I just tried the Bear Burgers in Mâcon for the first time. See what I thought of the food, service
Look, when a burger joint asks you to “go for the best burgers,” you don’t say no.
In fact, you don’t say anything. You just enjoy every bite of meat. And that’s exactly what I did.
Bear Burgers opened earlier this year after taking the place of Nu Way on Montpelier Ave. in Mercer Village in Macon. The restaurant is a rebranding of Jonathan Keene’s former restaurant in Macon, called Keene’s Kafe, located on Thomaston Road. The rebranding took place after the Keene’s Kafe theft in July 2023.
This popular restaurant in northern Mâcon reopens with a new location and a new name
“I really thought my dream was over,” Keene said. However, the Middle Georgia community came together, and with the help of locals and other business owners, Keene was able to host a grand opening for Bear Burgers in January 2024.
I couldn’t wait to try this place, not only because of the burgers (because let’s be real, I’m a huge burger fan), but also because of the history behind this place. So, let’s dig in.
What did I think of the Bear Burgers? Here is my full review:
Atmosphere
Orange and black, all around. This restaurant is the place to beat when it comes to Mercer Bear pride.
Bear Burgers, named after Mercer University’s mascot, clearly sets the stage for students and Maconites hoping to celebrate the school. As soon as I walked in, orange and black greeted me in every nook and cranny of the restaurant: from the bear flags hanging on the walls, to the silly posters, to the orange stripes and black accents.
There were also several TVs set up for game nights, plenty of bar seating along the walls as well as tables throughout. A few high tables were also scattered on the sidewalk outside.
This place is definitely one of the best places to go on a Friday or Saturday night.
I give Bear Burgers a 3.5 out of 5 for ambiance.
Menu
If you dined at Keene’s Kafe before it closed, you’ll probably notice some familiar menu items like the mac and cheese burger, now called Bear Mack.
And if you’re not familiar, get ready for an epic menu.
Entrees include tasty choices like southwest egg rolls, fried mac and cheese bites, fried pickles and fried green beans.
As a starter, we of course had burgers. Choose from the original Bear Burger or enjoy specialties like the Lord of the Rings burger with your choice of patty (beef, turkey or vegetarian), Muenster cheese, bacon, onion rings and Bear sauce signature.
Other specialties include the Bear Claw Burger, which comes with your choice of patty, Muenster cheese, bacon and fried cheese sticks. Believe me when I say this one is amazing because it looks like a real bear claw when served.
There’s also the Bear Mato Burger, served with fried green tomatoes. I mean, can it get any better than this?
But wait, there’s more.
Are you ready for a challenge? Bear Burgers also has a “Pledge” on the menu. It includes four hamburger patties, four strips of chicken, eight strips of bacon, four slices of cheese and bear sauce, all piled on a brioche bun. Eat it within four minutes (no big deal, right) and get it free.
If that wasn’t enough, Bear Burgers also offers fried wings, corn dogs, corn nuggets, and all the fries you could want. And to top it all off, dessert options include apple pie, funnel cake, red velvet cake, and milkshakes.
Phew, that was intense. View the full menu online to learn more.
Overall, I give the menu a 4.5 out of 5.
Food
Welcome to the tastiest part of the review.
After looking at the menu, I knew I had to order an entrée, but which one? Well, I’m a big fan of southwest eggrolls (I even had them as a side at my wedding), so this part was a no-brainer.
As soon as I bit into the crispy spring rolls, I knew I had made the right choice. They were fried to perfection, super crispy on the outside and hot with lots of flavor on the inside. Dare I say, some of the best eggrolls around.
For my main course, I ordered the Original Bear Burger with cheese, fries and Bear sauce on the side. The meat on the burger was extremely flavorful and the cheese complimented every bite, but once I added a dipping sauce of Bear Sauce, the flavors exploded. After that, I dipped my burger in it and inhaled the whole thing in about two minutes.
With the little sauce I had left, I dipped my fries in it and soaked it all up. No sauce left behind.
Overall, I give the food here a solid 4 out of 5.
Service
When I walked in, I was greeted with a friendly smile and wave from the cashier. She was alone, working all the tables, taking orders, filling cups, and calling people as needed. Sierra was her name and she was really nice.
Her greetings and farewells were the highlight of my time there as she seemed genuinely happy to serve.
I give Bear Burgers a 5 out of 5 for service.
Prices
Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. Entrees ranged from six to eight dollars and the burgers were all reasonably priced.
The Original Bear Burger is the most affordable option at $10 and the burger comes with fries. If you choose a turkey or vegetarian burger, there is an additional cost of $2.
And of course, bacon is extra, up to $1.50 more.
The Bear Mack Burger and Bear Mato are the most expensive, at $14.
The “Pledge” is listed for just $25, which seems like a bargain to me.
Additional sides range from $4 to $6, and desserts start at $5.
Overall, I give Bear Burgers a 4.5 out of 5 for its prices.
Bear Burgers is located at 1602 Montpelier Ave., Suite 105 in Mâcon.
Have you ever tried Bear Burgers? What did you think of the food, service, ambiance, prices and menu, and how would you rate the restaurant? Let me know in the comments or send me an email at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
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