Augusta is a charming city along Georgia's South Carolina border. Diners in town for a romantic getaway can enjoy a number of fine dining options, ranging from clever New American speakeasies to traditional steakhouses and pubs. Unique Southern fusion joints serve up Creole, Cajun, Lowcountry, and Caribbean-influenced fare, while European-style restaurants highlight German, Italian, and French fare.
Have a romantic dinner at Craft and Vine
Craft and Vine is a hip New American-style lounge and cocktail bar tucked away along downtown Augusta's Broad Street, opened to the public in 2013 by the Frog Hollow Hospitality Group. The modern-style speakeasy serves up elevated bar fare in an Art Deco-style dining lounge, showcasing an extensive handcrafted cocktail program alongside shareable snacks and small plates.
Couples can choose from unique appetizers and small plates such as wood-fired salted pretzel bites, cauliflower popcorn, duck confit poutine, or seared scallops or shrimp served up with rosemary cornbread and tarragon chile cream. A regional and national charcuterie program is also offered, along with a selection of wood-fired pizzas ranging from comforting favorites such as margherita and Hawaiian pizzas to elaborate concoctions such as duck and brussels sprout pizzas with shaved sweet onions and black pepper honey drizzle. Local draft beers are available on tap, along with a selection of fine wines and international liquors.
Craft and Vine, 1204 Broad St B, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: 706-496-8442
Feel the Italian vibes of Augustino's Italian Eatery and Prime Steaks
Augustino's Italian Eatery and Prime Steaks is the centerpiece restaurant of the beautiful Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, serving up Southern-inspired prime steaks and classic Italian pasta dishes at breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. Diners can choose from gourmet steakhouse entrees prepared as part of the restaurant's 21-day aging program, including USDA prime flat iron, Delmonico, and filet mignon steaks paired with side dishes such as garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and Boardwalk French fries.
Land and sea entrees include pan-roasted Atlantic salmon, macadamia-crusted trigger fish, and shrimp and Italian-style grits prepared with sausage and polenta. Vegetarian and gluten-free entrees are available upon request, including the restaurant's signature vegetable lasagna, prepared with eggplant, spinach, and parmesan cream. Build-your-own pizzas are also available, along with a selection of regional craft beers and fine wines served by the glass in the restaurant's lounge area.
Augustino's Italian Eatery and Prime Steaks, 2 10th St, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: 706-823-6521
Experience upscale dinning at Calvert's Restaurant
Calvert's Restaurant has been an Augusta mainstay for more than four decades, located within the city's Surrey Center. The restaurant, which is open for dinner service Tuesdays through Saturdays, offers classic American land and sea fare in a romantic upscale atmosphere, highlighting fine entrees such as Chilean sea bass Charleston, lobster Savannah, 10-ounce filets with Cabernet mushroom sauce, and seared duck breast with Montmorency cherry wine sauce and pistachios.
Lobster tail dinners are also served up single, double, or Savannah style, along with a selection of shareable appetizers, including bacon-wrapped shrimp, Gulf Coast crab cakes, and oysters Rockefeller on the half shell. Children's menu options are also available for couples dining with young ones in tow.
Calvert's Restaurant, 475 Highland Ave, Augusta, GA 30909, Phone: 706-738-4514
Enjoy the freshest food at Edgar's Grille
Edgar's Grille is a welcoming New American-Southern fusion restaurant in Augusta, known for its extensive charitable service. The restaurant is named in honor of Goodwill Industries founder Edgar Helms and donates a portion of each dining sale to regional educational programs, including support for experiential learning opportunities for culinary students at nearby Helms College. Excellent bistro fare is served up at brunch, lunch, and dinner throughout the week, with indoor and outdoor dining spaces available year-round when weather permits. Diners can enjoy artisanal brick-oven pizzas and calzones prepared with ingredients such as prosciutto, roasted wild mushrooms, pimento cheese, and ricotta cheese or select from a variety of elegant land and sea entrees, including spinach-stuffed chicken, 14-ounce New York strip steak, and fresh daily seafood catches.
Edgar's Grille , 3165 Washington Road, Suite E, Augusta, GA 30907, Phone: 706-854-4700
Savor Finch and Fifth's famous cocktails
Finch and Fifth is an artisanal local hangout serving up craft libations and gastropub fare since December of 2013, located within Augusta's Surrey Center. The restaurant, which is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner service throughout the week, is known for its signature cocktail program, highlighting unique drinks such as the Empress, which blends indigo gin and Italicus bergamot liquor with lavender bitters and small-batch tonic, or the Salt of the Earth, which mixes small-batch gin and elderflower liqueur with muddle beets, cucumbers, and honey. Entrees craft contemporary Southern fare from locally-sourced ingredients, including dishes such as curried collards and carrots, dry-aged duroc chops, and truffle burgers prepared with brisket, short rib, and Daneko blue cheese. At brunch, diners can enjoy the restaurant's extensive charcuterie program or select from creative offerings such as cast-iron frittatas, smoky bacon Benedicts, or Surrey Pig pulled pork sandwiches.
