Our Sunday brunch here was disappointing. Around noon on a Sunday, the restaurant was only about a third full, but it still took about 7-10 minutes for our waitress to reach the table after having been seated immediately. Yes, that's a little aggravating, but it's more annoying that the hostess - who clearly saw we were just sitting there - didn't chip in to even fill our water glasses. When our waitress came, there was no apology for the wait. While my wife's latte was very good, the rest of the meal was "meh". The short menu had only a couple inspiring choices, so we went with a couple of salads at $14 and $15 a pop. Our long wait featured two tiny blueberry muffins that clearly didn't use fresh or frozen blueberries, which makes you wonder why they bother. Finally, the salads were just OK. The crab/avocado salad was small with very little lettuce and the fried chicken salad was tasty, but nothing special for $15. I saw a couple other reviews comment on the stuffy atmosphere here. I typically hate listing things I can't quite put my finger on, but I think they are right. I never felt comfortable or wanted in this restaurant. With so many options around Franklin, I say go elsewhere.
(2)
L K.
Yummy yummy yummy! Great food. Consistent. Staff is impeccably trained. Nice wine list. Ask staff for recommendations. Can't say much about the dessert menu... I have never had room!!!
(5)
Marelle J.
This place is so cute! I went on a Friday night and was seated immediately. It's small but quaint. It took us a little longer than expected to get our food, but our waitress was very attentive and brought us some extra appetizers to snack on. She also gave us a free slice of pie for our wait. I ordered the vegetarian plate, mushroom ravioli with veggies. It was great! Seemed very fresh. My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and nearly inhaled it! So all-in-all, a great experience.
(5)
Brad L.
Service- The service was sub par to average at best. We wanted a good 5-7 minutes at the table before anyone even came over to greet us. The rest of the night was service was OK but for a place that is supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the area it was not up to snuff. Ambiance- Welcome to the Williamson County Bubble. It had an air of pretentious about it for sure. I have been to much nicer restaurants, (Etch, Husk, Silo, Lockeland Table etc..) that did not give off the air of entitlement. I do not just know if it was the Saturday crowd or an everyday occurrence but we not impressed. Food- $12 dollars for a wedge salad that was not worth $6. The fried green tomatoes and the appetizers made the difference between this being rated a 1 star rather than the 2 star Here is a rank of our food: 1. Pork Chop 2.. Braised Short Ribs 3. Steak and Biscuits Corking Fee was $20- that is a little high in my book. Website is woefully out of date!! We got to the restaurant and everything was at least 20% more than what was priced on the website We may give it another shot but with all the good restaurants in the area it will not be anytime soon.
(2)
Reed C.
Excellent environment, service and good. They have a nice wine list as well.
(5)
Kelsey P.
After a marathon of a road trip, we arrived at our hotel and realized how incredibly hangry we were. Now - fast food was just not going to do the trick. Not after we had been on the road the whole day. I knew for a fact that I needed some southern food in my life and Yelp did not let me down. Mack & Kate's was first on the list and just so happened to have an Open Table reservation available. When we arrived, we were a bit early so we sat at the bar and ordered a drink. At first I wasn't sure if the drink was really that great, or if I was just that hungry. When we were seated, we were greeted by the nicest waiter. We ordered deviled eggs to start. I was still in a half starved haze, so I still wasn't sure if the food was as good as I thought it was. I ordered the shrimp and grits as my entree and my suspicions were confirmed. This food is DELICIOUS! The shrimp were massive and perfectly cooked. The grits underneath were creamy and buttery. The sauce all over the top was so good I could have licked the plate. I tried bites of my husbands pork chop with mac & cheese and collard greens. It was equally as delicious. We finished off with a piece of some sort of chocolate pecan pie. YUM. I also saw quite a few other desserts that I wanted leave the kitchen but by the time we got around to dessert, they were sold out of everything except the pie (I take this as a very very good sign). Next time I'm in Nashville, I'll be back and hopefully earlier in the day so I can try every single dessert.
(5)
Morgan O.
In my opinion there are three great places to get a quality steak in Franklin, TN: Red Pony, Cork & Cow and Mack and Kate's. Even though I find that this restaurant is a tad on the pricey side, it is a must-try. With a rotating seasonal menu alongside a handful of tried and true staples, the quality that you will experience at Mack and Kate's is unrivaled. The dessert menu is so good that I occasionally frequent the restaurant for the sole purpose of having the dessert. This is the sister restaurant to M Restaurant in Nashville, TN which is evidenced in the similarities in the the two menus, even though each restaurant carries their own specialties. My usual order: Cast Iron Seared Beef Tenderloin or Shrimp & Grits & Coconut Caramel Cake!
(5)
Erika G.
Short and sweet! Our server Herman was awesome. Our drinks were good. We got a mojito and a rum punch. For entrees, I got the special which was the short ribs over risotto and my boyfriend got the porkchops. Both were to die for!
(5)
Kimberley G.
Mack & Kate's was PERFECT for our Easter Brunch - delicious food and fabulous service and a wonderful atmosphere. We WILL be back.
(5)
Suzanne R.
Our waiter was awfully chatty, but nice. Food was really good. We had the lobster Mac and cheese which was very rich and heady with big chunks of lobster. I had a wedge which apparently had really special bacon on it. The bacon was good, but not sure that I would write home about it. I also had the steak and biscuits with fries. The fries were excellent. The steak and biscuits was made up of little pieces of steak on top of teeny biscuits with a spicy sauce which was undetectable. I probably wouldn't get it again, but it was ok. The fries made up for it.
(3)
Drew P.
"Southern Living" claims this is 1 of the 7 restaurants "you gotta try in Nashville". That is a severe exaggeration. I was only in town for 3 nights and I am upset that I wasted a meal at this restaurant. The restaurant is in Franklin, TN. It took us about 25 minutes to get there from downtown Nashville. We had reservations for 7:15 on Sunday. We arrived around 6:45 and were seated right away. There were 2 customers in the restaurant and the staff were standing around BS-ing at the bar. We were greeted by a pleasant man who sat us immediately. Our waiter was a different man, but equally as pleasant. Although he wreaked of cigarette smoke. First, Mack and Kate need to update their menu online. We looked at the menu 3 times on different sites and drove out there with our entrees already selected. Those entrees were not on the menu and I wasn't happy. We decided to order the rosemary smoked chicken and the boneless short rib. The chicken wasn't smoked for very long, the skin was rubbery, and parts of the chicken were on the dry-er side. The chicken sat on top of rice, which was tasteless and over cooked. The rice had pulled chicken throughout. I would be willing to bet my first born child on the fact that the chicken was leftover. The entree didn't even come with a garnish and ran me 21 dollars. The boneless short rib was not a short rib. it was a piece of roast but cooked fairly well. It sat on squash risotto. The squash was overwhelming but overall it wasn't terrible. No garnish, very little serving to the tune of 32 dollars. I will never return to or recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Pat G.
A lot more "attitude " than performance. Not friendly. Food not outstanding. Service was nondescript. If you're looking for a fun dinner, move on. Lots of other options, just keep yelping.
(2)
Kimberly Y.
Went here for Mother's Day brunch and so enjoyed it! Fun atmosphere, yummy food, friendly service. Had a peach Bellini, the crab stack and the crab eggs Benedict: all delicious. I look forward to going again!
(5)
Mary B.
Been a while since I visited, but both visits were splendid, the food was excellent and the ambiance was very relaxing and intimate. Definitely a good place for a date night, or even a work function since there is a private room off to the side which can accommodate noisier tables.
(5)
D B.
Been there many times. Honestly, it's about 50-50. It's not too pricey but struggles at times to hit the mark for which it seems to be aiming. The fried green tomato appetizer is consistently a winner. Overall, a good choice when compared to the strip mall chain hell of the greater Cool Springs area.
(3)
Kevin T.
The food was better than three stars, but the service was worse. Would come back again, hesitantly.
(3)
Suzanne M.
Cannot rave about this place enough! I came to town for a family event (I live in Los Angeles) and we just don't have good Southern food in LA. So I spent every meal out getting my fill of fried green tomatoes and all things Southern that we can't find at home. We came to Mack & Kate's as the family had a private dinner after a baptism event and I am SOOOO glad that this was the restaurant chosen! First of all, we had AMAZING service (the BEST waitstaff anywhere!!!) and we were in this gorgeous private room off the main dining area with a long family-style table. It was perfect for our party and super comfortable. The food was STELLAR. This must have been my third restaurant around the area trying the Fried Green Tomatoes and these were by far the best in town and in Nashville!!! SERIOUSLY go here and get these! And then their deviled eggs were AMAZEBALLS. I know it sounds so simple, but they found a way to make deviled eggs elevated and so so flavorful. I would order this again in a heartbeat and we do have these back in LA - still not the same back home. Then their house salad was farm fresh and tasty - I didn't even know folks in the South ate a lot of fresh produce - and it was topped with the BEST BEST BEST Basil Vinaigrette dressing EVER! I actually asked our waiter for a bottle to buy to take home, but they don't sell them...but I did manage to get out of him the ingredients (see? people in the South are SOOOOOOOO nice!!!!!) I haven't even gotten to talking about the main dish in which I had the Shrimp and Grits! Super rich but a MUST HAVE if you are going to Mack & Kate's. I am DEFINITELY making a point to come here every time I come to town. If you live in town, you are lucky lucky lucky. I would be here at least once a week if I were local.....
(5)
Mallory S.
I was a long time fan of Mack & Kate's during its time in Kingston Springs. When it moved to Franklin (where I live) I was disappointed. The menu changed and when I went for lunch I was underwhelmed. Per a friend's recommendation my family and I tried their brunch today. The food was wonderful! It may be my new favorite brunch spot in town. Let me quickly get past the few things that disappointed so we can get to the good stuff. It took a little while for our waiter to come around at first...a few parties seated simultaneously threw him off a bit. But once he did come the first time he was very attentive. The biggest complaint was that the chairs are very wobbly and uncomfortable. We all noticed it, however, it would not have been as big of a deal if my grandmother wasn't there. She was very nervous that her chair was going to collapse under her...and she is a tiny lady. However, the uncomfortable chairs will not deter any of us from going back! We started with the fried green tomato app which was delectable. They had a nice remoulade sauce and sprinkles of goat cheese on top. My grandmother had the French toast made with challah bread. This was definitely THE BEST French toast I have ever had in my life. The whipped cream was amazing (cinnamon) and the bread was soft and delicious. My mother had the crab cake Benedict. It was light and fresh and full of flavor. I really liked that it didn't have egg mcmuffin...just crab cake. I had the southern stack which consisted of shrimp and grits and a crab cake. The sauce on the shrimp and grits was very flavorful with just the right amount of spice. The grits were creamy and the shrimp cooked perfectly. The crab cake was also good. My father had the hangover pasta. It is a take on a carbonara with tomato, spinach, artichoke, Tasso ham, and a sunny side up egg. Very good! All in all I would highly recommend having brunch at M & K's!!
(4)
Thomas H.
Overall I had a very poor personal experience with this place but my wife loved it (which is why I gave it three stars) Let me explain: I am a vegetarian but I eat fish. When I looked over the menu I found a fish soup that looked amazing and listed only fish and shellfish in the description. I started to eat the soup which tasted really good but was very salty, which I found out was because there was pork sausage in the soup! I was really bummed out because now eating this soup went against my values. I picked around the pork but couldn't finish the soup. I made the waiter aware of this and he offered to comp our app. I really wish they had listed the pork in the 30 dollar soup I couldn't finish. I'm sure they are a great place to most folks but only if you are a meat eater. Like I said before, my wife LOVED her dish.
(3)
Kathleen H.
When we travel, we love to find the local, off-the-beaten-path places. We are familiar with Nashville, but not super familiar. He researched and found Mack and Kate's in Brentwood. We were meeting a "foodie" friend for dinner and the first thing she asked was "how in the world did YOU all know about this place?' Thanks Yelpers! Start to finish, it was amazing. The food. The atmosphere. The server. The mixed drinks were to die for. Seriously. Get the Saint. It is dangerous in a super amazing way. I got the Lobster Mac and Cheese, the hubby got the Bouillabaise and our friend got the Shrimp and Grits. All of us had amazing things to say about the food. We each ordered dessert. The husband got the pecan pie. Our friend the Key Lime Pie and me the PB Mousse Pie. Now PB isn't my thing but this was good. They loved their desserts. I was just a tiny bit miffed that they didn't have one chocolate only dessert (my mantra is that if it isn't chocolate, it isn't dessert) but I can't even make that a legitimate complaint. Our server was just the best. He was entertaining but he knew when to keep his distance. We hadn't seen our friend for 4 years and we were catching up. He laughed with us, gave us recommendations and let us close the place down. I felt bad when I looked at my watch and it was almost 10 and we were one of two tables left. They close at 930. But not once did anyone push us out the door. Whether you live in Nashville or are just visiting, go off the beaten path for Mack and Kate's in Brentwood.
(5)
Mimi H.
Enjoyed a belated birthday dinner tonight with my guy and his parents. This is a very cute place: upscale cozy/intimate - a great date spot. Pro: we each chose different entrees and the chef was considerate of my guy's food allergies. Everyone really truly enjoyed their beautifully prepared dishes - no notes for improvement on the shrimp and grits, lemon chicken angel hair pasta, steak and biscuits or pork tenderloin. These are all excellent selections! Con: our server blatantly interrupted conversation 3 or more times from the time we were seated until our departure with no apology or general observance that we were HIS guests - not the other way around. It was off putting to say the least. His spiel was obviously rehearsed and unfortunately not engaging in the least. Take away: Mack and Kate's food is worth the drive to Franklin IMHO, but next time I'll do call ahead for pick up and enjoy good conversation over an excellent meal at home!
(4)
Emily R.
The food is consistently excellent, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is charming. Couldn't ask for more than that!
(5)
Robert U.
Summary: A frilly, chic restaurant that emphasizes cutesy decor over food. Upon walking in, I had to bend over at the hostess stand because their fig tree was in the way of my head. (I'm 6'2", not a giant.) They seated us at a cute little farm table. Too bad it had some sort of bracing under it preventing either of us from actually scooting up to it. Cute, but not functional. They also have giant, billowy, burlap curtains that intrude about a foot into the space where a human customer should sit. So there I sat, far away and off to one side of our cute little farm table... My far-from-the-table vantage point made it difficult to even SEE the tiny soup and chicken-salad "mini sandwich" that showed up in front of me. The shiitake mushroom was pretty good. The chicken salad sandwich, on the other hand, was very bland at best. My lovely wife's food was no better (I tried it). Not bad, but not remarkable in any way, particularly in the context of their proud pricing. So if you're a middle-aged woman who likes antique tables, dodgy ladder-back chairs, and huge burlap curtains, here is your spot!
(2)
Abigail O.
We went for the first time on Father's Day. The ambiance was comfortable and the food was good, but not as exciting as I had hoped based on all the rave reviews. I was especially disappointed by the service. The reviews were honest in prepping me for a long wait time, so I went expecting to have a leisurely lunch. However almost every review spoke to exceptional excellence of service; this just was not the case in my experience. Given it was Father's Day and so they were pretty full, but it wasn't bustling. Our server (I believe his name was Adam) was not attentive to our table. I used to serve-- I know what needs to be done-- this guy did bare minimal at best, often disappearing from the floor for close to 10-minutes at a time. Plus he gave me a dirty plate, which speaks volumes to his lack of attention. Then another server (my husband believes him to be the Manager or Supervisor as a nearby table complained to him about the long wait for their food) made cat-calls at our young daughters twice as he walked by our table. Totally inappropriate. Not exactly how I had hoped our family would celebrate Father's Day.
(2)
Sarah B.
Stopped back in Mack and Kate's this morning for brunch with a friend, and I must say everything I ate was delicious - the appetizer muffins, my omelette, hash brown casserole, and even the fruit! I am also upping M&K another star because today we sat on the back wall at a table that was half booth/half table. Ultra comfy, pillows scattered throughout, and it was just a great brunch. The other tables have these farmhouse style chairs that I get they are part of the look they are going for, but they are just not comfy and seem almost unstable to me. Today was really a great experience, and just wanted to share!
(4)
Cass R.
I love that the menu changes. Food is so great. Environment is very intimate. Our waiter was a little weird but very insightful. Will keep returning and love having this restaurant in our neighborhood.
(4)
Margaret J.
Our second visit to Mack and Kate's fell short of our previous experience. We made a reservation for 6:30 on a Tuesday since we were again staying in Nashville for the evening, salivating beforehand, remembering the fried criminis from our last meal. By 6:30 on a weeknight, unfortunately, they were already "out" of mushrooms. They had also run "out" of the bacon deviled eggs which made us wonder if they'd been swarmed earlier in the evening or simply gotten lazy in the kitchen. Our third choice, the fried green tomatoes were very good, so we were somewhat mollified. Despite our reservation and a few empty tables, we were led to a small corner nook at which my husband's view was a plain, gray wall and a travel-weary wife in serious need of a cocktail. Within one foot of us were some very loud up-and-comers, one with a very unfortunate squeaky voice which got more grating as she drank but subsided a bit after I got my Hendricks and St. Germaine cocktail (the Alpine) and my husband his wine. The only real problem at this point was that despite our server's occasional glimpses at our table, he failed to notice for more than 20 minutes that our glasses were empty and darted away before we could call out to him. We found this especially odd since most servers make more money the more alcohol is consumed at their tables. Despite a long wait for food, it did live up to that we'd savored on our earlier visit. I had the comfort of creamy mac and cheese with lobster and was very satisfied with the amount, tenderness, freshness, and flavor of the lobster. My husband's shrimp and grits, he claims, were transcendent, evocative of those he'd enjoyed in the low country. Our server was either an English major finishing up Middle March back in the kitchen, oblivious to the needs of his hungry patrons or just a laid back young man who needs to step it up or look for another way to make money. His tendency to direct all of his explanations to my husband, too, left me feeling a bit like the proverbial chopped liver. After sitting, again, waiting forever for the check, I finally had to go for a walk outside. The check was signed Rob. Maybe it was just an off night.
