MACON, Ga. —
Restaurants that opened in 2023:
1) Taco Mac
The long awaited Taco Mac opened their doors in late November, on the 30th.
The restaurant chain says it has more than 80 beers on tap with a 165-inch LED video wall, along with 40 TVs.
“This new location will be a home away from home for guests wanting to enjoy a great meal made with quality ingredients and drinks with friends,” Taco Mac Director of Marketing Kelsey Layer said.
The new Taco Mac location is located off of Bass Road near I-75.
Insomnia Cookies opened in early November, welcoming late night patrons from all over Macon.
The chain was highly anticipated, as before folks in the area had to drive to Atlanta to satisfy their late night cookie cravings.
The company was actually started by a group of college friends, who were up late studying and wanted some snacks, according to the company's website.
They say that the company's founder, Seth, wanted a sweeter option compared to the late-night snacks that were available.
"For our founder Seth, the craving was even more specific. He wanted something sweet, warm, and he wanted it brought to his door," Insomnia Cookies' website said. "At the time though (this was 2003!), late-night food options weren’t cutting it."
According to the company's biography, the lack of available late-night options then led Seth to start up Insomnia Cookies.
Insomnia is open now by Amici and Osaka on Mercer University Drive.
Sweet Eleanor's opened in November, and they are already a big hit in the Macon community.
Owner Scott Mitchell (who also owns the Bohemian Den store downtown) explained he was naming the place after his grandmother Eleanor, to honor her.
He said he hoped the place would be an environment where customers can come and make their own memories, like the ones with his grandmother he so fondly looks back on.
"Sweet Eleanor's is named after my grandmother. She turned 91 this last month, and she passed away last Thursday. It's been a really bittersweet time for us here, filled with a lot of happiness and sadness at the same time," he said.
Today, a beautiful mural of Eleanor sits on the right hand wall of the café and looks out over the customers.
As far as the menu goes, the shop offers a little bit of everything.
"We have everything from gelato and muffins and cookies to cheesecakes and cakes to blondies and brownies. We also serve Perc coffee, and we are the only people in middle Georgia that serves Perc out of Savannah. We have a wide range of so many different things for you to try," Mitchell said.
He said you can "make your life a little bit sweeter," by coming in to grab a treat.
You can check out Sweet Eleanor's at 530 Poplar Street downtown.
Swint's opened in November as well, offering goodies like pralines, fudge, cookies, chocolate turtles, peanut butter cornflake bites, dipped Oreos, ice cream, and more.
They've been around since 1925, but opened their doors on a new location in Forsyth.
In addition to confections, they have another side of the shop where you can buy local goods and gifts for your loved ones (or yourself!)
Their homemade goods have been carefully crafted, and their recipes have largely remained the same since their 1925 creation.
"We are still using a lot of those older recipes, so when people walk in these doors they can expect to see a lot of the original recipes and candies that were made many years ago," said owner Eric Watson.
Swint's is located at 107 Industrial Park Road in Forsyth. They are open Tuesday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
5) Hickman's
Hickman's opened in October of 2023, named after local legend Matt Hickman.
Hickman is very well known by lots of Macon community members, and his name sits atop a sign on Zebulon Road for his new restaurant.
The place is owned by Hickman and Operating owner Melissa Pettinato, who works together to make sure customers are always satisfied.
Their menu features all sorts of goodies, like Hawaiian pork eggrolls, burgers, wings, tacos, and more.
Hickman says owning his own restaurant has always been a dream, and this time, he has someone new to inspire him.
"My son. He's the one who made me change and get out of...you know, finding out I was having a kid, I was like 'Well, I can't be a bartender anymore,' and I've always wanted to own a restaurant so he inspired me to go out and figure out a way to make it happen. So, here we are," Hickman said.
You can visit Hickman's at 6351 Zebulon Rd Suite A in Macon. They are open Wednesday - Friday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (they close from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Liliana's opened in September, at the Society Garden.
They serve Italian Street food, with menu items like grilled skewers with pesto sauce, lambchops with fries, fried gnocchi, fresh cannolis and more. You can check out the full menu here.
