Tales from THE CRYPT Pub

This weekend was Octoberfest and the weather was actually beginning to feel a little like fall, so to deepen our autumn spirits we hit The Crypt Pub for dinner. The Halloween themed pub is located downtown on the west end of Broughton St.

The newly opened Crypt Pub is a large, wide opened space speckled with talking busts, bleeding paintings, and other surprises. The large U shaped bar in the center of the room takes up a majority of the space and gives the feel that you should be there for the drinks not the food, but the menu will surprise you.

Upon entering the pub we were sat at one of the (about) 15 tables in the place. We scanned our menus and were very intrigued by the creativity and fresh, not fried options. Their menu offers starters, salads, sandwiches and entrees. We put in an order of nachos and drinks while we debated on our meals from the appealing selections. For my meal I ordered (from the app. list) the Inferno which is a hunk of homemade focaccia bread piled with a thick tomato sauce, shrimp, and oozing mozzarella cheese and a house salad. Others in my party ordered sandwiches and burgers.

The changing pictures on the wall were entertaining while we waited....

and waited....

and waited...

finally our waitress came and told us that there was only one cook in the kitchen tonight so the food is coming out really, really slow. Some people were getting up and leaving, however we were in no hurry so we waited some more...

Finally our nachos arrived! It was obvious that they make their own chips (Yum!) and they were piled high with cheese black beans, bbq, onions, peppers, and sour cream. Great choice!

Not long after, the waitress brought us a complimentary cheese plate and round of drinks for patiently waiting.

Our meals arrived a bit later and were delicious. The entire party remarked how the fresh baked focaccia was a nice touch. The Crypt Pub surpassed my dining expectations for a bar. Instead of fried white and tan foods, their selections were fresh, colorful and unique. Not only were they delicious to taste, but they were also well plated and appealing to the eye.

At our meal's end, our check arrived with a 25% discount as well for the wait. Which proves that patience and understanding pays off in the end. Even though our wait was long for our food, I would return to The Crypt Pub. The management genuinely were concerned about our wait and generously compensated us for that. The food was delicious and comparably priced to the other downtown restaurants.

We didn't stick around to see the space change into it's late night costume, but after looking at their drink list they have a lot of interesting signature items I would be interested in trying. We did walk by about 11:30 and there was a line out the door. They advertise live music/ dj every night.

If the cook situation is amended, I would say at least the near future looks good for The Crypt Pub. Hopefully after the Halloween season, it won't loose it's luster.

*photo from lobo235

Oldies, but Goodies

This weekend we had friends in town that used to live in Savannah. So, instead of trying something new, we hit up a few of their (and our) old favs.

Friday for lunch we visited Rancho Alegre for some Cuban fare. The first time we ever went to Rancho was to their original location on Posey. Since then we have been frequenting their new MLK Jr. downtown eatery. The bright, colorful tile and pillows compliment the bustling atmosphere of this restaurant. While the Posey location is a more intimate, quieter setting.

Order a round (or pitcher) of mojitoes...very refreshing on a steamy Savannah summer day. As for food, I have a hard time ordering anything but the Lechon Asado (Roasted Pork) due to it's melt in your mouth qualities. It is, by far, one of my favorite meals in the SAV. Let's not forget the sides - buttery yellow rice, a bowl of black beans and sweet, sweet fried plantains. While I always gravitate toward the pork, the menu does feature an array of other delicious cuban specialties. I have tasted the Ropa Vieja (shredded beef cooked in a creole sauce) and Pollo Asado ( 1/2 roasted chicken). Both were delectable. I am dying to try the Paella Valenciana, but I have never thought ahead in time to order it (it must be ordered 2 hrs. ahead). Maybe next time!

Rancho also features live music some nights. If you have never had Cuban food, you have been missing out. This is a must eat!

Another oldie we chowed down at this weekend was The Crab Shack. We have been visiting Savannah for almost 7 years before we actually moved here. The Crab Shack was one of our first restaurants we ever ate at in Savannah. It seems to have evolved into a tourist trap. The poor little alligators all crammed into the enclosure. The seafood is average (except I do really like the sausage). Parking can sometimes be tough. I do have to commend them on the unique atmosphere- on the water, bushel baskets for lamps, in the trees. It does paint a pretty picture. If you can get a table close to the water and the bugs aren't bad, you are in luck!

Of course we got the platters of the mixture of seafood. Very easy for a big group like we had and in my opinion the best way to go. Our service (Bridget) was GREAT! Serving as a refueling spot after the beach and with good friends - overall, we had a really nice time.

To round up our weekend, we visited J. Christopher's. I think most Savannahians would agree, J. Christopher's is one of the best breakfast places downtown. I know, I know I said no chains...Let me explain. J. Christopher's doesn't seem like a chain to us because it is a very small chain, we didn't have one in NJ, and had never heard of it until living in Savannah.

Located in an old garage, this place is a staple for many downtown church- goers on Sunday. So, you have to get there early or it can be quite a wait. As many breakfast locations downtown, they feature a shortened menu on Sundays due to the crowds.

J. Christopher's is fresh, not greasy. Their menu runs the gamut of breakfast foods from traditional eggs, bacon and grits to omelets to signature skillets (one of my favs) to crepes to a bagel and lox. Pancake lover? Try their spin on the flapjack - A crunch cake. Blueberry pancakes made with crunchy granola...YUM!

We used to live a 1/2 block from J. Christopher's. Needless to say I have eaten there more than a few times. My usuals are the ham and mushroom skillet or the Billy Goat omelet. I will say I have never had a poor meal there. This time I tried something a little different - the San Bernadino, an omelet with chicken, avocado, cheddar & Jack cheese, and pico de gallo. While I imagined it to be a little more spicy, it was nothing a little Texas Pete couldn't fix. I also had a few bites of my husband's crunch cakes, and just as I remember, they were super yummy.

So, no new places for us this weekend, but new to the blog since this is the first food post. Hmmmm...I need to set my sites on next weekend.

Better late than never....

Our mission: To try a new restaurant in Savannah, GA every week.

This blog may have been started about 3 years too late. We moved to Savannah about three years ago and made this our mission. Since then, we have tested many, many, many eateries, good & bad.

When we first moved to Savannah we refused to visit chain restaurants because there were sooo many independently owned places we wanted to try. With my love for food, I and my husband savvy financial sense (He was afraid we would blow our budget ...and our waistlines) our mission came about. Our friends are aware of our mission so we always share our ventures with them. Just the other day, one suggested we should blog about our experiences...and there you have it folks. I wish I would have thought of the idea sooner. I guess it just means will have to make return visits to some places...not so bad, I guess.

I (Noel) would say I am a self proclaimed foodie and I, think my husband would agree, a good cook. However, I have never really thought of myself as a writer. Ironically, I did already have the blog account for a technology class I was taking. I originally named it Alli-Gator Chomps after my dog whose name is Alli Gator and makes a chomping noise with her teeth. I kept the name because I found it fitting for a food blog in the low country, as well.

With that... I hope this isn't too little, too late.....