Wow, then just because they deserve it another wow. I was in Macon for business and decided to give this a try based on other yelp reviews. I went with a group of 5 on a week night and had no trouble getting a table on short notice. The menus was large with a lot of good choices and the server did a great job of taking care of us without constantly interrupting our business dinner. Our orders included filets, Ribeye and grouper and they were all delicious. The prices were fair considering the quality of food and I will be back the next time I am in Macon. read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

What a great find. Been through Macon GA many times. First time to this quaint and amazingly good restairant. Variety awesome. Everything is made in house. Service was efficient, friendly and helpful. They have only been back open for a week. We felt safe. Clean and all procedures followed. We will be back. Hope you follow our lead and get back to this restaurant that has been serving Macon since 1996 We had: Shrimp and Mozzarella Cakes, Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp Cream sauce, Braised Pork Belly Shrimp and Grits and Classic Bread Pudding with Hard Sauce. read more

Love this place!!! Service is excellent. The lobster was amazing!Pan-roasted Wild Sea Bass

A quaint little place that's a tad pricey for a split/shared dish of paella. Our paella that was split in half down to half of the lobster tail...should've been $36+$8=$44 (told by server) but ended up being $50 instead. Lobster & some mussels were overcooked too. Although pricey it was tasty/flavorful. The other person in our group got the ribeye special that looked good and said it was good. Just saw the escargot appetizers charge of $16 that should've been $10 was good but not as good as the ones we had at Santioni's Italian restaurant in Jax FL and a lot cheaper too. And just a heads up, if you like the "old fashion" drinks, they do not use the dark cherry nor cubed/blocked ice. You would think the prices they were charging the service would be more on point too. Hubby had to stop another server for a throwaway plate for the seafood that our server should have given us but didn't...not a very attentive server. They at least did have some gluten free items though. read more

I love going to this establishment. Whenever we dine in I have to have Dustin as our server he makes the dinning experience. He's very attentive! The food is to die for. I love when they have prime rib and whole lobster. Their cameral layer cake comes highly recommended. read more

We had a great meal at a great place, The Back Burner Grill in Macon GA for our 12 year Anniversary. This is not the place to go everyday because your wallet would cry but for special event, it's perfect. The food is the highlight of the place but the staff is a close second. What can I say about the food, everything came out great, especially the yummy dessert. You really need to try their chocolate cake, none was left lol. Their lobster bisque was to die for plus they gave us free bread that are cooked fresh every night. We Actually got to see the same chief that cooked for us on our rehearsal dinner 12 years ago. He is now the proud owner of the restaurant; great guy. If you are in Macon and really want a great meal with great service, go here. The only thing that they didn't have is a kids meal, but my daughter was ok with eating her pasta. read more

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This truly is a gem of a seafood restaurant nestled in a neighborhood of Macon. Even a gem when compared to Atlanta restaurants, since not many other restaurants will fly in Maine lobsters once a week! Between the two times that I've been, we tried quite a few things off the menu (in no particular order): 1. Lobster special: highly recommend getting one for the table to share especially for the experience! If you plan to do so, definitely let the restaurant know ahead of time so they can reserve a lobster for you. So these are 3 pound lobsters that also come with sides that changes, mashed potatoes, green beans, avocado and lobster salad, or lobster mac and cheese. You can definitely tell that these babies are fresh, because they're juicy, sweet, and you don't even need the butter / lemon kind of fresh! I would highly recommend only getting one to share since you get plenty of food, they will even separate out onto two different plates 2. Home-smoked maple leaf duck breast: this was better than expected, it had a Smokey and sweet hoisin taste. The surprising part was these were very delicate and light, highly recommend 3. Jumbo lump crab cakes (2): sweet, savory, amazing crab cakes... you can definitely tell they do not skimp on the crab meat. 4. Pan-seared sea scallops: perfectly seared, you get 4 scallops, amazing with the sriracha aioli. A little salty for me, but would definitely get again 5. Chilean Sea bass: our server mentioned that they also get fresh Chilean sea bass once a week flown in, and you can definitely tell the fish is fresh! Smaller portion considering the other plates, wish I had a little more seasoning / taste to the fish. 6. Escargot de Bourgogne: escargot, butter, crostini ... great appetizer to share with the table. The butter was garlicky so, it made it that much more delectable! 7. House salad: simple, fresh, full of flavor and texture between the apples and the caramel ones pecans 8. Braised beef short ribs: this must have weighed a couple pounds, it was definitely a healthy serving! The meat fell off the bone, but really wish that there was a little more flavor or an additional component to help with texture since it was pretty fatty 9. Bread pudding: delicious 10. Chocolate cake: be warned these are a healthy serving of dessert, so more than enough to share. This was good, but loved the spice and gooey ness of the bread pudding more All in all, amazing fresh seafood in the back of an office building in the middle of Macon with great service, easy parking lot. Would go back again! read more

