a.lure joins Savannah restaurant scene
by Bill Dawers
of SavannahNow.com
Savannah has a major new entry in the downtown dining scene with the recent opening of a.lure at 309 W. Congress St.
That’s the space most recently occupied by the wine bar Bacchus. But area foodies might be more likely to remember when it was Bistro Savannah, which closed in 2009.
The new spot, which can be found as a.lure Low Country Cuisine on Facebook, will at first glance remind some of Bistro. The beautiful brick walls are still visible, and the narrow storefront lends a certain intimacy to the dining room.
But Bistro Savannah’s dining area went all the way to the front windows, with a miniscule bar on the back wall.
At a.lure, there’s a small but airy bar with a few tables near the street, and an elegantly designed dining room beyond it.
I imagine the bar will do quite well among customers looking for something less than a full meal or just looking to meet somewhere pleasant before heading off on other adventures.
A friend and I started with the crab cakes appetizer ($14), which was even better than I hoped. We moved on to a couple of entrees that were equally rich in their mix of flavors and in the beauty of their presentation.
The bouillabaisse ($27) showcased the fresh seafood.
The “peas and carrots” ($28) included a lovely combination of vegetables, scallops and risotto with just the right amount of creaminess. It was absolutely delicious.
The menu is dominated by regional dishes utilizing local ingredients. The farm-to-fork concept has taken off in recent years, and it’s good to see another downtown restaurant emphasizing it.
We finished by splitting the frozen goat cheese soufflé ($9), another lovely and inventive dish that I’d recommend without reservation.
Including a couple of well-made martinis and two cappuccinos, my bill was right at $100 before tax and tip.
That’s not cheap, but it’s pretty standard in the world of fine dining these days in Savannah. There are a variety of establishments in the same general price range that a.lure will be competing with.
Daniel Berman is the man behind a.lure. Many of you will remember Berman from his years running Kasey’s Gourmet Grille in Medical Arts on Waters Avenue, or maybe even from when he managed Bistro Savannah years ago.
Berman’s knowledge of the space surely contributed to a.lure’s comfortable design.
