Culamar Seafood Rest + Rooftop Bar

We had a large group there (9 of us) and it was a very pleasant and easy experience. It was for an early dinner but the restaurant was already somewhat busy. The service was very good and were able to serve everyone at the same time. The menu is eclectic and interesting so live dangerously because it is lovely and very good, The ravioli was my favorite although everything looked amazing. The wine list is limited but has enough offerings and the drinks were excellent. Downtown Franklin is always nice and this is just on the edge of the town with ample parking and easy access.

We had the pleasure of eating at Culimar for our 35th wedding anniversary. We had reserved the chef’s table which is really more like a bar seating area. You don’t really get to watch the chefs. You do get to watch some of the sous chefs, but the chefs are a little further beyond them. I did feel like I was sitting at a bar instead of a fine dining restaurant. I’m sure they would’ve moved us if we would have asked. The staff was super nice very attentive, our water glasses never wanted for a refill. Since I don’t drink they came up with a nice espresso mocktail for me. That was very delightful. Pre-dinner. I forget what my wife had to drink, but there was no complaints. It may have been an aperol spritz, her favorite. I ordered the New York strip cooked medium. My wife ordered the trout. The New York strip came prepared like Steak Frites, so it was steak and fries. My wife’s trout looked and tasted amazing. We had a great time. The food was fantastic. The atmosphere was OK and that’s probably because we were facing the kitchen and not seated by some nice window which I highly recommend. The company was definitely the highlight of the dinner with my love, my life, and my lady by my side, every dining experience is five stars. Ya’ll and I want to give a special thank you to the all Latin/Hispanic Cook team in the kitchen. Culimar wouldn’t make it without you. Muchísimas gracias y que Dios de bendiga.

Culamar Seafood Rest + Rooftop Bar offers an exceptional dining experience that seamlessly blends exquisite cuisine with a vibrant atmosphere.  During our visit, we indulged in the salmon and the fall-off-the-bone Berkshire pork, both of which were cooked to perfection and showcased the chef’s dedication to quality and flavor. The Brussels sprouts side dish was equally impressive, offering a delightful balance of textures and tastes. Complementing our meal was a selection from their thoughtfully curated wine list, which enhanced the overall dining experience.  The ambiance at Culamar is both inviting and contemporary, with modern décor that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere suitable for any occasion. The addition of a rooftop bar provides guests with stunning views of Franklin, making it an ideal spot for enjoying a cocktail while taking in the scenery.  Service was attentive and friendly, with staff members demonstrating a genuine commitment to ensuring a memorable visit. Their knowledge of the menu and wine pairings added a personalized touch that elevated our dining experience. In summary, Culamar Seafood Rest + Rooftop Bar is a must-visit destination for those seeking high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood, complemented by an array of international artisan and fresh local ingredients. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to Franklin, this restaurant offers a dining experience that is both memorable and satisfying.

Couldn't decide on an appetizer, so we ordered 2! And then shared an entree and a desert! Well portioned! The ceviche was so fresh! The octopus carpaccio was amazing. We shared the Tortelli, and the pasta was soft, and the short rib filling was so tender. The cheese was so good, we finished every bit of it w the bread! For dessert the Pan Di Spagna was light and heavenly paired w a deep vanilla gelato. I look forward to trying out their lunch and breakfast menus!

Great to try, but unsure I'd be a regular even if I lived closer. It's quite pricey. My dinner for one was an app, entree, dessert, and one cocktail for $115. The scallops alone were $48 and nearly perfect if not for the oversalting. Fantastic staff. Every person I came in contact with whether over the phone, at the host station, or during meal was very friendly and eager to please. The oysters were superb with a wide variety of options. The sea scallops were delicious on three sides. The top with the salt was just too much. The carrot cake has definitely earned its way onto the menu with it's family recipe history. The carrot cake was by far, easily the best carrot cake I've ever had. How it could be so moist and so dense, yet not be heavy is beyond me. I was surprised to order it bit when I heard it was a family recipe, I went for it and was not disappointed. All of the food is delicious, but don't ever skip ordering the carrot cake! The staff was so kind by bringing my slice of heaven with a candle in it for my birthday. I flew down to Nashville from NY for the occasion along with NYE and they made my day!

