While The Paper Mill in Mount Juliet serves breakfast and lunch, it has built its reputation by serving a great breakfast. They began as a breakfast and lunch only restaurant, opened for dinner for a little while, but they are back to serving just breakfast and lunch.
Begun by Adam and Brandy Yates, along with Justin Ragan, they brought in Chef Brandon Frohne to develop the menu, and Johnathan Humphrey is the chef in charge.
Frohne is known to foodie Nashvillians after having helmed the kitchen at Mason’s, and then developing the menu for Hollar and Dash for Cracker Barrel. A “Chopped” alum, he has been instrumental in creating the pop-up Wildcat BBQ, and the new Edit, a Polynesian-influenced restaurant in Hendersonville. Here, he employed both his European and Southern roots to create a creative casual style.
The modern Southern eats have a rustic aesthetic, handcrafted from scratch daily using fresh, healthy, and seasonal fare from local farmers and artisans. The menu offers everything from decadent to lighter options as the owners dreamed of opening a place where everyone feels welcome and can find something yummy to eat.
“I had heard raving reviews from several locals about this place,” said one customer. “So many offerings of fresh, delicious comfort foods.”
One favorite of everyone who tries it is the Pancake Board for Two. It offers a selection of tasty pancakes served with seasoned fruit, whipped honey butter, cheesecake dip, Nutella, strawberry jam, Funfetti sprinkles, and maple syrup.
“I got my son pancakes,” said another diner, “and they were some of the best pancakes I’ve ever tried. I was almost sad about my omelet because of how good the pancakes were. I also tried my mom’s strawberry cheesecake French toast, which was good also, but man, those pancakes were the highlight for me.”
Adam Yates suggests the Tex Mex omelet to those trying the place for the first time or the Sunrise Grit Bowl. The grits are stone ground with gouda, andouille sausage, kale, two eggs and a smoky tomato gravy.
The menu features some of Frohne’s signature dish biscuits, too. Customers gush about them. The Bacon Egg Cheese Biscuit is described by one customer as “a flavor explosion as you sink your teeth into their buttermilk biscuit…generously layered with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and fluffy scrambled eggs. Every bite was a symphony of the perfect blend of flavors.”
Lunch offers a selection of burgers and sandwiches. Their featured burger is the “Every Day I’m Trufflin.’” It is a smash burger loaded with smoked Fontina, crispy onions, mushrooms and truffle mayo.
A meat and three meal, lunch entrees allow the diner to create a plate from five different meat options and seven sides. The meatloaf with sorghum glaze is a unique twist on the comfort food standard. Specials like the Tea Brined Pork Chop topped with sweet and sour peppers and onions served with their signature rosemary garlic mashed potatoes are also available.
The Paper Mill is located in what was previously Courtney’s Restaurant in north Mt. Juliet at 4066 North Mt. Juliet Road. They are open Monday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Breakfast is served from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
