Would you try pimento cheese pizza? 2 new restaurants open in downtown Macon

Downtown Macon diners have two new spots to try for lunch or dinner.

Macon Beer Company Taproom and Kitchen will have a selection of their beers along with bar fare like wings, pizza, pretzels and more on 2nd Street. The new location will have beers produced specifically for the restaurant, while the Oglethorpe location will handle distribution.

Yash Patel, owner of the Macon Beer Company, said he believes customers will be excited about their new food options.

Diners can expect to see these menu items at the Macon Beer Company Taproom and Kitchen restaurant, Patel said.

• Nashville Fried Chicken pizza
• The Wicked pizza with a pimento cheese base
• Macon Beer Burger that is double-stacked with two, four-ounce beef patties.

Patel said the 2nd street location was built in 1880 and he is anxious to do more beer experimentation for guests.

“We restored it. It’s a historical building so that makes it unique. It is in the heart of downtown Macon in that 2nd Street corridor,” Patel said. “We have a smaller fermentation system over here, which allows us to put out more of experimental batches. ... It gives us a lot more freedom and flexibility about what we can sell.”

Macon Beer Company and Kitchen will also have live music, corn hole tournaments and trivia. They’ll also offer space for private parties in the basement bar.

Ricky’s Taco Shop is also taking a bet on downtown.

The restaurant, which offers a variety of tacos, quesadillas and burritos, moved from its Mercer University Drive spot into the former Doughboy Pizza location at 518 Cherry St.

Ricky’s Taco Shop:

Hours: Tuesday- Thursday: 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.- 9 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m and 4:30 p.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday: 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday- Monday: closed

Location: 518 Cherry Street

Macon Beer Company Taproom and Kitchen:

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-11p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-close; Sunday: closed

Location: 458 2nd Street

This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 6:00 AM.