Chef Pullara falls short on dinner, the Faroe Islands Salmon is a rather thin filet, was overcooked, and too highly seasoned with pepper. The Sea Scallops are on the small side, but are excellent, the sweet potato purée and accompaniments are excellent. The Aracini starter is intense, but full of flavor if you scoop some of tomato conserva into each bite. Service at the full bar was very friendly and prompt. The wine list is diverse. The sound in the open floor plan of the ground floor is good.

Was very excited to see this restaurant pop up in Franklin...however, will never go back! Adding receipt and hopefully blocked enough out I don't get anyone in trouble. Our server was fantastic and did tip >20% cash because they pool (and hopefully person pocketed some of it before pooling). Let's first talk about the rooftop vs downstairs...items on the downstairs menu are not available on the rooftop. When asked to make an exception, the first time management said No...begged a little harder the second time and management popped up with a song and a dance why they couldn't then after more begging says "it's not available this time of day" so couldn't make it for you even if you were on the first floor! I CALL B.S. why didn't he say that in the first place??? Otherwise I understand menus can be different for multiple reasons...food temp...etc. but to use a lie as your last play card? JS Second...receipt...WTF card processing fee? Who...what...for real? Build these costs into your food and bev costs! Martini...charging for a martini we did not order then editing with additional $3 fee? Again, ingredient usage didn't change and if anything...saved you money! Oysters were meh...a few great ones but overall they commingle them all then say here is a paper start here and go around to know which you are eating. I gave up, I am not here to play oyster map games... Shrimp cocktail...halve the shrimp and put a dollop of cocktail sauce on very dry overcooked shrimp? There wasn't even enough for both halfs and the cocktail sauce was horrible, barely any flavor and I didn't taste any horseradish at all. Atmosphere is not great. Downstairs is very bland and loud...rooftop is small and umbrella's don't even work. I love good seafood and was definitely not expecting it to be awful, unfortunately this place missed the mark in so many ways! #yolisafoodie

The food is fantastic, and our server Jordan was excellent she went above and beyond a truly remarkable experience. Thank you so much! I highly recommend you pay them a visit.

Excellent addition to the Franklin food scene. Oysters are always plentiful and delicious. We enjoy sitting at the oyster bar and watching the food get prepared. The salmon and the scallops are my favorite dishes on the menu. I would probably include the sea bass as a top choice as well, but I prefer to not debone my fish. The kale salad is also a fav. I've tried most of the menu at this point and I've never been disappointed. Still need to come back for brunch. Every dessert we've tried has also been delicious.

Right off the bat, the service was excellent. We were greeted right away and sat down immediately. Our server came just moments later to introduce himself and ask what kind of water we wanted. He came back in time for our drink order and to go over the nights specials. He made great recommendations. I went with the special of the surf and turf and it was delicious. Everything was flavorful and the perfect portion to get you full but not bursting out of your pants.

The tuna tartare is so fresh and delicious! Enough to make it a meal for one and gluten free.

Just stopped by for a drink. The service was great and the atmosphere was perfect, I got an Old Fashioned, on point! You know it's going to be good if the Ice is crystal clear and it was, check out the picture. The other drink was really Awesome as well, but I forgot the name, show the picture to the bar tender and they will know what it is! Worth It!

Chef Pullara falls short on dinner, the Faroe Islands Salmon is a rather thin filet, was overcooked, and too highly seasoned with pepper. The Sea Scallops are on the small side, but are excellent, the sweet potato purée and accompaniments are excellent. The Arancini starter is intense, but full of flavor if you scoop some of tomato conserva into each bite. Service at the full bar was very friendly and prompt. The wine list is diverse. The sound in the open floor plan of the ground floor is good.

Brunch was underwhelming. We were one of two groups in the bldg. will try again for dinner maybe...

