Looking for a new place to eat in Middle GA? Nearly 50 new restaurants opened in 2021
All sorts of restaurants — offering a variety of cuisines from Italian to Jamaican to Vietnamese to Greek to Japanese to Mediterranean — opened their doors in 2021.
Several of the new restaurants serve up Southern comfort food or soul food. Additionally, coffee, dessert and bagel shops were also in the mix.
But there were also casualties in 2021, with both new and longtime restaurants closing their doors.
Here’s a list of nearly 50 restaurants that opened in 2021 in Macon, Warner Robins and other Middle Georgia communities:
Macon area
Hen’s Nest — Serving up soul food with a little Southern charm, this restaurant can be found at 1897 Shurling Drive. Their specialty is Cornish hen.
JJ’s Fish and Chicken — This Chicago-based restaurant chain known for its fried fish and chicken sprinkled with a white lemon pepper seasoning made its debut in Middle Georgia at 66 Spring St. and less than six months later opened second location at 4351 Pio Nono Ave.
The Sweet Couple ATL— This soul food cafe at 3975 Arkwright Road, Suite 6, offers a rotating menu of Southern dishes from meatloaf to baked chicken to pork chops with side choices ranging from mashed potatoes and green beans to cabbage and creamed corn.
Dua Vietnamese Noodle Soup & The Fish Tank Poke Co. — This double-branded restaurant at 781 Spring St., Suite 105, at the Lofts at Navicent, offers authentic, freshly made Vietnamese cuisine along with Hawaiian inspired poke.
La Bella Vita: Italian Kitchen — This Italian restaurant and bar can be found at 347 Cotton Ave. in downtown Macon where guests can enjoy chicken alfredo, lobster ravioli, eggplant parmesan and other Italian dishes.
Macon Wings — This restaurant that serves up wings with a variety of sauces, along with chicken tenders, fish, hamburgers and philly cheese steaks opened in the former Chen’s Wok location at 4010 Northside Drive in Macon.
Fajitas Mexican Grill — This popular Mexican restaurant opened a second Macon location at 6012 Zebulon Road, Suite 101, the same spot of the former Margaritas Mexican Grill.
Culver’s — Butter burgers and frozen custard can be found at this Midwest franchise restaurant located at the former Metro Diner location at 3710 Northside Drive.
Waffle House — The latest Macon location of this restaurant chain known for its hearty breakfast fare opened at 4065 Forsyth Road on the site of the former Breezy Hill Fire Station.
Cluckin’ Great Deli and More — This chicken joint that ups the ante by also offering Southern food and hospitality is nestled in a convenience store at a Shell gas station at 6369 Thomaston Road, Suite 100, in west Bibb County.
Macon Bagels — This popular spot at 470 3rd St. in downtown Macon has been known to sell out of its made-fresh-daily bagels and offers its own blends of cream cheese as well other bakery goodies like cookies.
Silly Lilly’s Soul Food — Known for its Southern home cooking, this restaurant returned to Macon as a walk-up, drive-thru restaurant at 3189 Mercer University Drive.
M&M Sandwich and Pastry Shop — Two women who became friends while working at a Kroger own and operate this spot at 3045 Vineville Ave. where customers can get freshly sliced meat for their favorite sandwiches.
De’Lani Delights — This dessert shop at 2310 Ingleside Ave. in offers a variety of homemade cookies, cake and pie slices and other dessert items.
Macon Water Ice — Four friends are serving up this signature Philadelphia frozen treat at The Shoppes at River Crossing 5080 Riverside Drive, Suite 208.
Romo’s Pizza — Customers can expect Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven at this restaurant owned and operated by Natasha and Carl Phillips at 4123 Forsyth Road right next to their other restaurant, Fountain of Juice.
Graffiti’s Pizza — This family-owned restaurant that offers freshly-made pizza, calzones, gyros, sandwiches, wings and salads is located at 5577 Thomaston Road, No. 500, in the Tobesofkee Crossing shopping center.
Sakura Poke & Hibachi — Create your own poke bowl and enjoy hibachi and teriyaki dishes at this Japanese restaurant in Suite A300 at Tobesofkee Crossing. A new Taco Bell is located on an out parcel of Tobesofkee Crossing and a new Popeyes is opening on an out parcel at the shopping center across the street.
