By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Whatever direction you’re coming in from for the GHSA state basketball championships in Macon, you’ll be near some quality grub.

And more than just the chains. Much more.

There are plenty of local/regional restaurants as well as chains off of Exit 172 and 169 on I-75 in North Macon, as well as Exit 3 and 5 and 9 on I-475. All the food groups.

But within 10 minutes of the Macon Coliseum, the choices are more loaded than a fat baked tater. And the local dining scene has only grown since last year.

Barbque, seafood, southern/soul, meat-n-twos/threes, classic and unique burgers, high-end, Korean, desserts/coffee, pizza, Italian, subs, bagels, tacos, sushi/Hibachi, noodles, biscuits, sandwiches, coffee, brew pubs, Cajun, Mexican, Southwestern American, wings.

And there’s an arcade and comic book store downtown, too. If you get here early, walking around downtown will be more of an experience than you expect. And finding a parking spot at night is a task.

Within about a 5-minute drive of the Coliseum are about 40 or so non-chain, non-fast food grub offerings, from upper level and dressy to burgers to coffee, and covering many ethnicities.

Here’s a fairly complete list of downtown possibilities, as well as near Mercer, and throughout Macon, a Google map showing a partial collection. There are others not listed (yes, there’s that many):

Downtown area

American Feel & Wings, 45 Spring
          Philly cheese steaks, wings, fish, chicken, shrimp, gyros
Baldinos, Cherry and Second
          Big, tasty subs, salads
Bearfoot, corner Cherry and MLK
          young sports bar, Mercer oriented, across from Ga. Sports Hall of Fame
BJs, Cherry and MLK
          Pool hall, bar
Biddy's, 946 First
          Wings, tenders, salads, sandwiches, more
The Brick 1305 Hardeman Ave.
Starters/apps, wings, salads, pasta, pizza, calzones, sandwiches
Cashman's Pub, 370 Cherry
          Across from the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Cox Cafe, 694 Lower Poplar
          Quality meat and 2/3, south of downtown, breakfast and dinner
Churchill’s on Cherry, 557 Cherry
Cigar lounge with versatile apps, entrees from salmon and chicken Marcella to filet Oscar and crab cakes, plus full brunch
Da Smoothie Plug, 1087 MLK
          More than smoothies, like sandwiches
Dovetail, Cherry Street
          Southern cuisine with a fancy touch, full bar
Downtown Grill, 562 Mulberry St. Lane
          Superb english-style steakhouse with cigar bar.
El Sombrero, 610 North (across river and I-16)
          Mexican
Famous Mike's, 524 Poplar
          More than burgers and sandwiches, like home cooking, hot dogs, biscuits
Felicia's Cake Factory, 365 Third
Cheesecakes, cupcakes, petit fours
Grove, fresh local food, 1019 Riverside
Fresh food made with local incredients, from blueberry goat bites to jerk shrimp o-boy to bowls and vegan, 11a-3
H&H, 807 Forsyth
          Legendary southern cookin, made famous by Allman Brothers (almost a museum)
Hello Boba, 359 Third
          Boba drinks and tea and food
Hightales Rooftop Barm 401 Cotton
          Atop Hotel Forty Five, with a view
Hummingbird, across from Bearfoot
          broad beverage menu, live music hall, downtown neighborhood bar
JJ Fish and Chicken, 66 Spring
Filling combos or entrees with chicken, fish, shrip, plus gizzards and nuggets, wings,
Just Tap'd, 488 First
          All sorts of local and state beers in a brewpub, with pizza, snacks, sharables
Kimchi Factory, 440 Walnut
          Korean cuisine
Kinjo Kitchen & Cocktails, 497 Second
          Asian-inspired comfort food with Southern touch, as well as pork belly bites and veggie eggrolls. Atop a speakeasy
Kudzu Seafood, 512 Poplar
          Louisiana oriented seafood, second-floor patio
La Bella Morelia, 524 Mulberry
          Broad variety of Mexican offerings
Little India, Cherry Street
          Traditional Indian cuisine
Loom, 401 Cotton
          In Hotel Forty Five, some sharables as well as tenderloin to ribeye to wine and fancy beverages

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Macon Bagels, 470 Third
Macon Water Ice, 490 Cherry
Ninja Japanese Sushi and Steakhouse, 575 Mulberry St. Lane

Ocmulgee Brewpub, 484 Second
          Voted best burger in Macon to go with a sandwiches, sides, snacks, and loads of locally brewed beer
Oliver's Corner Bistro, 496 Second
          From fritas to mussels to smoked chicken raviol and honey bourbon salmon, and full lunch menu
Parish, Cherry Street.
          Cajun/Louisiana, live music, patio
Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen, 450 Third
          Brewpub and versatile menu, two stories with games on bottom floor
Pearl Cuisine & Cocktails, 470 First
          European-style bistro, from Tambaqui ribs to duck pot pie,

Philosophie Wine and Charcuterie, 616 Poplar

Quill, 350 Second
          In The Woodward Hotel, with lounge, rooftop patio, literature-inspired drinks
Reboot, Cherry Street
          Bar and video/game arcade
Reckon Coffee and Wine, 401 Cotton
          Inside Hotel 45 across from the City Auditorium
Rookery, 543 Cherry St.
          great burgers, varied menu, live music on weekends, non-smoking. Has a new finedining restaurant upstairs.
Satterfield's Barbque, 120 New St.
          Lunch, open till 3, superb BBQ
Third & Cherry
Steak and seafood, from porkbelly and shrimp Edison to scallops in Prosciutto and Carribean shrimp Mofongo
Three Countries, 195 Spring
          Mexican, American, and Cuban food
Tokyo Alley, 574 Mulberry St Lane
          Japanese and Thai in a cozy spot
Tzango, 336 Second
          Family-friendly place with Mexican/Latin American dishes
Vibez, 401 Cherry Street
          Owned by Wilkinson County's NFL standout Bud Dupree, bar/lounge, food
Your Pie, 536 Poplar
          Pizza, sandwiches, calzones
Z Beans Downtown, 311 Cotton
          Unique story behind the coffee shop

