On a hot day, there’s nothing like a cool sandwich.
Enter Back to Nature Bistro.
Some of you might remember The Dessert Shop, an eatery in downtown Augusta (and later Martinez) that served up delicious cakes and cheesecakes, sandwiches and salads. I still miss the Dessert Shop. And I’m always on the lookout for new restaurants just like it.
Back to Nature Bistro reminds me of that old fave. It’s located on Kissingbower Road — not a place you might associate with a hot restaurant scene. And it’s a little hard to find, but thankfully, a huge flag announcing FOOD helped us make the turn just in time.
The Bistro is located inside a small building — possibly a former house? — that’s been redone to include a spacious dining area with gray planked floors, dark wood tables and chairs, and lots of bright and cheerful art on the cream and green walls. The full menu was on a digital screen and at the table, while a framed chalkboard announced the day’s specials, which were key lime pie, cheesecake, a turkey salad sub combo, toasted turkey salad sandwich, a club combo, and cookies and coffee. (The cookies, frosted in chocolate and sprinkles, were prominently displayed on a bar right next to the specials, and close by was a glass-door cooler housing enormous chocolate-covered strawberries.)
Our server noticed immediately that my husband and I had never been. “So, what are you known for?” I asked. “Our desserts!” he answered immediately. “And all of our soups are made in-house.”
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I wasn’t sure about soup on a hot day, but then I read the menu. There was homemade cheese chowder, roasted red pepper and tomato, even a white bean soup, or our server said we could order a soup trio and try three — done! We chose the vegan lentil, umami mushroom, and vegan corn chowder.
The menu also features Quick Bites for smaller appetites, including everything from a Pretzel Dog or the Eli Special (PB&J, Goldfish crackers, Caprisun and an ice cream sandwich for the kids) to veggie nachos, and a trio of possible sandwiches (turkey salad, egg salad, pimento cheese or spicy white pimento cheese) on a brioche bun. There were also six regular sandwiches, such as a Portabella sub, gyro, cold reuben, or French dip roast beef sliders, and four salads, including its signature house salad with a blood orange, olive oil, pear balsamic and pepper dressing, a chef salad, and a salad with a scoop each of pimento cheese, egg salad and turkey salad.
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Did I mention it was hot? So, to me, the most refreshing thing on the menu was the spicy vegetarian delight sandwich, while my husband went for the complete opposite, the hot ham and cheese.
While we waited, I also noticed the menu featured shareables, like a charcuterie platter for $22 and their version of high tea, with cucumber tea sandwiches, “frog” (jelly) sandwiches, deli meat and cheese and those chocolate-covered strawberries (which you could also order by the half-dozen or dozen).
The soups came first, three nice-sized bowls on a plate, with plastic spoons and a dish of crackers. The lentil soup was a little tangy, with plenty of fire-roasted tomatoes, carrots and celery in a meaty broth. It was good, but I have to say the other two were my favorites by far. The vegan corn chowder had lots of sweet corn flavor and fresh crunchy kernels. It was buttery and herby and creamy without any butter or cream — just coconut milk and potatoes. And the mushroom soup could have been served at a high-end restaurant. It was loaded with three different types of mushrooms, portabella, baby bella and button. The swirl of sour cream and sriracha on top of the soup added some tang and spice, but the soup itself had so much rich and complex mushroom flavor — it was absolutely incredible.
They were a great appetizer to the cool sandwich that followed. (My husband and I both agreed that his hot ham and cheese was not the right choice that day, but it’s great for meat-lovers, just loaded with lots of ham and gooey yellow cheese on a squishy sweet brioche bun). The tender and fluffy ciabatta bun had been slathered with a cream cheese and chive spread, topped by thick layers of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and Havarti cheese, with some spicy horseradish adding some playfulness. It was cold, crisp and a little juicy, but so refreshing and completely hit the spot after the soup.
A few other fun things: they were out of lemons but offered me limes for my water (yes, please!). And when I asked if they had any specialty drinks, the chef brought out a lemonade they’d created for an event that weekend. It was a glass of lemonade festooned with a tiny umbrella, served with a small cup of blue-tinted tea; you pour the tea into the lemonade and it turns a gorgeous purple! So fun, and the lemonade was sweet and delicious.
Of course, even though we were pretty full (the sandwiches by the way are generously sized), we had to try a dessert. The key lime pie is a dessert-lover’s dream — a creamy, sweet and very dense filling atop a graham cracker crust, decorated with sugared limes and more crunchy sugar on top.
After that, it was such a treat to be able to walk the grounds. The bistro is actually part of a garden center that also hosts events and festivals. We explored the nurseries, said hi to the goats, admired the wishing tree and discovered plants we’ve never seen before.
We also discovered something else—my new favorite spot for a terrific quick meal and a dessert, no matter the time of year.
Make your reservation
Back to Nature Bistro
1813 Kissingbower Rd.
Entrée cost: $8 to $13
