Hidden back near Thomas Square, you will find this very unique restaurant known as, The Vault. Today it is known as THE SPOT for a chic Asian fusion spot serving creative bites & drinks. However, up until its closing in 2013 this venue was known as the historic Bank of America building! There isn’t a single inch of this building that was not carefully and creatively brought back to life. The interior features reused materials from the former bank infused back into new artwork throughout and the overall design of the entire building. The Vault’s kitchen was once the area occupied by bank tellers, and old offices are now bathrooms, their floors covered in change. You will even notice an abstract animal made entirely of old lock boxes hanging on the wall. Last but not least, when you walk inside and look to the back you will see the private room that once served as the original bank vault. The aesthetic of this hotspot is not the only thing that will leave a lasting impression, and that is why it will be one of your favorite places to visit in Savannah!
On one side of the menu, you will find an entire selection of sushi, from classic and house rolls to Nigiri and Sashimi. We wholeheartedly have to recommend The Traveler. It’s the perfect combination of crunchy and soft with a lightly battered and fried shell warmly hugging salmon, crab, cream cheese, sriracha, sesame seed, asparagus, teriyaki, and shrimp sauce.
If you and your party would rather forego the rolls, just flip the menu and wait for your mouth to start salivating.
As for the beginning shareable, the go-to’s would be the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Pork Dumplings, or Grilled Calamari. Each flavor is so unique to the dish, it’s hard to go wrong. The Wraps contain fresh veggies and chicken placed in between the leaves of romaine lettuce like a taco and a mildly spicy but citrus-esque chipotle sauce to drip over it. The Dumplings are seared to perfection with a tangy soy-based sauce mixed with scallion and ginger. If you are a seafood lover, you’ve probably had fried or grilled calamari at one time or another. You will most likely never look at calamari the same after you take a bite of this delicacy dish glazed in their sweet mango and pineapple chili sauce.
For the main course; Crying Tiger, Deposit Box Duck, or Miso Salmon. Truthfully, you will have to go back to this spot because every dish is worth a try! The Vault’s Crying Tiger is a must-try for anyone who loves a good steak cut. Cooked to your preference, it has just the right amount of juice and tenderness in the middle and crisp to the edges. The dipping sauce is out of this world, there is no other way to describe it. It’s spicy and sweet at the same time, adding a blast of flavor to the already savorous steak. Plus, we can’t say enough good things about their little side of the citrus ginger Vault House Salad.
They really give people something to taco’ about with their Deposit Box Duck Tacos! Two korean style shells stuffed to the stop with BBQ duck bites, lettuce, pickled carrots and daikon, with a tangy chipotle sauce. BBQ and chipotle, it’s a combination the world didn’t know we needed.
The last one we will recommend (for now), is the Miso Salmon. It’s perfectly cooked, which if you’ve had the pleasure of cooking your own piece of salmon – you know it’s an art. It’s cut open and stuffed with the sautéed shiitake mushroom and asparagus tips that quite literally melt in your mouth like butter. Like the king of a castle, the salmon sits on a bed of white rice immersed in miso broth.
Take advantage of the attached parking lot, and be sure to get there early, or expect a little bit of a wait as they do not take reservations. There are a couple bars within walking distance to grab a drink at while you wait. Just think, at any point you could be sipping on a Thai Margarita in the same spot someone was finally able to pay off their mortgage!
Address: 12112 Bull St, Savannah, Georgia 31401
Phone: (912) 201-1950
Website: thevaultkitchen.com
Hours: Sunday 12–3PM, 5–10PM
Monday 11AM–3PM, 5–10PM
Tuesday 11AM–3PM, 5–10PM
Wednesday 11AM–3PM, 5–10PM
Thursday 11AM–3PM, 5–10PM
Friday 11AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Saturday 12–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Features: Dine-in, Curbside pick-up, Delivery, No reservations
