Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Overall a mid experience made delightful by great service. Our waiter Nick has only been there for 8 months but he had incredible knowledge of the menu and ingredients (and what he didn't know, he checked with the chef and got back to us). Our table got the crab cake appetizer and for entrees swordfish and porkchop. The crab cakes were absolutely delicious. I would go back for them. My husband enjoyed the swordfish and had a clean plate by the end of his meal. My porkchop was cooked to death and the prawns were so burnt and rubbery. Not worth the $20 add on. I felt so conflicted about returning the meal but for the price, I needed something I enjoyed. My server thanked us for the honesty and the manager brought out what was initially my second choice, short ribs. Now THOSE are something to write home about. Deliciously tender, with mashed potatoes and greens. A little oversalted/seasoned but much better than whatever happened with the porkchop that night. I am not much of a drinker but my husband said his cocktail was JUST as it should be. Overall I wouldn't be back for a full meal but perhaps an appetizer. I appreciate the staff making the experience more enjoyable but replacing my meal. There was no wait for our table, but we did do a reservation for when they opened.

From start to finish, our dining experience was absolutely exceptional. The service and atmosphere were both top tier — warm, inviting, and perfectly balanced between upscale and comfortable. Our waiter, Michael, was truly the best! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and every one of his recommendations hit the mark. The cocktails were superb — beautifully balanced and crafted with care. The raw oysters were amazing — fresh, perfectly chilled, and bursting with flavor. The crab cake was phenomenal, packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. We split the swordfish, which was tender, fresh, and absolutely delicious. To top it all off, we had the bread pudding for dessert, and it was the perfect sweet ending — rich, warm, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Can’t recommend this place enough — from the food to the service, everything was five-star perfection. We’ll definitely be back!

Wonderful experience eating here as a celebration. The service was absolutely upscale with no waiting for anything. Nice to actually see younger people working so well in an upscale atmosphere! The food was absolutely amazing! The desert was excellent. It is a bit higher but the experience was worth every dollar. Will go back for special occasions..

Wow. The staff at Abel Brown truly make the magic happen. My friend and I had dinner here recently for her 18th birthday and it was absolutely wonderful. From the moment we were greeted by the hostess, to the time we left we experienced nothing but true hospitality. They gifted us a complementary entree, in which they made into two mini portions for us to split. The oysters were phenomenal and the desserts were delicious. Our waiter, Billy, took exceptional care of us and made sure we felt comfortable the whole evening. If you dine here request for Billy or Michael. We will definitely be back!

Abel Brown is hands down our favorite restaurant in the CSRA! The food and drinks are excellent, and their service sets them apart. I also love their small touches like beautifully designed coasters and post cards. We had our last nice dinner here before we moved away. We let them know we were moving and they made the night so special for us! Multiple staff members came by to wish us well. Top notch hospitality!!!

I’ve never visited this restaurant before but I’m glad I finally did so! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff were very friendly and most of all the food was very delicious. I did not like the Caesar salad and the butter for the bread was not ideal but everything else was flawless. I loved my oyster Rockefeller and the broiled oysters as well! My pork chop was tender and juicy and that corn bread was better than any I’ve ever tasted! I’ll definitely visit again. Might I add , when you visit , do not go if you’re on a budget lol

Neat location, good selection of cocktails, Rob helped us as first time patrons. Oysters were good! Service was great. We will return.

Visiting family in the SC/ GA area and they brought me here. Everything from the Oyster selection (Oh yeah, Canada!) to the 14oz. Ribeye to the Key Lime .... perfection. Atmosphere can get a little loud so know it isn't a quiet dining experience. Very friendly and regulars seem to flock here! Will definitely be back!

The food is always delicious, the oysters are spectacular, and the specials are to die for!! Wait staff is attentive without lingering and they seem to work easily and efficiently as a team. Get the crème brûlée and any scallop special! The decor is upscale. It used to be a little loud but they have taken steps to reduce that. Would recommend for date night, special events, or when you need to treat yourself.

