Having grown up in Macon, Ga., and lived here for many, many years, we are quite familiar with the best places to eat. We have our favorites, and we are aware of the favorites of others. There could be a debate over which barbecue place is the best, but those top names have stayed at the top for years.
My best places to eat lists are mostly comprised of locally owned and operated establishments. That is my goal. Unless I am mistaken, all of the restaurants on this list are locally owned. There are several I could go on and on about, like Finchers BBQ, Nu Way Wieners, or S&S Cafeteria.
As a Maconite since 1967, I am very aware of the growth of Macon and remember when Shoney’s was a big deal. None of the restaurants on my list has compensated me in any way for being included. I have eaten at all but one of the restaurants on this list, and we do plan to go there soon.
Table of Contents
- Barbeque Joints
- Burgers and Hot Dogs
- Southern Cooking
- Pizza
- Seafood
- Fine Dining
- How To Spend A Day In Macon, Ga.
- Questions?
- More Places To Visit in Georgia
Let’s begin with barbeque, a southern favorite cuisine. Folks are more than a little bit loyal to their favorite BBQ joints. Some people have even been known to drive for miles to eat their favorite barbecue.
Barbeque Joints
Three local favorite BBQ restaurants made my list. I like to be true to the locals, especially since I am one. There are other restaurants that serve BBQ, but not to the delight of the masses.
Satterfield’s
Satterfield’s BBQ is located on the outskirts of downtown Macon, close to Riverside Drive, just off I-75. It is a small, rather nondescript place with down-home charm and friendly service. Nothing fancy, just good food. The Brisket is highly recommended. If you enjoy a good bowl of collard greens, get them as a side dish. They do not disappoint.
You need to do two things before going to Satterfield’s. Check their hours and check their Facebook page for specials. They do not serve fries on the menu, but they do cook them as a special on occasion, including amazing loaded fries.
FYI, the good folks at Satterfield’s and the good folks at Jim Shaw’s got together and opened a wildly popular restaurant ‘out-on-the-lake’ called Fish-n-Pig. You will see it listed here under ‘Seafood.’
If you happen to be in Macon during Burger Week, go to Satterfield’s for their burger. Go early because they will sell out.
Finchers Bar-B-Q
Fincher’s has been a Macon staple since 1935. They currently have four locations. Our preference is the Houston Road restaurant, where we frequently go for Sunday dinner after church. Don’t confuse the Houston Road location with the Houston Avenue location. The Houston Ave. location is the original building where you could get car hop service many years ago. There is a walk-up window here for to-go orders. A small dining room with tables and booths, plus a few swivel bar stools at the counter. They get quite busy sometimes.
I like the ribs with slaw and fries. My hubby must have The Pig with Brunswick stew. Fincher’s has the best stew in our opinion. We have gone to the Warner Robins locations for lunch, where our typical order is a large stew with fries.
Piedmont Brewery
Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen is located downtown. This place is a little different from what you might expect. First, let’s talk about the menu. It is just plain fun, y’all. While Piedmont is not necessarily a BBQ joint per se, you will get great BBQ here. The locals love it.
The menu includes cuisine such as Frito Pie and Beer Cheese soup. Collard greens are offered as a side dish as well as a nice selection of the usual suspects like: potato salad, cole slaw, and macaroni and cheese. Try the trash can fries, and I insist you get some wings!
If you have to wait for a table, there is a game room downstairs with plenty to keep you occupied during the wait. Good old-fashioned skee ball is my favorite. Piedmont is a great place for dinner if you happen to be going to downtown Macon for the Christmas Lights Extravaganza.
Burgers and Hot Dogs
This list was a little difficult because there are more than a few places to get a good burger in Macon. Numerous locally owned restaurants compete to serve the best burgers. If you can visit in November during Macon Burger Week, you will see what I mean.
According to New Town Macon, there are more than 52 restaurants in the downtown area alone. The gourmet burgers offered on their menus include a wide variety of flavors and toppings. It is Southern cuisine, you can eat with your hands!
