Hamburgers with mustard only and pepperoni pizza used to rank among favorite meals of Chef Mitchell Murphree. Fast forward to Mitchell's present leadership within three Murfreesboro-based restaurants and a catering business, and diners find his culinary creations now provide fresh, wholesome foods with global flair and innovative accents. And, his personal hamburgers now must be consumed on brioche buns with bacon jam!
As owner of Five Senses Restaurant, Bar & Catering, as well as upscale spot Steakhouse Five, Mitchell also co-owns with Raul Espinosa cocktail bar Five On Black Kitchen and Spirit House, which opened during August 2024. He says spearheading these unique eateries is anchored with a stable core team and great staff built over the years, one that's grown together. In fact, Andrew Deason, now general manager of Five Senses and Steakhouse, has worked with Mitchell for 15 years after starting in various roles. Additionally, one of the bartenders, Stephanie Whiting, has worked with Mitchell for 10 years, starting as a server.
"Being in the restaurant business is actually a lot of work, but it's really fun. I've always loved to cook. Both sets of my grandparents cooked and lived on farms. I enjoyed how food is interwoven into people's lives," Mitchell recalls.
His family had a country ham business, and the expectation was that when he went to college to study food science, he'd join that operation. However, that business's pivot left him without a direct path. He says halfway through college, he got a job at a restaurant in Knoxville, The Tomato Head.
"That's where I got introduced to a whole other world of hummus, tofu, bagels and dough made from scratch. I didn't know what pesto was until then, but I was 21 and just getting a taste of more adult foods," Mitchell says, who remembers then wondering if he could maintain a restaurant job for his entire career.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, which prepared him for perfectionism in the culinary world, he and his sister, Mollie Murphree, opened the Five Senses Restaurant & Bar on Nov.18, 2004. Their goal was to bring a fresh, local-plus-healthy approach to dining in Murfreesboro.
"We sought to be a unique dining destination for the area, especially for guests who really want to have something different. We wanted to serve only the highest quality of food, drink and service. Now, we're like a neighborhood spot and vibe, much like (TV-famous) Cheers," surmises Mitchell.
The name Five Senses evolved from the concept that cooking is the only art that requires the use of all five main senses, he adds.
Five Senses Restaurant specializes in fresh seafood, local meats, regional produce and seasonal menus. The dinner, cocktail and wine menus change four times a year, procuring many food items from local farmers, such as Haskell Evans, Simply Pure Sweets, Brass Horn and The Hammery. Of course, Southern classics, such as pimento cheese on fresh-baked sourdough crostinis or buttermilk fried chicken, is offered, too.
Five Senses Restaurant and Bar expanded into Five Senses Restaurant, Bar & Catering during the spring of 2007. "We cater any event from small intimate dinners, office lunches and large parties to fundraising events, wedding receptions and community festivals. All our catering food reflects the host's vision for their event," says Mitchell.
He says their catering start began with an on-site breakfast job at Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester. "Our service there grew until we were taking about 90 staff down, working nearly 24 hours a day for five days a week," he adds.
Located at the Fountains at Gateway, Steakhouse Five provides an intimate lifestyle setting with an attentive staff, while serving premium cuts of prime grade beef, a wide selection of hand-chosen whiskeys and curated wine list. This menu also applies local ingredients for garnishes, such as from Pinky's Micros.
Sweets at Steakhouse Five feature options such as Chocolate Profiterole with Chocolate Pâte à Choux and candied cacao nibs.
Five On Black, named in honor of roulette in a Las Vegas manner, is an upscale bar whose bartender is a former New York professional from the speakeasy sector. Mitchell says they serve changing custom cocktails and small plates from a quartz bar, and that their Sunday brunch is popular.
In Mitchell's life, there's literally always something cooking. At home, he says he enjoys making simple dishes, like grilling or fixing a pork roast with mashed potatoes. "I still love cooking at home, with relaxing music or the TV on, and our dogs at my feet, who are hoping I drop something."
He concludes, "You can't have successful restaurants without supportive customers and family, like my wife, Krista. We're blessed to have both types. In fact, at Five Senses some of our regulars come in five nights a week. They always enjoy themselves."
"Whatever culinary options weren't in Murfreesboro has shaped and guided our creative offerings since launching Five Senses in 2004. We started with a completely open kitchen, which wasn't typical at the time, and seasonal menu changes. We want everyone to enjoy every visit." ~Mitchell Murphree