Finch and Fifth, 379 Highland Ave at Surrey Center, Augusta, Ga 30904, Phone 706-364-5300
Enjoy something new each time you visit Frog Hollow Tavern
Frog Hollow Tavern is the newest offering from executive chef Sean A. Wight, located on Augusta's Broad Street. The restaurant and bar offers a seasonally-changing menu of New American fare served up alongside an extensive menu of regional craft and imported beers, seasonal and barrel-aged cocktails, and more than 100 wines available by the glass. Small and large plates are available at dinner daily, including entrees such as wild-caught shrimp and grits, braised Angus short rib with trigo fuerte spätzle, slow-roasted pork belly and seared scallops, and harvest farrotto with brussels sprout leaves, roasted Georgia apples, and toasted pecans. Couples can also share small plates such as house-smoked Andouille sausage with grits and Vidalia onions, Sapelo Island clams cooked in Georgia Summer Lager, and slow-roasted pork belly rillette with tavern mustard and toasted baguette crisps.
Frog Hollow Tavern, 1282 Broad St, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: 706-364-6906
Experience the Greek and Italian fusion at Luigi's
Luigi's is Augusta's oldest family-owned restaurant, opened in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas "Papou Nick" Ballas and operated by third- and fourth-generation family members today. The restaurant, which is open for dinner service Mondays through Saturdays and lunch service on Friday afternoons, serves up a unique Greek and Italian fusion fare menu in a dining room full of old-school ambiance, including a working jukebox. Favorite Italian-style entrees include the restaurant's baked lasagna, veal scallopini, and eggplant parmigiana, while classic Greek fare includes half chickens cooked with Greek herbs, seasoned pork chops prepared with olive oil and lemon, and Greek-style pizzas made with a variety of seasonal vegetables and cheeses. For couples in town for the Masters Tournament, the restaurant also offers Sunday service throughout Masters Week.
Luigi's, 590 Broad St, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: 706-722-4056
Have a feast in Sheehan's Irish Pub
Sheehan's Irish Pub is the partner establishment of Augusta favorite Beck's Oyster Bar, serving up refined pub entrees, draft beers, and craft cocktails at dinner each Wednesday through Sunday. The restaurant, which is housed within an intimately-renovated historic brick house, is known for delectable land and sea entrees, including favorites such as catfish Louisiane, honey-lacquered duck, Chilean grilled seabass, and eight-ounce filets of beef prepared with red wine veal reduction sauce. Casual pub fare such as fish and chips or shrimp and grits is also available, along with a selection of shareable bar appetizers, including Vietnamese spring rolls, chile fried shrimp, and rosemary mussels. Couples can pair dinner selections with a wide variety of apértifs and digestifs, including clever margaritas, martinis, and Irish coffee beverages.
Sheehan's Irish Pub, 2571 Central Ave, Augusta, GA 30904, Phone: 706-364-1234
Order a burger at Sole Augusta
Sole Augusta is a modern fine dining destination in Augusta focusing on sushi selections paired with small bites and clever burgers, offering indoor and outdoor patio seating at dinner and late night service Mondays through Saturdays. Couples can choose from a wide variety of clever burger and sandwich options, including frisco melts, fried grouper sandwiches, black and bleu burgers, and grilled chicken BLTs. Land and sea entrees include pepper-crusted ribeye, black and bleu salmon, and chicken Florentine, along with Southern-style favorites such as shrimp and grits. Tapas service highlights international fare such as gyoza, edamame, and Brazilian street tacos, while an extensive sushi menu features maki, nigiri, and traditional specialty roll options.
Sole Augusta, 1033 Broad St, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: 706-432-9898
Have amazing steaks at Tbonz Steakhouse of Augusta
Tbonz Steakhouse of Augusta is a unique dining experience that has been voted as Augusta's best steakhouse, originally opened in 1985 by college friends Jerry Scheer and Mark Cumins. The laid-back restaurant chain offers locations throughout Georgia and the Carolinas, all featuring the restaurant's signature James Brown-themed booths. High-quality steak entrees are available at lunch and dinner, including black and bleu filets, drunken ribeye steaks served with Kentucky bourbon sauce, and classic New York strips. Seafood favorites range from Maryland crab cakes to blackened catches of the day, while baby-back rib platters showcase exceptionally tender meats seasoned with the restaurant's signature bold and spicy barbecue sauce. Diners can also choose from a variety of clever chicken platters and sandwiches, complemented by shareable appetizers such as Lowcountry calamari, Waccamaw seafood dip, and the restaurant's clever Almost Famous chicken wings available tossed in a variety of sauces. American craft and imported beers are available on draft, along with house wines, clever martinis, and specialty cocktails and frozen drinks.
Tbonz Steakhouse of Augusta, 2856 Washington Rd, Augusta, GA 30909, Phone: 706-737-8325