If you've ever heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover," Downtown Grill is the restaurant version 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. read more

See all

I came tonight excited to celebrate my mom's birthday, but unfortunately the experience was terrible. 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. read more

I made a special trip to Macon just for the French onion soup! But seriously, I had a quick business trip and couldn't wait to visit Downtown Grill for the second time. My first experience was fantastic, and this time was just as perfect. The entire staff is friendly and attentive, clearing plates and refilling water as they pass by--truly exemplary service! Jordan was fabulous, striking the perfect balance between being attentive and allowing me to enjoy my meal. I arrived an hour before closing, but that didn't affect the experience at all. The French onion soup was just as amazing as I remembered--flavorful, slightly sweet, and loaded with onions and cheese. This time, I decided to try the chicken marsala for my entrée. The chicken was grilled to perfection with a lovely char, and the sauce was delicious; my only regret is that I didn't ask for extra sauce. The mashed potatoes and green beans were also bursting with flavor. Overall, another five-star experience! read more

See all

When friends visit from other cities, a visit to Downtown Grille is a must. Diverse selection of food in a calming atmosphere. And an added bonus is we can show off our restored and authentic downtown. read more

We drive from Savannah to Downtown Grill a couple of times a year. The filet is the best in the state. We always sit at the bar for convenience. The bartenders are always on point and friendly. Great service and amazing food. Everything is a winner on the menu. read more

Great local spot hidden in an alley way. Bourbon selection is expansive. Steaks and amazing appetizers.

I had an off menu item can't remember exactly what the name of it was exactly but it was cornbread with short rib and cheese. Sounds weird but was really good. I also had the pasta. Dim lit. Server was great and attentive. I was there for a work meeting but definitely will return so my husband can try it. read more

Great and attentive waiter. Told us about all the specials and made suggestions. Nice atmosphere and valet parking. Follow GPS as this is in a back ally but it was definitely worth finding! read more

See all

Excellent food and ambience. One of the best high-end quality restaurants in Macon downtown area. Great service and friendly staff. Small menu and limited choice so best to look at the menu and reserve the place. Valet Parking in the covered area next to the restaurant - it's free. Charges are covered by the restaurant Vs parking in the street. A comfortable, cozy place with a very good quality & delectable food items. read more

See all

Service always great. Food well prepared and wide selection. Cozy atmosphere. A favorite restaurant when visiting downtown Macon.

Great service and quality, well prepared food. Best beal parm I have had anywhere. Crowded but once seated service was friendly and efficient. read more

hole in the wall (from the outside), but inside stouts old school steakhouse vibe...we sat at the bar which allows for cigar smoking..I legitimately would go back just for the fried artichokes. I think this is a must try for the vibe. There is a speak easy upstairs (reservations required I believe) which is extremely small spaced but very NYC in ambiance which was very cool. read more

It was my daughter's 30th birthday. I put that in my notes. I wanted it to be a special night. I've been to many restaurants when you tell them it's a birthday and there's a card waiting on the table. Even though there were presents sitting on the table, the waiter hardly acknowledge that it was a birthday celebration. My salmon was dry. My husband's filet was not very good for 72.00!! She did get a lovely dessert for her birthday. We did use the restroom before we left. There were no towels to dry your hands. They had a few black napkins from the table that did not absorb any water in the bathroom. My husband said there was so much pee all over the men's bathroom floor that he couldn't even get to the toilet to use it. The bathrooms were dirty for both male and female. A disappointed birthday celebration. I had hoped for more. read more

What can I say?? Great restaurant in an alley. The food was fantastic! We had the special bone in pork chop with goat cheese spread and the veal Parmesan. Both were excellent. The extensive whiskey was a plus as well. Service was on point and the vibe was almost that of a speak easy. Definitely will come back again! read more

This was my best friends choice of destination for her husband's & my joint birthday dinner. The ambiance is of an old speak easy. As you enter, the bar is immediately in front that offers cigars with top shelf drinks. The owner (Tracy, I think?) was the bartender & taking in our conversation. Very nice guy and fun to talk too. Seated very shortly after finishing drinks at the bar and had a delightful server. Our appetizers of mussels, charcuterie tray & ahi tuna were outstanding. Warm bread was served with lots of yummy butter as well. Main dishes of steak and I had crab cakes over salad. All worth returning for. read more

My second time at Downtown Grill. We were able to make last minute Valentine's Day reservations. The ambiance is great! The wait staff were AMAZING!! They were so kind and accommodating to my pregnancy needs :). I prefer my steak to be medium well but as I mentioned I'm pregnant & I'm choosing the safer route to make sure I'm not consuming any raw foods. My well done steak was good!! I loved the mash potatoes & my broccoli was yummy too. I would definitely recommend Downtown Grill for anyone that's looking for a quiet but delicious place to eat. read more

Downtown Grill - Ribeye steak (well done), broccoli, & mashed potatoes - Steakhouses Near Me - Macon, Georgia

See all

Cool ambiance and speak easy. Overcooked the lamb, undercooked the salmon. I think the chef was asleep.

