Restaurants/Food

Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Another Broken Egg Café

Food Quality: 4 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Before I began writing restaurant reviews, I typically ate at the same restaurants over and over, but I can now step outside of my culinary comfort zone. That’s what led me to try Another Broken Egg Café on Alexander Drive near Kroger in the Washington Walk Shopping Center. The restaurant, which serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch, offers a wide variety of traditional Southern favorites, such as chicken & waffles, and more unique menu options,

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Consumer Stories

Upscale Japanese Restaurant to Open

The owners of Koi restaurant on Washington Road in Martinez are expanding into Evans with another Japanese concept. Fukuro is opening in the new shopping center at 5100 Washington with U.S. Self Storage, Dunkin Donuts, and other fitness and nail concepts. Their Facebook page shares this information about the new concept. “Fukuro is not just a place to eat and drink; it’s a destination where tradition and innovation meet, creating a dining experience that’s both familiar and excitingly new. It’s where every visit becomes an opportunity to explore the depth

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Closings

CSRA Pick-up Meal market set to close

It was an idyllic setting for a new business. A tree-lined street in North Augusta filled with houses built in the 1930’s and 40’s. Businesses line the streets including a realtor’s office, a staffing agency, a hair salon, and a boutique. They supported each other, including their newest neighbor, West Avenue Market, located at 512 West Avenue, which opened in late October last year. Despite a great beginning, when customers popped in and out for the convenience of picking up freshly cooked meals, taking them home, and popping them in

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: The Feed Sack – North Augusta

Food Quality: 4 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 As a former ABD reporter, I often covered future restaurant openings and vowed to visit many of them when they opened. I tried some of these eateries, but there are still many others I plan to visit someday. In March 2023, I wrote one of those stories about plans to open The Feed Sack’s North Augusta location following the success of its original location in Aiken. I wanted to check out the upscale restaurant

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B2B Stories

New business serves up tasty way to beat the heat

The first day of summer is still about three weeks away, but with temperatures starting to hit 90 degrees in the CSRA, the opening of The Classic Cone ice cream shop is perfect timing. When Carrie Srnka moved from New York to Aiken in 2016, she knew she would eventually open a soft-serve ice cream business. It took a while because she also owns Wellness Deserved, which offers PEMF, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for Humans, Horses, and Pets. For more information, click here. Another delay came when Srnka was looking

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Beamie’s At The River

Food Quality: 4 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 I feel it’s important to start this review with a confession: I don’t eat seafood, but I enjoy eating at seafood restaurants. That probably doesn’t make sense, but I’ll explain. Those eateries typically serve good burgers, steaks, chicken tenders, and other menu items offered specifically for land lovers like me. Many of my family members, including my wife, love seafood, such as fish, shrimp, oysters, and scallops. I’m happy to join them for dinner

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B2B Stories

A taste of Miami opens in the CSRA

Aiken is now home to an establishment that offers Latin jazz, flamenco performances, tasty dishes, cocktails, and premium cigars. Rhumba Rum and Cigar Lounge opened at 321 Richland West in Aiken, the former location of Antique Emporium which closed last year. Rhumba held a soft opening in April and a grand opening on May 9. Born in Cuba, Rhumba owner, Elier Alberto lived in Miami for 22 years working in nightclubs that served up Latin cuisine, Latin jazz, and fine cigars. Miami is known for its thriving nightlife and sandy

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B2B Stories

Brews, bites, and barks

Sometimes, business dreams are worth waiting for. When Andrew Phifer, an engineer, and his wife, Rachel, an accountant, found themselves more apart than together because of their jobs, they started thinking of what they could do together that both would enjoy. With inspiration from their own “good girl” Kate the rescue dog, the idea for Good Girl Brewing Company was born. In 2021, they found the perfect spot at 880 Banks Mill Road in Aiken, next door to Citizens Park and the former location of Found Treasures, an antique and

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Inner Bean Café

Food Quality: 5 Service: 4 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 3 Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Inner Bean Café’s Facebook page refers to the eatery on Davis Road as “not just a place; it’s a state of mind,” and if you’ve ever eaten there, you probably know exactly what that description means. I’ve enjoyed visiting many restaurants in Augusta and beyond, but eating at Inner Bean has always been such a calming experience and a welcome respite from the chaos of the world. My wife, Rebecca, and I visited the

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Consumer Stories

Former Mexican eatery becomes Japanese steakhouse

Cousins, Oscar and Frank Salsas have spent many years in the restaurant business. Oscar still owns one in New York, but Frank returned to Aiken a couple of years ago where he had lived for 20 years. Both have found success serving Mexican and Japanese cuisine. When Sombreros closed in the fall of last year, Frank said, “This is where we need to be.” A couple of weeks ago, the former Sombreros location at 1695 Richland Avenue East became Okinawa Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bowl, with Oscar as owner and

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