By Hope S. Philbrick
Some friends you see routinely. Others you might see rarely, yet you still feel close. For many Atlantans, Murphy’s is a restaurant that feels like a friend. Whether they live in the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood and it’s their go-to restaurant or if they come once in awhile to mark special occasions, Murphy’s has a hold on hearts and taste buds.
Whether Murphy’s is a love, an acquaintance or, gasp!, complete stranger, now is an excellent time to visit. Today (November 14, 2013) the new fall menu is making its debut. Last night at a private press dinner, five journalists (including me) were treated to a preview. In a word: Mmmmmmmmmm.
Chef Ian Winslade, who’s wowed Atlantans in kitchens across the city, seems to have found a comfortable home at Murphy’s. His dishes are creative yet familiar, complex but not cumbersome, tasty works of art that are both satisfying and impressive. Order what you crave, try something new or leave it up to the kitchen to choose a dish. Either way, odds are you won’t be disappointed.
Murphy’s is more than a restaurant: It’s also a bakery, coffee shop, wine bar and wine shop. General manager David Green shared this cost-savings tip: Buy a bottle of wine in the retail shop and you can enjoy it in the dining room without paying a corkage fee (and while the wine offerings in the retail shop differ slightly from those on the wine list in the dining room, costs are generally lower). Don’t know what wine you want to drink? Just let beverage director Leslie Johnson know what you like or don’t like and he’ll recommend something delicious.
As when visiting any friend, this is a place to relax.
More Information…
Murphy’s
997 Virginia Ave. NE
Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904
–Photos © HSP Media LLC
Featured products, services and/or travel arrangements may have been complimentary in part or in full; this affords the research opportunity but does not sway opinion.
Hope S. Philbrick is founder and editor-in-chief of Getaways for Grownups. Her work has appeared in dozens of publications nationwide. She’s reviewed restaurants for several Atlanta-based newspapers and magazines for decades. When not writing, she can usually be found on the road or savoring something tasty.