Director of Operations Laurence Dantzler says community means everything to them, and they want to be a place where people can eat and connect over good food.
"With the amount of food trucks that they've had coming through and people being able to share a meal in the garden, we wanted to be a part of that," Dantzler said.
You can find Liliana's at the Society Garden, located at 2389 Ingleside Avenue. Their hours are listed here.
Nature's Table opened their doors in August, near Atrium Health Navicent.
They have a well-balanced menu, with options ranging from salads to sandwiches to smoothies. They also have freshly squeezed juices, acai bowls and wraps.
Their motto is "from nature to table" and each meal is designed to have a good flavor profile while giving you the nutrients needed in every bite.
CEO Terrell Robertson says it is the place for food that tastes great, and is great for you.
"We're the best kept secret that shouldn't be a secret," he said. "We have healthy food options that are for you that taste really really good. There's something on our menu for everybody. if you're looking for something that is healthy bus still tasty at the same time, this is the place where you need to be."
You can find Nature's Table at 781 Spring Street, Suite 104 in Macon They are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Macon's first speakeasy opened in June in downtown Macon.
They have around 45 different cocktails on their menu, ranging from classic drinks to house made cocktails. All their drinks are owner Chelsea Hughes' original recipes.
Some popular drinks include "The Shutter Island," "The Great Gatsby," and "The Mister Griswold."
Hughes says it's a tie for her favorite cocktail because while both her picks are different, she says they each bring unique tastes to the table.
"To choose a single favorite, that would be so tricky! But I think it's between the "Great Gatsby" and the "Mister Griswold" for me, both of which are very spirit forward and whisky based. One of them is vanilla and Mezcal, and the other one is bruised fresh herbs and a chartreuse and rye whiskey," she said.
She also recommended "The Shutter Island" to those visiting the speakeasy for the first time who may not know what they like. She says it's a crowd pleaser and leans on the sweeter side.
In order to get a spot in the speakeasy, you have to do a little sleuthing. Hughes says part of the fun is figuring out how to get inside.
Visit Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails website and the cat will lead you to where you need to go!
Black Cat Liquor & Libations is located in the basement of your favorite Asian Fusion restaurant downtown and is open Thursday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
9) 3rd & Cherry
3rd & Cherry opened on June 1, and has been serving up delicious dishes since then.
They are known for their steak and seafood options, like their "Shrimp Edison" dish, their 'Ultimate porkchop' and their Caribbean Shrimp Mofongo, which is a staff favorite.
Owner Eddy Lopez's family is from Puerto Rico, so while the menu focuses a lot on traditional steak and seafood, there are several authentic Caribbean options for you to choose from.
Lopez takes pride in every dish on his menu and makes sure that they are served perfectly, down to the garnish.
No matter your taste buds, the menu has something for you. From their appetizers to entrees, everything is presented to perfection.
So, if you're in the mood to try some fine dining, you can find 3rd and Cherry at 379 3rd Street in downtown.
They are open Monday - Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Daisy came to downtown Macon around April, and was started by childhood best friends German Maran and Martin Velinov.
They met at Howard Middle School when they were around 14 and 15 years old, and now serve delicious drinks to the downtown Macon community.
"We decided to open this when we were working at another local restaurant, We thought it would be a great ide to have a bar of our own, and we just went for it," said Maran.
One of The Daisy's most famous drinks is the 'El Diablo,' which is a spicy margarita with a lime slice and jalapeño.
You can find a menu of The Daisy's specialty drinks on their Facebook page if you want to check out some of their creations.
The bar is located at 518 Cherry Street in Downtown Macon. It is open Tuesday - Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., depending on when business slows down.
This cigar lounge came to downtown Macon in January of 2023.
Owner Bruce Riggins and his son Nicholas Riggins run the business as a father-son duo, and they say they are excited to welcome people in for drinks, food, and, of course, cigars.
"I am very excited. There have been quite a few people that have come through already; it's grown," Bruce said.
If you are looking to grab drinks, dinner, appetizers, or a smoke, Churchill's is the place for you. They have options for causal customers, as well as people who expect to settle in with their group and have a full night out.
