"55 South is where you go in downtown Franklin when you’re craving Gulf Coast comfort without the interstate mileage. The menu leans hard into oysters (raw or chargrilled), crunchy po’boys stuffed to the brim, buttery shrimp and grits, and a chicken, shrimp, and sausage gumbo that can fix most bad days. It’s loud in a good way—families and dates post up at the bar and coexist over frosty beers and strong whiskey-tinged Cajun mules. Plan for a wait at peak hours. That includes brunch, where you can expect spicy Bloody Marys and something fried tucked into a biscuit." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones