Many people are unaware that there is a town inside of a city here in Macon, Ga. Payne City is completely surrounded by Bibb County and is located off of Vineville Avenue. Inside of the city within a city, there is a quaint restaurant and bar called Twang.
Because of its lack of advertisements and remote location, many people at Mercer have not heard of the Southern eatery, which is a shame.
Located in a large brick building, Twang gives customers an old-timey feel. With its Southern décor and spacious seating, it is the perfect place for date night or a dinner with friends.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the hostess greeted my friends and me immediately. After being seated right away, our waiter, Trey Reece, came to our table within seconds to take our drink order. Throughout the dinner, Trey was extremely attentive to our table and was always asking if we need anything else.
When asked what his favorite dishes were, he did not hesitate to give us his answers.
“The most popular items, which happen to also be my favorites, are the Twang burger, fish tacos, shrimp and grits and fish and chips,” said Reece. “My personal favorite is the Twang burger.”
After hearing his testimony, two of the three of us decided to order the burger. With the burger, customers are able to add a variety of toppings, some more Southern than others. There are a variety of cheeses (bleu cheese, swiss, cheddar, smoked gouda and pimento), mushrooms, bacon, fried egg and fried green tomato. Each of these toppings costs a dollar, but they are well worth the money. After one bite, Elizabeth Tate, photography editor for The Cluster, was thoroughly impressed. She even thought that the burger rivaled that of The Rookery.
For my meal, I decided to go with the Finger Pickin’ Trio. This array of Southern delicacies included three fried macaroni and cheese bites, three fried green tomatoes and three fried catfish fillets.
This was my first time having fried macaroni and cheese bites, and Twang’s recipe did not disappoint. The bites were neither too fried nor too cheesy; they were the perfect balance between the two.
If you have ever experience the fried green tomatoes at The Rookery, then you should unquestionably make a trip to Twang to see what they have to offer. Their fried green tomatoes are aptly fried, battered in corn meal and served with a Vidalia onion vinaigrette.
The catfish fillets are battered the same way as the fried green tomatoes, but they are served with a chipotle remoulade. The dipping sauce is the perfect mixture of spicy and sweet. Overall, the trio was an enjoyable meal that is suitable as an appetizer for a large group as well.
Not only does Twang offer a unique variety of Southern food, but it also a great place to go to unwind and get a drink. Their happy hour, during which all drinks are half-off, runs from 4-7 and then from 9-11. Twang also has exceptional drink specials every night of the week, including happy hour all day on Sundays.
While it is a charming restaurant, Twang still remains busy throughout the week.
“Our busiest days are Thursdays through Saturdays, and on Saturdays, we always have a live band,” said Reece. “It may seem like a calm, relaxed place, but Twang is a lot more than that.”
Overall, our experience at Twang was more than enjoyable. I encourage all Mercer students to venture out to Payne City and to give this place a chance.
Bear Bites: Twang