(2)
Bob F.
Located this place through Yelp while traveling through Tennessee. A very nice surprise in an unexpected location. Portions are not huge (which is fine with me) but the food is very good. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked. My wife had the seared salmon and loved it. Nice salads with interesting ingredients and dressings. Nicely decorated and very clean restrooms. Small complaints: it was a chilly night and we were near the door so each time it was opened, we got cold; chairs and tables are either antique or meant to appear so and there was not a lot of room for a guy with long legs. Still, we had a very nice dinner and the positives far outweighted the minor inconveniences.
(4)
Melissa T.
My husband and I decided to have a date night and Mack and Kate's was a perfect option. The atmosphere is fun rustic and trendy all at the same time. Elizabeth was our server and was fantastic. The food was exquisite. I had the house salad with an amazing dressing followed by the chicken and angel hair pasta. My husband had the filet which was so tender you could use a fork. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Would go back!
(5)
Briana P.
My wife and I had a very nice dinner here on a Friday night. The place was busy but not packed; we had made reservations, but we were there from 7-8:30 and there were at least a couple of open tables the whole time. I didn't really take much notice of the decor that others have mentioned, although my wife did mention that the charm of the farmhouse chair was lost by the end of the evening due to absence of any padding on the seat back. Anyway, onto the food. We had mushrooms in a cream cognac sauce with fontina and gruyere and crusty bread for dipping as an appetizer. Loved it. It was cheesy, but not too much so, and the bread was the perfect texture to go along it. For dinner, I had root beer braised short ribs over sweet potato-pear gnocchi. The meat was amazing - so tender that it just fell apart with a fork and a little sweet due to the root beer. Normally, I don't like my meat sweet, but this was really good. The gnocchi was also delicious. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce the gnocchi was in - some sort of chees sauce; it was good, but a little rich by the end of the meal. My wife had Kate's bouillabaisse, which I would definitely recommend. Huge scallops and shrimp, chunks of white fish, mussels, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions in a thick tomato-based broth with a bit of spice to it (not hot-spicy, just flavorful). It came with the same crusty bread that the mushrooms did... delicious when soaked in the broth for a bit! It was a big dish, and she brought about half of it home for the next day. It wasn't cheap at $32 - while some of the other entrees were in the $16-$20 range - but the quality made up for it, and she got 2 meals out of it anyway ;) Our waiter was a little pushy. A woman at the table next to us ordered the bacon crawfish mac and cheese and he STRONGLY suggested she also get the house salad (with the meal, not before it, he explained) it to tone it down. She shrugged and ordered it - with the meal, not before it; I would have told him to get lost. Maybe he was trying to be helpful, but the way he suggested it was a little intrusive, to me. Overall, a very good meal, nice atmosphere and reasonably priced for the quality.
(4)
J A.
Easter Brunch with friends. We had a large party and had reservations. Our table was ready when we arrived but with the busy crowd for Easter our meal ended up taking over 2 hours to complete. Our waiter was great. Very good service and very funny, although he kept telling us that our order was just behind another tables order. He used that same excuse three times. When our food did arrive it all arrived at the same time and was very good. The pancakes were outstanding. Fluffy with a slight citrus hint that made them great. Except for the pancakes the portion sizes are medium at best. Pancakes were a three stack of full plate size pancakes. Cobbler for dessert was the best. I would love to visit again.
(4)
Meghan S.
Quality ingredients, well thought out creative menu. We went for brunch and ordered crab cake Benedict and hangover pasta which were both incredible. They start you off with homemade warm muffins when you arrive as well. Staff was friendly and atmosphere was great. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Evan R.
I apologize to TN residents. See, up in NY, we have a tendency to go overboard about food - ranting and raving either positively or negatively. We are all foodies, and we take eating very seriously. However, this review may be a stretch, even for me. Just to get this over with - when I was halfway done with my pork chop at Mack & Kate's, I tried to have intimate relations with my plate. Now, this isn't ever a good idea, but especially so when you're at a business dinner with 12 other people. After each bite, inescapable sounds of joy emanated from the right side of the table. The waiter told me (well, us) to get a room. It actually got so intense that the only way to shut me up was to have the executive chef come out and give me the recipe (true story), which I will guard until my death. (ahem) So for starters, our table split the: - Crab cakes: Very fresh, good sauce, delicious - Tater tots: Interesting take..made a boring dish above average - Onion rings: Just tasted like a good onion ring..nothing special - Fried green tomatoes - delicious, but just tasted like fried, which makes anything good I think it's clear what I had for my main course. I paired it with the Oveja Negra Sauvignon Blanc..which was a nice pairing and great in its own right. But man, did I mention the pork chop? Without giving too much away, it's brined in apple cider and peppers, so it has a nice sweet/spicy thing going. I actually don't care for pork chops much but this was juicy beyond belief. I actually passed up dessert just so I didn't cheat on the aftertaste. As other reviewers have said, while the ambiance inside is great (an intimate setting with slight country feel), the restaurant itself is in a strip-mall type place, and parking was very limited the night we were there due to an event. But, given the quality of the food, I can't hold that against them. If you happen to find yourself off the beaten path in Franklin..definitely check this place out.
(5)
Sam T.
This place is great. The atmosphere is great and feels comfortable like a night at home. The staff is friendly and very helpful. We had the braised short ribs and bone-in pork chops. We shared the dishes and both were wonderful. The collard greens were perfect. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for nice comfortable night out.
(5)
Brian B.
Jimmy, the waiter is quite possibly the most knowledgeable waiter I've had the pleasure of meeting. His passion for the restaurant is quite evident. Each item on the menu is an enjoyment to listen to him put the ingredients together and explain why it makes the dish taste so good. Then it's especially fascinating to find out that some of the ingredients come from local producers; some of which are the beef and bacon farms that are renowned nation-wide for their product.
(5)
Nicki R.
I am head over heels for this place! It is just darling and I cannot wait to go back for more! The ambiance is adorable. You feel like you're in an old (renovated of course) farmhouse where every detail has been thought of. The lunch menu and dinner menus are quite different and although I have only been for lunch, I cannot wait to go back for dinner! The menu is big and has a variety of options that have been lacking int he Cool Springs area. I am a fan of all the salad options and am making my way down the list one by one! I have had 2 different servers as well as MacK and everyone has been really great! I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this place.... just go, you'll see :)
(5)
Shervondalonn B.
This was truly one of the best meals my husband and I have had in the Nashville area. The restaurant and decor are amazing. I have read others reviews who said the restaurant is located in a strip mall and actually, it is not. It is part of a multi-use or mixed-use development or community which houses both retail and residential buildings. This is NOT a strip mall. Now to the food! We started with the fried green tomatoes which were served with chow chow and a pimento cheese spread, very good. We split the wedge salad and both of us loved the avocado ranch dressing. My husband had the skillet pork chop which was moist and perfectly cooked. I had the fish special which was OUTSTANDING! It was a snapper over a corn puree and served with a tomato tart and a drizzle of strawberry yogurt. The depth of this dish was unbelievable. They also serve delicious biscuits with your meal. We ended the meal with the coconut cake which was just ok. Overall this is one of the best meals that I have had in the Nashville area. We will definitely go back. If you love great food, please try Mack & Kate's. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Jeremy E.
Would have been 5 if not for some plumbing issues. Borderline 3.5 but I so enjoyed the food and service I will round up. Food is delicious and pretty creative. Not your run of the mill grub. More on that in a sec. Went in with a large group (otherwise known as my family) on friday night. Herman was our server and I would highly recommend him if you go. He is attentive, but not imposing. Also really delivered on rec's for wine pairings and app selections. We had one of everything at the table. Nothing was even average. Some standouts: Cauliflower balls with shaved parm, shrimp and grits, shrimp and grits, shrimp and grits, Filet with hashed potatotes and a fried egg, really anything, as long as you get the shrimp and grits. Wine selection was good. My one and only complaint, and this may not bother some people, is there is a one toilet show for the men's room, and the toilet didn't flush. Without getting graphic, I was there for 2.5 hours and had close to a bottle of wine. Each successive trip got worse, and finally I had to walk next door to Sopapilla's because I couldn't take it anymore. When it's a Friday night and you are full, call an emergency plumber in to take care of business.
(4)
Denise B.
I loved this restaurant. The food is divine (lobster mac & cheese) the service it friendly without being too chummy and the decor is comfortable yet so pretty. Ask for Wayne, a great server who warms up the delish coconut cake for you. I don't get the so-so reviews but they're wrong. It's a little tricky to find, (in a townhouse/office complex) but well worth the visit.
(5)
Merritt G.
My husband and I had an amazing brunch here this morning. I drive by MacK and Kate's every time I take our dogs to Maggie's Bark Park in Franklin and always wanted to try it. After looking at the Yelp reviews and checking out their website we added it to our list of places to visit for brunch. My first interaction with this restaurant was via email. I sent them an email to see if the shrimp and grits are gluten free. And they are. I was impressed with how quickly the restaurant responded to my email. I read on their website that the restaurant is named after their two daughters, both of whom graduated from Alabama. I did too, so that is a bonus. Roll Tide! The decor is beautiful - a cross between country and Pottery Barn. I felt so comfortable here and it's beautiful. I love the bar area - very quaint and very charming. We were greeted immediately by the hostess who was very friendly. She sat us right away for our 11am reservation. Our server greeted us without much of a wait. He was very friendly and funny. I ordered a peach bellini to start. It was good, but next time I'll stick to a mimosa or a glass of wine. For brunch I ordered the shrimp and grits and my husband ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of grits. While we waited for our brunch to be made the server brought out two muffins made with cinnamon and chocolate. They looked awesome and smelled great. They weren't gluten free so I didn't eat them, but my husband did and said they were soft and tasty. My shrimp and grits were amazing. When my husband asked how they were I told them I felt like I should reenact the scene in When Harry Met Sally where Meg Ryan fakes the big O, except I wouldn't be faking. The dish was out of this world! In order for the dish to be gluten free they left out the andouille sausage but I didn't miss them. The sauce is a cream sauce instead of the traditional gravy made from a roux. It was very unique. I cannot say enough about this dish. It was definitely the best shrimp and grits I've had in Nashville. My only worry is that I'll never try anything else on the menu because I'll only want to order this! To wrap up brunch I asked for a latte, but they don't make them here. Our server offered to make me a caramel cappuccino, so I gladly accepted. It was great. I don't think it's actually on the menu, though. I cannot wait to go back to MacK and Kate's. We'll definitely be back for brunch, and may swing in for dinner soon.
(5)
Ally A.
i had some difficulty finding this spot...its located under what appears to be nestled in some sort of condo/apartment building that is still being added onto. my gps did not like trying to locate it and it took a little searching, but it was found. my friend and i got there about half an hour before they closed, but they were still friendly and kind enough to seat us, as the dining room was half full of people finishing off their meal. we started out with the fried green tomatoes, which definitely weren't the BEST i've ever had, but were some of the more original that i've tried...i really enjoyed the addition of the pimento cheese. my friend got the lobster mac & cheese, which she really enjoyed and i took a few bites which were cheesy and lovely, but i didn't get any lobster, so i can't attest to its flavor and enjoyability. perhaps this is a testament to how little lobster is in there. i got the scallop and watermelon salad, which, in theory, sounds strange and unappetizing, but which was actually really pleasant. three seared scallops, which were actually rather salty, with some greens, purple onion, super awesome feta and watermelon with sugar toasted on top of it. i found it enjoyable. overall, this place is lovely with decent food. rather pricy for the portions, but enjoyable none the less.
(3)
David G.
My companion and I went to MacK and Kate's today for brunch and it was A.W.E.S.O.M.E., and all of the letters are capitalized on purpose. Dang it people, stop reading this review now and just get over there next Sunday and have brunch. Go, seriously, get outta here... Oh, well, if it isn't Sunday while you're reading this, then I suppose you should probably read on. The service was impeccable. We had Alvy as our server and he was wonderful, in fact I highly recommend that you request his section if you travel there in the near future. Just an amazing personality for a server. MacKenzie (one of the daughters for whom the restaurant is named) was also there working the tables as a server, as a busser, and helping out at the hostess stand when the teens manning it got overwhelmed. I love that this Alabama grad can come work for mom and dad but still get her hands dirty. The decor is also delightful. They have a rustic thing going on in their with reclaimed wood forming a fence line that separates the tiny little bar from the also small but very nice and quaint dining room. Additionally, the curtains are held up with some cool looking rustic rope things that definitely look like they belong on a farm. Really, everything about the decor is just wonderful. Now, the food. It was fan-flipping-tastic. I had some grits as a side and then I had the biscuits and andouille sausage gravy as my main (even though it too is an appetizer) course. Both were absolutely delightful and highly recommended. By the way, my companion described her shrimp and grits as follows: "If this were the scene from 'When Harry Met Sally', Id' be reenacting it right now... only I wouldn't be faking." Yes, world... this place is great. Now go and enjoy already!
(5)
Audrey S.
Nice lunch spot, very relaxing chic atmosphere. Upscale rustic would be my description. Would like more healthy menu options. The fish tacos were good, but the portion of actual fish was pretty meager.
(4)
Jeremiah P.
This is the third time my wife and I have eaten here, and the experience has improved every time. The four stars this time are for the wonderful Mahi Mahi special with risotto and a fruit salsa, which might be the best fish dish I've ever had. The service started well but got a little too chatty for my taste. The atmosphere is nice and quiet, which I like. Overall, the food here is headed in an impressive direction. Consistent, attentive, but unobtrusive service is the area they could most improve.
(4)
Kelly T.
We went for our 2nd anniversary dinner so we weren't in a hurry, good thing. I think it took close to to 2 hours from seating to leaving. The food was good but but kind of unremarkable. My pork chop was overcooked even after specifically asking to make sure it wouldn't be. My wife had the fish special and she liked it but again it just wasn't something real memorable. The one thing that did stand out were the collard greens...quite sweet but probably the best part of my dish. I doubt we will return unless its to try brunch.
(3)
Lane B.
Seriously wonderful food. The specials were amazing. And I'm incredibly impressed that the restaurant uses vegetables from one of the server's private garden. She yields some wonderful veggies that we got to enjoy in our dishes. Two of us had the fish specials - trigger cheeks was one, and the other was grouper. Both were amazing. The trigger cheeks dish was somewhat small, but our fabulous waiter told us before hand. The others in our party ordered off the menu - one had an amazing looking pork chop and the other had the bouillabaisse ... and both were very complementary of their choices. The interior of the restaurant is decorated in such a warm and wonderful way. Very impressive. If I had to find anything that I would improve - it would be the wine list. They had a somewhat limited selection. I would have liked more options. We will go back again the next time we are in Nashville. Simply wonderful!
(5)
M F.
By far the best food in this neck of the woods. Have eaten here a couple of times. But the reason I'm recommending this restaurant is because the employees are honest. Last week I stopped in for dinner. I did not read the charge correctly on the bill ($54) and signed my credit card receipt for $64. (I left a cash tip). I did not realize my mistake until the next day. However, when i checked my credit card website, the server had charged in the CORRECT amount of $54. He could have charged the extra $10 and gotten away with it because that is how I signed the bill, but he didn't. That's what I call integrity.
(4)
Bonnie C.
Let's just get this out of the way - the decor is amazing here. If I could afford to hire the person who designed this place to design my house, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm not sure some of the decor is very practical, but the place looks so impressive and is beautifully done. You will forget you are in a strip-mall restaurant. This place is classy. The prices are expensive, but that's what this place is... an expensive little spot that will be perfect for special occasions. The prices for lunch are reasonable, but still higher than most places. You just have to watch what you order. My service was exceptional, friendly and spot on. I truly was impressed with my server. However, I sat at the bar, and the other servers were constantly preparing their drinks, adding up their tickets and stuff right where I was sitting... I felt like I was invading their work space. Which makes me wonder a couple of things about this place - why do they serve soft drinks from a can and why do they manually have to add up their tickets using calculators spread across the bar. It seem really odd for such a nice establishment. Their time could definitely be spent better. My food was great. Though I only ordered a cheeseburger and fries it was exceptional, presented well, garnished well and tasted amazing. It was a solid piece of meat flavored with care. When I have special occasions or need a good place for a business lunch or I want to impress someone from out of town, this will be the place. Did I mention how awesome this place looked?
(4)
Wayne H.
Grilled salmon was awesome. The little biscuits were tasty as well.
(5)
Dwight K.
Great food, great atmosphere, great bar tenders! Our "go to" on Friday nights. Sit at the bar and watch the mixologist do his thing. Spend as little (great burger) or as much (good steaks) as you'd like. Southern inspired dishes with a twist!
(4)
Riley H.
SO good & such a cute little spot! The service was outstanding- we loved our very kind gentleman of a server. We enjoyed the fruit iced tea, house salad, tomato basil soup, shrimp & grits, and coconut cake & peanut butter pie! I had the soup & salad and my husband had the shrimp & grits. He loved it! The shrimp was made perfectly & the grits (with 5 cheese) were amazing... For dessert, I ordered the coconut cake & loved it. It was a very homemade looking Cake. Fit perfectly with the type of restaurant this was- (which was very shabby chic with southern charm.) . So don't expect a huge bakery slice...its a humble pan cake with whipped cream on top. My husband loved the peanut butter pie- whipped & light. We left spending $40 (not including tip) and thought it was a wonderful night. I would definitely buy the shrimp & grits again. The coconut cake was smaller than I expected, so next time I would try another dessert. But I still enjoyed it!
