The Rookery has been a downtown Macon staple for years, and now it's owners are introducing a new restaurant, Dovetail, upstairs.
Dovetail will be an upscale restaurant featuring a "farm to table" concept, having local proteins and produce from area farms and ranches incoporated into its menu.
Maitre d' Tim Chambliss says while other big cities including Atlanta have farm-fresh restaurants, Macon is unique is that the farms are only within 20 miles of the restaurant. "We're lucky to have local farmers in the area who love showing what they are able to produce and we love having a place to do that for them, so I think we have a slight advantage over Atlanta in that area."
One such rancher is Joe Egloff, who owns Rocking Chair Ranch in Forsyth. The restaurant plans on using his beef in their menu. "Dare I say, I feel my beef is as good as anything coming out of Iowa or Omaha, Nebraska," Egloff says.
He says the plan is also beneficial for him because he can sell his product directly to the restaurant, rather than having a middleman get money by selling his cattle through a stockyard.
Dovetail says their cuisine will be Southern food with their own twist. Executive Chef Doug Sanneman says his favorite menu item is duck seared, marinated, and served with curry pumpkin, pistachioes, and a little bit of citrus.
Owners says they've already been getting a lot of calls for reservations. Dovetail is set to open on Wednesday for dinner.