If you've ever heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover," Downtown Grill is the restaurant…read moreversion of that. Tucked away in an unsuspecting corner of Downtown Macon, this fine dining English-style steakhouse established in 1997, offers an experience that unfolds slowly, from a puzzling entrance to a surprisingly polished dining room... and ultimately to some of the best food I've had in Middle Georgia. ARRIVAL + FIRST IMPRESSIONS Because Downtown Macon was buzzing on this particular Saturday night, my husband and I ended up parking a couple of blocks away and taking the alley the GPS insisted was our route. Let's just say the alley definitely had "first date horror movie" vibes--but the beautifully framed photos lining the walls helped cut the sketch factor a bit. Once inside, we were greeted by a friendly, outgoing staff... and immediately greeted by something else: the cigar smoke. Downtown Grill has a full bar with an impressive oak humidor and a selection of bourbons, wines, and scotches that could easily impress the most seasoned connoisseur. But that also means the bar area is smoky--very smoky. I actually questioned whether we'd wandered into the wrong place until the hostess whisked us to the back dining room, where the ambiance shifted entirely. The dining room is intimate, classic, and much more aligned with "fine dining." Cozy booths, dim lighting, soft background music, truly an escape. And once seated, I didn't smell the cigar smoke at all. Bonus points for the restrooms using cloth napkins for hand-drying, an eco-friendly and elegant touch. We had noted on our reservation that it was our anniversary, but there was no acknowledgment. Not a deal breaker, but definitely unexpected for a fine dining restaurant, especially one that's been around this long. Our server was polished, professional, and consistently attentive. No complaints there. I started with the Elderflower Refresher and my husband with an Old Fashioned, both solid. But the star of the cocktail lineup? The Lavender Margarita. An absolute hit and something I'd go back for alone. For an appetizer, we ordered the Lump Crab Cakes. As a Maryland native, my standards are sky-high. These weren't "lump" crab cakes, but for Middle Georgia they were acceptable. They were flavorful, well-seasoned, and paired perfectly with the aioli drizzled on top. Then came the French Onion Soup. I'd seen the rave reviews and they were absolutely justified, easily the best I've had in years. Rich, savory, cheesy perfection. We both opted for the special of the night, the Salmon. My husband's came with mashed potatoes and green beans. I chose broccoli and green beans. The verdict? 5 out of 5. The salmon was cooked with precision--flaky, flavorful, expertly seasoned. The veggies were fresh, vibrant, and seasoned beautifully. Truly, this was the best meal I've had in Middle Georgia, hands down. Downtown Grill may not be where I'd choose to celebrate a milestone (the lack of acknowledgment and smoky entrance made sure of that), but it is where I'll go when I want a reliably excellent, well-executed meal. The kitchen is clearly the star of the show, and they delivered an unforgettable dining experience. We'll absolutely be back, maybe not for the anniversary, but definitely for that food.

I came tonight excited to celebrate my mom's birthday, but unfortunately the experience was…read moreterrible. We were seated 30 minutes after our reservation time. After waiting 15 minutes, we were told they were only running about 10 minutes behind. Throughout the wait, all we heard from the staff was, "Thank you for your patience." Once we were finally seated, we noticed that most of the dining room was still waiting on food, with tables looking around and only drinks in front of them. At that point, we decided not to take the risk of having to wait forever for our food as well. We were starving, so for the first time in my life, I walked out of a restaurant to go to another. I don't know what has happened to Downtown Grill, but it has really gone downhill. It was a disappointing way to celebrate what should have been a special evening.

A very upscale, classy restaurant in the heart of downtown Macon. Don't be fooled by the bar when…read moreyou walk in, dovetail is tucked upstairs and is much quieter and more sophisticated. You need reservations to dine here. There was complimentary bread and peach jam. They have a rotating selection of daily specials, cheeses, and change their menu frequently. I also appreciate the "small plates" section for when you're not that hungry. The cheese board appetizer was a surprising favorite. It had items sourced from local farms. Our waiter was very accommodating and did a good job with recommendations and explaining the intricacies of each item.

I was in Macon for the weekend and kept hearing about Dovetail. So I decided to give it a try…read more Located in the heart of Macon in the middle of the Historic District, Dovetail provides a charming southern vibe with a low lit cozy kinda atmosphere and delicious comfort food. You definitely feel the love with their servers. Extensive menu knowledge and very service oriented they aim to give you the best experience possible. So after a tasty cocktail and a very nice charcuterie board I went with the Crab and Panko Crusted Cod. Oh my goodness what a delicious entrée. A tasty crusted outside and so tender inside. And that lemon and miso creamed kale topped it all off. Definitely a place to try when in Macon. The only draw back is that it's up stairs on the 2nd floor with no elevator.

