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 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: 5
Service: 4
Business Meeting: 3
Value: 5
Score: 4.25 of 5
Sad to say, but it’s taken me more than a decade in the city of Augusta to experience one of its staples. I’ve long heard about the best burger in town down on the rougher end of Broad Street. Now I have finally experienced it for myself! And believe me, experiencing it for yourself is the only way you’ll truly know what makes the Sports Center so beloved.
First off, we’ll be clear that this is not the place you want to take your high-dollar clients. To get to the Sports Center, just drive past some empty businesses on Broad Street and find the most nondescript restaurant you can, across from the strip clubs. There it is.
And if you think the outside is not made to impress, wait till you walk in. It’s almost like someone put a grill inside your grandpa’s garage. There’s at least three visible freezers, cases of beer spread across the back walls, and a stack of hamburger buns. You’re greeted at the door by a wave of grease smoke from the grill, so you’re not sure whether to cough or salivate because it smells so good. And at this point, you’ve barely had any of the experience that is Sports Center.
We were greeted promptly by our waitress, a fixture of this Augusta landmark, and when I asked if I could get a Dr. Pepper, she simply laughed at me and said, “This is Sports Center, hon.” I would come to learn that it’s a common reply of hers if anyone asks for such exotic items as barbecue sauce or cheese that isn’t American.
The menu is written on a beer placard, and there’s only enough for one of every three tables, so they get passed around a lot. There’s beer and your standard sodas (Coke, Diet, and Sprite). It seems like most folks get their beer in a “fishbowl” and of course the sweet tea flows freely. The food options are basically anything you can do with a hamburger patty: burger, cheeseburger, or hamburger steak. Also, your only option is to pay in cash, so stop by the ATM unless you like washing dishes.
It seems like I’m complaining, but I actually enjoyed myself, particularly when my cheeseburger arrived. Best in town is a big claim, but it may live up to the hype. It’s definitely the biggest burger I’ve had round these parts, and the flavors were just what you would want. Deciding between the fries or incredible hand-breaded onion rings is more like Sophie’s Choice, so order half-and-half and they’ll know exactly what you mean.
If you want service or location that’s built to impress, I suggest you not venture quite so far down Broad Street. But if you want a great hamburger in one of Augusta’s legendary joints, make sure that the Sports Center is atop your list.
Sports Center
594 Broad Street
Website: LOL