The Rookery
The Rookery is located downtown on Cherry Street. This place has been around since 1976 and is popular with the locals for more than burgers. Their burger names pay homage to Macon’s music history with names like James Brown’s Black and Blue, the Allman Burger, or the Little Richard Pennimelt. There is even a burger named for President Jimmy Carter.
Cherry Street is the heart of downtown Macon, with parking on the street. There is outdoor dining that you can enjoy when the weather is great.
Ocmulgee Brew Pub
Ocmulgee Brew Pub is located on Second Street in downtown Macon. Their front window faces the median where the Christmas Lights Extravaganza comes to life. We like to eat here and time it so that we can see the lights come on, at least once each holiday season. The food, service, and atmosphere are all good.
If you are okay with a little heat, I recommend their Red Hot Love burger that comes with habanero pepper jelly and pimento cheese. The Smash-Squatch is also quite good with double smash patties, cheddar, gouda, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, pickles, and smash sauce. Those both sound scrumptious, don’t they? Well, they are! This is one of the rare places you can get boiled peanuts as an appetizer.
The Grey Goose Players Club
The Grey Goose Players Club is located in north Macon on Forsyth Road near Wesleyan College. This place has been wildly popular with the locals since around 1989. I want to say I remember when they opened, but I don’t want to date myself. I lived near their location at that time.
The food is good, the service is good, and the atmosphere is wonderful. How do you feel about great big fish tanks? They have several that make it feel kind of homey. Kids’ menu available too.
You can never go wrong with the Gooseburger. It is served with their house fries and is quite satisfying. Their appetizers include fried okra, fried zucchini sticks, and chicken livers. Yep, chicken livers.
Nu Way Weiners
Nu Way Weiners is an iconic Macon restaurant that has been around since 1916. While they are known for their hot dogs, their Mega Burger is one of my favorite burgers. It isn’t a gourmet burger like the previous burger joints mentioned here. It is simply a good burger. The ‘Meg’ comes with fries.
If you enjoy a good hot dog, get one all the way. That will include their delicious chili, onions, and mustard. Your best hot dog order at Nu Way is one of each, a slaw dog, and a chili dog. It is impossible to decide which, so just get both. Their red link hot dogs are cooked on a flat top grill.
There are multiple locations around Macon and in nearby Warner Robins. Our favorite Macon location is the one on Zebulon Road. It is just off I-75. There is a movie theater, Kohl’s, and a Walmart nearby. This location is inside a nice big food court with multiple restaurants. There is plenty of parking and plenty of dining space.
Johnny V’s
Johnny V’s is located in West Macon on Columbus Road, off the beaten path. They are very near Middle Georgia State University, my alma mater.
Their hot dogs are also cooked on a flat top grill and are very good. I like to order their chili dog with tater tots. The V Burger is also really good. Also, not a gourmet burger, just a good homemade burger. This is not a fancy place, but the food is good and the folks are friendly. I love their decor, which is bright red and yellow with checkerboard floors. You can watch them cook in their open kitchen.
We have been making a special trip to Johnny V’s from time to time for many years. It is worth it. I also recommend their breakfast! The parking lot in front is small, so just drive around back where there is plenty of parking.
Southern Cooking
In the South, southern cooking is taken very seriously. We call it soul food, and we are particular about it, more so than with our barbeque or hot dogs. I have eaten at all of these restaurants that I recommend here.
S&S Cafeteria
S&S Cafeteria is located on Eisenhower Parkway, also known as U.S. 80, just off I-75. It is near the Macon Mall and Sam’s Club. The line can be out the door on Sunday after church.
Their selection is huge. It starts with salads, desserts, meat choices, vegetables, and breads. You can get the ‘plates’ that are meat and two, or meat and three, or a vegetable plate. You can order a la carte, get whatever you want. There is a separate entrance for their To-Go Shop.
I am a fan of their baked chicken with cornbread dressing. My hubby enjoys the chopped steak. All of the vegetables are good, especially the sweet potatoes. Your bread choices included rolls and cornbread, including crackling cornbread, which is a rare find.
Everything is good at S&S. That might sound hard to do, but they cook from scratch, and they obviously have a kitchen full of good cooks. I have never had a bad experience at S&S.
