You’re probably familiar with chicken and waffles, but Dallas Hooks offers a unique twist on the Southern favorite.
On Friday, April 26, Hooks launched Café on 8th, a waffle bar located at 226 Eighth St. in downtown Augusta. The eatery serves not only a variety of traditional waffles, but also savory options, such as The Down Home, which is chicken and collards baked into a waffle. Other flavors include shrimp and grits and biscuits and gravy.
“There are a lot of things we can do with a waffle,” he said. “We’ve seen different types of waffles online, and we wanted to make them our own.”
Hooks said so far, the customer feedback has been positive.
“The best feedback is them coming back,” he said.
Hooks has enjoyed working with his employees and getting to know his customers.
“I’m an introvert, but I’m surprised that I really like meeting people,” he said.
Hooks plans to begin offering delivery, primarily in the downtown area, and catering services. He also owns the event space next door, which he uses for additional seating.
The Down Home Waffle is Café on 8th’s most popular menu item so far.
“Everybody asks questions because they’ve never seen it before,” he said. “We get to explain how it’s made.”
The restaurant is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Hooks said he may extend those hours in the future. For more information, including the link to place online orders, visit the café’s Facebook page.