I had the pleasure of visiting Abel Brown twice in one week, and it did not disappoint. Their Happy Hour, running from 4 PM to 7 PM, offers a fantastic selection of drinks. I tried the Gamma Ray cocktail, which features Boodles Gin, house-made orange cordial, Chinola, lime, and soda--a refreshing choice! The Oyster Rockefeller, priced at $19 for half a dozen, was absolutely delicious. As someone who doesn't eat pork, I appreciated that the server was attentive to my dietary preferences without needing a reminder. For my main course, I indulged in the 14 oz Grilled Ribeye, priced at $46, which was cooked to perfection. My server, Brian and Phillip, provided exceptional customer service, making the experience even more enjoyable. If you're in Augusta, GA, I highly recommend visiting Abel Brown for a memorable dining experience.

Amazing service and food as always! Our servers were Michael and Amelia and they were excellent! Very friendly and brought us excellent service! Thank you!

Michael, our server, was sensational! He was ready for us as soon as we sat down and gave us an experience the entire night! So, out of 20 or more times I've eaten here, I always get the bacon crusted salmon but this night I ventured out of my comfort zone and got the stuffed sea bass. It was called something else but either way IT WAS DELICIOUS in every single bite! I had no regrets from changing my normal routine at Abel. Each one of my friends that dined with me enjoyed their experience and eager to return. The ambience is always alive but not too much for me; it's just right.

My friends and I decided to go to Abel Brown on a wednesday night, and man am I glad we did!! It was my first time here but they had been once. It is a little more upscale so dress nicely; very modern beach vibes inside, so pretty. Our waiter was Rob and he was so amazing and helpful! My friend said you HAVE to get the raw oysters and y'all better listen to her like I did!!! They were so fresh, plump and not too salty; just so delicious, I've been dreaming about them since. We also got the house made cheese curds and lump crab cake for the table; they were both very good. I got the swordfish special (and so did my friend) and my other friend got the filet mignon special. The swordfish was AMAZING, such a meaty and flavorful fish. It was served atop grits, with crispy okra, tomato, olives and some sort of fried seafood, clams maybe? either way it was delicious. My friend said her filet was good and tender. We unfortunately had no room for desert otherwise the key lime pie was highly recommended, I WILL be back! This definitely earned its way into my Augusta favorite restaurant rotation.

Went here for a special, group event, so unsure how they are on random visits but this was a good experience. Drinks nicely done with a fancy, froth-topped whiskey sour and food was very good too. Crab stew, steak, bread pudding dessert, all great. Service lagged a time or two but again, we had a large group.

So glad I tried this restaurant in Augusta. Set in a nice shopping plaza this restaurant is clean and has a nice vibe for dinner or date night, friends night, etc. oysters were all very good and fresh, I tried one of each of the specialties. For dinner I got another one of the specials, the crab-stuffed Branzino which was amazing. I even got dessert - chocolate bread pudding. Not my favorite but it was good nonetheless. They have a great bar with full dinner service. Highly recommended.

From the moment you walk in and are greeted at the host's stand, Abel welcomes you and makes you feel incredible! The staff are attentive & knowledgeable, the food is nuanced and fresh, and the menu is ever-evolving to complement the fresh seafood staples. Perfect for a dinner date or celebration!

Host told us "this is the best restaurant in the CSRA." Did not disappoint. The food was excellent, the portions were enormous, the service was incredible. The portions were so big that by the time we'd finished all the small bites we'd ordered we honestly did not have room for a main. I felt awful cancelling the main dish but our server, Michael, wasn't troubled at all. He was incredibly attentive all night and even brought our leftovers out because we'd forgot them on the table. I'll visit Abel Brown every time I have guests in town.

Ambiance reminds me of a Bonefish Grill, take that as you may. The oysters were fabulous as I'd hope when they call themselves an oyster bar. The hush puppies and crispy chicken thighs were great as well. The entrees (rib eye, salmon and short rib were good (why do most places have better apps than entrees?). Loved the key lime pie. Would go again.

