The Grey’s Diner Bar, from the outside looking in.
I’ll be doing a full review of Savannah’s hot-as-a-biscuit new restaurant, The Grey, in Savannah’s old Greyhound Bus Terminal, later on. In short, I’m as excited about it as the rest of the national press, with the New York Times and Washington Post, among many others, bestowing glowing praise on both the food and creative rescue of the 1938 structure. Chef Mashama Bailey (formerly of New York’s Prune) has already helped earn The Grey a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant — an extraordinary feat considering the place has only been open since December. But as wonderfully retro-cool as the dining room is, many writers haven’t mentioned the charming “diner bar” space attached to what was once the terminal’s waiting room, where passengers ordered soft drinks and sandwiches while waiting for their buses. It’s now a dark, inviting, slightly Edward Hopper-ish space, with the same swoopy Deco curves as the rest of the building. There are a few sandwiches, cheeses and charcuterie, cocktails and raw bar items (including oysters and Sapelo Island clams), along with desserts and ice cream from the venerable Leopold’s. If you’re not able to squeeze into the main dining room, consider dropping into this happening space to get a feel for what the fuss is all about.
“Air Conditioned * Waitress Service” for the Grey’s Diner Bar oyster menu.
Inside the Diner Bar.