I could order a side of chicken salad to go with my sandwich? That’s when Carolina Hills Sandwich and Sweet Shoppe sold me.
The café, which opened in March in downtown North Augusta, is owned by Jenny and Jesse Elliott, who also run Shoppe 3130. Located in the former Tenpenny’s antique shop location on Georgia Avenue, the sandwich shop is all about evoking that old-time homey feel of a neighborhood gathering spot.
As you open the pretty blue door and step into the 1940s cottage, the décor reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen, with shelves filled with antique tins, glasses and wooden décor, plus racks of old-fashioned candies for sale. Further down are more shelves featuring work by local artists for sale (and 100% of the proceeds goes back to the artist!).
Stepping further inside, a smiling cashier greets you from behind a white wooden counter, surrounded by huge chalkboards with the day’s menu, a gorgeous ebony fireplace, and plenty of snacks, cookies and drinks.
The menu itself is simple: sandwiches and more sandwiches — including egg salad, pimento cheese or chicken salad on a croissant, a BLT, grown-up grilled cheese, ham and cheese, a club, an Italian sandwich, a Carolina turkey sandwich, a Reuben, a Cuban, and a vegan Refresher sandwich. A kids menu features a PB&J, grilled cheese or ham and cheese on sourdough, or a turkey and cheese. There are also soups and salads — that day’s soups were broccoli and cheese or chicken and wild rice. Sides include the chicken salad, pimento cheese, egg salad, pasta salad, bagged chips, an apple, a cup of soup and more.
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I was tempted by the tri-salad plate (your choice of chicken or egg salad or pimento cheese). But even better was to be able to sample the chicken salad plus the shoppe’s signature sandwich, the Carolina Turkey.
The restaurant continues past the cashier’s area into two dining rooms, both with a lot of charm. A door turned into a chalkboard highlighted desserts, including homemade banana pudding, peanut butter pie and a huge list of Italian ice flavors (there’s also dirt pudding, cookies and a turtle cheesecake), while a glass-fronted cabinet showed off more antique glass and pottery.
My sandwich arrived quickly, wrapped in parchment paper in a basket, but prettily arranged so I could see thick layers of sliced turkey, the drizzle of honey mustard, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato and Havarti cheese, all on soft white bread. It was so huge I wasn’t sure how exactly to take a bite. But it was a great cold sandwich, with tender turkey and plenty of tang from the honey mustard. And it was such a generous portion that I actually took half home for my lunch the next day; at home, I dabbed on some mayo, making it a completely different sandwich — adding some nice creaminess to the tangy mustard.
My lil’ scoop of chicken salad came with two packets of crackers. I personally love chicken salad made with fruit, so this was right up my alley: very tender chunks of chicken, lightly seasoned mayo, and plenty of sliced grapes and apples.
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I also decided to treat myself to a slice of peanut butter pie for absolutely no reason. Their homemade version featured a chocolate crumb crust, a dense peanut butter filling studded with dark chocolate chips, and a thin layer of dark chocolate ganache topped with a swirl of whipped cream. It was rich, decadent but not too sweet due to the slightly bitter chocolate.
Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the shoppe is a great place to stop for a quick and fresh sandwich for lunch or an early dinner, to grab large sizes of their cold salads or desserts, or even a tray of sandwiches for a party or a work meeting.
I love supporting great local businesses — just about as much as I love chicken salad.
Make Your Reservation
Carolina Hills Sandwich and Sweet Shoppe
433 Georgia Ave., North Augusta
Entrée cost: $8 to $11