And don't worry about excessive smoke while dining inside either -- Bruce says they have excellent ventilation in the lounge.
"Come out and join us, we have great ventilation here, which I think most people are looking for when inside smoking. We have great cigars, but most of all, we have a great staff here," he says.
The lounge is located at 557 Cherry Street, right above Cherry Street Hookah Bar, so if you want to visit for yourself, Churchill's is perfect for a sophisticated night on the town.
Tenmii opened around the beginning of January 2023, at 1625 Bass Road in Suite 330.
Their menu features several items already, including pork Chasyu, Japanese Kare, miso soup, and several rice bowls.
Their chicken and pork rice bowls are especially delicious. They come with a few savory sides and lots of flavor.
The inside of the restaurant is also very aesthetically pleasing, and provides a good backdrop to enjoy your food.
If you want some sweets or snacks to munch on with your meal, there is also a counter full of Japanese snacks and candies.
Tenmii will be open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. if you want to stop by and grab some filling and flavorful dishes.
Restaurants that closed:
1) Doggie Dogs
Doggie Dogs opened originally around April/May of 2023, but its service was short lived.
Owner Antonio Walker had opened the business and centered it around his cheap eats, including the $1 hot dog.
After only a short time of business, their restaurant caught on fire in June.
After a report by the Macon-Bibb Fire Department, it was said to have been caused by one of the fryers. No one was inside the place when the fire broke out, and no one was harmed.
2) Chick'n Cone
Back in 2022, Chick'n Cone opened. After only a year in the Macon food scene, their doors were closed.
They sold chicken in waffle cones, a different take on the classic dish of chicken and waffles as well as other items.
Their full statement read:
"Chick'n Cone of Macon is unfortunately shutting its doors for good. As a family owned business we hoped to become a permanent staple within the community; however, not all business ventures are meant to be permanent. We will always remember the memories given to us by you, our amazing customers and the wonderful staff we had the privilege working with. Thank you for all the love and support we are forever grateful."
They officially closed in June of 2023.
Many Maconites were crestfallen to hear that the Nu-Way located in Mercer Village would be closing its doors in December of 2023.
If you still crave some grub from Nu-Way - don't worry.
They have several other locations around Macon, and owner James Cacavious says they are looking to build another store. However, an announcement with all the details will be made in a few weeks.
"We will be building another store to relocate one of other locations. I don't want to disclose too much yet, but we will probably make an announcement on that in the next couple of weeks," he said.
As for the Nu-Way workers at Mercer Village, they have already been re-assigned to work at other locations.
Nu-Way has locations at Baconsfield, Bloomfield, Napier Square, Northside Drive, Zebulon Road and more if you want to go grab some food. They also have locations in Warner Robins.
To find out more about Nu-Way, you can visit their website.
4) Jag's Pizzeria
Another Mercer Village staple many Macon residents were sad to see go was Jag's Pizzeria.
They originally opened in March 2020, just days before the pandemic hit, restaurants were shuttered and Mercer students were sent home.
But despite making it through the turbulence of COVID-19, the restaurant announced their doors will not open again, and December would be the restaurant's last month in operation.
"This decision was not an easy one to make," the pizzeria said on Facebook. "We would much rather stay and continue to serve our customers as that is our greatest passion but a number of factors makes that possibility impractical."
It is unclear what the future holds for employees at the restaurant. But the statement expressed their gratitude to the employees for their role in making the restaurant what it was.
"Your continued commitment to our establishment and our customers has meant more than you know and we will be forever grateful for having you as part of the team," the post said.
Coming up in the new year:
Back in October of 2023, 7 Brew Coffee announced they were planning to open soon in Macon and Warner Robins.
The timeline was not specified, and they originally said they'd be open in "the winter" of 2023.
However, according to an email posted online by Terri Jackson, they said the Bass Road location is set to open in late February of 2024.
This new restaurant is set to open at 4040 Riverside Drive in Macon, and according to them, will be "your soon-to-be favorite Mexican restaurant.'
They just announced their grand opening two days ago on Facebook ad. You can find out more about their opening here.