Dawson’s Kitchen
Dawson’s Kitchen is located on Brookdale Avenue at the Milltown Market. There used to be an old mill in this location, called the Payne City Mill. All that remains of those mill buildings has been redeveloped into shops and restaurants.
Dawson’s also has a bakery with lots of goodies and a market with fresh produce in season, as well as jams, jellies, and sauces from local vendors.
Dawson’s is a good place for lunch. There is a different menu daily with a variety of meats, except for fried chicken, which is offered every day. You have a choice of meat and two or three, or you can get a vegetable plate. The rolls are good.
H&H Soul Food
H&H Soul Food is another iconic restaurant in Macon that has been around since 1959. Located downtown near the hospital. Their history is as rich as their food is good. If you are an Allman Brothers fan, you have certainly heard of H&H. Their walls are full of ABB memorabilia because this place and the original owner, Mama Louise, were Allman Brothers favorites. They frequented H&H and even took Mama Louise on their tour bus.
I remember eating at H&H when Mama Louise was still there. You walked into the kitchen to pay her for your meal after you had eaten. You might stop in for the back story and history, but you will come back for the food.
Lunch is good at H&H and highly recommended. Your choices include meat and 2 or 3. You can even get two meats if you like, or a vegetable plate. A good selection of soul food sides. If you like fried chicken, get some! They serve a great breakfast and brunch, also. They even do a biscuit of the month that includes specials not on the menu, like fried bologna with cheese and egg.
The Bear’s Den
The Bear’s Den is located on the outskirts of downtown near Mercer University. Voted Best of the Best in a local competition for five years in a row. President Clinton dined here a while back.
They are cafeteria style with meat and two or three selections. Of course, you can get a vegetable plate if you like. There are different meat choices daily. Bear’s Den has the best homemade lemonade you can find.
I usually get either the fried chicken or the meatloaf with yams and greens. I wouldn’t dream of skipping their lemonade. Parking is plentiful behind the restaurant. This is a good place for to-go orders. They have a separate door to enter for their To-Go Shop. Outdoor dining is available and very pleasant when the weather is nice.
Pizza
You have got to love a good local pizza place. Macon has all the chain restaurants, and one of those might be your favorite, but I implore you to try at least one of these places.
Ingleside Village Pizza
Ingleside Village Pizza is located on Ingleside Avenue between Vineville Ave. and Riverside Dr. You can easily get here from I-75. Historic Riverside Cemetery is nearby. This is another one of Macon’s iconic restaurants that the locals and the visitors love.
The food is fabulous. They make their pizza dough daily. You can get pizza any way you want it, including with their yummy white sauce. I recommend the breadsticks with sloppy sauce. Oh, my yum!! If you are in the mood for a salad, their salads are really good too.
The atmosphere is unique, different, and just plain fun. The ceiling and walls are covered with loads of lamps, lights, and Elvis memorabilia. Elvis and the owner, Tina, share the same birthday. The story behind the ‘sticker window’ is that it was in the old location across the street. When they moved, many customers expressed concern about missing the sticker window. So, they brought it with them and installed it in the ‘new’ location. They have been in that spot for many of their thirty-plus years now.
Pig on a Pie
Pig on a Pie is located on Riverside Drive, right across from The Shoppes at River Crossing. This place is also right off I-75 with an exit nearby.
The pizza is delicious. We stop in here sometimes when shopping across the street. We like the BBQ pizza, but there is a lot to choose from on the menu. Their wings are especially good because they are smoked. You get a variety of sauces to choose from with the wings.
If you are there for lunch, try the lunch special. You will be pleased with the options. There are friendly folks and good food at Pie on a Pie.
Mercer Village Pizza
Mercer Village Pizza is located on Montpelier Avenue, within walking distance of Mercer University. If you take the Forsyth Street exit off I-75, you can get there pretty easily.
Everything is freshly made, including the dough and the sauces. Their wings are wood-smoked. Pizza and wings go together like pizza and sauce!
While MVP hasn’t been with us all that long, they quickly established themselves as a fierce competitor for good pizza! Good food, friendly service, and warm atmosphere. They support the Mercer Bears, too!
