Half-Way Market

We have lived in Franklin for 25 years but just visited the Half-​Way Market last night for the first time. We took our 12 year old grandson for catfish and frog legs night. It was really good! It is just a little country store that happens to have really good food. Apparently everyone else in Franklin has known about it for a long time because it was packed. They only do the catfish fry on the first and third Friday ni

Best cheeseburger in Nashville. Love to get grilled onions on mine. The owners and crew are some of the nicest people you can meet. Don’t forget their hot roast beef sandwich, pork chop sandwich, and catfish on Friday nights.

When in the course of human events it become necessary etc, etc… or in this case, when in the course of a Tuesday mid-​day drive, one sees a rustic, rather ramshackle building sitting in the «fork» of two roads… well, you ought’a stop and check it out, especially if the sign says, «Coldest Beer in Southall» and «Live Bait.»
It was lunchtime… we were hungry… there was nuttin’ else in sight.
Nuttin’ Honey.
Then, all of a sudden
what did appear?
A little old shack
sitting smack-​dab
right here.
«Here» being south of Franklin at the «Y» intersection of Southall Road and Carter’s Creek Pike. Two cars and one dented pickup truck were parked alongside the building, helping the place appear to be ’bout as country-​casual as it gets. A small table and a couple of slatted benches filed the front porch.
The glowing red neon sign in the window said, «Open,» so in we went.
Welcome to Half-​Way Market; «Halfway from everywhere.» (That’s what the sign said.) The interior was a bit cramped. Along the left-​hand wall was a country-​store counter, home to a cash-​register, some sale signs («Don’t open bottles. Ask for more sauce.»), a menu board, and an open space where you could chat with the cook working the small, flat-​top grill. A little farther back several tables and chairs filled the cozy space, while the far back wall was home to an ice machine («Don’t put your hands in the ice cooler… use a scoop, please.») Two more coolers lined the East interior wall while the center of the room boasted a wire rack with some snack-​type items begging to be picked up and given a new home. One last table with chairs was nestled in the corner by the front door.
Food? Yes, indeed, and just what you might expect. Hand-​made Burgers, Pork Barbecue (MY Pick of the Day), Grilled Cheese, Fried Bologna (pronounced ‘baloney’), all available with a side of fried potatoes. Apparently fried potatoes are the only usual side. Perhaps I missed somethin’. Other items available: ham, turkey and souse (chopped, seasoned and pickled pork trimmings). Yes, this is country… and country good.
The grilled cheese was gooey yellow creaminess between two pieces of perfectly toasted white bread packing just the right crunch. The pork BBQ was a simple hamburger bun generously stuffed to overflowing. A hint of pepper and smidgen of smoke highlighted the tender pickins’ — all quite good, enhanced by a generous splash of BBQ sauce. Several kinds of pie, including Chess and Pecan rounded out the simple fare menu. But Wait! There’s more. Tuesdays are «fried pie» day… so we shared a Fried Peach Pie. Unfortunately it did not make our favorites list. Too little peach filling and a greasy, pan fried — not a crispy texture, deep fryer taste.
Lunch done… simply walk up to the register and tell the friendly, congenial teller what you had… no fancy bills with some added-​on gratuity, etc. Just simple, worth going back for more, quaint country cookin’. And, don’t forget… they have live bait too.

Have you ever found yourself gazing into the abyss of space and thought to yourself «is there more to life than this? Is there a greater purpose for our existence?» Well today I found the answer. The answer to life, the universe, and everything. And the answer my friends is the Halfway Market cheeseburger and fried potatoes. These burgers are lovingly hand patted everyday by the band of angels running this little slice of heaven. Every burger is grilled when you order it and let me tell you friends, they know what they are doing. The outside of the patty is cooked to a perfect char while the inside is mouthwateringly juicy. Have how you like it. With the works or with a modest slice of pepper jack and grilled onions. What’s that you say? You like bacon on your burger? And you want an extra party as well? A fried egg on top of it all? Well brace yourself because I’m about to blow your mind… are you ready… you can have it all. Halfway Market does burgers the way they are supposed to be done. And don’t even get me started on the rest of their menu. Hot sandwiches, pork chop Friday’s, and once a month (for the adventurous eater) they serve up a mean plate of fried catfish and frog legs.
In a nutshell Halfway Market is a diamond in the rough. Check it out the next time the in the area. Or even if your not, it’s worth the drive.