Credit: [VICI RESTAURANT]

Any visitor to Savannah will tell you that part of the trip will include some time at one of the city’s beautiful rooftop bars and restaurants. The scenes are beautiful, the menus are carefully crafted and the crowds they draw reflect that popularity. One rooftop lounge that doesn’t draw as many headlines, largely because it its location, is VICI.

VICI rooftop, located on Charlton Street between Montgomery Street and MLK, Junior Blvd has developed a loyal following in the year-plus that they have been open, largely from locals looking for a ‘rooftop vibe’ without having to deal with venturing deeper into the heart of Downtown Savannah.

Owners Anthony Scarpulla and Danny Fulghum took a chance in building out the space themselves. The gamble has paid off. So well, in fact, that they are now expanding into a 2nd location. They are calling it VICI Restaurant. It’s coming soon to 320 Montgomery Street.

Credit: [VICI RESTAURANT]
“We think it’s a completely new cuisine style for this area.” Anthony told me during a brief chat recently. “It will have roots from the Mediterranean.”

I have yet to see a menu, but I have no trouble believing that this duo is going to try to push the culinary envelope. They are both very talented in the kitchen and bring a ton of creativity to the mix. Danny’s background was on the Los Angeles food truck scene, where there is no shortage of creativity. Anthony’s first Savannah eatery was the very popular GB Lobster Rolls on MLK a couple of years ago.

Full credit where it is due, when Anthony was on MLK developing a solid following with his lobster rolls, he had his eye on something bigger. It turned out to be the VICI Rooftop. Fast forward a couple of years and within months of opening their rooftop space, these guys had their eyes on their next move. There was an active search for a new space. They’ve now found it.

It should be mentioned that VICI Restaurant is located inside the Tryp by Wyndham Hotel at Montgomery at Harris Streets. Which means they’ll have a head start in this space with a built-in clientele.

Credit: [VICI RESTAURANT]
That said, it’s obvious these guys are looking to draw locals. They’ve done it with their rooftop and they’ll have a similar advantage with their restaurant. How so? For starters, parking is significantly easier to find South of Liberty Street where they are. That alone will get some people to give it a shot.

The other thing to mention is that the food they’ve offered on the rooftop (which they continue to do-albeit smaller menu) has been good. How they translate that to a restaurant in a hotel with the demands that will bring is the magic question here.

The menu is a work in progress. Anthony tells me there will be a smash burger, mushroom rillette, an elote bowl and more. There is variety from what I’ve seen, which already makes it a little different.

Credit: [VICI RESTAURANT]
The cocktail program Anthony shared with me is most certainly creative. He told me he had a drink called “Havana.” What am I to think? That it was a spin on a mojito. Not at all. It’s a cream cheese milk punch. Yeah, that’s not a typo. Cream cheese milk punch. Color me intrigued.

The rest of their cocktails are named for cities around the world. Lyon, New York, Tokyo and of course, Savannah. It’s called “World Tour” I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to offer.

All of this will be offered with brunch to start and dinner service to come down the road. Opening day hasn’t been set yet, but I would expect to see them roll out sometime in April. In the short term you can follow them on Instagram, @ViciRestaurant.

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This article appears in Connect Savannah I March 2024.

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