Sensitivity training is a must. We ourselves are local servers and hosts at Savannah's most exceptional locations. After serving others on a daily basis, we have waited months to experience the same treatment for a birthday celebration. We were extremely let down. Though the ambiance was incredible--vintage decor, original bones, grey line seating and music playing softly from the classical record player--it takes more than a pretty building to make a loyal customer. We booked our reservation a full month prior for 5:30P. We arrived at 5:22P and were told, "we don't seat until exactly 5:30P". This was our first time at a Michelin award winning establishment. I suppose this is the stardard, but why are you so reluctant to seat 5 minutes early? No one was in the dining room and everything was already set. We were the only couple in the waiting area. After walking through downtown Savannah, the last thing we wanted to do was wait 6 to 8 minutes at one of the busiest bars just to order drinks and be "late for our reservation". 5:30P sharp they sat us. Seeing the chefs cook through the opened kitchen was mesmerising to see. Their cook stations were clean. Some waved and smiled-- and the glass was spotless, as we expected. We even saw Mashama Bailey helping her team. It was like a dream come true after watching "Chef's Table". When we sat down the ball really got rolling. They sat us by this work of art, and it is a undertoned, unwelcoming, disrespectful racist collage. There is what it seems to be a black boy being pet on his head like "good slave boy" from what it seems to be a from a Caucasian like older guy. There is also a black guy bringing groceries or luggage a like bellboy and a "Driving Mrs. Daisy" good ol' southern black driver. This art screams the era where they were hosing black people down and making them drink from colored only fountains. Of course art has it's own interpretation, but the image is plainly clear. This needs to be takened down and replaced with something more uplifting and as hip and refreshing and tantalizing as the menu. Put up something more inviting for all. Take this painting down. The sad child in the collage was eying me down the whole night with his daunting "somebody help me get out of here eyes". Servers! Just because a customer comes in and sits at a table to have drinks and dessert does not give you license to treat them like dogs even if your mascot is one. It's almost as if they gave up on their server etiquette because they knew their tip percentage would be lower than for entrees. It was not hospitable. The service was not genuine from the server or the trainee. At the table, we were treated as if we were occupying a space that could be put to better use by entrees buying customers. Our servers were plane rude. They said lines from a script, and used no true southern hospitality in their interactions with us. "Stella or Sparkling ". They didn't say welcome to The Grey, is this your first time, how are you doing tonight ..just "stella or sparkling" at first greet. It was said so fast and with out an introduction we were involuntarily shocked by this level of service from such a "word of mouth and award winning restaurant". We informed our 2 servers at the very beginning that we are just getting desserts and drinks as we asked for a dessert menu. When our servers came back with the dessert menus, the lead server desperately asked us again if we would like any entrees and appetizers. "Would you like to hear more about our main course tonight?". Our desserts had blonde hair baked into both the cake and crumble. With it being our special occasion I advised my companion to move it to the side and continue eating. Low and outrageously behold, there was a strand of hair on my Fig Devil's Cake. I couldn't believe it! Who wants to complain on their birthday. The drink was not as expected. I ordered, "Through The Looking Glass". In so many words it was better written than it tasted. There was one garnish, a lemon wedge. Plus the glassware was cheap and dated. I would have drank water instead but my freaking glass smelled like a wet dog! This is not an attempt to smear The Grey ; this is reality and disgusting. We would not recommend this restaurant to black families or couples. You will leave disappointed. We were the only people in the restaurant until 5:45P, and the servers mentality was as if they were completely booked. They stood and stared at us in a group of 4 as we took every bite. No space for intimacy. Tables are too close. Great ambiance but the service is terrible with very good food. Two more things. In order to succeed, don't just hire people who can work. Hire people who are passionate about what they do. Lastly, Ms. Mashama Bailey, as a local of Savannah, please leave this place and open up your own southern style restaurant. You will become a greater success. I think it's time to move on before this restaurant ruins your name. read more

