Chart House

Historic District
202 W. Bay St.
Mon-Thu 4:30-9:30pm; Fri 4:30-10pm; Sat 3-10pm; Sun 3-9pm
912-234-6686
website

Review

With so many great local restaurants in Savannah, why would you want to eat at a link in a corporate chain? First off, it’s a fairly small chain with only a couple of dozen locations in major cities in the US, so it doesn’t quite have the ubiquity of someplace like McDonald’s. Second, the setting is special here in Savannah, located in a gorgeously restored former sugar and cotton warehouse dating back to the 1700s. And third, and probably most importantly, the food is good.

Request a table, if you can, with a view of the river, and get started with one of their signature cocktails (the pomegranate martini is fantastic, and the torched apple Manhattan comes complete with a smoke show!) and then make a selection from the apps section. There are lots of seafood options here (oysters, shrimp, etc.) but do pay attention to the fried green tomatoes, done with a warm shrimp salsa and jack cheese or the jalapeno garlic cheese bread with spicy peppers. Highly recommended.

Main course selections run the gamut of things that swim including lobster, salmon, pecan-crusted trout, and much more, plus there is plenty for the non-fish fans including steak and an absolutely fabulous prime rib. Everything we tried lived up to the standards that the upscale Chart House chain has set for itself.

Prices are on the high side – most entrees are $30 and up – but the quality, presentation, and service make it feel worth it.