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    Circa 1875

    4.0 (552 reviews)
    PriceyPubs, French
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Circa 1875 Photos

    CIRCA 1875 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Andrea T.

    Fantastic place! We went for our anniversary and our server made it extra special for us! The food was fantastic and we were treated to champagne to celebrate our special occasion. Dessert was delicious, and vibe of the restaurant is superb. Definitely recommend!

    Entrance
    Joan M.

    The decor at Circa 1875 is undeniably charming -- it feels like stepping into an old Parisian bistro with warm lighting and vintage details. Unfortunately, the experience ended there for us. The service was slow and a bit disorganized, with our server seeming inattentive throughout the evening. We gave him a pass because the place was packed with diners and it appears lacking in staff. We assumed he had many tables. When our food arrived, it was very disappointing -- too heavy on butter and oil, completely lacking seasoning, and honestly inedible. We did not finish our appetizers or main courses!!! When I politely mentioned the issue, the server seemed surprised but offered no solution, no apology, and no manager follow-up -- just brought the check. It's a shame because the ambiance has so much potential, but the food and service simply didn't live up to it. Do better!!! An expensive mistake on our part!!!

    Review is a year overdue- I'm back in Georgia wishing I could get to Savannah for the perfect French onion soup and china china amaro pairing I came up with- with the help of Donnie and Chris from the "bar side". I ended up eating dinner last minute in the dining room solo and when i saw the bartender peek through the door to see if my amaro was okay- i went over to the bar after dinner. NOTHING DISAPPOINTED. Not the guys, not the young chick coming in draped in vintage dress and asking for concubines, not the talk of drinking baileys FROM A SHOE... ALL WAS WONDERFUL. Thanks for the epic time in Savannah.

    Foie gras?????
    Gabriel Q.

    Wife and I had been looking forward to dining at Circa for a while before this trip... must say it was an absolute disappointment. Were it not for our server, who was embarrassed due to our experience, it would be one star. A charming, eclectic ambiance. Warm and welcoming. Ordered wine and starters. Foie gras (my favorite dish). Ouch. Not seared - burnt. Bitter taste on crust. Have to say that, of all similar dishes I've had in dozens of establishments, this was by far the worst. Perhaps entrees... My wife's fish... dry, even looked bland. As for my bouillabaisse: a few bites is all it took to find overcooked shrimp and other shellfish. Under-seasoned as well. Beautiful dish, but disappointing. Desserts also demonstrated a penchant for too much heat; brûlée had overly dark top, and slice of pie did as well. Not sure what to make of this visit, not sure we will try again. Will think about it before our next trip. Attentive service, eclectic decoration, warm and welcoming - but...

    Lisa S.

    What a lovely French gem! We enjoyed being seated in the downstairs dining room.which was cozy and decorated with old world flair. Our service was impeccable and the food was fantastic. The fish delicious, cocktails delightful and desserts decadent. Definitely a top dining location in Savannah.

    Lobster special & French Bordeaux at the bar nook!  Not pictured- escargot, crab cakes, crispy potatoes. Everything was delicious!
    Anna S.

    We came here for New Year's Eve and sat in a nook at the bar. It was a wonderful experience! Such an eclectic and unique French inspired atmosphere. Bartenders and servers were amazing and attentive. Ask for Chris & Donnie! Will be going back! We had their lobster special that evening accompanied by escargot, crab cakes, & cocktails.

    Escargots
    Tawnya L.

    Went here for dinner and Chris our server was exceptional. We had a couple of drinks and ordered the escargot app. The escargot was a bit bland and chewy which is unusual. Three of us had the sea bass special which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. It was quite delicious! My other friend had the steak frites which was also very good. The price point is a bit high here $45 for an entree but we had a pleasant evening. Do be aware that the kitchen is a bit slow at getting the food out (and they were not even busy) but floor service and ambiance is top notch.

