We have meant to visit Macon for a while, and we are so glad we finally did this beautiful weekend! For starters, we had Essies biscuits and onion soup. The biscuits were delicious, but a bit expensive for the size and amount (4 total). The onion soup was perfectly cooked and delicious. It had a nice amount of cheese and bread, great broth, right amount of onions. Drinks were a glass of wine (which was quite overpriced, in our opinion) and cider from Wyndridge which I really enjoyed and will get again upon our return. For dinner we had the rockfish and the braised short rib, and a side of Mac and cheese. The rockfish was cooked very well, with great flavor in the spices and the sauce. However, asparagus or another vegetable, and quinoa added would have rounded out the dish. It was a small portion. The braised short rib was an amazing dish - you didn't even need a knife to slice it. It literally fell apart. The flavor was also excellent. I'll definitely get this again. The biggest disappointment was the Mac and cheese. I didn't think it was that cheesy, and it had an odd spice (maybe red pepper?) that didn't work for me. My boyfriend liked the flavor but agreed it needed more (or even a stronger) cheese. Service was great! Overall, we enjoyed our time and will return. read more

See all

We came as a group of three, first time dining here for two of us. We love supporting the neighborhood businesses and this has been on our list to try, so we finally gave it a chance yesterday. Upon arrival, we spoke with Omar and he had us go inside to be seated. Upon going inside, there was a taller gentleman with glasses and jewelry who we asked if there was a table available for three. He rudely looked at us and said well I don't know, do you have a reservation. We said no, but there's plenty of vacant tables we see are any available? It took him awhile until Omar came back inside and he showed us a table. After waiting awhile, we observed chaos ensue. There seems to be no clear direction in the front of house except for Omar working to do everything. We waited 10-15 minutes to be acknowledged and asked for a drink order. One person in our group ordered hot tea which took over 20 minutes. We finally placed our food order and it took forever! There seemed to be a backup in preparing entrees and all meals were delayed this evening. However, Omar brought our food over and was very respectful asking if we needed anything else and if he could get us any additional dressings/sauces for our meal. He came back a few times to check in with us, which was great. Prior to leaving for his shift, Omar checked in one final time before leaving and thanked us for coming by. After this, overall service just continued to diminish. We finished our meal and asked every single employee for our check. One gentleman who seemed to be the busier asked the taller gentleman who seemed to be the host/waiter to please get our check and he blew him and us off. We then asked the bartender for our check and asked for it to be separate. He brought it over and plopped it down on the table and said nothing and walked away. So again, I flagged someone down and asked if we could please have separate checks. It took over 30 minutes to get our checks and pay. A 1 hour dinner turned in to 2 and a half hours due to the lack of clear front of house staffing structure and responsibilities and a slow kitchen and food that was just okay but not worth the price. Some items were severely over seasoned while others were not seasoned at all. As for the atmosphere, inside the restaurant is beautiful. However, there is no music at all so you just hear the noise of the kitchen and others talking in the restaurant. If it wasn't for Omar, we probably would have gotten up and left. He is the only one creating a positive experience and actually acknowledging and engaging with customers. Thank you to Omar! A piece of advice, there seems to be a need for front of house staffing to be clearly defined, responsibilities given to each employee, and wait staff sections created and given to waiters to follow. read more

Another wonderful meal at Macon. My friend and I shared everything. We started with deviled eggs. They were amazing. We shared the house salad and Steak Frites . FABULOUS!!!! Wednesday during 4-6 Biscuits are complimentary. They were divine! They split the salad and steak into 2 equal servings for us. They are awaiting their liquor license approval so we brought our own wine and they brought out a wine holder with ice to chill the bottle. The staff was warm and courteous. We were the only patrons in the place. It will be sad if this wonderful restaurant has to close. I often come here to get take-out orders and would encourage people to support this wonderful gem of a restaurant. read more

