Editor’s Note:
Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Monday 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”.
Today Wes stopped at a place that is an ode to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The owner is from that region and a Philadelphia Flyers hockey fan, who remembers when the tough guys were called the “Broad Street Bullies”.
Food Quality: 5
Service: 4
Business Meeting: 4
Value: 5
Score: 4.5 of 5
It’s not very often that on my first stop, a restaurant becomes one of my favorites. Broad Street Bullies Grill, naturally on Broad Street downtown, by the Augusta Commons, quickly took a top spot on my list with it’s no frills façade, and some incredible food.
I walked in to find a counter to order along with some trendy wooden tables and that’s about all. The menu is chalkboards hanging above the counter telling you what to expect on your plate. Steak, chicken and shrimp are the main fare, and you can get them in a Bully Platter, or served on a potato or over French fries. My friend dining with me opted for chicken and shrimp with broccoli, and of course I couldn’t force myself to eat that healthy so I ordered up a burger and some fries.
There are signs warning of a wait time because the food is cooked to order, but our plates showed up very quickly, served in takeout containers with drinks in bottles and cans. I meant it when I said no frills. While this made me wonder what was ahead, biting into that burger left no doubt in my mind that the bullies know what they are doing. And those French fries. They are not dusted but coated in spice and cheese, making each bite better, and likely more dangerous, than the bite before. My cohort opting for the healthier fare was equally impressed.
The prices are a little higher than I would like, but for the quality of the food and the size of the portions, I think we can still offer them top marks for value. And while it’s certainly not a place for a stuffy business meeting, I don’t think any client or colleague would be bummed about a delicious meal in a casual setting. Our conversation on this day took the full range, and the chat-mosphere was as welcoming as the meal.
As good as this lunch was turning out to be, I was surprised it’s floated under my radar for so long. However, the grill has only been at this location for about a year, meaning they made a big move during a big risk season of the pandemic. I think it will pay off in visibility for a lesser-known but well-deserving establishment.
Broad Street Bullies Grill
855 Broad Street
Augusta, GA
facebook.com/broadstreetbulliesgrill