An oyster bar in Augusta, GA? Absolutely. And a good one, too! Go for the oysters. Stay for the southern-influenced mains and crafty cocktails. AB's has a wonderful selection of oysters from local, Canada and New England served in several different presentations, from raw on-the-half-shell to broiled perfection. The special oyster menu includes a description of each type of oyster, its taste characteristics and its salinity. Half-shell orders come with saltines, horseradish, ketchup, mignonette and lemon. Simply perfect. The mains are terrific, too! Try the short rib. It brings a wonderful slab of 24-hour braised beef on a bed of perfectly cooked root veggies. Belly warming goodness on a cool fall or winter night in Augusta. Desserts... We're not a fan of the croissant bread pudding. It's good, but not great. Just sayin'. In a world where service has gone downhill, AB does a great job with an energetic staff of servers who share responsibilities with the lead server. Bennett is terrific. The ambiance comfortable, but not particularly memorable. Abel Brown's is a top choice in the Augusta area restaurant scene. Enjoy!

Very nice place to meet friends and enjoy a good meal. You can tell this is a local favorite and after I have the Friday sirloin filet special I knew why. The oyster selections were great and you could watch them orders constantly moving. The only critique on food I would offer is the fingerling potatoes... not a highlight, not cooked thoroughly and didn't provide the compliment to the meal I had expected. The service was friendly and engaging. She was extremely knowledgeable about the food and helpful with suggestions and wine pairing suggestions. I would say a must try

Friends of ours invited us to enjoy Abel Brown recently and the experience is still on my mind. I was beyond amazed by the pristine yet relaxed atmosphere. The incredible selection of oysters will be a strong factor for our return. Hats off to our hilarious server Chris, the chef, and the entire team for outstanding & professional service!

First trip to Augusta and on business. Asked some locals for a recommended lunch spot and didn't turn out well. Looked at Yelp and Abel Brown came up. Couldn't have been happier with the service and food. Place was packed and we showed up without reservations on a Thursday. We sat at the oyster bar and the regular bartender came over several times throughout the evening. Food was great and very flavorful. They had about 6 different types of oysters on the menu as well. Definitely will return and recommend to anyone traveling thru the town. Make reservations.

Last Friday night we celebrated my birthday at Abel Brown. The food, service and ambiance are subpar to none. Anna-Claire made sure I was celebrated for my special day. She always takes the time to treat special occasions as such. Rob took excellent care of us. He was knowledgable, expedient & incredibly friendly. Very professional! The oysters were fabulous, as well as the crab cake, chicken thighs, wedge & heirloom tomato salads, and the entrees too, of course! I had the filet & my husband had the pork chop. We both left highly satisfied. The chocolate bar is my favorite, it never disappoints. We also took a key lime to go, because it's just too good not to. I'm already looking forward to eating here again.

Had dinner and drinks at the bar and the vibe was very chill. The bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the food and drinks were excellent.

My significant other and I have been waiting for the opportunity to try Abel Brown! After tons of recommendations we decided to celebrate my birthday here and here is a break down off the experience. The service overall was very pleasant, the wait time with a reservation, thankfully was not terrible. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu and explained courses wonderfully! She was frequently checking in and overall has a great attitude! Okay, let's get down to the nitty gritty...the food. It is called an oyster bar for a reason, let me tell you this was my first time trying Oysters Rockefeller, and I was not disappointed! Quite possibly my favorite menu item! The oysters were full of flavor, cooked perfectly and overall a very light and savory dish! We also tried the Mortadella, which was nothing special, just bread and burrata. However there was a pickled peach I believe as well, which was the highlight of the dish! We ordered the mussels, now the the serving size for two was perfect to share! The sauce was very refreshing and earthy and the mussels themselves creamy and enjoyable!

It was my first and very last time visiting this establishment. The food was very bland and underwhelming. I never got my to go food that was taken to the back. The overall experience was very disappointing.

