Franklin, Tennessee, now has its own slice of the European countryside thanks to Perenn Franklin, a rotisserie, bakery and all-day café from husband-and-wife team Aubrey and Tyler O’Laskey. Housed inside a restored riverside boathouse overlooking the Harpeth River, the new outpost builds on the success of the couple’s beloved Perenn locations in Reno, Nevada, this time with the South’s infamous charm thrown into the mix.
Known for their focus on sustainability and seasonality, the O’Laskeys bring a distinctive approach to casual dining rooted in simplicity, community, and craftsmanship. Perenn Franklin grinds its own flour on-site using regionally sourced grains and bakes everything in-house using traditional European techniques. Naturally leavened croissants, pastries and sourdough loaves are paired with coffee specials and loose-leaf teas, while the rotisserie menu stars whole chickens seasoned with herb de Provence and served alongside crispy schmaltz potatoes.
The restaurant’s interior, a collaboration with Anton Anger of Studio Meadow, channels quiet countryside refinement with low wooden ceilings, a hand-painted espresso machine by Darin Stockwell in Perenn’s signature dark, and art curated by Renee Evans. The space includes a mix of counter seating, upholstered booths, and riverside tables, offering 100 seats split between indoors and two outdoor patios. A place to linger and simply be, the 2,700 square foot space invites guests from morning coffee to dinner by the water.
Originally trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Tyler O’Laskey’s culinary career has included private cheffing and catering, while Aubrey oversees branding and community engagement. Since launching the first Perenn café in Reno’s Midtown in 2018, the couple has expanded their concept to include a grocery, bakery and the acclaimed Claio Rotisserie. Their move to Tennessee in 2024 marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that will include an additional venue in nearby Nashville later this summer.
With a menu grounded in quality and design that bridges old world and new, Perenn Franklin is an irresistibly quaint concept that is sure to change the flow of life in this part of town.
Perenn Bakery Franklin Photography, Stelo Creative.
