I just tried Bear Burgers in Macon for the first time. See what I thought of food, service
Listen, when a burger joint asks you to “bear down on the best burgers,” you don’t say no.
In fact, you don’t say anything. You just simply enjoy every meaty bite. And that’s exactly what I did.
Bear Burgers first opened earlier this year after taking Nu Way’s spot on Montpelier Ave. in Macon’s Mercer Village. The restaurant is a rebranding of Jonathan Keene’s previously Macon-owned restaurant called Keene’s Kafe, which was located on Thomaston Road. The rebranding came about after Keene’s Kafe was robbed in July 2023.
This popular restaurant in north Macon is reopening with a new location & new name
“I really thought that my dream was over,” Keene said. However, the Middle Georgia community came together and after help from 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-lover), but also because of the story behind the place. So, let’s dig in.
What did I think of Bear Burgers? Here’s 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 stepped foot inside, orange and black greeted me from every nook and cranny of the restaurant: from bear flags hanging on the walls to silly posters, orange stripes and black accents.
There were also multiple televisions set up for game nights, abundant bar-top seating along the walls as well as table seating throughout. A few high top tables were sprinkled in on the sidewalk outside, too.
This place is no doubt one of the top spots to be at on a Friday or Saturday night.
I give Bear Burgers a 3.5 out of 5 for atmosphere.
Menu
If you dined at Keene’s Kafe before it closed, you’ll probably notice a few familiar menu items like the mac ‘n’ cheese burger, now called the Bear Mack.
And if you’re not familiar, get ready for one epic menu.
Starters include tasty picks like southwest eggrolls, fried mac ‘n’ cheese bites, fried pickles and fried green beans.
For the entree, we had burgers, of course. Choose from the Original Bear Burger or dig into specials like the Lord of the Rings burger that comes with the patty of your choice (beef, turkey or veggie), Muenster cheese, bacon, onion rings and the signature Bear Sauce.
Other specials include the Bear Claw Burger which comes with your choice of patty, Muenster cheese, bacon and fried cheese sticks. Trust me when I say, this one’s unbelievable because it looks like an actual bear claw when served.
There’s also the Bear Mato Burger, which is served with fried green tomatoes on it. I mean, can it get any better than that?
But wait, there’s more.
Are you ready for a challenge? Bear Burgers also has a “Pledge” on the menu. It comes with four burger patties, four chicken strips, eight strips of bacon, four slices of cheese and Bear Sauce, all piled onto a brioche bun. Eat that within four minutes (no biggie, right) and get it for free.
If that wasn’t enough, Bear Burgers also has fried wings, corn dogs, corn nuggets and all the fries you could ever want. And to top it all off, dessert options include apple pie, funnel cake, red velvet cake and milkshakes.
Phew, that was intense. Check out the full menu online for 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 a starter, but which one? Well, I’m a huge fan of southwest eggrolls (I even had them as a side option at my wedding), so that part was a no-brainer.
As soon as I bit into the crispy eggrolls, I knew I made the right choice. They were fried to perfection, super crunchy on the outside and warm with plenty 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 tasty and the cheese complimented every bite, but once I added in a dip of the Bear sauce, the flavors exploded. After that, I drenched my burger in it and inhaled the whole thing in about two minutes.
With what little sauce I had left, I dipped my fries in it and soaked it all up. No sauce left behind.
All in all, I give the food here a solid 4 out of 5.
Service
When I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly smile and wave from the cashier. She was solo, working all tables, taking orders, filling cups and ringing people up as needed. Sierra was her name and she was mighty nice.
Her greetings and farewells were the highlight of my time there because she genuinely seemed happy to serve.
I give Bear Burgers a 5 out of 5 for service.
Prices
Everything on the menu is fairly priced. The starters ranged from six to eight bucks and the burgers are all decently priced.
The Original Bear Burger is the most affordable option at $10 and the burger comes with fries. If you choose to have a turkey or veggie burger, there’s an additional cost of $2.
And of course bacon is extra, topping out at $1.50 more.
The Bear Mack Burger and the Bear Mato are priced the highest at $14.
The “Pledge” is listed at only $25, which seems like a steal to me.
Additional sides range from $4-6 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 Macon.
Have you tried Bear Burgers yet? What did you think of the food, service, atmosphere, prices and menu, and what would you score the restaurant? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
4 rounds, 12k votes. Here’s who won our Macon best restaurant patio bracket
New Mexican restaurant opens in downtown Macon. Look inside, see what’s on the menu
Mercer student competes in chef competition to win $25k. See what’s cooking & how to vote
