Ate at Planters Tavern on a recent Girls Weekend, stopping in for dinner our first night in Savannah. We had to wait an hour for a table (not ideal) but the food was the best we had the whole trip! The three of us shared a few appetizers and one entree and thought it was plenty of food. Highly recommend the chicken livers and fried green tomatoes! Ambiance was nice and live music was a plus. It was pretty dark down there but our eyes adjusted after a while.
Review Source:Definitely stop in here for a pre dinner drink. If you can nab the fireplace table you might forgo your reservation upstairs and just eat there.
It's honestly my ideal man-cave. Â Low lighting, dark wood floor to ceiling and exposed brick mixed in here and there. Â Their wine selction (even by the glass) was top notch and reasonably priced. Â The cocktail list was good, what you'd expect - French 75s, Aviations, ect. Â And although no draft beers, they had a pretty nice mix of regional bottled beer.
The bartenders were incredidbly friendly and accomodating in offering samples and making sure we got exactly wat we wanted.
I'll come back here anytime I'm in Savannah.
Make sure if you have a reservation at The Olde Pink House that you stop in downstairs for a drink here first. Or just stop in here before dinner anywhere nearby. Or just eat here as they serve the same menu as upstairs. Basically just come here. It is a perfect spot for a handcrafted cocktail in the evening and of course the food is delicious as well. Can't beat the ambiance of this place!
Review Source:Another 4-star review in a sea of 4 and 5-star reviews... so I won't go crazy with the details in describing our experience at Planters Tavern.
Bottom line, up front: the ambiance was fantastic, drinks were strong and mixed well, food was delicious (albeit smaller portions than the price tag would suggest), live piano musician was the right volume and fun, and staff was both attentive and friendly.
If we lived anywhere nearby, I imagine they'd get to know my wife and my names...
We wanted to eat in the Olde Pink House and to visit a Jazz Cellar... When I found this place was in the basement of the Olde Pink House I was too Happy and when I found out my Fiancee (at the time) Liked Jazz and everything else I like I was too happy we could visit this place on our Honeymoon!
On Jazz, SuperBoy on Jazz (Piano) and a Lovely Bassist (not Electric Bass this was the real deal)! Â They sounded good and did not care to overpower the noisy crowd!
On Cool - We're in the Dimly lit Basement of a Historic Mansion, listening to Jazz!
On Food - Everything was Excellent!
Soup: : She Crab Soup...Maybe the Best one I have tasted
       Gazpacho ... was Excellent
                     Â
Salad : : Fried Green Tomato, Candied Bacon, mixed greens with Buttermilk Dressing
The Entree : Pork Tenderloin with a Molasses Sauce, Sweet Potato and Collards
Dessert : Â We chose Sorbet = White Grape, Blackberry and Apple
Service was Excellent! Â Perfectly Timed we never felt rushed and had a small break between courses.
Would you like to eat extraordinary food in a cozy, dimly lit basement? Then this is your spot. If you want a classier atmosphere and dressier patrons, then just stay upstairs in The Olde Pink House Restaurant. But, the food is no better or worse because it's the same menu.
It's a tight squeeze downstairs with a limited number of tables and a full-size bar, but we only waited about 30 min for a table. Keep in mind this was a weeknight during the off-season, so I probably would never venture back here without a reservation.
After we got our table and ordered drinks, I struggled with my meal selection. Not because the choices were bad or limited, but rather, the opposite; everything looked and sounded so good. I finally decided on a half a dozen half shell oysters for an appetizer and seared scallops and shrimp over fettucini Alfredo for my entree. Oh my, oh my! What a meal! I didn't want it to end, that is, until I heard the seasonal dessert menu. Homemade Ho-Ho cake with a side of cinnamon spice ice cream? Not yes, but hell yes! I'm smiling from ear to ear just thinking about it again.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the excellent service. Not only was our waiter top-notch, friendly, helpful and humorous, but everyone working and serving that night was so happy and polite. I assume it's like this all the time and I'm probably right.
Lastly, although the dining area is small, they maximize the space with style, including couch seating near the two burning fireplaces and a piano player in the corner. We probably could have done without her singing, but everything else was so spectacular we didn't really care during such a pleasant and satisfying evening.
Bookmark, visit and then visit again.