Dynamic Pastries by Campane — A pastry shop that offers all sorts of homemade goodies by order and at the store inside the Macon Flea Market at 3670 Eisenhower Parkway.
Yollah Social Kitchen + Garden — This Latin-inspired restaurant at 844 College St. in Macon also has a tapas bar and large outdoor patio and is already known for its “Cuban cigars” of pork and collards wrapped in a wonton and fried.
Vibez — Co-owner and Tennessee Titans linebacker Bud Dupree of Wilkinson County ushered in this upscale brunch, bar and grill at 401 Cherry St.
Morrow 41 — This neighborhood bar and grill offers comfort food at 7248 Alexander Court in the unincorporated community Bolingbroke in Monroe County just north of Macon.
The French Market & Tavern — Billed as a bakery and bistro with New Orleans-style food, craft beers and a boutique, a popular Locust Grove eatery opened a location in historic downtown Forsyth at 22 West Main St.
Huey Magoo’s - This restaurant chain known for its chicken tenders opened its first Middle Georgia franchise at 1972 N. Columbia St. in Milledgeville.
Legend’s Seafood & Grill - This family-owned restaurant near Lake Sinclair at 3021 North Columbia St. in Milledgeville serves up shrimp and grits, steak and grilled salmon and seafood platters with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Warner Robins area
Caffe Vignette — This veteran owned and operated drive-thru coffee shop offering top quality coffee and a delightful sweet treat has opened at 107 Assembly Lane next to a Hardee’s at Sandy Run Road and Ga. 247. But customers will have to wait awhile before the new coffee shop starts offering its freshly made beignets.
Gigi’s Comfort Food — A lunch spot known for its Southern comfort food reopened at 103 Manor Court after closing for more than a year-and-a-half due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
My Sister’s Kitchen —Two sisters serve up Southern comfort food and hospitality at this family owned and operated restaurant at 2195 Watson Blvd., Suite I, in the Watson Central Shopping Center anchored by Big Lots.
The Taco Shed — The second Warner Robins location of this popular gourmet taco spot is now open at 670 Lake Joy Road, Suite 400, in the Kathleen community in a former Shane’s Rib Shack spot.
Fried Green Tomatoes — Serving up Southern food cafeteria style, the latest location of this Middle Georgia favorite at 747 Russell Parkway includes a drive-thru that closes 15 minutes ahead of the restaurant.
Greek Village Express — A mini-me of the Greek Village near the Houston Medical Center, the Greek Village Express offers authentic Greek food to go as well as dine-in at 6001 Watson Blvd., Suite 300.
Stoner’s Pizza Joint — A second Warner Robins location has opened next to the Greek Village Express in the former spot of Fresh Pie Pizza. The restaurant has a Byron mailing address but is located within Warner Robins.
Rock N Roll Sushi — A second Warner Robins location of this popular sushi restaurant with its rock and roll theme is located at 3010 Watson Blvd. in Warner Robins.
Wing Town — This drive-thru and walk-up restaurant at 1807 Watson Blvd. in offers a variety of wing options.
Potato Po-Ta-Toe — Taking a 16-to-20 ounce potato to the next level with a variety of toppings and a signature cheese sauce, this restaurant at 78 Highway 96, Suite 135, in the Kroger Market Place, also offers soul food on Sundays.
Chili’s Bar & Grill — This Texas-based restaurant chain offers baby back ribs, chili and hand-crafted sandwiches, opened its first Warner Robins location in the former Toys R Us site at 135 Margie Drive.
Chick-fil-A — The popular Georgia-based chicken-sandwich restaurant chain opened a store at 3000 Watson Blvd. next door to the Chili’s, with two more new stores under construction in Houston County. The Chick-fil-A at 1867 Watson Blvd. in Warner Robins is moving across town to 621 Russell Parkway and the Chick-fil-A at 1600 Sam Nunn Blvd. in Perry is moving down the street just west of Interstate 75 at 1363 Sam Nunn Blvd.
Cake ‘n Shake — A family-owned dessert shop known for its “extreme milkshake’‘ opened at 115 Margie Drive, Suite A. A Macon location at Suite 100 at Tobesofkee Crossing is now expected to open in early spring of 2022. The first location in Locust Grove moved across the street into Tanger Outlets this year.
