Alright, so I don’t know what the hell happened?!?!? Seriously. A few weeks after Fire opened, Gustavo and I went to try it during lunch and we got the Grilled Chicken Skewers and they were awesome. That encouraged us to order the pork and beef skewers as well and the Laos Egg Noodle Soup with Braised Pork. Mind you, this was within 15 minutes of consuming the awesome chicken skewers…and we were disappointed. The pork and beef skewers lacked flavor and didn’t have the char that the chicken had. The soup had a great flavor, but the braised pork tasted like cardboard and looked like anemic slices of SPAM®. Ew. For what we got, we ended up spending over $30 which we thought wasn’t a great value for what we had and seemed expensive for lunch.
Fast forward a few months.
I see fellow Eat Squad member, Jamie Marie Smith, post on Facebook how awesome it was.
My friend Corey asks me if I’ve tried it. After relating my experience, he says, “NO, dude! You have to go back and get the Spider Roll! It’s awesome and you only pay $5.95 where other places charge you double that!”
My massage therapist, Tina Whittier, asks me if I had tried Fire. Restaurants are a huge topic of conversation while I’m on the table and I had learned about Green Truck and Sammy Greens from her. After relating my experience, she says, “Oh my God, you have to try the Shrimp and Crab Sandwich!!! I can’t ever order anything else besides that because I can’t get past it.”
It’s all swirling in my head and stews for a while.
Fast forward a few more months.
I’m headed to Gallery Espresso to pick up their WiFi and do some work and a bite to eat. As I stroll in, there’s not a seat to be had. Yeah, SCAD is back in town and that leaves me without a seat. I wander back out and peer around Chippewa Square thinking of where to go. Six Pence Pub? Nah. McDonough’s? Not really in the mood. But as my gaze shifts past McDonough’s, Fire Street Food comes into focus. I could do that…grab a quick bite and head home to do my work.
Tentatively, I wander in and it still looks the same. Asian hip and modern, the restaurant has a base of bright white with pops of turquoise, orange, and chrome. I head to the counter and order the Shrimp and Crab Sandwich with salad and the Spider Roll. I take my number and find a seat and pull out my tablet and am surprised to find Fire has WiFi. Fantastic!
Two days later, I go back…order the same thing.
The next day after that, I go back…and order the same thing.
I look around and the place is hopping. Families, dates, friends hanging out, a bachelorette party…pretty impressive for a rather residential area where there isn’t much going on at night with the exception of McDonough’s…and then I realize…mea culpa! I have been horribly wrong, I must write a review. I whip out my phone and check to make sure I have enough battery to take pictures and settle back to really analyze some food!
The Spider Roll has an entire soft shell crab in it with avocado, spicy mayo, massago, scallions, toasted white and black sesame seeds, and (I think) eel sauce. There’s a lot going on in this roll and it’s beautiful and tasty. Everything is in the right proportions and there isn’t one thing that is overpowering. The crab is the forward flavor, and rightfully so. Everything else creates a chorus around it that really highlights the star of the show.
To be truthful, the sushi roll with some bubble tea would be enough for a meal. The first bubble tea that I had there was the Mango. They use pure mango puree and it is awesome! When I came back a couple of days later, I noticed the Avocado…which I was shocked I hadn’t noticed before. They mentioned that they had just added it the day before, so I promptly ordered that. Avocado shakes are very Asian. More Vietnamese and Laos in origin, I’ve seen it offered salty and sweet and have never been able to move past the sweet version, it’s so good. The last one I had was three years ago on vacation and the last one before that was over a decade ago. It’s really one of my favorite drinks and even though it sounds weird, I highly recommend that everyone try it. The added “bubbles” (pearls of tapioca) just make it more hearty and filling.