I don't get it. I am missing what this place is all about. My cousin took me here on a visit to show me a "cool place." Cool? UGH. The wine glasses are filled with approximately three small sips. We had to wait and then we were seated at a table where every few minutes someone bumped into her chair on their way in or out.This included servers and patrons. The bartender pushed more expensive wine on us. Â The service was not great and the food was ok but no big deal. We thought the menu was different from upstairs. It was expensive and not worth the money at all. Plus, it smelled. I swear after reading these reviews that I went to a different restaurant. I would never go back. It was crowded and overrated.I was in Savannah for two weeks visiting and I found many better places to eat, drink and enjoy the Southern hospitality the city offers. This place was not one of them.
Review Source:Planters Tavern is worth visiting because there's usually not a wait (as opposed to The Pink House) and the atmosphere is great - as all 4000 other reviews here mention.
However, be prepared to drop $13-14 for an extremely modest cocktail - I had a sazerac that took up about a third of the tumbler in which it was served.
My wife and I just visited for drinks and a couple of appetizers, all of which tried a little too hard and weren't particularly impressive. Expensive and high-concept ("southern sushi" with grits instead of rice), but not remarkable. I'm glad we visited (and we probably will drop in for one drink next time we're in town), but I'm equally glad we didn't stay for a whole meal.
Slipping into this tiny, dimly lit bar below Olde Pink House felt like stepping into a classic film noir scene where you could rub shoulders with the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Lauran Bacall. We luckily found a seat on the couch next to the piano player who was playing classic jazz standards, and ordered some mint juleps. The highlight was when a woman (who we later found out was a hostess upstairs) pulled up a chair next to the piano and gave an impromptu rendition of "At Last" which was stunning. It was a unique experience I won't soon forget! Â Loved this place.
Review Source:So how do I start this, for I am perplexed.... do I tell the whole story (ie the wild way we heard about Planters Tavern... via the owner of an antique shop; and we have never been to an antique shop together, the HB and myself... and the day just got weirder... I bring it to the mystical, dark, beautiful city of Savannah) or do I just tell you how great this place is??
Oh let's just get to the heart of it, Planters Tavern is just fantastic, hands down. Period. The tavern is located in the basement of The Olde Pink House Restaurant, and yes it's truly a pink house. The Olde Pink House is a beautiful restaurant and reservations are needed, at all times but their is a hidden secret in their basement... and of course that is the Planters Tavern.
We walked up the front stairs to this beautiful home and swung open the front door like I was home... the lights were toned down, and you can tell this was an old home for sure... The lovely hostesses greeted us with a smile and their Southern tones, I automatically asked them to be sat in the Tavern and the lovely lady in green asked us to follow her... down a hall, and down this flight of stairs... and everything just got darker and darker... and more and more romantic... when we got there we truly had our choice of seats amongst little nooks, and comfy chairs... a shadowed booth and then there it was, as the hostess called it, the best seats in the house... Two over-stuffed super soft leather wing back chairs, a little wooden table for two... lit by a sole candle. Perfect. (we settled in quite nicely)
Our server was Nicole (and we think she was training someone, he was quite nice but we never got his name), and she was excellent. She was smart and bright, caught onto my HB's quick wit and ran with it... she was professional yet humorous at the same time. The perfect server, right after myself of course.
The menu is quite expansive, serving traditional Southern cuisine with a wonderful twist (BTW, it's the same menu they serve "upstairs"... item for item). A few of the items on the menu are local as well, and that is a huge plus in our eyes (we love it when "local" places actually use "local" items, whether it be from the land or sea).
The HB had a Sweetwater 420 beer (a Georgia beer) and of course I went sparkling, Gruet (it's out of New Mexico, but it's so good).. and the bread basket arrived, house made mini corn bread muffins (nice and hot, and not too sweet) and other house made rolls, SO GOOD!
Hard made dinner decisions were made and this is what we went for, with no regrets:
*We started with a recommendation from Nicole, a true Southern favorite; Sauteed Local Shrimp with Country Ham Gravy and Cheddar Cheese Grits Cake. Nicole knew that we were splitting the appetizer so she had it delivered on two perfect plates.
*Then came my husband's Low-Country She Crab Soup.... velvet in a bowl. I was quite lucky that my husband decided to share, even if it were only a couple of spoonfuls.
