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A Mountain Drive to Caffe Rel in Franklin, North Carolina

Posted By: Gwen Fowler In: Things to Do In Oconee
Date: Sat, Jun 13th 2026 4:15 pm

A Mountain Drive to Caffe Rel in Franklin, North Carolina

Sometimes the best day trips begin with a recommendation, a pretty mountain drive, and a reason to celebrate.

We recently drove to Franklin, North Carolina, to celebrate our 19th anniversary with our friends, Kit and Brad. Henry had heard and read so many good things about Caffe Rel that we decided it was time to see for ourselves.

Front of Caffe Rel, behind the HOT SPot in Franklin nc

Caffe Rel is a French café tucked inside the Hot Spot service station in downtown Franklin at 459 East Main Street. That may sound unexpected, but once you find it, you understand why people talk about it.

We started with fresh bread and the café marinara sauce, then moved on to pan-sautéed Monterey calamari, lightly fried and full of flavor.

For lunch, Kit ordered the Charleston Shrimp and Cheesy Grits, made with Gulf shrimp sautéed with leeks, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and a splash of hot sauce, served over cheesy grits and finished with crispy bacon.

Caffe REl Charleston Shrimp and Grits

Brad ordered the Caffe Bleu Dinner, a lightly breaded chicken breast layered with ham and Swiss cheese. His meal included garlic potatoes and broccoli sautéed with peppers and onions.

Caffe Rel Bleu Chicken

Henry and I shared the Crawfish Cognac & Cream, made with Louisiana crawfish tails sautéed in butter, shallots, garlic, lobster fumé, fresh cream, and French cognac, served over bowtie pasta.

Crawfish tails and bow tie pasta

We ended our anniversary celebration with Italian Wedding Cake and Crème Brûlée for Kit and Brad. Everyone agreed the meal did not let us down.

From the Walhalla and West Union area, Franklin makes a beautiful mountain day trip. The drive is part of the experience, with curving roads, mountain scenery, and a change of pace that feels like a little getaway.

Caffe Rel is one of those places that proves good food can be found in unexpected places. It was worth the drive, worth the wait, and a wonderful way to celebrate 19 years.