Loosen your tie at Rhinehart ’s Oyster Bar

Loosen that tie for the beyond casual dining experi­ence at Rhinehart's Oyster Bar. You don't have to dress nice to eat well-prepared and seasoned seafood.

Craig and Amy Bailey opened the restaurant in 1983 with Aunt Nancy's toaster oven and a refrigerator. Finding the location is a key part in any business, and one of Craig's talents. Taking a class in college called Seizeability Studies, Craig found the prime location at 3051 Washington Road with a stoplight in front. The restaurant began as a sandwich shop and business was slow. Sometimes only getting one customer an hour, the couple would play monopoly or ballroom dance in the back. After much deliberation, they closed the sandwich shop and reopened as Rhinehart's Oyster Bar in July 1987. They named the establishment after their Aunt Nancy's maiden name, Rhinehart.

"It's a constant challenge," Amy explained. She said that she has always been fascinated with business and really likes the dynamics of running a restaurant. Amy ex­plained that you have to love serving people – it can't be about the money. It's constant chaos, but it's addicting.

Stroll into the beach-shack atmosphere with picnic tables and writing on the walls, and enjoy an ice-cold beer or another drink from the full bar.

"There's no one who will feel uncomfortable here," Amy said. Rhinehart's Oyster Bar is a "come as you are" kind of establishment. Come in cut-off shorts or a tuxedo and feel welcomed.
The food is delicious from hamburgers to chicken fingers to crab legs and oysters, you can't leave without being stuffed. Amy's favorite items on the menu are the fried shrimp and the oyster stew.

"I get every piece of juice left in the bowl," Amy admit­ted about the oyster stew.

Customers have claimed that Rhinehart's also has the best fried shrimp they ever had. They have even won awards such as "Best Seafood in Augusta" and "Best Hamburger."

When asked what the staff is like, Amy responded, Revenge of the Nerds meets Animal House. She said her staff members are intelligent and friendly people. The Baileys also only hire cooks who love the craft of cooking. Amy and Esha Tankersley, general manager of Rhinehart's Oyster Bar, create all the delicious recipes and their cooks prepare them perfectly before serving the customers.

"It's a fun, big party picnic," Amy raved about her seafood restaurant.

Feel free to etch your name into the table top for memories sake and come back again to reminisce about the last experience you had at the seafood restaurant. Augusta patrons aren't scared of this unique casual din­ing, and after thirty years in the business Rhinehart's is still booming.

The Baileys opened a second Rhinehart's Oyster bar location at 305 N. Belair Road. They even have a catering hotline for your family gathering or event and are ready to make party trays of all sorts to satisfy your guests.

Call them for more catering information at (706) 829-4997.

Come enjoy the fried cheese, giant snow crab legs or combo platter from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. any day.