*Entree's came to follow, I ordered the Braised Pork Shank with Pineapple Glaze, Macaroni & Cheese and Collards... It was so awesome, but so much (let's just say I had to take over half of it home). And the HB ordered a local love, Crab Stuffed Black Grouper, White Wine Lemon Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Mixed Beans... OMG.
Dessert menus were sent out to our table, but we were so full that dessert was not an option... but don't get me wrong; everything on the dessert menu looked absolutely fantastic. They also had a nice selection of "liquid desserts", if you catch my drift!
Thank you Planters Tavern for a fantastic experience... we loved it all....
Stopped by on a Saturday night for a few drinks. My wife and I were looking for a speakeasy-type place that served good cocktails. Lit mostly by candlelight, the vibe here was super-moody and romantic. We had a pair of Sazeracs, which were tasty enough to warrant another round. Honestly a killer place...my favorite spot in town for sure.
Review Source:I can forgive a restaurant for having no serious beers. Â After all, they universally serve crap coffee after highly ranked meals... Â But a bar? Â No. Â There are local breweries. Â Why do they have no recognition among local tourist bars? Â Why is said bar also without certain dessert wines? Â Why is the barkeep more intent on a sad showing than noticing customers?
On the plus side, the piano and vocals are excellent. Â That bumps this place up one. Â Live, local music always is worth more.
Our most memorable restaurant experience in Savannah. We stopped in for drinks and a couple of apps, and were able to enjoy them fireside, in comfy leather chairs while listening to the sweet, endearing, and talented piano player. Planters punch was good, made with fresh juice, but tasted like it didn't have any alcohol in it. To eat, Â we got the seared scallops (perfect) and the amazing southern sushi (tea smoked shrimp wrapped in grits and nori). Definitely recommend this place for a worthwhile splurge.
Review Source:Stopped in on a Saturday nigh for a cocktail or two. Â The place is in the basement of the Olde Pink House, lined with stone walls and dimly lit with candles. Â A calm, romantic atmosphere. Â It was crowded, and they pack people in, but we were able to get seats at the fireplace. Â Literally they have chair pads right on the fireplace. Â Since we were so close luckily the fireplace was gas so we did not leave the bar with scorched backs or reeking of smoke.
Fortunately I was sitting right next to the piano player. Â He was one of the most eccentric fellows I have ever met at a bar. Â Rumor has it he played with or studied under Liberace and it showed in his dramatic tinkling of the keys and wide swooping gestures including random thumbs-ups and shout outs to patrons. Â He giggled giddily, kicked his feet in the air like a kid and drank heavily. Â He was either drunk, slightly crazy, or both, and every second was entertaining.
The night also included a discussion with an older Candian/Aussie couple, a local friendly gay couple who requested David Bowie (it was not fulfilled) and a chiropractor and his date who insisted on teaching me and the piano player how to give a proper hand massage to a woman. Â The chiropractor ended up giving the piano player a massage in front of us. Â If you've seen/read Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil, or have just heard that Savannah is full of odd characters... well, there you go. Â This odd little nightcap made our evening.
Oh, the martini was good at about $10 and they had a fine selection of craft beers for around $4.50 each as well as a large selection of wine by the bottle and glass. Â The service was very friendly. Â Recommended.
This is one of the few bars in Savannah that is unique enough to warrant a visit every time we're in town. When we have eaten here the food has been good, and we appreciate the less formal setting compared to the restaurant upstairs.
This last visit we just sat at the bar for a drink, since we were meeting friends elsewhere for dinner. Â The bartender was prompt and friendly.
When people say the tavern is dimly lit, it's something of an understatement. Â Even if you come here at night, upon walking in your eyes will still have to adjust to the dark. Aside from the handful of lamps lit with those electronic candle lights (that provide ambiance but not useful light), there are only a couple of electric lamps in the corners. Â Most of the light seems to come from the candles at the tables and around the bar. Even when sitting near one of those corner lamps, we had to hold a candle up to the drink menu to read it.
I love it for that. It's comforting, it's relaxing, and it makes me wish we had something just like it at home.
Walking up to the house, I thought, oh lord, don't let this be some tourist trap. I was by myself and am not all that comfortable sitting at an expensive restaurant alone. I'm so glad I decided to eat at the bar in the tavern.
