Western Oregon Journal

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Time to be honest: Monmouth is not a thriving metropolis. This may come as a shock to some, but many may have caught on already. While there are some pleasing aspects to living in Monmouth, dining selection is not one of them. What's a college student to do?

While Dallas may not be a metropolis either, it does offer a few more choices when it comes to appeasing a pesky appetite.

One of said choices is Murphy's Grill. Located on Ellendale Drive in Dallas, practically next to Wal-Mart, Murphy's suggests an alternative to the other choices available in Dallas.

One of the unique features to Murphy's is the atmosphere. With a pleasant lodge/hunter's den combo decor, Murphy's gives the air of a somewhat classier establishment. However, the haughty dress code needs not follow--blue jeans, or even sweats would fit in perfectly.

Another fine compliment to Murphy's is the menu, a wide variety ranging from pastas to burgers. Murphy's has a little something to satisfy any appetite.

Similar to many restaurants, Murphy's also offers a lunch menu, which is basically a miniaturized version of the main menu. Both are offered at the table, and consumers are welcome to order off of either.

One dish that calls to the stomach involves chicken strips. This platter comes with three strips, fries, coleslaw along with ranch for dipping. The strips are a little skimpy, yet filling all at the same time. This selection comes with a healthy serving of fries--wait, these are no ordinary fries. Murphy's offers a unique answer to the typical French fry in the form of beer-battered potato morsels. These taste pleasantly different from the typical fry experienced in most restaurants.

Murphy's also offers numerous burgers to whet the palate. One of the featured burgers on the lunch menu is the steak-n-bacon burger. This burger is also complimented with fries and coleslaw. What makes this burger different from the typical bacon burger is that it incorporates cheese and A1 steak sauce--hence the name "steak."

Yet one more delectable option on both the lunch and dinner menus is the fish and chips. The fish consist of cod, the chips fries and this dish is no different in that it arrives accompanied by coleslaw. The fish is quality fish, not watery or dry like that experienced in some establishments.

While all of these options sound delicious, any meal is not complete without something to drink. The strawberry lemonade is the perfect sidekick to any of the above dishes, as well as just about any other meal. The strawberries that comprise this beverage are not huge chunks, nor do they plug the straw; powers of suction are not necessary to drink this lemonade. Another pleasing feature of this lemonade is that it's bottomless, which makes this beverage perfect for hot summer days, or any day that the throat is dry.

While Murphy's may not be a five-star restaurant, it is a nice change of pace. The prices are decent in comparison with the food received. One assuring aspect to Murphy's is that the food is consistently delicious no matter what is ordered. Another wonderful feature is that Murphy's is close; Dallas is a nothing commute. For a nice change of scenery, Murphy's is the perfect selection.

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