Gregg’s Mexican Restaurant 2.0 — A Warner Robins Mexican restaurant that was first popular in 1980s was resurrected by family members of the original owner at 312 South Armed Forces Blvd. across from Robins Air Force Base.
Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet — More than 20 years since opening a Stevi B’s in Warner Robins, the original owner returned to breathe new life into the pizza buffet at 2907 Watson Blvd., Suite 13.
Mini Dixie Donuts — This maker of small delights moved to a new location at 1003 Russell Parkway from its original Watson Boulevard location.
Baja Fresh — Part of a fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant chain, this restaurant at 810 Ga. 96 within the Century Market Plaza reopened under new management.
Meechie’s D’Serts and Dinners — This takeout-only, cafeteria-style restaurant serves up Southern home cooking at 3510 U.S. 41 North, Suite 2004, in a shopping strip near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Gunn Road.
Wrap and Kebab — Serving up kebabs, hummus and grape leaves, among other Mediterranean cuisine, this restaurant is housed under the same roof with a Mediterranean grocery store and hookah cafe at 103 Gunn Road in Centerville.
J & F Caribbean Delight — Known for its authentic Jamaican cuisine of oxtails, jerk chicken and curry goat, Macon’s J & F Caribbean Delight’s second location is at 100 Gunn Road in Centerville.
Ole Times Country Buffet —This Southern food, cafeteria style restaurant opened in the former Golden Corral outside the Houston County Galleria in Centerville. It’s not a new restaurant but a relocation of the one that’s been in business on Russell Parkway for some 15 years. The owner of Tifton-based Fresco Italiano plans to open his second restaurant in the former Ole Times spot on Russell Parkway in 2022.
One Night Stand Catering — This storefront eatery offers takeout based on a rotating daily menu, hence it’s eyebrow-raising name, as well as catering. It’s located at 6009 Watson Blvd., Suite 420, in the Gunn Battle Shopping Center anchored by Publix near U.S. 41 and Watson Boulevard.
Also in Middle Georgia
The Nut House Pecan Company — Tom Williams, an Iraq combat disabled veteran, opened this storefront at 106 Main St. in Byron offering fresh Georgia pecans and praline pecans as well as cracking and shelling services.
QuikTrip —While not a restaurant, this popular travel center known for its food offerings and competitive gas prices opened two locations in Middle Georgia at 4934 Sardis Church Road of Interstate 75 in Macon and the latest at 12000 Watson Blvd. at exit off I-75 in Warner Robins. A second Warner Robins QuikTrip location is going up at Watson Boulevard and Carl Vinson Parkway where a Logan’s Roadhouse once stood.
Krystal — For the first time in over 15 years a new franchisee— Yates Hospitality Services — opened a Krystal restaurant at 1624 Veterans Blvd. in Dublin.
Closures
While 2021 was a good year for most restaurant starts In Middle Georgia, there were a few casualties among both new starts and long established restaurants.
Homestead Bakery and Coffee in north Macon closed its doors after just under 11 months in business at 3780 Northside Drive, Suite 150.
Longtime Macon restaurants Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen at 4040 Riverside Dr. and Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet 175 Tom Hill Sr Blvd, Suite B, ceased operations.
Chen’s Wok closed at 4010 Northside Drive in Macon where Macon Wings is now operating.
In Warner Robins, Tacos & More Loncheria at 1238 South Houston Lake Road and Fresh Pie Pizza at 6001 Watson Blvd. closed their doors with a Stoner’s Pizza Joint now in the former Fresh Pie spot.
Also in Warner Robins, a Shane’s Rib Shack closed at 670 Lake Joy Road, Suite 400, where the new Taco Shed now operates. Also, Zoner’s Pizza, Wings & Waffles at 1281 South Houston Lake Road ceased operations.
Christmas Day, family-owned Ryals’ Bakery, which has been operating in Milledgeville for 45 years, announced on Facebook that it’s closing. The bakery is under contract to a couple who are expected to open a bakery in the same spot, according to the post.
If you’re an owner whose restaurant opened in 2021 and want to be included in this list, or if you’re an owner of a new restaurant expected to open in 2022, please email Telegraph reporter Becky Purser at bpurser@macon.com.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 9:59 AM.