The Darling Oyster Bar - Savannah

I had a wonderful time getting dinner here last night! I sat at the bar and Caitlin was so charming and knowledgeable. All of the food that I got exceeded my already high expectations! I ordered half a dozen oysters to start and they paired wonderfully with the delicious martini Caitlin made me. While I loved all of the oysters, the “little darlings” were my favorite! I also ordered the crab fettuccine. I feel like normally crab pasta dishes have just a little sprinkling of crab, but that was not the case here. Each bite was so flavorful, and my dish had a very generous serving of pasta and crab. The bar and restaurant are both beautiful and while it was busy, the environment was calm with a phenomenal playlist in the background. I would highly recommend!

Been trying to make it down to try the new oyster bar in Savannah. Definitely glad I tried it. I tried four of each of the raw oysters on the half shell. Definitely have to say the Tybee(local) oysters are supreme. Albeit they are small, Their flavor is full and salty. Had an amazing waitress named Heather that was extremely helpful in describing each of them and was patient as I kept choosing a few more of a different type Will definitely be back and they definitely spared no expense in creating a beautiful and inviting space to dine. 

Dining with Dirk: USMC 250th Birthday Edition The Darling Oyster Bar Our group of four grabbed seats at the bar and decided to take on the menu from top to bottom. Highlights included the fresh catch of the day—Chilean sea bass—along with a dozen oysters, shrimp, cheese grits, mussels, clam chowder, shrimp creole, and frites. Hands down, the shrimp creole and sea bass stole the show. The cheese grits came in a strong second. Surprisingly, while the mussels, chowder, and frites were all excellent, they didn’t quite reach the same level. The oysters, however, stood on their own—peak season and perfectly fresh. A special shoutout to Dan, Cody, and Caitlin, who were outstanding behind the bar—mixing flawless cocktails and timing each dish perfectly The Darling is already running like a well-oiled machine. Twas good & vibes were high. Cheers to good food, great company, and 250 years of the Corps. — Skye Mills, Ryan Kessler, Mia — in Savannah.

I had such a great first visit to Darling Oyster Bar. Our server, Marvelous, was warm, welcoming, and so kind. She made me feel right at home and truly elevated the experience. I also enjoyed chatting with Vonny, the oyster shucker, at the counter. He was knowledgeable, fun, and helped pick the perfect oysters based on what I liked! 🦪 Between the service and the food, we’ll definitely be back. Again and again and again! What a fantastic place.

We have waited over 2 years for The Darling in Savannah to open. A block away from my wife Oksana’s art gallery in City Market we have passed by this building every week waiting for it to open. It was well worth the wait! Friends had tried to go this past weekend, but the place has been booked solid. Today, however, we found out that 4-6pm is Happy Hour with $1 oysters and it was a moderate crowd! We found seats at the oyster bar where there’s a great view of Franklin Square and City Market! Three seasoned oyster shuckers (Brian, Monty, & Vonnie) were filling the iced platters to order with practiced skill. Our friendly waitress, Alyssa, made several good suggestions and quickly took our order. Oksana and I both started with a dozen ice-cold freshly shucked oysters. They came on ice-filled lazy-Susan platter. You literally spin the plate for easy access to the oysters. They varied in size from medium to small. Well worth $12! There’s a house sauce, but I opted to make my own from scratch (ketchup, The Darling Hot Sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, salt & pepper). The house sauce is mild and some fellow Cajuns may require Tabasco, which wasn’t on the table, but there was horseradish sauce. We also ordered a plate of fried oysters, fries, and a side of Hushpuppies (a suggestion of Alyssa). The fried oysters were delicate and crunchy and not over battered. They evaporated off the plate. The delicious hushpuppies were crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Restaurant owners from Genevas across town sitting next to us thought everything was very good except some of the hushpuppies were too hard. Perhaps a smaller size could reduce cooking time and improve them. Oksana also tried the clam chowder, but didn’t brag about it as she drained the bowl. Another dozen oysters and cheesecake made fresh by Chef Ray topped with fresh fruit finished the meal. I recommend going in time for happy hour to get a seat and get oysters at a bargain!