I visited with my mom and sisters and had a fine time. We were seated at a table, and after we had our water and menus, we were moved when someone was seated at the table next to us that had a reserved sign on it, as the seats and tables were very close to each other. There was an empty table next to us on the other side, but ideally we would have been sat there originally if they knew someone had a reservation at that table. We did feel a little cramped sitting between two tables with only a little bit of space between us, when we could have been sat in a different area. Overall our meals were good, no complaints, portion sizes were nice. We had the chicken and waffles, nicoise salad, shrimp po'boy, and caprese sandwich. We ordered coffee at the end of the meal and it was a french press, but when poured it was incredibly bitter and full of coffee grounds. We had to send it back and ask for a new one. Our waiter was very nice, service was a little slow with the drinks given it was not very busy, and they didn't have ingredients for one of the drinks we ordered. Overall the outing was fine. read more

See all

This was an okay meal. We came here to celebrate our mutual birthdays. Food Short braised ribs. These were all right. I wish the meat was a bit more tender. It came with grits which were creamy and good Biscuits were excellent and it came with a pepper jam and honey butter which were pretty good Most of the sides were pretty good In fact I found the side dishes much more appealing than their entrees which is a little bit odd Potatoes au gratin arer excellent Mac and cheese was meh Ratatouille was meh Also dessert was the puff pastry and it was terrible. Dry and tasteless. In the picture below Service We dined at around 8:15 and stayed till close. I didn't have any major issues with the service but many of the servers were shall we say less than enthused Parking Plenty of it on the street and it is free Ambiance They have outdoor seating but we ate inside and there was a bit of a tight space but I didn't mind it at all. It's a cute little place to eat. It's a shared building so the bathroom is outside of the actual restaurant. Overall I would not be in a hurry to come back here. There are many other better places to eat and I found the food to be just okay read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - two desserts on a plate - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend took me to her favorite restaurant, Macon. The building has historic architecture and the restaurant is integrated in the building really well. Loved the cute French atmosphere that the restaurant presents. We ordered deviled eggs, salad, mac & cheese and biscuits. The deviled eggs were phenomenal! The egg yolk was well seasoned and it was accented with pepper jelly's sweetness and a hint of heat. I would love to try that recipe! Mac & cheese was not too rich or bland. Perfectly flavored. I needed a bit more flavor in the salad but I loved the peach in it. I would love to come back here just to relax and enjoy the time and meal. Very friendly staff. Nice outdoor seating is available as well. read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - Delicious deviled eggs - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was fine, brought my husband here for his birthday and it wasn't bad but not really memorable. Always fun to try a new spot. Cute place

What a wonderful little restaurant in Chevy Chase, DC. Prefect for families or adults only. Had the best brunch with my daughter. Staff was so hospitable and allowed us to customize our order for my daughter's tastes. Will be back again and again read more

Service was really good. The drinks were also good. The appetizers were ok, but the $22 dollar burger was served on a super stale bun, and it was only about 1/4 lb. Next time I will just stick to appetizers. Clyde's (not to mention Joe's stone crab house) have much better burgers read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - Onion pastry - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Ate a quick lunch here on a weekday. The restaurant was empty but it's probably busier on weekends or when the weather is more conducive to sitting in the small outside area in front. I had the fired chicken and waffle. The combination of hot sauce and sweet syrup was strange but worked somehow. They had some interesting looking appetizers as well. read more

Darn it! Macon used to be quite good. It was our regular place for anniversaries and such. Like others, it stumbled during the pandemic. We've been waiting for it to regain its quality. But after multiple second chances, we are finally done going back. Sad. read more

Really surprisingly bad at cooking steaks here. Then they give you a lot of attitude if you say something. I will never go back again. Not worth the prices, you can make a much better steak yourself without all the sauces that hide the true flavor and friendlier at home. read more

Oh Macon, Macon, what happened to you ? We've been to this fine place many many times, but never again. The food was pretty decent--and the burger, hush puppies and deviled eggs very good as always--but the service was TERRIBLE. Oh my gosh--an insolent, obnoxious server whose sarcastic remarks were unwelcome & beyond the pale--when he was ignoring us completely & simply standing around checking the time. For that kind of crap I'm paying $150 and getting out as fast as I can ? Never again ! read more

