Murphy's Restaurant — Restaurant in Atlanta

Update: I heard back from Murphy’s management through the review I placed on OpenTable. It was an apology, “we’ll do better, give us a second chance, please come back”. Here’s an idea: when I was standing in front of you at the restaurant, and I asked you about why I never received a bread basket and complained about the food and the service, you could have paired that apology with making things right for me. You could have said “oh we’re sorry that you didn’t get a bread basket. Let’s make this right by packing up one for you now so you can take it home to enjoy”. Why on earth would I accept an apology about a horrible experience that I paid for and then return for more of the same? I’m really shaking my head about why you didn’t take the opportunity to at least give me an apology and pack me up a bread basket that was included in the meal that I paid for?

From beginning to end, I did not have a good experience. I kinda expect a decent level of food and service at an established restaurant, such as Murphy’s. I wasn’t expecting special, but I didn’t even receive a basic level of service. First, please ask your wait staff to stop addressing the diners as “you guys”. As in “do you guys want more coffee?” I had to keep asking for things repeatedly. Can I have more water? Can I have more coffee? Can I have more milk with that second cup of coffee? Can I please ask again that you bring out that milk that I already requested and still haven’t received? Can you please bring the hot sauce that I asked for and now my food is getting cold because I’m still waiting? When you take a look at the Eggs Virginia Highland photo on the restaurant’s online menu, you see a nice piece of focaccia next to the eggs. And I was looking forward to breaking my poached egg onto that bread. Instead, my focaccia bread, both the top and bottom pieces were absolutely wet, drippy, and soggy. It was nauseating, and I didn’t know where to move it to, ugh. I suspect that the kitchen just threw the wet spinach on the bread. It was not good. As we were leaving, I noticed that the table next to ours immediately received a basket filled with biscuits, muffins, jam, etc. I wondered if that was an item that I should have preordered when I made the reservation. Nope. I learned that every table receives this basket, except us. Every table. I wasn’t planning to say anything, just leave at the end of the meal, but the reception desk asked about our experience. When I noted these items, she called over the manager on duty. Upon hearing my unhappiness, his reply was “I’m sorry”. That’s it. I didn’t feel that I was truly listened to or that my experience was taken seriously. Breakfast for two, $80 including tip, no alcoholic beverages, for this? No thank you. And so now I’m never returning, nor will I recommend this...

GOOD NOT GREAT Murphy’s is an iconic neighborhood restaurant nestled in the heart of the inviting and very walkable Virginia Highlands neighborhood. On this warm Saturday evening, we shared the Panko crusted crab cake and vegetable appetizer, two entrees: a lobster roll with parmesan fries and the Guinness braised brisket with a side of crispy brussels sprouts, and two desserts: the tollhouse pie and the peach galette.

Interestingly, the vegetables on the appetizer stole the show: fresh, very well-seasoned, a plate cleaner to be sure so our mom’s would be proud. The crab cake was indeed mostly crab, and not full of cake filling as experienced in some other mid-tier restaurants. Unfortunately, the lemon seasoning was far too heavy and overtook the taste of the crab.

We had split opinions on the brisket. My wife loved it, but it had much more of a stewed taste than I would have preferred. As well, if you grew up in a Southern home and are used to generally overcooked vegetables, you will likely fine the carrots and green beans needed a little more time on the stove.

The toasted bread on the lobster roll was delicious, but, overall, we both felt the lobster roll was too heavy on the celery and lacked adequate seasoning. The parmesan fries were hot out the kitchen and great for the first 5 minutes. However, once they went from hot to warm, the true taste came through as a little bland and required additional seasoning as well.

The crispy brussels sprouts, though not so crispy themselves, were quite good with the addition of the crispy onions.

You know how when you look at a dessert, and it looks delicious and when you taste it, it’s amazing? That was definitely true for the tollhouse pie, not so true for the peach galette. The tollhouse pie had the constitution of a high quality chocolate chip cookie, really tasty. Be sure to ask them to warm it for you.

The peach galette, however, was a real disappointment. You could barely taste the peach, but instead the dominant flavor was somehow an almond blend.

While the service was top notch – courteous, informative, responsive – and pricing very reasonable, it’s hard to give this iconic restaurant anything higher than a 4. The food is good, but not great.

BTW – As you would expect for the Virginia Highlands area, the parking is minimal… so come early to get a...

Tiny restaurant with small outdoor seating space. Very limited parking. Be prepared to pay for parking with vallet. Our 1st visit was closer to 5 star worthiness, minus sitting with my kids next to a seated table where loud women with inappropriate conversation sat. Was not family friendly space. I was ready to receive our meal so we could leave. Food was good but the experience of our environment took away from my comfort and complete satisfaction. Tried this place again few weeks after that bc, again, the food was good but this visit was worst! Our server walked back and forth many times, overlooking us... never acknowledged us, asked drink orders, nor did he served the immediate water we should have received when initially seated. He dropped, physically dropped, a basket of breads on our table and kept walking. Still no question about water or anything to wash this bread down with. I had to stop a hostess to get water to our table after waiting close to 10 minutes of watching him tend to everyone around us. I patiently watched him tend to everyone like we were invisible. He saw me watching and waiting. I was so confused wondering if he was or was not our server. The hostess confirmed he was and had a word with him. After that, he came like he didn't know we were waiting on him and attempting to attend to us like the other tables but it was very obvious he was more attentive to everyone else around. We waited on refills we didn't receive until we were done eating. Only 2 of the 3 of us got a glass water. Food took way longer to be served than it should have for what we ordered and the lack of a crowd. I can go on but I'm DONE with this place. It was just good food, nothing to rave about, overpriced, which I don't mind if everything else lines up. The experience, the lack of, the quality just doesn't make it worth it to visit a 3rd time or to recommend...