We went here 2 nights ago. They had lobster night, so we ordered lobster for me. Husband had duck as an appetizer. It was cold! They all still are wearing masks, touching them every 5 seconds then touching everything they bring us with their contaminated fingers. Here is the clincher. We get our bill. (no price on the menu for lobster). JUST THE LOBSTER was $120!!!! $120!!! Are you kidding me??? You'd think, if they're going to charge that much for ONE entree, they'd give you a heads up! NO! After a $300 dinner, we will NEVER go back again. And I have to say, the lobster was a whole lobster, but was a small one. Never again. And it smells musty inside too. read more

Great food great service great atmosphere. Chilean sea bass was delicious. Black angus steak was pricy but very good. I thought the mixed drinks were overpriced, but were made well. We had a party of 8 and the server Israel was very attentive to our needs. read more

Best gourmet restaurant in Macon!! The menu it's really good and the food taste awsome. And very clean too! Cheff Rosas read more

The Back Burner is an experience. It is among Macon's finest dining with simple, unpretentious, expertly crafted dishes. There is nothing superfluous on the plate, nothing inaccessible on the menu. To start, I had the special, three Cajun seasoned scallops in a lemon caper sauce. Though one of the three giant scallops was slightly underdone, the color was beautiful and the sauce was perfectly tart and light. The Seafood Trio Almondine is a generous medley of trout filet, three butterflied jumbo shrimp, and two of the hands-down most delicious lump crab cakes I've ever had. (Just lump crab seasoned to perfection and seared perfectly. Nothing better.) The service is first rate. The servers are attentive and extremely knowledgable without a hint of pretense. The atmosphere is surprisingly laid back for the type of fare. The prices are higher than many Macon restaurants but fair for the offerings. This is certainly a hidden gem. read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - Seafood Trio Almondine (trout, shrimp, crab cake) with fingerling potatoes and pan fried asparagus - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

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This place is a a TREASURE. Don't let the (very few) grumpy comments below scare you away, this dinner was a dream. Justin was our server, he was so helpful and had great recommendations. He seemed just as excited about the menu as I was! I had the braised rib and my mom got the lobster special, flown in from Maine the same day. Certainly on the pricey side, but in my opinion, well worth it. Each bite was magic, and I was so full when I left I was nearly in pain! I couldn't stop eating. The drinks were fabulous and we even got desert to go, as it was baked fresh in-house and we couldn't resist. We will certainly be back. read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - Braised short rib - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

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The food is delicious, the fish, seafood trio, was cooked perfectly.... Short ribs fell off the bone and tasted spectacular. Every entree and appetizer could not have been better. The only negatives, even though I still rated this restaurant a five, the wine selections were very overpriced, the background music was a bit outdated, the decor could have been nicer and the outside needed some curb appeal. My husband and I will definitely be back...soon. read more

My food was under-seasoned and overcooked. I politely asked for another entree instead. I was informed by management because the food was a bit expensive, I would be charged for both entrees despite not eating the first. Instead they offered to "re-season" my already cooked meal. I was taken aback. I declined. I felt degraded. Poor, poor customer service. This will be my last visit. Would not recommend. read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - Their attempt to "re-season". You can see coarse black pepper sprinkled on top. - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

The most amazing seafood cooked perfectly. Low key Restaurant with excellent service. A little pricey but expect this with the tucked away location. A great location for a private dinner for two. Traveled from Atlanta to Macon just for the private dinning. read more

The best food AND service in Macon! The thing I love most about work trips is trying next places! And here, the food never falls short. I have ordered the paella previously, but this time I order and the Trio, and let me say, I was highly impressed - but what's new, this place is amazing!! The grouper was the most delightful fish, I've ever tasted. The pan-seared scallops, which are cooked to perfection, were paired with a sweet teriyaki sauce - again, yum! Lastly, the key lime pie was such a great ending to the night, I truly enjoyed it. read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - Seafood Trio Almondine - extraordinary!! - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

Food is exceptional. Lobster was superb but pricey. Seafood Trio is highly recommended. First trip and we will be back.

Hidden gem. Call ahead for reservations and to inquire about lobster night. Deserted are some of the best I've had anywhere. Staff and chef are exceptionally friendly. read more

The best food that I have had in Macon. Everything that I had was delicious I will be going back. Also the service was good.

