Restaurants/Food

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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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Kinki Sushi

Food Quality: 5 Service: 4 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 5 Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 I’ve never tried sushi and don’t plan to change that anytime soon, so when a good friend invited me to lunch at Kinki Sushi many years ago, I was less than enthusiastic. This time, I visited the restaurant in Le Pavilion Shopping Center in Augusta for dinner with my wife, Rebecca. I may be too picky to try sushi, but I love Japanese food. I especially enjoy hibachi restaurants, where a chef prepares your

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Consumer Stories

BBQ restaurant dispute causes temporary closure

Barbecue can be a bit messy—but not usually for those running the restaurant. Bobby Boggs, owner and founder of the Pot Smoker, took an unusual step recently to distance himself from the former franchisee of his concept. He temporarily closed his flagship restaurant on Highway 25 in North Augusta. Boggs tells ABD it may be three or four months before he finds the right person to run the day-to-day operations. Boggs took to Facebook and got about 300 engagements from his followers. He said the Aiken restaurant remains open and

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Consumer Stories

New restaurant coming to a familiar CSRA location

The site of a former restaurant in The Plaza at Evans Town Center has been empty for more than a year. Stay. Social Tap + Table operated a unique pour-your-own beer and wine business from a row of taps along the wall and tapas-style food. It won’t be vacant much longer. As ABD previously reported, there was a three-month-long debate over whether Stay received more than 50 percent of sales from food. In December of 2022, following unsuccessful mediation, the doors of Stay were closed and in the following months,

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