You know the drill when you travel: you find a postcard rack, buy one as proof you were there, and either mail it home or hang it on the fridge as a keepsake. At Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar in Augusta, Georgia, the postcard shows up with your dinner instead, no gift shop required.
Sometime between our entrees and dessert, General Manager, Anna Claire, stopped by our table and shared the story behind the postcards. They started organically about two to three years ago, allowing us, the guests, to share their experience with loved ones. Some guests take theirs home like I do, but plenty fill them out right there at the table and hand them back to staff, who drop them into a nearby USPS blue mailbox like it’s 1995. The popularity has only grown since they started and staff order more every year to keep up.
But here’s the part that really gets me. All of that art, on the postcards, on the menus, covering every wall in the place, comes from one woman: Laura Duke, a local artist and Chef + Owner Todd Schafer’s wife. The two of them have built something special. His food, her art, both telling the same story from two different passions. You can taste it in his food and see it in her art. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten somewhere that felt so intentional, like every single detail in the building was placed there by two people who clearly love what they do and what they built together.
Fun Fact: Chef Todd Schafer was named a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist, making Abel Brown the first restaurant in Augusta ever nominated for the recognition.
And the same care shows up everywhere else on the table. Many ingredients come from as close as Lincolnton, Georgia, and as far as overseas, and the menu changes often enough that you never order the same thing twice.
So here’s my takeaway: make the trip. I promise the meal earns the reservation on its own, made by people who put the same thought into everything they touch. Book the reservation, order something a little outside your comfort zone, and let the postcard be the thing you hold in your hand long after you’ve driven home. I’ve got a fridge covered in them, and every single one still makes me smile.
Worth Writing Home About - What to Order
After more visits to Abel Brown than I can honestly count, this is what I recommend worth trying.
- Start brave. The Oyster Shooter is made with vodka and Durty Gurl Bloody Mary mix (a local Augusta company). Odd? Yes. Surprisingly delicious? Also yes.
- To drink. The Duke Martini – named after the local artist whose work is on every postcard, menu, and wall decor in the restaurant. It just feels right ordering a drink with her name in it while admiring her art.
- The classic move. Oysters are one thing you have to order, no matter what else is on the menu that night. Rockefellers are my favorite and a true classic.
- Go big. The Allen Brothers 24oz Cowboy Chop is a 35-day dry-aged steak, and yes, it’s expensive but worth every penny. Perfect for a special occasion or big appetite.
- Don’t skip dessert. As a die hard chocolate lover, I always end with the Chocolate Bar and banana chip ice cream. Be sure to ask for extra bananas.
Turn Dinner Into a Full Day
Abel Brown sits in Surrey Center, a walkable outdoor shopping district in Augusta. Build in a few hours around your reservation and turn dinner into a full day trip.
- Start with coffee. Rooted Coffeehouse, newly opened and local to Augusta. Order a cup to-go before you start browsing.
- Shop at boutiques. Local favorites are Capsule, Fab’rik, SOHO, and Swank. You can find an outfit for your dinner reservation without ever leaving the area.
- Find antiques. Barbara Kelly Antique Gallery for slowing down and hunting for treasure.
- Something for later. Design Images and Gifts for a gift or souvenir that isn’t a postcard. Though, let’s be honest, you’ll probably end up with another postcard.
- Wind down. Cucumber & Mint for a facial or massage. Turn the evening into a self-care day.
