Folks flock to fine dining restaurants for all sorts of occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and more. Guests from out of town may scout out Augusta’s finest establishments to experience the best cuisine that our city has to offer. Others simply enjoy the finer things in life!
Here is the complete fine-dining guide for Augusta, GA.
| Restaurant | What They’re Known For | Location | Menu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert’s | Steak & seafood | Augusta – Surrey Center | Calvert’s Menu |
| Sheehan’s Irish Pub | Refined pub food | Augusta – Summerville | Sheehan’s Menu |
| Abel Brown | Upscale Southern | Augusta – Surrey Center | Abel Brown’s Menu |
| Beck’s | Steak & seafood | Augusta – Summerville | Beck’s Menu |
| Cork & Flame | Fine-dining experience | Evans, GA | Cork & Flame’s Menu |
| Cadwalladers Café | Seasonal American dishes | Martinez, GA | Cadwalladers’ Menu |
| Manuel’s Bread Café | French cuisine | North Augusta, SC | Manuel’s Bread Café Menu |
| French Market Grille | Cajun & Creole dishes | Augusta & Martinez, GA | French Market Grille’s Menu |
Calvert’s
One of Augusta’s fine-dining staples, Calvert’s has been serving guests high quality seafood and steaks for 40 years. This family-owned restaurant is located on the top level of Surrey Center and typically attracts an older crowd. You may not see Calvert’s plastered all over Instagram, but their top-tier cuisine is what has made it so successful for so long.
Fine seafoods such as raw oysters, bacon wrapped shrimp, and seafood bisque dominate the appetizer selection. Local favorite entreés include the Calvert’s Filet with Cabernet mushroom sauce; the Lobster Savannah, a whole Maine lobster stuffed with shrimp, scallops, and gruyere cheese; and the roasted rack of lamb, served over bacon cheddar scalloped potatoes. See their full menu here.
Calvert’s also has private banquet rooms available for reservation for larger parties. These are perfect for a rehearsal dinner, milestone birthday celebration, or retirement party. Full bar and their impressive wine selection are available in the private rooms.
Sheehan’s Irish Pub
It is hard to believe that Sheehan’s Irish Pub has only been around since 2006. This neighborhood pub, located in the heart of the Summerville neighborhood in Augusta, has an air of familiarity within it. Locals can almost count on seeing someone they know, and visitors can expect to be welcomed with open arms.
Menu highlights include the Green Jacket salad with their signature herb vinaigrette; Fish and Chips with homemade tarter sauce; and the filet of beef, which can be made into a surf and turf by adding fried shrimp. Sheehan’s always has a variety of specials as well that keep guests coming back for more.
While Sheehan’s may not be a traditional fine dining restaurant, its Irish flair and hospitality earn the elevated pub a spot on this list. Their excellent drink menu may keep you there long after dinner is over!
Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar is one of Augusta’s newer fine-dining restaurants. It quickly made a name for itself when it opened in 2015, though, as folks realized that the owner, Todd Schafer, is the same chef behind Bistro 491, which he closed to focus on Abel Brown. It has become a local favorite for a multi-course meal or just oysters and drinks at the bar.
Abel Brown’s oysters are simply unmatched. The selection changes periodically but always expect at least 5 or 6 choices with varying salinities. They also serve oyster shooters, broiled oysters, Rockefeller oysters and fried oysters. Other popular starters include the fried calamari, white cheddar cheese curds, and wedge salad.
Some of the most popular entreés include the shrimp & grits and bacon crusted salmon, but always expect Abel Brown to have 2-3 specials per course. These are some of the best items to try, as they are chosen based on what is in season and available fresh. View all their menus here.
Beck’s
Beck’s is another strong choice for oyster lovers. They offer several varieties of raw oysters; oysters baked in butter and a three cheese blend; and Hunt’s baked oysters, which have fresh jalapeños, in addition to the butter and cheeses. Like Abel Brown, the selection rotates periodically but always count on top quality!
This restaurant describes itself as “casual fine dining†and guests agree that this is the place to go when you want excellent food with a relaxed atmosphere. Menu items such as the pimento cheese hushpuppies, shrimp & grits, and collard greens give a nod to the restaurant’s Southern roots and Southern hospitality.
The true MVP’s of the menu are the fried lobster tail served with onion rings and an Asian dipping sauce; the classic grilled fillet with a mushroom onion veal reduction; and the blackened grouper topped with hollandaise sauce. Any of these are sure to please!