(5)
Bridget O.
Went after church with a group to enjoy Sunday brunch. They were very accommodating of our large group. I've been several times and have always had good experiences. I ordered the fried chicken. Chicken was perfection, crispy and flavorful while still being juicy and not dried out. The only issue I had with my food was they were out of mashed potatoes so they substituted the hashbrown casserole. I was not a fan of the casserole. Our server was a little overbearing/obnoxious leaving our eyes rolling with his attempts to joke with our mixed group. But overall, it was wonderful and we will definitely go back. If nothing more, than for the amazing shrimp & grits with a crab cake!
(4)
Joy S.
From the first time I stepped inside this lovely establishment, I wanted to love it. My husband, however, did not. His basis for judgement is always based on food. He cares little for ambience or atmosphere (both of which Mack & Kate's nailed). As for the food, I was let down three times, and so my yearning to love this place has come to an end. Some of the things we've tried: Fried green tomatoes: had much better elsewhere (and much cheaper) Pear salad: bruised pears, wilted lettuce, way overpriced Champagne vinagrette: sounded amazing; weird aftertaste Lobster Mac: TOTAL LET DOWN; bland, not enough lobster Fish tacos: Local Taco and Chuy's are better Grouper: husband got a bad piece of fishy fish
(2)
Chef X.
I knew when I saw all those 5 star reviews I was going to be disappointed, and you did not disappoint. The service was good but the food is just not that great. Spelling errors, chipped dishes, salad mix right out of the bag (it is spring, right?), frozen lobster & questionable mussels in the $30 fish stew. Zero local or even regional produce/product. I'd be willing to bet that there's no Champagne in the Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette, either. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
(3)
Giggy P.
The food is terrible. The options are scarce. The ambiance is nice and the servers are nice (although not in any hurry) but other than that it was a big FAIL. Host was not nice at all. Acted like he was upset to have patrons. I don't eat fried food or mayonnaise and the side options were a mayonnaise broccoli salad or fries....really! Nothing else! The fish tacos were cold and the tortilla was stale. The fish tasted a little bit like jerky or frozen from a box. Yuck. The lobster ravioli was so rich and salty that it was hard to taste. The texture was - like fish phlegm. Toast was black burnt not even toasted - just burnt. Server offered to re-toast but it was so late in the meal that we were ready to go. She was nice but not very attentive. Gratuity was added so I guess she knew she was already getting 20% - yep parties of 5 or more pay 20% so no incentive to make sure you're happy - drinks full and food edible. I won't return.
(1)
Sasser M.
My wife and I decided to try lunch on Sunday at this well reviews restaurant. Unfortunately the comments didn't match the service or food quality that we experienced during that visit. To be honest we did get a new waitress. The management had apparently assigned her a large number of tables and her inexperience with the menu and restaurant protocols showed. She didn't know anything about the dishes they served and couldn't answer any questions. Tables who arrived later than us received their food well before us and the other customers she served. My water glass ran empty twice. You are served muffins while you wait to order. Ours were hockey pucks. We did ask for a second set of muffins while we waited on the food. These were tender and delectable. I'd advise you to do the same if you initially receive hockey pucks. I ordered the Lobster BLT wrap with fries. I didn't find any bacon in the wrap at all and to be honest it tasted like some fish tacos that I've have eaten before. The fries tasted good but only about two-thirds of these were edible as the rest were burned. My wife's dish, I forget the name, some similar to a quiche. It had obviously been pre-cooked and then cooked again. It was very hard in a way that eggs aren't normally. The promised andouille sausage in the dish was revealed to be three very tiny pieces. So the dish amounted to several eggs with seasoning. The breakfast potatoes although seasoned well were undercooked. When our dishes arrived I asked for ketchup for my fries. The kitchen fellow gave me the tiniest dollop of ketchup I have ever received in a restaurant. When I asked him "is this it?" He spun on his heels saying yes and left quickly before I could ask for more.
(2)
Kim C.
Sunday brunch rocks!! I have a 16 month old little girl who is not always easy to take out to eat but Mack and Kate's brunch is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears. My husband would recommend the crab cakes eggs benedict. I will recommend the french toast. My little girl loves the muffins- she eats two whole muffins herself! Experience Mack and Kate's for yourself- you will love it!!
(5)
Tim G.
We went for Dinner. Great service. Excellent food. Would highly recommend.
(5)
Tim S.
My wife and I just ate here and had some of the best food we have ever had. Seriously amazing food!
(4)
Linda A.
Hubby and I went to Mack & Kate's with another couple to celebrate my birthday this weekend. We had a great evening and the only thing that keeps me from giving 5 stars is that the food wasn't stand-out amazing. It was very good, but not so much that we'll be talking about the food for days. However, the evening as a whole was great. Our server was friendly, fun and very informative. She made some good suggestions that we all enjoyed. Like I said, the food was very good. We all wanted to try the lobster mac&cheese but didn't want an entire entree so we ordered one serving to share between the four of us. It was good, but not something I'd want to have for my entire dinner. Two of us had shrimp & grits...very good. My husband had the pork chop and gave his collards to me (whatta guy)...they were SO good...I could have eaten a giant bowl of collards. The cocktails were fun and the appetizer of cauliflower tots was very tasty. Dessert was just OK. Nothing to write home about. We'd defintely go back to Mack & Kate's for dinner and I'd like to try brunch.
(4)
Terry C.
M&K's has exceptional food beautifully presented. After our third visit we have made our way through all their specialties and they are all special! One issue: They have gotten so popular and busy that the service is suffering. Took forever (15 or 20 minutes) just to get a cocktail! Getting the second was worse. Had to ask other waiters to find our waiter several times to get silverware and bread that had been forgotten. Once this issue is solved it M&K's will be on our list of "FAVES"!
(4)
Cathy S.
Every once in a while, when living in the South, a little Southern cooking is what life is all about. Sometimes, in life, you just need a plate of comfort. Warm Southern comfort and Southern comfort food is what Mack & Kate's is all about. This cozy little restaurant in Franklin offers a diner the charm of Grandma's house with Grandma's Southern cooking all blended up with style. Try a fancy starter cocktail, a little Peach Bellini, a Strawberry Mimosa or just a glass of Merlot to get your lovely meal off to a glowing start. Add an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes or Cauliflower Tots. My lunch favorite is the Cubanesque sandwich, a warm, gooey, sloppy, crunchy blend of ham, pork, cheese and pickles. Ask for an extra napkin. I promise you will need one. Daily specials, crunchy salads and food made fresh daily makes the menu adaptive to any special diet. For dinner a steaming bowl of Bouillabaise is a bowl of comfort laced up with Pernod. The sweet delightful desserts bring a happy ending to it all. Try the caramel pie. Grandma never baked it so well. Warm, friendly service is offered with a down home smile. Located near Franklin, Tennessee wander in for lunch and then head into town for a shopping expedition. Or just sit down and relax. Mack & Kate's is a place where you will want to stay for a while!
(5)
Renee C.
I went on a Sunday at 1:00. They had a lovely brunch menu available. I chose the crab cake and shrimp and grits, my daughter had the crab cake eggs Benedict, and my son in law chose the fried chicken special. All were stellar. This place knows their seafood and it is fresh!! Apparently they have folks go to Destin Fl and bring it back right off the boat and it makes all the difference. The dining area is not huge so make reservations to be safe. The waiter, Jay, was pleasant and knowledgable. Save room for desert because it is amazing....
(4)
TNPhoto T.
Mack & Kate's is usually a high quality, modestly expensive restaurant ideally suited when you want a savory, well prepared meal. With this in mind, we made reservations for Thanksgiving. Everything we appreciated in their normal fare was absent in their Thanksgiving meals. Their normal menu was absent and guests were offered a choice between turkey or ham. The meal started with a very mediocre fruit salad on bib lettuce - not worth making a plate dirty. The main course contained everything you might want in a turkey dinner but, unfortunately, the food was served cold (in fairness, at room temperature). The kitchen obviously had removed ALL the side dishes from the oven far, far too early and placed them, at room temperature, on the counter to facilitate easy serving. This included: mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, mac & cheese and (yes) the turkey. The food I was served was so cold I sent my dish back to the kitchen to warm up. I got back a new plate with food just as cold. My wife was also disappointed that the turkey dinner had no gravy. Since much of her turkey was overcooked, gravy would have helped save the dinner but, alas, no gravy. Imagine green bean casserole cooled to the point that the flour had turned the dish into a floury mush - very disappointing. All this came with a price tag of $30/plate without drinks. Also, my wife believed that much of the food was not prepared at the restaurant - she felt that the quality of the food served was at the level of a Publix prepared meal. Too bad - we won't be going back for a holiday meal anytime soon.
(2)
Jennifer J.
So I see mixed reviews here, and I am going to mix it up some more. I have heard really good things about this place so I decided to try it out, on a Wednesday Night. I say this because after re-reading the reviews, I noticed that most were for Sunday Brunch and the rest seemed to be for lunch. Dinner, not so great. Service not so great. It wasn't busy which means you get an over attentive waitstaff or a non-attentive one. I received the latter. Also I wasn't thrilled with my meal, but I am not going to ruin it for others. I have decided to try it out for Sunday Brunch and then update my review to be fair to the owners. But for now, Dinner doesn't seem to be their most impressive meal.
(3)
Tupper C.
Simply outstanding. In a town dependent on chain restaurants, mack and Kate's is a warm and inviting place. Food and atmosphere are great but the staff is as good as it gets and I'm a NY snob :) We had brunch that was far better than what you will find in the best of NYC. Visit this place... you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Exquisite C.
We had dinner during the week and it was fantastic. We returned with friends on a weekend and it was a completly different experience.
(2)
Matthew M.
At the end of December we had a 50th anniversary party for my parents at Mack and Kate's. I worked with Jill to prearrange everything for the party. She setup all our requests without question. She created a paired down menu for us and printed special menus with My parents names. She setup having an anniversary cake after dinner. She also allowed us to come in earlier in the day and decorate. Wayne was our server that night and he was great. He was very knowledgeable of all the wines and worked with us to bring things out at certain times. The food was awesome as always. Everything was great and it all made for a special night for my parents. Thanks to everyone who helped us! I highly recommend Make and Kate's!
(5)
Sasha T.
Upgrading to 4 stars. Had lunch here again and the food and service is outstanding. It gets busy at lunch time and the restaurant is small so expect a bit of a wait. I still haven't made it out here for dinner yet but it's at the top of my list!
(4)
Michelle P.
Had lunch with my husband.. I had the special fish with coconut risotto pineapple topped with watermelon basil salsa... Heaven!! My wonderful husband had lobster blt wrap.. He loved it!!! We found it pricey but nice for a special occasion $40.00 no app and ice tea...
(4)
Ginger B.
We have been here 6 times since they opened and it is one of our favorites. The waiter Alvy is a treasure, although others have been great, too. Also great is that they take reservations, unlike many other local places, and you will need one because so many other people have fallen in love with it, too. This family also owns "Macke's" in Green Hills, also wonderful.
(5)
J T.
Last year (this review is a bit past due but the experience is still bugging me), my company took the entire restaurant for its annual holiday party. The evening was wonderful (in retrospect, perhaps, because people with close financial interests were present). Off of that experience, my spouse and I decided to bring our best couple-friends here to celebrate a special event together. Sadly, the night was a disaster. After waiting nearly 90 minutes past our reservation time we were finally seated, only to be summarily ignored by our waitress (family member with haughty attitude) for the rest of the evening. Service was slow, unattentive and all-around terrible. The (almost) final straw...when we asked to see a dessert menu (now 3 1/2 hours past our reservation time), we were told that the ktichen was closing and we'd have to clear out. Okay, fine, we were ready to leave this place anyway. However, we were left with one last good-bye present that we would only learn about when our credit card statements arrived. When splitting the check, our waitress charged the full tab to both couples (even after presenting receipts for half each). When we each contacted the restaurant, they did in fact correct the problem, but wow, what an experience...one that I'll never repeat. At least not there.
(1)
Anne M.
Yay! A great restaurant in the Cool Springs area! We had a 7:45pm reservation on Sat night but the place was packed so we weren't seated until 8pm. The staff was very friendly and apologetic for our wait. I was excited to see that many people happily eating at a non-chain restaurant. My fiance and I split the crab cake appetizer which was 99.9% crab meat and wonderful. I had the shrimp & grits for my main entree and he had the steak. My dish was perfect and the 5 or 6 shrimp were jumbo. My fiance said he would love to go back to MacK & Kates and try a different entree... his wasn't a "wow" but it was decent. We ended the night with one piece of SINFUL peanut butter pie! So good! I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Maude R.
I'm still steaming over our horrible experience at this place. People, don't waste your money. Seriously.
(1)
J W.
Absolutely wonderful. The food is the best I've had in Nashville. It is fresh and cooked perfectly. The menu items have a unique twist, without being unedibly decorative. Our group got crab cakes, crawfish bisque, prawns with proscuitto and fillet, plus dessert. The crab cakes were phenomenal and the fillet is the second best that I've ever had in my life. Yes, you have to drive out into the country - but it's worth it. In the summer, go to the bar next door. Amazing muscians make suprise appearances all the time.
(5)
katie h.
A little pricey, especially if you order wine. Our table of seven had a bill of $543 (not including tip). So at almost $75 per person, an expensive night out. We enjoyed almost everything from the menu... recommended: mushroom crock with crusty bread at $12 it's an appetizer that is fantastic. Daily special of Grouper. Just OK - scallops. Not good - meatloaf. Lobster and macaroni and cheese the best dish in the house, in my opinion, just OK...couldn't tell if it was fresh lobster tail. Definitely would go back for wine and the mushroom crock appetizer.
(3)
chuck b.
Solid service, excellent quiche and fruit was very fresh and served in the perfect portion size.
(4)
Rs B.
Had dinner last night with 3 friends. Waitress was slow to take our orders; slow to refill drinks/water glasses. I ordered coffee with cream and sugar, which arrived while in the ladies room. No sugar. The waitress didn't bring any because she didn't know what I wanted (HELLO - cream and sugar!) My coffee cooled while waiting another 10 minutes for the sugar to arrive. Waitress never asked if we were separate checks; she brought the bill and said it would be another 10 minutes if she had to separate out the orders (we had already been there well over two hours, all of us had our credit cards on the table for 20 minutes before she brough the bill). She said we could just split the bill 4 ways and it "usually equals out". Since we were all good friends and needing to leave, we just accepted this just to get out of there. Customer Service gets only 1 star. The food? Mediocre. "Homemade" desserts - we sampled 3 cakes. The waitress told me "fudge pie and ice cream". Umm, it was CAKE, not pie. And not even good cake, at that - Very little chocolate/fudge taste, overpowered by flour. Fried green tomatoes- good, but not great. Onion rings were super greasy; good but not great. Shrimp and grits ("one of their specialties") - good, but nothing to write home about - probably wouldn't order them again. In fact, not sure I'd go back after the rude waitress experience and lackluster food.
(2)
Bill P.
This was my first visit and we'll for sure be back. Being a Saturday night, we went ahead and made reservations. Our table was ready when we arrived. I went with the Grilled Salmon. It was very light and well flavored. The chairs are not comfortable and the price for two to eat no drinks with tip adds up to $75-$80.
(4)
Marion J.
The fried green tomato appetizer was by far the highlight of my visit. The homemade pimento spread was tasty and quite surprisingly a hit! I was tempted to leave after the appetizer so that I could savor the moment but I wasn't full so I thought I'd order another dish. Being the seafood lover that I am, I decided to go for the crab cake benedict. I made a mistake as it was a major disappointment. The poached eggs were ok. The crab cake patties... I can't describe what they taste like, inflated with water... less crab... not tasty at all. The skillet potatoes were not appealing. The fruit bowl was a fruit bowl. I'm rating 2 stars for the fried green tomatoes and polite server.
(2)
Miranda P.
Wow this place is amazing!! Was next store and popped over for lunch and I can not say enough great things. J who works there is attentive, funny and really is wonderful. And my food came out in nearly 3 minutes, and is so fresh. The cobb is sooo good. I got the southern Cobb and I will be back with no doubt. It is incredibly unique.
(5)
Patrick P.
The waiter was one of the best! So knowledgeable and helpful. Vegetarian and gluten free options except for desert. Fun specialty drinks, easy parking, easy reservation, window shopped before dinner. Will be back!
(5)
Maggie M.
The fried green tomato appetizer was okay, the homemade pimento spread was tasty but not quite sure it is homemade. I feel like I have tasted something similar to a grocery store brand. Crab-cake benedict, disappointing crab cakes didn't taste like crab or anything for that matter, potatoes kind of blah. Alcohol not top shelf and kind of pricey for the quality of food. Cute place service okay not great. Expected a little bit more not sure I will be back, too many other places to try.
(2)
Lin G.
There's this sense of being in some sort of classy environment like an art auction or a wealthy alumni donor function when you walk in the door as you're immediately surrounded by older, (50-plus), well-dressed, wealthy looking white people. My friends and I charge in, obviously out of place but not self-conscious, though I did keep the profanity on pause and tugged down my shorts a little further to ensure full coverage of both butt cheeks. Those moves obviously paid off as we were welcomed warmly by the staff. EXQUISITE decor. It's like something out of a page in Town and Country or Southern Living. Framed black and white photos of Paris from odd angles litter the wall, built in bookshelves gives it that living room edge. Fresh mini muffins with jam arrived at our table and were quickly shoved into our eager mouths within seconds. YUM! I swallow mine in one gulp almost like a Tylenol. I want more! Looked around for more but there were none. Just one tiny muffin per person and it's like going to visit at your parents' friend's house when you were a kid: you suspect there might be more treats but knew better than to ask lest your mom gives you that stern look that says I'ma slap you later... sob* Soon the food came. I got the cheeseburger. A solid choice with a fried egg in it. The egg was not too runny and the burger was satisfying and tasty. My friend raved about her french toast and her husband seemed pleased with his steak and eggs. Definitely check this place out. Just try to behave yourselves and don't wear anything too slutty.
