Southern Hospitality

So, I was entertaining an out-of-towner this weekend. As previously mentioned, I have been known to get a little…aggressive…in my desire to showcase Atlanta in the best possible light, so I had an extensive weekend planned. Which included a WHOLE LOT of eating.

= Lauren

Of COURSE we hit up all my go-to spots: Holeman + Finch, Top Flr, and Treehouse as well as some new favorites (I’m looking at YOU, Pacci and La Pietra Cucina.) But when you have a full-fledged Yankee in tow…clearly BRUNCH is the best place to leave your southern-fried mark.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you….THE BATTLE OF THE BRUNCHES!
Round 1: Friday at Murphy’s
I’ll admit, I have been known to sneer at the crowds of people lined outside Murphy’s on the weekends on my way to somewhere else I have decided is cooler. (“What? Do they think that’s the only place in town that knows how to fry an egg?“) but I am here to tell you that given the option (and a weekday off of work) that is exactly where we went.

Even though, at 2pm, the meal we ate that day was legitimately “lunch,” I still went with my go-to Murphy’s brunch order: Linda’s Omelet (spinach, onions, mushrooms and cheddar cheese) and A chose the grilled chicken sandwich (avocado, pepperjack, fried onions, and mayonnaise, on a multigrain bun) both were delicious. Another strong lunch choice: the lobster cobb (Maine lobster, tomatoes, avocado, bacon, aged gouda, egg, and roasted garlic herb dressing. DELISH.) In fact, come to think of it, I have never had any food I didn’t enjoy at Murphy’s.

If you do go for ACTUAL brunch, there is an amazing assortment of Benedicts and frittatas and other egg dishes as well as grits and waffles and pancakes and other carb-y deliciousness (Hello, challah french toast!) Not to mention the complimentary bread basket…complete with muffins and biscuits. Oh and the coffee…the coffee! Their coffees and espressos are absolutely divine.

I also really love the vibe at Murphy’s. It’s homey and southern…but still chic.

Nice work, Murphy’s. I guess those lines are warranted after all…

Round 2: Saturday at Rosebud
Listen, if you happen to find yourself waking up at noon…starving…and without a brunch reservation in this city, as we did on Saturday, remember that Rosebud in Morningside is the city’s best kept brunch secret. Fact.

As always, it was an amazing call. Please see my previous post here. Their brunch is out of this world and I have never had to wait for a table. We weren’t able to score a patio table but we were happy as clams drinking our coffee and chowing down on our delicious food. I got the crab cake Benedict (which was unbelievable) and A got…wait for it…The Big Nasty (it’s a sandwich.) This thing is a masterpiece: fried chicken, scrambled egg, smoked bacon + cheddar on a bun. I mean…wow. Just wow.

We were so full when we left that we didn’t eat again until 11:00pm and although we didn’t have brunch cocktails, I assure you their drink list is quite impressive. Another strong contender…

Round 3: Sunday at Mary Mac’s Tea Room

As the pièce de résistance, I saved Mary Mac’s for last. As a true-blue southern girl from Alabama…I LOVE my “meat + 3s.” Plus, A had never experienced sweet tea and didn’t believe me that okra was an actual vegetable The horror!

The Q+DD on Mary Mac’s is this: It was opened in 1945 by a woman named Mary McKinsey who decided to use her good Southern cooking to make money in the tough post-World War II days. However, in those days, a woman couldn’t just open up a restaurant, so many female proprietors used the more genteel Southern name of “Tea Room.” There were at least 16 other “Tea Rooms” that popped up in the Atlanta area, but Mary Mac’s is the only one that remains.

As an extra special awesome BONUS: Katie and Brian were in town and joined us!

It was an awesome experience. Our server was so charming and sweet and brought us each a complimentary order of the Pot Likker Soup after I mentioned that I read about it in Garden and Gun magazine. (and blogged about here.) FYI: Pot Likker (or Pot Liquor) is the liquid that is left behind when you boil greens (collard, turnip, etc.) and it’s often seasoned with pork or turkey. At Mary Mac’s its served with a little piece of homemade cornbread that you can crumble into it…kind of like a super southern matzah ball soup?!

When it was time to order, we grabbed our stubby pencils and scrawled our orders on our sheets. A and Brian got fried chicken and meatloaf, respectively, and my seestah and I both got vegetable plates. (tomato pie, collard greens, black eyed peas and fried green tomatoes for me and fried okra, cheese grits, creamed corn, and collard greens for Katie)

Y’all: our food was fabulous (once I silenced the nagging calorie-counter in my head). Very authentic and just perfect. PLUS – in the middle of our meal, this adorable elderly lady came over to ask us how we were enjoying our meal and gave us all backrubs! As she left, she distributed her card which read, “Jo Carter: Goodwill Ambassador.” Amazing. All-in-all, I would say my mission was accomplished. A even choked back an ounce or two of sweet tea and I left feeling victorious (not to mention completely stuffed.) I may never eat again…

Katie and her Pot Likker

The winner? We’re all winners at brunch, my friends. But I may have to give this one to Mary Mac’s. It’s been an Atlanta tradition for 60+ years and my mama always taught me to respect my elders.

Happy brunching…y’all!

xx, L