    The front door

    We came in on a Thursday evening to celebrate our daughter's birthday. It was our first visit. It is a beautiful place and feels authentically French as if we were transported to a little place in Paris. We confirmed our reservation with the phone scrolling and expressionless hostess who strangely seated us between the only other two currently occupied tables. It is a small and charming dining room so it was odd to unnecessarily create that glut of bodies right in the center for staff to work around when other tables were available. Fine dining often is close quarters and we rolled with it. Our server was so tentative and mostly absent - possibly new or just poorly trained but we are always kind to a fault. We just wanted to have a drama free meal and we were patient and friendly despite her inattentiveness. Service and food were very, very slow but we again just tried to enjoy the time together and were not in a rush. There were 5 occupied tables at one point (about 15-20 people) -it was not busy. Drinks sat on the bar for more than 10 minutes before they were delivered to patrons and our servers would disappear for large chunks of time while the other server who had two tables ignored any other guests while drinks sat and food waited at the pass. Drinks and food came out staggered - one person would have their food or drink and others would not. So service was very poor. We ordered mussels and the appetizer special (frog legs) for apps and both were very good so we were excited for our entrees. Our entrees were Steak Frites, Bouillabaisse, and the duck breast special. Here is where the real problems with this birthday meal began. It was a very mediocre meal over all and sub par in places. The steak was chewy and arrived medium but was ordered medium rare, the frites were hot and delicious as was the demi glace for the steak. The bouillabaisse was not very good at all. The saffron broth was not flavorful and tasted more like tomato soup than a seafood broth that would be expected. Not much flavor at all - I did not sop up the broth as one typically does with this dish and actually just did not eat the broth. The fish in the dish was striped bass and were 4 tough, dry 1 inch cubes of fish with the blood line included. Bones were present in the only bite I attempted to eat. My family also tried it and encouraged me to send it back but we'd been there for probably close to 90 minutes at this point, it was a celebratory evening I didn't want to make awkward so I ate around the fish. The shellfish (2 clams, mussels, shrimp) in the dish were fine but a bit overcooked and chewy. Weirdly the dish included an abundance of tiny golden potatoes which I've never had in this dish, and I didn't eat them as they made the dish even more bland. I was so disappointed as this a favorite dish I love to get when I find it. The duck breast was just ok. The sauce again was great but the duck wasn't cooked correctly; the skin was flabby and chewy rather than crisped and rendered correctly (which is the reason to order a duck breast!) and it impacted the overall flavor of the meat. The sides of cauliflower purée and broccolini were well prepared and good. There is a saucier and side chef in that kitchen who knows what they are doing. The main preparations were so poorly executed though. The cocktails were unique and tasty but our glasses sat empty after the appetizer for at least a half hour. When the entrees were delivered finally we were able to snag our server long enough to order glasses of wine to accompany our entrees which arrived well after the meal began. Our water was never refilled and I drank my husband's when empty lol. We spent about $300 for the 3 of us which was as expected. I was so excited to bring our daughter to a French restaurant for her birthday - we love French food, cook it at home on holidays together, and geek out over all things Julia Childs. It was a big let down. I can't recommend this restaurant sadly and we won't return (we are locals). I will say that this is a romantic and cozy spot to maybe have a drink and a leisurely appetizer but not much beyond that currently.

    Michael S.

    Nice French-inspired bar/bistro in Savannah's historic district. My companion and I arrived moments before kitchen closing but they were kind enough to accommodate one last meal. She enjoyed crab croquettes, I had a nice burger topped with Gruyère cheese and au poivre sauce--with tasty hand cut fries. Service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere was great--local and non-tourist (except for us LOL).

    the chicken and Steak Frites* with gravy..
    Bianca S.

    would give zero stars if i could. came here for my birthday in january and left with the worst food poisoning of my life. not going into detail, but i had to go to urgent care and did not recover for three days. i have never had such a bad reaction to food in my entire life comparably to fast food or even in other countries.

    Escargot + Vegan Ratatouille
    Lindor C.