Cork & Flame
Cork & Flame in Evans, GA prides itself on offering not only gourmet meals, but also a fine dining experience. Guests can expect to spend up to three hours in this elegant setting, depending on how many courses the party orders. Unique touches the restaurant includes are a steamed hand towel before dining begins, different palate cleaners before each course and a digestion period between the courses.
Popular menu items include the seafood cocktail of steamed crab claws and lemongrass shrimp; the American wagyu beef cheek with celeriac truffle and filet mignon with smoked gouda, chive, asparagus, and béarnaise sauce. Guests can also opt for a four course or eight course tasting to experience all this hidden gem has to offer.
Don’t forget to check out their wine market, located at the front of the restaurant. You can grab bottles to go, or stay for their weekly wine tastings every Friday and Saturday 5-7 p.m. for $24/person. Cork & Flame was also featured in Augusta Planet’s 11 Exciting Restaurants in Evans, GA.
Cadwalladers Cafe
Opened in 1987, Cadwalladers has always been known around town for fine food and wine. Their menu selections and specialty items change weekly to ensure that guests are offered the freshest, highest quality foods. Like Calvert’s, Cawalladers’ guests are usually those who have been coming for years and years. But the next generation of Augustans is also starting to discover what makes traditional fine dining so special.
Despite the menu changes, guests can always count on a soup du jour at Cadwalladers. Some favorites include the creamy tomato bisque and lobster bisque. Their menu also has a variety of meat options, with different types of seafood, beef, and poultry always available. More recently, Cadwalladers has been making an effort to offer options for those with dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes.
Cadwallers offers curbside pickup as well if you would rather create a fine-dining experience at home, without the cooking. Be sure to order at least two hours in advance, though, as the restaurant will need to plan ahead.
Manuel’s Bread Café
Manuel’s Bread Café sits right across the river in North Augusta, South Carolina, and attracts diners from all over the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area). Owner and chef Manuel Verney-Carron originates from Lyon, France and fortunately for Augustans, he brought his culinary talents to the U.S., opening his own farm-to-table restaurant.
Manuel’s has daily specials, which can be found on the homepage of their website. Lunch menu staples include the Blue Clay Farm salad, with produce fresh from the farm down the road, and the croque monsieur, a classic French sandwich. Manuel’s French roots really shine on the dinner menu. Try French onion soups as an appetizer, the duck confit salad or boeuf bourgignon as an entrée and cremé bruleé for dessert if you’re looking for a traditional French fine dining experience.
Manuel’s is open for lunch and dinner every day; breakfast on Friday and Saturday; and brunch on Sunday. Of course, Manuel’s made it onto Augusta Planet’s Ultimate Guide to Brunch Spots in Augusta. Bon appétit!
French Market Grille
French Market Grille refers to itself as, “An Augusta tradition offering authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine in a festive New Orleans-inspired atmosphere for over 35 years.†Locals know that both locations of French Market Grille, Surrey Center and Furys Ferry, are guaranteed to have great food and a fun experience. This is a weekly spot for many Augustans!
French Market Grille is open for both lunch and dinner, but expect to see more menu options in the evening. The she crab soup always delights as an appetizer the rest of their seafood is just as delicious. You can’t go wrong with the Crepes Lousiana, with small scallops, shrimp, crawfish tails, and cream sauce; or the crab chop, far more decadent than a crab cake, the crab meat is made into a blonde roux and sautéed to perfection.
Don’t dare leave without trying their legendary desserts! The peanut butter pie has been around for decades, with good reason, and the bread pudding always has folks asking for extra spoons!
Menu can be found here.
Want more restaurant recommendations? Check out Augusta Planet’s “Best Food in Augusta, GA: A Local’s Simple Guide†for recommendations in various types of cuisines from sushi to burgers to BBQ and more!
Planning a fine-dining experience at home? Elegant wine glasses, a fine china set, and cloth napkins are must-haves. Click the embedded links to see Amazon’s affordable options for each of these!
For Recipes: Chef Jamie Oliver’s Beef Bourguignon is one of my favorites for a fancy meal, that’s relatively simple to make!
Going back to cooking basics, Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking is probably the one I’d recommend if I had to choose on guide on how to cook. You can find it here on Amazon.