It's a good thing Italian American chef Frank Pullara moved to our neck of the woods during the pandemic, because he's created two great restaurants. Culamar is a relatively new addition to downtown Franklin, opened in 2023 as Bestia Mare. If their new moniker sounds familiar, its sister restaurant Culaccino was opened by Pullara across the street. In fact, Culamar is literally a portmanteau of CULAccino and MARe (the Italian word for sea). But Culamar's specialty lies in Italian seafood dishes, something we've been lacking in Middle Tennessee far less common on Nashville's Italian scene. With a tremendous variety of fresh a la carte oysters, and dishes highlighting fish, lobster, crab, octopus, and clams, this is an excellent destination for seafood lovers. I found the Cioppino, one of my favorite dishes, to be on par with the best versions in San Francisco! And it's a hard dish to find in Middle Tennessee! As an artichoke lover, I wasn't crazy about the Artichoke Cianfotta side dish nor the Crema Catalana dessert, a Spanish custard akin to a crème brûlée. But I can absolutely vouch for the quality of the seafood here!

Enjoyed dinner at Culamar, Franklin, on July 9th with my family. My son ordered the Tuna Tartar as a main course. It arrived and looked uncommonly gray - the normally dark red was unmistakably gray in his case. In all fairness all three other meals were very enjoyable and appeared to be fresh. The evening following (almost exactly 24 hours after our dinner at Culamar) our son had stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and a fever. By midnight he was in the ER. This experience was repeated the following day, including the ER visit. I called the restaurant on Friday afternoon before the start of service and asked if they were aware of any issues with certain raw seafood items. I was advised that the manager was across the street (sister restaurant) and he would get back to me shortly. Unfortunately, I never heard back. Four days have passed and I was not given the courtesy of a call back. I draw attention to two items. In the reviews posted by other diners there are a number of indications that seafood was not fresh or did not seem to be stored properly. My family's incident seems to be surprisingly similar. Secondly, although it is hard to say unequivocally that our Tuna Tartar was the culprit, I find it sad that a restaurant did not even try to communicate or enquire about a guests' well-being or experience after they reach out. This seems to mirror other guest's comments where management was indifferent. Possibly guests should consider other options before frequenting a place with red flags on seafood and indifferent customer service.

We were very disappointed! We went on Saturday evening. It was hard to get a reservation so we were expecting great things. It started with our appetizer which was not fresh at all. They were mussels, half closed shells, very fishy smelling. Our main courses were just ok, but quite pricy. My pasta dish needed to have the sauce reduce. My husband's portion was too small. Then we had the carrot cake. There were great reviews for it but the cake we got, not fresh and a lot of imitation coconut. It was dry, the icing was not nice which is truly hard to not get right. We paid for the appetizer we could not eat. We had an untrained waitress. I have to assume, there was no manager on duty. I would not go, cost to experience is not a good match!

What a great surprise. Quality of food was beyond our expectation beforehand. Every single dish was delicious. I will single out "Snapper Al Cartoccio" All main dishes from "Carne e Peshe" main menu are well decorated. Having a cocktail like "Call me Ishmael" add to complete a wonderful dinner experience. On the other side what didn't set well is getting seat, despite having the reservation. What is not specifically targeted to this restaurant is rush from the moment you arrive to place a order, take your plate at the moment you put your fork on side and finally to bring a check with famous "you don't need to pay know " It's a pleasant ambience, you feel welcomed, a lot of natural light and modern look. The noise level is slightly above average. I would like to come back, because our food choices were outstanding.

Quite a full house at 6:45p on a Friday evening and a bit loud for a date night; But happy people are a good sign. Seated promptly and waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. Starting the meal experience with a very nice glass of CALX Primativo. Next up, the Stracciatella salad with lots of summer fresh veggies- looks and tastes wonderful. On to Bucksnort trout which is very tasty and beautifully plated. Can't wait to try their pastas on a return visit. Excellent dinner, service and overall ambiance...do book your reservation soon and enjoy!

So much fun to be on their rooftop bar! Great atmosphere and staff. Tim, the manager, was great in helping us with specialty drinks, and Mia, our server was equally great. Both took their time and made us feel honored. Everyone around us was having a great time. Superb view!

Awesome service. Had the risotto and it was as good as in Italy. Perfect Al dente. Loved the salad. Parking is a nightmare. All in all a great place with good stemware and great service and quality food.

