One thing is common among all barbers, hair dressers, salon stylists or whatever else you may call the person who makes you look more attractive every few weeks, these people know you better than some of your closest friends.

For at least an hour multiple times a month, they bury their hands into your hair and set off to meticulously fixing anything that looks out of place.

Let’s be honest, your closest friends don’t care enough about you to do something like that. They don’t even notice when you get a haircut anyway.

And unless you’re someone who prefers complete silence when you’re at a hair appointment, you’ve probably had some really heartfelt conversations with your barber or hair dresser. You two have bonded at some point.

They know your tastes and your style better than even you do. They can recommend things to try with your look that maybe you hadn’t actually thought of, but deep down always wanted to give a shot.

Knowing this, wouldn’t you also take their advice on other aspects of life?

I would. And I have.

There’s a barbershop on Kirkman Street called Mane Attractions. The business is right across the street from W.O. Moss Memorial Health Clinic, and it has been a staple in the community for years.

The barber at this place, Jim Murphy, told me he was opening a restaurant out of the back of the building a few months ago and it was going to be called Murphy’s Kozy Corner. The restaurant would specialize in plate lunches, and people would be encouraged to stop in and grab a plate to go.

The restaurant finally opened about two weeks ago.

I stopped by Tuesday to see how the place was doing. I figured word had yet to spread about it and because of that, I’d probably be the only one there. It didn’t take me long to realize that was not the case. There were about 10 people in the building waiting on an order, which may not seem like a lot, but it is when you consider the space available for standing and waiting.

Murphy’s Kozy Corner is located in the back of the main building for the barbershop. The only stuff in the to-go area is a counter, a small kitchen, a cooler with drinks, another cooler with ice cream desserts, and a menu board that hangs on the wall. The little shop is simple, comfortable and embodies everything I grew up loving about soul and Southern comfort food.

The kitchen is run by a small staff and they turn out all of the homegrown hits people in our region are familiar with. On the day I went, the plate lunch options were ox tails, or meatballs with two options for sides, corn bread and your choice of a pair of fresh-made desserts.

I went with the ox tails. These things were cooked beyond perfection, a feat that’s hard to do because the key to making them the right way relies on time and patience. The ox tails were tender and thick and the meat fell from the small cuts of bone. They had been simmered in a gravy that was both hearty in flavorful and filled with a hint of smokiness and spice.

The dish was served on a bed of fluffy white rice, along with some extra gravy.

For my two sides, I went with fresh cabbage and homemade macaroni and cheese. The cabbage was cooked long enough to have a little crunch while still being soft and tender. The macaroni and cheese was creamy and had just enough cheese to keep it flavourful and not make it overpowering. The items were the perfect side additions to a classic soul food meal.

Altogether, with a large slice of corn bread, a piece of pound cake and a drink, the bill came to $11.

Can we agree that all barbers, hair dressers, salon stylists or whatever you may call them, they know what we truly want? They know so well, in fact, that they can build restaurants in the back of their businesses and people will from all over will come running to get some of the food.

Looking at it from a distance, this may be the greatest business decision of all time. Barbers already know what we want to look like. Obviously they know what we want to eat. And Jim Murphy hit the nail on the head with this one. I just hope he doesn’t start a record label or a clothing store because the I’d never leave that place.

Murphy’s Kozy Korner

3231 Kirkman St. 

(337) 478-4331

—

Follow Justin Phillips on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JustinAmPress

Murphy’s Kozy Korner is located in the back of the Mane Attraction barbershop on Kirkman Street across the street from W.O. Moss Memorial Health Clinic. (Justin Phillips / American Press)