My honest take on California Dreaming in Augusta, GA. The steak went sideways, but the cheesecake had me forgiving everything fast.
How We Ended Up at California Dreaming
Jeremy and I were supposed to be hiking Whitewater Falls on Saturday, May 2nd. That was the plan when we left Gainesville, Florida earlier that morning. Then the rain started, and I’ll be honest with y’all, I completely forgot we’d ever planned that hike. The weather had different ideas, and we did too.
We were already trying to stay off the interstate for the entire trip. So instead of fighting the rain on a hike that didn’t make sense anymore, we ended up driving through Augusta, Georgia looking for food.
Our first stop didn’t work out. We tried to drive over to a golf course in Augusta, but it turns out it’s closed to the public. Of course it was. By this point we were hungry anyway, so we got back in the car, looked for something nearby, and pulled into California Dreaming.
I had high hopes. Y’all, I really did. The place was packed, so I thought it would be an amazing meal…
What Jeremy Ordered
Jeremy went with the Blackened Chicken Pasta. It came with fettuccine Alfredo, scallions, tomatoes, and Romano cheese. He absolutely loved it. From the first bite to the last, he was a happy camper. I’d say it was the highlight of the meal from his side of the table.
Honestly, if I’d ordered the same thing, this review would probably read a whole lot different. But that’s not how my night went.
What I Tried to Order
I had my eye on the filet mignon. I ordered it with a loaded baked potato as my side, and Jeremy and I split a Caesar salad as our appetizer.
The Caesar salad was actually really good. We split it without any complaints from either of us, and it set the bar for the rest of the meal at a pretty high level. Crisp, well-dressed, plenty to share. A solid start.
Then the steak came out.
My Steak Saga
I’d ordered the filet medium rare. What I got was a confused piece of beef that was well done on the outside and very rare on the inside. Not medium rare anywhere on the plate. The center was practically still mooing while the outside had been overcooked into oblivion.
I sent it back. I HATE doing that. The staff was nice about it, which I appreciated, but I really didn’t want to be that girl…
Now, what happened next is the part that confused me. Instead of starting over with a fresh steak, they took my same piece of beef and tried to re-cook it. Well, you might be able to guess where I’m going here…
It came back to my table even more well done on the outside, and still pretty rare in the middle.
Same problem, just amplified. At that point, I knew this filet was a lost cause.
I told the server I’d just split Jeremy’s pasta with him. I filled up mostly on that loaded baked potato, which was honestly pretty good. Big, hot, plenty of toppings. If the kitchen could handle a potato that well, the steak situation became even more frustrating.
The Cheesecake Redemption
This is the part of the night where California Dreaming earned some points back. Actually a lot of points!
The manager came over and apologized. They took the steak off the bill, which was absolutely the right call. And then they brought out a slice of cheesecake to make up for it.
Y’all. That cheesecake.
It was rich, creamy, and exactly the kind of dessert that makes you stop being mad at a restaurant. I forgave them on the spot. Jeremy and I tore into that thing like we hadn’t already eaten dinner.
If you go to California Dreaming and remember nothing else from this review, remember the cheesecake. It might be the best thing on the menu…well at least in my case.
The Service Was Solid
I want to give credit where credit is due. The service was friendly throughout the entire meal, even when things went sideways with my steak. The manager handled the situation about as well as anyone could in that spot. They removed the cost of the steak, brought us a delicious apology dessert, and didn’t make us feel weird about any of it.
That counts for a lot in my book. A bad meal can turn into a worse night if the staff gets defensive or makes the customer feel like the problem. None of that happened here.
I’d still rather have gotten the steak I ordered, but as far as service recovery goes, they did right by us.
Would I Go Back?
This question matters most, and my answer is complicated.
I would absolutely not order the steak again. In fact, two weeks after this trip, I’m still craving a good steak. I keep telling Jeremy I just need to buy a filet at the grocery store and cook it myself, because at this point I’m pretty sure I can do a better job than what came out of that kitchen.
But would I go back for the Blackened Chicken Pasta, the Caesar salad, and that cheesecake? In a heartbeat. If Jeremy and I ever pass through Augusta again, I’d probably stop in just to try a few more menu items I didn’t get to sample.
What I’d Order Next Time
If we make it back to California Dreaming, here’s my plan:
- Caesar salad to start
- Blackened Chicken Pasta as my main
- Cheesecake to finish
- Skip the steaks entirely
Stick with what they do well. That seems to be pasta, salads, sides, and dessert.
My Honest Bottom Line
Was California Dreaming in Augusta worth the stop? For Jeremy, absolutely. He had a great meal and walked out happy. For me, the food itself was a mixed bag, but the service recovery and that cheesecake softened the blow enough that I’d still recommend the place to other travelers passing through.
If you’re driving through Augusta, Georgia and looking for something a little nicer than fast food without going full special-occasion, California Dreaming could work for you. Just maybe stay away from the steaks until you’ve heard better reports than mine.
And note to self for the millionth time, I really do need to buy that steak and cook it at home. The craving isn’t going anywhere.
