Late Air — Restaurant in Savannah

My spouse and I traveled across the country from San Diego to experience chef Daniel Harthausen's food. We drudged through two cancelled flights resulting in an unexpected overnight in Charlotte and ultimately Ubering from Charlotte to Savannah because the second missed flight would have delayed us beyond our reservation at Late Air. By the time we got to the restaurant, we were exhausted and didn't know what to expect with an advertised wine bar, but everything about our night exceeded our expectations and left us excited to come back in the future.

Let's start with Daniel's food. Firstly, he was kind enough to greet us earnestly when he found out why we'd come. He surprised us with a not-yet-menu-released dish of baked clams, but even the existing menu was spectacular. The scallops in a tom kha-esque coconut broth, the caesar made with real anchovies and a subtle miso ginger kick, the squid and beans in a garlic and salty broth, the flat iron steak with japanese curry sauce for the fries; Everything blew my mind. My only regret is being so smitten by the food that in real-time, I struggled to articulate how well the creative agency of each dish came through as so sensible to my taste buds, I wondered why no one had tried it before. Daniel is truly a master of his craft and as the night progressed, I could not wait for the next thing he brought to the table.

Next the wine: Michael accompanied our culinary journey with wine pairings from start to finish, introducing himself with two glasses of sparkling wine. I don't know much about wine, so I let him steer my pairings for the night, and I was impressed by how light all the flavors were; a perfect set of companions for Daniel's bold flavors. A bright white for the scallops and oysters, followed by a fruity, brightly wet red for our steak and squid. I had grown so accustomed to the mildness of the flavors, that I almost reeled in surprise when he gave us a smoky strawberry rhubarb port-like wine (excuse my lack of knowledge) to finish the night that packed such a wallop of flavor I can still taste it. Michael answered all our questions patiently and even gave us some great recommendations for what to do in town (we went to Picker Joe's - what an intriguing place. We bought a brass rabbit door knocker haha).

Lastly, atmosphere: Madeline was our host and periodically checked up on us throughout the night. One thing I noticed is that the entire front-of-house staff rotates among the tables like a group of lifelong friends, understanding how to naturally weave among each other in an organically organized fashion - efficient through intuition rather than mandated intention. Madeline seemed authentically interested in our story and was elated to hear anyone would come cross country to her establishment.

What I think I loved most about Madeline, Michael, Daniel, and crew, is that the establishment feels more like a hosted dinner party than a restaurant: a safe space for any and all. It has no deliberate messaging around a specific demographic, but nevertheless feels welcoming. The whole staff treated us with respect, but in a homey, friendly way. It felt like they all knew each other for a long time (I believe Daniel mentioned they do), and not only did that come through, but I left feeling like they briefly included us in their friend circle too.

We came for Daniel's food, but I'll happily return for every aspect of what Late Air has to offer. Thank you so much for making our trip even more magical than...

Wendy and I ate dinner tonight and I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed it. The atmosphere was just right—cozy, chic, and incredibly comfortable, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy. The staff welcomed us warmly and treated us like old friends.

We were blown away by the food and wine. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of fresh, bold flavors (we had local Tybee Island Oysters, the caesar salad, sea bass, steak, and muscadine sorbet). We paired our meal with a bottle of La Calmette Serpent à Plumes, a natural red wine from France with a unique blend of earthy richness and subtle fruity notes, perfect for our meal. It was clear that the wine list was carefully curated to complement the restaurant’s vibrant menu.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed evening or a memorable night out, Late Air delivers. Between the ambiance, the exceptional service, and the unforgettable food and wine, it’s a hidden gem in Savannah. Wendy and I highly recommend it and can't...

HELL YEAH! I am not easy to impress, food-wise, but everything here was on point. The Caesar salad is it's platonic idea. The gigante beans are a textural and flavor delight. The mussels have a uniquely rich and savory, but crowd-pleasing flavor profile, with perfectly crispy, salty fries. Those three made a satisfying meal for two. The dessert was unnecessary but holy cow do I not regret it. The flourless chocolate cake made me close my eyes and swoon and savor, more than once. I don't usually use superlatives like this, but this earned them. Best thing I ate in Savannah by far, and best meal I've had in many months.

I don't eat gluten and they were good about accommodating and explaining options and cross-contamination risks.

For the quality, the price felt absolutely fair. I think it came out to $165 for two people, including 2 excellent glasses of wine ea

Only complaint with ambiance is that it was kinda loud and there were people smoking right...