The Shrimp and Crab Sandwich is gorgeous. A thick layer of crab provides a bed for four huge double tempura battered shrimp to rest on before being drizzled with a chipotle sauce, and then blanketed by a leaf of lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Oh…and meth. Yes, I definitely think there’s meth in this sandwich because it is crazy addictive. One bite and it’s a party happening in your mouth…everyone is dancing around, but together, like the Cupid Shuffle. This is one of the best sandwiches in Savannah. It’s hot and steamy, a little sweet with a slight hint of spicy—very slight, so don’t let that deter you from trying it. The shrimp are incredibly tender and juicy and the tempura batter is crisp with a very satisfying crunch. They blend the crab with their own seasonings and dressings and make it a highly successful component. The dark green leafy lettuce is well hydrated and crisp while the tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. The pickles don’t get lost and definitely have a part to play, lending a little tart sweetness to it all.
The side salad was a smaller version of the Fire House Salad but just with mixed greens, carrots, red onion, and a tomato. The homemade ginger dressing is terrific! It’s fresh, slightly sweet and makes you want more salad if just for the opportunity to have more of the dressing.
But I worry that I’ve ordered the two best things on the menu and what if everything else wasn’t good? Could I in all good conscience write a review based on one roll, a sandwich, and a beverage? So I started stock piling my experiences with others afterward to contribute toward a more comprehensive review and I’ll break it down here:
Lunch with Sean & Trisha O’Connell (what I had of theirs, because the Shrimp & Crab sandwich is addictive, remember?):
Savannah Roll (snapper) & Telfair Roll (salmon & eel) – The rolls are great! Along with the Spider Roll, they all seemed to be topped with the same blend of things. All the sushi rolls are the same price, $5.95. Would I ever pay $5.95 for a California Roll? No, but depending on what you get, it’s a great value.
Gang Dang Gai (chicken red curry)—Homemade curry, coconut milk, basil, like leaf, eggplant, and veggies with rice. This is an amazing curry. Very comfort food-esque. It’s a generous portion and full of flavor with lots of chicken. Is it wrong that I’m playing Gangnam Style in the background right now?
Wings—just as advertised, crispy, sweet, sour, and spicy…but not too spicy. The dipping sauce is what makes it…almost a sweet and sour sauce. The light batter they coat them in has a great seasoning to it. I’d ask for a side of Siracha for a little more heat.
Snack with Gustavo (another Eat Squad Member):
Chicken Skewers—still awesome!
Sean’s BBQ Ribs—St. Louis ribs, Thai spices. Gustavo loved these. For me, they were a little sweet, but they were really good. When they were placed in front of us, I thought Flintstones. It was a huge portion and I would never categorize it under “street eats”, they’re just too big and fabulously messy. This would be a perfect entrée with the option of a salad on the side like they serve the sandwiches.
Dinner with Kevs (My BFF):
Chicken Teriyaki—this is a really generous portion of rice, veggies and chicken lightly glazed in a delicious teriyaki sauce. Obviously way better than mall fare. I have a lot of friends that are picky eaters that I know would love this dish, it’s an all around crowd pleaser!
So here’s the thing: when I’m meeting friends for a meal, my first question is now, “Have you been to Fire?” Invariably, the answer is, “No,” and it’s quickly followed by “but, I’ve been wanting to try it.” Everyone has been so excited about the food and it’s quickly turning into one of my favorite addictions.
What we ate:
Shrimp and Crab Sandwich ($10.95)
Spider Roll (soft shell crab) ($5.95)
Savannah Roll (snapper) ($5.95)
Telfair Roll (salmon & eel) ($5.95)
Gang Dang Gai (chicken red curry) ($7.95)
Wings ($6.95)
Chicken Skewers ($5.95)
Sean’s BBQ Ribs ($9.95)
Chicken Teriyaki ($7.95)
Bubble Tea ($5.95)
The 411:
Fire Street Food
13 East Perry Street
Savannah, GA 31401
912.234.7776.
www.firestreetfood.com
Alcohol: Beer, Wine, and Sake
Payment: Cash, VISA, and Master Card
Parking: Street
Written by Jessica Gormly
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