My wife and I recently tried Augusta Street Market twice, sampling three different offerings from…read moretheir "New York Deli with Southern Style" menu.
First off, if you know the Augusta Road area (as it's known locally) you know it's a narrow, heavily congested retail corridor dividing expensive neighborhoods from very expensive neighborhoods. This market sits far enough south of the usual cluster of restaurants and shops that you'll think you missed it -- twice. If you know where the Spinx near Blythe Academy is, Augusta Street Market is across the street and one block south.
The store itself is bright, white, and very open. It was clearly something else years ago before being remodeled into this interesting venue. There's seating out front, on a side patio, and along the front windows. Parking in front is limited to maybe three spots, but there's additional parking behind the building. Just take Club Drive along the side and park in back.
In the center of the store is a large X-shaped shelving system loaded with curated goodies: crackers, pretzels, spices, honey, olives, teas, chips, dried pasta, sauces, Greenville's own Poppington's popcorn flavors, and more. A cooler along the far wall holds drinks and desserts.
The deli area and serving counter are completely open to the kitchen. We haven't visited during a rush, but it feels like the place could quickly turn into a fast-moving NYC-style sandwich machine when busy. The staff has been patient with first-time customers, taking time to walk people through the menu and options.
On my second visit, the gentleman behind the counter was literally packed and ready to leave for the day when I walked in. He saw me and immediately acted as though he still had several hours left in his shift -- which, so far, feels far more "Southern Style" than "New York Deli."
But the real reason to come here is the sandwiches.
The lunch and early dinner menu is split into HOT and COLD categories.
The hot sandwiches include eleven options featuring chicken, beef, turkey, tuna salad, shrimp, pastrami, a black bean burger, and a three-cheese grilled sandwich.
The cold sandwiches feature eleven more combinations of cold cuts, turkey, chicken breast, chicken salad, and specialty cheeses.
On our first visit, we split the Waverly: roasted turkey with melted sharp cheddar, cherry jam, and black pepper Dijon on grilled milk bread. It was piled high and easily large enough for two people to share. The sandwich was flavorful and generous, with bread that felt like part of the experience rather than simply a vehicle for the fillings. It immediately made us want to come back. The Waverly was $16, with most sandwiches ranging from $13 to $18.
The deli salads include chicken salad, tuna salad, sweet berry salad, cucumber salad, potato salad, caprese salad, coleslaw, grape crunch salad, and macaroni salad. Pimento cheese and egg salad are also available, though I didn't spot them in the case.
Chip options include several Carolina Kettle flavors along with Zapp's and Deep River chips. Drinks include canned sodas, teas, lemonade, and the expected coffeehouse coffee selections.
On our second visit, I grabbed sandwiches to meet my wife for a picnic. This time we ordered the Canal ($14) and the Bleeker ($17).
The Canal is a tuna salad sandwich with dill pickles, melted Gruyère, fresh dill, and grilled wheat bread. It was good, though I think I might actually prefer it served cold. Like the Waverly, it was generously portioned, so the $14 price carried no regrets.
The Bleeker was a stacked Italian sandwich with assorted cold cuts, provolone, shredded iceberg lettuce, shaved onion, cherry pepper relish, oregano, oil, and vinegar on a hero roll. Again, piled high and beautifully assembled, it never felt overpriced. The bun wasn't merely sprinkled with sesame seeds -- it was completely coated in them. Once again, the bread was a co-star, not a background extra.
The plan was for each of us to eat half of each sandwich. My wife could barely finish her half of the Bleeker. I powered through the Canal and most of the Bleeker, saving the final half of the Italian sandwich for breakfast the next morning.
(What? Never had an Italian deli sammich for breakfast? Expand your palates!)
Augusta Street Market also offers entrée salads along with tomato bisque and chicken noodle soup.
There's a kids menu featuring PB&J, ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
The breakfast menu looks worth exploring as well, with fried egg sandwiches featuring bacon, cheeses, pastrami, ham, sausage, and avocado. There's also whipped ricotta on a bagel. Breakfast sandwiches range from $8 to $13.
Definitely give this place a try. Check out their website for all the extra options, or just ask at the counter. These artisans are proud of their work. I've also heard a second location may soon be opening in Clemson.
