I have been hearing wonderful things about Darling's Oyster Bar since it opened near City Market but hadn't had a chance to check it out. It's right in the heart of downtown off Congress Street and across from the Rail Pub. There is street parking, but being downtown, it can definitely be limited. I finally stopped in after dinner hours around 7pm on Friday. Since it was date night we ordered the raw tower, which comes stacked with everything under the sun: oysters, shrimp, snow crab, lobster and mussels. I also ordered scallops and asked if it could be prepared without butter because of my dairy allergy. The kitchen has no problem making them with olive oil instead. Super delicious! I enjoyed it so much that I came back the following weekend with friends. I made reservations online during happy hour (4-6pm) and we were lucky enough to be seated in the small back dining room tucked away behind the bar. Our server was wonderful and very attentive, and I especially appreciated that she actually paid attention to the allergy notes I included with my reservations. Of course we all ordered a dozen oysters each because they're $1 during happy hour and who can beat that? I ordered the scallops again because I liked them so much the first time, and around the table we had a mixture of lobster, mussels, dressed oysters, turtle cheesecake, finishing everything off with espresso martinis. Hands down delicious. The service was top-tier too. Our server never hovered, but somehow always checked on us at just the right time and made sure we had everything we needed. Two great visits so far and I'll absolutely be back to try more of the menu. read more

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The Darling has all the vibes and appeal you could want when you go out for a night in Savannah. I would even say the pull is borderline great! Even our server, Rachel, was excellent. Unfortunately, that may be where the greatness ends. We ordered varying dishes: fried chicken sandwich with collard greens, fried shrimp and fish basket with fries, and burgers. There was one consistent theme throughout: bland. The shrimp and fish tasted like...water? And I don't mean a seafood taste, but as one in our party described it: like licking your arm. Just flavorless and uninspiring. The crust and color on the chicken sandwich looked like I was about to bite into a life-altering morsel. But alas, I tasted chicken. And nothing else. We had very high hopes and were let down. I don't know if it was off day or what, but the food left a lot to be desired. read more

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Amazing service! Outstanding food! Fresh happy hour James River oysters for a BUCK! Mrs snacked on fish dipped which was so good she wouldn't share! Give em a try! read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Happy hour James River oysters - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Wonderful place for birthday meal! We had no reservations, but had very comfy chairs at the bar. When you in your seventh decade that becomes a major factor. Lol. Service was impeccable, as was the food. He had the fried chicken sandwich. He loved it!!! I had the salmon dip. Def enough for two and absolutely superb! read more

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For our last night in Savannah, my bf and I decided to do date night at the Darling Oyster Bar. We sat at the raw bar and the space was a bit small but I guess that's with any bar top. We got there during happy hour so my bf got a dozen oysters for $1 each, can't beat that ! We also got a half lobster for $37. He said the oysters were really good and fresh. Lobster was fresh, went perfect with the warm butter. I got the crab dip and shrimp and oyster fried basket. The dip was so good, I wish I had known it had onions on top, I would have asked them to remove it but it was easy to take off. The flavor was really good, not fishy. The fried shrimp and oysters were cooked and fried perfectly. I loved it with their cocktail sauce. The fries were probably my favorite. They were the thin fries seasoned with old bay. I haven't had fries in awhile so it was nice to enjoy with my food. We also took a couple lemon drop shots and that perfectly ended the meal. Our waitress was awesome, gave good recommendations. I'd definitely come back again next time we're in town. read more

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We stopped by The Darling Oyster Bar for happy hour because I'm a huge oyster person and had really high expectations. Given the name, I expected a much larger oyster selection, so I left a little disappointed. To be fair though, we're from the Northeast and definitely spoiled when it comes to oysters. Definitely order the baked oyster sampler though. It was incredible. Easily the highlight of the meal and absolutely worth ordering. 5 stars for that dish alone read more

delicious, loved the chicken. Had a wonderful experience. Wonderful server too, Tiasia! read more

This was our first time here, and we were thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and laid-back, creating a welcoming environment. The staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive, making our dining experience truly enjoyable. Our waitress provided exceptional service, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring our satisfaction. We began our meal with the raw oysters, which were incredibly fresh and delicious. The baked oysters were equally impressive, cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The rest of our food was equally impressive, each dish seasoned to perfection and bursting with taste. Overall, we had an amazing dining experience and will definitely be returning to this restaurant in the future. If you go ask for Emma that was our waitress, take notes of her recommendation because she doesn't miss. read more

