Savannah Union Station

It’s always hard for me to imagine that a building as grand as the Savannah Union Station is no more. Designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn (Augusta Georgia’s Union Station designer as well), the 1902 Spanish Renaissance and Elizabethan structure was demolished in 1962 to make room for Interstate 16’s exit ramps. Oh the indignity. At least there are some images of the grandeur that used to be.

Here’s an interior shot of the building’s octagonal rotunda, which served as the general waiting room.



A few detailed views of what appears to be a fountain:



…and the building’s newsstand:



Today, a gas station occupies the land. Ugh.

See more Savannah, Georgia photos at my main website.

Back to Savannah, Pt. 3

One of the things I was most excited about on my re-visit to Savannah was dining at The Grey. Located in a converted Greyhound Bus Station, this restaurant is by far Savannah's most hip and happening haunt. I was fortunate to be able to meet owner John Morisano and the Grey's talented Chef, Mashama Bailey, who were unwinding with dinner after a long day at the restaurant.



My dinner was out of this world. The chicken was so flavorful.



Yams that melted in my mouth.



Did somebody mention sweet potato pie? I am ready to return.



The interior is right up my alley, as the renovation/restoration was done lovingly with attention to every vintage detail.







One of the highlights of my experience at The Grey was meeting this Harry Met Sally-esque couple, who proclaimed that their first date was a disaster but had morphed into the perfect relationship of being besties. He was in Savannah for a few weeks; she was up for the weekend. Something told me that despite the story, he was holding out hope for more than just a bestie. I didn't run into them again, so I have no idea how the evening turned out; I only know that the room they shared at The Westin had just one King-sized bed.



You do the math.

More The Grey Restaurant in Savannah photos at my main website.

50 Plates of Grey

When I travel, I try to do a morning run to stay in shape AND to get a quick overview of the city I am staying in. And yes, I run with my camera. On my most recent trip to Savannah, I was shocked to see that the old boarded up Greyhound Station had been restored and repurposed as a restaurant titled The Grey.



The original terrazzo tile entrance remains, welcoming diners as they enter.



The vitrolite panels, a staple in many art deco buildings, looked brand-spanking new. I later found out that they were, as the originals had been stucco-ed over and ruined beyond repair.



I came back to try it that night, despite what the concierge at my inn had told me when I asked him what kind of food they served. "Probably burgers." I found out when I entered that this was definitely not a burger joint. What an idiot.



While I waited for my table, I had an El Diablo, a vintage cocktail expertly crafted by the bearded bartender. It was a great start to a fantastic experience.



The interior was just as amazing as the outside. While it was obvious that the place had been cleaned up and restored, there were still enough original gritty details to let you know you were in a historic structure.



The place was packed with diners who were obviously enjoying their food.



I started off with probably the best beet salad I have ever eaten. The beets were roasted to perfection and served with their greens and a buttermilk yogurt dressing. I normally take photos of what I eat, but this time, I didn't bother, as much of what I ate would not have translated into a pretty picture. My grilled hanger steak was served with a potato cake and a fenugreek aioli, and it pretty much melted in my mouth. I also ordered the whole fired (not fried) sweet potato; I ate the whole thing…skin and all.

Besides a complimentary appetizer, the owner also served up this deliciously retro frozen lemonade on a stick to cleanse my palette. Concocted by Chef Mashama Bailey, they are a throwback to the popsicles she once ate back in the 1980's at a neighbor's house.



Dessert was a tasty apple cobbler, accompanied by a cheese biscuit and vanilla ice cream from Leopold's, a local ice cream shop (more on them in a future post).



All of the signage was expertly crafted, creatively reminding guests of the structure's origins.





I am still salivating over the vintage tile.



And yes, I took my camera to the restrooms.



A pop of color, courtesy of this photo of a drag queen's gams:



Original floor tiles; be still my heart.



The capper to the whole experience was the fantabulous wait staff. Scott and Kate were the absolute best. Great conversation, thoughtful recommendations, and a huge dose of hip. Best of all, Scott serves a mean Skinny Bitch Tea! Not sure it helped much with the waistline, but it was worth a try!



I had the pleasure of talking to the owner, John Morisano, who gave me the back story on his restaurant. Typically focusing on tech and media startups, New Yorker Morisano fell in love with the dilapidated building when he first saw it back in 2012. Kudos to Morisano for what he has created. I ended up returning a second time, and plan on doing so again when I next visit my favorite southern city.

Get more shades of Grey at my main website.