Savannah’s Most Romantic Restaurant, Circa 1875, Turns 17 | Eater Carolinas

"Located in Savannah’s historic district at 48 Whitaker Street, this unpretentious Parisian bistro and gastropub is owned and lovingly restored by husbands Donald Lubowicki and Jeffery Downey, who transformed a circa‑1875 pub (later an Irish Times and a Prohibition‑era speakeasy) into a warm, conversation‑focused spot while preserving original ceilings, floors, and an Irish bar top that appeared in the film Bloom. Chef Thomas Bishop serves country‑French classics—foie gras, escargot, steak tartare, coquilles St. Jacques, mussels, and cassoulet—alongside signature items like ten‑hour short ribs that arrive melt‑in‑your‑mouth and an animal‑product‑free ratatouille that surprises even carnivores, plus bright vegetable plates such as a golden beet salad and seasonal tomato preparations. Behind the bar, Tim Fitzgerald curates old‑world libations (aged Armagnac, pastis, amaro) and a stained‑glass wine cellar conceals a candlelit table for four; a tucked nook of two bar stools offers semi‑private conversation and close talking. The staff’s convivial, relaxed service and the intimate, lived‑in atmosphere have made it a beloved third place for locals—one that routinely sparks conversation, regular returns, and even romances, with dozens of couples crediting their meeting to evenings spent here." - Kiki Dy