(4)
Lindsay Z.
Came here for dinner on my birthday after reading the review on Yelp. The environment is nice, but the service is super slow, we didn't even have our own server, the bartender was serving us the whole time, he didn't take our entree order until we almost finished our appetites. Food was so so. I ordered a crab and avocado salad (2014 Winner Best Salad). It's such a small plate, I had more bites of bitter grapefruit than crab meat and avocado. Totally over priced $18 appetizer salad! We also ordered Steak and Biscuits for $19, it came with 4 tiny bite size biscuits, each has a small slice of steak, the rest is all fries! It's literally a kid's meal! Very disappointed at the price we paid for the amount of the food on the plate. Won't be back.
(1)
Ron M.
Service- was just OK. Was not very busy and waiter was missing several times Atmosphere- pleasant upscale southern motif Food- food was good but really highly priced for what you get! $18 appetizer salad! Way too high.
(3)
Aisha M.
Visited here for the first time. Everything I tasted I enjoyed. I started with the house salad. It was very tasty featuring feta, dried cranberries and a tasty house made vinaigrette. I followed up with the Shrimp and Grits. Solidly the best Shrimp and Grits I have had in TN. My friend had the filet. It was perfectly prepared and the portion sizes were good. We dined at the bar and had a great overall dining experience. I imagine it would be even better at a table on a date.
(5)
Judith E.
We were graciously greeted upon arriving and quickly seated even though we did not have a reservation. Love the intimate bar area and decor was gorg. Now, on to the best part - drinks and food. I had the St. Germain, great way to end a crap day. We ordered the deviled Eggs as a starter - these ain't grandmas, they're better!!! Generous sized portions and superb service make this a winner! Will be back again and again.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Loved... no LOVED our dinner. It's the first time in more than a year that I haven't been disappointed in at least some portion of my meal in a Nashville restaurant. My husband and I went and it was flawless. We started with the fried green tomatoes which were impeccable. He loved his shrimp and grits, and I loved the short ribs. We shared and amazing derby pie. Everything was prompt, and perfect. This place is the real deal.
(5)
Barbara W.
This place is overrated. From the uncomfortable chairs and table to the over priced mediocre food. Slow service. First time I thought we caught it on a bad night. Second time just as bad. Won't be back.
(1)
Anita A.
This place is my happiest place. The shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, crab and avacado salad, fried chicken and even the meatloaf is awesome! !!
(5)
Sonja E.
I went in for lunch with a friend on her recommendation. The hostess/server was very friendly & knowledgeable of the menu. We ordered the fish tacos. I hate to say the tastiest item on the plate was the avacado sauce. I am not in to jumbo size meals at all, especially on a very hot day for lunch, but I will say the fish in the 2 "very small" tacos could not have equaled any more than 2.5 ounces at best. The homeade chips that came with were very thin, greasy and tasteless. The pico was as well. I left the restaurant wishing we had made a different choice. I may go back, but I will not be ordering the fish tacos!
(2)
Thad A.
With a friend on Tuesday, we are always anxious to try spots 'new to us'. I travel to the area frequently on business, and we eat out in Franklin and Brentwood a lot. Tonight, it was Mack and Katies. No reservations, we were quickly seated. Studying the menu, we opted for house salads, the dressing was the bomb! 2 appetizers, fried green tomatoes, the best I ever had, and the crab cakes which were very unremarkable. For the entree, we had Lobster Mac and Cheese. It was very runny, and the lobster was almost unnoticeable. Very disappointing. Overall, ambience was fine, though our table was directly in line with the door, and on a cold night, very breezy. I am glad we had the tomatoes and house salads, but to me if the house salad is the best thing you had for dinner in a pricey, upscale restaurant, its a fail. This is likely a spot of no return for us.
(2)
Clay A.
Great food and service! Fried green tomato appetizer as well as the shrimp and grits were both tasty. They had our main entrees out quickly
(5)
Ed P.
Made reservations for 7:30. Upon arrival I was welcomed warmly and seated within a few minutes. Our server was Alex. She explained the specials and brought our beverages quickly. She was very attentive and I would highly recommend her if you decide to dine at Mack and Kate's Ordered the shrimp bombs for an appetizer. The shrimp were good sized and stuffed with an ample amount of crab meat. The BBQ sauce was a vinegar based sauce and had an excellent flavor. The only knock on the meal was that the shrimp were slightly over cooked. My thinking was this may have been done to "set" the bacon wrap to hold the crab meat in but still, they were cooked a little too much. Had the steak and biscuits for the entree. If you are expecting a 20 oz steak then this is not the entree to order. I didn't want a huge entree so this was perfect for me. The steak was very tender and the biscuits were cooked to perfection. Believe it or not the fries where the highlight of the dish. They were just barely crispy outside and the prefect texture inside. They were flavored with truffle oil that went very with the starch of the potatoes. The atmosphere was quaint and very comfortable. If you are in Franklin and want a nice meal I would recommend a stop at Mack and Kate's
(4)
John H.
Man I dunno what those other reviews were talking about this restaurant was wonderful Jesus Christ you critical yelp people angry at the world get it together. Anyways I had the fried green tomatoes, salmon, and caramel pie with a cappuccino. Everything was very good. The fried green tomatoes were delicious, the salmon was cooked to perfection and the extra froo froo stuff complemented it really well. But if nothing else if you do decide to come ask to get Herman as a waiter he was great, one of the best I've had.
(5)
Maridel S.
We enjoyed eating here while visiting the area. The menu had a nice variety of options. We had shrimp and grits (which were delicious, but the portion was too large to finish) and Dominican pork roast (very good). We also shared a piece of Derby Pie with ice cream that was wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive. Nice eating experience.
(4)
Sejal M.
This is one of our fav restaurants. We always get great service and food here. Romantic, and priced on point. I do think the chairs and tables could be a little more comfortable, but hey-small issue.
(5)
Meredith R.
This is such a cute spot. Lunch is amazing. They have a delicious chicken salad sandwich. I also love their wraps. If you are there on a day when they have coconut cake, do not pass that up. So so so good!
(5)
Jodie M.
We have eaten here twice and both times were very good. The service was fantastic both times. It is certainly on the high end of the dinner budget but the food is delicious and well thought out. I would go for dinner instead of lunch so you get the best bang for your buck and stay away from the $10 mimosas or bloody mary's. For dinner we had the Mushroom crock (divine!) the scallops with the cherry gastrique (so so good) and the meatloaf (delicious). We also had the coconut cake (good but my granny's is better). If you have a chance to go you should.
(4)
Will H.
We made the drive down to Franklin tonight with another couple to eat at Mack and Kate's. My partner and I had had two lovely experiences at M, their sister restaurant in Nashville, and we had heard good things about Mack and Kate's Southern-inspired menu. Based on our one visit, the food alone would earn at least three stars, but the zero-star service lowers the average considerably. We ordered a round of appetizers; the deviled eggs and the cauliflower tots were tasty, but the fried green tomatoes came with oddly flavored toppings. Entrees were a mixed bag; our friends spoke highly of the steak and biscuits and the bouillabaisse, but my partner's lobster mac and cheese contains small chunks of lobster that were dry and tough. I ordered the angel hair pasta, substituting the salmon for the chicken at the server's recommendation; the salmon was acceptable, nothing special, but the pasta itself was suffused in a sauce that brought out the bitterness of the asparagus. The tastiest thing all night was the dessert we passed up; our friends' coconut cake was delightful, while our flourless chocolate torte was mediocre. The real problem with the evening was the service. Our server had a terrible habit of standing in one place to distribute things to the four of us; this led to a lot of awkward reaching, and over the course of the evening each of us had a menu, glass, or plate directly in our face. When we did get a visit from the server, empty water glasses and empty cocktails were equally ignored. My partner's glass of wine arrived well into his entree. Finally, when I gave up the effort at eating my pasta and answered the server's question honestly ("The salmon was okay, but the pasta itself wasn't good") I got a laugh and an offer of a free dessert. At meal's end, the dessert wasn't free, but by then we weren't even surprised. After some terrific times at their sister restaurant, our negative experience here was quite an unpleasant surprise. Though the food was acceptable, the drive to Franklin and the poor quality of service mean we won't be back.
(2)
Lucy W.
Super cute server! Thanks for your recommendations...the Saint specialty cocktail was very refreshing, the salmon was great and the chocolate torte was heavenly. On a weeknight, I was one of the younger folks in the restaurant...and I'm not a spring chicken. A bit rustic looking decor but located in a newish looking office park type of plaza, there is valet parking even though there was plenty of parking spaces.
(4)
Kristen D.
I have to say this is by far the worst place I have ever been to in this state. Never and I mean never have I ever stepped into a place and not felt welcome. Isn't that your job, you cook, I eat and pay you for it. Right off the bar the greeter seems bothered by me walking in coupled by dirty stares from never by tables. What's up with that? Is there a dress code for a place next to a furniture store? This IS a restaurant in a shopping center for God's sake! It ain't the ritz. Secondly, our waitress never told us the specials, never refilled a single glass, and we had to practically send out an APB to get her to come back to our table. It was not packed either. 6 pm on a Saturday. Our steak and biscuits were terrible. Meatloaf of with flavor. Pork chop was dry enough to start a camp fire. I would literally have served that to my 2 year old. It was like mini-mini slider but burnt and tasteless. I have never wanted to dine and dash more in my life. To wrap it up, terrible service, terrible food, terrible place. My advice, close your doors. This is a low end restaurant with a high end attitude for NO distinguishable reason.
(1)
Elliott W.
We popped in without reservations for an early Saturday night dinner, and were one of just a couple of tables occupied. We started with what might be the best fried green tomatoes that we had ever eaten. The smokey flavored pimento cheese and bacon preserves on the tomatoes complemented them exceptionally well and had a unique flavor that I've not experienced elsewhere. The shrimp and grits that I had were good. Grits cooked perfectly. Creamy and comforting. The sauce had just enough kick to be interesting without overpowering. The sausage we better than the shrimp, which were large but maybe a little more al dente than I prefer. My wife's burger was truly special. Smoky, with a perfect crispy crust, complemented perfectly by the horseradish sauce and smoky cheddar. The bun also excellent, and a worthy conveyance for a quality burger. Finally, we finished off with dessert. I had the derby pie, which was the perfect combo of fudge, booze, and pecans with ice cream. Service was attentive without smothering. Courses were delivered in a timely manner with good pacing.
(4)
Manny J.
From my wife who is not a yelper...she loved the ambience Good excellent Service excellent Will eat again
(4)
Paula B.
The wait staff was rough around the edges and made me feel rushed, though they were attentive. The decor was cheap (flea market trunks and fake flowers, worn-out cushion on the bench with Polly-filled pillows and a wobbly table.) The food, salad and steak and biscuits, was tremendously overpriced. $19 for four mini-biscuits and wafer-thin steak??? (Salad was extra.) Also, the sangria was strong, as in made-to-order, instead of made hours ago to allow the flavors to blend. With many good restaurants in the area that offer better ambiance and price, we probably won't return.
(2)
Vanessa G.
The inside is charming southern style. My friend and I both enjoyed the crab salad but it was VERY tiny especially for the price. The crab was fresh and tasty but it need to be at least double in size. I'd give it another shot and try something else.
(3)
Dwayne F.
Awesome Restaurant!!! Easily missed place, but don't let that decieve you. The food was great and the service was also nice. This is not a "hurry up" kind of place and you won't want to hurry. Each bite is to be savored, so plan to stay and enjoy. Had the Shrimp and Grits and that was amazing and also had the Amberjack special with crab meat and Crawfish served over a home made spagatti with a spicy cream sauce. Oh my goodness. Blackberry cobbler for dessert and that was also amazing. So go with confidence and enjoy.
(5)
Austin G.
So impressed with Mack & Kate's. My husband and I decided to take a little trip to Franklin for date night dinner, and I randomly stumbled upon Mack and Kate's online. So glad we found this little gem. Our server was fantastic and the food was amazing. We ordered the shrimp and grits and cast iron seared beef tenderloin and shared them- both so full of flavor and delicious, we ate every bite. We also shared a dessert, which was home made donuts with vanilla ice cream- also amazing. I'm sure we'll return to Mack & Kate's to try some of our server's other recommendations.
(5)
Keith B.
We went for Mother's Day lunch and they were out of several appetizers. Very poor planning.... How do you run out of several things on a limited "special Mother's Day" menu? They were even out of bread to go with lunch.... Probably would not have known.... But the waiter told us....."sorry guys no bread" with a very flippant attitude. The service was really bad with a touch of rude and downright shortness! Perhaps that is because the waiter knew he had an automatic 20% gratuity added to the bill for the Mother's Day meal. I almost reduced it but decided against protesting (would have been a first time ever).....Really prefer not to ever complain about a restaurant. Food was decently tasty but really nothing special many places in Nashville can best this place (portions were extremely small) The service from the very minute we walked in was absolutely the worst. It seemed as if the waiter was put off by having to provide even simple request. No one in my group was overly demanding.... I usually only post on yelp when I have positive reviews to provide. Negative reviews can be perceived as a personal attack and not provide much value. This place was simply so full of itself and poor on value that I had to share. The place had an overall air of a terrible attitude.... Had high end pricing without the high end service and high end dining experience. For the money they charge and overall poor service provided with only moderate food we will likely not go back. Who pays $22 for simple fried chicken with mashed potatoes? One in our party ordered the $22 chicken and found it to be very average in taste (they got two very small pieces of chicken and small portions of vegetables). Actually they said they could have get much better fried chicken for an entire family at KFC for that price...... Several at our table paid $18 for their signature Crab Salad.... The salad was very good.... However the portion size was more in line with a $7-8 salad.... It almost felt as if they were trying to stretch the portions to keep from running out of food. That is the only excuse I can come up with to rationalize such a small salad for nearly $20! Picture taking a wedge salad and cutting it into a 1/4 of a salad and then serving it as a whole salad. I have no objection paying for a nice meal... Just not into paying premium money for subpar small quantities. The service was so bad that I felt the need to share with fellow Yelpers. Place was filled with a very bad attitude of arrogance. It is not the high end place they think they are. If you want a high end meal go elsewhere.
(1)
R J.
Dinner here was simply excellent in every aspect. Atmosphere is pleasantly quiet, with ample table spacing to give intimacy and ability to have conversation. Food was outstanding. Loved the cauliflower tots w/ curry aioli. Shrimp 'n grits were outstanding! The andouille sausage made the dish. I don't normally do dessert- but this is the south and they had a Derby pie..... It was heavenly. Wine was very good, albeit an underpour for $10/ glass. Was NOT 4oz Service was efficient and friendly. I seemed to notice other tables had extraordinary service. Catherine, our server, was a bit aloof in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Food was just that good.
(5)
Anna C.
One word can adequately sum up our experience here: disappointing. We had friends in town and wanted to try a new place, so after browsing the dinner menu on Yelp (which is not the accurate menu, I might add) we decided on Mack & Kate's. To start, our table ordered Oysters, Cauliflower Tots, and several cups of French Onion Soup. I personally ordered the soup since I happen to love a good cup of soup topped with bread and melted cheese. After receiving my soup, I quickly realized there was no cheese in my cup, just soup and a piece of bread. Our table agreed that our server had mentioned cheese when he was describing the soup before we ordered, and that no one had eaten French Onion Soup without the customary cheese on top. When he returned to check on us, we asked about the lack of cheese. He quickly apologized and said that they were very busy and the person who put together the soups must have forgotten the cheese, and that normally the soup would have cheese atop the bread, melted with a small torch. He left the room and came back with a small plate with 4 slices of cheese for us to add to our soup. Wait, what? We were expected to add a slice of cold cheese to our (by this time) lukewarm soup? There was still room for improvement with the rest of the meal, so we ate what was left of our disappointing soup and moved on to entrees. The highlight of our entrees were the Shrimp and Grits. Two people in our party ordered this dish upon recommendation and were very happy with it. I happen to eat mostly vegetarian, and our server made the recommendation of Shrimp/Chicken Pasta without the Shrimp or Chicken. I rarely have issues eating anywhere, as the chef is generally happy to prepare a dish to accommodate non meat eaters, and I'm usually very pleased with whatever I end up with. The pasta I was served here was another story. It was just plain disappointing. I had a few others try it to be sure I wasn't just being picky, and everyone agreed it simply wasn't good; the consistency and flavor were both off. We reluctantly mentioned this to our server and he apologized there weren't more meatless options on the menu, he was happy to bring me something else. I suggested the Lobster Mac, minus the Lobster, and even though he warned me it would take a bit to prepare, I went with it hoping the dish plus the wait would make up for the disappointing pasta. Everyone else had long finished their meals by the time the Mac arrived (at least we had the expectation it wouldn't arrive quickly), and it wasn't the best I've had, but it was much better than the original pasta dish. Our server let us know several times that he would only charge us half price for the Macaroni, and we were pretty surprised that we were being charged anything for my meal after all that. Several of us previously worked in the service industry, and were disappointed that this restaurant wasn't doing more to ensure an impressive experience. Simply having a manager come out to chat with us would have been a nice touch. Suggestions would have been: new soups served with melted cheese, or soups without melted cheese removed from the bill, and no charge for the late dish that replaced my lackluster pasta. Maybe the automatic gratuity assigned to our party of 6 made them think they didn't need to take better care of us? We had high hopes for Mack & Kate's before dining here. There are too many other amazing restaurants to impress out of town guests with, and we won't be back. The two stars I reluctantly gave here go to the server- at least he was apologetic and polite.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Christian M.
