The Florence - Savannah, GA

Everyday on my way to and from work I used drive by this sad but interesting abandoned old building (learned it was an old ice plant). I would wish so hard that someone would come and do something cool with the space. My wish came true, an apartment developer bought it and turned it into a multi-use space. At first I was very excited, until I learned that the developer was making furnished student apartments. This is completely off topic, but I was just a little miffed that once again it was catering to the most catered to population in downtown, There are plenty of young professional and families that populate this area, who would jump at the opportunity to inhabit a cool renovated industrial space. However, I got really excited again when I learned that the restaurant going into this space would be opened by Hugh Acheson, of Food Network fame.

The Florence is stunning, located on West Victory Drive, it is in the old converted ice plant. So, it has a retro industrial feel mixed with sleek lines and warm worn wood.There are two stories. Upstairs is a bar and large patio for outdoor dining, from my understanding this has a limited bar menu. Downstairs is the main dining area and where we went from brunch.

We were sat right away, we arrived around 11:45, so I was surprised that is was not busier.  But many people still not be aware that they are now serving brunch. But I was content with it not being overly crowded, better to take pictures.

Since it is Georgia and it was a Sunday, despite our best attempts to order drinks, we had to wait until 12:30 pm. In the mean time we looked at the brunch menu. We had a female server and a guy who I assume was a server in training. No one told us but he kept skulking around our table in skinny jeans and an apron, so we assumed he was supposed to be there. When we first came in I asked the hostess if they had a gluten free menu, she told me no, but that the server could direct me to options. Our server was friendly and she seemed to want to help me with options but was kind of hemming and hawing like she wasn't not completely sure. I can't say that I was that surprised, when I ate in the bar area when they first opened the bar tender did not seem to have any education on available GF options. I chalked it up to having just opened. I had higher expectations for a restaurant with a chef/owner of Hugh's acclaim. Moving on, looking at the menu and weighing what she "suggested", I asked her to confirm with the kitchen that the Tasso Hash was GF, and if it was to put that in as my order. My husband ordered the Johnny Cakes and our companions ordered the calzone. While our food was being made and we were waiting to be able to order adult beverages, my friend ordered a cappuccino and I ordered a "sweet" tea. The server explained to me that they didn't have sweet tea (as in the traditional southern variety), but that they had Earl Grey or Darjeeling that they could put on ice and bring me some sweetener. Being that I don't drink coffee and needed some caffeine I went for the Darjeeling. They brought it out in a mason jar, with a pretentious little silver pitcher of simple syrup. My husband and I just laughed and shook our heads. We understand that Hugh is from Canada but he has come up in the southern food scene and this restaurant is in one of the most iconicly Southern cities EVER. There is science, actual chemistry that  goes into good sweet tea. The heat and bond of molecules..... Unfortunately, our dining companions, who are not from the South had to sit there and listen to us wax poetic (or scientific, if you will) about the procedures for tea. Either way, what I was served just wasn't cutting it.

Our food came out, and mine was just okay. It wasn't any better than any other skillet hash I have had or made. The only credit I give it was the perfectly poached egg and that I did not get sick (which is actually a huge credit). My husbands verdict was that his was just okay, too. Our friends said their calzone was delicious, and it looked like it would be. I hear quite frequently how well they do calzones and pizzas, unfortunately they just are not gluten free.

Our food being in the okay - to delicious category,  let me tell you what was divine: my drink! Again, I am apparently a sucker for hand crafted cocktails. It was called She Nighter One Devil, I have no idea what the name means, but it was a tasty orange concoction involving gin, mezcal and passion fruit with one of those fancy big square ice cubes. I may have had more than one. My husbands cocktail was also good but I only took a picture of it because it was served in a dainty little glass that looked funny in his big ole hands.

The delicious- but not GF calzone.

My husband's dainty beverage.

Bottom line: I am glad the space is being used and beautifully at that. The food available to me is okay (but okay is not worth the price); I wish the servers had more knowledge about Gluten Free options on the menu. I would easily comeback for the cocktails and setting, but I might eat elsewhere first.