The food was good. The restaurant atmosphere was really nice and cozy. We had a booth in the back. Zoey treated us well even though we were one of the last tables left. Will definitely be back when we are in Macon again. read more

Best steaks in town. Awesome bourbon and cigar bar. Excellent service. Great environment. read more

See all

My review is mixed. The ambiance, service and appetizers were fantastic. The main dish was sadly, just not good. Steak was tough and dry and the spinach had no flavor other than heavy oil (we couldn't eat it). Admittedly I've never had a $60 dry aged steak, so maybe this is what happens in the process, but I will say I won't try it again. The meal was worth it thanks to the fabulous service and the French onion soup that was divine (I've been craving it for months and this delivered!) The marinara in our burrata was also fantastic. A great marinara seems simple but it's hard to find in my opinion, this one was perfect. Simple, balanced and flavorful. I wasn't impressed with the red wine selections by the glass, but my husbands old fashioned was great. So again, mixed. We would try it again, avoid the dry aged steak and spinach but I'm sure there are other awesome options on the menu. read more

See all

Excellent. Very old school in here. There's a ton of character in this restaurant. Brick walls, white tablecloths, table lanterns, chalkboard menu on wall. Both dishes I ate were really really good. Flavortown Macon style. When you walk in from the alley you enter the bar. You can smoke a car, get a drink and eat up there. Non-smoking area is farther to the back. Very chill vibe. Highly recommend this place. Much apprec. read more

Downtown Grill - Shrimp and Grits waffle. Andouille gravy. What a start - Steakhouses Near Me - Macon, Georgia

See all

We were recommended to stop here by our hotel staff and we were not disappointed. Wasn't really hungry but we split the French onion soup and duck breast. This is one of the best French onion soups I have had. Super cheesy, great flavor. Duck breast had an awesome glaze. Really enjoyable and glad we stopped in. Cocktails were spot on and bartender service was great. Can't wait to come back to Macon to stop in again. read more

Downtown Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Macon, Georgia

My fiancé and I and her family came here for dinner. To start, we drove down the alley, which at first seemed kinda sketch, but when the valet showed up in front of the door, all was good. We noticed with some amusement that there was a placard outside that proudly boasted that Greg Allman had proposed to Cher at this place, and we remarked about how our dinner would hopefully be less rocky than that I'll-fated relationship. We started off with some drinks and appetizers. My fiancé and I had the mozzarella tomatoes, which was basically a Caprese salad, and it was nice and fresh. The bread was also really good. Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The highlight of our evening was when the waiter tried to deliver a double Crown Royal to my uncle in law, who doesn't drink. We figured out that it was for the table adjacent to us, and I joked to the gentleman that I was seriously thinking about keeping that one! To my surprise, the gentleman was Myron Mixon! We laughed when he said it was a nice amount of smoke, and I assured him that we all admired his smoke, and he thanked us for watching the show. Pretty cool. For dinner I had a filet with the Aloha topping, which turned out to be a fantastic shrimp side with a buerre blanc sauce which perfectly complimented not only the shrimp but the steak as well. The button mushrooms and the mashed potatoes were spot on as well. For dessert, we enjoyed the crème brûlée which had a perfect sugar crust and was creamy and delicious. If you're in Macon, you gotta check this place out. Great food, and you never know who you're gonna run into! read more

Meal was delicious. French onion soup was one of the best I've ever had. Service was impeccable from both Sierra and Erica. Malbec with blackened sirloin was the perfect pairing. I recommend the button mushroom and green beans as sides. My husband also enjoyed their Mashed potatoes. Ambiance was nice with low lighting, candles, and jazz music. read more

Downtown Grill - French onion soup - Steakhouses Near Me - Macon, Georgia

See all

Weekday Date night amazing dinner romantic cozy atmosphere - amazing service from arrival to departure. Food was incredible one of the best meals I've had in the area. Dinner for the Mister aged ribeye steak with pesto mashed potatoes and green beans . For me blackened mahi-mahi spinach and loaded baked potato for appetizer grit fritters Amazing meal and service yummy can't wait to get back there. . Ashley rocks as a waitress so delightful pleasant and friendly very attentive to all our needs made it a very special first visit read more

See all

Can be a bit difficult to find but what a Great spot! Really cool ambiance in the bar with incredible selections. Awesome bartender - Chris? Cigars are part of the scene. Good steaks. read more

Since moving back to Macon, this place has become a favorite go to. The food and service are always good. Locating the alley entrance to get to it is a bit challenging since we don't spend much time downtown, but it's worth the effort. read more

The food is ok, it is very over rated but good, definitely nothing special. The service is a bit slow and doesn't seem to care much about quality service. The atmosphere is great. Maybe we caught them on an off night, we will try it again. read more

Really good steak, the cheesecake is good, and they have an amazing bourbon selection (with decent prices).