Everything was delicious - the swordfish special was the best dish we’ve had in years and our server Mike went above and beyond explaining everything in such detail and made us feel right at home. Best meal on our trip so far. Shout out Mike thank you!!

Our waitress marvelous was MARVELOUS!!!! She brought a great amount of energy and made our dinner so fun! Should definitely ask for her when you come! Food was also amazing — the table got crab dip, raw oysters, and baked oysters, and for my meal I got shrimp and grits and it was fantastic!!! Cutest atmosphere too!!

Brand new place in Savannah. I’m almost a seafood tower snob at this point. Theirs does not disappoint in the slightest. Pair that with top-notch service, and the whole experience is Marvelous. Marvelous is also the name of the server who took outstanding care of us. Will definitely be back. This is a must for those who enjoy dining and savoring every moment.

Moved to My Favorite Savannah Restaurant I've been in Savannah for over five years and have had the opportunity to enjoy most of the notable restaurants in the Savannah area. The Darling Oyster Bar was incredible. First, the ambiance is great. 20 foot ceilings with beautiful beams and great light fixtures start the vibe. The oyster bar up front and a beautiful bar for drinks in back are warm and inviting. Second, the service we received from Corri was thoughtful and professional. Her personality and attention to detail was outstanding. Third and not last, the food. Ahh, the food. The oyster selection and presentation was great. Soup, we had the clam chowder, was creamy and amazingly flavorful. Scallops, fantastic. Crab fettuccini was cooked perfectly. The avocado toast with Blue Crab made the toast hard to find under the avalanche of crab. We will be back again and again.

The oyster fuck, can't beat 1dollar James river during happy hour. Did an amazing job with the inside design. Staff is attentive and friendly. I enjoyed sitting at the oyster bar and watching them shuck fresh right there.

OMG! The Darling was such an epic experience. I had noticed all the rave reviews after opening and I couldn't hold out and checked them out shortly after opening. I was easily able to get a reservation with no issues. The place was very nice, welcoming and beautifully decorated. Everything we had from the dip, chicken and oysters were AMAZING! The drinks were refreshing. I can't stop talking about this place! I will be back soon.

I went to the oyster bar at Darling this past Friday and had the best time! Oysters were reasonably priced, fresh, and so tasty! All the staff was super knowledgeable in the oysters they had and made great recommendations in addition to catering to my dairy allergy. For a Friday night service was perfectly paced it felt like such a perfect night out. I can't wait to go back for some happy hour oysters soon! this is a new staple restaurant for a Savannah local!!! shout out to Emma for being the best server with perfect timing- every time I needed her she was already there.

Me and 5 others went last night and ate at the oyster bar around 4:30. Our server Emma was attentive, amicable, and had great recommendations. She stayed on top of anything we needed. A gentleman (young with braids) was shucking oysters who name is, I think, Avante (hope that's somewhat right) was knowledgeable and enthusiastic while helping us pick out oysters. We had crab legs, a fried plate, the carb pasta, oysters, and crab dip. Everything was great! But the service we got from Avante and Emma was outstanding. We'll be back soon!

Finally!! They've opened and are as fabulous as their Charleston location. We dined here twice in the last month; top notch experience both times. Very professional service combined with expertly prepared dishes. We took friends who hadn't been to the Charleston location. They were blown away. Have to mention the extensive renovation they did to a historic building: it's thoughtfully laid out and beautifully done. Kudos Darling Oyster! So happy you are in Savannah.

The food, service and ambiance at this newly opened location is top notch. I say at the Oyster Bar and had Five star service from my waiter Michael as well as the Oyster shuckers Walker and Tywuan. Whether it's an anniversary, birthday or just a night out to dinner I highly recommend this place!!

So glad to have this addition in Savannah! It was long awaited and did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was delicious, but I can not wait to come back to try the rest of the menu, and am already planning our next visit. And ask for Rachel, she's the absolute BEST, and our five star experience would not have been the same without her!!

So tasty. Loved the oysters and the crab dip. And the hush puppy that came with the fried shrimp was out of this world. Awesome service. Great atmosphere. Really great spot. Highly recommend.

Great new spot to eat at, everything on the menu is fantastic and so is the service! Inside was suitable for all sizes of parties and kid friendly as well. Great setting for a date night too!