Al's doesn't do diet food
NORTH AUGUSTA - Ask half a dozen people why they eat at Al's Family Restaurant, and you will hear six different reasons.
"I like the ham hocks," said Barbara June Jones, of Burnettown.
Bill Sullivan, of Beech Island, said he is partial to the Working Man's Breakfast, which features two eggs any style, two strips of bacon, two sausage links, "lots of grits" and a choice of toast or a biscuit and gravy.
"It's enough to have one meal for the day," he said.
Trenton resident Ralph McFarland travels 20 miles one way to eat lunch at the counter three times a week.
"It's good food, a good price, but the vegetables are the big thing," he said as he polished off a plate of baked flounder, green beans, corn and sliced tomato.
"It's quick, easy and folks are friendly," said Ken Rouse, of North Augusta, who eats at Al's about twice a month.
North Augusta resident Ralph Rowland likes the restaurant's universal appeal.
"This place caters to doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs - everybody," he said, taking a minute away from a mammoth open-face roast beef sandwich swimming in gravy.
"It's not a fancy place, but it's a place people like to come because you do get a good meal," he said.
Butch Bone, who took over the family business after his father, Al, retired seven years ago, said he serves his customers generous portions.
"That's one thing you won't see is anybody leave hungry, because if they do, I'll set you back down and give you more food," he said.
Mr. Bone's father opened Larfran's Drive-In in the late 1950s, but he changed the name to Al's in 1978, when he moved around the corner from the original location.
The restaurant has been in the 3,000-square-foot cinder block building on Atomic Road ever since.
Parking spots in the sand and gravel lot are hard to find at meal time.
Although the menu can accommodate people on special diets, Mr. Bone said, he occasionally has to educate diners about the standard fare.
"We're a fat boy restaurant," he said. "People ask for pancakes and diet syrup. We don't have diet syrup."
He estimated that 60 percent of his customers are daily visitors to the restaurant, which also provides catering services.
"Everybody pretty much knows everybody that comes in here, so it's kind of like one big family in here," Mr. Bone said. "It's a gathering place."
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.
If you go
WHAT: Al's Family Restaurant
WHERE: 611 Atomic Road, North Augusta
HOURS: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
PHONE: (803) 278-3140
About the series
Many will come to Augusta this week to enjoy a world-class golf tournament. But where do Augustans and their guests go the rest of year? Where do they spend their time, relax and enjoy their community? This week we look at some of those places: a confidential look at our town.
Sunday: Diamond Lakes Regional Park
Monday: James Brown's statue
Tuesday: Al's Restaurant
Wednesday: The Riverwalk
Thursday: Julian Smith Casino
Friday: Savannah Rapids Pavilion
Saturday: Flea markets
Sunday: First Tee
