Macon sits roughly 170 miles inland from the Georgia coast, yet the city has built a surprisingly deep seafood restaurant scene. Much of the fresh catch served here travels up from the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida panhandle, as well as from Georgia’s own shrimping ports near Brunswick and Savannah. Kudzu Seafood Company, one of the city’s most popular spots, was founded by a Mobile, Alabama native who imports Po’ Boy bread from Gambino’s bakery in Louisiana. That Gulf Coast pipeline defines Macon’s seafood identity far more than the Atlantic does.
The local market supports both upscale sit-down restaurants and casual fried-seafood counters. Downtown Macon’s dining revival along Poplar Street, Cherry Street, and Third Street has brought several seafood-focused restaurants into the historic core, where they draw Mercer University faculty, downtown office workers, and visitors touring the Allman Brothers Big House Museum. Lake Tobesofkee, Bibb County’s 1,750-acre reservoir on the west side, adds a unique waterfront dining option that most inland Georgia cities lack. The nearby Robins Air Force Base population in Warner Robins contributes steady weeknight dinner traffic. Macon’s restaurant group led by Richie Jones, Brian Adams, and Ryan Griffin now operates multiple seafood-oriented concepts across the city, including Jim Shaw’s, Downtown Grill, and Miramar, which has helped raise the overall quality and variety of the local seafood scene.
Top-Rated Seafood Restaurants in Macon, Georgia
Kudzu Seafood Company
Adres: 512 Poplar St, Macon, GA 31201
Website: kudzuseafood.com
Owned by Lee Clack (a Mobile, Alabama native) and his wife Kelley Wrigley (a Macon native), Kudzu brings Gulf Coast seafood to downtown Macon. The restaurant makes all breading, seasoning blends, and sauces in-house and imports its Po’ Boy bread from Gambino’s in Louisiana. Signature dishes include shrimp Po’ Boys, jambalaya, BBQ shrimp and cheese grits, and “Jam Pups” (jambalaya hushpuppies rolled in cheddar panko). Kudzu also features The Wheelhouse, a rooftop bar open Friday and Saturday evenings with live music and views of downtown Macon. The restaurant holds a 4.2/5 rating on Yelp with over 290 reviews.
Jim Shaw’s Seafood Grill
Adres: 3040 Vineville Ave, Macon, GA 31204
Website: jimshawseafoodga.com
Open since 1987, Jim Shaw’s is a Macon institution that has been voted “Best Seafood in Macon” by the local community. The restaurant is dinner-only and operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations. The menu features fried shrimp, raw oysters, blackened catfish, crab claws, and an Early Bird menu with reduced prices from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Jim Shaw’s changed ownership in recent years and is now part of the restaurant group that also runs Downtown Grill and Brasserie Circa, though the menu and recipes have remained largely unchanged. It holds a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award with 342 reviews and a 4.4 rating.
Fish N’ Pig
Adres: 6420 Moseley Dixon Rd, Macon, GA 31220
Website: fishnpig.com
Overlooking Lake Tobesofkee on Macon’s west side, Fish N’ Pig combines fresh seafood with hickory-smoked BBQ in a waterfront setting. The restaurant features a full-service dining room, a complete bar, and a large covered deck surrounding the building with direct lake views. Boat docks are available for boaters arriving by water. A private event room called The Boathouse hosts rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and private parties. Fish N’ Pig is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and the bar and deck remain open after the dining room closes. The restaurant was co-founded in 2005 by the owners of Jim Shaw’s and Satterfield’s Catering.
Seafood Restaurants in Macon: Common Questions
How much does a seafood dinner typically cost in Macon, GA?
Casual seafood spots in Macon generally price fried shrimp or catfish baskets in the $12 to $16 range. At mid-range restaurants like Kudzu Seafood Company, entrees such as Po’ Boys and fried shrimp baskets start around $12.95, while larger platters and specialty items like soft-shell crab or seafood combos can reach $20 to $30. Dinner-focused restaurants like Jim Shaw’s fall in the $$ to $$$ range. Contact individual restaurants for current menu pricing.
How does Macon’s inland location affect seafood freshness in Macon, GA?
Macon is about 170 miles from both the Georgia coast and the Gulf of Mexico, so fresh seafood arrives by refrigerated truck rather than directly from the docks. Many Macon seafood restaurants source from Gulf Coast suppliers in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, while Georgia wild-caught shrimp comes from the state’s coastal ports near Brunswick. Restaurants like Kudzu and Fish N’ Pig emphasize daily sourcing to maintain quality. The supply chain adds some cost compared to coastal dining, but Macon’s seafood restaurants generally offer lower prices than comparable spots in Atlanta, which sits a similar distance inland.
Does Macon, GA have waterfront seafood dining options?
Yes. Fish N’ Pig sits directly on the shore of Lake Tobesofkee, Bibb County’s 1,750-acre reservoir, offering covered deck seating with lake views and boat docks for customers arriving by water. In downtown Macon, Kudzu Seafood Company offers patio seating and a rooftop bar (The Wheelhouse) with views of Poplar Street and the downtown skyline. These options give Macon diners a waterfront feel that most Middle Georgia cities do not have.
What types of seafood cuisine are most common in Macon, GA?
Macon’s seafood scene leans heavily toward Gulf Coast and Southern preparations: fried shrimp, catfish, oysters, Po’ Boy sandwiches, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and gumbo. This Gulf influence is stronger than an Atlantic or Lowcountry style, largely because key restaurant owners have personal ties to Alabama and Louisiana. A growing number of Cajun-style boil restaurants, such as Macon Crab House and The Juicy Crab, have also opened in recent years along the Presidential Parkway and Zebulon Road corridors, adding spice-bag boiled seafood to the local options.
Are there seafood restaurants in Macon, GA open for lunch?
Several options serve lunch. Kudzu Seafood Company opens at 11:00 AM Tuesday through Saturday, making it a popular midday stop for downtown workers. Casual spots like Saleems Fish Supreme on Pio Nono Avenue also serve lunch. However, some of Macon’s best-known seafood restaurants are dinner-only: Jim Shaw’s opens at 4:30 PM and Fish N’ Pig opens at 4:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday. If you need a seafood lunch in Macon, plan around the restaurants that specifically offer midday service.