Husk

You may have heard the rumors: Husk Savannah is not as good as the original (in Charleston). I certainly did, and it kept me from visiting for years. I ended up going to other downtown restaurants instead, but I now realize I was missing out on some great meals. When my Mom planned my Dad’s 70th birthday celebration, I was able to experience the restaurant and its full culinary range. I was not disappointed. And with the restaurant housed in a 19th century home with a truly stunning bar area, I’ll definitely be back to enjoy a meal (and a cocktail) in a lovely atmosphere. (Speaking of bar area, love the oyster and caviar bar off to the side.)

Local local local. That’s the name of the game. It’s Southern cuisine that’s elevated without being “funky,” which means strong smoky and coastal flavors that will speak to any Lowcountry native. The ingredient list and accoutrement descriptions may sound complicated but they’re fresh, familiar, and celebrate (rather than camouflage) the flavors we know and love as Savannahians. I always love when a restaurant is hyper aware of using local and seasonal ingredients. In the case of this event, we didn’t even know what the menu was going to be until the day-of because the chef needed to hit up the farmer’s market and check with the fish guy. My Mom simply ensured there was an option for every taste palate and they delivered.

The appetizer selection was great because it was varied. Pimento cheese was stellar and (!) were those pickled greens on top? Because that was a genius touch. I waited til the last minute to try the chicken wings because I didn’t want to eat them in front of people in my fancy dress but finally said what the heck we’re all friends here. Glad I did because they remained crispy and I would have been happy to guzzle that sauce in place of a cocktail it was so good. And the meats! I know my husband was happy to see those platters. I’m feeling positive they were house-made and they were delicious. Honestly, aside from imported Iberico ham or aged prociutto de parma (which feel like a different category), these are some of the best meats I’ve had on a charcuterie platter. After the apps, we were each served a salad of winter lettuces that was tossed in a really nice, herbaceous dressing.

When it came to my order, I started with the Grey Gardens cocktail, surprising myself by getting something with gin because I’m really not a gin fan. But I liked the preparation with Earl Grey, blood orange, and honey and enjoyed it enough to order a second. I surprised myself again by getting the chicken for my main. When I was deciding between two, the server suggested I let the sides guide me and, well, that one had ramps so it was no contest. It was packed with herbs and had a bit of a bite to it. Tasted a bite of Albert’s pork and wish I could have asked one of my parents’ friends for a taste of swordfish and short ribs. Also, the portions were huge, which is not something I usually find myself saying at a fancy restaurant. And then there was the dessert. A chocolate tarte with ganache and strawberries that screamed Jerome. A rich dessert like this is right up my Dad’s alley and even though I typically don’t have much of a sweet tooth, I couldn’t stop digging into the decadant treat that was dense in the best way with just enough fresh fruit cutting through so the chocolate wasn’t cloying.

My only qualms revolve around some of their private party service stipulations. Overall, it was classy and smooth: the entrées were placed at each person’s seat simultaneously, they were more than willing to run to the downstairs bar to collect cocktails for guests, and nobody felt rushed or left waiting. However, they have a few quirks when it comes to events and they didn’t deviate from their customs. The first is that they do not do passed hors d’oeuvres. The appetizers were placed on the large table and served family style. I generally LOVE a family style moment, but the specific placement meant nobody wanted to be the first to dive in. Additionally, they didn’t think to provide small plates and we had to request cocktail napkins. People held back when they didn’t have a place to discard the bones from their wings. That said, once everyone did start eating, they couldn’t stop. My other small complaint was the wine deal. While served by the glass, it was priced based on number of bottles opened. When bottles cost $120 each, paying for a full one when only a single glass was poured was a tough pill to swallow. (I say this on principle since I wasn’t the one footing the bill.) They should have either charged by the glass because they easily could have served the rest to other restaurant guests or offered to let my Mom take the leftover home.

When considered in context of the full event, these complaints are minor. The meal itself was fabulous, the setting beautiful, and the company (of course) was perfect. I love that the menu changes frequently and since I enjoyed this one so much, I’m bound to like other items the kitchen turns out. I also think it would be great place to enjoy a chic happy hour – mental note for my next trip home.