Visitors to Savannah’s artsy City Market District will love the overall energy of the area. With an open appeal, plenty of shops, and enticing places to eat, it can be quite difficult trying to settle on a spot to have a fulfilling meal. During my recent visit to this district, I just so happened to be in the mood for something that wasn’t too fancy, while maintaining the charm of the environment. A solid drink menu would also be a plus. I settled on a trendy looking spot called the Café at City Market (aptly named).
The Vibe
The front of the café was lined with outdoor tables on a charming porch. Greeting you at that porch is a large white statue of Marilyn Monroe a la “The Seven Year Itch (replete with wind bustled skirt). The interior was low-lit, and sprinkled with various old Hollywood memorabilita. A huge life-sized black and white cut-out of Elvis guarded the front door and “greeted” customers on their out. I was completely impressed with the attention to design, as there were a couple of interesting floor lamps that were in the shape of the female form. These mannequin lamps were clad in tight red dresses with lamp shades on top where the head should be. It was a small touch, but this aspect of the décor lent the place a completely trendy vibe. Additionally, the music piping through the speakers was a motley collection of oldies but goodies from the 1950s to 1960s, adding nicely to the retro atmosphere.
The Service
We did not have to wait very long to be seated by the hostess. But I was a bit surprised by how long it took for a member of the waitstaff to come and initialize our drink orders. Our waiter was friendly. But he seemed to be distracted. The odd thing is that at this particular time in the evening, there were not many customers. Several tables sat empty. And a quick glance toward the rear of the establishment revealed a number of other personnel members standing around. After receiving our cocktails (which were delicious), and ordering our meals, the service picked up a bit. Still, the waiter seemed as if he was in somewhat of a rush. But from what we could see, he didn’t actually have many tables to attend to.
The Cuisine
The stylish design of the café caused me to believe that there would be a pretty extensive dinner menu. However, I was surprised that the menu itself was not as all-embracing as it could have been. A stark appetizer section featured a few favorites, but nothing that stood out as memorable. My friend was not that hungry and ordered herself a green salad and a bowl of their Chicken Gumbo. But when her meal arrived, she was disappointed to note that the salad was too large for the plate on which it was served. As a result, huge leaves of arugula and lettuce kept falling onto the table. The gumbo as it turned out, was more of a thin chicken and vegetable soup. According to her, it was tasty, but didn’t really represent “gumbo” very well. Additionally, she was disapointed that she had to request bread or crackers-as these typically are offered with soups and salads.
I ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu. According to the menu, this meal was comprised of a chicken breast stuffed with ham and brie, and then baked in a fluffy pastry in a creamy wine sauce. It was served with pasta and vegetables. Much to my delight, the Cordon Bleu was absolutely scrumptious. I was expecting the “garden variety” chicken breast topped with ham and covered with some kind of generic cheese. But the description was dead-on, and so was the taste. The flavor of the brie and ham was literally bursting through every bite. And the pastry was perfectly baked, completing the entrée. The pasta and vegetables, on the other hand, were a bit bland. I was expecting to see a small crop of colorful vegetation on my plate. Instead, it appears that the chef opened a bag of mixed veggies and dumped them into a vat of unseasoned pasta—for only a few lone chunks of broccoli, and a couple of sheared carrots made their way to my plate. Fortunately, the “wine sauce” and the Cordon Bleu made up for the slightly bland accompaniment.
Some Mentionables
I will say that for an establishment that seems as clean and trendy as this one, the ladies’ restroom left much to be desired. The existing two stalls looked to be in disrepair. And the bathroom facility itself just wasn’t that clean-which is a huge turn-off for me. I was happy to scrub my hands and get out of there quickly.
By and large, if you are looking for a very comfortable place to eat while hanging out in Savannah’s City Market. The Café at City Market is a great place to stop in. It’s casual; so you don’t have to worry about the stuffiness of reservations or pretentious personnel. Because of this, the prices are extremely reasonable. Both of our meals, including our alcoholic beverages just barely grazed $30.
