A quaint little eatery off the main road down a small alley nestled among other trendy restaurants. A very limited beer menu with NO draft beer available! The menu, although limited, offered options for everyone. read more

Here with party of 8. Wife's cousins from St Louis. Excellent service Food was good, but overpriced

The food here is awesome and well prepared for take out but in small portions compared to the price. We were told we'd have to wait a 25 min for our food to be cooked but in actuality we waited an hour and ten minutes, I would recommend this place but only with a reservation. However, reservations need to be made well in advance. read more

Downtown Grill - This is the lamb chops - Steakhouses Near Me - Macon, Georgia

My wife has many food allergies, so finding a place to eat when on the road is always a challenge. I struggled finding a place in Macon, GA and finally settled on the Downtown Grill and was glad I did. The Grill is down an alley and looks like a "gin joint" from the outside. When you enter the bar area, you soon realize that it's a cigar bar and everyone's puffing away. As my wife gets bad migraines when exposed to smoke, I thought I made a fatal mistake until we were ushered into a very nice dining room in the rear of the building. It was well ventilated and smoke was never a concern. Now the food: it was by far some of the best food I have eaten when traveling. I had the salmon special and it was out of this world as was the cesear salad. The chef prepared a special chicken dish with veggies for my wife and she loved it and he took every precaution to address her food allergies. We would some to Macon again just to eat at the Downtown Grill - no joke. A must stop. read more

Nice spot. We had a big group and the food arrived on time and hot. I was told the steaks were great as well as the shrimp and grits. The special fish dish which was blackened grouper) was good. A bit to spicy for me but all around it was good. Nice spot. read more

Love The Atmosphere my Favorite was the lamb chops, and our waitress was super friendly and the staff were very helpful and accommodating.

To my previous review, let me add that their mussels dish is absolutely doable, perfectly seasoned, with crusty bread, and a white wine sauce worth slurping at the end (but full of garlic, so beware!). Continue to be impressed with their wine selection, and their seasonal creme brulee' with brandy (I believe it was) was worth guinea pigging for - WIN! read more

Wow. I left the rookery and went over to Downtown Grill because I heard the shrimp and grits were delicious. I'll get to that in a moment. I had the ahi tuna first, rare. Oh My Stars. It was delicious. So yummy I thought about doing that meal twice, but then remembered the Shrimp and Grits. It comes to your table in a small clay kettle. The Shrimp and Grits also has andouille sausage, it's perfectly spicy and delicious. I have plans to go back and try entrees and then I hope to upgrade them to 5 stars. read more

Great birthday dinner with our daughter and her hubby! Started with cheese plate and shrimp cocktail - we all enjoyed it. We all had specials: dry aged steaks for two of our party. I had the Filet with shrimp on top and garlic sauce - excellent! Another had the Stilton stuffed filet. All cooked to perfection! Sides were very good too! Generous drinks and great service! read more

The server was amazing and the appetizers were amazing but the main course was just so so. The steaks were over cooked and a bit flavorless. It also took us 2.5 hours to eat there. I'm guessing this was a fluke. It was not a bad experience but we did feel like we paid too much for the main course we received. read more

Went for a birthday and was not disappointed. Aloha burger, which I had, was great. The other two entrees our party had were also very good. Cocktails were made perfectly. Our waiter was knowledgeable and answered every question we had. We go once or twice a year and are never disappointed. read more

This place is iconic downtown. Little place. Dark dingy old school. The wait staff is awesome food is fabulous and the experience is great. Wouldn't be on my monthly radar but probably twice a year. read more

Found this little gem after getting out of the hospital. For a Friday night I was under dressed but they didn't mind. The food was delicious... everything from the bread to steaks was excellent. It wasn't a cheap meal but it was great. My husband said the old fashions were the best that he has ever had and he makes drinks for a living! The service was the only reason I didn't give 5 stars. It took 10 minutes for server to come to the table and introduce themselves, waters went empty. She did not seem super busy but she was busy. It was late and not prime time. She was more attentive to other tables I noticed and just didn't seem to particularly care about ours. Had she been slightly more attentive I would have given this gem 5 stars. I do wish they had creme brûlée every night but they didn't have it when we were there. For three people we spent $200 between drinks and desserts, so I usually expect great service at that point. If I return and service is better I will update! read more

Imagine going to a speak easy in a dark alley. Perfect atmosphere as you approach. Walk through a smoke filled bar where cigars are encouraged. Dark small rooms with intimate tables. OK, I like the setting. Service was great. Food was meh. Caesar salad was swimming in dressing that dripped from romaine. Entrees were so overly salted that it was not edible. read more