Sigh... we saw The Grey on chefs table and were so excited to try it but unfortunately it turned out to be one of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant. I'll start with the food. We ordered the fish dip as a little pre appetizer which was good. Although, there were only 5 pieces of actual fish in it. It mostly just tasted like egg salad but still good. We then chose to do the the 6 course meal. The first course was a boiled potato in a Cesar dressing and honestly that's probably the best thing I had. The second course was lamb heart which was so overly salted my mouth was burning. The third course was baked squash (considering we waited 30-40 minutes in between each course I'm not impressed). The fourth course was scallops and when I bit into the scallop I thought I broke my tooth because of how much sand was left in it. The 5th course was quail which was not bad but had a very overpowering sauce. The 6th course was a chocolate cake with a burnt orange ice cream( the cake was actually really good but the ice cream was just okay). Now to the customer service. Our reservation was at 8:15 and we didn't end up leaving the restaurant until 10:55. As stated above we waited with no exaggeration 30-40 minutes between each meal. The wait was so long without us saying anything our waitress came over and apologized and said she's gonna ask her manager what's taking so long. By the 3rd course It got to the point where we asked how much longer this was going to take. Again all we got was a sorry it should be out soon. My boyfriend and I have been to many fine dining restaurants. I understand mistakes happen and I have no problem waiting 30-40 mins for maybe one of the courses but it was every course and when looking into the kitchen it didn't look like anyone was in much of a hurry to correct their mistakes. After walking out of this restaurant paying 425.00 for two people I at least expect the food and/or the customer service to be amazing. All we were offered was a sorry from our waitress. The manager didn't come over, there was no discount, no explanation, nothing. The funny part is the fastest part of our service was them charging our card. Save your time and money. Ps. It's a hike but if you are ever looking for a real fine dining experience head to Halls Chop House in Charleston. It's everything you would expect from a restaurant and more. read more

A coworker of mine, who knows the Savannah area well, highly recommended The Grey but warned me it was a popular spot where reservations could be tough to come by. Thankfully, I was traveling solo and managed to snag a seat at the bar--a win for spontaneous diners like myself. The restaurant boasts not one but two bar areas: one at the front, exuding lively energy, and another in the back, offering a more tranquil spot to unwind. The atmosphere alone is worth the visit, but the food and drink? Absolutely stellar. I decided to try the seafood boudin from their bar menu, which features a curated selection of smaller plates. To pair, I chose a Farina Lager from Atlanta's own Halfway Crooks Brewery. The combination was impeccable--light, flavorful, and packed with local charm. For dessert, I couldn't resist their pecan pie, which I savored alongside a perfectly brewed espresso. The night reached its peak when the bartender surprised me with an extra Good Rush cocktail on the house. That thoughtful touch elevated an already amazing evening. Every bite and sip was a testament to The Grey's dedication to quality and creativity. It's not just a restaurant--it's an experience, and one I'm eager to repeat. By the way, life is simpler down south, and the prices truly reflect that. My bill didn't leave me in shock at all--excellent value for such an extraordinary experience. read more

The Grey in Savannah, GA, came highly recommended to me, with many praising it as the finest dining experience in the city. As I walked in, the ambiance and decor set the stage for what I hoped would be a culinary delight. Each dish showcased a clear effort towards achieving fine dining standards with thoughtful presentation and sophisticated combinations. However, my experience fell short in a few key areas. While the dishes were meticulously crafted, many of them, particularly the vegetarian and vegan options, lacked the depth of flavor and seasoning expected from a top-tier restaurant. The standout of the evening was the smashed potatoes, a side dish that truly delivered on taste and texture. The service was attentive and accommodating, which added a pleasant touch to the evening. Yet, the repeated inquiries from our waiter about whether we had ordered enough food were somewhat off-putting. This seemed to hint at the small portion sizes, which indeed left us wanting more. The Grey has great potential, and with enhancements in flavor and more generous portions, it could easily elevate its dining experience. My visit, while enjoyable in parts, suggests that there's room for growth to meet the high expectations set by its reputation. read more

Terrible customer service! We made a reservation on Open Table a week in advance for Saturday at 8:30pm. An employee even called the day before and confirmed our reservation. We arrived 10 minutes early before our reservation time. We waited until 15 minutes after our reservation and asked the status of our table. We were the only ones in the waiting area at this time. Two different parties came in after 8:30pm, which was their reservation times as well. Both parties were immediately sat. One party was of 4 and the other was of 2 (same as us). I had even notated on our reservations that this was our 5 year wedding anniversary. I asked again when we would be seated and they said they were not sure. I asked why the other parties were sat before us with the same reservation times and the same amount of people in their party. They stated that they had simply forgotten about us. We were sitting right beside the hostess stand. The manager (woman with short brown hair) could care less and needless to say we left and went to The Old Pink House which was EXCEPTIONAL!! Much better experience than these people who could care less about customer service! read more

I am finally writing a review, after giving the Grey three chances. This place is as big of a blunder as any poorly run restaurant could be. The building and the finishes are splendid, but the rest is truly the pits. The service, for starters, is atrocious. On several occasions, myself or others in my party have had to ask to speak with a manager. The owner, then arrives- Johno. I think he believes that his presence can smooth over a meal and an evening gone horribly wrong, because his actions have never once spurred the evening or our service in the right direction. This fellow honestly becomes petulant at the mention that you are not awe inspired by his elaborate mess of an eating establishment. I am pretty certain that the locals have given up on this debacle, and that The Grey is purely out for the foodie tourist trap. Thank goodness for over the top PR, and an owner with deep pockets. If it weren't for these two things, this place would already have closed the doors. Savannah has more than her fair share of great restaurants,....... This is NOT one of them. read more

