Editor’s Note:
Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.
Food Quality: 5
Service: 4
Business Meeting: 3
Value: 4
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
I feel like we have entered a new era, both as a society and a community. First, Augusta has come up in recent years in terms of entertainment, and the trend continues with the opening of Dave and Buster’s near Costco and the not-quite-as-new Top Golf. But both of these venues that offer food and fun don’t skimp on the menu in favor of all their other flair.
Dave and Buster’s opened just this past Monday, and from the packed parking lot on Day 2 at noon, it appears you’ll be navigating crowds if you’re one of the early attendees. And we can start with the verdict: D&B is not the bowling alley or arcade of yesteryear where you eat soggy fries and drink cheap beer while you have fun. You can now have a great meal alongside a great time.
While the parking lot was crowded, we were able to be immediately seated because everyone is dispersed among the tables, bar, and large game room. However, the first thing you’ll notice is the noise level. The roar of the crowd is manageable, but the music is piped in at a similar or higher level, meaning conversation has to be pretty loud to be heard. Great for friends and coworkers, probably not so much for a working lunch.
I could tell there were still a few opening hiccups. It took a few minutes to figure out who was serving our table, but our server was very nice and attentive. She went out of her way to answer my dining companion’s questions about the menu. The food also arrived quickly and our drinks never got empty.
It is definitely a restaurant divided. One half is basically a standard sports bar, with all of those standard flavors, i.e., burgers, wings, meat, and beer. The other half is what I’d describe as arcade plus.
While we didn’t play the games, we strolled through and besides skeeball, basketball, and driving games, there was also a life-sized hungry hippo and virtual reality zone. Plus, a prize zone to spend tokens – but with items for both the kids and the kids at heart.
But this is a food review, so how was it? Actually, great.
I opted for the Hawaiian chicken sandwich which was very crispy and had a delicious slaw. It fell apart easily but is something I’ll gladly put up with for something so tasty. My companion had the Beastmode burger, complete with pork belly and bacon, and also raved about it. There are options for the sides, but I feel like fries are basically what you want in this environment, and while they aren’t the best in town, they paired well with the other items. We probably made a mistake not trying the wings, as I assume that’s what many will want to try when visiting.
We also made a big mistake in forgetting to snap pics of our meals. Again, we were working hard to hear each other in our conversation. I found some photos on DoorDash that while promotional, do seem to fairly reflect the sandwiches we had.
And the price? A little higher than I’d like to pay. I suppose that is a holdover from the never-ending trend of food being a bit overpriced if you’re also at an entertainment destination. I’d say, you’ll spend two-three dollars more at Dave and Buster’s than you would for a similar plate elsewhere. But at least you’re not overpaying for food that you don’t really want to eat.
Dave and Buster’s
807 Cabela Drive
www.daveandbusters.com