2/5 stars We had high hopes for Culamar, but unfortunately, the lunch experience missed the mark. I ordered the New York strip medium rare, but it came out dry and overcooked. Even worse, it was placed directly on top of the salad, which left half of the greens warm -- not exactly the fresh contrast you want. We also tried the calamari, which was honestly the biggest letdown. Instead of tender, large rings, we were served what felt like the leftover shards -- tiny, overcooked bits that reminded me of the bottom of a popcorn bag. The staff was polite, but the food didn't live up to expectations.

Stopped by for drinks at this brand new restaurant. Unbelievable drinks exquisitely prepared by the bartender. Food menu looks good too. Will have to come back for food and more drinks.

Had brunch there on a Saturday morning! Extraordinary!! You can get lost in time in a culinary experience and on any given Saturday or Sunday I highly suggest you do!! The menu is not extensive but enough to give plenty of options and the preparations are creative and inviting!! Great wines for pairing and cocktails as well! Great place to meet up with family and friends da or just have a great daytime date!!

Outstanding food. Better than many in CA wine country. Glad we have finally found somewhere good in TN. Risotto was world class. Service was also excellent, no pointless over explaining of the food, just good advice and attentive service.

Loved everything--the scallops, the salmon, the beef carpaccio and the wine selection. Culamar is a beautiful restaurant in a very cool corner of downtown Franklin. Great service too! We will be back for the rooftop bar when the weather warms.

I went here on New Years and thought the food was great! The crab cakes are delicious, the brussel sprouts are good but have a little spice, and the salmon was perfect! You won't be disappointed here!

We ate here a few weeks ago for a friends birthday dinner and the entire group was disappointed with our food from top to bottom. The appetizers were bland (Arancini) and the pastas that we got were even worse (Agnolotti and Rigatoni). The Agnolotti was cold and bland and the Rigatoni had flat, undercooked pasta and braised short rib tasted like overcooked stew meat. Overall I was very disappointed with my experience, especially considering how much I liked Culaccino's across the street. I had high expectations for this place and maybe it was just an off night or maybe I missed the whole "Italian seafood" theme but it was extremely sub-par.

Tables are small and the food adequate. We were seated and then needed to wait for 10 minutes before we were served. With all the good options in Franklin, I am not sure how long this place will survive unless some changes are made. I did enjoy my beer.

The new rooftop is beautiful and the service is as good as ever. If you like excellent cocktails, have Dusty make you a drink to enjoy with your dinner. My favorite dishes are the pasta entrees. Also love that the kitchen is open late, and there are great live music performances as well.

Excellent Food, wine & service. Very tasty & authentic. It is more open warehouse, so not quiet & pretentious. Loved it & making reservations to go back!

First time customer and it was a great experience. Both the food, drinks and service were all 10/10. Highly recommended going if you're in DT Franklin.

Came back for a second visit tonight and it was wonderful yet again. We tried a few appetizers that we didn't have the first time around. The cauliflower soup was delicious. We also got the ceviche which was cooked, not sure if we'd get that again. Agnolotti was amazing just like last time. The linguine was also a hit with the table. The oysters were outstanding as well. For main meals we had the salmon and scallops as we had on our first visit. They were amazing yet again. We were very excited about the crème brûlée because we loved it so much on the first visit. I think they must have changed it because it didn't taste the same. It was okay but we liked it better the first time. Great service, great food, and a cool vibe. Definitely worth checking this place out.

Came here for some drinks with a friend and the service and cocktails were delicious. Our bartender was super friendly and fun. We also split the carrot cake and it was delicious!! We will definitely be back for dinner.

As an out of town visitor was looking for an early afternoon lunch before heading off to the airport. Loved the food choices, the attentiveness of the team and a very quiet ambiance at that time of day. Will definitely be visiting Culamar again on our next visit to Williamson County.

We had another delicious meal last night. I ordered the salmon and thought it was cooked perfectly, the sauce, little potatoes and sautéed spinach were very nice. While I enjoyed the salmon, I hope the "Snapper al Cartoccio" (cooked in parchment paper with veggies) comes back on the menu as it was my favorite healthy dinner choice.

We'll definitely be back! The food and service is next level. We tried the steamed muscles, linguini and the Faroe Islands Salmon. Everything was absolutely delicious. We sat at the bar top and enjoyed watching everyone in the kitchen and the attention to detail they put into every plate. For drinks we tried the fancy free and Rose, both were fantastic. We can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu!