Food and service is so so good if u come to make its worth it for local spot , the service is excellent and so r the start dishes read more

See all

I want to thank our server, Erika, for taking excellent care of us. We had a wonderful meal: trout for one of us, the Ribeye for another, and I had Elk. The sides were all cooked to perfection, too: crunchy and flavorful vegetables, creamy grits, mashed potatoes, and mushrooms. We started the evening with a cheese plate appetizer and medallions. They were excellent, and there was enough for the three of us to share. We ended the evening with the ice cream cake. After the copious starters and the main courses, we shared that also. The old-world charm of the restaurant was as we expected and warmed us on this cold winter evening. read more

Our server was incredible. She had memorized all twelve specials. The food was also great. I enjoyed a generous cowboy ribeye.

Best restaurant in town! Made reservations here for a special occasion. The customer service here is phenomenal. The food was absolutely delicious! Plenty of options for spirited drinks and cigars if you're into that. My only gripe, which isnt much of an issue for me, but may he for others is that you have to wall through the bar area(where people are smoking) to get to the dining area. If you've never been here. You're definitely missing out! read more

See all

Outstanding service and awesome food. I got the blackened NY strip and wife got the aged ribeye. Both were cooked to perfection. The restaurant is hidden and romantic. Definitely recommend for a perfect date night! read more

My wife and I had dinner here Friday night, it was not as enjoyable as our previous visits. The muscle appetizer was on the bland side, could use more garlic and white wine. The seared scallops were charred, burnt on one side. The broccoli was next to raw. The server was knowledgeable on the specials. The back of the booth, both sides, are in need of repair; when people on the other side sat down, it would push you into the table. The bar was sub-par, the old fashioned missed the mark at this price point. Some of these issues were mentioned to the server with no concern or action. read more

Exceptional in every way!! The ambiance, the service and the food is the best I have encountered in quite sometime in a nice sit down restaurant. I had the filet and It was cooked to perfection! read more

Downtown grill is a great restaurant on the up and coming downtown Macon restaurant scene. We've been coming here at least once a month for the last couple years, but recently we have chosen to go elsewhere as out "go to" spot. The food here is great, but the wait staff is full of crap. The food is delicious, but it's way too inconsistent. I know there is a "cigar bar" in the entrance, but that's something that should be put elsewhere in the restaurant. Not everyone that goes there enjoys having the smell of cigar in your face as you are dining. read more

One of the best steaks I've had. Seriously, I ordered the fillet with lobster and I didn't need the lobster. The steak was perfectly done. Charred on the outside a perfect medium rare on the in -- and so tender. The appetizers were great. Actually, one was a great surprise. Shrimp (blackened) with grits (waffle). I gave it a try and I was happy that I did! The chef had a great night when we were there. That's all I can say. I am picky and usually don't leave reviews but I have to. The staff from chef to server to valet knocked it out of the park. Would I go back again? Absolutely! Would I recommend the restaurant? Absolutely. Will I ask for the gentleman that served our table? *Waves at Andrew* Yes, I would! This establishment has an old-world vibe and reminds me of some of the speakeasy fab I used to seek out in city centers when I was younger. Of course, back then I could only afford drinks at the front of the house - not so now. If you love cozy atmosphere, comfortable seating with an upscale bar offering - this might be for you. Did I mention that they valet park? They do. Right at the door, how great is that? This turned out to be a really nice evening out without the worry or hassle of rushing to park, or to leave our table too soon. Thanks Downtown grill! Your food and staff are wonderful! read more

I've never eaten here but the picture look really good so i went ahead and gave it a good review! -scooter read more

I'm not a local. But I have been here twice. Whenever I plan to visit Macon, Downtown grill will be my go to spot. The food was absolutely amazing. The spot is cozy...I love the vibe. The staff has been very friendly and VERY VERY knowledgeable. I would love to point out our server Jordan. If you get the pleasure of being served by her, or either Sara, you'll definitely in for a great experience. I'LL BE BACK! read more