Augusta Eats: You've tried the rest – is this new downtown Augusta restaurant the best?
What’s in a name? Plenty. Take “BRIA.”
That’s the name of the new restaurant that’s opened downtown inside Soultry Sounds Ultra Lounge at the corner of Ellis and 11th streets.
“BRIA” could be the Latin word for a wine vessel, or girl’s names meaning “noble” in Gaelic or lively and vigorous in Italian.
Actually, BRIA is an acronym – for “Best Restaurant in Augusta” – and the gauntlet has been thrown.
“At BRIA, we are dedicated to creating a unique and enjoyable speakeasy experience for our guests,” its website says. “Our Executive Chef Keon, who has built restaurants all over the Southeast and in the Gambia, Africa, combines his passion for amazing service and exceptional craft cocktails with his culinary expertise to create dishes that simply feel good.”
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Two of Keon Garrett’s more recent restaurants, Table25 Fork + Wine and Prepd Kitchen Co., helped keep metro Atlanta fed in and around Douglasville. The former restaurant featured sophisticated turns on new American cuisine. The latter focused on more casual, grab-and-go healthy alternatives.
BRIA at Soultry Sounds teased an official soft opening for late last month, but suspended it at the last minute to simply dive straight into serving new customers.
Menus are available, but the surest way to find out what BRIA is serving from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays is through social media or, better still, by simply visiting. Even if you don’t think you’re hungry when you arrive, you almost certainly won’t be hungry when you leave.
BRIA’s smoked, deep-fried lemon pepper wings might be available. A better bet is char-grilled oysters, by the dozen or half-dozen, in herb butter and topped with a cheese blend.
BRIA is the second restaurant to open inside Soultry Sounds in the past year. Marie’s Caribbean Creole briefly put down roots there in August 2023 to continue its success in a food truck and at pop-up events. After just a few months, however, Marie’s returned to life on the road, renamed Marie’s Creole and Catering.
BRIA is at 1031 Ellis St. in downtown Augusta. An address of 1035 Ellis St. is sometimes listed, but either one will get you there.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 'Best Restaurant in Augusta'? Savory evidence downtown is compelling