Our Sunday brunch here was disappointing. Around noon on a Sunday, the restaurant was only about a third full, but it still took about 7-10 minutes for our waitress to reach the table after having been seated immediately. Yes, that's a little aggravating, but it's more annoying that the hostess - who clearly saw we were just sitting there - didn't chip in to even fill our water glasses. When our waitress came, there was no apology for the wait. While my wife's latte was very good, the rest of the meal was "meh". The short menu had only a couple inspiring choices, so we went with a couple of salads at $14 and $15 a pop. Our long wait featured two tiny blueberry muffins that clearly didn't use fresh or frozen blueberries, which makes you wonder why they bother. Finally, the salads were just OK. The crab/avocado salad was small with very little lettuce and the fried chicken salad was tasty, but nothing special for $15. I saw a couple other reviews comment on the stuffy atmosphere here. I typically hate listing things I can't quite put my finger on, but I think they are right. I never felt comfortable or wanted in this restaurant. With so many options around Franklin, I say go elsewhere.
(2)L K.
Yummy yummy yummy! Great food. Consistent. Staff is impeccably trained. Nice wine list. Ask staff for recommendations. Can't say much about the dessert menu... I have never had room!!!
(5)Marelle J.
This place is so cute! I went on a Friday night and was seated immediately. It's small but quaint. It took us a little longer than expected to get our food, but our waitress was very attentive and brought us some extra appetizers to snack on. She also gave us a free slice of pie for our wait. I ordered the vegetarian plate, mushroom ravioli with veggies. It was great! Seemed very fresh. My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and nearly inhaled it! So all-in-all, a great experience.
(5)Brad L.
Service- The service was sub par to average at best. We wanted a good 5-7 minutes at the table before anyone even came over to greet us. The rest of the night was service was OK but for a place that is supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the area it was not up to snuff. Ambiance- Welcome to the Williamson County Bubble. It had an air of pretentious about it for sure. I have been to much nicer restaurants, (Etch, Husk, Silo, Lockeland Table etc..) that did not give off the air of entitlement. I do not just know if it was the Saturday crowd or an everyday occurrence but we not impressed. Food- $12 dollars for a wedge salad that was not worth $6. The fried green tomatoes and the appetizers made the difference between this being rated a 1 star rather than the 2 star Here is a rank of our food: 1. Pork Chop 2.. Braised Short Ribs 3. Steak and Biscuits Corking Fee was $20- that is a little high in my book. Website is woefully out of date!! We got to the restaurant and everything was at least 20% more than what was priced on the website We may give it another shot but with all the good restaurants in the area it will not be anytime soon.
(2)Reed C.
Excellent environment, service and good. They have a nice wine list as well.
(5)Kelsey P.
After a marathon of a road trip, we arrived at our hotel and realized how incredibly hangry we were. Now - fast food was just not going to do the trick. Not after we had been on the road the whole day. I knew for a fact that I needed some southern food in my life and Yelp did not let me down. Mack & Kate's was first on the list and just so happened to have an Open Table reservation available. When we arrived, we were a bit early so we sat at the bar and ordered a drink. At first I wasn't sure if the drink was really that great, or if I was just that hungry. When we were seated, we were greeted by the nicest waiter. We ordered deviled eggs to start. I was still in a half starved haze, so I still wasn't sure if the food was as good as I thought it was. I ordered the shrimp and grits as my entree and my suspicions were confirmed. This food is DELICIOUS! The shrimp were massive and perfectly cooked. The grits underneath were creamy and buttery. The sauce all over the top was so good I could have licked the plate. I tried bites of my husbands pork chop with mac & cheese and collard greens. It was equally as delicious. We finished off with a piece of some sort of chocolate pecan pie. YUM. I also saw quite a few other desserts that I wanted leave the kitchen but by the time we got around to dessert, they were sold out of everything except the pie (I take this as a very very good sign). Next time I'm in Nashville, I'll be back and hopefully earlier in the day so I can try every single dessert.
(5)Morgan O.
In my opinion there are three great places to get a quality steak in Franklin, TN: Red Pony, Cork & Cow and Mack and Kate's. Even though I find that this restaurant is a tad on the pricey side, it is a must-try. With a rotating seasonal menu alongside a handful of tried and true staples, the quality that you will experience at Mack and Kate's is unrivaled. The dessert menu is so good that I occasionally frequent the restaurant for the sole purpose of having the dessert. This is the sister restaurant to M Restaurant in Nashville, TN which is evidenced in the similarities in the the two menus, even though each restaurant carries their own specialties. My usual order: Cast Iron Seared Beef Tenderloin or Shrimp & Grits & Coconut Caramel Cake!
(5)Erika G.
Short and sweet! Our server Herman was awesome. Our drinks were good. We got a mojito and a rum punch. For entrees, I got the special which was the short ribs over risotto and my boyfriend got the porkchops. Both were to die for!
(5)Kimberley G.
Mack & Kate's was PERFECT for our Easter Brunch - delicious food and fabulous service and a wonderful atmosphere. We WILL be back.
(5)Suzanne R.
Our waiter was awfully chatty, but nice. Food was really good. We had the lobster Mac and cheese which was very rich and heady with big chunks of lobster. I had a wedge which apparently had really special bacon on it. The bacon was good, but not sure that I would write home about it. I also had the steak and biscuits with fries. The fries were excellent. The steak and biscuits was made up of little pieces of steak on top of teeny biscuits with a spicy sauce which was undetectable. I probably wouldn't get it again, but it was ok. The fries made up for it.
(3)Drew P.
"Southern Living" claims this is 1 of the 7 restaurants "you gotta try in Nashville". That is a severe exaggeration. I was only in town for 3 nights and I am upset that I wasted a meal at this restaurant. The restaurant is in Franklin, TN. It took us about 25 minutes to get there from downtown Nashville. We had reservations for 7:15 on Sunday. We arrived around 6:45 and were seated right away. There were 2 customers in the restaurant and the staff were standing around BS-ing at the bar. We were greeted by a pleasant man who sat us immediately. Our waiter was a different man, but equally as pleasant. Although he wreaked of cigarette smoke. First, Mack and Kate need to update their menu online. We looked at the menu 3 times on different sites and drove out there with our entrees already selected. Those entrees were not on the menu and I wasn't happy. We decided to order the rosemary smoked chicken and the boneless short rib. The chicken wasn't smoked for very long, the skin was rubbery, and parts of the chicken were on the dry-er side. The chicken sat on top of rice, which was tasteless and over cooked. The rice had pulled chicken throughout. I would be willing to bet my first born child on the fact that the chicken was leftover. The entree didn't even come with a garnish and ran me 21 dollars. The boneless short rib was not a short rib. it was a piece of roast but cooked fairly well. It sat on squash risotto. The squash was overwhelming but overall it wasn't terrible. No garnish, very little serving to the tune of 32 dollars. I will never return to or recommend this restaurant.
(2)Pat G.
A lot more "attitude " than performance. Not friendly. Food not outstanding. Service was nondescript. If you're looking for a fun dinner, move on. Lots of other options, just keep yelping.
(2)Kimberly Y.
Went here for Mother's Day brunch and so enjoyed it! Fun atmosphere, yummy food, friendly service. Had a peach Bellini, the crab stack and the crab eggs Benedict: all delicious. I look forward to going again!
(5)Mary B.
Been a while since I visited, but both visits were splendid, the food was excellent and the ambiance was very relaxing and intimate. Definitely a good place for a date night, or even a work function since there is a private room off to the side which can accommodate noisier tables.
(5)D B.
Been there many times. Honestly, it's about 50-50. It's not too pricey but struggles at times to hit the mark for which it seems to be aiming. The fried green tomato appetizer is consistently a winner. Overall, a good choice when compared to the strip mall chain hell of the greater Cool Springs area.
(3)Kevin T.
The food was better than three stars, but the service was worse. Would come back again, hesitantly.
(3)Suzanne M.
Cannot rave about this place enough! I came to town for a family event (I live in Los Angeles) and we just don't have good Southern food in LA. So I spent every meal out getting my fill of fried green tomatoes and all things Southern that we can't find at home. We came to Mack & Kate's as the family had a private dinner after a baptism event and I am SOOOO glad that this was the restaurant chosen! First of all, we had AMAZING service (the BEST waitstaff anywhere!!!) and we were in this gorgeous private room off the main dining area with a long family-style table. It was perfect for our party and super comfortable. The food was STELLAR. This must have been my third restaurant around the area trying the Fried Green Tomatoes and these were by far the best in town and in Nashville!!! SERIOUSLY go here and get these! And then their deviled eggs were AMAZEBALLS. I know it sounds so simple, but they found a way to make deviled eggs elevated and so so flavorful. I would order this again in a heartbeat and we do have these back in LA - still not the same back home. Then their house salad was farm fresh and tasty - I didn't even know folks in the South ate a lot of fresh produce - and it was topped with the BEST BEST BEST Basil Vinaigrette dressing EVER! I actually asked our waiter for a bottle to buy to take home, but they don't sell them...but I did manage to get out of him the ingredients (see? people in the South are SOOOOOOOO nice!!!!!) I haven't even gotten to talking about the main dish in which I had the Shrimp and Grits! Super rich but a MUST HAVE if you are going to Mack & Kate's. I am DEFINITELY making a point to come here every time I come to town. If you live in town, you are lucky lucky lucky. I would be here at least once a week if I were local.....
(5)Mallory S.
I was a long time fan of Mack & Kate's during its time in Kingston Springs. When it moved to Franklin (where I live) I was disappointed. The menu changed and when I went for lunch I was underwhelmed. Per a friend's recommendation my family and I tried their brunch today. The food was wonderful! It may be my new favorite brunch spot in town. Let me quickly get past the few things that disappointed so we can get to the good stuff. It took a little while for our waiter to come around at first...a few parties seated simultaneously threw him off a bit. But once he did come the first time he was very attentive. The biggest complaint was that the chairs are very wobbly and uncomfortable. We all noticed it, however, it would not have been as big of a deal if my grandmother wasn't there. She was very nervous that her chair was going to collapse under her...and she is a tiny lady. However, the uncomfortable chairs will not deter any of us from going back! We started with the fried green tomato app which was delectable. They had a nice remoulade sauce and sprinkles of goat cheese on top. My grandmother had the French toast made with challah bread. This was definitely THE BEST French toast I have ever had in my life. The whipped cream was amazing (cinnamon) and the bread was soft and delicious. My mother had the crab cake Benedict. It was light and fresh and full of flavor. I really liked that it didn't have egg mcmuffin...just crab cake. I had the southern stack which consisted of shrimp and grits and a crab cake. The sauce on the shrimp and grits was very flavorful with just the right amount of spice. The grits were creamy and the shrimp cooked perfectly. The crab cake was also good. My father had the hangover pasta. It is a take on a carbonara with tomato, spinach, artichoke, Tasso ham, and a sunny side up egg. Very good! All in all I would highly recommend having brunch at M & K's!!
(4)Thomas H.
Overall I had a very poor personal experience with this place but my wife loved it (which is why I gave it three stars) Let me explain: I am a vegetarian but I eat fish. When I looked over the menu I found a fish soup that looked amazing and listed only fish and shellfish in the description. I started to eat the soup which tasted really good but was very salty, which I found out was because there was pork sausage in the soup! I was really bummed out because now eating this soup went against my values. I picked around the pork but couldn't finish the soup. I made the waiter aware of this and he offered to comp our app. I really wish they had listed the pork in the 30 dollar soup I couldn't finish. I'm sure they are a great place to most folks but only if you are a meat eater. Like I said before, my wife LOVED her dish.
(3)Kathleen H.
When we travel, we love to find the local, off-the-beaten-path places. We are familiar with Nashville, but not super familiar. He researched and found Mack and Kate's in Brentwood. We were meeting a "foodie" friend for dinner and the first thing she asked was "how in the world did YOU all know about this place?' Thanks Yelpers! Start to finish, it was amazing. The food. The atmosphere. The server. The mixed drinks were to die for. Seriously. Get the Saint. It is dangerous in a super amazing way. I got the Lobster Mac and Cheese, the hubby got the Bouillabaise and our friend got the Shrimp and Grits. All of us had amazing things to say about the food. We each ordered dessert. The husband got the pecan pie. Our friend the Key Lime Pie and me the PB Mousse Pie. Now PB isn't my thing but this was good. They loved their desserts. I was just a tiny bit miffed that they didn't have one chocolate only dessert (my mantra is that if it isn't chocolate, it isn't dessert) but I can't even make that a legitimate complaint. Our server was just the best. He was entertaining but he knew when to keep his distance. We hadn't seen our friend for 4 years and we were catching up. He laughed with us, gave us recommendations and let us close the place down. I felt bad when I looked at my watch and it was almost 10 and we were one of two tables left. They close at 930. But not once did anyone push us out the door. Whether you live in Nashville or are just visiting, go off the beaten path for Mack and Kate's in Brentwood.
(5)Mimi H.
Enjoyed a belated birthday dinner tonight with my guy and his parents. This is a very cute place: upscale cozy/intimate - a great date spot. Pro: we each chose different entrees and the chef was considerate of my guy's food allergies. Everyone really truly enjoyed their beautifully prepared dishes - no notes for improvement on the shrimp and grits, lemon chicken angel hair pasta, steak and biscuits or pork tenderloin. These are all excellent selections! Con: our server blatantly interrupted conversation 3 or more times from the time we were seated until our departure with no apology or general observance that we were HIS guests - not the other way around. It was off putting to say the least. His spiel was obviously rehearsed and unfortunately not engaging in the least. Take away: Mack and Kate's food is worth the drive to Franklin IMHO, but next time I'll do call ahead for pick up and enjoy good conversation over an excellent meal at home!
(4)Emily R.
The food is consistently excellent, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is charming. Couldn't ask for more than that!
(5)Robert U.
Summary: A frilly, chic restaurant that emphasizes cutesy decor over food. Upon walking in, I had to bend over at the hostess stand because their fig tree was in the way of my head. (I'm 6'2", not a giant.) They seated us at a cute little farm table. Too bad it had some sort of bracing under it preventing either of us from actually scooting up to it. Cute, but not functional. They also have giant, billowy, burlap curtains that intrude about a foot into the space where a human customer should sit. So there I sat, far away and off to one side of our cute little farm table... My far-from-the-table vantage point made it difficult to even SEE the tiny soup and chicken-salad "mini sandwich" that showed up in front of me. The shiitake mushroom was pretty good. The chicken salad sandwich, on the other hand, was very bland at best. My lovely wife's food was no better (I tried it). Not bad, but not remarkable in any way, particularly in the context of their proud pricing. So if you're a middle-aged woman who likes antique tables, dodgy ladder-back chairs, and huge burlap curtains, here is your spot!
(2)Abigail O.
We went for the first time on Father's Day. The ambiance was comfortable and the food was good, but not as exciting as I had hoped based on all the rave reviews. I was especially disappointed by the service. The reviews were honest in prepping me for a long wait time, so I went expecting to have a leisurely lunch. However almost every review spoke to exceptional excellence of service; this just was not the case in my experience. Given it was Father's Day and so they were pretty full, but it wasn't bustling. Our server (I believe his name was Adam) was not attentive to our table. I used to serve-- I know what needs to be done-- this guy did bare minimal at best, often disappearing from the floor for close to 10-minutes at a time. Plus he gave me a dirty plate, which speaks volumes to his lack of attention. Then another server (my husband believes him to be the Manager or Supervisor as a nearby table complained to him about the long wait for their food) made cat-calls at our young daughters twice as he walked by our table. Totally inappropriate. Not exactly how I had hoped our family would celebrate Father's Day.
(2)Sarah B.
Stopped back in Mack and Kate's this morning for brunch with a friend, and I must say everything I ate was delicious - the appetizer muffins, my omelette, hash brown casserole, and even the fruit! I am also upping M&K another star because today we sat on the back wall at a table that was half booth/half table. Ultra comfy, pillows scattered throughout, and it was just a great brunch. The other tables have these farmhouse style chairs that I get they are part of the look they are going for, but they are just not comfy and seem almost unstable to me. Today was really a great experience, and just wanted to share!
(4)Cass R.
I love that the menu changes. Food is so great. Environment is very intimate. Our waiter was a little weird but very insightful. Will keep returning and love having this restaurant in our neighborhood.
(4)Margaret J.
Our second visit to Mack and Kate's fell short of our previous experience. We made a reservation for 6:30 on a Tuesday since we were again staying in Nashville for the evening, salivating beforehand, remembering the fried criminis from our last meal. By 6:30 on a weeknight, unfortunately, they were already "out" of mushrooms. They had also run "out" of the bacon deviled eggs which made us wonder if they'd been swarmed earlier in the evening or simply gotten lazy in the kitchen. Our third choice, the fried green tomatoes were very good, so we were somewhat mollified. Despite our reservation and a few empty tables, we were led to a small corner nook at which my husband's view was a plain, gray wall and a travel-weary wife in serious need of a cocktail. Within one foot of us were some very loud up-and-comers, one with a very unfortunate squeaky voice which got more grating as she drank but subsided a bit after I got my Hendricks and St. Germaine cocktail (the Alpine) and my husband his wine. The only real problem at this point was that despite our server's occasional glimpses at our table, he failed to notice for more than 20 minutes that our glasses were empty and darted away before we could call out to him. We found this especially odd since most servers make more money the more alcohol is consumed at their tables. Despite a long wait for food, it did live up to that we'd savored on our earlier visit. I had the comfort of creamy mac and cheese with lobster and was very satisfied with the amount, tenderness, freshness, and flavor of the lobster. My husband's shrimp and grits, he claims, were transcendent, evocative of those he'd enjoyed in the low country. Our server was either an English major finishing up Middle March back in the kitchen, oblivious to the needs of his hungry patrons or just a laid back young man who needs to step it up or look for another way to make money. His tendency to direct all of his explanations to my husband, too, left me feeling a bit like the proverbial chopped liver. After sitting, again, waiting forever for the check, I finally had to go for a walk outside. The check was signed Rob. Maybe it was just an off night.