Always wonderful. We had not been here in years. Small and quant atmosphere. Came here with our two daughters 13 and 9 and all enjoyed the experience. The food was over the top. Amazing entrees and deserts. If you have not been here ...YOU MUST NOT MISS THIS WONDERFUL ESTABLISHMENT!! read more

3.5 stars. I had the pleasure of dining at what is probably the schmanciest restaurant in Macon during my visit, the relatively new Back Burner Restaurant. It's situated in an old house and is super adorable, with white tablecloths and a very intimate ambiance. We started off with their fresh (hot!) baked bread and balsamic/garlic/olive oil dipping sauce -- so, so good, as well as a complimentary amuse bouche of bruschetta that was sent out. Very flavorful and delicious! I started with one of their special salads, and Asian-style avocado salad with mandarin oranges, crab meat, shrimp, and a ginger sesame dressing. Not exactly what I was expecting at this French/Italian-seeming establishment, but it was certainly delicious! My sister got the tomato and mozzarella salad (caprese) and it was divine. They use an aged balsamic that was sweet and thick and oh-my-goodness. Mmm. For our entrees, I opted for the sea bass special, which came with a champagne sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, zucchini, and a stuffed roasted tomato. It had a beautiful sear on it, though the fish was cooked a tid bit more than I think I would've preferred, and the sauce was delightful. The actually don't have any vegetarian entrees listed on their menu, but after my sister told them she's a vegetarian, they simply whisked her menu away and said, "We'll come up with something good," which I thought was cute. They ended up bringing out a pasta primavera-type dish with tons of roasted veggies and dressed in a garlic olive oil. It was very good, and an enormous portion. Having heard rave reviews about their desserts, we couldn't leave without trying one. We shared a slice of the keylime cake served with handwhipped whipped cream. It was moist and flavorful and very delicious, and a great way to end the meal. So as you can see, our meal was very good and I'm definitely glad that we got a chance to try this place out. The reason I can't give it a more robust star rating, however, is that the service was just not quite up to par with what I'd expect for the price point -- this place is not cheap, ESPECIALLY for Macon! The hostess and our waitress, (Marni, I believe), and the bartender (didn't catch his name) were both very nice and nothing was WRONG, exactly, it was just a little bit lacking. We came in around 8:15 PM and were seated, then asked if we'd like to order a drink a few minutes later without having actually been given any drink menus. It took another five minutes or so to be given our actual menus, and though there was dipping sauce on the table from the start, the bread didn't come out until after we had placed our meal orders. The specials all sounded delicious, but there was no mention of what, if anything, they were served with. I didn't know my sea bass came with potatoes or zucchini or anything until it was placed in front of me. Also, after our salads were finished, our knives were taken and not replaced, so when our entrees came out I actually had to reach behind me (where it happened that the cutlery cabinet was located and had been left open) and pick out a new knife for myself. The most telling issue in terms of service for me, though, was that at the end of the meal, it felt pretty clear that they were in a rush to get us out. We weren't offered dessert, we had to ask for it, and I just felt kind of awkward and rushed. We came in at like 8:15, which I guess is a little on the later side of things in terms of Macon dining, and I get that the restaurant closed at 9:30, but usually that's a guideline for when you stop seating people, not for when you actually close up and lock the door. We ordered dessert at like 9:20, so it's not like we were waaaay overstaying our welcome or anything like that. For an expensive restaurant restaurant that seems to consider itself as true fine dining, I just didn't think the service was as good as it should have been. Again, everyone was very NICE, I just didn't feel that well waited-upon. And in general I guess I didn't feel particularly, I dunno, wanted by the end of the evening. I'm still glad that I got a chance to try this place out, and it might be a great place to take your parents or something for a nice night out, but I'm not sure that I'll be returning next time I'm in town. read more