Seafood
Macon is nestled in the heart of Georgia. Macon may not be a coastal city brimming with seafood spots, but don’t let that fool you. While only two seafood restaurants are highlighted here, our local dining scene features several other local gems known for their diverse menus and surprisingly delicious seafood dishes, like The Back Burner.
Jim Shaw’s Seafood Grill
Jim Shaw’s Seafood Grill has been a Macon staple for many years and is located on Vineville Avenue. They are at the intersection of Vineville and Vista Circle. Fair warning, go early. This place has good food and good service. They will be quite busy on weekends, so prepare to wait. It is worth the wait.
Their menu has something for everyone. The fresh oysters on the half shell are a popular choice. Get your fish grilled, fried, broiled, or blackened. There is even an Angus beef burger on the menu for folks who are not in the mood for seafood.
Jim Shaw’s offers early bird specials Monday through Thursday. Check their Facebook page for specials. You will drool over the photos of the food.
The Fish-n-Pig
The Fish-n-Pig is your place to go for waterfront dining. They are located on Moseley Dixon Road at Lake Tobesofkee. Their name is a reflection of a joint venture between the owners of Satterfield’s BBQ (scroll up to read about them) and Jim Shaw’s Seafood (above). When you combine the two best in their respective areas of expertise, the result is fabulous. This restaurant, situated on the lake, has grown over the years. There is a very active bandstand outside these days that the locals love for live music. Check their Facebook page for the full lineup of bands each month.
Boat docks are available for boaters. The parking lot is large, but it will fill up early. The locals know to go early because there is always a wait. It is worth the wait.
The menu has lots of options for a variety of taste buds. If someone in your party doesn’t care for seafood (gasp!), there are plenty of other delectable delights on the menu, including barbecue. My favorite food at Fish-n-Pig is the combo with fried whole catfish and fried shrimp. If you would like an appetizer, I recommend the fried alligator. It’s better than you might think.
Fine Dining
Fine Dining in Macon may not be quite what you would expect in a large city like Atlanta. None of the restaurants listed here has a dress code. They are all places that provide an upscale, refined dining experience, including white tablecloths and a well-trained and informed wait staff. The menu will include specials in keeping with seasonal fare, and prices will be higher to cover the cost of providing an upscale dining experience. Should you get dressed up to visit these restaurants? Yes! Have yourself a great night.
Natalia’s
Natalia’s is located just off Bass Road on Macon Road, across from the Tru by Hilton hotel. They are in a free-standing building with ample parking. It is very convenient from I-75. This place has been a Macon staple since 1984.
Their specialty is old-world Italian cuisine. The food is always good. Your waiter/waitress will share the specials with you as they change each week. The service is excellent in a nice atmosphere. Don’t skip dessert.
Downtown Grill
Downtown Grill is located on Mulberry Street Lane in downtown Macon. They are in one of Macon’s historic buildings. Valet parking is available. We usually park on the street and walk to the restaurant. It is a pleasant short walk. There is another restaurant next door, so there will be folks out and about in the alley. They have a cigar bar, so when you make reservations, ask for the dining room unless you intend to smoke your cigar.
As an English steak house, they specialize in prime cut black Angus steaks. While there are more delectable delights on the menu, we always get their filet cooked medium. I love their button mushrooms. Their crab cakes get high praise for good reason. Indulge yourself in one of their decadent desserts for your special occasion. You can get one dessert and two forks.
The Back Burner
The Back Burner is a hidden gem located on Ingleside Drive just off Riverside Drive. Their building is behind an Art studio.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting. You will get excellent service with delicious dishes. I recommend escargot as an appetizer. This is one of only a couple of places locally that we have enjoyed good escargot. The menu is subject to change with seasonality. Your waiter/waitress will inform you of the specials. The steak is always cooked perfectly to our liking. My husband enjoys the Lobster Ravioli also.
How To Spend A Day In Macon, Ga.
Here are plenty of ways to spend a day in Macon. You might be surprised.
Questions?
This list of places where the locals eat in Macon, Georgia, is by far not a complete listing. In reality, there are too many to mention, so I have chosen the most popular places that Maconites tend to rave about. If I can answer any questions to help you, let me know in the comments.
