Harpin’s Restaurant: Delightfully Simple Eats

First, let me make one thing very clear: I am not a foodie. My idea of reviewing food is scanning my two boys’ plates to make sure they something other than bread. Most days, my lunches consist of leftover peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate from last year’s Halloween bucket.

All of this to say that when Molly asked me to write a review for Harpin’s Restaurant in Payne City, I chuckled. The last time I wrote a food review was for a college journalism assignment. (I’m not even going to tell you how long ago that was, but let’s just say that my bachelor’s degree is almost a tween.)

Anyway – I’m not a foodie or food reviewer, but I do love good food, and Harpin’s hit the spot when I met Molly there last week for lunch.

Harpin’s is located in a quiet little strip of stores in Payne City. I sat out front for a bit while I waited for Molly, and I just loved how peaceful and still it was. (Did I mention I have two boys?) I miiiiight have wished Molly was going to be a little late so I could enjoy the quiet for a bit longer, but that Molly – always on time!

Inside, the restaurant itself is pretty small, with quaint décor and an inviting atmosphere. We were greeted by a friendly cashier who pointed us to the specials written on a white board, and while I was very tempted to try the Chicken Parmesan, I chose something a little lighter – the spinach and feta quiche with the house side salad. Molly ordered the chicken asparagus crepes along with a bowl of corn and crab soup.

While we waited for our food to arrive, Molly introduced me to Paul Harpin himself, who I later learned was a former personal chef for Mick Jagger. Yes, The Mick Jagger. Oh Macon, you never seize to amaze me with your storied music history!

Harpin’s is not a fussy restaurant, but I’m not one for fussiness (again, two boys) and appreciated the simplicity of the entire restaurant.

My quiche was delicious! Since I’m not a food reviewer, I will spare you the play-by-play of what was happening on my palate, but this quiche did not disappoint. The crust was flaky and light, and the filling was perfect balance of spinach, egg and cheese. The salad was fresh and had a tangy, sweet house dressing that complemented the quiche really well.

Molly said she always gets a bowl of Harpin’s soup when she visits, regardless of the weather. She said it was creamy with just the right amount of sweetness.

When I saw the chicken crepes on the menu, I immediately thought of my Mema, who orders the fruit variety anytime she sees it on a menu. While I love the sweet stuff, I was pleased to see the savory version offered at Harpin’s. Molly cleaned her plate, so I’m assuming she was pleased with her choice!

I initially turned down the offer for dessert since I had been eating all of my kids’ Easter candy that week, but after eying the cakes displayed on the counter, I had to try at least a few bites. Molly and I chose to split the lemon cake, and I’m so glad we did! The cake had a subtle but oh-so-good lemon flavor, and the icing was light and creamy – and not at all overly sweet. It was the perfectly sweet way to end a delightful meal. You need to try a piece of cake. Trust me!

Harpin’s is located at 3378 Brookdale Avenue in Macon, and they’re open for lunch on weekdays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Harpin’s also offers catering services and take out.

Enjoy!