Although it seemed as if local-favorite Murrell’s had been reincarnated across the river, it turns out it’s been hidden away in Bossier for 7 years. How does it compare? Taryn and Matt investigate.
Taryn: As I made the seemingly, neverending drive through crops and barns, I couldn’t help but get excited about the idea that I might be able to try Green Goddess again! As most of us Shreveporters assumed, this treat died with the building itself. Where art used to hauntingly remind us of a place we had all frequented at some point, stands the only remains of what we thought was Murrell’s. Most of us Shreveporters tend to not venture to Bossier City too often, which is why I was shocked to hear that Murrell’s has had a second location for 7 years now! The Shreveport location of Murrell’s closed its doors in 2009, making it the end of an era, or so we thought…
Matt: The drive out there was almost enough to make me hungry on its own, but it was well worth it. As I stepped into the little restaurant, the sight of dusty workers and the various smells that mingled together promised me that I was in for a good home-cooked treat. My stomach began to rattle the bars of its cage and I hoped to God on high that I wouldn’t be disappointed. Sitting beside the window, we were allowed time to look over the menu while the server looked after everyone in a way that reminded me of an old country diner you might see on television.
Taryn: Matt and I arrived at Murrell’s, which is now located in a truckstop, sandwiched between an Exxon and a casino, the old Murrell’s sign hanging in the middle, with an “Under New Management” sign directly underneath it. I have to say I was quite skeptical when I arrived. It seemed to be over run with truckers and oil field workers that wanted a quick bite and that was the closest thing around. Upon entering the door, something familiar, the daily special, was listed on the wall. We took our seat at a booth near the window. I have to say this was not my usual experience at the Shreveport Murrell’s where you were scared to sit on some of the chairs. There were no dead flies staring at you upside down from the windowsills, and it didn’t smell so heavily of grease that upon entering you were instantly sober. No, this was a nice and tidy version.
Matt: I was torn between several orders, but the special written on a blackboard hanging on the wall eventually won out. The idea of warm pot roast on a chilly day in November teased me and made the hunger gnawing in my middle become even more persistent.
A stew-like mixture of corn, tender roast beef, potatoes and baby carrots went very well with mashed potatoes in a brown gravy, collard greens that were on par with my grandmother’s and passable green beans. It was followed up by a piece of strawberry pie that is nearly worth the drive on its own. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about Taryn’s chocolate pie.
Taryn: Still hesitant, the waitress approached and handed us our menus, which brought back an instant nostalgia moment of when I was a child and my father and I would go to Murrell’s for a late night supper. Still the same–exactly. The self-printed menu, with the old Murrell’s building as the logo, and even the the menu items, were exactly the same. My usual order would have been the chicken fried steak, but being a vegetarian now hindered me from that. I ordered the vegetable plate, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, turnip greens, green beans, potato salad and cornbread. Although I was happy with my choice, for some it may not be as vegetarian-friendly, of course the turnip greens and green beans were cooked with bacon that I had to pick out. There are not many options outside of that, besides grilled cheese and breakfast. After turning in our orders, the waitress brought out what I made the drive for, Green Goddess! That was really the only reason I frequented Murrell’s as much as I did. I enjoyed everything, besides my generic chocolate pie.
Matt: Having never eaten at Murrell’s, I was a complete stranger to its well-known Green Goddess sauce, but I’m definitely a fan. They wouldn’t tell me what was in it, but whatever it was, I was just about ready to snort it off the surface of my crackers while I was still chewing my last bite. Since it came out first, there was a danger of filling up on that alone.
Taryn: If you thought Murrell’s was something you would need a Delorean to have again, you’re wrong. You just need some good music and some time, no flux capacitor required. It was definitely worth the drive out there. Just stay away from the chocolate pie, as Matt said, “You can almost taste the cardboard the filling must have come in.”
And, sadly Murrell’s is no longer a place that plays host to a late night crowd looking to sober up; it is now open from 5 – 10 p.m.
Matt: If you’re looking for something heavy and meaty with some good vegetable sides during this cold season, then I recommend you make the drive to Murrell’s. It’ll stick with you for hours.
-Taryn Ferro & Matt Haynes
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