(2)Bob F.
Located this place through Yelp while traveling through Tennessee. A very nice surprise in an unexpected location. Portions are not huge (which is fine with me) but the food is very good. I had the scallops, which were perfectly cooked. My wife had the seared salmon and loved it. Nice salads with interesting ingredients and dressings. Nicely decorated and very clean restrooms. Small complaints: it was a chilly night and we were near the door so each time it was opened, we got cold; chairs and tables are either antique or meant to appear so and there was not a lot of room for a guy with long legs. Still, we had a very nice dinner and the positives far outweighted the minor inconveniences.
(4)Melissa T.
My husband and I decided to have a date night and Mack and Kate's was a perfect option. The atmosphere is fun rustic and trendy all at the same time. Elizabeth was our server and was fantastic. The food was exquisite. I had the house salad with an amazing dressing followed by the chicken and angel hair pasta. My husband had the filet which was so tender you could use a fork. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Would go back!
(5)Briana P.
My wife and I had a very nice dinner here on a Friday night. The place was busy but not packed; we had made reservations, but we were there from 7-8:30 and there were at least a couple of open tables the whole time. I didn't really take much notice of the decor that others have mentioned, although my wife did mention that the charm of the farmhouse chair was lost by the end of the evening due to absence of any padding on the seat back. Anyway, onto the food. We had mushrooms in a cream cognac sauce with fontina and gruyere and crusty bread for dipping as an appetizer. Loved it. It was cheesy, but not too much so, and the bread was the perfect texture to go along it. For dinner, I had root beer braised short ribs over sweet potato-pear gnocchi. The meat was amazing - so tender that it just fell apart with a fork and a little sweet due to the root beer. Normally, I don't like my meat sweet, but this was really good. The gnocchi was also delicious. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce the gnocchi was in - some sort of chees sauce; it was good, but a little rich by the end of the meal. My wife had Kate's bouillabaisse, which I would definitely recommend. Huge scallops and shrimp, chunks of white fish, mussels, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions in a thick tomato-based broth with a bit of spice to it (not hot-spicy, just flavorful). It came with the same crusty bread that the mushrooms did... delicious when soaked in the broth for a bit! It was a big dish, and she brought about half of it home for the next day. It wasn't cheap at $32 - while some of the other entrees were in the $16-$20 range - but the quality made up for it, and she got 2 meals out of it anyway ;) Our waiter was a little pushy. A woman at the table next to us ordered the bacon crawfish mac and cheese and he STRONGLY suggested she also get the house salad (with the meal, not before it, he explained) it to tone it down. She shrugged and ordered it - with the meal, not before it; I would have told him to get lost. Maybe he was trying to be helpful, but the way he suggested it was a little intrusive, to me. Overall, a very good meal, nice atmosphere and reasonably priced for the quality.
(4)J A.
Easter Brunch with friends. We had a large party and had reservations. Our table was ready when we arrived but with the busy crowd for Easter our meal ended up taking over 2 hours to complete. Our waiter was great. Very good service and very funny, although he kept telling us that our order was just behind another tables order. He used that same excuse three times. When our food did arrive it all arrived at the same time and was very good. The pancakes were outstanding. Fluffy with a slight citrus hint that made them great. Except for the pancakes the portion sizes are medium at best. Pancakes were a three stack of full plate size pancakes. Cobbler for dessert was the best. I would love to visit again.
(4)Meghan S.
Quality ingredients, well thought out creative menu. We went for brunch and ordered crab cake Benedict and hangover pasta which were both incredible. They start you off with homemade warm muffins when you arrive as well. Staff was friendly and atmosphere was great. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!
(5)Evan R.
I apologize to TN residents. See, up in NY, we have a tendency to go overboard about food - ranting and raving either positively or negatively. We are all foodies, and we take eating very seriously. However, this review may be a stretch, even for me. Just to get this over with - when I was halfway done with my pork chop at Mack & Kate's, I tried to have intimate relations with my plate. Now, this isn't ever a good idea, but especially so when you're at a business dinner with 12 other people. After each bite, inescapable sounds of joy emanated from the right side of the table. The waiter told me (well, us) to get a room. It actually got so intense that the only way to shut me up was to have the executive chef come out and give me the recipe (true story), which I will guard until my death. (ahem) So for starters, our table split the: - Crab cakes: Very fresh, good sauce, delicious - Tater tots: Interesting take..made a boring dish above average - Onion rings: Just tasted like a good onion ring..nothing special - Fried green tomatoes - delicious, but just tasted like fried, which makes anything good I think it's clear what I had for my main course. I paired it with the Oveja Negra Sauvignon Blanc..which was a nice pairing and great in its own right. But man, did I mention the pork chop? Without giving too much away, it's brined in apple cider and peppers, so it has a nice sweet/spicy thing going. I actually don't care for pork chops much but this was juicy beyond belief. I actually passed up dessert just so I didn't cheat on the aftertaste. As other reviewers have said, while the ambiance inside is great (an intimate setting with slight country feel), the restaurant itself is in a strip-mall type place, and parking was very limited the night we were there due to an event. But, given the quality of the food, I can't hold that against them. If you happen to find yourself off the beaten path in Franklin..definitely check this place out.
(5)Sam T.
This place is great. The atmosphere is great and feels comfortable like a night at home. The staff is friendly and very helpful. We had the braised short ribs and bone-in pork chops. We shared the dishes and both were wonderful. The collard greens were perfect. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for nice comfortable night out.
(5)Brian B.
Jimmy, the waiter is quite possibly the most knowledgeable waiter I've had the pleasure of meeting. His passion for the restaurant is quite evident. Each item on the menu is an enjoyment to listen to him put the ingredients together and explain why it makes the dish taste so good. Then it's especially fascinating to find out that some of the ingredients come from local producers; some of which are the beef and bacon farms that are renowned nation-wide for their product.
(5)Nicki R.
I am head over heels for this place! It is just darling and I cannot wait to go back for more! The ambiance is adorable. You feel like you're in an old (renovated of course) farmhouse where every detail has been thought of. The lunch menu and dinner menus are quite different and although I have only been for lunch, I cannot wait to go back for dinner! The menu is big and has a variety of options that have been lacking int he Cool Springs area. I am a fan of all the salad options and am making my way down the list one by one! I have had 2 different servers as well as MacK and everyone has been really great! I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this place.... just go, you'll see :)
(5)Shervondalonn B.
This was truly one of the best meals my husband and I have had in the Nashville area. The restaurant and decor are amazing. I have read others reviews who said the restaurant is located in a strip mall and actually, it is not. It is part of a multi-use or mixed-use development or community which houses both retail and residential buildings. This is NOT a strip mall. Now to the food! We started with the fried green tomatoes which were served with chow chow and a pimento cheese spread, very good. We split the wedge salad and both of us loved the avocado ranch dressing. My husband had the skillet pork chop which was moist and perfectly cooked. I had the fish special which was OUTSTANDING! It was a snapper over a corn puree and served with a tomato tart and a drizzle of strawberry yogurt. The depth of this dish was unbelievable. They also serve delicious biscuits with your meal. We ended the meal with the coconut cake which was just ok. Overall this is one of the best meals that I have had in the Nashville area. We will definitely go back. If you love great food, please try Mack & Kate's. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Jeremy E.
Would have been 5 if not for some plumbing issues. Borderline 3.5 but I so enjoyed the food and service I will round up. Food is delicious and pretty creative. Not your run of the mill grub. More on that in a sec. Went in with a large group (otherwise known as my family) on friday night. Herman was our server and I would highly recommend him if you go. He is attentive, but not imposing. Also really delivered on rec's for wine pairings and app selections. We had one of everything at the table. Nothing was even average. Some standouts: Cauliflower balls with shaved parm, shrimp and grits, shrimp and grits, shrimp and grits, Filet with hashed potatotes and a fried egg, really anything, as long as you get the shrimp and grits. Wine selection was good. My one and only complaint, and this may not bother some people, is there is a one toilet show for the men's room, and the toilet didn't flush. Without getting graphic, I was there for 2.5 hours and had close to a bottle of wine. Each successive trip got worse, and finally I had to walk next door to Sopapilla's because I couldn't take it anymore. When it's a Friday night and you are full, call an emergency plumber in to take care of business.
(4)Denise B.
I loved this restaurant. The food is divine (lobster mac & cheese) the service it friendly without being too chummy and the decor is comfortable yet so pretty. Ask for Wayne, a great server who warms up the delish coconut cake for you. I don't get the so-so reviews but they're wrong. It's a little tricky to find, (in a townhouse/office complex) but well worth the visit.
(5)Merritt G.
My husband and I had an amazing brunch here this morning. I drive by MacK and Kate's every time I take our dogs to Maggie's Bark Park in Franklin and always wanted to try it. After looking at the Yelp reviews and checking out their website we added it to our list of places to visit for brunch. My first interaction with this restaurant was via email. I sent them an email to see if the shrimp and grits are gluten free. And they are. I was impressed with how quickly the restaurant responded to my email. I read on their website that the restaurant is named after their two daughters, both of whom graduated from Alabama. I did too, so that is a bonus. Roll Tide! The decor is beautiful - a cross between country and Pottery Barn. I felt so comfortable here and it's beautiful. I love the bar area - very quaint and very charming. We were greeted immediately by the hostess who was very friendly. She sat us right away for our 11am reservation. Our server greeted us without much of a wait. He was very friendly and funny. I ordered a peach bellini to start. It was good, but next time I'll stick to a mimosa or a glass of wine. For brunch I ordered the shrimp and grits and my husband ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of grits. While we waited for our brunch to be made the server brought out two muffins made with cinnamon and chocolate. They looked awesome and smelled great. They weren't gluten free so I didn't eat them, but my husband did and said they were soft and tasty. My shrimp and grits were amazing. When my husband asked how they were I told them I felt like I should reenact the scene in When Harry Met Sally where Meg Ryan fakes the big O, except I wouldn't be faking. The dish was out of this world! In order for the dish to be gluten free they left out the andouille sausage but I didn't miss them. The sauce is a cream sauce instead of the traditional gravy made from a roux. It was very unique. I cannot say enough about this dish. It was definitely the best shrimp and grits I've had in Nashville. My only worry is that I'll never try anything else on the menu because I'll only want to order this! To wrap up brunch I asked for a latte, but they don't make them here. Our server offered to make me a caramel cappuccino, so I gladly accepted. It was great. I don't think it's actually on the menu, though. I cannot wait to go back to MacK and Kate's. We'll definitely be back for brunch, and may swing in for dinner soon.
(5)Ally A.
i had some difficulty finding this spot...its located under what appears to be nestled in some sort of condo/apartment building that is still being added onto. my gps did not like trying to locate it and it took a little searching, but it was found. my friend and i got there about half an hour before they closed, but they were still friendly and kind enough to seat us, as the dining room was half full of people finishing off their meal. we started out with the fried green tomatoes, which definitely weren't the BEST i've ever had, but were some of the more original that i've tried...i really enjoyed the addition of the pimento cheese. my friend got the lobster mac & cheese, which she really enjoyed and i took a few bites which were cheesy and lovely, but i didn't get any lobster, so i can't attest to its flavor and enjoyability. perhaps this is a testament to how little lobster is in there. i got the scallop and watermelon salad, which, in theory, sounds strange and unappetizing, but which was actually really pleasant. three seared scallops, which were actually rather salty, with some greens, purple onion, super awesome feta and watermelon with sugar toasted on top of it. i found it enjoyable. overall, this place is lovely with decent food. rather pricy for the portions, but enjoyable none the less.
(3)David G.
My companion and I went to MacK and Kate's today for brunch and it was A.W.E.S.O.M.E., and all of the letters are capitalized on purpose. Dang it people, stop reading this review now and just get over there next Sunday and have brunch. Go, seriously, get outta here... Oh, well, if it isn't Sunday while you're reading this, then I suppose you should probably read on. The service was impeccable. We had Alvy as our server and he was wonderful, in fact I highly recommend that you request his section if you travel there in the near future. Just an amazing personality for a server. MacKenzie (one of the daughters for whom the restaurant is named) was also there working the tables as a server, as a busser, and helping out at the hostess stand when the teens manning it got overwhelmed. I love that this Alabama grad can come work for mom and dad but still get her hands dirty. The decor is also delightful. They have a rustic thing going on in their with reclaimed wood forming a fence line that separates the tiny little bar from the also small but very nice and quaint dining room. Additionally, the curtains are held up with some cool looking rustic rope things that definitely look like they belong on a farm. Really, everything about the decor is just wonderful. Now, the food. It was fan-flipping-tastic. I had some grits as a side and then I had the biscuits and andouille sausage gravy as my main (even though it too is an appetizer) course. Both were absolutely delightful and highly recommended. By the way, my companion described her shrimp and grits as follows: "If this were the scene from 'When Harry Met Sally', Id' be reenacting it right now... only I wouldn't be faking." Yes, world... this place is great. Now go and enjoy already!
(5)Audrey S.
Nice lunch spot, very relaxing chic atmosphere. Upscale rustic would be my description. Would like more healthy menu options. The fish tacos were good, but the portion of actual fish was pretty meager.
(4)Jeremiah P.
This is the third time my wife and I have eaten here, and the experience has improved every time. The four stars this time are for the wonderful Mahi Mahi special with risotto and a fruit salsa, which might be the best fish dish I've ever had. The service started well but got a little too chatty for my taste. The atmosphere is nice and quiet, which I like. Overall, the food here is headed in an impressive direction. Consistent, attentive, but unobtrusive service is the area they could most improve.
(4)Kelly T.
We went for our 2nd anniversary dinner so we weren't in a hurry, good thing. I think it took close to to 2 hours from seating to leaving. The food was good but but kind of unremarkable. My pork chop was overcooked even after specifically asking to make sure it wouldn't be. My wife had the fish special and she liked it but again it just wasn't something real memorable. The one thing that did stand out were the collard greens...quite sweet but probably the best part of my dish. I doubt we will return unless its to try brunch.
(3)Lane B.
Seriously wonderful food. The specials were amazing. And I'm incredibly impressed that the restaurant uses vegetables from one of the server's private garden. She yields some wonderful veggies that we got to enjoy in our dishes. Two of us had the fish specials - trigger cheeks was one, and the other was grouper. Both were amazing. The trigger cheeks dish was somewhat small, but our fabulous waiter told us before hand. The others in our party ordered off the menu - one had an amazing looking pork chop and the other had the bouillabaisse ... and both were very complementary of their choices. The interior of the restaurant is decorated in such a warm and wonderful way. Very impressive. If I had to find anything that I would improve - it would be the wine list. They had a somewhat limited selection. I would have liked more options. We will go back again the next time we are in Nashville. Simply wonderful!
(5)M F.
By far the best food in this neck of the woods. Have eaten here a couple of times. But the reason I'm recommending this restaurant is because the employees are honest. Last week I stopped in for dinner. I did not read the charge correctly on the bill ($54) and signed my credit card receipt for $64. (I left a cash tip). I did not realize my mistake until the next day. However, when i checked my credit card website, the server had charged in the CORRECT amount of $54. He could have charged the extra $10 and gotten away with it because that is how I signed the bill, but he didn't. That's what I call integrity.
(4)Bonnie C.
Let's just get this out of the way - the decor is amazing here. If I could afford to hire the person who designed this place to design my house, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm not sure some of the decor is very practical, but the place looks so impressive and is beautifully done. You will forget you are in a strip-mall restaurant. This place is classy. The prices are expensive, but that's what this place is... an expensive little spot that will be perfect for special occasions. The prices for lunch are reasonable, but still higher than most places. You just have to watch what you order. My service was exceptional, friendly and spot on. I truly was impressed with my server. However, I sat at the bar, and the other servers were constantly preparing their drinks, adding up their tickets and stuff right where I was sitting... I felt like I was invading their work space. Which makes me wonder a couple of things about this place - why do they serve soft drinks from a can and why do they manually have to add up their tickets using calculators spread across the bar. It seem really odd for such a nice establishment. Their time could definitely be spent better. My food was great. Though I only ordered a cheeseburger and fries it was exceptional, presented well, garnished well and tasted amazing. It was a solid piece of meat flavored with care. When I have special occasions or need a good place for a business lunch or I want to impress someone from out of town, this will be the place. Did I mention how awesome this place looked?
(4)Wayne H.
Grilled salmon was awesome. The little biscuits were tasty as well.
(5)Dwight K.
Great food, great atmosphere, great bar tenders! Our "go to" on Friday nights. Sit at the bar and watch the mixologist do his thing. Spend as little (great burger) or as much (good steaks) as you'd like. Southern inspired dishes with a twist!
(4)Riley H.
SO good & such a cute little spot! The service was outstanding- we loved our very kind gentleman of a server. We enjoyed the fruit iced tea, house salad, tomato basil soup, shrimp & grits, and coconut cake & peanut butter pie! I had the soup & salad and my husband had the shrimp & grits. He loved it! The shrimp was made perfectly & the grits (with 5 cheese) were amazing... For dessert, I ordered the coconut cake & loved it. It was a very homemade looking Cake. Fit perfectly with the type of restaurant this was- (which was very shabby chic with southern charm.) . So don't expect a huge bakery slice...its a humble pan cake with whipped cream on top. My husband loved the peanut butter pie- whipped & light. We left spending $40 (not including tip) and thought it was a wonderful night. I would definitely buy the shrimp & grits again. The coconut cake was smaller than I expected, so next time I would try another dessert. But I still enjoyed it!