My experience here was interesting. Macon's been on my radar for a while, so I was looking forward to my visit, but I guess I just wasn't prepared. Not that anything was terribly wrong (though service was off). Macon is in a strip mall. Happy hour is no longer offered. There are two parts to the restaurant. The restroom is in the hall. The entrance is not well marked. Macon was busier than I thought. None of these are issues, but they all briefly threw me. I ended up at the bar in the tightly-tabled bistro section. I regret not doing the prix-fixe menu, and would choose that if I returned. I went with the Chambery 33 cocktail (bourbon, amaro, walnut liqueur, and whiskey barrel aged bitters), mac and cheese, and pecan pie. My cocktail was awesome. The entire cocktail list looks great, and it was a tough decision, but I loved it. Mac and cheese was very good--creamy and filling, but perhaps too filling. I was starving (as in approaching hypoglycemia), and I could still barely finish it. Get it, but plan to share. Skip the pecan pie--I found it overcooked and dry. I would have bought their take-home caramels (which are delicious) before getting that. There were two bartenders. I did not care for the one who originally helped me, but the other one was super friendly and funny. He kindly walked me through the process of signing a manual/carbon copy credit card receipt, as their machine was down. The hostess was nice, and I appreciate the take-home noshes you can buy at the hostess stand. The kitchen is basically in the restaurant, though in the back. The chef kept yelling at the kitchen staff, and I felt really bad for them. I'm under no pretense about kitchen happenings, and have mad respect for those who work in professional kitchens, but I don't think it needs to be heard/seen by patrons. I came to relax and enjoy, not hear yelling. I was taken aback by this, and still am. That, more than anything else, would keep me from returning to Macon. Again, I'm not sure I'd return, and I wouldn't go out of my way, but if I did return, I'm prepared with a game plan. And now you won't have any surprises either. read more

See all

DISCRIMINATION!!!! Worst restaurant service I've ever had the displeasure to experience. My partner and I walked in for an early dinner at 5 and decided to get some drinks and an appetizer to start with. The onion soup was like warm, tiny and flavorless. Now we're both minorities and look really young, so after already asking to see our ID's, the waiter comes back with the bartender/manager, and asks to see our ID's again. He didn't believe that those ID's we're ours, so he asked for the zip code. My ID is from NY and I haven't lived there for 3 years, so I struggled a bit to recite it, but I got it right. The manager insisted I got it wrong, turns out he wasn't looking at the zip code but the ID number instead, and he refused to serve me alcohol because of HIS stupid mistake. After we received the other drink, the manager proceeded to talk to the waiter about how "suspicious" we look, and how our ID's are fake, things like that for a solid 10 minutes. Mind you, we were the only guests in the restaurant, and the bar was 5 ft away from us, so we could hear everything he said. And the $17 "Blueberry Rita" we got was literally just a margarita with 4 blueberries plopped on top. I could've gotten a conned margarita for $5 and it would be indistinguishable. We ended up with a $31 bill for lukewarm flavorless soup and a mediocre drink. This was definitely a wasted of time and money and I'm never setting my foot back in there! read more

I must say that I enjoyed Macon much more than I expected. I usually find the southern-fusion concept disappointing, but this restaurant is much more French heavy and the food was delicious. We got some great Sangiovese wine and a cheese board to start, which was excellent. My Dad got the French onion soup which he said was one of the best he's had! I got the salmon which was also incredible. I took off one point for service just because our server was clearly new and was a bit frazzled. Things took a bit longer than they should have, but it really wasn't too big a deal. Such a cute and inviting spot overall! read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really like this place it has the best pimento cheese ever. However, I think that they need to get their hours correct because their hours on the website as well as on Google do not match what they are actually open for so I never know when they're really open. So apart from that, it's really good. read more

