I tried this Macon seafood restaurant for the first time. Here’s what I thought
Authentic, bold seafood in the heart of Macon. That’s exactly what Lee Clack and his wife, Kelley Wrigley, wanted to accomplish when they opened Kudzu Seafood Company.
The restaurant originally opened in 2015, but its current larger location on Poplar Street was born in 2019, which has a rooftop bar and multiple dining areas.
Kudzu has been the talk of the town ever since, but I only recently got around to trying it. Here’s my full review, including what I thought about the restaurant’s atmosphere, food and more:
Atmosphere
As soon as my husband and I walked into Kudzu, it felt fun and exactly like visiting “The coast of Middle Georgia,” which is the restaurant’s tagline.
We were seated in the more formal dining area for our dinner, but there were several other parts of the restaurant with more laid-back vibes. There’s a large dining room with a bar and there’s also a rooftop section up top that has additional seating, lights and a place for live music.
The entire restaurant felt open and airy as well as casual, yet intimate. The only thing missing was a little sand in my shoes.
Overall, I give the restaurant a 4 out 5 for atmosphere.
Food
The menu is extensive and includes several unique dishes, so I couldn’t wait to dig in and try something new.
Whether you like fish, shrimp, sandwiches or tacos, there’s something for you on the menu, no doubt. Even kids will find something for them like the chicken finger basket or burger.
But for me, I was ready for some seafood.
So, to start, my husband and I ordered the Jezebel Sausage appetizer, which was described on the menu as “grilled alligator and pork sausage slices.” I have tried alligator before and loved it, so I knew this appetizer was a great choice and I was excited to taste it.
The meat was good, tender and had tons of flavor. It was savory, but paired with the Jezebel sauce and Ritz crackers, I also got a sweet, salty bite. Very yummy.
For my main, I ordered a special the restaurant had that evening, which was the Bourbon BBQ Glazed Salmon. The menu offers chicken instead of salmon, but I had a craving for salmon, so I jumped on the opportunity to try the dish.
First off, the chunk of salmon that was on my plate was enormous. I mean, if I wanted to make this dish at home, I’m honestly not sure where I would be able to find a chunk of salmon like this. And the taste was off the charts. The meat was juicy and the glaze on top was super savory, yet didn’t overpower the taste of the salmon.
I had a Caesar salad and cheese grits as sides with my salmon. The Caesar salad was tasty and had plenty of dressing; and the grits were good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
My husband ordered the Mahi Jezebel and it was beautifully plated, so of course I had to have a bite. The mango salsa on top truly made this dish a home run. It had so much flavor and the mahi was tender.
My husband also got a Caesar salad as a side, but he went a little out of the box and got the Jam Pups as a side as well. The Jam Pups are deep fried “Jambalaya Hushpuppies,” stuffed with shrimp and sausage rolled together with cheddar panko, topped with remoulade sauce.
The puppies were delicious. They were crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and pretty meaty. The only complaint on this one would be that I wished there were more. The Jam Pups side only came with two and I think it would have been better to have even just one more.
Last, but certainly not least, it was time for dessert. We shared the cheesecake, which was a Raspberry Doughnut Cheesecake. It was probably one of the best slices of cheesecake I’ve ever had. It was scrumptious, sweet and the crust was fantastic. I’m a big cheesecake crust fanatic because when it’s done right, the crust can actually be the best part and this was no doubt, one of the best parts of the whole cheesecake. My husband and I ate every bite and wiped the plate clean.
I can confidently give Kudzu a 5 out of 5 for taste.
Service
From the moment we walked in, we were well taken care of; from being seated right away to our drink orders being taken as soon as we were seated, the service was undoubtedly quick.
Our server’s name was Mia and she was busy with the Saturday evening, but I could tell she was genuinely happy to be working and her friendly face put a smile on mine. She checked on us frequently and made sure we were satisfied with the meal.
I give the service a 5 out of 5.
Price
One of the biggest parts of going out is the bill at the end of the night, so I was a bit nervous to see the damage when we were full and about to leave. However, since we got a couple specials that were offered, I think it made a difference in our bill.
Our total came to $75.60, and of course we tipped Mia well.
Our main dishes were each around $25-30, appetizer was $10.95 and dessert was around $10. I think these are all very fair prices because of the amazing taste, big portions and great service we received.
Overall, I give the price at Kudzu a 5 out of 5.
Have you tried Kudzu Seafood Company in Macon? If so, let me know what you thought! Leave a comment or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
