Just minutes from Nashville, Rutherford County is home to a dining scene filled with local flavor, creative menus, and memorable experiences. From Southern comfort food to an elevated downtown date night and cocktails inside a hidden speakeasy, these locally owned restaurants offer a delicious way to experience the community.
Start your culinary adventure at Goodness Gracious, a locally owned Murfreesboro favorite with deep roots in the community. The Ford family has been part of Murfreesboro’s restaurant scene since the 1990s, and today, Eric and Nicole Ford continue that tradition with their own take on Southern comfort food.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch, Goodness Gracious pairs familiar favorites with creative touches in a warm, inviting setting. Chef Eric Ford’s menu is inspired by the elements that make Southern cuisine special, with dishes ranging from hearty breakfast plates to specialty sandwiches, fresh salads, and comforting lunch favorites.
For a taste of the restaurant’s Southern roots, try the meatloaf, a comfort-food classic served with your choice of side, or the Chicken Puff, featuring puff pastry filled with chicken, cheese, and bacon. Don’t forget to ask about the weekly specials, which give regulars and first-time visitors alike something new to discover.
With a family story spanning generations and a menu rooted in comfort and creativity, Goodness Gracious brings a distinctly local touch to Murfreesboro’s food scene.
For an elevated night out, head downtown to Five on Black Kitchen & Spirit House. Stylish surroundings, thoughtfully crafted food, and an extensive selection of cocktails, wine and spirits set the scene for a memorable date night in the heart of Murfreesboro.
Behind the menu is co-owner Chef Mitchell Murphree, a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Murphree also spent time working under acclaimed Chef Frank Stitt at Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, Alabama, during the restaurant’s James Beard Award-winning era. Today, he brings that experience home to Murfreesboro, where he is also the owner of Five Senses and Steakhouse Five.
Make dinner the main event with dishes like slow-roasted braised short rib, miso-glazed salmon, or a hand-cut steak. Pair your entrée with a cocktail or bottle of wine and settle in for an evening that feels special without taking you away from the energy of downtown.
And if your pup is along for the adventure, there’s something on the menu for them, too. Five on Black offers a separate doggy menu in its courtyard, featuring options like a hamburger patty bowl. It’s an unexpected detail that gives this sophisticated local spot even more personality.
End your evening with one of Murfreesboro’s most distinctive locally owned
experiences: The Velvet Room Speakeasy. Owned by Daniel and Crystal Creach, this 1920s Prohibition-themed destination is hidden down a back alley in downtown Murfreesboro—and finding the entrance is part of the fun.
Step inside and the atmosphere shifts. Moody, intimate surroundings set the stage for elevated craft cocktails, an elegant wine selection and scratch-made tapas. The attention to detail extends beyond the menu, creating an experience designed to transport guests to another era.
Order a handcrafted old-fashioned, pair it with one of the kitchen’s scratch-made dishes, and settle in for a night that feels worlds away from the street outside. With its secretive entrance, sophisticated setting, and creative food and drink offerings, The Velvet Room adds an unexpected finishing touch to a culinary tour of Murfreesboro.
Ready to taste your way through Murfreesboro? Make a weekend of it and pair these dining experiences with downtown shopping, local attractions, and even more locally owned favorites throughout Rutherford County. Come hungry, stay curious, and find your next favorite local spot along the way.