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

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

Hungry for a hearty meal? Then you’ll have to try Mi Pilon on Buford Highway for some Latin-Caribbean food. This cafeteria-style joint offers home-cooked meals in a very casual, family-oriented atmosphere. Freshly-cooked entrees are showcased in a glass enclosed-bar and you basically just pick a dish or two (or even three as in my case). All selection comes with rice, beans, and plantains.

Staples such as roast pork (lechon) and roast chicken are solid choices. There’s also the stewed oxtail for those wanting to be more adventurous. The roast pork and chicken were tender and full of flavor. The oxtail was absolutely delicious and had that simmered-for-hours taste. The empanadas (baked flour pastry filled with ground pork) were also wonderful and were already a meal in itself.With daily special combos starting at $7.99, Mi Pilon offers great food at affordable prices.

Insider tip:
Combos come with either one or two dishes but you can request to have a 3rd one added (which is what I usually do).

The scoop:
Mi Pilon
5705 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Norcross, GA 30071
770-797-2924

Technorati Tags: Mi Pilon, Buford Highway, Latin cuisine, Caribbean cuisine, Atlanta, restaurants

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