Walking into Manuel’s Bread Café I immediately started to reminisce about the time I spent on Paris’ left bank as a student. Nestled in the middle of Hammond’s Ferry, a live, work, play development on North Augusta’s riverfront, Chef Manuel Verney-Carron has managed to create a little bit of France in North Augusta with his new neighborhood bar and café. From the French-influenced décor and menu to the open-kitchen layout and wrap-around bar, you feel instantly at home the moment you enter. And do not think it stops there. Outside there is sidewalk seating complete with heaters and blankets so you can take advantage of the full “experience Française” no matter what the temperature outside.
Back inside the details cannot help but catch your attention. The woodwork, including tabletops, bar, windows and baseboards is a beautiful mahogany. The bar top is highly polished to create a mirror-like finish. All of the woodwork was designed and fabricated by local woodcraftsman Wesley Scott of Scott’s Woodworks. The women will be happy to know that there are even small hooks located under the bar to hold handbags. Lots of hanging plants, track lighting and strategically placed oversize mirrors round out the décor. And did I mention the vintage black and white French movies that play non-stop in the alcove room at the back of the restaurant? What a nice touch!
Manuel’s is Hammond’s Ferry’s first commercial tenant and offers a bakery, retail store, catering and dining. Residents are extremely happy to have this local hot spot to call their own. Chef Manuel, who is no stranger to the restaurant business, was previously a chef at La Maison on Telfair. Originally from Lyon France, the gastronomic capital of Europe, he gets his inspiration from his mother and the comfort foods of his childhood kitchen. Manuel’s Bread Café is a concept he has been looking to open for a long time. His passion is bread and he is known around town as the ‘bread man.’ In fact, Chef Manuel arrives at 4am each morning to start baking the bread that he supplies to other venues in the area. The café opens at 7am when he encourages the locals to come join him for a cup of coffee.
Manuel’s has a diverse menu consisting of salads and sandwiches for lunch and a wide array of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts for dinner. In addition to selections listed on the printed menu, there are numerous specials, posted on chalkboards over the bar, available each day as well. The lunch favorite, according to café staff, is the Croque Monsieur, a grilled black forest ham and Swiss cheese sandwich topped with herbed Béchamel sauce and served with a traditional French salad. I had the Croque Monsieur for lunch and enjoyed it so much, I returned several nights later for dinner. That night I had a Caesar Salad and the Beef Burgundy. It was tender, well seasoned and delicious. Again, I was not disappointed. Also, the wine selection, especially the by the glass offering, is impressive.
Since opening two months ago, the number of guests dining at Manuel’s has far exceeded Chef Manuel’s expectations. This is the ultimate testament to his skill and talent. Chef Manuel uses simple, fresh ingredients to create his time-honored dishes. He gets his vegetables fresh daily, from Blue Clay Farm, a three-acre organic farm located on the Hammond’s Ferry property. The bakery area in the front of the café has several breads and pastries for sale as well as and a “to go” menu from which you can order, if you prefer to savor Manuel’s fare in the comfort of your own home. Nevertheless, whether you choose to dine in at Manuel’s or take advantage of the “take-out,” you are sure to have an unforgettable dining experience. According to Turner Simpkins, Hammond’s Ferry Project Manager, “I expect Manuel’s Bread Café to be one of the best restaurants in the Augusta/Aiken area. The combination of Manuel’s extraordinary talent and the sidewalk café atmosphere in Hammond’s Ferry is going to offer our region a wonderful and fresh casual dining experience.” Chef Manuel invites you to “Come, experience the ‘energy’ of this quaint neighborhood café, and enjoy the simple, comfort foods of my youth.”
Manuel’s Bread Café is located at 505 Railroad Avenue, North Augusta, SC.
Hours are 7am – 10 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Call 803.380.1323 for directions and reservations.
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