Previously, I would have raved on and on about this Fine Dining restaurant. After my most recent visit, I will never dine there again. I understood the restaurant had a new owner and chef and thus expected a new and exciting experience. What my husband and I received fell way below our expectations. We started with the crab cakes. They were burned and greasy. I sent them back and was then told, by Marnie per the chef, that he was not remaking them and that we would have to keep them. We then ordered the seafood trio and the sea bass. See the previous year, on November 25th, we celebrated our anniversary as well as the loss of my grandmother. They both now fall on the same day. We ordered a very similar meal and expected a very similar experience. You know, the feeling of warmth, comfort, and peace. That is the exact opposite of what we got. We got rude, disorderly and flat out horrible food. The trio was covered in lemon juice. No, not the normal amount squeezed on the seafood to enhance flavor. Rather, they threw the whole bag of lemons on the seafood. We happen to know seafood and various methods of preparing it. We were raised fishing, shrimping and trapping seafood off the coasts of Florida, South Carolina and Virginia and consider ourselves very knowledgeable. Again, we explained that the food was not up to its usual standard and how disappointed we were. Poor Marnie had the unfortunate task of telling us that the chef said he did not care and we had to eat it and pay for it. So needless to say, I was not happy. I proceeded to tell Marnie how they ruined our anniversary with that awful representation of food and terrible preparation. I also told her we would not pay for those horrible greasy and burned crab cakes. I did, however, tell her that out of respect for the craft that we love so much, that we would pay for our dinner but that would be the last time we ever dined there. To the chef: Yes, we are black and yes we heard what you said. No, we don't normally complain about our food because we normally take our time and prepare beautiful, tasteful and wonderful food ourselves at our own homes. No, we did not want a free meal. We expected to pay, just like all the other times we have eaten out. No, we will never come back. Not just because dinner was horrible, but because you made the expression that because of our race we could not possibly know good food when we taste it. Here's a tip...Never judge a book by its cover. You never know what is written on the pages inside. You will forever be in our book of life as the person who treated us this way. read more

This place just didn't live up to previous reviews. Maybe it's because most if them are over a year old, or maybe they were understaffed that night (there was a private party going on in the back room) but despite reserving weeks in advance and arriving early, and many tables remaining unoccupied the whole time, I felt like we were rushed and the server would rather not be bothered with us. I mean, this isn't the Olive Garden. I don't require much as a restaurant customer, but I do expect attention to be commensurate with price. Dinner for two plus ONE alcoholic drink and ONE dessert between both was $162 before tip, and this is a low cost of living area. One way to appear engaged and attentive to customers: stop walking when you arrive at the customer's table to drop something off. The food was generally good but not good enough to justify its pricing, which explains why another reviewer noted that lunch pricing is about half of dinner pricing. My husband's sea bass was partly undercooked and my tuna was overcooked. For dessert I ordered what they call "twelve-layer chocolate cake" (which BTW is actually yellow cake, only the frosting is chocolate) had frosting so oversweetened it was inedible. I could taste no chocolate, just powdered sugar. To their credit, someone (not our server) did take the dessert off the bill and gave me another to go at no charge. But we were charged for refills of a Coke - really?? read more

We recently moved to the area just a few blocks away, and unaware of what type of restaurant this was, dashed in for what we assumed would be a run-of-the-mill casual dinner; we were pleasantly wrong. What greeted us instead was a world class meal that could stand up to any highly rated big city restaurants. I had the lamb, and my wife had the filet. The mains and sides were done absolutely perfectly, and the wait staff was professional and attentive. This place takes their craft very seriously and it shows on the plate. read more

Best night of my life! [ while in Macon ;-) ] Sometimes those quaint restaurants are just that - cute, yes, but leave much to be desired on the actual dining experience or talent in the kitchen. Established in an attractive old home, Back Burner has it all: comfortable dining area that caters well to single diners, large groups and the romantic couple. Service was impeccable and my perfectly-cooked rare steak was made ever more excellent when it was delivered by the chef himself. Love the rustic pesto and feta cheese on top of the tomato and grilled squash - a nice touch that really heightened the flavours of the plate. Small, but enjoyable wine selection, and several by-the-glass options. I was the last diner in the restaurant, it was pouring rain, and taxis, I discovered, are on the endangered species list in this town. Christian, the owner and chef, came out one last time to ensure that I had the perfect dining experience (I had), and when he learned I was attempting to find a taxi within a 30 miles radius (I was having some challenges doing so), without a thought otherwise, he offered to drive me back to my hotel. Yes, I know, this may seem strange in most places, but we're talking the south here, and refusing the offer seemed downright rude. Best idea ever. And that should paint a picture of one of the most attractive, delicious, welcoming and enjoyable dining experiences you will find in Macon. read more

I still dream about The Back Burner. This place is etched in my brain as one of my most favorite restaurants- EVER. Set in an old house, the Back Burner serves wonderful food with panache and a french flair. The owner, Christian, is French and used to co-own Cafe Provence ( which I just loved too). I've spent many happy nights here eating wonderful meals.. especially those sitting out in the front room area listening to the rain drumming on the pavement. read more

