Restaurants/Food

Consumer Stories

Restaurant takes over closed coffee shop in CSRA

Have you had oxtail or curry goat before? If not, perhaps you’ve had jerk chicken. A new Caribbean restaurant is now open, complete with a coffee drive-through. The Jerk House is now open, serving small and large plates generally in the $11.00 to $23.00 range, including Jerk Chicken Pasta, Jerk Pork, Stew Chicken, Fried Chicken, and more. The restaurant replaced Café Dulce, which lasted about three years, in a new building that featured a second level, a side patio upstairs, and a drive-through. All are being used for the Jerk

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Interesting Grand Opening for Dessert Shop

ABD first told you about plans for Paris Baguette to open sweet shops in Evans and Aiken, and now the first store is open. The Evans location next to the Cava Mediterranean food restaurant is open. Parking could be a challenge for both of those popular eateries in front of Mullins Colony on Washington Road in Evans. Some patrons may need to park in the shopping center and walk over. Thanks to members of Let’s Talk Augusta and Augusta Business Connection for first posting photos and word of the opening.

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Update on Chick-fil-A in Evans and more

The Adams family operates this Chick-fil-A at Mullins Crossing in Evans and is now planning to open another location. ABD learned that they interviewed and were chosen to operate the next Chick-fil-A on the west side of the Riverwood Shopping Center. A groundbreaking will be the next step, and with construction, the restaurant is expected to open in about a year. The stores are about 5 miles apart, and the new one will be more convenient for residents coming from Appling and subdivisions in Riverwood and the William Few Parkway.

Read More »
Closings

1 of 2 Cookie Franchisees Close Store

Sometimes in business, the owner’s efforts are not enough to save a store from closing. That’s just how the cookie crumbles. After three years, the Crumbl franchise closed at 826 Cabela Drive, Suite 2, in the Villages at Riverwatch across from Costco. Four years ago, a different Crumbl franchise opened in the Mullins Colony Shopping Center to record-breaking success.  It is still open for business. The previous franchisee told ABD that some weeks the Evans store was the #1 store in the U.S. Click here for more on that part

Read More »
Consumer Stories

2 Restaurant Cafes getting closer to opening its doors

It’s been a few months since this banner went up introducing YABA Mediterranean Grill to Evans in the same shopping center as Shane’s BBQ and NY Butcher Shoppe. Let’s Talk Augusta first talked this up and got some interesting comments, including these two from some incredulous female connoisseurs of dining out. “There will literally be 3 Mediterranean restaurants within a mile of each other,” and “How many Mediterranean restaurants do we need in Evans?” Laziza’s first location is in the Publix shopping center in Evans, and CAVA restaurant recently opened

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Another coffee location jolts a Washington Road corridor

Gordon Highway used to be called “The Motor Mile,” due to a litany of car dealerships.  Soon, with the addition of Dutch Bros. Coffee, a strip of Washington Road may be called “The Coffee Mile.” Contractors are putting the finishing touches on their first location in Augusta. The Arizona-based franchise has nearly 1300 locations, including the closest one in the two-state area in Columbia, South Carolina. Dutch Bros. is located at 3064 Washington Road, on the land once occupied by Mi Rancho Restaurant and between Burger King and Chick-fil-A. They

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Restaurant Review: Brinkley’s Chop House Changes in the air and on the plate

Publisher’s Note: About once a year, Executive Chef Edward DeFelice invites my wife, daughter, and I to sample appetizers and entrees. I always feel special at Brinkley’s Chop House—like I’ve had a meal at the finest restaurant in New York City. An added bonus is that leftovers travel well home… and in my belly for a few days. The following are questions posed to Ed and thoughts on our experience. ABD Question: Is there a theme to the new menu for the Fall at BCH? BCH Answer: This season’s menu

Read More »
Consumer Stories

New restaurant opening in Martinez

An established caterer and food truck operator is hoping the 3rd time is the charm for a take-out restaurant at this strip center on Washington Road directly across from McDonald’s on Davis Road. Marie’s Creole & Catering is opening this fall in the center with limited parking. Entering and exiting the parking lot can also be a bit challenging on Washington Road.   Canales Deli and Angie’s Kitchen lasted less than a year in the same location, focusing on take-out lunches and casseroles. Marie’s Creole & Catering will use the space

Read More »
Consumer Stories

10 Questions with the Currys

ABD: What was the beginning like for Buona Caffe at your first location, and how have you grown over the years? Currys: We started the company out of our house when we were renting a little cottage right behind what became our Central Avenue café. It was originally just going to be a web-based business selling coffee online.  Then we started selling to local restaurants (the Polka Dot Pig in Surrey Center – now Oliviana’s – was our first restaurant customer). We were roasting in the back half of an

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Longtime vacant building finally sold

Perhaps the third time is the charm for a high-profile restaurant building in Aiken. Zaxby’s was the last server of food at this location on Whiskey Road. They vacated the 3600 square-foot property in the second half of 2022 to move nearby. In late 2025, a deal was in place for Freddie’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers to open its third restaurant in this building. Here was our story then on how that deal fell apart.  The building then went on sale for nearly $1.5 million. Now, the independently owned Ace

Read More »