Chow Down Atlanta

My mom is a creature of habit and one habit she hasn’t kicked is Murphy‘s. We’ve been going to Murphy’s regularly since I was a teenager but despite of that, I, too, have not gotten tired of their food. Located in the hip neighborhood of Virginia Highland, Murphy’s has been consistently good with their food and service for 25 years. Current chef Gregg McCarthy churns out favorites such as the grilled smoked double-cut porkchops (available during brunch and at other times by request), or the rainbow trout which still keep attracting diners.

I’ve tried almost every item on the menu at Murphy’s and though I have my favorites (and not-so-favorites), I can honestly say you can’t go wrong with any items. My top recommendations include: Grilled Porkchops (very juicy, very flavorful), Crispy Beef Shank (seasonal; bold and heavenly), Shrimp and Grits (light but packed with flavor), and the North Georgia Trout (clean, refined taste). For brunch, try the Corned Beef Hash (the mustard gives it a kick) and Eggs Virginia Highland (an exciting veggie option).

More pictures on my Flickr account here.

The desserts are also all good but opt for the seasonal items. A week ago, they had this amazing Carrot cake that was so moist. It was insanely good!

Post Script: As I’m writing this, my mom calls and asks me to have lunch at Murphy’s today. She is addicted

Insider tip:

Avoid peak hours at all cost as waiting times can be as long as 2 hours. Your best bet is to come on a Sunday evening. Valet parking available.

The Scoop:
Murphy’s
997 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904
Very limited free parking. Valet only available during dinner. Pay parking nearby.
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00am –10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am –midnight
Saturday: 8:00am –11:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am –10:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm

Technorati Tags: Murphy’s, Concentrics Restaurant group, Va-Hi, brunch, Gregg McCarthy, porkchops, beef shank, Atlanta

The atmosphere

Nope, it’s not your regular pizza place. Think of it as high-end dining in a casual atmosphere at affordable prices. Cozy leather booths, wide open spaces, interesting artwork, and shiny concrete floors. It may seem impersonal and intimidating to the uninitiated but the dark colors actually exudes warmth and coziness. The light-colored walls and floor-to-ceiling glass window provide ample natural light while pendant lights add just enough illumination to your food.

The bar and the kitchen

The open kitchen on the side corner offers an obstructive view but allows you to take a peek at their brick ovens and witness busy hands use nothing but fresh ingredients. With the staff making up of culinary school graduates, you’re bound to have consistent food. Front and center, the bar is a sight to behold with their cruvinet system. Using nitrogen to preserve the wines and prevent oxidation, Urban Flats is able to offer even the slightly costly wines by the glass. Also functioning as a refrigeration system, it keeps the reds and whites at perfect temps. I was a bit surprised at their quite extensive wine list which is not usual for places with food prices as theirs.

The food, the food

Yes, we’re all in here for the food. I highly suggest you start with some appetizers. My favorite and the best on the menu is the Tuna Poki. Amazing taste and textures — a combination of sweetish, salty sauce over melt-in-your mouth tuna and crunchy cucumbers and ripe tomatoes. Honestly, I can finish two of these!

Other notable apps include the Mozzarella, Tomato, and Prosciutto — a unique take from your boring Caprese drizzled with balsamic glaze. Another favorite is the Baked Cheese and Tomato. Think creamy, tasty tomato bisque topped with a huge warm, freshly-baked goat cheese. Served with garlic bread, this makes for one great dip. No double-dipping, by the way. Like I said, get your own!

Of course, the flat breads take center stage. The wheat pizza-like dough comes with an assortment of toppings, some more unusual than what you’re used to. Baked to perfection in brick ovens, the make for a filling meal. I have a thing for contrasting tastes and textures so I usually go for something sweet/salty or any other interesting combination. I liked the Tuna, Pear and Brie with a honey-mustard drizzle, or the Spicy Shrimp Chorizo with shrimp, sausage, bleu cheese and chipotle drizzle. The Steak and Portobello is a family favorite and so is The Angus.

If flat breads aren’t your thing, there are plenty other choices. There are wraps and flatwiches, as well as other mouth-watering entrees. The Woodstone Salmon is absolutely delicious with its citrus parmesan crusted salmon served with a side of asparagus, potatoes, and topped with some caper sauce. The French Dip comes with tender oven roasted beef and served on a warm baguette. Everything is good.

If you still have room for dessert. Do try the Chocolate Lava Cake or the popular Chocolate Fondue. Either way, it’s the perfect period to a great and filling meal.

See more pictures by clicking here:

Insider tip:
The kitchen is very flexible and will make accommodations to suit your needs. Have your flatbread crunchy by requesting a few minutes extra in the ovens. Prices start at $7.50 with the priciest item topping at $11. Flatbreads range from $8-10. Extensive wine list including a $230 bottle of Opus One (Napa) ’03 and the usual Veuve, Moet, and Dom.

Now serving brunch on weekends. Wine Tasting every Wednesdays from 5-8PM @ $15/person.

