10 Middle Georgia dishes that we miss the most during the COVID-19 pandemic

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Foodie Friday celebrated one year since Jenna Eason and I started reviewing local restaurants. Since that first meal at Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen, we have traveled all over Middle Georgia to try some of the best food the area has to offer.

The coronavirus outbreak has put a stop to that for now and Foodie Friday is one of the things that I miss the most. With restaurants offering delivery and curbside service, I’ve been able to continue to support some of my favorite local places. Some of these places have reopened or are in the process of reopening on a limited basis which gives customers in the area the chance to once again contribute to these small businesses.

If you’re looking for an idea of where to start, here are the 10 dishes I miss the most. They’re the ones I plan to eat first once we get to whatever our new normal becomes.

Famous Mike’s Dickey Betts burger

The burger is one of the best in Macon and has been available for the last few weeks for pickup. This burger is topped with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and bacon. The first bite really hits you in the mouth with flavor.

Yet the thing I missed most about this dish is having it in the restaurant, because eating there is an experience. Mike Seekins, the owner, makes you feel like family when you walk in the door. You are probably going to learn something new in the world of Georgia football or music like the Allman Brothers. Seekins has never met a stranger and quickly turns folks into friends and life long customers.

Piedmont’s brisket plate

From top to bottom there is not a bad thing on the menu at Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen. A personal favorite is the brisket. It is flavorful and is cooked to perfection. They have remained open for curbside service and reopened their dining room this week. They have continued to come up with new beers during this time including a pair of sours that are on my list to try as soon as possible.

Lazy Susan’s vegan BLT

The vegan BLT from here isn’t just the best vegan BLT I’ve ever had but the best BLT I’ve ever had. It is tempeh topped with lettuce, tomato and eggless green goddess dressing.

Lazy Susan’s food is small plate style dining but each dish is packed with flavor. The stuffed mushrooms are also a highlight. They are currently open Thursday through Saturday but plan to expand that starting next week.

Lazy Susan’s has some of the best bartenders in town and a chef with experience from some of the top restaurants in the areas. It also has an Endless Summer to-go menu for those who aren’t able or aren’t quite ready to dine in.

Francar’s chicken strips with Mercer gold sauce

The best part of this dish is the sauce. It is downright injectable, it is so good. It is a mustard-based sauce with black pepper. The strips themselves are huge and expertly cooked. You could also grab their wings or anything on the menu to dip in the gold sauce. It is that good. They are currently available for pickup.

Holy Smokes’ brisket burnt ends

This Dublin favorite is one of the best barbecue restaurants in Middle Georgia. It started as husband and wife competition cooking duo who have won all over the country in some of the top competitions. Their brisket burnt ends are one of the most difficult things to find in Georgia. They are a bit of delicacy: tender, cooked to perfection and well-seasoned.

Don’t forget to grab their banana pudding for dessert. It’s fluffy and the perfect way to cap the meal. They have not opened the dining room yet but they are available for pickup and delivery in the Dublin area.

Macon Beer Company’s peanut butter and jelly wings

Easily one of the weirdest combinations in the downtown Macon food scene but it works so well. It is a savory and sweet marriage that shouldn’t be this good. It left me saying that it should be a flavor on every wing menu. As of now, Macon Beer Company is only offering beverage curbside pickups, but once the kitchen gets going again this will be a must grab for me.

Kinjo Kitchen and Cocktails’ ramen

This is the one place on the list that I have not had the chance to actually eat at yet. Kinjo held a grand opening around the time everything started to close down. The restaurant is offering curbside now and is planning to do reservation only dine-in starting on June 2. The reviews around circulating online from friends and customers is that this place is a winner.

I’m a big fan of ramen, and we’ve haven’t had a good Middle Georgia option, so it is exciting to be able to eat it without having to drive to Atlanta.

Bear’s Den fried chicken

One of my favorite meals in town is fried chicken and macaroni and cheese from the Bear’s Den. The fried chicken is tender with a crispy batter that provides just enough flavor to supplement the taste of the chicken itself. It never disappoints. At this time, the restaurant has not announced a plan for reopening or doing takeout orders.

Ricky’s Taco Shop burritos

This is by far the biggest burrito in Macon. It isn’t even a contest. It is the size of a small football and is stuffed full of meat, rice and other ingredients. Ricky’s has reopened for limited dining as well as curbside pickup but is currently out of beef products due to the soaring prices related to COVID-19. But his chicken burritos are one of the stars of the menu. You cannot leave Ricky’s hungry and odds are you will have enough for a second meal.

Owen’s Boarding House peach cobbler

This might be my favorite dessert in Middle Georgia. It is crispy on top and the peach-to-crust ratio is perfect. But once again this is a place where I miss more than just the food. The hook for Owen’s is that you dine with strangers and pass food around the table like family. One of the things that COVID-19 has taken away recently is the ability to go out and interact with one another. This is something that I hope one day soon we can get back to restaurants like this.

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 7:00 AM.