Mount Juliet Reviews: The Papermill

Stoney Keeley heads out to The Papermill for a double smash burger on this edition of Mount Juliet Reviews!

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Dang, it’s really been since July of 2022 since I’ve written a Mount Juliet review? Where does the time go? You know what happened? I set a goal of 12 restaurant reviews in 2022, and I smashed that number by the summer time and thought, “eh, I guess my work here is done.” Until now, anyway! I’m back, and I’m out and about in the City Between the Lakes. This time, I’m talking about The Papermill, a restaurant that opened up in the old Courtney’s location down Mount Juliet Road last year.

From what I had heard and read on the dumb Hip Mt. Juliet pages, it sounded like a popular spot. But, it wasn’t until a close friend of mine went and told me the smash burgers were otherworldly that it really piqued my interest. When my mother went with a friend of hers and came back talking about it, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer. I had to make it a priority. So, after a hard(ish) day’s work of printing new t-shirts for the SoBros Shop on Saturday, my mother and I decided to head across town to try and get some of that smash burger action. For more on The Papermill, check out their website here.

Pics

Sausage and queso
Double smash burger topped with bacon and a fried egg, served with parmesan herb fries

Ratings

Food: 8.7/10 – I don’t know if it was just because it was cold on Saturday and I was wearing shorts because I didn’t check the weather before I left the house or what. But, a hot meal from the Papermill that included a double smash burger topped with bacon and a fried egg and some sausage and queso did something to me. It was restorative…like that big meal at the end of a long journey. I could’ve smoked a cigar and gone straight to sleep after eating that. The sausage and queso had a complex and interesting flavor – it started off with the rich, smooth, and creamy flavors of the cheese, but finished with a myriad of spice flavor and a tad bit of heat. I loved the “fluffy” chips…I don’t know what else to call them…as opposed to typical tortilla chips. The double smash burger tasted like it had been cooked in the same grease they’d been using for the last century – you know…that flavor that says “this tastes like everything that’s ever been cooked on this grill.” That’s a good thing, mind you. Succulent, savory, and juicy – I’d put it up there with Nashville’s best patties. And, the parmesan herb fries were fantastic – I love a good seasoning on my fries, but most places just load their fries up with salt. It was nice to have a bit of flavor variance that didn’t make the back of my throat burn. Well done.

Booze: 6.3/10 – I didn’t get a cocktail, so I reserve the right to change this score at any time! But, with a new bar area that had just opened, it looked like a pretty cool place to drink, and anywhere that has Shiner Bock on draft gets a plus score in my book. Solid beer list.

Value: 7.1/10 – I was shocked to see that two entrees, an appetizer, a Dr. Pepper, a Shiner Bock, and a tip came out to less than $50. I thought for sure we were about to spend $70-$80. So, to get that quality of meal (it was SO MUCH food) and that quality of service was really just icing on the cake.

Atmosphere: 7.3/10 – I really dug it. It was spacious – I hate cramped spaces. It was clean. Our service was impeccable. Our food came out fresh. Just an all around fantastic experience that had me immediately saying “this is one of the best places to eat in Mount Juliet.

Overall: 7.35/10 – I can be a bit of a contrarian by nature. When something is hyped up to the point that The Papermill had been by the internet, my natural inclination was to stand against it. “Yeah right…can’t be that good,” I’d tell myself. But, in this case, no…it delivered to the level of hype its received and then some. I’m already looking forward to my next meal there, and I have no issue with anyone that wants to say this is among the best restaurants in Mount Juliet. The Papermill belongs in that discussion.

CURRENT MOUNT JULIET RESTAURANT RANKINGS

  1. ML Rose (8.19/10)
  2. Memo’s Mexican Kitchen (8.15/10)
  3. Hibachi Jr. (7.75/10)
  4. The Papermill (7.35/10)
  5. Smiley Thai and Sushi (7.25/10)

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.

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