Hard to find but worth it. Again, with co-workers and the service and food was really good. I had the rib eye and it was perfectly done. We shared a cheese tray and a caprese appetizer. The caprese was so-so but the cheese tray was good. It came with a delightful honey on the side and butter. Neither one wowed us. read more

Once again Yelp didn't let us down. Fabulous little place hidden away in downtown Macon. Appetizer tuna to start with was excellent. Husband had rib eye and I had filet special stuffed with goat cheese and cranberries. Perfection and YUMMY We are stuffed.... Gotta try dessert. Pecan pie and coffee healthybar dessert which was free because our meal took so long. Excellent meal - we will be back!! read more

The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was fantastic. I ate here twice in one weekend. I enjoyed the elk one night, and a dry aged ribeye the next. I also enjoyed the fine spirits selection available. read more

Such an Awesome find. Great Food, perfectly relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Each dish was masterfully prepared, wait staff was knowledgeable of specials with lots of details. staff wasn't pushy, if you need your space to just enjoy your drink and company, they understand. We'll be back soon! read more

The restaurant is in the back alley. Kinda muggy when we walked in but there is a cigar room in the back. Feels like your in a Fox and Hound magazine. The waiter was very informative and descriptive with the meals. I had the most amazing filet!!! The best filet I have ever eaten. My friend had some awesome rainbow trout. The Ahi seared tuna excellent no fishy taste. read more

Great atmosphere and staff is super. Fish was over cooked and steak was undercooked. Wife got last baked potato, so the guy behind us was out of luck. Out of cheesecake we were told only 2 creme' brûlée slept. This was @ 7 and restaurant wasn't that busy. Not the greatest experience, but will give it another try. read more

I lived in Macon 15 years ago but Downtown Grill was not there at that time. I had the pleasure of visiting with my best friend and we dined at Downtown Grill my last night in Georgia. The food was absolutely delicious! I would highly recommend the blackened grouper with mushrooms and mashed potatoes for the sides. If you have never had their bread pudding, I suggest you have it on your next visit. It was heavenly! The service was superb! (My best friend's sons work there.) I would absolutely go back to eat at the Downtown Grill. read more

This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants and a must when I am in the Macon area. For appetizers, we really enjoyed the mussels and crab cakes For entrees we had the Filet prepared oscar style with sauteed mushrooms....absolute perfection. We have also had the trout and the pork chops and they were excellent too. I have always been too full to try dessert, but I would guess it would be delicious. Their bar is impressive and they have a lot of really cool, hard to find bourbons. You will be hard pressed to find better service that the Downtown Grill. read more

The $48 dry aged ribeye was not dry aged and it contained a very dangerous shard of bone. Service was good but the chef needs education as what a dry aged steak looks and feels like. Prime is not generally shot through with tough sinew and there should never be a sharp 1/2 long piece of bone. Typical for Macon I suppose. Atmosphere is good, beer reasonably priced but that's about all that can be said in the positive. I will not be back and I would not recommend this restaurant to friends or family. read more

My favorite place to enjoy crab cakes and filet mignon. Filet mignon is perfectly cooked and very thick! I get cravings every week and come every Saturday. I love this place! read more

Stopping at a fine dining restaurant while traveling is my idea of adding enjoyment to a road trip. I have been to the Downtown Grill twice, and find it well worth the visit. I'm always willing to try duck when I see it on a menu and am often disappointed. Not this time. It was perfect. read more

My husband and I were beyond excited to make a second trip to Downtown Grill (LOVED our first visit) for a date night, but we were sorely disappointed by both the service, and food itself. We were quickly seated, offered drinks (which were lovely), and then despite the restaurant being relatively empty, waited 15 minutes for our server to return. After hearing the appetizer specials, she disappeared yet again - returning 10 minutes later to take our appetizer order. Our request to also put in our orders for our entrees was brushed aside, and surprise, surprise - it was another 10-15 minutes before our server made her reappearance to take them. After finishing our meals, we sat for 30 minutes, until we finally managed to flag someone down (our server still nowhere in sight), and ask for the check. Our server returned 10 minutes later with our to-go containers...and no check. Another 15 minutes of waiting, and we finally made it out the door. The food itself was nothing to write home about; my order of grilled scallops were more charred than grilled, the mashed potatoes were stiff, and my side order of roasted broccoli consisted of literally one lone piece of broccoli. My husband got the rainbow trout coated in panko and andouille sausage; we could barely taste the sausage, and the skin on the fish was exceptionally soggy. His sides - the grits and spinach - both were pretty underwhelming, and neither had much flavor. To top it all off, the bathroom was filthy, things were broken, there was toilet paper on the ground...etc. Needless to say, we expected better, and it's unlikely we will return. read more