AN EXPERIENCE NOT JUST A MEAL…read more This place is located in a kind of seedy downtown area of Macon. We walked in and the vibe throughout the place won me over instantly. When the staff seem to enjoy their jobs and working with each other as well, chances are you have a winner. We were seated immediately in a cozy booth with floor to ceiling graffiti. The place just oozed character! We were told that at times in the loft above our heads they had live music FYI. The waitress was friendly and on point. We never found ourselves waiting to order or for drinks, etc. The food was great. We started with the solid gold soul rolls which were tasty. I'd say 2-3 people for this app. My wife had the hot pig and fig which she enjoyed. She wanted something a little light and it was perfect for her. I ordered the Dr John Burger. The cook forgot my bacon . No bueno. Our waitress was game and was quick to bring me bacon to complete the burger. It was well cooked and the flavors were excellent so all was good. Our companion enjoyed her food as well. We all left full and happy. And, yes I would return and I recommend trying them yourself.

The Rookery is definitely worth a visit if you're in downtown Macon. The atmosphere is fun,…read morewelcoming, and full of local character, and the service was friendly throughout our meal. We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were a great appetizer--crispy, flavorful, and a nice way to kick things off. For our entrées, we had the fish and chips and the smoked turkey sandwich. The fish had a nice crispy batter, and the smoked turkey sandwich was tasty and satisfying. My only disappointment was the fries. They were a bit soggy and lacked the crispiness I was hoping for, especially with the fish and chips. A crisp, hot fry would have taken the meal to the next level. Overall, the food was good, the atmosphere was enjoyable, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

It's a hotel restaurant. Has a very small menu with overpriced and basic food items. The only big…read moresurprise were the swim biscuits which were impressively good. It was very quiet with barely anyone eating there. The servers were strange and didn't seem like they wanted to be working.

Food and bar service was very slow. Server provided incorrect menu information several times. They…read morehad Several issues with their bill pay. BTW they do not accept legal tender ($$). The food tasted OK but Price point is too high. I Do Not Recommend at this time.

Service is pretty on point. I like the manager coming to check in. This is a corporate spot, so my…read morereview probably can't change anything. The one night we went, it seemed like the grill was too hot, so the hot station chef was THINKING that the seared steak was too temp, but it was raw inside. Management took the criticism very well and offered to take care of it, but we paid anyways. Beautiful sear, hey! Potato could have used a bit more "loading", but I figured I'd cut the calories for my $5 Budlight! (That's a win these days) Firecracker shrimp was ‼ definitely recommend. Just remember to cut in to your steak first to make sure cooked to your temp. But over all, I do enjoy this location. Catherine is amazing, I owe her more tip money if she's reading this! We don't do 19% in my house, I'll get you back!

I recently went to Texas roadhouse here in Macon, Georgia, and order a steak salad which I have…read moreordered in the past was really good. I asked for a ranch dressing on the side, but when I got my salad, I had ranch dressing on the side, but it had also been saturated in Italian dressing. I told the waiter what it happened that I did not want Italian dressing on it it was supposed to be ranch dressing on the side only. He stated that that's the way it comes and did not make it right. I have ordered this before in the past and it was always really good and wasn't saturated in Italian dressing. I did not wanna make a scene so I paid for the meal and left.

My company had a staff dinner at the back burner. there was a total of 10 in our party. Restaurant…read morewas quiet and allowed our staff to relax and talk amongst ourselves. Food and service were excellent if you've never been I would highly recommend.

Don't judge a book by its cover! The curb appeal may not be…read morethe best however this place is beautiful inside a d perfect for date nights, anniversary, special gatherings. My waitress was exceptional and very knowledgeable about everything on the menu/wine list. I had the seafood trio which was perfectly cooked. The Cajuns sea bass was flavorful along with the shrimp but the best was the crab cake. Additionally the pecan bread pudding was delicious. I will absolutely come back here again once I am in town. Highly recommend.

Best food we had while in Macon for three days for a live music sojourn. Highly recommend---service…read morewas impeccable and the quality of the food on point. Cool vibes.

Great bistro restaurant by in Macon! Seated promptly with reservations. Wonderful and attentive…read moreservice through out the night. The caprese salad is amazing.

For a loud, divey, smaller, Macon sports bar, serving to mostly locals and regulars , it hit the…read moreSpot for a needed late-night grub pick-me-up. The Fried Buffalo Chx Salad came in nicely as far as tastiness and filling-ness. Menu filled w all your expected choices- burgers, dogs, nachos. There were bout 6 wides at this pad, and they happily changed the channel when asked. Staff v nice, Friendly, and go outta their way to make u feel welcome and at-home.

Awesome food and great service! Gotta order the fried pickle spears when you go. Atmosphere is cozy…read moreand friendly. Best place in Macon to watch a game and get some late night food and drinks.