Food was 5 stars.. Service was 1 star. Nice ambiance. Our server should seek another job. She truly seemed put out having to serve us food and drinks.

Very, very good meal at Abel Brown last night. Super comfortable environment with incredibly polished service. ALL of the appetizers and salads we had were outstanding - oysters, Johnny cakes with pimento cheese, hush puppies, and Brussels sprouts, then she crab soup, heirloom tomato and burrata salad, and wedge salads. We had a large party of 12 people so unfortunately our main courses sat u der a heat lamp for a while, drying out many of the dishes. The flavor of the bacon covered salmon was great, it was just overcooked and dry. Same with the shrimp and grits - the grits ended up very dry. But overall the meal was fantastic and I would absolutely come back.

Abel Brown is an absolute gem in Augusta. Ambiance: Fine dining food without the stuffiness of other fine dining restaurants in the area. Food: I've had almost everything on the menu by now and never been disappointed. The oysters are particularly fab. Service: Always above the top.

Holy cow the food was good! I had the deviled eggs, pickled beet/plum salad, and the she-crab soup, and everything was amazing. I ended up ordering a 2nd salad to go to eat later because I needed more of it in my life. I normally don't order anything crab outside my home state because I'm an unapologetic judgmental Marylander, but the other food was so good I made an exception. Wow am I glad I did. The flavor of the soup was perfection. Plus great wine, service, and ambiance. This is one of the best meals I've had in a while.

There's almost no need to write a review for this restaurant. People who know, know. Its reputation alone forgoes the necessity to write a review. I'm no culinary blogger and I'm not a poet, so forgive my bluntness. This is one of THEE best spots to eat in all of Augusta and I'd put it up against any restaurant in Georgia! My wife and I try to make it here once a year and we returned again last night for our anniversary. Right when you walk in, you can breath easy. The waiting staff is welcoming and warm. We made reservations so we had no wait. When we sat down our waitress, Hope, attended to everything we needed and she was such a delight! I thought I wanted the chicken, but after listening to her read off the specials, she sold me on the center cut fillet. My wife got the scallops. As we waited on the main courses, we enjoyed the quiet environment and talked over drinks. I got the golden beet salad and my wife got the she crab soup. I can't speak for my wife, but the salad was delicious! When the main courses came, they were plates to perfection. I've never had a better steak in my whole life. Every bite caused a pause in conversation because the food demanded your attention. Needless to say, it was perfection; served with trumpet mushrooms and fingerling potatoes and an au jus that knocked my socks off! I can't recommend this place enough! It's well worth a look at your next date night!

The outside is deceiving, we were expecting a more casual experience however, to our surprise, it's quite the fine dining experience. With a lovely white tablecloth, ambience, and attention to detail. the server was very knowledgeable on the menu had excellent recommendations and nothing disappointed. The food was five star all the way we cannot wait to return! Perfect and we saw several other dishes come out that we would like to try on our next visit!

My first time in Augusta, played around on Yelp and found this place. Excellent location because of the surrounding businesses. After or before eating, I highly recommend that you walk around the shopping plaza. The service was top notch. Our waiter was patient enough to go over the menu items, and then the feature entrees that weren't listed. The perfect spot for a romantic date night, or if you want to treat yourself to a wonderful dining experience. Lastly, if you're an oyster lover like me, you won't be disappointed !!!

Very good! Came here with one other person and got six oysters on the half shell, a bottle of wine, the jumbo prawn and grits, the smoked bluefin dip, and the halibut special with peaches. Absolutely amazing!! The shrimp are the biggest I've seen and the wine was great! My friend said her halibut was incredible and so unique. Our server Hope was wonderful! The decor was unique and pretty. I liked their oyster shell chandeliers.

Took the in-laws here last night and had a blast. Not only was the food amazing, but Chunky made the night. His service was perfect. Every recommendation was spot on from the wine to the starters to the entrees. Thank you Chunky.