I was led downstairs and when my eyes adjusted to the low light, I was so pleased. Most places that call themselves a tavern are not a tavern at all, it's just a dumb marketing ploy. But here, it's a bonafide tavern, and maybe more like a cavern. It was like drinking below deck on an old time luxury ship.
I love the ambiance. The bartenders were super sweet. Tony makes the best Sazerac I've ever had. Plus, I met some other solo travelers and had lots of good conversation.
I had previously checked reviews for places to eat. Olde Pink House came up a winner and some of the reviews literally had my mouth watering. Traveling alone I opted to eat at Planter's, beneath Pink House, but sharing their menu.
I had been looking forward to the crab-stuffed grouper for almost a month. I was not disappointed. The night I was there, grouper was not in supply so it was crab-stuffed mahi mahi. Typically I'm not even a fish eater, but the positive feedback for this dish made me want to indulge. It was an excellent choice and it melted in my mouth like warm butta. Served with mashed potatoes and green beans (though the bar tender (I was sitting at the bar) indicated I could swap sides) were also good. Too often restaurants will pre-cook veggies and they just sit in a steamer getting mushy. That was not the case here! The green beans were crisp, the potatoes were good, but possibly from a mix.
I also had a pink lady cocktail, which I thought was like a cosmo with raspberry vodka.
Total bill, for entree (no app, no salad, no dessert), 1 drink, and tip for one: $54. I knew going in it was going to be an expensive meal and that did not deter me. Obviously I could have skipped the $10 cocktail, but it was my last night in Savannah and I wanted to treat myself.
Service was good, everyone was friendly... the only real drawback was how dark it was at the bar. Traveling alone I like to read while I'm waiting and that wasn't possible. Although the food was very timely and I ended up not sitting there for long!
I would absolutely go back!
This place is so rad. My lover and I stopped in late night for a martini and it was such an awesome vibe. It's under the Olde Pink House in a dimly, candle-lit basement.
They have a house pink lemonade that they use for their drinks and we had a little shot glass sample. It was fantastic, but when we asked for our tab, the bar tender said, "Alright, that will be $21 total. $11 for the martini and $10 for the sample of lemonade." Seriously this guy had me going because I believed him and sat there with my mouth open in disbelief, trying to determine how a shot of sugar, water and lemon just cost us $10....and then he said, "Just kidding guys!!!" Â
Yeah. Needless to say we just threw 20 bucks at him and made him keep the tip for being hilarious. Great place. Great dirty martini.
LOVE Planters Tavern. It's an old school piano bar where you must drink martinis (which are fabulous), sing along at times to the music, and even dance sometimes. I've never come here without making some new friends for the night. My husband and I have had some great experiences here. The pianist at one time acknowledged my husband with a little announcement after it came up in conversation that he was about to leave for Iraq. That really meant a lot to both of us. When we came back to Savannah after his deployment, the pianist that night played our wedding song and everyone danced to it. It's that kind of place. Stop by, Make some friends, have a martini.
Review Source:I sat at the bar with my mom and sister and had the most wonderful time ever. When you first walk in, the ambience is extremely dark and sultry and sort of speakeasy-ish, which was absolutely perfect for a nice night out in town. The piano was a great touch, but above all... the food. Oh my God. Perfect. I heard it was the same food as the Olde Pink House right above the Planters Tavern, so great quality stuff, and yes, it is. I had the fried pork chop with mac and cheese, which was to die for. Great Southern cuisine. Come early though if you want a table, as they don't accept reservations (before 7 PM).
Overall, highly recommend. You can't deny how cool it is to be eating in a dark basement below an old house with a piano player crooning away on a nice Southern night.
My wife and I were visiting Savannah for our 5th anniversary, and after the airline's snafu with our luggage, we just wanted a decent dinner and some drinks. Â My dad had told us about Planters Tavern, and it was close to our hotel, so we gave it a try. Â This is what a bar should be like - nice and dark, with lots of ambience. Â We managed to get a table by one of the fireplaces, with very comfy leather wing-back chairs. Â As other reviewers have said, the menu is the same as The Pink House, and it was fantastic. Â Server was attentive and very helpful. Â We enjoyed our visit so much we went back a couple of nights later just to have a few drinks at the bar.
Review Source:Went for pre-theater drinks & snacks on a Sat. evening...
