Smyrna, Georgia: Muss & Turner’s
No muss, no fuss, isn’t that the way the saying goes? However it goes, I say it to myself every time I walk into Muss & Turner’s. A small eatery in the southern edge of Smyrna, Georgia, this deli/pub/wine & beer bar/specialty food store brings a little bit of Buckhead’s urban elegance to the suburbs while maintaining a local feel. Like the website says…”Foie Gras in Your Flip Flops”. With a menu appears to offer flavor-rich salads, sandwiches, entrees, cheeses, desserts, each trip inspires trying a different dish. For lunch, patrons order at the counter and the freshly prepared food is brought to you. For dinner, servers assist you in your order.
Past trips to Muss & Turner’s have led me to understand why it as received its share of honors, including ZAGAT’s 2007 America’s Top Restaurants, and ZAGAT Atlanta 2007 / 2008 Top Food Rating, Top Service Rating, and Top Bangs for the Buck. Until recently, I would have recommended the restaurant whole heartedly. Unfortunately, I don’t know how much of a positive image was left in my head after my most recent seating. Maybe there is a difference in service between the lunch and dinner crowd or even the staff, since the other times I have gone have been in the evening. If so, I am not sure why patrons would not turn left to the other, more consistently on point restaurants, like Little Azios, Southside Kitchen, or J.Christophers.
We arrived at 11:30, before the lunchtime rush and were happy since only a few tables were occupied. But, the experienced was unimpressive. The staff’s attitudes were lackluster and the standoffish at best and this was not lessened with the lengthy delays in our food’s arrival. I think what really got me was the the woman who helped me knew I would be writing a review, since I mentioned it when asking permission to snap some pictures. The news did not seem to affect her less than enthusiastic presence or the mediocre experience.
We were a party of three and two of us ordered before the third arrived, yet the food arrived in reverse order with a pretty significant delay in between. While my girlfriends enjoyed their meals and the freshly made French fries, my grilled vegetable sandwich was difficult to eat. The amount of oil caused the bulk of the contents to slip and slide from the stale tasting bread, and the amount of oil was overpowering to the point of almost inedible.
While it is my understanding Muss & Turner’s is more than just food and wine, holding events that draw in the locals, it will some time before I return. While not completely overpriced, for the money I will choose another establishment to try first, then give them another go.
Muss & Turner’s
1675 Cumberland Parkway, Ste 309
Smyrna, Georgia 30080
(770) 434-1114
