Drift Raw Bar is the newest go-to spot for oysters in the CSRA. (©Drift Raw Bar)
By Jennifer McKee
There’s a whole lot of shuckin’ going on in North Augusta. SRP Park is home to the newest spot in the CSRA for succulent seafood: Drift Raw Bar.
And, with the restaurant’s opening week festivities, there’s a whole lot of fun going on as well. Events kick off with a ribbon cutting at 4:30 pm on September 15, and the weekly specials will continue on their given nights. They are:
Sept. 15/Wednesdays: Half off select bottles of wine and 2-4-1 shrimp night;
Sept. 16/Thursdays: Drink Local Beer Night featuring Savannah River Brewing craft beer and chef-special oysters;
Sept. 17/Fridays: Border Bash Night featuring “The Kendrick” — tequila shot and Miller Lite;
Sept. 18/Saturdays: Georgia/Carolina game featuring Durty Gurl #3 oyster shooters and $5 transfusions
Co-owners George Claussen, Brian Brittingham and their team took time during the pandemic to reevaluate the space above the North Augusta Southbound Smokehouse, and thought about something new to bring to the SRP Park restaurant community.
“People can only eat barbecue so much,” says Claussen. “We wanted to offer another concept, so we looked at our upstairs space and thought about what we could do with it, and came up with something a little more coastal.”
The bright, airy 4,000-square-foot space has three patios and seats about 100 people. It looks out directly over the Savannah River. Menu choices include oysters, shrimp, ceviche, scallops and more and are complemented by an imaginative cocktail, beer and wine list.
Claussen said another key factor in the restaurant’s concept was the inspiration he and Brittingham received from others in the CSRA’s dining community. But part of the fun was exploring their own tastes in determining menu items.
“We’ve been trying things out to see what we like, what our guests like,” says Claussen. “I’ve found I like the cold-water oysters a lot. I never knew there were so many varieties to choose from. It’s been a bit of an obsession.”