    I adored the restaurant's decor and atmosphere--amazing art and distinctively French. I also enjoyed the alternative settings guests can enjoy: the lower level, the pub, and the formal dining area. At first, I intended to use OpenTable to make a reservation, but I decided to call the restaurant directly when the app disclosed a mandatory reservation fee. I had no problems making a reservation over the phone, and no pre-payment was required. We were seated upon arrival, and the hostess was friendly. Throughout the night, we had appeasing service and kind staff. Our server was great! However, we waited for a very ridiculously long time for our main entree. The bread service was exceptional, paired with an herb butter. I ordered escargot, which came out in a timely manner-- and was prepared perfectly! The snails were not measly but nicely sized and had a bouncy texture enveloped in garlic butter. I believe the kitchen was having a rough night, as after conversing with other guests, I learned that their orders also had some problems. However, despite the long wait, my vegan ratatouille was the best meal I had in Savannah, GA, and was well worth it. My other attending guest ordered a fish entree and noted its exceptional preparation and flavor. I adore anything French, so this place is quite authentic in terms of culture. I totally recommend checking it out! The quality of the food is also worth highlighting, as it was definitely superior compared to various restaurants in downtown Savannah.

    Guava cheesecake.

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    11 months ago

    Food wasn't French. The menu was limited. The wine list was severely limited. Service was top notch

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    Our server was very nice, but I don't recall his name unfortunately. The cornmeal crusted trout was extraordinary!

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    Page 1 of 14

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    Six Pence Pub - Sausage, mashed potato, cheese, bacon!!!! What's not to love?

    Six Pence Pub

    (786 reviews)

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    Great place! Food was delicious! So good we went twice on our five day trip to Savannah!!read more

    Hi Everyone, So…read moreyou're dressed for the concert and maybe your seeing and are anticipating your delight while you listen to John Cougar Mellencamp, KC and the Sunshine Band, Chicago, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Martin and Martin Short, or the Motown All-Stars (e.g. "Holy Mackerel Ethel, we have to check out the Johnny Mercer, it's got some great shows." Rolling her eyes as if to say, who knew? As she has been saying this for years, as she utters, "Good idea, Geddes.") at the Johnny Mercer Theatre that starts at 7:30 PM. But where to eat, how to get to the restaurant, and back to theatre on time for the concert while making it easy, no stress, fun, relaxing, taste enthralling, thrilling, care free, laid back, exciting, entertaining, safe, and logistically possible? Well, let's see Sweetpea. How about we arrive at 4:30 PM, and park at the Liberty Street Parking garage, right accross the street from the Johnny Mercer Theatre. Easy, check. Next we get an Uber to the Six Pence Pub. Why? No stress, check. We start our meal, with one of their adventuresome, tasty, cocktails which are all fantastic. "But how about getting to the Concert?" Right now, we're having some fun hanging out with our friends and catching up. Fun, check. Please remember Poindexter (I.e. my name for my conscience), we're not driving until after the concert is over which leaves us about five hours to recover from our cocktail before dinner, or two, you Devil you! Relaxing, check. We next get to experience eating some of the most delicious food in Savannah, GA. From the Crab Cake, to the Scotch Eggs, to the Smoked Salmon to their bombastic Broiled Portabella, their appetizers were both savory and palette pleasing. Then our companions had their outstanding, tastebud tintilating, French Onion and Chicken Noddle soups which are both made from scratch. Yea, yea, French Onion and Chicken Noodle soup, big deal. If you have not had it, I am here to tell you, there is nothing ordinary about either, as both were very delicious. We then dined on their Open Roast Beef, their Tender Pot Roast, their Atlantic Salmon all of which offered a very pleasing, tremendous taste in their own right. However, the Broiled flounder stuffed with shrimp and scallops was so exceptional, we ordered another two of these entrees so we could all share this dish as part of each of our meals. Taste enthralling, check. Please note, I did not write the words, "Pub Food" above as the Six Pence Pub's fare will thrill your tastebuds right down to the last morsel. Thrilling, check. Our Server was exceptional, timely, and personable. Care free, check. Our ambience was simply Pub delightful! Laid back, check. But then the bill came and lo and behold our friend had to stand and do a little Irish jig, or did he have to go to the bathroom?... Nah, it was the very reasonable pricing that pleased us all as we scampered to catch our Uber. No, wait a minute, we did not dine and dash. We would never dine and dash. We tipped our Server handsomely, paid our bill, and then we all scampered to catch our Uber as we were all feeling wonderful. Exciting, check. We made the show with twenty-five minutes to spare, which left us enough time to buy our lovely dinner companions a show Tee Shirt to memorialize our evening together. Our show was extremely entertaining which thrilled us all, to no end. Thanks Steve and Martin, you're the best! Thrilling, and entertaining, double check. Logic dictates that when we were able to throughly enjoy our evening while having an easy, no stress, fun, relaxing, taste enthralling, thrilling, care free, laid back, exciting, entertaining time that it is, in fact, logistically possible. Logistically possible, check. And yes, we were safely able to enjoy our ride home while we all talked about how much we enjoyed our evening together. Safe, check. So what is the acronym or memory mnemonic here? ENSFRTETCFLBEESL But how do you pronounce it? Ya'll figure it out. I did almost all the work here in writing this review, lol. Enjoy!