(5)Bridget O.
Went after church with a group to enjoy Sunday brunch. They were very accommodating of our large group. I've been several times and have always had good experiences. I ordered the fried chicken. Chicken was perfection, crispy and flavorful while still being juicy and not dried out. The only issue I had with my food was they were out of mashed potatoes so they substituted the hashbrown casserole. I was not a fan of the casserole. Our server was a little overbearing/obnoxious leaving our eyes rolling with his attempts to joke with our mixed group. But overall, it was wonderful and we will definitely go back. If nothing more, than for the amazing shrimp & grits with a crab cake!
(4)Joy S.
From the first time I stepped inside this lovely establishment, I wanted to love it. My husband, however, did not. His basis for judgement is always based on food. He cares little for ambience or atmosphere (both of which Mack & Kate's nailed). As for the food, I was let down three times, and so my yearning to love this place has come to an end. Some of the things we've tried: Fried green tomatoes: had much better elsewhere (and much cheaper) Pear salad: bruised pears, wilted lettuce, way overpriced Champagne vinagrette: sounded amazing; weird aftertaste Lobster Mac: TOTAL LET DOWN; bland, not enough lobster Fish tacos: Local Taco and Chuy's are better Grouper: husband got a bad piece of fishy fish
(2)Chef X.
I knew when I saw all those 5 star reviews I was going to be disappointed, and you did not disappoint. The service was good but the food is just not that great. Spelling errors, chipped dishes, salad mix right out of the bag (it is spring, right?), frozen lobster & questionable mussels in the $30 fish stew. Zero local or even regional produce/product. I'd be willing to bet that there's no Champagne in the Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette, either. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
(3)Giggy P.
The food is terrible. The options are scarce. The ambiance is nice and the servers are nice (although not in any hurry) but other than that it was a big FAIL. Host was not nice at all. Acted like he was upset to have patrons. I don't eat fried food or mayonnaise and the side options were a mayonnaise broccoli salad or fries....really! Nothing else! The fish tacos were cold and the tortilla was stale. The fish tasted a little bit like jerky or frozen from a box. Yuck. The lobster ravioli was so rich and salty that it was hard to taste. The texture was - like fish phlegm. Toast was black burnt not even toasted - just burnt. Server offered to re-toast but it was so late in the meal that we were ready to go. She was nice but not very attentive. Gratuity was added so I guess she knew she was already getting 20% - yep parties of 5 or more pay 20% so no incentive to make sure you're happy - drinks full and food edible. I won't return.
(1)Sasser M.
My wife and I decided to try lunch on Sunday at this well reviews restaurant. Unfortunately the comments didn't match the service or food quality that we experienced during that visit. To be honest we did get a new waitress. The management had apparently assigned her a large number of tables and her inexperience with the menu and restaurant protocols showed. She didn't know anything about the dishes they served and couldn't answer any questions. Tables who arrived later than us received their food well before us and the other customers she served. My water glass ran empty twice. You are served muffins while you wait to order. Ours were hockey pucks. We did ask for a second set of muffins while we waited on the food. These were tender and delectable. I'd advise you to do the same if you initially receive hockey pucks. I ordered the Lobster BLT wrap with fries. I didn't find any bacon in the wrap at all and to be honest it tasted like some fish tacos that I've have eaten before. The fries tasted good but only about two-thirds of these were edible as the rest were burned. My wife's dish, I forget the name, some similar to a quiche. It had obviously been pre-cooked and then cooked again. It was very hard in a way that eggs aren't normally. The promised andouille sausage in the dish was revealed to be three very tiny pieces. So the dish amounted to several eggs with seasoning. The breakfast potatoes although seasoned well were undercooked. When our dishes arrived I asked for ketchup for my fries. The kitchen fellow gave me the tiniest dollop of ketchup I have ever received in a restaurant. When I asked him "is this it?" He spun on his heels saying yes and left quickly before I could ask for more.
(2)Kim C.
Sunday brunch rocks!! I have a 16 month old little girl who is not always easy to take out to eat but Mack and Kate's brunch is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears. My husband would recommend the crab cakes eggs benedict. I will recommend the french toast. My little girl loves the muffins- she eats two whole muffins herself! Experience Mack and Kate's for yourself- you will love it!!
(5)Tim G.
We went for Dinner. Great service. Excellent food. Would highly recommend.
(5)Tim S.
My wife and I just ate here and had some of the best food we have ever had. Seriously amazing food!
(4)Linda A.
Hubby and I went to Mack & Kate's with another couple to celebrate my birthday this weekend. We had a great evening and the only thing that keeps me from giving 5 stars is that the food wasn't stand-out amazing. It was very good, but not so much that we'll be talking about the food for days. However, the evening as a whole was great. Our server was friendly, fun and very informative. She made some good suggestions that we all enjoyed. Like I said, the food was very good. We all wanted to try the lobster mac&cheese but didn't want an entire entree so we ordered one serving to share between the four of us. It was good, but not something I'd want to have for my entire dinner. Two of us had shrimp & grits...very good. My husband had the pork chop and gave his collards to me (whatta guy)...they were SO good...I could have eaten a giant bowl of collards. The cocktails were fun and the appetizer of cauliflower tots was very tasty. Dessert was just OK. Nothing to write home about. We'd defintely go back to Mack & Kate's for dinner and I'd like to try brunch.
(4)Terry C.
M&K's has exceptional food beautifully presented. After our third visit we have made our way through all their specialties and they are all special! One issue: They have gotten so popular and busy that the service is suffering. Took forever (15 or 20 minutes) just to get a cocktail! Getting the second was worse. Had to ask other waiters to find our waiter several times to get silverware and bread that had been forgotten. Once this issue is solved it M&K's will be on our list of "FAVES"!
(4)Cathy S.
Every once in a while, when living in the South, a little Southern cooking is what life is all about. Sometimes, in life, you just need a plate of comfort. Warm Southern comfort and Southern comfort food is what Mack & Kate's is all about. This cozy little restaurant in Franklin offers a diner the charm of Grandma's house with Grandma's Southern cooking all blended up with style. Try a fancy starter cocktail, a little Peach Bellini, a Strawberry Mimosa or just a glass of Merlot to get your lovely meal off to a glowing start. Add an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes or Cauliflower Tots. My lunch favorite is the Cubanesque sandwich, a warm, gooey, sloppy, crunchy blend of ham, pork, cheese and pickles. Ask for an extra napkin. I promise you will need one. Daily specials, crunchy salads and food made fresh daily makes the menu adaptive to any special diet. For dinner a steaming bowl of Bouillabaise is a bowl of comfort laced up with Pernod. The sweet delightful desserts bring a happy ending to it all. Try the caramel pie. Grandma never baked it so well. Warm, friendly service is offered with a down home smile. Located near Franklin, Tennessee wander in for lunch and then head into town for a shopping expedition. Or just sit down and relax. Mack & Kate's is a place where you will want to stay for a while!
(5)Renee C.
I went on a Sunday at 1:00. They had a lovely brunch menu available. I chose the crab cake and shrimp and grits, my daughter had the crab cake eggs Benedict, and my son in law chose the fried chicken special. All were stellar. This place knows their seafood and it is fresh!! Apparently they have folks go to Destin Fl and bring it back right off the boat and it makes all the difference. The dining area is not huge so make reservations to be safe. The waiter, Jay, was pleasant and knowledgable. Save room for desert because it is amazing....
(4)TNPhoto T.
Mack & Kate's is usually a high quality, modestly expensive restaurant ideally suited when you want a savory, well prepared meal. With this in mind, we made reservations for Thanksgiving. Everything we appreciated in their normal fare was absent in their Thanksgiving meals. Their normal menu was absent and guests were offered a choice between turkey or ham. The meal started with a very mediocre fruit salad on bib lettuce - not worth making a plate dirty. The main course contained everything you might want in a turkey dinner but, unfortunately, the food was served cold (in fairness, at room temperature). The kitchen obviously had removed ALL the side dishes from the oven far, far too early and placed them, at room temperature, on the counter to facilitate easy serving. This included: mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, mac & cheese and (yes) the turkey. The food I was served was so cold I sent my dish back to the kitchen to warm up. I got back a new plate with food just as cold. My wife was also disappointed that the turkey dinner had no gravy. Since much of her turkey was overcooked, gravy would have helped save the dinner but, alas, no gravy. Imagine green bean casserole cooled to the point that the flour had turned the dish into a floury mush - very disappointing. All this came with a price tag of $30/plate without drinks. Also, my wife believed that much of the food was not prepared at the restaurant - she felt that the quality of the food served was at the level of a Publix prepared meal. Too bad - we won't be going back for a holiday meal anytime soon.
(2)Jennifer J.
So I see mixed reviews here, and I am going to mix it up some more. I have heard really good things about this place so I decided to try it out, on a Wednesday Night. I say this because after re-reading the reviews, I noticed that most were for Sunday Brunch and the rest seemed to be for lunch. Dinner, not so great. Service not so great. It wasn't busy which means you get an over attentive waitstaff or a non-attentive one. I received the latter. Also I wasn't thrilled with my meal, but I am not going to ruin it for others. I have decided to try it out for Sunday Brunch and then update my review to be fair to the owners. But for now, Dinner doesn't seem to be their most impressive meal.
(3)Tupper C.
Simply outstanding. In a town dependent on chain restaurants, mack and Kate's is a warm and inviting place. Food and atmosphere are great but the staff is as good as it gets and I'm a NY snob :) We had brunch that was far better than what you will find in the best of NYC. Visit this place... you won't be disappointed.
(5)Exquisite C.
We had dinner during the week and it was fantastic. We returned with friends on a weekend and it was a completly different experience.
(2)Matthew M.
At the end of December we had a 50th anniversary party for my parents at Mack and Kate's. I worked with Jill to prearrange everything for the party. She setup all our requests without question. She created a paired down menu for us and printed special menus with My parents names. She setup having an anniversary cake after dinner. She also allowed us to come in earlier in the day and decorate. Wayne was our server that night and he was great. He was very knowledgeable of all the wines and worked with us to bring things out at certain times. The food was awesome as always. Everything was great and it all made for a special night for my parents. Thanks to everyone who helped us! I highly recommend Make and Kate's!
(5)Sasha T.
Upgrading to 4 stars. Had lunch here again and the food and service is outstanding. It gets busy at lunch time and the restaurant is small so expect a bit of a wait. I still haven't made it out here for dinner yet but it's at the top of my list!
(4)Michelle P.
Had lunch with my husband.. I had the special fish with coconut risotto pineapple topped with watermelon basil salsa... Heaven!! My wonderful husband had lobster blt wrap.. He loved it!!! We found it pricey but nice for a special occasion $40.00 no app and ice tea...
(4)Ginger B.
We have been here 6 times since they opened and it is one of our favorites. The waiter Alvy is a treasure, although others have been great, too. Also great is that they take reservations, unlike many other local places, and you will need one because so many other people have fallen in love with it, too. This family also owns "Macke's" in Green Hills, also wonderful.
(5)J T.
Last year (this review is a bit past due but the experience is still bugging me), my company took the entire restaurant for its annual holiday party. The evening was wonderful (in retrospect, perhaps, because people with close financial interests were present). Off of that experience, my spouse and I decided to bring our best couple-friends here to celebrate a special event together. Sadly, the night was a disaster. After waiting nearly 90 minutes past our reservation time we were finally seated, only to be summarily ignored by our waitress (family member with haughty attitude) for the rest of the evening. Service was slow, unattentive and all-around terrible. The (almost) final straw...when we asked to see a dessert menu (now 3 1/2 hours past our reservation time), we were told that the ktichen was closing and we'd have to clear out. Okay, fine, we were ready to leave this place anyway. However, we were left with one last good-bye present that we would only learn about when our credit card statements arrived. When splitting the check, our waitress charged the full tab to both couples (even after presenting receipts for half each). When we each contacted the restaurant, they did in fact correct the problem, but wow, what an experience...one that I'll never repeat. At least not there.
(1)Anne M.
Yay! A great restaurant in the Cool Springs area! We had a 7:45pm reservation on Sat night but the place was packed so we weren't seated until 8pm. The staff was very friendly and apologetic for our wait. I was excited to see that many people happily eating at a non-chain restaurant. My fiance and I split the crab cake appetizer which was 99.9% crab meat and wonderful. I had the shrimp & grits for my main entree and he had the steak. My dish was perfect and the 5 or 6 shrimp were jumbo. My fiance said he would love to go back to MacK & Kates and try a different entree... his wasn't a "wow" but it was decent. We ended the night with one piece of SINFUL peanut butter pie! So good! I can't wait to go back.
(4)Maude R.
I'm still steaming over our horrible experience at this place. People, don't waste your money. Seriously.
(1)J W.
Absolutely wonderful. The food is the best I've had in Nashville. It is fresh and cooked perfectly. The menu items have a unique twist, without being unedibly decorative. Our group got crab cakes, crawfish bisque, prawns with proscuitto and fillet, plus dessert. The crab cakes were phenomenal and the fillet is the second best that I've ever had in my life. Yes, you have to drive out into the country - but it's worth it. In the summer, go to the bar next door. Amazing muscians make suprise appearances all the time.
(5)katie h.
A little pricey, especially if you order wine. Our table of seven had a bill of $543 (not including tip). So at almost $75 per person, an expensive night out. We enjoyed almost everything from the menu... recommended: mushroom crock with crusty bread at $12 it's an appetizer that is fantastic. Daily special of Grouper. Just OK - scallops. Not good - meatloaf. Lobster and macaroni and cheese the best dish in the house, in my opinion, just OK...couldn't tell if it was fresh lobster tail. Definitely would go back for wine and the mushroom crock appetizer.
(3)chuck b.
Solid service, excellent quiche and fruit was very fresh and served in the perfect portion size.
(4)Rs B.
Had dinner last night with 3 friends. Waitress was slow to take our orders; slow to refill drinks/water glasses. I ordered coffee with cream and sugar, which arrived while in the ladies room. No sugar. The waitress didn't bring any because she didn't know what I wanted (HELLO - cream and sugar!) My coffee cooled while waiting another 10 minutes for the sugar to arrive. Waitress never asked if we were separate checks; she brought the bill and said it would be another 10 minutes if she had to separate out the orders (we had already been there well over two hours, all of us had our credit cards on the table for 20 minutes before she brough the bill). She said we could just split the bill 4 ways and it "usually equals out". Since we were all good friends and needing to leave, we just accepted this just to get out of there. Customer Service gets only 1 star. The food? Mediocre. "Homemade" desserts - we sampled 3 cakes. The waitress told me "fudge pie and ice cream". Umm, it was CAKE, not pie. And not even good cake, at that - Very little chocolate/fudge taste, overpowered by flour. Fried green tomatoes- good, but not great. Onion rings were super greasy; good but not great. Shrimp and grits ("one of their specialties") - good, but nothing to write home about - probably wouldn't order them again. In fact, not sure I'd go back after the rude waitress experience and lackluster food.
(2)Bill P.
This was my first visit and we'll for sure be back. Being a Saturday night, we went ahead and made reservations. Our table was ready when we arrived. I went with the Grilled Salmon. It was very light and well flavored. The chairs are not comfortable and the price for two to eat no drinks with tip adds up to $75-$80.
(4)Marion J.
The fried green tomato appetizer was by far the highlight of my visit. The homemade pimento spread was tasty and quite surprisingly a hit! I was tempted to leave after the appetizer so that I could savor the moment but I wasn't full so I thought I'd order another dish. Being the seafood lover that I am, I decided to go for the crab cake benedict. I made a mistake as it was a major disappointment. The poached eggs were ok. The crab cake patties... I can't describe what they taste like, inflated with water... less crab... not tasty at all. The skillet potatoes were not appealing. The fruit bowl was a fruit bowl. I'm rating 2 stars for the fried green tomatoes and polite server.
(2)Miranda P.
Wow this place is amazing!! Was next store and popped over for lunch and I can not say enough great things. J who works there is attentive, funny and really is wonderful. And my food came out in nearly 3 minutes, and is so fresh. The cobb is sooo good. I got the southern Cobb and I will be back with no doubt. It is incredibly unique.
(5)Patrick P.
The waiter was one of the best! So knowledgeable and helpful. Vegetarian and gluten free options except for desert. Fun specialty drinks, easy parking, easy reservation, window shopped before dinner. Will be back!
(5)Maggie M.
The fried green tomato appetizer was okay, the homemade pimento spread was tasty but not quite sure it is homemade. I feel like I have tasted something similar to a grocery store brand. Crab-cake benedict, disappointing crab cakes didn't taste like crab or anything for that matter, potatoes kind of blah. Alcohol not top shelf and kind of pricey for the quality of food. Cute place service okay not great. Expected a little bit more not sure I will be back, too many other places to try.
(2)Lin G.
There's this sense of being in some sort of classy environment like an art auction or a wealthy alumni donor function when you walk in the door as you're immediately surrounded by older, (50-plus), well-dressed, wealthy looking white people. My friends and I charge in, obviously out of place but not self-conscious, though I did keep the profanity on pause and tugged down my shorts a little further to ensure full coverage of both butt cheeks. Those moves obviously paid off as we were welcomed warmly by the staff. EXQUISITE decor. It's like something out of a page in Town and Country or Southern Living. Framed black and white photos of Paris from odd angles litter the wall, built in bookshelves gives it that living room edge. Fresh mini muffins with jam arrived at our table and were quickly shoved into our eager mouths within seconds. YUM! I swallow mine in one gulp almost like a Tylenol. I want more! Looked around for more but there were none. Just one tiny muffin per person and it's like going to visit at your parents' friend's house when you were a kid: you suspect there might be more treats but knew better than to ask lest your mom gives you that stern look that says I'ma slap you later... sob* Soon the food came. I got the cheeseburger. A solid choice with a fried egg in it. The egg was not too runny and the burger was satisfying and tasty. My friend raved about her french toast and her husband seemed pleased with his steak and eggs. Definitely check this place out. Just try to behave yourselves and don't wear anything too slutty.