It's nice to have a selection and choice on oysters. Ice cold and tasty. I've learned to always go with the chef specials. We had 2 of them, and both were home runs. Fish was perfectly cooked on both plates and gnocchi, and fingerling potatoes were delicious. We sat at the bar, and this place has the high-end bourbon. Choose well as drinks are pricey. Peyton, our bartender and server, was magnificent. This place has a high-end feel, but once inside, it feels like Thanksgiving at grandmas!

Ok...Abel is our local oyster joint! Great cocktails from Brian and Payton. We always hit this place monthly for eats. Try anything because all is good!... We typically enjoy both raw & charbroiled oysters. The Cesar salad is fantastic with whole anchovies that are fresh (not oily) in taste. Calamari or cheese curds are always a good bed as well... you won't be disappointed by this place. We typically sit in the bar.

Went to AB to celebrate my nephews 21st birthday. Hope (our server) was absolutely AMAZING. She is definitely one of the best servers I have ever had. She was kind, attentive, considerate, an all around knowledgeable server. Thank you Hope!

This is a great date night spot. The entire restaurant is exceptionally clean and the staff are warm and welcoming. On busy nights you will definitely need a reservation so make sure to plan ahead! They have seats at the bar and limited seats at the oyster bar. I've tried a few of the menu drinks and haven't been disappointed by any- if you want a recommendation try the sangria. The house oysters are delicious but the broiled oysters- those are amazing whether you are typically an oyster person or not. The food was good, the pork chop was a little tough for the price but we liked our other dishes. The brussels are perfectly done if you want a good app. If you're looking for a nice dinner to take your significant other or socialize with friends, check it out!

Really good meal and service and ambience. Ambiance is better than average for Augusta -

A last minute reservation got us a seat at the oyster bar which was terrific- got to watch the prep of apps & oyster shucking. Our food choices were delicious & beautiful.

Great atmosphere for a fancy date, the service has always been very professional and it's great to be able to make a reservation. The food is a little pricey but it is really good. The steak was great. Drinks are cute.

I love the food here! Everything from appetizers to desserts is scrumptious! It is a must-try place; the ambiance is lovely too! I'll return to try the drinks sometime, and the service is charming!

We were greeted warmly when we arrived. The food is always excellent. We enjoy delicious food every time we go. The broiled oysters were phenomenal. Dalton was a wonderful server. Fully enjoyed his energy. I love their music. However, when the crowds come in you can't hear it.

Had an amazing date night at Abel Browns yesterday evening. Of course the food was amazing but better than that our waiter was possibly the best we have had in any location in avery long time. Knowledge of food and pairing of drinks, knowledge of the menu is irreplaceable. This is a great stop for those who are looking for a good evening, service and atmosphere in Augusta.

Visiting Augusta and this place was recommended by the Airbnb owner. I was delighted with the ambiance and friendly staff. All of the food was amazing ...the oysters were fresh and flavorful, the crabcake and grits were delicious and the Brussel sprouts were perfectly balanced with goat cheese. The only thing I did not like was the she crab soup. It tastes as if the alcohol wasn't cook down enough but other than that the food was amazing. For dessert we tried the honey pecan ice cream. It had a weird ice like texture but was flavorful. However the key lime pie ...mmmmmhhhh chef kiss!! The bartender did their thing on the drinks. Overall experience was great. Highly recommended!

Loved the food! Was delicious and not overcooked! Our server moved so quickly and efficiently! We enjoyed the ambiance and the subdued noise levels. I drank a wonderful Old Fashioned and had oysters Rockefeller. Highly recommend

Abel Brown was such an incredible find. The food and service is amazing. The Chef has such interestingly delicious takes on Southern cuisine. The service is top notch. Our waiter, Rob was so informative, attentive, polite and friendly. We will be back on our next trip to Augusta. 100%

Went as a first timer....waiter (Mr. WRIGHT...TJ, I believe) was fantastic! So patient and had such great suggestions. Ordered 6 raw oysters, 3 different kinds. Loved them!!! Followed by seared tuna, with cheese grits with pickled onion, tomatoes and pickles. SO good. Will def come back. Music focused on James brown and the older generation.... very nice, not too loud.. just enough for background music. Prices a little high, but quality of food was incredible. Will be visiting with friends again.