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Most beautiful restaurant in City Market. Not cheap but honestly best fried shrimp I have ever had. Very deep wine list, caviar service if that's your thing. So hip and cool great place to take your friends for a unique SAV experience. I like it better than the Charleston location read more

Lovely time for drinks during St Patrick day weekend at the Darling Oyster Bar. The staff was so fun and kind, gifting our bride and her bridesmaids a coozy and bottle opener necklaces. The atmosphere is upscale without being too formal, perfect for our celebratory weekend. Drinks were delicious as were the oyster shooters. I hope to be back to try more of their menu! read more

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20 stars! Absolutely amazing! I have wanted to come here since they opened but never got a chance until now and WOW! We sat at the oyster bar and Malik and shon were perfection! They shucked the oyster in front of us and told us where they came from and talked about their technique. It was such a fun experience watching them work and talking about each plate that they were making including ours. We got 4 of the All Dressed Up with caviar which was beautiful! Our waitress Tiasia was amazing and was absolutely a gem and gave us amazing recommendations, including the hush puppies. The drinks were delicious I got the London Fog which was a lavender lemon and Gin and Keith got a Darling Fashion which I didn't even get to try since it was gone so quickly. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Tried this for the first time. The service was good. Multiple people stopped by multiple times to ask to clear plates and ask if we were finished...even though we were still enjoying our meals. The oysters were very good. We shared multiple appetizers. The crab dip was odd....covered in raw red onions. Would have preferred them cooked or not on the plate. Drinks were good. We enjoyed/shared 3 different cocktails. Very loud. Maybe because we were close to the bar. Seems pricey. Spent over $200 for oysters, appetizers, and drinks after tip. May give them another try in 3-4 months read more

My first trip to The Darling and I'll be back! A+ experience start to finish. Our waiter Forest, was very knowledgeable and skillfully guided us through the oyster menu. A true professional. The food was exceptional, oysters, crab cakes, baked crab dish, lobster roll and finished off with the best key lime pie I've had in Savannah! FYI-The hush puppies were out of this world, so good we ordered some for the drive home! The restaurant is beautiful and most importantly very clean with no fishy smell at all, even with a large Raw Bar. Katie the Manager was all over the restaurant making sure everything was perfect, which it was! I have a new favorite restaurant in Savannah and it's The Darling! read more

Incredible dinner on New Year's Eve, and our server Emma made the experience even better. Very knowledgeable about the menu which helped us make our picks and was friendly. We had the seafood plateau, the salmon dip, crab dip and kale. There are 2 versions of the plateau and we went with the smaller one - 8 oysters, 4 clams, 8 shrimp and crab. All amazing. The salmon dip is a very generous portion but would be even better if it came with a bit more bread. The crab dip is warm and goes perfectly with the chips. Cant wait to go back ! read more

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Reservation made, based on exterior design, for early Mother's Day treat. Thumbs up to hospitality design, layout, decor and service. It felt like we were back in NOLA. We had appetizers, crab cakes (10), baked oysters with butter and bread crumbs (10), crab dip (9), raw platter of James River (10), & chowder that needed more clams (8). Highly recommend read more

How dare I forget?! I cannot miss the opportunity to give an outstanding review for this Oyster Bar since everything was so exceptional. First, we got a server just out of training named Savannah, who was so extraordinarily sweet and genuine in her service style, yet so patient to answer questions with grace. She immediately assisted me in my sneak attack of oyster shooters that my sister did not know would be descending on her! They were delicious. Next, we got the crab dip. EPIC!!! Then a selection of James River, Salt Bombs and off the Cape Oysters came through with each having all the delicate texture and mouth-watering savory sumptuousness you'd hope for. We got some fried goodies next and the oysters and shrimp were standouts! Just nothing but good stuff going on here. Take it from me, pop this to the top of your list! read more

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Went for an early dinner and it was one of my favorite meals from the trip! The fried chicken was juicy, perfectly crispy and had a nice rosemary flavor. The potato puree was insane and the collard greens with the candied bacon were also some of the best I've had. We tried the James River oysters during Happy Hour as well and those were great! I also loved the atmosphere and the service was excellent. Highly recommend! read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - James River Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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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. read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Very pretty restaurant. we did not have a reservation on Wednesday evening . We arrived 6:15pm sat at the oyster bar . We were unaware of happy hour so we missed that , but this did not stop u from having several orders of the oysters to start . We also had the Salmon Did that was the best. Scallops for dinner were delicious as well and ended with the Key Lime Pie that was outstanding. Our server the young man was very attentive read more

