Business Lunch Review: Meet you at The Back Porch

Editor’s Note:
Wes Hennings is on vacation from eating out this week! He will return with a new restaurant review next Thursday. Yours truly chose a review he did more than three months ago—a bit off of the beaten path. Enjoy!

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 the 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: 4
Service: 5
Business Meeting: 3
Value: 4

Average Score: 4 of 5

Sometimes I like to go off the beaten path to try to find you a good place to eat, dear reader. Today we stray well off the path. Perhaps too far.

I was meeting a good friend for lunch to discuss podcasting and tech biz, and he asked if I’d ever tried a place called The Back Porch in North Augusta. I hadn’t, and to be clear, it was actually in Belvedere. What I found was a hole in the wall lunch joint with great people and a lunch that wound its way from great to average.

First of all, if you don’t know exactly where The Back Porch is, it’s going to be tough to find so turn on that GPS. The building is halfway up a steep hill and is so nondescript that it could just as easily be an auto shop as a restaurant. But I opened up the metal door to find a quaint, friendly little joint that reminded me of something I’d find in my small hometown in Arkansas.

All the regulars crowded around the bar talking about the days’ news with their favorite server, while we found a table in the corner. The menu is certainly eclectic, from burgers to Louisiana gumbo. We started with the Louisiana flair by trying the Boudin Balls, which if you’ve never had them are very much like a delicious stuffed hushpuppy. They were the highlight of the meal for me.

While my lunch buddy opted for the Philly cheesesteak, I went for the steak sandwich. It was fine, but basically what you’d expect anywhere. Nothing to set it apart. The cheesesteak was apparently better, and I was wishing I’d gone for the burger or tried the Cajun flavors of the joint. House made chips are always a treat for me, though, and I definitely recommend them on this porch.

There is an actual porch where you can eat and overlook the road, but no one seemed to be taking advantage on the day we visited, as the weather hadn’t quite turned cool enough yet.

As far as service, the food was quick, and our server treated us like we came in every day. Seeing the interaction there was probably my favorite part. Too often we go about everything in our own bubble or servers get so busy that everything is transactional, so this was a nice change of pace from most of the places you’ll find on the main drag.

I won’t say it’s the best lunch I’ve had, but it you’re ever on the Belvedere side of North Augusta and want an experience without questionable eating – I’d say the Back Porch is worth a stop.

Back Porch
808 Belvedere Clearwater Rd
Belvedere, SC 29841