Rude Boy Deli Brings Singular Sandwiches to the South Side
When a young and ambitious person with a dream opens a business, it often takes hard work, vision, a little luck, and some help along the way. When Russell Garrett…
When a young and ambitious person with a dream opens a business, it often takes hard work, vision, a little luck, and some help along the way. When Russell Garrett opened Rude Boy Deli, all those things fell into place.
Garrett was working to open a food truck when the opportunity to turn the truck into an actual brick-and-mortar location came about. The building was small and unassuming, tucked in next to a school on Lumpkin Road near Peach Orchard. He said he hadn’t initially considered a permanent location.
“I wasn’t looking for it,” he said. “It kind of found me.”
Rude Boy is a nickname that was given to Garrett during his skateboarding musician days, and he has the moniker Big Belly Rude Boy tattooed on his stomach, adorned with images of chef’s tools. Garrett said opening the restaurant rather than a food truck gave him a more manageable schedule, leaving time to spend with his friends and family. It also gave South Augusta a new place to pick up a sandwich. The food truck, he said, is still a goal, as is a second, larger location.
Steven Uhles | Augusta Today<em>Rude Boy Deli combines elements of a traditional 1950s diner, skateboard culture and music.</em>
Garrett said the name Rude Boy may discourage some would-be guests as they mistake the name for the type of treatment they might receive. This is not the case. He and his staff are very welcoming, the deli is clean, and the vibe inviting with a 50s motif mixed with nods to Garrett’s passion for music and skateboarding. Garrett himself greets each customer with a smile as he suggests his favorites from the menu.
Rude Boy has already developed some big fans and repeat customers.
“They come from all walks of life,” he reported.
The menu is stacked with deli classics: Reubens, Cubans, Italian subs and more. They also have soups and salads, grilled cheeses, desserts, and a kids’ menu.
Steven Uhles | Augusta Today<em>A Cuban sandwich and potato salad at Rude Boy Deli.</em>
Garrett said his favorite is the signature Hey Honey sandwich - grilled chicken breast, pimento cheese, pickled onions, pickles, and a drizzle of hot honey on a brioche bun. Hot honey and pimento cheese are recurring ingredients on the Rude Boy menu, with hot honey mac & cheese becoming a fast favorite amongst the Rude regulars.
Rude Boy Deli is open 11am – 3pm Tuesday through Sunday, and Garrett said they are looking toward expanding hours into the evening soon.
