Two restaurants opening their doors this week aim to elevate Savannah’s profile in the culinary world, one with backing by an award-winning celebrity chef and the other with a nautical-themed rooftop deck and killer views of the Savannah River.
The Florence, the latest restaurant concept by Atlanta chef Hugh Acheson, held a soft opening Tuesday in its cafe with the main dining room and bar opening Wednesday evening.
The interior is a light-flooded space with recycled marble, reclaimed wood and standing coffee bar — the building itself is a renovated ice factory at the new student-housing development One West Victory. The cafe portion has an extensive list of espresso drinks and pastries such as biscotti, galettes filled with boozy, macerated peaches and piped-to-order pistachio-dark chocolate cannoli.
The restaurant’s other attraction is its Italian fare, including fresh pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and house-cured meats sourced from local farmers.
The emphasis, Acheson told Savannah Magazine in its latest issue, is to combine local Georgia-grown ingredients with traditional Italian flavors. This is the fifth restaurant for Acheson and his first in Savannah.
The Florence is being led by executive chef Kyle Jacovino, who also helmed Acheson’s Athen’s restaurant Five & Ten, and its pastry program by Chris Wilkins, formerly of Independent Baking Co. in Athens.
Top Deck is the second restaurant opening this week, located at the top of the new boutique Cotton Sail Hotel on Bay Street.
Top Deck’s menu will feature farm-to-table inspired small plates like a pickled watermelon and heirloom tomato salad, craft cocktails and house-made ice cream. Virginia native Raphael Rogers will serve as executive chef, who counts among his influences his grandmother’s Southern cooking and mentors with French, Brazilian and Asian fusion backgrounds.
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor tables and wrap-around bar seating so guests can take in the views of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge and the cargo ships going to and fro along the river. Bar patrons can also get a glimpse of Savannah’s other rooftop bar, Rocks on the River at the Bohemian Hotel, its neighbor to the right.“(It) gives Savannah tourists and residents the perfect platform to relax and enjoy craft cocktails and an extraordinary small plates menu in a nautical setting,” said Chantal Gloor, director of operations. Gloor said hours of operation during their soft open will be 3 p.m. till midnight.
Betty Bombers
A local greasy-spooon favorite, Betty Bombers All-American Eatery, says it should be back up and running in approximately two months following a kitchen fire in May.
In a recent Facebook post, the owners say they are almost done with the planning and permitting stage and will start to rebuild soon.
Betty’s is located at the rear of the American Legion building on 1108 Bull St., which also houses a ballroom and popular bar. A fire broke out early May 3, causing heavy smoke damage throughout the building.