I discovered the Boll Weevil when my husband and I went on our first date. We were down at Riverwalk walking around after dinner and needed a place to go to the bathroom ;)

After I moved to Augusta, I made it a point to check out the restaurant...I still felt bad about using the facilities without actually dining there. And I'm so glad I did! It's been my favorite restaurant ever since.

The place is charming. I love that they cheekily named themselves after a pest that could wreak havoc on the cotton-dependent economy of the Old South. I love the old-time prints on the walls and the fact that they play anything from jazz to oldies to beach music in the background. The food is great. They have a wide variety of sandwiches at lunch, most served on their signature honey bread--which is the best bread I've ever eaten. For dinner they pull out all the stops with plenty of traditional Southern fare.

But what most people know the Boll Weevil for is the huge glass display case full of cakes and pies that greets you once you leave the waiting area and enter the restaurant proper.

Dessert at the Boll Weevil is an experience. Portions are huge, so bring a friend. And some items are seasonal, so keep checking back all year. But every single dessert on the menu is absolutely divine. Imagine four layers of rich red velvet cake, or two giant light, crispy pastries filled with warm apples and cinnamon, or the biggest piece of tantalizing cheesecake you've ever seen. It's all there, and more; there's something for every taste and every mood.

With its ambiance, charm, and delicious offerings, to me, the Boll Weevil is Augusta's signature restaurant. Whenever I have an out-of-town guest, the Boll Weevil is the first place I take them.