Murray's from Jennifer's POV
The only review I had read of Don Murray's Barbecue and Seafood was the in Bob Garner's Guide to North Carolina Barbecue, which had very positive things to say. I was a little worried when Sarah email me with her concerns about everything from inconsistant to downright bad 'que. But, those worries were all for naught.
Don Murray's is easy to spot. Just look for the dollhouse perched on a pole. It's how we found it. Drive away from downtown on Capital Blvd until you see the dollhouse on your left. You're there.
Sarah wasn't kidding about the stuffed bit. I love barbeque and think it should be eaten on a regular basis, but a 'que buffet is something best saved for an occasional indulence. It's like eating an entire chocolate cake, apple pie, and bag of potato chips--the experience in really good while your having it, but as soon as that first button on your jeans pops, you begin to doubt your sanity. I think the proper term for this experience is the Thanksgiving Effect. But, enough about our disgusting display of decedance, onto a review of the food.
First, the sides. I ate a lot of them. I had (ahem) several helpings of the lima beans and greens. They were just really, really good. Really good. They managed to walk that wonderful Southern cuisine line between distinct pieces of vegetable and baby food. I don't know how Southern cooks do it, but the vegetables manage to be both mushy and whole pieces of vegetable all while being tasty. It's like some sort of trick. Mine are always either tasty, distinct, and "al dente" or mushy, baby food, and nasty. Besides biscuits, it's something I need to master while I'm down here.
I only tried very little of the other foods (and yes, at a barbeque restaurant, the fried chicken is, in my opinion, a side). I had enough of the chicken and dumplings to say they were good (though soupy) and enough of the salsbury steak to say it was very tasty. I didn't have enough to take away from the other important parts of the meal though.
Secondly, the slaw. This is different from a side in that it is an integral part of the 'que expereince in the way the greens are not. This slaw was slightly sweet, finely chopped and very good.
Thirdly, the desserts. Good. The nana pudding isn't the stuff of Hog Heaven, but it is still leaps and bounds above Bullocks. And, while the cobbler wasn't up to Lexington Barbecue standards, it was still quite good.
Saving the most important part for last--the 'que. Maybe Murray's has bad days, but this wasn't one of them. The que was perfectly spicy and vinagery, with great texture. It wasn't soupy or dry, just moist, like it should be.
My rating--
--Jennifer
I'm writing this review at work, without access to my photos. The pictures I took of Murray's will be up later this evening.
12/18/05: I added the photos today and realized that we didn't have any good ones of the 'que. We only remembered to take photos after our plates were half emptied anyway. Oh well, just another excuse to go back
Don Murray's is easy to spot. Just look for the dollhouse perched on a pole. It's how we found it. Drive away from downtown on Capital Blvd until you see the dollhouse on your left. You're there.
Sarah wasn't kidding about the stuffed bit. I love barbeque and think it should be eaten on a regular basis, but a 'que buffet is something best saved for an occasional indulence. It's like eating an entire chocolate cake, apple pie, and bag of potato chips--the experience in really good while your having it, but as soon as that first button on your jeans pops, you begin to doubt your sanity. I think the proper term for this experience is the Thanksgiving Effect. But, enough about our disgusting display of decedance, onto a review of the food.
First, the sides. I ate a lot of them. I had (ahem) several helpings of the lima beans and greens. They were just really, really good. Really good. They managed to walk that wonderful Southern cuisine line between distinct pieces of vegetable and baby food. I don't know how Southern cooks do it, but the vegetables manage to be both mushy and whole pieces of vegetable all while being tasty. It's like some sort of trick. Mine are always either tasty, distinct, and "al dente" or mushy, baby food, and nasty. Besides biscuits, it's something I need to master while I'm down here.
I only tried very little of the other foods (and yes, at a barbeque restaurant, the fried chicken is, in my opinion, a side). I had enough of the chicken and dumplings to say they were good (though soupy) and enough of the salsbury steak to say it was very tasty. I didn't have enough to take away from the other important parts of the meal though.
Secondly, the slaw. This is different from a side in that it is an integral part of the 'que expereince in the way the greens are not. This slaw was slightly sweet, finely chopped and very good.
Thirdly, the desserts. Good. The nana pudding isn't the stuff of Hog Heaven, but it is still leaps and bounds above Bullocks. And, while the cobbler wasn't up to Lexington Barbecue standards, it was still quite good.
Saving the most important part for last--the 'que. Maybe Murray's has bad days, but this wasn't one of them. The que was perfectly spicy and vinagery, with great texture. It wasn't soupy or dry, just moist, like it should be.
My rating--
--Jennifer
I'm writing this review at work, without access to my photos. The pictures I took of Murray's will be up later this evening.
12/18/05: I added the photos today and realized that we didn't have any good ones of the 'que. We only remembered to take photos after our plates were half emptied anyway. Oh well, just another excuse to go back
posted by Seize the 'Que at 10:04 AM
2 Comments:
Now this was original, I'll keep checking back to find out your ratings on BBQ I live in Charlotte, so if you ever rate a BBQ restaurant down here, please let me know. So far, I've had tons of bad BBQ since moving here *cries*
Thank you for the compliments. We haven't made it down to Charlotte yet, but hopefully we will. It's a long drive (although anything for the 'que). I'm not sure where my Garner book is right now, probably at the bottom of a stack of books, but when I find it, I'll look up Charlotte for you.
--Jennifer
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