The scoop:
Urban Flats
The Avenue at Webb Gin
1250 Scenic Highway SW
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Phone: 678-344-2022

Technorati Tags: Urban Flats, Snellville, flat bread, tuna poki, goat cheese dip, flatwiches, flats, no-double-dipping, cruvinet

Deep in the bowels of the BOA area between Cumming and Alpharetta lies a rustic-looking white house typical of old southern homes. Step inside and you’re bound to feast on real southern cooking. The Midway Meal House offers southern breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Raring to eat breakfast, I was sorely disappointed to find out we missed it by 5 minutes. No concessions. Breakfast is served til 11am daily. Moping and ready to leave, a basket of bread appeared and being the bread person that I am, couldn’t resist and grabbed one immediately. The freshly baked biscuits were fluffy and milky. Enough reason for me to stay.

So I had to order lunch — grilled chops and two sides while my eating buddy had Chicken Livers. The grilled chops were tasty and well seasoned, albeit a little on the thin side. With too many sides to choose from, I settled for the fried okra and broccoli casserole. The fried okra were fried to perfection. While the casserole looked better than it tasted (think baby food consistency). I would have liked to see more solid bite-sized bits of brocolli.

The Chicken Livers were outstanding: lightly battered, well seasoned and perfectly fried. The mac-n-cheese was creamy and cheesy.

All in all, it was a good lunch. I can’t say I was floored, but enough to make me come back the next time I’m craving for a decent southern meal. Service is great and the kitchen is fast. Expect to wait on weekend mornings.

Insider tip:
Breakfast daily until 11:00AM. Repeat, 11:00AM.
Daily specials available.

The scoop:
Midway Meal House
5150 Atlanta Hwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770-442-3738

Technorati Tags: Midway Meal House, Alpharetta, Cumming, Highway 9, southern food, meat + two, chicken livers

This place is packed to the rafters every time I go for lunch. Honestly, I don’t see what the hype is all about. So far, I love the grilled shrimp tacos with tender, huge shrimp. The enchiladas and burritos are just okay, not bad, but nothing to rave about either. The charros (beans in broth) are delicious. As well as the tamales which are only available on Fridays.

Let me put it this way, the food is fresh but I’m not going out of my way to go there. The few times that I’ve eaten there was always to meet someone who lives in the area. There are so many Mexican places in Atlanta that are just about as good or a lot better. But I do like the fact that there’s a more-than-decent Mexican restaurant in the Tucker area.Insider tip:
There are a number of specials served daily.

The scoop:
Tacqueria Los Hermanos
4418 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker, GA 30084
678 937 0660
Inside the Publix shopping plaza

Technorati Tags: Taqueria Los Hermanos, Mexican cuisine, tamales, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, Tucker, Hugh Howell Rd, Atlanta restaurants

I’ve meaning to write about PURE but like most restaurants that I visit frequently, I tend to drag my feet thinking I’d do it next time. But since my pictures are getting stale (from having been taken a looong time ago even though I eat there all the time), I decided to take some fresh photos just the same. PURE Taqueria is a popular joint among North Fulton residents who don’t mind waiting at least 20 minutes for a table during lunch. Of course, there’s also the out-to-lunch office workers whose clock-watching glances are a dead give away. Nevertheless, if you go to PURE, be prepared to wait. For a table. For your food. For a drink refill. For your bill.

But the wait is so worth it. Especially if you get the fish plate. During my visit they had Pescado Veracruz: a filet of crispy-fried snapper and freshly-steamed mussels in a tomato-based broth that was so wonderful I had to eat slow to savor every bite. Saying it was delicious was putting it mildly. The crunch of the fish complemented the tenderness of the mussels with a mild yet full-flavored broth that put them all together in one happy dish. It came with a side of not-your-typical Mexican rice (theirs is moist, plump, and very well-seasoned compared to the usual dry, orangy, bland kind you get elsewhere), and a cup of flavorful charros (beans in tasty broth) that only decorum is preventing you from slurping the entire serving in one breath.

PURE is well-known for its fish tacos made with fresh grouper, lightly battered, fried, then dressed with a poblano-cabbage slaw. But I much prefer the Cabeza tacos made with beef cheeks (yes, Virginia, Cabeza means head in Spanish) which are so tender and tasty. The Queso Fundido with peppers were a bit too oily for my taste but since I knew the wait for our mains could be long, I happily munched on it. No matter, the salsa will keep you occupied while waiting.

Insider tip:
Open from 11am. Located in a residential area (wonder how the next-door neighbor feels) and resembles an old PURE gas station. Additional seating available on the attached covered patio. Try the salsa sampler not on the menu. Free Queso Fundido coupon available on the website until June 30.

The scoop:
PURE taqueria
103 Roswell Street
Alpharetta, GA
(678) 240-0023

Technorati Tags: PURE Taqueria, Roswell St., Alpharetta, North Fulton, Mexican cuisine, tacos, fish, kids menu