I have been in love with this restaurant for as long as I have appreciated good food! Christian creates some of the most wonderful specials in the state, and I have never been disappointed by a meal here. This weekend we ordered the Split Pea Soup, a Spinach Salad with onions, bacon, and a plethora of toppings chopped fine, the Chilean Sea Bass with a champagne sauce red tomato and zucchini (a special), and also the Maine Lobster stuffed with crab!! Heaven on earth! Other features that I enjoy here are the mushroom ravioli, any seafood dish, and every soup he has ever made. The soups are often times puréed and served with a side of crunchy bread. Almost every entre has a delicious sauce that he has created. I can't get enough. I know that the prices may scare some diners away, but it is worth every penny and you will not be disappointed. Fine dining at its best. read more

Passing through Macon, my world traveling brother's usually flawless gps skills failed to find a chain steakhouse for a quick dinner. Searched YELP to the rescue. We stumbled into Backburner, at first, wasn't impressed with the exterior of the building, but there were a number of nicer cars in the clean parking area. Pleasantly greeted, seated quickly and our much needed liquid nourishments, delivered. Menu has adequate amount of diverse choices, in addition to the daily specials sheet. Wait staff is second to none, every need was anticipated without being intrusive, true professionals. Appetizers and salads crafted with unique combinations. We picked the ribeyes, cooked exactly as requested, the meat didn't require a knife to cut. Asparagus spears cooked perfectly, with some sort of seasoned mashed potatoes complimented the ribeye. Pricing isn't cheap, but the epicurean delight with highly attentive staff is worth the premium. read more

The food is not worth $$$. Outside dining area not clean. Salads were good. But the lump crab coat had no lumps of crab meat. Shrimp and Crits just ok. read more

We were stopping in Macon for the night and wanted a nice meal. Saw the recommendations for this and decided to give it a shot. Mind you we live on an island so we weren't expecting too much with the seafood but wow! It was amazing! We ordered the mussels as the starter and they were the best we have ever eaten! The portion size was huge! I had the seafood trio and my husband had the prime rib. Both were delicious! We are already planning our next stop in Macon so we can come back here and try other menu items like the braised short ribs which went by on a plate and smelled and looked incredible! read more

We had lamb and short ribs. Both were very tasty. The chocolate cake was dry and needed some help. I asked for some raspberry sauce and it made the dessert really tasty. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Would totally recommend and go back. Probably would enjoy trying something new. They have a lot of choices on the menu, so it makes it more fun to go back. read more

Mmmm. Some of the best food in Macon. Anything on special will always be fantastic. Have to deduct a star as many of the seats are hard and uncomfortable. An amazing place for lunch. read more

When I am in Macon I always try to eat here. The interior is amazing as well as the staff. I've tried the crab cakes, seafood trio almondine, prime rib, and tenderloin and each time it was perfect. Call ahead and see if they are serving their grilled octopus appetizer. Be sure to leave room for dessert and order the strawberry cake. read more

Came here for our anniversary and had a great fine dining experience. For an appetizer, we got the Baked Baby Brie (Caramelized Onions, Apricot Preserves, Roasted Pine Nuts, Honey-Drizzled Crostinis). We both got the Black Angus Beef Tenderloin for entrees. Definitely a great choice. The tenderloins came with Béarnaise Sauce, Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes, and Sautéed French Beans. Mine was well-done, and my fiancé's was medium-rare. We both loved our choices and can't wait to go back! read more

Been here twice. And never fail. Seafood is my best. Grilled sword Fish is mouth watering. Delicious ! read more

The Back Burner Restaurant - Awesome grilled sword fish. - French Near Me - Macon, Georgia

My experience here was excellent. Great food. Great service. Very pricey, but worth it.

Went with a friend for my birthday lunch. Got the shrimp and crab salad with avocado in the center. Nothing special. Was expecting more for $14.00! Only 4-5 shrimp and a light sprinkling of crab. The lobster bisque was the best part of the lunch. Probably won't go back any time soon. read more

Quaint restaurant with a menu heavy on seafood, but a few other choices as well. I don't think you can go wrong with any entree choice. The seafood trio was exceptional, good fish, really good crab cake and exceptional shrimp. Service was very good, mixed drinks were prompt, no disappointments. I was told the steak was good. The dessert i had was very good as well. Will return for sure. read more

I LOVED my meal here. We came as a large group and they did such a good job making us feel accommodated. I ordered the trout and it came with a crab cake and shrimp. There were people at our table who ordered paella (this is a thing that you have to call ahead for) but boy, it's WORTH IT! The paella at the table was ordered a few times--some seafood and some vegetarian. Almost all people had to have their wrapped up to go because there was so much--even with sharing! And the seafood in the dishes was plentiful and fresh. My dish was delicious...lemon on the seafood, cooked potatoes, and asparagus. I just enjoyed it so much. read more