There’s a Speakeasy Hiding In Franklin’s Mellow Mushroom | Eater Nashville

"To find Franklin’s newest bar I had to walk past the crowds toward the historic Williamson County Chancery Court Clerk house and slip behind Mellow Mushroom’s patio into a back alley, where a gray electrical box hides a “Frankenstein switch”—pull it and a green light alerts staff to let you in. Inside, the space feels like a Prohibition-era speakeasy with a back lounge furnished with tables made from red boxelder trees and wooden pews from the Grand Ole Opry, a stamped tin roof, vintage mirrors from a Nashville consignment shop, framed black-and-white photos of Franklin and Nashville during Prohibition, and a large wooden island repurposed from a 200-year-old Amish barn. The cocktail program, led by bar manager Hunter Thammavongsa, features 17 twists on classic cocktails—take the Volstead (a riff on the Old-Fashioned using four different rums, rye, sherry, housemade coconut bitters, and mole bitters) or the Impassioned Sanctuary (with lemongrass, lychee, and jasmine tea), reflecting Thammavongsa’s effort to honor Southeast Asian herbs and ingredients and to introduce people to cocktails so the culture survives; he wants the drinks to be memory makers. The menu of unfussy small plates leans into comfort food—four different kinds of sliders (classic, hot chicken, beef barbecue, fried chicken and ranch), gouda mac and cheese bites, and a cheese and charcuterie board—and even features a bourbon pecan pie from neighboring Merridee’s that can only be found here and one other Nashville location. I appreciated that they offer a Locker Club membership (the $50 monthly is sold out, but a limited $300/month VIP remains) that includes a locker for up to three bottles, an Amendment XVIII app for immediate door access, reservations for up to two people three hours in advance, and free admission to monthly tastings; the bar’s later hours also help fill a gap in Downtown Franklin’s scene and bring in guests from nearby restaurants." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones