Johnny Harris Restaurant

My family and I experienced possibly the worst service, food, & customer service I could have imagined from Johnny Harris. After 65 minute wait, when finally receiving food, my son's wife was advised baby backs were unavailable. She switched to Large ribs but only following 2 requests did she receive missing Cole slaw. My son's Bar B.Q. plate arrived sans Brunswick stew which wait staff ignored and when questioned we were told the restaurant was actually out of Brunswick stew. The staffs actions gave the impression of hoping it would not be missed & when told it was we were basically told ""tough luck' with no offer of a substitution or attempt at conciliation considered. Full price expected, short order evidently a normal occurrence. Consumption of formerly complimentary Bread & cheese spread during interminable wait for food added surprise $15.00 to $180.00 bill and Johnny Harris successfully turned Mother's day into a real pisser. After this experience the Manager actually approached and inquired as to our satisfaction with the meal, service, etc. Upon relating our dissatisfaction at having been blatantly screwed his reply consisted of ""I'm Sorry"". No offer of reduction in bill for items we had not received, no offer of possible replacement of items not received with a desert, a comp, no nothing but an I'm sorry and the addition of an obligatory $28.00 tip based on 18% of several items we had not received yet were on the bill. Had the meal been satisfactory & celebratory as fit the occasion I must apologize to the waitress staff suffering through the indignation of a horribly managed, once great restaurant. After 40 years patronage, my wife & I will not return and certainly will no longer recommend Johnny Harris as our favorite restaurant in Savannah. I believe my wife is resorting to Facebook an obvious reaction I'm sure your newly found Management is familiar with and ignores with the same consideration it apply's to customers. May you quietly cease to exist while I explore every opportunity to inform natives and tourists alike as to what you have become. Zapppenfusen Savannah, Ga. 31405-2447 Greatly disappointed, Walt And Anna Arnsdorff more

Consistently the best chicken I have ever eaten Pros: Example: best croissants in town Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

My Papa grew up in Savannah and would frequent this 1920's dinnner club. He would tell me stories of the way the restaurant used to look with a starlit ceiling, private-curtained dining booths, the high class of Savannah's society and the relaxing environment. The first time I went to Savannah Johnny Harris was my first stop! The food was good and the service was fine. Being the granddaughter of a historian and being fasinated with history since I was a small child I was in auuu of the place. When I walked in I would imagine how the place used to look and the people dressed up in their fancy clothing smoking their long cigarettes and socializing to no end. Of course the restaurant doesn't look the same but just being there was a treasure for me. My only wish could be that they would restore the restaurant to it's originality and dress the servers back in their traditional garb. I think that they would be having to turn people away needing only reservations to get in! I'll be going back today and am greatly looking forward to it! Pros: Great historic place to eat! Cons: Wish the originality of the ambience was restored. more

My husband and I visited this restaurant on the suggestion of other citysearch users on a Saturday night . We were looking for good barbeque in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant is in an iffy area of town and was nearly deserted. The decor was original, but not maintained well and everything looked tired and worn. The food was decent, the pork tender and the ribs were tender and tasty. The sauce was not my favorite, but I know what a person likes in bbq sauce is very subjective to where they grew up and what they grew up with. The green beans had seen better days but the baked potato was fresh and fluffy. Nothing looked fresh, not the salad, not the decor, not the staff (they weren't unfriendly, but seemed as run down as the place). I think this place saw its better days long ago and those who gave it such high ratings were merely being nostalgic. If you've never been gthere, don't. more

I've been going to Johnny Harris, since I was a kid visiting Savannah with my parent's. It's a great old dinner club building, with a domed ceiling and little lights like stars everywhere. And the real star here is the BBQ. And what sets it apart, is the best BBQ sauce I've ever eaten. Just a small smudge of mustard, with the other secret spices, sets it apart from the usual BBQ sauces. Service is straight out of the 1920's, with servers wearing short white dinner serving jackets, and bow ties. Martini's are great, yes even with this BBQ. And thankfully we can buy the BBQ Sauce at all Kroger and Publix stores. Love this lovely place. Very special! Pros: Trerrific BBQ Sauce/Meat! 1920's Dinner Club Atmosphere! Cons: Wish We Lived Closer! We're From Atlanta! more

What a thrill to go back to Savannah after so long gone and find this piece of gastronomic history still standing and doing terrific food just like so many years ago. I'll be back! Pros: Everything! Cons: Nothing more

The food is above average and the service is down home Southern, but it's the sauce that makes Johnny Harris an institution. Take home a case. more