly we both thought this place was overhyped! The food was just okay to us when people have been raving about this place it was just a let down. The pretzels were my favorite thing on the menu. I did want to recognize our server tho, he literally was the highlight of our experience! read more

See all

Food was very ordinary- like they did, indeed, drop out of culinary school. Their special onion dip was likely purchased at the supermarket. Nachos were pretty naked - lot of chips, not many toppings. The bartender was very attentive on the upside. Sorry to be negative but there are just too many places to go to - this will not be on the rotation. read more

What a wonderful find here in Nashville! There is a crazy amount of inside seating, with live music on the weekends that started at 5:30. There's also patio seating which of course we chose! The fondue with the pretzels was twenty out of five stars. Just order it, you'll be glad. The Brussels weren't bad either, our kids surprisingly loved them. We both ordered pasta and the sauce was to die for with both of them. Very rich, and very fulfilling. The menu had so many great choices to choose from, I feel like we have to go back! Our waitress was so great with my son who was trying to charm her. She did great and was very quick to refill drinks and such. Great experience overall! read more

See all

Ate lunch here and sat outside. The outside appears to have ceiling fans and heat lamps. Great for year round use. Bourbon selection is nice. The waitstaff was attentive. It wasn't too busy on a Sunday for late lunch. The salmon was a nice size and tasted perfect. The consistency was just right. read more

See all

Another amazing experience at Culinary Dropout. From the moment we walked in the door our experience was wonderful. Fun atmosphere and incredible staff! You can tell they are all taken care of because every single person who works there has great energy and creates such an upbeat atmosphere. Our server, Hannah was incredibly knowledgeable and personable. She was seriously outstanding. Even the gentleman that brought our drinks explained what was in it and was his very own vibe! Richard!! He was so much fun. We will be going back for sure! read more

Love this new restaurant! Found easy (and free!!) parking in an adjacent garage which is bonus points for me living in Nashville where so many places are paid parking near their restaurants. Joined some friends midday and got excited about the menu. Looks like we have many dishes to try in the future but today we all got salads, which we all raved about and finished . Mine was so good- the chicken chopped salad ingredients were such a nice mixture and filled me up. Our server , Kaylee, was exceptionally friendly and helpful. We decided to comeback for the happy hour menu soon to try some of their apps and drinks . Restrooms were clean and spacious. I am going to highly recommend visiting Culinary Dropout! read more

See all

Culinary Dropout is the one of the newest addition to the rapidly expanding Aspen Grove area in Franklin. After seeing a lot of hype around the brand, and learning this location was its entry into Tennessee, we decided to grab an after office team dinner and for the most part, it was a good experience. The space is cool, laid out well, moody, but lively and clearly influenced by the local flare that is Nashville...as evidenced by the small live music stage near the bar! Seating was varied with plush booths and tables, lots of seats directly at the bar and a nice covered patio. The menu is rooted in elevated Americana, but does have a few surprises that you would not normally expect including sushi, Korean beef, pasta and even curry. Of course the classics, or their spin on them, dominate the menu including nachos, burgers, chicken wings, steak frites, and more. The cocktail menu is equally as exciting with several standard cocktails alongside some creative and house-curated cocktails of all varieties. We sampled our way through each area of the menu starting with appetizers. For the table we went with the pretzels and fondue, white truffle deviled eggs and the wagyu pigs in a blanket. While all were tasty, the pigs in the blanket took home the medal for favorite app, hands down! Between the actual wiener, the puff pastry and the honey mustard creme fraiche...the dish was excellent! For dinner we all went a different direction, but all enjoyed what we had. A peer and I went halvsies on the spicy tuna crispy rice and chicken katsu sandwich with fries. The spicy tuna crispy rice was perfection, while the katsu sandwich was mediocre. I do not know what we were expecting, but the thin chicken breast, lightly fried and barely seasoned on slightly oily toast was not it. The others at our table had the burger, fish and chips, and prime rib dip. No major complaints, they all enjoyed. Outside of the appetizers, the cocktails were the highlight of our evening. I started with the Full Moon Party, as I am a lover of all things gin and cucumber. The cocktail was refreshing, tasty and all around perfection. As we wrapped dinner and looked ahead to dessert, a few of us ordered the Giddy Up Espresso Martini. The cinnamon spiced cold brew made this martini...it was tasty! They have a small, but mighty dessert menu, all things sounded tasty, but word got out that we were celebrating a birthday, so they offered a selection on the house. We went with the Mississippi Mud Pie which was absolutely delightful! Service was odd, and a bit rushed throughout our experience. Our server was very sweet and friendly, but again, it felt rushed and was rounded out with the dropping of our ticket before the dessert even hit the table. Additionally, at the risk of sounding like an old man...the overall service vibe was a bit chaotic, from not being able to identify who was a server or guest, to the constantly speed walking everyone was doing...it was a lot to take in. Additionally, I recommend reservations, as we made a reservation for 5:45 PM on a Wednesday, and still had a bit of a wait before being seated. Overall, our experience at Culinary Dropout was decent. Now that we know a bit more about the brand and the menu, we can hopefully make our next visit a full five star experience. read more

See all

Such a cool place. The ambiance was amazing. Sat at the bar and had excellent service by our bartenders. Cocktails were delicious. Beer was cold and the food was on point. Got the servers recommendation for a salad that was delicious! Be prepared for a wait cuz this place is awesome! read more

We chose to celebrate a birthday here and it was our first visit. We had a wonderful time! Our server McKenzie W. was incredibly friendly, fun, kind and helpful. She provided spot-on recommendations for both food and drinks. The food was fantastic - we had the pretzel bites, popcorn shrimp, chicken katsu and the turkey pastrami. For dessert the monkey bread was delicious. The GM Dylan stopped to check on us and chat a few times. He made sure our experience was great and was very friendly. Exceptional customer service. Definitely coming back soon. read more

See all

I really loved the food, however, this restaurant is so loud I could not hear any of my friends. For this reason, I can't 100% recommend it. The service was also subpar. read more

Wow. Wife and me met daughter here for random lunch. Much different than Scottsdale AZ location. Very inviting, cozy , comfortable, slight upscale, touch of sports bar, ambience. Service excellent. Basic burger, amazing. Chicken Katsu delicious. Think we found a new spot in our dining rotation! Really recommend a try when in the area. read more