    The Original Pinkie Masters - PINKIES!!!

    The Original Pinkie Masters

    (118 reviews)

    $

    We were on a walking tour when we stopped at this spot. I had heard about this bar back when I was…read moreinitially researching bars and restaurants in downtown Savannah. But I had never made it to Pinkies until this most recent visit, which came with the department from my company. Our guide gave us some history of the bar, including how former President Jimmy Carter paid a visit or two during his presidential campaign in the 70s. When you walk inside, there is a definite local and historic vibe to the bar. Dark green booths with a U-shaped bar as you walk inside. Framed photos cover the walls of locals from years past, including President Carter's. Drink-wise, they have some excellent cocktail specials. I ordered a Negroni, which I could take out with me since Savannah has an open-container ordinance where you can walk around town with alcoholic beverages so long as they are in a plastic cup. Very cool spot. But do note, it's cash only so make sure you bring cash. They do have an ATM on-site but you would do better going to the bank to do a withdrawal if you don't want to deal with additional ATM fees.

    Cool spot to grab an adult beverage while touring Savannah. During your visit you'll hear some…read moremusic from the jukebox at a level that makes you tap your feet. The service is good and bartender friendly. Bring cash as that is the only way you'll be able to pay! It's worth the walk to experience Pinkie Masters!

    Abe's on Lincoln - Some of the many Abe Lincoln drawings!

    Abe's on Lincoln

    (201 reviews)

    $

    My friend Matt and I decided to stop here after dinner and it was wonderful. It is about a 5 to 8…read moreminute walk from the Kempton hotel is where we had dinner tonight. They had open mic night; and each artist was able to do three songs what I love about this bar is they have fantastic drinks as well as a great ambience. Or bartender/server his name was gizmo and his real name is John and he is great! The ambience is what really makes this place special. It is a great spot for tourists and locals alike!!! I had a whiskey Coke for eight dollars and it was great!!! 10/10

    Though one of the oldest continuously running bars in Savannah, this is not a craft cocktail bar…read more It's a local, down to earth hangout! I only came in for a to-go drink and to take some photos. The door guy was laid back and cool. I walked right in, the bartender was super warm and friendly. Greeted me immediately. I asked for something refreshing without specifying a particular drink (keep in mind, it's simple here, nothing fancy). He poured me something fruity, but not too sweet, tasted great. Handed me my receipt with a smile and exchanged pleasantries. I spent several minutes admiring and snapping pics of the different Abraham Lincoln drawings. You could tell the patrons were all people from town and were all friends. You could also tell any of them would invite you to their table at any time! The Abe drawings are all over the place--radical, whimsical, silly, ridiculous, bizarre. I had fun taking some pics for instagram. This is the kind of place where everybody knows your name and they are always glad you came. Dive bar gem in Savannah.

    Circa 1875 - pubs - Updated May 2026

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