I've been meaning to come to this restaurant for a long while now. Well now I have been twice and I can say that I'm impressed with the service the food and the decor. The staff are always very friendly and professional and the food is always on time and great tasting. The biggest surprise for me was the price. For the quality of service and the quality of food I thought we would pay more. I was really surprised that the prices are so reasonable here. I've come to this restaurant twice in the past 30 days. But I can see this place becoming a regular for me because we really enjoy it that much.

We sat on the bar side. Restaurant is dimly lit. Very nice ambiance. Appetizers. Chicken wings. Man they are TINY. And you only get six for $10. YIKES. They are smoked then fried. You can catch a whiff of the smoke. They come with a Buffalo sauce on the side and they absolutely need it. Eating a wing without it was extremely bland. Could not taste any seasoning at all. White cheddar cheese curds. These have more seasoning than the wings. They weren't bad. Just didn't stand out. The pieces were tiny so after frying you couldn't really get a good cheese taste bc they cooked down. Spouse agreed that it kinda felt like we were just eating breading. Our server offered us bread. It came out promptly and was very warm. Was just average. May have been better if the butter was salted. Entrees took a little over an hour to come but we ordered a bottle of Riesling for the wait. Southern River Farms Ribeye. This is probably the best steak I've had in Augusta. It was seared to perfection. SUPER tender and juicy. The knife was sliding through it. It looked huge when it first brought it but it has a bit of fat. Could have use a little more seasoning but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect medium. Comes with fingerling potatoes tucked under the steak. I enjoyed them. They weren't over or under cooked. Paired well with the steak. I ordered the smoked Gouda Mac and cheese as a side. I didn't touch it. It was a little weird looking. Visually reminds me of Frog Hollow's mac. It came out as a rectangle and they use penne pasta. My spouse enjoyed it. "Very creamy. Like pasta. It's milky creamy. Not cheesy." Spouse had bacon-crusted salmon. "The salmon was really good. Very tender. Cooked to perfection. But the bacon on top was not crispy. So you end up with a lot of fatty pieces. Other than that, everything was good." Overall. We enjoyed ourselves. The service was excellent. She (Natalie) was very attentive without being over bearing. Everytime wine or water was low, she was close by for a refill. Very knowledgeable about the menu. Definitely a top 5 or 10 restaurant in the city.

Phenomenal food. Every course -- appetizer of charcuterie board, deviled eggs and raw oysters ALMOST left me too full to eat more. But their special filet made me eat a bit more. The best of all is the absolutely amazing staff. They go above and beyond to make your experience perfect. Highly recommend.

We've eaten here several times and never had a bad meal or service. No place in town I'd rather go for fish or oysters, and the cocktails are great as well.

The experience was great. Traveling and stopped for dinner on a Monday night. The starters were shaky. Crab cake had too much filler. The oyster Rockefeller was absolutely nothing but some good spinach . The golden beet salad was delish. The finale was a crispy pan fried deboned branzino ( sea bass )stuffed with crab meat on golden thin sliced potatoes with bacon pieces ( O My God ) My husband had scallops over some type of creamy rice in a divine sauce. The scallops were the best he's ever tasted. The entrees were stella. A lil pricy but both were speciality dishes.

Relied on Yelp to find a local restaurant with oysters while in town for work. Sat at the bar for oysters and an entree along with some cocktails. Service was wonderful, ambiance was perfect, and music was fantastic. House oysters were delicious and the scallop dish was unique and tasty. It was very crowded as the evening went on unless you happened to catch a seat at the bar. Recommend reservations. Will return!

Yummy food as always. The chicken skin was a little over my salt level but was moist and still tasty

This place is amazing time after time! This is always our go to for celebrations, date nights and those seafood cravings! The service is always superior, friendly staff who know what they're doing. Food is always wonderful and the variety of unique dishes is just amazing.