Food service and ambiance were great! The bartender made the best cocktails. He knew what he was doing! Happy Hour was $1 house oysters and $2 off beers. Check it out! read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Dozen Raw Oysters and drinks - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Salt Bomb Oysters from Tybee Island were incredible. Ate at the bar counter, Wes treated us great. Solid cocktails, definitely will return

I'm very sad that I forgot to take pictures but the James River Oysters were delicious. If you go during happy hour they are only $1 each. It's also a nice vibe in there. Whether you're having a casual day event with friends or a date night with that special someone. I will definitely be going back. read more

Amazing food! And had the best waiter, Michael, he was an absolute delight and very helpful with curating a meal we were looking for! The place was so cute! We had a blast. read more

Felt compelled to write a review because we had such an amazing experience last night!! My husband and I came around 7pm and the host was friendly, ambiance was great, and our waitress was lovely. But the food!!! The food was the best part and I already can't wait to go back. We got the shrimp cocktail, fried shrimp/oysters plate, a few oysters, the lobster roll and the hush puppies were sooo good! The honey butter! So very impressed, 10/10 :) read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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My husband and I came in and sat at the oyster bar and that was the best decision we made. The man, the myth, the legend, Malik was amazing! He brings a fantastic energy and was the highlight of our dinner! The recommendations for oysters were amazing and he perfectly picked what we described we liked! We will be back again! read more

Walked in w/o reservation on a Sunday night and were seated immediately at the oyster bar. Monte was shucking and was so friendly, and made our experience awesome. We just wanted a light bit, so we shared raw oysters, hush puppies, fries, and baked oysters. The raw oysters are the star of course, and our cocktails were good. Liked the ambiance quite a bit and would definitely come back here. read more

Server was great food just sucked, we tried the crab dip appetizer and the lump crab fettuccine. Our drinks were the midnight riptide and the Savannah Winter, both absolutely sucked and this is coming from someone that could drink a natty light with a cigarette in it. As for the food, the crab dip tasted like if you got the cheapest lump crab can from Kroger and tried to make dip from it. The lump crab fettuccine was also not very tasty. read more

The hush puppies melt in your mouth and the oysters are always fresh and tasty! We had the lobster roll without the bread and the snapper which was the special. Everything was on pointe and our server Tiasia was friendly, professional and knowledgable about the menu. She made several recommendations that made our meal excellent! read more

Service, food, all great. No notes. Will gladly return. Happy Hour Oysters were amazing!

Came in for happy hour with family visiting. We sat at the raw bar, T was an awesome server and raw bar guys were great too. Excellent oysters and drinks. read more

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. read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Oysters for all pallets - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

It was expensive and the food was not worth the price. The service was good the martini's were small but enjoyable. Great for a tourist. read more

Ok, that was a great meal. My wife and I love Savannah and travel there several times a year. Every time we go we make reservations at some of the old fine-dining standbys- it's nice to have a new kid on the block, and one that cut it's teeth in Charleston. While they have only been open for three weeks, they clearly took everything they have learned in Charleston and put it to work in Savannah. it is located right at the end of the pedestrian mall at Franklin Square, an easy stroll from all the major hotels. The interior is beautiful, the setting is romantic, not cramped. It's quiet and easy to talk with each other, and then they hit you with just wonderful food! For appetizers, we had the Creole Shrimp and Oysters (6 styles available)- for our entree's we had the striped bass and shrimp & grits. We would have had dessert, but the dinner portions were huge! We will be back in a few weeks- thanks to all their team, we had great evening thanks to you. read more

I went during happy hour and the service and food were amazing! The server was kind and friendly, paying attention to my needs. The food was amazing- I highly recommend the poutine. read more

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. read more

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. read more

The Darling Oyster Bar - Creole shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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OMG- The Darling Oyster NEVER disappoints! Tonight was perfect as always! Phil, our server was spot on with his recommendations on what to order- Great guy and very personable.. Katie, the manager , also great., Highly recommend to all- read more

When the food is good, and the service is good, you have to shout about it. This place is Wallette gorgeous Interior and great accommodating service. read more

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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!! read more

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Went here on a date with my partner, the food and service were amazing. Wes and Andrew were great! Definitely would recommend.