Murray's New Orleans Bourbon Street Ribs, Steaks, and Oysters: Seriously, It's That Long!
There is one cuisine, among others, that never quite picked up and jumped off with the foodie crowd. Despite the rousing kick-start by joints like Gumbo, the clamor for cajun cooking fizzled out in the past few years. Overshadowed by the revenge of the ramen and the rise of the gastropubs, cajun themed restaurants are barely carving out a piece of the market. Nevertheless, loyalists, like myself, still hunt for that distinct Southern' taste.
Having dined in Gumbo in Mall of Asia countless times even before my blogger days, I was looking for another ideal spot for dinner with some friends. This restaurant caught my eye as I was browsing through the web, not only because of its really lengthy name, but I was also craving for cajun food.
Murray's New Orleans Bourbon Street Ribs, Steaks, and Oysters (yes, it's that long!) is a sister restaurant of the more famous Clawdaddy, explaining their usual 1-2 punch location. On a regular Monday night, the place was quiet and seemed lifeless. Inside, the dim atmosphere reminded one of old speakeasy bars. I could almost hear soft jazz music and whispers in the dark. The place really felt lonely, but seemed ideal for good long conversations.
Our group sat comfortably on the typical circular couches and ordered swiftly, our stomachs grumbling with hunger. It was then that our experience seemed to turn for the worse. It took a really long time for our orders to arrive. Luckily, there was the obligate complimentary loaf bread to quell our rebellion. Still, it wasn't enough to tone down our hunger pangs.
Salpicao, P375 (+8% service charge)
Strangely, the Salpicao was the first to arrive. Served on a small hot plate, the garlic aroma was undeniable. We almost regretted not ordering rice to go with it.
But, since it was the first dish to arrive, we were inclined to pick away at the delicious morsels already. The meat was tender and flavorful on its own, with the garlic taste seeping into each sinew. It was a bit oily but it's all good. A dash of green chilies added a little zest, but the Salpicao was all about the garlic goodness. Thankfully, our long wait was rewarded.
Fried Chicken Salad, P285 (+8% service charge)
To counter the greasy mess we just ordered, the Fried Chicken Salad came to the rescue. Fresh lettuce, big onions, and corn kernels composed the healthy mix. Tossed in Caesar's dressing, the garden greens were topped with fried chicken and garlic croutons.
The croutons had a peculiar taste, like that of biscocho - sweeter than salty. The fried chicken was crunchy and quite okay - nothing spectacular. The greens were crisp and fresh, with the dressing kept light to just add a hint of flavor.
Baby Back Ribs, Half Slab, P499 (+8% service charge)
Of course, no cajun cookin' would be complete without my personal favorite Baby Back Ribs. A half rack of grilled pork ribs lay gloriously on a stark white contrasting plate.
And so, we meet again.
The ribs were glorious indeed - glistening with their signature hickory barbecue sauce. The flavor was spot-on, smokey and charred in just the right places. But, there seemed to be more bone than meat, although the flesh was fork tender. Maybe Porky was on a diet.
I would have appreciated a little more generosity on the hickory sauce, since after a while, the meat tasted dry. Nevertheless, it had all the comforting flavor I wanted. I chose some mustard greens for my sides, and it was quite enjoyable - the bitter taste contrasting with the sweet savory barbecue. A queer side, however, was the two biscuits it came with. It was plain and doughy, totally lacking flavor. It reminded me of puto seko, and I would rather preferred a honey glazed biscuit a la Texas Chicken or Popeyes'.
Pete's Buffalo Wings, P349 (+8% service charge)
Oh, and did I forget to mention we did order STARTERS? For an appetizer, the Buffalo Wings came dead last. Hooray for service. Still, there's nothing that fried chicken wings can't do.
Despite their diminutive size, the wings had a crispy exterior - perfectly deep fried. The sauce was typical buffalo-style, but more towards the sour end rather than sweet. It was addicting, pity that it came last. Still, it was nothing spectacular and you could get better tasting and bigger sized wings at your dedicated wing spots, for an even cheaper price.
Murray's suffers from the predicament of its really long name. A name too long people find it hard to remember. And the slowness of service seemed to fit the lengthy billing. Was it because they shared a single kitchen with the more populated Clawdaddy? We didn't mind the long wait too much because we found ourselves in good conversation. But starving people would run amok with this kind of pace. Being a fan of cajun cuisine, I hope Murray's would have a second coming of sorts and breathe new life into their sleepy saloon. Their dishes are okay, with the Salpicao and ribs batting above average. I might come back though, if I see a happier mood in the near future.
Jones
Murray's New Orleans Bourbon Street Ribs, Steaks, and Oysters
2/F SM Mall of Asia, Entertainment Mall
South Wing, Seaside Boulevard
Pasay City
Written by Jones
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