Though Macon's newest restaurant may not be high on fine dining, crystal glasses, and real china plates, it's no reason to keep you from trying at least one meal here. From the outside, the restaurant looks almost like a 1950s theater, complete with a neon marquis sign advertising the "Blue Plate" in bright blue lights. Inside, however, it's the food and not the decor that speaks volumes. Oversized murals bring to life the traditional meaning of the "blue plate special," but it's the whole experience--from ordering to eating--that evokes the essence of what it means to be Southern.
The menus are a bit curious; this is perhaps the only restaurant I've ever visited that encouraged writing on them. You'll be presented with a plain slip of paper listing the daily specials--three or four meat entrees followed by a dozen or so vegetable options. Circle the one meat and three vegetables that you'll be having, scribble out what you want to drink, and hand your "menu" to the waiter.
The food is unmistakenly Southern, unquestionably excellent and, from the chicken, fried chicken, and chicken fried steak, to the fried okra, fried green tomatoes, and fried corn . . . nearly everything is fried. But don't let the mere thought of your arteries hardening keep you out of here. The portions are large and you certainly won't leave feeling hungry. On my last visit I tried the chicken fried steak with green beans, fried okra, and the house specialty, the fried green tomatoes; everything had a ton of flavor that will leave you craving more or stealing bites from your neighbors' plates.
The dessert menu is every bit as appealing and offers banana pudding and pecan pie that are to die for. The desserts are large enough for two people to share, or you can order a couple and let everyone at the table have a taste!
Perhaps the best thing about Blue Plate is that, regardless if you're visiting for lunch or for dinner, your meal will always cost $5.75. If the food isn't quite enough to convince you to come back often, the service is fantastic, the epitome of southern hospitality, and will certainly leave you looking forward to Macon's new hot spot.
Sunday lunch is the busiest meal time in this Bible-belt city, so expect to wait. Trust me, the food will certainly be worth the wait.