Service was pleasant. Wine was good. Everything else was pretty bad. Food was ready less than five minutes after we ordered, suggesting it was not made to order. Biscuits were hard, dry, and nowhere near flaky. Seemed like they had been made several days ago. Asked for pimento cheese and it came out hot, like queso. I have eaten A LOT of pimento in my life -- never hot, so this was weird. Ok, but not great. Our entrees were ready a few minutes after we ordered -- truly about five minutes. Husband was in the restroom when they asked if they could serve the food (also odd) so they waited (with our food just sitting underneath the heat lamps) but then we had to ask for it because no one was paying attention. Husband said his shrimp and grits was good. My short rib meal was terrible. No flavor, everything was watery and bland. We wanted a nice Saturday night dinner. They rushed us though and we are in and out in less than 40 minutes. Will not return and discourage anyone from going. read more

My experience here was pretty mediocre. I went with a large group and we reserved the two large tables in the Magnolia Room, a private dining area separate from the main restaurant. The salad I had to start with was nothing special. It needed a little pepper to give it a kick. For my entree I had the pan seared halibut. I was so much looking forward to this. I was sorely disappointed. This was the blandest fish dish I've ever had while dining out. Not only was the presentation lacking, but so was the portion size for $26.00. It had no seasoning or sauce. (See my picture below.) I was wishing I had McGinty's $5.00 fish and chips happy hour meal which is so much tastier than this dish. To finish I had the pot de créme. Which, while small, looked great. The top layer was great, but the rest was like soup! It wasn't just mine, it was everyone in my group that ordered one too. They should have been chilled; I think they must have been left sitting out for too long. Needless to say, I won't be returning. The GM that greeted us acted if she could care less if we were there spending over $600.00. So much for southern hospitality . read more

See all

Really good restaurant for really good biscuits. I'm from the Deep South and know my biscuits. Although these don't really look like traditional biscuits, the flavor and texture are very biscuit-y. As for dinner, my braised chicken was fine, nothing special. It came with a side of rice. Small portions left me kinda unsatisfied. If you wanted a veggie, that was extra. Go for the biscuits. read more

It was one of the worst Sunday brunches I've ever had - mainly because of the service, but the food wasn't good either. I've never written a review before, but am writing this review because it was one of those experiences that makes me feel badly for the owner. We arrived with almost no one in the restaurant and asked to sit outside, which had plenty of tables available - it was a beautiful day. The belligerent host turned away from us when it was time to seat us, and said something inaudible and then proceeded to seat us in the middle of the dining room, which was hot and stuffy. The chairs were small and uncomfortable, and the table was sticky. No one took our order for about 20 minutes. We placed our order and then the drinks didn't arrive for another 15 minutes. The food arrived about 20 minutes later. The quality of the food was slightly below average and certainly not worth the price. The mimosa was particularly bad, which was made from stale campaign (no carbonation) and prepackaged orange juice. However, the worst part of the experience was that the staff and other customers (as they arrived) would bang into us as they attempted to go around us - there was no room to navigate around us in the dining room. It happened about 20 times. There was absolutely no reason to seat us at that table because the restaurant was nearly empty inside when we arrived. However, I still don't understand why our request to sit outside wasn't granted. I can't imagine that the owner was working that Sunday - and if he/she was there, then I have no sympathy for what the future holds for Macon. I and no one who asks my advice will ever go there - it was my first and last time. read more

I had a great time with my girlfriends here - delicious food, good company, good vibes! We sat outside and watched the world go by. The food had a Southern flair to it, though mostly in the sides, and my Southern friends were happy to have some food that's both stylish and comforting. The waitstaff was also very fun, making funny comments related to things they overheard us chatting about, without being intrusive. I'd be happy to come here again! - Amish chicken - this is exactly what I was craving! So tender, flavorful, and both filling but not too heavy or oily. - Crispy brussel sprouts - these were my friend's but they were so addictive I couldn't stop eating them! Smoky and garlicky. - Fried okra - so tasty and and a great bite-sized snack! Now I want to learn how to make these. I also tried the grits and they were creamy though pretty standard. Also the place is not the most unique experiences amongst the various options in DC. Overall I had a lovely experience here - everything was tasty and nice. read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - Amish chicken - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

SERVICE, food was cold and the atmosphere even chillier. Don't waste time or money. It's that simple.