Very unique atmosphere; recommend the bar if you can handle cigar smoke...A lot of times you can drink while the owner mixes concoctions behind the bar. Wait staff is the absolute best (Erin). Boulabaisse , andoille crusted trout, blue cheese stuffed filet, they are all amazing! read more

I hate to be the first bad review of this place here on yelp but I was so affected by my experience while attempting to dine here I felt the need to share. On a business trip from New York, my colleagues and I, on very insistent recommendation, decided to check out the Downtown Grill. Given we were a group of 7 on a Friday night, perhaps we should have called ahead but our verbal reviewers assured a casual informal atmosphere. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a hostess who was all but welcoming. She immediately told our group that they would be unable to seat us for 3 hours. The restaurant was almost empty and we were clearly the only ones awaiting seating. In the best restaurants of New York City, a 3 hour wait is unreasonable, I couldn't fathom waiting that amount time for a local small-town grille. However, being the reasonable New Yorkers that we are, we attempted to compromise and split our dinner party into two small groups. The restaurant still insisted that they'd be unable to seat us because they were 'too busy' and offered us reservations for the following night instead. Saturday night rolls around and our group, now down 2 diners due to the prior nights experience, arrive at the Downtown Grille for a second shot. All 8 dishes on the menu looked great, we didn't know where to start. One of my colleagues ordered the crab cakes only to be advised 20 minutes later that they were out! Another one of colleagues ordered the duck and was told that it would have to be replaced by Quail as the duck was all out as well! As I sat there thinking that yesterday's experience was a blatant sign that this place was a waste of time, the waitress comes over and asks if I was okay with my Margarita being served in a regular glass because an event upstairs was making use of all of the margarita glasses. With half of the food items on the menu being unavailable, a glass was clearly a minor issue that night. The Downtown Grille was a nightmare! As a visitor to this area I'm confused as to why this place was even a recommendation. We went around the corner to the Rookery the next night and while a totally different atmosphere, it was great and surely made up for the frustration of the downtown grill. read more

we tried this place a couple years ago for my other-half's b-day. The food was awesome and we kept ordering more. everything at that time seemed fresh and I had NO complaints. For some odd reason we decided to go again last night. I'm gonna make this quick...the food was nothing to brag about, not even compliment. I ordered some kind of blackened fish (sorry, I forgot the name)--tasted pretty decent, sides green beans and penne pasta in what seemed to be a weird canned, chunky pasta sauce. My bf ordered fillet chicken breast, sauteed spinach and pesto mashed potatoes. He didn't finish any of it. My green beans, pasta and sauce all seemed to have come from a fresh can--just awful. I was highly disappointed being that the menu is a bit pricey. The fish and spinach were the best of both of our dishes. If youre not familiar with the Macon area, the place is in a weird location. The lighting inside is rather dark--almost seems like they want to hold poker games while youre eating. I wont be returning. I was rather disappointed. you would at least think with the cost of the entrees you would/could get fresh foods rather than canned. Wouldn't you? I did. I almost forgot, I ordered an appetizer--lump crab cakes. The way they were cooked was different, as in what was the cook thinking?? The crab cakes tasted as if they had been fried in butter and topped with regular old spicy mustard. I have definitely had better. A waste of $70. read more