(4)Lindsay Z.
Came here for dinner on my birthday after reading the review on Yelp. The environment is nice, but the service is super slow, we didn't even have our own server, the bartender was serving us the whole time, he didn't take our entree order until we almost finished our appetites. Food was so so. I ordered a crab and avocado salad (2014 Winner Best Salad). It's such a small plate, I had more bites of bitter grapefruit than crab meat and avocado. Totally over priced $18 appetizer salad! We also ordered Steak and Biscuits for $19, it came with 4 tiny bite size biscuits, each has a small slice of steak, the rest is all fries! It's literally a kid's meal! Very disappointed at the price we paid for the amount of the food on the plate. Won't be back.
(1)Ron M.
Service- was just OK. Was not very busy and waiter was missing several times Atmosphere- pleasant upscale southern motif Food- food was good but really highly priced for what you get! $18 appetizer salad! Way too high.
(3)Aisha M.
Visited here for the first time. Everything I tasted I enjoyed. I started with the house salad. It was very tasty featuring feta, dried cranberries and a tasty house made vinaigrette. I followed up with the Shrimp and Grits. Solidly the best Shrimp and Grits I have had in TN. My friend had the filet. It was perfectly prepared and the portion sizes were good. We dined at the bar and had a great overall dining experience. I imagine it would be even better at a table on a date.
(5)Judith E.
We were graciously greeted upon arriving and quickly seated even though we did not have a reservation. Love the intimate bar area and decor was gorg. Now, on to the best part - drinks and food. I had the St. Germain, great way to end a crap day. We ordered the deviled Eggs as a starter - these ain't grandmas, they're better!!! Generous sized portions and superb service make this a winner! Will be back again and again.
(5)Stephanie C.
Loved... no LOVED our dinner. It's the first time in more than a year that I haven't been disappointed in at least some portion of my meal in a Nashville restaurant. My husband and I went and it was flawless. We started with the fried green tomatoes which were impeccable. He loved his shrimp and grits, and I loved the short ribs. We shared and amazing derby pie. Everything was prompt, and perfect. This place is the real deal.
(5)Barbara W.
This place is overrated. From the uncomfortable chairs and table to the over priced mediocre food. Slow service. First time I thought we caught it on a bad night. Second time just as bad. Won't be back.
(1)Anita A.
This place is my happiest place. The shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, crab and avacado salad, fried chicken and even the meatloaf is awesome! !!
(5)Sonja E.
I went in for lunch with a friend on her recommendation. The hostess/server was very friendly & knowledgeable of the menu. We ordered the fish tacos. I hate to say the tastiest item on the plate was the avacado sauce. I am not in to jumbo size meals at all, especially on a very hot day for lunch, but I will say the fish in the 2 "very small" tacos could not have equaled any more than 2.5 ounces at best. The homeade chips that came with were very thin, greasy and tasteless. The pico was as well. I left the restaurant wishing we had made a different choice. I may go back, but I will not be ordering the fish tacos!
(2)Thad A.
With a friend on Tuesday, we are always anxious to try spots 'new to us'. I travel to the area frequently on business, and we eat out in Franklin and Brentwood a lot. Tonight, it was Mack and Katies. No reservations, we were quickly seated. Studying the menu, we opted for house salads, the dressing was the bomb! 2 appetizers, fried green tomatoes, the best I ever had, and the crab cakes which were very unremarkable. For the entree, we had Lobster Mac and Cheese. It was very runny, and the lobster was almost unnoticeable. Very disappointing. Overall, ambience was fine, though our table was directly in line with the door, and on a cold night, very breezy. I am glad we had the tomatoes and house salads, but to me if the house salad is the best thing you had for dinner in a pricey, upscale restaurant, its a fail. This is likely a spot of no return for us.
(2)Clay A.
Great food and service! Fried green tomato appetizer as well as the shrimp and grits were both tasty. They had our main entrees out quickly
(5)Ed P.
Made reservations for 7:30. Upon arrival I was welcomed warmly and seated within a few minutes. Our server was Alex. She explained the specials and brought our beverages quickly. She was very attentive and I would highly recommend her if you decide to dine at Mack and Kate's Ordered the shrimp bombs for an appetizer. The shrimp were good sized and stuffed with an ample amount of crab meat. The BBQ sauce was a vinegar based sauce and had an excellent flavor. The only knock on the meal was that the shrimp were slightly over cooked. My thinking was this may have been done to "set" the bacon wrap to hold the crab meat in but still, they were cooked a little too much. Had the steak and biscuits for the entree. If you are expecting a 20 oz steak then this is not the entree to order. I didn't want a huge entree so this was perfect for me. The steak was very tender and the biscuits were cooked to perfection. Believe it or not the fries where the highlight of the dish. They were just barely crispy outside and the prefect texture inside. They were flavored with truffle oil that went very with the starch of the potatoes. The atmosphere was quaint and very comfortable. If you are in Franklin and want a nice meal I would recommend a stop at Mack and Kate's
(4)John H.
Man I dunno what those other reviews were talking about this restaurant was wonderful Jesus Christ you critical yelp people angry at the world get it together. Anyways I had the fried green tomatoes, salmon, and caramel pie with a cappuccino. Everything was very good. The fried green tomatoes were delicious, the salmon was cooked to perfection and the extra froo froo stuff complemented it really well. But if nothing else if you do decide to come ask to get Herman as a waiter he was great, one of the best I've had.
(5)Maridel S.
We enjoyed eating here while visiting the area. The menu had a nice variety of options. We had shrimp and grits (which were delicious, but the portion was too large to finish) and Dominican pork roast (very good). We also shared a piece of Derby Pie with ice cream that was wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive. Nice eating experience.
(4)Sejal M.
This is one of our fav restaurants. We always get great service and food here. Romantic, and priced on point. I do think the chairs and tables could be a little more comfortable, but hey-small issue.
(5)Meredith R.
This is such a cute spot. Lunch is amazing. They have a delicious chicken salad sandwich. I also love their wraps. If you are there on a day when they have coconut cake, do not pass that up. So so so good!
(5)Jodie M.
We have eaten here twice and both times were very good. The service was fantastic both times. It is certainly on the high end of the dinner budget but the food is delicious and well thought out. I would go for dinner instead of lunch so you get the best bang for your buck and stay away from the $10 mimosas or bloody mary's. For dinner we had the Mushroom crock (divine!) the scallops with the cherry gastrique (so so good) and the meatloaf (delicious). We also had the coconut cake (good but my granny's is better). If you have a chance to go you should.
(4)Will H.
We made the drive down to Franklin tonight with another couple to eat at Mack and Kate's. My partner and I had had two lovely experiences at M, their sister restaurant in Nashville, and we had heard good things about Mack and Kate's Southern-inspired menu. Based on our one visit, the food alone would earn at least three stars, but the zero-star service lowers the average considerably. We ordered a round of appetizers; the deviled eggs and the cauliflower tots were tasty, but the fried green tomatoes came with oddly flavored toppings. Entrees were a mixed bag; our friends spoke highly of the steak and biscuits and the bouillabaisse, but my partner's lobster mac and cheese contains small chunks of lobster that were dry and tough. I ordered the angel hair pasta, substituting the salmon for the chicken at the server's recommendation; the salmon was acceptable, nothing special, but the pasta itself was suffused in a sauce that brought out the bitterness of the asparagus. The tastiest thing all night was the dessert we passed up; our friends' coconut cake was delightful, while our flourless chocolate torte was mediocre. The real problem with the evening was the service. Our server had a terrible habit of standing in one place to distribute things to the four of us; this led to a lot of awkward reaching, and over the course of the evening each of us had a menu, glass, or plate directly in our face. When we did get a visit from the server, empty water glasses and empty cocktails were equally ignored. My partner's glass of wine arrived well into his entree. Finally, when I gave up the effort at eating my pasta and answered the server's question honestly ("The salmon was okay, but the pasta itself wasn't good") I got a laugh and an offer of a free dessert. At meal's end, the dessert wasn't free, but by then we weren't even surprised. After some terrific times at their sister restaurant, our negative experience here was quite an unpleasant surprise. Though the food was acceptable, the drive to Franklin and the poor quality of service mean we won't be back.
(2)Lucy W.
Super cute server! Thanks for your recommendations...the Saint specialty cocktail was very refreshing, the salmon was great and the chocolate torte was heavenly. On a weeknight, I was one of the younger folks in the restaurant...and I'm not a spring chicken. A bit rustic looking decor but located in a newish looking office park type of plaza, there is valet parking even though there was plenty of parking spaces.
(4)Kristen D.
I have to say this is by far the worst place I have ever been to in this state. Never and I mean never have I ever stepped into a place and not felt welcome. Isn't that your job, you cook, I eat and pay you for it. Right off the bar the greeter seems bothered by me walking in coupled by dirty stares from never by tables. What's up with that? Is there a dress code for a place next to a furniture store? This IS a restaurant in a shopping center for God's sake! It ain't the ritz. Secondly, our waitress never told us the specials, never refilled a single glass, and we had to practically send out an APB to get her to come back to our table. It was not packed either. 6 pm on a Saturday. Our steak and biscuits were terrible. Meatloaf of with flavor. Pork chop was dry enough to start a camp fire. I would literally have served that to my 2 year old. It was like mini-mini slider but burnt and tasteless. I have never wanted to dine and dash more in my life. To wrap it up, terrible service, terrible food, terrible place. My advice, close your doors. This is a low end restaurant with a high end attitude for NO distinguishable reason.
(1)Elliott W.
We popped in without reservations for an early Saturday night dinner, and were one of just a couple of tables occupied. We started with what might be the best fried green tomatoes that we had ever eaten. The smokey flavored pimento cheese and bacon preserves on the tomatoes complemented them exceptionally well and had a unique flavor that I've not experienced elsewhere. The shrimp and grits that I had were good. Grits cooked perfectly. Creamy and comforting. The sauce had just enough kick to be interesting without overpowering. The sausage we better than the shrimp, which were large but maybe a little more al dente than I prefer. My wife's burger was truly special. Smoky, with a perfect crispy crust, complemented perfectly by the horseradish sauce and smoky cheddar. The bun also excellent, and a worthy conveyance for a quality burger. Finally, we finished off with dessert. I had the derby pie, which was the perfect combo of fudge, booze, and pecans with ice cream. Service was attentive without smothering. Courses were delivered in a timely manner with good pacing.
(4)Manny J.
From my wife who is not a yelper...she loved the ambience Good excellent Service excellent Will eat again
(4)Paula B.
The wait staff was rough around the edges and made me feel rushed, though they were attentive. The decor was cheap (flea market trunks and fake flowers, worn-out cushion on the bench with Polly-filled pillows and a wobbly table.) The food, salad and steak and biscuits, was tremendously overpriced. $19 for four mini-biscuits and wafer-thin steak??? (Salad was extra.) Also, the sangria was strong, as in made-to-order, instead of made hours ago to allow the flavors to blend. With many good restaurants in the area that offer better ambiance and price, we probably won't return.
(2)Vanessa G.
The inside is charming southern style. My friend and I both enjoyed the crab salad but it was VERY tiny especially for the price. The crab was fresh and tasty but it need to be at least double in size. I'd give it another shot and try something else.
(3)Dwayne F.
Awesome Restaurant!!! Easily missed place, but don't let that decieve you. The food was great and the service was also nice. This is not a "hurry up" kind of place and you won't want to hurry. Each bite is to be savored, so plan to stay and enjoy. Had the Shrimp and Grits and that was amazing and also had the Amberjack special with crab meat and Crawfish served over a home made spagatti with a spicy cream sauce. Oh my goodness. Blackberry cobbler for dessert and that was also amazing. So go with confidence and enjoy.
(5)Austin G.
So impressed with Mack & Kate's. My husband and I decided to take a little trip to Franklin for date night dinner, and I randomly stumbled upon Mack and Kate's online. So glad we found this little gem. Our server was fantastic and the food was amazing. We ordered the shrimp and grits and cast iron seared beef tenderloin and shared them- both so full of flavor and delicious, we ate every bite. We also shared a dessert, which was home made donuts with vanilla ice cream- also amazing. I'm sure we'll return to Mack & Kate's to try some of our server's other recommendations.
(5)Keith B.
We went for Mother's Day lunch and they were out of several appetizers. Very poor planning.... How do you run out of several things on a limited "special Mother's Day" menu? They were even out of bread to go with lunch.... Probably would not have known.... But the waiter told us....."sorry guys no bread" with a very flippant attitude. The service was really bad with a touch of rude and downright shortness! Perhaps that is because the waiter knew he had an automatic 20% gratuity added to the bill for the Mother's Day meal. I almost reduced it but decided against protesting (would have been a first time ever).....Really prefer not to ever complain about a restaurant. Food was decently tasty but really nothing special many places in Nashville can best this place (portions were extremely small) The service from the very minute we walked in was absolutely the worst. It seemed as if the waiter was put off by having to provide even simple request. No one in my group was overly demanding.... I usually only post on yelp when I have positive reviews to provide. Negative reviews can be perceived as a personal attack and not provide much value. This place was simply so full of itself and poor on value that I had to share. The place had an overall air of a terrible attitude.... Had high end pricing without the high end service and high end dining experience. For the money they charge and overall poor service provided with only moderate food we will likely not go back. Who pays $22 for simple fried chicken with mashed potatoes? One in our party ordered the $22 chicken and found it to be very average in taste (they got two very small pieces of chicken and small portions of vegetables). Actually they said they could have get much better fried chicken for an entire family at KFC for that price...... Several at our table paid $18 for their signature Crab Salad.... The salad was very good.... However the portion size was more in line with a $7-8 salad.... It almost felt as if they were trying to stretch the portions to keep from running out of food. That is the only excuse I can come up with to rationalize such a small salad for nearly $20! Picture taking a wedge salad and cutting it into a 1/4 of a salad and then serving it as a whole salad. I have no objection paying for a nice meal... Just not into paying premium money for subpar small quantities. The service was so bad that I felt the need to share with fellow Yelpers. Place was filled with a very bad attitude of arrogance. It is not the high end place they think they are. If you want a high end meal go elsewhere.
(1)R J.
Dinner here was simply excellent in every aspect. Atmosphere is pleasantly quiet, with ample table spacing to give intimacy and ability to have conversation. Food was outstanding. Loved the cauliflower tots w/ curry aioli. Shrimp 'n grits were outstanding! The andouille sausage made the dish. I don't normally do dessert- but this is the south and they had a Derby pie..... It was heavenly. Wine was very good, albeit an underpour for $10/ glass. Was NOT 4oz Service was efficient and friendly. I seemed to notice other tables had extraordinary service. Catherine, our server, was a bit aloof in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Food was just that good.
(5)Anna C.
One word can adequately sum up our experience here: disappointing. We had friends in town and wanted to try a new place, so after browsing the dinner menu on Yelp (which is not the accurate menu, I might add) we decided on Mack & Kate's. To start, our table ordered Oysters, Cauliflower Tots, and several cups of French Onion Soup. I personally ordered the soup since I happen to love a good cup of soup topped with bread and melted cheese. After receiving my soup, I quickly realized there was no cheese in my cup, just soup and a piece of bread. Our table agreed that our server had mentioned cheese when he was describing the soup before we ordered, and that no one had eaten French Onion Soup without the customary cheese on top. When he returned to check on us, we asked about the lack of cheese. He quickly apologized and said that they were very busy and the person who put together the soups must have forgotten the cheese, and that normally the soup would have cheese atop the bread, melted with a small torch. He left the room and came back with a small plate with 4 slices of cheese for us to add to our soup. Wait, what? We were expected to add a slice of cold cheese to our (by this time) lukewarm soup? There was still room for improvement with the rest of the meal, so we ate what was left of our disappointing soup and moved on to entrees. The highlight of our entrees were the Shrimp and Grits. Two people in our party ordered this dish upon recommendation and were very happy with it. I happen to eat mostly vegetarian, and our server made the recommendation of Shrimp/Chicken Pasta without the Shrimp or Chicken. I rarely have issues eating anywhere, as the chef is generally happy to prepare a dish to accommodate non meat eaters, and I'm usually very pleased with whatever I end up with. The pasta I was served here was another story. It was just plain disappointing. I had a few others try it to be sure I wasn't just being picky, and everyone agreed it simply wasn't good; the consistency and flavor were both off. We reluctantly mentioned this to our server and he apologized there weren't more meatless options on the menu, he was happy to bring me something else. I suggested the Lobster Mac, minus the Lobster, and even though he warned me it would take a bit to prepare, I went with it hoping the dish plus the wait would make up for the disappointing pasta. Everyone else had long finished their meals by the time the Mac arrived (at least we had the expectation it wouldn't arrive quickly), and it wasn't the best I've had, but it was much better than the original pasta dish. Our server let us know several times that he would only charge us half price for the Macaroni, and we were pretty surprised that we were being charged anything for my meal after all that. Several of us previously worked in the service industry, and were disappointed that this restaurant wasn't doing more to ensure an impressive experience. Simply having a manager come out to chat with us would have been a nice touch. Suggestions would have been: new soups served with melted cheese, or soups without melted cheese removed from the bill, and no charge for the late dish that replaced my lackluster pasta. Maybe the automatic gratuity assigned to our party of 6 made them think they didn't need to take better care of us? We had high hopes for Mack & Kate's before dining here. There are too many other amazing restaurants to impress out of town guests with, and we won't be back. The two stars I reluctantly gave here go to the server- at least he was apologetic and polite.
(2)