Before The Vault was the chic Asian Fusion restaurant it is today, the location served as a local bank to Savannahians for over 50 years. The landmark is now a stylish restaurant located in the heart of Starland Village. The Vault stays true to its history with fun and tasteful bank themed details through the décor and a large vault door as a main design centerpiece. This Savannah restaurant is another favorite among locals by local restaurateurs, Ele and Chef.
FOOD
To start off, I chose the lemon coconut soup as my appetizer. I was a little hesitant about choosing soup on a hot day, but it did not disappoint. I would order this hearty little soup any day of the year. This dish is full of different flavors that are strong but go well together. Each bite is creamy and rich with sweet coconut, lemongrass and curry flavors. What I loved most about this meal is that I got a meaty piece of seafood with every bite.
I had The Crying Tiger as my main dish. This is one of my favorite dishes to get in all of Savannah. If you like spicy foods, you’re in for a treat with this meal. As the name suggests, the dressing is sweet, tangy and very spicy. The meat is always cooked perfectly tender. It also doesn’t leave me feeling like I made a completely unhealthy food choice. As a bonus, both my appetizer and main dish were gluten free options. Over half the options on the menu are gluten free, which can be hard to find when going out to eat.
My husband got the chicken claypot, which is a filling meal that tastes far more complex than it looks. Brought out in a beautiful clay pot, the dish was a creamy coconut curry sauce with a few thick cut vegetables and chicken. With a side of rice, this meal is deceptively simple. Bursting with flavors of coconut, ginger, Thai chili and curry, it’s as unique as it is savory. This dish coupled well with my cilantro mojito.
DRINKS
As mentioned, I ordered the cilantro mojito. This Asian take on the Cuban classic swaps the traditional white rum for coconut. The subtle hints of coconut and added ginger make this even more refreshing. I love this Asian fusion twist on the classic cocktail. The Vault also offers another favorite drink of mine called the blood orange martini. This can be found at other Ele and Chef restaurants like Coco and Moss and Madame Butterfly. Whatever your drink of choice may be, the drink menu is full of great options like sake or IPA’s if you’re into that sort of thing.
“This Asian take on the Cuban classic swaps the traditional white rum for coconut. I love this Asian fusion twist on the classic cocktail. ”
AMBIANCE
The Vault is located right next to a gorgeous Methodist church and is surrounded by stunning live oaks. With plenty of windows, you get to admire the outside beauty and sunshine from most seats in the restaurant. I really appreciate the architectural and décor callbacks to the building’s origin. There are also outdoor covered and indoor seating.
BOTTOM LINE
The renovation of an old historic bank into an ambient restaurant is clever and charming. The theme here preserves a piece of Savannah’s history and gives it new life. The Vault offers quality Asian fusion dishes that are delectable and unique.
This is a Savannah Secret Society favorite.