The food is not even close to worth it for the price. My husband got the rigatoni and it did not have a lot of taste, I got the risotto and it was not worth the money. Watch out for the payment for water. We told our waitress we wanted still over sparkling without knowing that still meant it was an up charge.

The sword fish is amazing and the steak! Highly recommend eating here. Great open kitchen concept, and staff is great!

My friend and I came here upon arriving in town and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. The servers were super friendly and gave great recommendations. We had a wonderful selection of east coast oysters, homemade bread and small bites. I highly recommend the stracciatella salad - it was divine. This is a gem in the heart of Franklin and I can't recommend it enough!

Such a great addition to downtown Franklin. Do yourself a favor and try it. Ambiance 8 outta 10. Service 10 outta 10. Food TBD. Cocktails = incredible.

Hands down one of the best meals I've ever had. We ordered the cauliflower lobster soup (so great went back for it a second time during the same trip and even our picky toddler was a huge fan and downed half a bowl), salmon (how did they make it SO great?), scallops, saffron risotto and garlic spinach. Just amazing. And super cute ambiance. Highly highly recommend. Next time we're in Franklin, will be back for sure!

We dined here for the first time and loved the ambiance. The seating is a little tight but we couldn't hear our neighbors' conversations. We started with the ceviche and 3 different types of oysters. All delicious. Both very fresh and flavorful. I'm not normally a bread and butter person, but their bread is amazing and the same kind also served at their sister restaurant Culaccino across the street. They let us know that the pasta servings were small so we ordered two to share along with scallops and a side of polenta. The linguine and clams had a wonderful sauce and ravioli with crab was also very good. The scallops (3 large) were perfectly cooked and served over black rice and a celery root purée. The flavors were very complementary. Our server was very friendly, helpful and attentive, but did rush us. We were there for dinner for about 2 hours. We had the carrot cake for dinner and it was a large portion, so we took half home. It was very good as well. Would recommend. Pricey, but worth it for a nice night out in picturesque downtown Franklin.

We went to the rooftop dining which is really a bar with appetizers and dessert. There is a 3% charge added to your bill that you aren't told about - we did not see this listed on the menu, weren't told about it until we saw it added to the bill and did not see a posted sign. The rooftop dining has a very limited menu so we ordered the hummus and left. The hummus was smeared on the plate to look like a lot but was barely enough for one person. The sun was in full force - no umbrellas - so unless you are lucky enough to sit against a wall, it is hot and unpleasant. There is no view other than a surrounding wall unless you stand up and look over the wall. Three people tripped on the area rug but when we brought it to the attention of two employees they shrugged and seemed disinterest in doing anything about it. Would not return or suggest it to anyone.

I didn't find any Italian food in Franklin until this restaurant. It's not like NY italian that I grew up on but what they do, they do well Got the mussels to start. Rather have red sauce but still it had flavor and they weren't sandy. Very clean. Next was their version of linguine with white clam sauce. It's got a spicy kick but all good. Then the scallops which is mainly a seafood dish not exactly italian but it was great. Could use a 4th scallop.

Lovely meal at Bestia - fresh, innovative and seasoned perfectly! Can't wait to visit the rooftop when it warms up - great ambiance and perfect for a weeknight dinner or happy hour.

I went here with a co-worker today since we wanted to avoid the Thanksgiving company potluck food. We got there a little before noon and might have been the only people in there to start. Our server greeted us promptly, but he wasn't very warm. He actually seemed kind of annoyed by us at times. Towards the end of our meal I heard him greet new customers in a very friendly manner and then he brought the same energy right over to us. I don't know if his coffee finally kicked in or his boss said something to him, but it was weird. I got the mussels and my friend got the fish tacos. We both enjoyed our food and the bread was fresh and warm and delicious. I have no complaints on the food, but we were pretty consistently bothered by a fly. Not sure why he was even still alive since the weather turned. When I got my check, I was very dismayed to see that I was charged $9 for water. Our server had asked if I wanted sparkling or still and I replied that I would like still. Unless I'm specifically asked if I want tap water, I assume that still is not charged. It did come in a glass bottle but many places use glass bottles to serve water and leave at your table to refill your glass. I might be back because the food was good, but I'm not excited about the prospect.