East Macon/Gray Highway area

Chen’s Wok, 1080 Gray
          Full Chinese
El Sombrero Mexican, 610 North Ave.
          Full Mexican menu
Fincher's BBQ, Gray Highway, acroos river/I-16
          Well-known BBQ, main location is in South Macon on Houston Ave. (till 3) and Houston Road (till 9)
Hotlanta Wings, 650 Shurling
Ole Times Country Buffett, 1343 Gray
Sakura Japanese, 846 Shurling

Near Mercer
Amici's Macon, across from Five Star Stadium
Pizza, wings, sports, beverages, and more, rooftop deck
Bear's Den, 1191 Oglethorpe
          Legendary southern home cookin
Georgia Potato Factory, across from Five Star Stadium
Growler USA, across from Five Star Stadium
The Library Taphouse, across from Five Star Stadium
          Good bar food, plenty of craft beer
Osaka Hibachi and Sushi, across from Five Star Stadium
Sid's Sandwich Shop, 15010 Forsyth

Mercer Village, Montpelier
Bear Burgers, on Montpelier
Francar's Wings
Mercer Village Pizza Pizza
ZBeans coffee
Margarita's Mexican Grill

North Macon, exit 169, near hotels

Antojitos michoacanos, 3975 Arkwright
          Mexican
Billy's, Northside and Forest Hill
          Neighborhood bar, pool, fri-sat music, food, open till 2
Cheers, 3852 Northside Dr.
          Neighborhood bar & grill, TVs, food, good refried wings, open till 11-12
Guitarras Mexican Grill, behind IHOP on Tom Hill
          Huge menu, with specials
Macon Wings, 4010 Northside
          Popular wings and more
Papouli's, Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
          Good greek eat-in, takeout, grocer
Shoki, 3850 Riverside
          Good japanese
Steve's Corner Cafe, 3955 Arkright
          Neighborhood lunch and dinner, broad menu
Wagers
          Neighborhood bar, open till 2, broad menu, late-night appetizers, TVs, music

Tom Hill and Riverside Parkway, Exit 169

Chico n Changs, Riverside Parkway
Korean bowls, taco, burritos, noodles
Cold Stone Creamery, Tom Hill/Kroger center
Fatty's Pizza, 120 Tom Hill
Fried Green Tomatoes, Riverside Parkway
The Juicye Krab, Tom Hill/Kroger center
Seafood
Chains just East of I-75
Outback
Carrabbas
Logans
Just west of I-75
Buffalo Wild Wings
Cook Out
Cracker Barrel
Culvers
Dunkin Donuts
Five Guys Burgers
Hooters
IHOP
Panera Bread
Starbucks
Subway

North Macon, exit 172

Chicken Salad Chick, 1676 Bass
Christian's Fine Cuisine, 1693 Bass
J Christophers, 220 Starcadia Circle
          well-known breakfast and lunch
Margarita's Mexican, 5451 Bowman
Mellow Mushroom, 5425 Bowman
Mirko's Pasta, 1693 Bass Rd
          3.5 stars of 4.
Natalia's, Bass Road
          Attached to homewood suites, high-end italian and desserts
Shane's Rib Shack, 1625 Bass
Taco Mac, 5433 Bowman, Publix Center
Tenmi Japanese Eatery, 1625 Bass
Your Pie Pizza, 1625 Bass

Shoppes at River Crossing area, Exit 172

Bonefish
Chili's
Jersey Mike's
Olive Garden
Texas Roadhouse
La Parilla Mexican
Mandarin Express
Pig ona Pie Pizza
Texas Roadhouse
Wild Wing Café

Northwest Macon, Zebulon/I-475
Applebee’s
Buffalo's Café
Fazoli’s
Fajitas Mexican Grill
Hong Kong Chinese
Hype Wing
Johnny's New York Style Pizza
Macon Pizza Company
Margarita's Mexican Grill
McAlister’s Deli
Rock n Roll Sushi
Sonny’s BBQ
Taki Japanese Steakhouse, 6255 Zebulon
Very popular steakhouse, sushi, fusion, hibachi
Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Also

Casserole Shop, 4420 Forsyth
          Desserts, bakery
Grey Goose, 4525 Forsyth
          Neighborhood bar, good food, good 'goose' burgers
Fish n Pig, 6420 Moseley Dixon, Lake Tobesofkee
          Seafood and bbq on scenic lake setting
Hello There, Cupcake, 4524 Forsyth
          Bakery, deserts
Harpins, Vineville Ave
          Sandwiches, soupes, desserts, southern, classic place
Marco’s Pizza, Riverside Drive, Zebulon
Jim Shaw's, 3040 Vineville
          Very popular seafood place
Milltown Market and Dawson's Kitchen, 3360 Brookdale
          Home-made baked, veggies, meat and 2/3.
Sushi-love, 4524 Forsyth
          Lunch, dinner
Tropical Flava, 5201 Houston Rd., south
          Caribbean