“There’s just something about that place that people just gravitate to” is how one local restaurant owner put it to me last week when I brought up Pearl’s future. It’s hard to disagree.
Of course, we are talking about Pearl’s Saltwater Grille, a marsh front restaurant in Savannah that was destroyed by fire in August of 2022. It was a very popular spot with the locals. It might even be fair to say that because of its location on LaRoche Avenue, the visitors to this area hadn’t found it yet.
The fire destroyed the building. What was left was torn down and removed. What remains today is an empty lot on the waterfront surrounded by a large fence and several ‘no trespassing’ signs. There no signs of construction. Will there ever be again?
“They want to!” is how one person close to the situation reacted last week when I asked about Pearl’s future. “But they don’t know if they will be able to just yet.”
The why on all of that isn’t for public consumption just yet, but what we can share is that everyone would like to see a new restaurant built in that space. A new Pearl’s? We would think so.
The next obvious question is when? “We may know more in the Fall” “Right now, there are just too many questions about it all.”
Bottom line? Go enjoy your Summer. Make your way down the street to either Wyld Dock Bar or Castaways, both in the neighborhood and both very good. If you’ve not tried either of them, you should.
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20 thoughts on “Pearl’s Saltwater Grille: An update”
Love your articles!
Pearl’s was my husband’s favorite place to eat. We would love to see it open up again.
We always loved Williams’s & hoped for years that it would be built back. They’re was even a sign on the property stating “We’ll be back!”, but they never did. I sure hope that Pearl’s doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Peale’s had awesome food. The location on the water made it one of my favorite places. Hope it can be revived.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RE BUILD PEARLS……MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN SAVANNAH…….I MISS MY WEDGE SALAD AND PEARLS POUND OF DELICIOUS FRIED SHRIMP WITH FRIES……..ACHING FOR A REOPENING DATE…..MAKE MY DAY BY GIVING ME A REOPEN DATE PLEEEEZE…….STANLEY HURWITZ…….josh2126@aol.com…..
Loved Pearls Saltwater Grille. Just their hush puppies n honey butter would make me come back. Truly hope they can find solutions to this dilemma. Would love to see them open a new restaurant – wherever that might be.
That was a perfect location. It was crazy to get a reservation which was ruining business. Very poor management like the failed creek house. Why doesn’t someone with a brain about good open it?
The building was unsafe. I don’t think they would get approvals to build out over the water again. The footprint without going over the water isn’t large enough for another restaurant.
If they’re not going to build a new one…. Please just send out the hush puppies recipe for heavens sake!!!
I’ve been told the environmental people won’t let them build back because it is directly on the marsh. Seems to me, they would be grandfathered in.
I believe the issue is the footprint. I was told they were grandfathered in on building regulations pertaining to the marsh/water prior to the fire, but would need to alter rebuild significantly to comply
Clay and I loved your place. When friends or family would come in to town we would take them here to eat.
We live just down Laroche and have been there since the restaurant first opened. Would l8ve to see a comeback real soon!
My most favorite place to eat! Food was always deliciously consistent and the bar tender was amazing. I never had a bad experience and the patrons, whether you knew them or not, were always open to conversation. I really hope, and am keeping my fingers crossed, that they Re-open. If not, please share the recipe for your hush puppies, I want to make a hush puppy covered deep fried Oreo.
And for those of us with a $100 gift card sitting around…sure hope they rebuild!
Pearls was my family’s favorite restaurant!! My daughter got engaged there outside on the patio!! I also loved the hush puppies and food was AMAZING! The location just made it our favorite also! Please please rebuild …
I think Pearls should consider going into the space that was where Uncle Bubbas used to be. That is a beautiful space.
That is exactly what I’ve thought! We live on Dutch Island, a stone’s throw from Pearl’s and have loved it for years! We miss it so much! Perhaps Paula Deen world consider renting our her lovely space on a temporary basis?!? We would certainly be happy to drive there if it were Pearl’s!
They should consider going into the space which was formerly that occupied by Uncle Bubbas.
I worked at Pearl’s when they first opened back in 1987, I believe it was July 4th. I started as a dishwasher, then became a prep cook(mixing up that hush puppy dough and portioning seafood), and later a fry cook before joining the Army out of high school in 1988. So many memories, but I only went back there twice after moving back to the area and retiring from the Army. I wish i had gone more. It brought certain feelings just driving by the place . Hope they rebuild, it is already missed
Only had one DELICIOUS meal at Perle’s. Then forgot about it, had no idea it burned down. Too bad.