Came here for brunch with my husband. We requested to sit outside but it turned out to be quite a warm day. Service was quick and friendly! As it's a busy street with lots of pedestrians I would recommend asking for indoor seating. Our food was delicious, perfect for a nice summer brunch! read more

Delicious. Pretty dining room. Great light coming from the windows. Friendly staff. I ordered their Macon salad and the Macon gumbo and a coffee. The coffee was delicious French press. The salad and the soup were excellent! I recommend. Five stars! read more

I have tried this place a few times. And every time is very inconsistent. The last time I ordered off their online menu and picked it up in the restaurant, I came home to completely different things that were on the menu, including missing items. When I called to inquire, they said they changed their online menu, and then said the manager would call me back. The manager called back an hour and half later with much attitude about their menu changing. I stated that I would not know if their menu changed bc I have not dined inside. He did not offer to return my money. Not worth the headache. read more

I can only say positive things about Macon. I have never experienced such fantastic service and delicious food so consistently. Everything about this restaurant is spectacular. There are some things that you absolutely MUST try if you come here. For starters, Essie's biscuits are superb. They're flakey and buttery, and the honey butter and pepper jam they are served with are great. Secondly, the 'Mac'-on cheese. It's served in a cast iron pot with crispy bread crumbs and cheese baked on top. This is the best mac and cheese I have had in my life. Finally, if you saved room for dessert (and I pray you did), the milk and cookies are the perfect finish to your meal. The dish comes with two freshly baked cookies and a glass of warm bourbon milk. This is how all cookies should be served. Beyond these dishes, whatever you choose to get is sure to be enjoyed. Some of my favorite entrees include the lacquered short ribs and the bistro fillet. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable and the food is heavenly. Come here if you want to be impressed! read more

See all

Macon's concept is really cool and interesting, and we were hoping to have a great meal here this weekend, but we have to report that the restaurant fell short in more ways than one. We sat outside for an early dinner, and after a quick glimpse inside, we could see that not much thought had been put into ambience and decor--which is surprising considering how much you could do with the unique idea. Cocktails were costly for the measly portion size of the glass, and the deviled eggs we started with were standard fare (not bad, but literally the embodiment of Average). The mussels did not taste particularly fresh and it looked like the sauce they were in had broken. The salad Lyonnaise, however, was the biggest joke/catastrophe of the evening: overcooked THIN bacon (not the thicker lardons that should have been there), a barely discernible dressing, an overcooked egg, and some stale melba biscuits from god knows where and god knows when. QUELLE HORREUR, mes amis. Yes, we are idiots for ordering this here since the last one we had was in Lyon, France and it was one of the best salads that we ever had in our lives, but still, just UGH. For the record, we should say that we tried a bite of our dinner companions' burger and short ribs and they were both much better and much tastier, so we might be singing a different tune right now had we ordered differently, but it's still a sign of poor quality that most of the dishes we ordered were real disaster zones. Honestly, our daughter's "fish bites"--a plate of fried salmon and freshly cooked veggies--was the best plate on the table among the three of us. Dessert for our kiddo was some standard fare ice cream, and we tried a bite of the carrot cake, which did not impress. Service was on par with food quality: got the job done, but certainly nothing to applaud. The bill was a pretty lil penny too, and absolutely outrageous considering the quality. 2.5 stars, rounding up, and we can guarantee that you will have better food and service elsewhere in the city. read more

We had an extremely disappointing dinner tonight. Obviously the restaurant was overwhelmed and short staffed. That said it was no excuse for poorly prepared tasteless food. With such a limited menu the peach & pecan salad had unripened peaches and 2 pecans. The calamari though nicely fried was salty, the brisket was dry, tasteless with edges of burnt cardboard. I will give them 1 more try but I'm not expect much. read more

Been there for brunch, went back for dinner and loved it both times! Essie's biscuits are amazing - they come with red pepper jelly which gives the home-style biscuits a delicious little spicy kick. The beef is excellent - soooo tender with meat falling off the bone like it has been soaking for hours. Served over parsnip purée, it is an excellent mix of protein and sides. The butternut squash risotto is delicious too, and also has a shade of red pepper spice; definitely rib sticking, but who doesn't need comfort food from Macon, Georgia? read more

Macon Bistro & Larder - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Delicious French fusion food at DC reasonable prices. We are locals and hadn't been here is a while and fell in love again!