Food was average at best. The idea behind the place is to church up southern soul food I guess. Well, they miss the mark. The oyster appetizer had three tiny remnants of what looked like oysters served on a saltine cracker with a jalapeño on top. All you could taste was a hot jalapeño. Seafood boudin was good. Pork shank was ok, but nothing you couldn't make yourself. It was a bone in piece of pork, served over collards, with some kind of bland potato cake on the side. I have eaten better tasting meals at deer camp sitting in a lawn chair! Service was just ok. Nice waitress. But she forgot my wife's drink order, water glasses were always empty, did not ask how we were enjoying the meal. $200+ for a very mediocre dinner. This place wouldn't last a month in a town like Chicago, Charleston, New York, etc. and Savannah has too many other good restaurants to try this place again. read more

Is there such a thing as casual formal dining? This was the restaurant of our dreams and the perfect bookend to our anniversary trip. The ambiance is lively and exciting without being overbearing. It's worth eating here just to look at the bar. Kelly was the consummate professional server - genuinely warm and friendly, knowledgable, and funny. Every recommendation she made was spot on. And the entire staff was excellent - basically leaving us alone but anticipating anytime we needed anything. The Grey will be one of our stops from now on every time we go to Savannah. read more

Call me old fashioned/of New York City...but when my dinner companion finds a worm in her oyster, and I corroborate this lively invertebrate's presence, and call attention to same whilst sending back platter or oysters and then am questioned about the veracity of this claim by a man who appears to be head of house (bearded Scott), and then I choose to stay and order drinks and (cooked) dinner and upon requesting my bill I notice no buy backs...with the exception of lovely kaleb and lovely Abby...I decide to run-on sentence my disapproval of your performance guys. read more

We recently dined at a James Beard award-winning restaurant, and the experience was incredibly disappointing. It took over 90 minutes for the first course to arrive, and when it finally did, it fell far below the standards expected from such a highly rated establishment. For a $75 per person prix fixe menu, the dishes were poorly seasoned and lacked the quality we anticipated. Overall, it was not worth the long wait or the steep price, and we left feeling extremely let down. Giving two stars for the art, the building and service. read more

After a long drive filled with rain and traffic, we originally missed our lunchtime reservation. The restaurant was super accommodating and we ended up just doing drinks and snacks in their Diner area, not the full restaurant. The staff was lovely, attentive and the food was delicious. We did the pickled veggies (AMAZING)! and the cheese board. It was a great way to kick off our mid-week trip to Savannah and get a taste for what the city has to offer. The vibe inside is really cool and I was so impressed by The Grey! read more

The Grey was worth the visit. It's pricey, but a worthy experience. Traveling alone on business, so I sat at the bar. The place was humming, but comfortable. The food is approachable with just enough edge to make it fun. Tiny hoecakes with caviar. Chicken Dressing topped with collards and scallops (well-prepared). Butter scotch pudding - house made. All very good. The bartenders were stellar craftsmen - cocktails are balanced and thoughtfully made. It's a fun place and worth a visit. read more

More like 3.5 stars Made a trip to Savannah just to dine at The Grey after seeing it on Netflix. Restaurant ambiance is adorable and clever. It would return just to sit at the bar area. Solid 4 stars on location and design. Food was hit and miss. Some dishes I preferred over others. 3.5 stars Staff was competent but not particularly welcoming which surprised me since this is the south and ever other location we dined at in Savannah was super charming. 3 stars read more

Great vibes. Always sit in the front room with my friends for cocktails and oysters. Never eaten dinner there but heard good things!! Everyone is always super helpful on the staff and excited to talk about oysters and recommend wine. Love the redesign of old Greyhound station. BRING PARENTS WHEN THEY VISIT :) read more

Had a great meal here. Party of three we had pasta, eggplant and the fish of the day, grouper. The grouper was excellent. The service was a little slow getting the drinks out but they were very busy and the food made up for it. We had the beignets for desert and they were great. read more

Awesome service! Awesome decor and location! VERY small menu. We had a hard time ordering because of the small size of the menu but the food we did order was good. We will only return if they add items to their menu or to just have a drink. read more

The restaurant looks very well done and they put a lot of effort into advertising so I had to try the Grey. Sadly I was disappointed. Classic case of all flash little substance. Food is average but I was expecting so much more....... read more

The food and atmosphere were fantastic! The owner was not pleasant to work with.. My company sends him a great deal of business and he was horrible to work with. Will not work with them in the future. read more

Had a great time last night having the "diner bar". Marshall was excellent at recommendations and taking care of us. Made our birthday celebration extra special. And yes the food was yummy too!!! read more