We visited the Downtown Grill in Macon last night on New Year's Eve. Had heard about this restaurant for years and wanted to visit. It is rather hard to find for someone not familiar with Macon. It is literally in an alley. Valet parking is a must. We were on time for our reservation and were seated in a booth close to the cigar bar. Thankfully we did not have any adverse reaction to cigar smoke. Our waitress was extremely pleasant, helpful, and attentive. Superb service from her. She explained the specials and gave us insight into the appetizers, salads, and entrees. We started with an apppetizer special of slightly grilled oysters with bread crumbs, bacon and spices. The appetizer was quite good. Next we had the green goddess salad. It is almost impossible to find a green goddess salad anymore and it did not disappoint. One of the high points of the meal. I had the blue cheese infused filet with baked potato. My wife had the Aloha filet that had a light sauce and three large shriimp on top. My wife's steak was excellent. My steak while cooked appropriately was dry and tough. Dessert was the highlight of the meal. I had a creme brulee that had been made with a southern pecan sauce. It was outstanding. However my wife had a Krispy Kreme doughnut bread pudding. Honestly it was sinful it was so good. Now you might wonder why the 2 star rating with the above description. As the late Lewis Grizzard would say, come closer the best is yet to come! We were well into our salads when a couple was seated in the corner booth next to us. Our waitress was their waitress. I just noticed them and went on eating. They ordered wine and an appetizer just like us. However after about 15 minutes the hostess came to their table and was obviously in a huff. After listening it seems as if the hostess sat them at the table instead of another couple who had just arrived (a bit late, but with a reservation). The hostess left and I heard our waitress aplogize and say it would be taken care of. Well about five more minutes pass and a gentleman who I assume was the manager or owner comes by and basically says you have to leave this table and go to the bar. We have a couple who just arrived and they had a reservation for the table. The couple got up and went to the bar and you could tell the lady was extremely upset. After our meal was over and we had paid ($220), I told our waitress if that had happened to me you would have had to get me down from one of the light fixtures because I would have been so mad. Check my profile and experiences. I have been all over the world for work and travel and have never seen a group seated, order, receive items, and then be removed from their table because of an incompetent hostess's actions. So bottom line, if you want to risk a $200 bill in a restaurant that might very well boot you off your table at any time, fine. As for me I will not return and I will visit Natalia's or Grits for better food (it will be tough to beat our service) and the confidence I will be able to complete our meal. I am sure the owner willl come on with some pithy come back. But facts are facts!!!!! read more

Good date night spot. Steaks are nothing to write home about, but cooked perfectly. Quail etc. are good and seasoned well. A little pricey. VERY hard to find. If bored with everyday places to eat, this is a good stop. read more

Absolutely the best veal chop I've ever had. Yes, it is difficult to find if your not familiar with the area but it was well worth the two extra trips around the block. The server (Dianna) was well versed in the menu and provided excellent suggestions and fantastic service. The bar is quiet and relaxing and provided the perfect atmosphere for a cigar and after dinner drink. The cigar selection was on the weak side but the manager walked with me around the corner to a cigar shop which was very nice of him. read more

Beyond the fact that the food is amazing, the service is always spectacular.

Went to Downtown Grill for the first time in a couple of years. The food was excellent. There was a wow factor to the food, you don't find much anymore. Our server was great and very knowledgeable. I had the pork chops with the raspberry sauce, and it was succulent, very well done. Would come back again, highly recommended. read more

Fantastic place tucked away in the alley. Really good food, awesome atmosphere. Biggest bourbon selection by far, in the area. Cigars on site. read more

This has been and will continue to be the place I go for great food, especially their steaks. I always order the 22oz. bone-in ribeye and I have never been disappointed. On the rare occasion that I choose something different I go with one of the fish entrées. All of their side options are absolutely incredible and my personal favorite is the cheese grits. There is clearly a passion behind the preparation and presentation of the food here. The servers are professional and knowledgeable regarding every aspect of the menu. The appetizers are one of the highlights and the cheese board is always a great choice. This is truly a one of a kind dining experience. The ambience and decor exude the feeling of an English steakhouse. This is the only place I will take out of town guests, because I know they will have an excellent dining experience and that leaves a lasting impression. Keep up the good work. read more

Had a great experience here. Fantastic selection of whiskeys and specifically bourbon. Entrées were excellent I got the maple leaf duck and my wife got The blue cheese stuffed fillet. Dessert selection was great and we split a gram burning as we were both stuffed at that point. Forgot to mention the French onion soup which was among the best I've ever tasted. Service staff were very attentive and cordial. Would definitely visit again if ever in Macon in the future read more

I made my reservation over three weeks ago. We arrived a little early. No problem. The lobby was packed with people waiting to sit down. The wait without a reservation was 2 hours. The host was totally overwhelmed with all the people in the lobby and was having to bus the tables. When he finally asked our name after almost 15 mins he had trouble finding it. Once we finally were seated it was 7:50. Then the waitress came over and said 5 more mins. By the time we actually got to order it was 8:10. No apologies were ever made for their disorganized appearance or delays. The food was okay. It would be easier to have the sides printed on a short paper every night than to listen to the ten plus sides and 6 plus entree descriptions. It's also attached to a bar so you leave cover in smoke. I would definitely not come with children. All and all Dovetail is cleaner, more fresh and update and way better service! This place might have been great long ago but like all the other reviews said it's long lost its services and quality. read more

Amazing food, awesome decor and music. The service was second to none. Great scotch and whisky lists.

Great ambiance. Good food. A little overpriced. The staff is great. I'd choose Natalia's over it though.