Murphy’s is one of those places that you could easily miss. So is Winchester for that matter. So small it’s one of the “if you blink you’ll miss it” kind of towns, Winchester used to be big. Like many small Texas towns, it boomed with the railroad and died a slow death in the 1970s and 1980s until now, it’s a town of 50 residents. As our dinner companions directed us down twisted country highways and onto deserted looking roads we wondered what we were getting into. Then, all of a sudden, we turned a corner and there were cars everywhere. Murphy’s was packed.
The steakhouse is located in one of Winchester’s former grocery stores. The town post office still operates inside the same building. The tin ceiling, brick walls, wood floors and mirrored bar came with the building. The salad bar sits in a little hut next to a giant pot of beans. The menu is pretty basic and definitely affordable. It’s all pretty utilitarian stuff – red plastic cups, melamine dishes and cheap silverware but maybe it’s the lighting or the decor but it just feels cozy and down home but a little elegant too. Not so elegant you can’t wear your jeans and sweatshirts of course but it’s the kind of place that would work for an anniversary dinner or a place to go after you burned the roast at home.
The food is pretty basic too. No frills, no random green leafy stuff to make the plate look pretty. But that ribeye was melt-in-your mouth delicious. Seasoned with just the right amount of salt and other spices to bring out the flavor, juicy and tender. The dinner roll? Homemade. So delicious. The fries were fine, nothing too outstanding there.
The burger was the same thing. Juicy, well seasoned, nicely grilled. On a homemade bun. Murphy’s offers up good, homemade food at reasonable prices. My steak, which had the salad bar included was $9.99. The half-pound hamburger, with fries and beans was $5.99 (plus .39 cents for cheese). Murphy’s is definitely worth the trip to Winchester. They are open Tuesday-Saturday for both lunch and dinner.
