Local knowledge: Iconic Macon restaurants

Now that you’ve finished reading the story about some of Macon’s iconic restaurants, you’re probably hungry. 

This week’s “Local Knowledge” trivia should give you something to chew on.

Here are 10 questions about local eating establishments (past and present) and a couple of bonus questions if you’re feeling particularly smart.

1. What was the first restaurant in Macon – and one of the first in the state – to have a drive-thru window?

(A)  Canary Cottage on Cotton Avenue
(B) Waffle House on Hartley Bridge Road
(C)  Saleem’s Fish Supreme on Pio Nono Avenue
(D)  Nu-Way on Houston Avenue

2. Jesse and Ethel Haralson once ran a corner store called the “Hard Rock Grocery” at Hazel and Calhoun streets in what is now Beall’s Hill. In 1989, their daughter, Betty Marshall, opened a restaurant four blocks over at Columbus and Oglethorpe.  The family used to joke about naming it the Hard Rock Cafe. What did they call it instead?

(A) Soft Rock Bistro
(B) Bear’s Den
(C) Beall’s Bagels
(D) Chuck E Cheese

3. The Cox Cafe on Lower Poplar Street has been home to two other restaurants since the 1950s – the Cowfe and the Bull Frog Cafe. The Bull Frog was the first restaurant in Bibb County to have what?

(A) Matching silverware
(B) Homemade banana pudding
(C) Wood-burning stove
(D) DoorDash

4. The Grey Goose Players Club is a popular restaurant on Forsyth Road with a golf-themed decor and a large aquarium. What is its signature menu item?

(A) Fish Sandwich
(B) Grey Goose Burger
(C) Nine-Iron Nuggets
(D) Gazpacho

5. Tokyo Alley, a fixture on Mulberry Street Lane since 1992, is renowned for what dish on its menu? 

(A) Noodle Salad
(B) Pork Shumai  
(C) Bangkok Chicken
(D) Teriyaki Salmon

6. What downtown seafood restaurant was located inside a landmark sea vessel in the 700 block of Riverside Drive in the 1970s?

(A) Captain D’s
(B) Red Lobster  
(C) Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips.
(D) Shrimp Boat

7. Mark’s Cellar, a restaurant in the basement of the old Lanier Hotel, once was the only place in town where you could get what dish?

(A) Live Maine Lobster
(B) Ocmulgee River Sushi
(C) Lizella Frog Legs
(D) Vineville Venison

 8. In 1958, Anjette Lyles was convicted of poisoning four family members and became the first white woman in Georgia to be sentenced to die in the electric chair. She owned Lyle’s Restaurant, which was located on what downtown street?

(A) Hemlock
(B) Bay
(C) Elm
(D) Mulberry

9. The Quail’s Nest was a popular buffet at Westgate Mall and Shurlington Plaza. What was the owner’s name? (I’m not making this up.) 

(A) Bob White
(B) Rockin’ Robin
(C) The Partridge Family
(D) Larry Bird

10. Macon restaurant owner Angelo Cagliostro received his early training in the business at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Known for its delicious food and personal touch, this longtime local favorite was once called the “Sardis of the South.” It was located next to the train trestle at the corner of Forsyth Road and Napier Avenue, where the Big Peach Car Wash is now. What was the name of it?

(A) Molly’s Cafe
(B) Blue Plate
(C) Cag’s Open Hearth
(D) Francar’s Wings

BONUS QUESTIONS

1. Satterfield’s Restaurant and Jim Shaw’s Seafood Restaurant opened a joint venture in October 2005 on the shores of Lake Tobesofkee. What did they name it?

(A) Fish N’ Pig
(B) Surf N’ Turf
(C) Bait N’ Switch
(D) Pulled Pork N’ Gator

2. How did customers at Len Berg’s restaurant praise the cooks when they enjoyed their meal?

(A) Raised their iced tea glasses and made a toast 
(B) Rang the buzzer bell next to the front door as they were leaving
(C) Took a selfie and posted it on Instagram
(D) Left a 37 percent gratuity

ANSWERS

KEY: (1) D (2) B (3) C (4) B (5) A (6) D (7) A (8) D (9) A (10) C  — (Bonus 1) A (Bonus 2) B 

REPORT CARD

(11-12) Fine dining. (9-10) Chef’s choice. (7-8) House salad. (5-6) Cold leftovers. (3-4) KP duty. (0-2) No soup for you.