We found the oldest restaurant in Savannah on a rainy Sunday. A restaurant we’d been planning to visit in the same neighbourhood was closed because it was Sunday (we found many things in Savannah close on Sunday).
Sometimes, you get lucky and new adventures come your way without you having to struggle at all. The Crystal Beer Parlor had a great look from the outside, and the inside definitely made us want to stay for a meal. All in all it was a happy accident and I have been sending all of my traveling friends here.
The Oldest Restaurant in Savannah
Originally operated as the Gherkin Family Grocery Store in the 1900’s, the Crystal Beer Parlor has a unique entrance with a brick archway door on the street corner used by both businesses. It opened as the Crystal Beer Parlor in 1933, and celebrated it’s 80th anniversary in 2013.
Their history mentions that “the Crystal was one of the first American eating establishments to serve alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition (probably because the booze was already on the premises!).” Oh, to be a fly on the wall that day! Their story hints that the owners were probably running a Speakeasy with illegal hooch during Prohibition.
A Step Back in Time
The insides of the oldest restaurant in Savannah have that old wood, well-used feel that brings comfort and familiarity in a place which has been around since 1933, and they say that the interior hasn’t changed much since then. There are black and white photos and even old menu boards on the wall.
A Retro Bar With Beers of Our Fathers
The bar is a complete throw-back, with gorgeous wood. The menu promises “beers of our fathers (Ballantine, Pabst, Miller, Genesee, and more) as well as over 60 domestic and craft beers. They also serve wines and cocktails.
First-Ever Taste of Fried Green Tomatoes!
We ordered our first-ever Fried Green Tomatoes in a tip of the hat to Southern tradition. These were golden brown, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, served with a mayonnaise-based Horseradish Cream Sauce. The tomatoes were breaded with panko, which added that light crunchiness, but may be non-traditional, so we’ll have to try them again.
Crab Stew with a sidecar of sherry. So good I forgot the sherry
After reading reviews, I chose the Crystal Crab Stew with a sidecar of sherry (“A Crystal Classic! Thick & Creamy!” the menu exclaims). I felt a bit foolish after, as I ate it so quickly I forgot to add the sherry. The soup hosted hunks of crab meat throughout in a chowder-ish soup base, but the whole thing was more buttery, for a great dose of flavour.
Still Room for Dessert
The Crystal prepares their desserts from scratch. So somehow we saved room for dessert.
Out came the warm “Gawgia” Peach Cobbler (“The Best in the State!”) heavy on the peach ingredients and light on the cobbler, just as I like it. Served with cold, cold vanilla ice cream, which can’t compete with all the heat coming from the cobbler. So the base of the scoop becomes a river of sweet cream, blending into the cobbler crust, plus a cooling ice cream topper to balance out the dessert.
Try this place if you’re looking for great BBQ in Charleston.
Enjoyed September, 2013.
Crystal Beer Parlor
301 West Jones Street, Savannah, GA 31401
+1 (912) 349-1000