We had a nice dinner here! What we appreciated the most was the service: our waitress was very attentive, as were many other staff members. It seems everyone contributes to ensuring waters are filled, if you need a drink refill, etc. They also have a very nice wine selection. We started with the cauliflower soup (good and beautiful presentation), arancini (tasty, surprisingly not fishy after all) and snapper crudo (refreshing but you've been warned the pepper packs a punch!) Hanger steak (I'm told was good) and the agnolotti (I found the sauce to be a tad fishy.) Our server recommended the carrot cake - not a huge carrot cake fan - but it was delicious! We would come back, if anything for the gracious and attentive staff.

This restaurant is darling! They have smaller plates but the food is excellent. Didn't get a chance to try the wine but the selection looks incredible. Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable about their menu. If you are wanting a seafood night, definitely go here.

Food and service are very solid. Menu is a little extreme (many selections). Totally recommend; be prepared for good but expensive dinner.

The best carrot cake isn't here. Go to J. Alexander instead. Bestia Mare was so disappointing and way overpriced. Are they serious?

My friend and I stopped in for a few drinks and appetizers. It wasn't very busy and we sat at the bar. The bar tender seemed a little flustered as he was making cocktails for another table and almost bothered we sat at the empty bar. Finally after 5-10 minutes he acknowledged us tossed some menus our way. Was pretty short when we asked questions about drinks and food. We almost left without ordering anything but decided to have a drink and an appetizer. We left shortly after as the service wasn't great and didn't feel very welcoming. Maybe he was having a bad day and I'm sure the experience in the dining room may have been different but I won't be going back for a while.

So when a new restaurant comes to Franklin everyone gets excited. Having a new place to go out for a nice dinner in lieu of going to Nashville is always preferred. It's unfortunate to report that my review for this restaurant is average. Let's break it down. Atmosphere: 3 Stars To say this place is right and loud would be an understatement. Don't go here if you want an intimate and romantic spot. On the contrary. It's got too many hard services making it extremely loud. We were sat at a table for two along the window and found ourselves to be about 18 inches from a table in each side of us. They simply have too many tables in this space. I get wanting to max a restaurants revenue but this is a little much. Service 3.5 Stars Our waiter started out strong but as the dinner went along he became more distant. I think this occurred because my wife ordered a wine for her dinner and she did not receive it until she was half way through her dinner. She let him know and he seemed annoyed. Food came out with good timing. Food 3.5 Stars I had the trout and my wife had the skirt steak. We both felt the portions were good and the sides that came with both meals were balanced. My trout was cooked well and had flavor. It seemed to have a mish mash of things in the plate that made it cluttered. The steak was very well cooked and potatoes flavorful. Value 3 Stars Our meal was $165 without a tip. We had two drinks, one wine, a salad, and two entrees. I felt this was somewhere pricey. Overall it was decent. Slightly above average. However, I think they cork and cow, or red pony are far better.

Great service and good cocktails but the food is abysmal. Sadly to say when it comes to Italian it's all about simplicity My vongole had Parmesan cheese, the ravioli with crab was inedible and manager had to take off menu The red flag ...... I was thinking of getting risotto but I know it takes 20 minutes plus ... she tells me oh now we have that out in a few minutes. It was bland, gummy and just poorly done. The cioppino was dry and also not good. We were offered desserts, took food off the bill but until they simplify we cannot recommend. Could not say one dish was edible The artichoke appetizer could have been one of the worst artichoke dishes I have ever had. Artichokes are easy and they just over complicated the enter dish. Literally tasted like a steamed Irish dish in a plate.. potatoes, with liquid.. just awful Once again good service but food was just awful

Emily was great. She was very attentive including the others that assisted her. Nice ambiance & location is good. Prices are a bit too high. Plus paying for parking at $20 just seems a bit too much.

Culamar was amazing!!!! Highly recommend!! The waitress also told us that the food is all locally sourced. Excellent tasting food with phenomenal ambience!! Service was excellent!! I can't wait to go back :)

We had a very good meal at Culamar last week. One of our party is a native Italian living in Nashville area and he rated the restaurant as very authentic. All of our dishes were verily tasty and visually attractive. I wish the wine list had some more moderately priced offerings.