Underwhelming experience after hearing good things and reading the reviews. The service was gruff and the food was not at all what we had expected. Most of the dishes were overcooked, and when we mentioned it our our server, he shrugged it off and made some excuse about being busy. If you can't cook meats to temp, don't offer them. When we were seated, we were not offered drink menus, our server just asked "Wine or beer?" We want both, can we just have a menu? There are definitely better alternatives with more pleasant service in the neighborhood. read more

Good food, but what an unorganized place! Ask for sparkling water, got flat. Asked for a beer, 30 minutes later they told me they don't have it. Ordered mussels, 45 minutes later they told us they don't have any. Ordered a coq au vin, then they accidentally brought a second one and then took it away. Received the bill, gave them my credit card, then they came back and said that they forgot to of the drinks and then changed the bill again. The chocolate mousse was good though. read more

The service was excellent, the food not so much. Went for a late lunch on a Wednesday and the biscuits were really dry and the honey butter was mostly butter, with the honey basically nonexistent. Had a grilled cheese sandwich with a cup of gazpacho. Again, the bread on the sandwich was very dry and the sandwich had very little cheese...gazpacho was decent. I am not tempted to return. read more

The interior and ambience what my husband and I love. However, it was quite a disappointment. There is no bread service (or so it seems). We did not get any nor did any of the tables around us seem to be getting it. For appetizer, we ordered a crabmeat dish, which was quite tasty, but did again would have liked to eat it with bread. For our entrée, we ordered Coq Au Vin, a chicken with red wine sauce dish and a bouillabaisse with seafood. The chicken was quite dry and the sauce lacked in flavor. The bouillabaisse also lacked in some flavor, and again bread would have been nice to accompany the meal. Dessert, we got the coconut cake with sesame ice cream. The sesame ice cream was probably the best thing we had here. The coconut cake was good, but too much coconut to my taste. For the price, I would opt in for other French restaurants in the area. read more

See all

The place is totally dysfunctional I do not why they accept reservations for brunch when they are not able to bring the food to the table after 50 minutes from the order. The manager did not even care to say "hi" and apologize since she knows my family from the past years before COVID. We left after almost one hour waiting for the food that never arrived read more

Best croque madame I have ever had! Legit delicious. I look forward to trying more of their menu! I anticipate this place will be in my regular brunch rotation from this point forward. read more

For the first time last night we decided to go to Macon and we were overall disappointed... Outdoor seating was available and it was a lovely evening. Service was really good. The place was really clean. However, the food was not good. We ordered the deviled eggs (no taste, no salt, egg whites were super cold compare to the filling); the green beans (OK); tomato tart (no taste, too much cheese, dough was falling apart, it felt microwaved); salade niçoise (blend and tasteless, had to ask for more dressing); fried green tomatoes (had to send them back as they were burnt, and again tasteless). We will not return unfortunately. We had been looking forward to trying this place for a while... read more

Good solid food. Burger was great and solid fries. While we were there, we got a free show with our meal. The owner and an employee got into an argument and the owner fired him and loudly accused him of stealing. The employee refused to leave and shouted back. They called the cops to break up the fight. read more

We must have hit Macon on an off day. I made a reservation, then called to confirm and there was no trace of the reservation. I made another, but that wasn't in the record either when we showed up. They were out of non-alcoholic beer (one left) and the flatbread brunch item. The waitress's response was that they open at 10 am. We waited over half an hour for our food, which was fairly good, but the waffle was soggy. The only rose was $16 a glass...really? The final straw was that the $100 gift card we had, which was prominently on the table throughout the meal, was not usable, as the company had gone out of business. It was very nice of the owner to comp the meal, but we had no cash to pay a tip. We had heard such nice things about the restaurant and were very disappointed. Not sure if we'll return even though it's in the neighborhood. read more