The Sunset Restaurant is a longtime Franklin, North Carolina, dining tradition serving Southern comfort food, country-style meals, hearty breakfasts, burgers and homemade desserts. Located on Harrison Avenue, The Sunset originally opened in 1945 and is recognized as Franklin’s oldest restaurant. In 2026, the restaurant reopened under new owners Jesse and Paige Green, who renovated and expanded the dining room while preserving the familiar, family-friendly atmosphere that has made The Sunset part of the community for generations.
The updated menu continues the restaurant’s tradition of Southern home cooking, with favorites such as fried chicken, hamburger steak, pot roast, turkey and dressing, and other country-style entrées. Guests can enjoy traditional meat-and-two plates with a choice of Southern sides, including mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, fried okra and other rotating selections.
Breakfast is another part of The Sunset experience, with classic country breakfast plates featuring eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, grits and hash browns. The menu also includes pancakes, French toast, omelets and specialty breakfast dishes such as Smoky Mountain Hash and Roscoe’s Chicken Stack, featuring fried chicken, gravy, bacon and an egg served over an open-faced biscuit.
For a casual lunch or dinner, The Sunset offers burgers, sandwiches and other American diner-style favorites. The restaurant’s menu combines familiar comfort foods with selections for guests looking for a quick meal or a relaxed family dinner.
Homemade desserts remain an important part of The Sunset’s identity. The bakery menu includes a rotating selection of pies, such as peanut butter, coconut cream, chocolate, pecan and fruit pies, along with cobblers and cakes. Whole pies and other desserts are also offered for takeout, subject to availability.
With its renovated dining room, longstanding local history and emphasis on traditional Southern cooking, The Sunset offers a casual setting for families, friends and travelers looking for a classic Franklin restaurant experience.
Whether you’re looking for Southern food in Franklin, fried chicken, country cooking, meat-and-two plates, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, burgers, homemade pies, a family-friendly restaurant or a longtime local dining establishment, The Sunset Restaurant serves traditional favorites in a newly refreshed setting.