It was slammin'...packed with people, luckily our friends got there early and scored a corner table.
We just ordered loads of appetizers, and between the calamari, blue crab beignets, angel wing dumplings & a few other items, EVERYTHING was outstanding! Topped off with the praline basket dessert and excellent drinks, it was the perfect spot and we left stuffed for not too much $. The atmospere is so cozy and pleasantly haunted...now that the weather has started to cool, I can see coming here often.
Friends who have dined here say the entrees are good, but not as awesome as the appetizers...I say quality over quantity works for me!
If I could give zero stars I would.
I'm sure many yelpers know and understand that the mark of excellent service is the way an establishment treats its solo patrons. Â Planters Tavern is worse than failing in every regard.
I dropped in to Planters Tavern one night because I hadn't made reservations anywhere and they take guests on a first-come-first-serve basis. Â Or so I thought. Â
It was a busy evening and their waiting area was pretty full. Â I was told the wait was approx. 30 minutes, which was fine. Â I knew I'd wait longer anywhere else. Â The other patrons came and went. Â Thirty minutes came and went. Â More guests came and went. Â And still I sat there, waiting for the host to finally do his job and seat me. Â I waited nearly ninety minutes, at which point, the host offered to let me order and sit on the floor in the lobby area (by the door and the piano) and eat off my lap. Â
!!!!!
What kind of restaurant does this? Â
Planters Tavern will probably (hopefully) go down as one of the worst dining experiences of my life.
Planter's Tavern is the bar beneath the Pink House restaurant. The Pink House, in its own right, is known for its history and ghosts and fine food, though I feel the food there has slipped and they tend to rest on their good repute now more than anything. There's better places in Savannah now for fine dining, but the tavern is still unique and a worthwhile spot to visit.
My now ex-boyfriend used to work at the hotel next door, and he worked evenings, so we'd often enough stop over here for a drink when he got off. The atmosphere is authentic: this is the basement-level of the Pink House and has been turned into a very cozy space for a drink and is filled with a long, traditional, bar and plenty of comfy sofas and chairs. The tavern is known in Savannah for their piano player, who alas was never on duty when I've been in (probably because it's been later at night on weeknights) but there's a piano and apparently still live entertainment at times.
Anything from the restaurant's menu can also be ordered in the tavern and this allows one who wants something small to order it, or for that matter someone who feels under-dressed for the posh dining room upstairs to still partake in the Pink House's fare. I've ordered dinner down here on occasion and it's been fine, but not really remarkable. Still, it's very nice to have the option of ordering a snack or salad while drinking here and knowing you'll get at least fairly high-quality food. By the way, the Pink House is also the source of room service for the Planter's Inn next door . . . it might make more sense really to just wander over yourself if staying in the inn and eat at the bar.
On a chilly Autumn evening, with the fireplaces and comfy chairs and well-worn woodwork, I cannot think of a better place to be in Savannah as a mist falls on the square outside and a ship sounds its horn down on the river. A very intimate place where you're apt to encounter a visiting lawyer and his wife, a couple local restaurant workers who just got off work for the night, and perhaps a SCAD student or two all in the same evening, the Planter's Tavern is really a treasure.
I cant believe there aren't more reviews for this place. It is awesome! We were having dinner at The Olde Pink House so we stopped off at the Tavern for a drink beforehand. It was raining outside so the tavern was a comforting sight. Dimly lit, warm, fireplaces on either side of the room, piano player in the corner. We loved it. We loved it so much that we came back the next night and made some new friends. We even helped our new friends, Al and wife, celebrate his birthday with two bottles of Dom Perignon. What a cool place.
Review Source:this is a great bar.... once you manage to find it! located underneath the famous savannah restaurant 'the olde pink house', it took us a few minutes to finally locate the little sign and staircase leading down to the entrance, saving us from an embarassing scene of walking into the fancy restaurant in our sandals and shorts. whew!
lots of comfy couches and small tables inside, as well as plenty of seating at the bar. jazz piano with vocals greeted us when we walked in and settled down at the bar. bartender was friendly and very fun to talk to and tried to steer me away from ordering a mint julep (maybe i should have listened...it wasn't that great). nice wine list and supposedly, you can order food from upstairs, although we didn't try to. if you go late in the night, you get to see the waiters from upstairs coming down for their post-work drinks too.
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