Augusta is the place to go.

Head chef Ben Halperin sums up the venue's food as "comfort with a Cajun twist."

Among the menu items are po' boys -- roast beef, catfish and shrimp -- pork tenderloins, sweet potato chips, stewed greens, steaks and sugar carrots.

"We wanted to do comfort food with a New Orleans style," said Halperin, 37.

The restaurant, which opened Jan. 16, is a partnership of four.

Halperin's wife, Jeri, is involved, as are friends Scott Attias and Nathan Ruble.

Although there are a few bars in Oxford, Augusta, which is at the former location of The Oxford Grill, is the town's only sit-down restaurant. It is across from the Oxford Fitness Center.

The new owners say they're not taking any shortcuts when it comes to food.

"We make our own mayonnaise, pickles, bread, all the salad dressings," Ben Halperin said.

Lunch entrees begin at $6.50, dinner at $9.

Though Augusta has only been open for a few weeks, business has been good, said Attias, 30.

"People have been very receptive," he said. "They love the food. I think it is a nice change of pace to come somewhere the food isn't typical. It is something different."

Jeri Halperin agreed.

"People in Iowa know great food," she said. "The food here speaks for itself.

"People have already been back."

 Here's what some of our guests have had to say:

I loved this place! Being from New Orleans and travelling so far, it was wonderful to find a place to eat that knew what cajun food is supposed to taste like! Thank you to the chef and owners for doing this New Orleans girl proud. I am going to tell everyone I know, if you're going to Iowa, or just driving through, the stop off in Oxford is completely worth it! Thank you again for such an extraordinary dining experience. -Mimi

The only thing I can say about this Eatery, is that it is great!
Might want to think about Reservations, every time I have been there it has been full.
The Chef is great, I haven't had food this good since I was eating at home in Cedar Rapids in the 60's.

Been to New Orleans, and this Chef definitely knows how to give his creations flavor. -Jay


You cannot beat Augusta for value. The food is phenomenal, the kind of stuff where you just want to close your eyes when you're chewing it. And the price is unbelievable. Try the shrimp poboy. Really, really great stuff. I wish them all the best. -C